The Infinite Dial

We've reported from time to time on the various attempts by broadcasters to replace the spot sales model with sponsorships. That quest exists on the TV side, too. Advertising Age reports that AMC's well-received Madison Avenue/early '60s period drama "Mad Men" will finish the season with a commercial-free episode sponsored by DirecTV, with an eye toward eventually being able to move to a sponsorship-only model.

The story also notes that one alternative to spots -- product placement -- hasn't proven to be a bonanza for the show, often because of its edgy content. Creator Matt Weiner says that Jack Daniels, which has one of the few product placement deals with the show, has "this whole list of how it can be used . . .They don't want to see people fighting. They do not want to see people having sex immediately after drinking. You're sort of like, 'What is the purpose of Jack Daniels if there's no sex after it and no fighting after it.'"