Touring - Bicycle Touring Advertizing

Well, I don't know if this is just another one of my stupid thoughts, but I wonder why bicycle or related companies haven't been pimping their wares on cable, satellite, radio or other major venue (Time, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated) like the RV companies have been. Seems to me, with gas prices and the economy, amongst other things, vacationing by bike might be something that could actually be viable commercially on cable or satellite. Seems like the Adventure Cycling Organization or other tour operators could strike while the iron is hot, so to speak.

(REI is about the only one I ever hear on the radio)

Has anyone seen ads (TV or otherwise) in their area pertaining to promotion of bicycle touring or recreational camping?

If not, I wonder why, aside from the obvious cost issue, which one would think could be worked around to a certain extent especially if they received subsidization from the likes of Trek, Cannondale, etc., etc.

Thoughts anyone? Anyone?

what a flop.

RVing has a big ticket item attached to the activity. There probably isn't enough public interest or profit for it.

Most of the cable advertising I see is targeted to the couch potato/"I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up"/"we'll help you get Medicare to buy you a scooter" demographic.

I thought this thread would be about putting advertisements for corporations on your panniers.

The other day I was at a subway sandwich shop. The drive through was closed, but several cars pulled through trying to get a sub. When they were told they had to come inside, they all, everyone, drove across the street to McDonalds. The girl behind the counter said that that had been happening all week, even though thier parking is right by the door.
Thats why nothing but the Landrider is advertized on television. A crappy bike for a lazy people.

I don't think I have ever seen an advert for bicycles on TV, except when watching the Tour de France. And touring would be an even worse idea for advertising than bicycles in general. Tourists have such diverse requirements that no single company would be able to have a wide enough product line to capture a significant amount of profits. Also, when tourists buy a bike, they tend to keep it for decades, so you can't sell a bike to them every three years like you can with racers.

Has anyone seen ads (TV or otherwise) in their area pertaining to promotion of bicycle touring or recreational camping?

I saw one yesterday that used touring to promote a region. Cycling was the only selling point, not just a part of some generic tourist ad. Pretty cool I thought. The region is the Laurentides, north of Montreal where the popular P'tit Train du Nord (http://www.laurentides.com/parclineaire/1407_an.html) is. Printed ads are not uncommon.