Is it different than advertisements between segments

TV News Shows are now doing product placement. 

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/22/business/media/22adco.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&ref=business&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

 

 

Are the issues raised by this any different than the issues raised by commercial advertising in 30 second blocks between news segments?  Isn’t the station beholden to the advertiser in both situations?