The media and the marketplace have had the best of times and the worst of times to be cliche. I agree with the idea that consumers are buying the ideas and products that the marketplace produces. However, I wonder if the viewer was well educated on what they needed if they would still buy all the crap that is advertised.
In the US the media structure is set up in such a way that media is dependent on the market place and pretty much vice verse. The Media would have trouble surviving with out the money from advertisers and I doubt many products would be as successful with out the advertising they receive. It seems to be a vicious circle that continues to cycle.