Final answer:
Product placement in live theater and opera subtly integrates products into the performance without explicit acknowledgment, as opposed to other promotional forms which are more direct and transparent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between product placement and other forms of promotion in the context of live theater and opera is that viewers are being marketed to subliminally without their consent. Unlike other promotional methods where sponsors are openly recognized for their contribution or a prominent personality might add a message about the product (thus making the audience aware of the promotion).
Although commercial theatre is driven by profitability, the artistic integrity of a production remains significant. Marketers and producers employ product placement as a strategic tool to create brand awareness while maintaining the semblance of the story's reality, ensuring that the audience's immersive experience is not wavered.