I can recall in the 90s when I still watched network news that they frequently ran infomercials for new drugs — especially on slow news days when they ran out of JFK/Marilyn/Elvis features.
What I get a kick out of is when on late night TV on the 'oldies' channels they play an ad for some 'miracle drug'... and it is soon followed by one of the Ambulance Chasing lawyer's firms looking for people who want to sue the drug pushers for the harm that drug just advertised caused.