WILL 2024 BE A REVOLUTIONARY YEAR FOR MEDIA: THE DOMINANCE OF CTV, AN EARTHQUAKE IN THE MIX OF ADVERTISERS, THE THREAT OF STREAMING SERVICES AND THE DAWN OF AI’S ADVERTISING POTENTIAL

5. 1. 2024 | 12 min read The world has welcomed the year 2024 with great expectations. Without exaggeration, this year seems to have potential to be truly revolutionary in the TV broadcasting environment. At the outset, some may wonder what role artificial intelligence will play in this as it is one of the trends, although seemingly not the most important one yet. CTV is what is expected to bring the real surprise for TV marketing in 2024. What global media trends might surprise us next year? CTV becomes the centre of the marketing revolution Clearly, 2024 will be another big year for connected TV (CTV), a term that usually refers to a wide range of internet-connected smart TVs. The popularity of this phenomenon is growing massively – in the US, the number of households with CTV surpassed the number of households with conventional terrestrial TV for the first time in history last year. Data from eMarketer shows that 87% of US households use CTV, with streaming platform Netflix leading the way with more than 65 million subscribers in the US alone. Obviously, other devices such as game consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and others) and Blu-ray players also play a role.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: PEOPLE LOVE CHRISTMAS ADS. BUT IMPRESSIVE COMMERCIALS HAVE THEIR RULES

23. 12. 2023 | 6 min read Some people have a secret recipe for the best eggnog, others for their grandmother’s amazing vanilla crescent cookies. And some brands have a secret recipe for the best Christmas ads. It’s all about getting the right amount of nostalgia, mixing in a good dose of visual elements, carefully whipping up a story, adding a pinch of humour, and sprinkling in a few secret ingredients – and voilà, an amazing Christmas ad to be remembered for years is here. You say it’s not that easy? You’re right, it’s not.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: THE MOST ANIMATED CHRISTMAS ADS

19. 12. 2023 | 8 min read The Christmas season is a time when the battle for consumer attention requires maximum effort. Animated adverts are among the most powerful marketing tools in every brand’s arsenal. Animation allows creatives to showcase greater imagination and originality, which is crucial in standing out in a highly competitive environment. Let’s take a look at advertisements that have harnessed the potential of animation to its fullest.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: THE MOST STAR-STUDDED CHRISTMAS ADS

17. 12. 2023 | 7 min read It’s undeniable that celebrities can be a powerful tool in television advertising. Who wouldn’t want to look like the famous Kate Moss in jeans? A well-known personality can draw a lot of attention to a brand. Celebrity marketing simply works, and this is especially true for Christmas commercials. According to international statistics, the use of celebrities in holiday campaigns has even been on the rise. Let’s take a look at some of the most star-studded Christmas TV ads.

SCREENVOICE TOP 12 CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGNS 2023

15. 12. 2023 | 4 min read The year has come and gone, and famous and lesser-known brands have come out with their long-awaited Christmas campaigns, which unmistakably draw us into the pre-Christmas spirit and put us in the mood for a genuine festive atmosphere.

COCA-COLA CHERISHES ITS SANTA CLAUS. HOW DID ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MARKETING “ALLIANCES” IN HISTORY TAKE SHAPE?

11. 12. 2023 | 15 min read Although Christmas in the Czech republic is mainly associated with the Christ child, it is not possible to ignore the global popularity of the american Father Christmas, Santa Claus. And in fact, if we take into account the historical context of shaping the image of this character, we are much closer to Santa in our culture than we are often willing to admit. But the legend of Santa Claus is first and foremost a real modern Christmas story in which the marketing of a global soft drinks company played a huge role. And although it is often said that Santa exists because of Coca-Cola, this is not entirely true. But the combination of these two unlikely allies has become so ingrained in the social consciousness over many decades that it is very hard to think of one without the other. But it hasn’t always been this way...

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: THE MOST TOUCHING ADS

10. 12. 2023 | 8 min read Tears welling up is nothing unusual during the holiday season. Alongside festive decorations and omnipresent holiday music, the tender mood can also be attributed to a heightened sense of togetherness we experience during Advent and Christmas. More than ever, we think about those we have lost and those in need of our help. That’s why advertisements built around touching stories often strike a deep chord with us. Which Christmas ads have hit the most emotional notes this year and in past years?

CHRISTMAS BY “UNUSUAL” HEROES. HOW HAS CHRISTMAS ADVERTISING MOVED FROM NOSTALGIA TO MODERNITY?

8. 12. 2023 | 16 min read Christmas advertising has changed over the years. To some extent, it could be argued that the dominance of Santa Claus and other traditional Christmas characters has ended. They have been replaced by somewhat unusual heroes who, on the contrary, we do not a priori associate with the festive season. However, they do not only bring a festive atmosphere but also complex stories in which tradition as well as important messages that are fully in line with the trends of today play a role. It is not necessarily a stolen Christmas - on the contrary, it is an annual gift of distinctive creativity. CHRISTMAS BY CHEERFUL VEGETABLES One of such “unusual heroes” is the most frequently mentioned mascot of this year’s Christmas season, which is in the spirit of the comeback of the character known as Kevin the Carrot. The character has been closely associated with the British-Irish retail chain Aldi since 2016, and given that Kevin is essentially an animated carrot, this is a very telling example of how the Christmas advertising market is shifting from the familiar and traditional to the more experimental.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: THE MOST FELINE-FANTASTIC CHRISTMAS ADS

4. 12. 2023 | 7 min read A Christmas ad must be emotional. An overly commercial approach during the holiday season can backfire for marketers. Each brand approaches the task of bringing emotions into its Christmas campaigns in its own way. Best practices include children, touching stories and, of course, animals. While one might expect exclusively cuddly puppies, frosty little birds, or adorable bears in Christmas ads, many feature cats as the main characters. Why is that, do you think?

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: THE BEST IN CHRISTMAS ADS OR THE MAGICAL ELIXIR OF FESTIVE EMOTIONS

27. 11. 2023 | 6 min read The Christmas atmosphere is unique and irresistible, deeply tied to powerful emotions. People are eager to open their hearts - and wallets -while searching for the most beautiful gifts for their loved ones. Companies that strike an emotional chord through their Christmas campaigns have wide-open doors to viewers and thus, potential customers. Our Christmas series of articles will explore various highlights and “bests” of Christmas TV ads.

INCREASED TV FEES? I WOULD BUILD A NEW ČT1 WITH THAT MONEY, SAYS MAREK SINGER, PRIMA’S CEO

21. 11. 2023 It is an incredible sum of between CZK 1.5 and 2 billion a year, says the CEO of Prima Group, Marek Singer, about the new revenues for Česká televize (Czech Television) in the form of increased licence fees. And do shows like Stardance fulfil the public service role? We present an excerpt from an interview for the CNN Prima news magazine, which has been on newsstands since 13 November.scree

ANGLO-AMERICAN TRADITION WITH GLOBAL ADVERTISING REACH OR HALLOWEEN IS ROUND THE CORNER

31. 10. 2023 | 13 min read Preparations for Halloween are at their peak. And not just in the United States where this holiday is at home. Before trick-or-treaters hit the streets, the spooky season is making its presence known in the marketing world. Every year, companies race to see who can come up with the most original campaign. Halloween has been a traditional marketing domain for years, which makes it more and more difficult for brands every year. It is therefore appropriate to recall what has already been here in the past and worked well enough to build on. While you probably won’t shudder at most of these commercials, you would certainly be shaken by the sheer amount of brilliant creativity associated with this holiday! General Mills‘ Monster Cereals (1971-1987) Halloween is an essential part of American pop culture. In our country, it is more of an adopted tradition related to the marketing of specific brands and in this context, to the advancing globalisation. In the USA we encounter a number of icons that are quite closely linked to this spooky holiday, and it is therefore not surprising that they have appeared repeatedly in TV commercials since time immemorial. Monster Cereals are breakfast cereals that are not normally sold anymore. But they always appear on store shelves during the Halloween season, and for good reason. There are several lines, and each has its own mascot. These are animated parodies of well-known horror characters. For example, Count Chocula can be none other than the eponymous Count Dracula, while the stitched-together giant Franken-Berry is a fruity paraphrase of the famous monster Dr. Frankenstein. The Boo-Berry monster reminds many of Casper the ghost or any other inhabitants of the ectoplasmic world. In short, there are a whole host of them and for many decades Monster Cereals have been intrinsically linked to Halloween celebrations. And since there have been many more of them over the years, you can still count on cereals with Count Chocula, Franken-Berry or Boo-Berry to be reliably sold out on the eve of the Day of the Dead.

PRIVATE MEDIA AT ONE TABLE: THE MAJOR AMENDMENT WILL DAMAGE THE WHOLE MARKET

17. 10. 2023 | 10 min read Representatives of Czech private media gathered for the first time at a joint press conference. They are appealing to the Minister of Culture over the draft of a major Media Amendment.

LAW OR ETHICS? ADVERTISING BENEFITS FROM BOTH FORMS OF REGULATION SEAMLESSLY BUILDING ON EACH OTHER

5. 10. 2023 | 16 min read Many marketers come to a crossroads in their professional career where they have to evaluate whether their creative idea is suitable for public presentation or whether it is unnecessarily teetering on the edge of ethics and good taste. This is a decision on which the future of the promoted brand may depend, so it is 100% advisable to think twice. Fortunately, there are imaginary directives that roughly outline what is allowed and what is not. Generally speaking, this is the concept of ethical marketing, but it needs to be evaluated in some way both by states and by business and industry players. The Czech republic is no exception to this and advertising is thus limited by boundaries originating in public and private space. Let’s learn a lesson from the violation of the code of ethical advertising, taking a look at some of the spots that have been banned from the airwaves by the advertising council for various reasons. And let everyone get an idea of the concept of advertising that is already teetering on the imaginary edge. ARE WE LIVING IN THE ERA OF ETHICAL MARKETING? In the past, the issue of morality and ethics has led to the emergence of an industry with a specific focus - the so-called ethical marketing. The main idea is based on the simple premise that reputation is one of the basic intangible assets available to companies. Accordingly, great demands are placed on marketers, as they must bear in mind not only the protection of their own brand but also that of consumers, specific categories such as children or ethnic minorities, as well as society as a whole. Simply put, they take responsibility for ensuring that the brand they represent communicates honestly, accurately and with respect for human individuality and dignity.

THE GRAND FINALE OF THE ROUND-THE-WORLD TV ADVERTISING JOURNEY: WORLD RECORDS AND CURIOSITIES

14. 9. 2023 | 8 min read Our summer trip around the world in search of TV advertising is over. Let’s take a look at the ads that have earned a spot in the Guinness World Records or are so peculiar that they have crossed not only country borders but also the earth’s borders. Yes, you guessed right, we will take a look into space. THE FIRST TV AD IN THE WORLD WITH A CZECH FOOTPRINT We have already written about the world’s first television advertisement for Bulova watches, which aired on 1 July 1941 on WBNT, in an article about TV advertising in the USA. However, you may not know that Czechia, or rather a Czech native, has a share in this first spot. In 1875, during the golden era of industrial development in America, a Czech immigrant Josef Bulova (born in Louny) opened a jewellery shop in the centre of New York. Soon after, he began to produce his own watches with his name on the dial. And it was at that moment that the history of a global brand started. Bulova’s watches not only made it to the moon but were also the first product ever to be featured in a television ad.

STARRING A BANDICOOT, A PLUMBER, A DECEASED FOOTBALLER OR AN ANONYMOUS HERO. VIDEO GAMES AND TELEVISION ADVERTISING HAVE EXISTED HAND IN HAND FOR YEARS

7. 9. 2023 | 17 min read It’s time to flip the calendar to September. This means both the children returning to school and settling into a standard work setup after a perhaps more relaxed holiday regime. But at the same time, the main video game season traditionally kicks off - and 2023 promises to be the most packed since the pre-covid years. That means we will be seeing a hefty dose of marketing presentation, too. When video games are concerned, it goes without saying that originality, freshness, and creativity are what matters most in related campaigns and ads. This is not just theory but practice, which many studies have confirmed for decades. What games have been preceded by a launch of such magnitude that brands in other industries can only quietly envy them? Take a look at a selection of the top TV ads from this specific industry. MORTAL KOMBAT – MORTAL MONDAY (1992) Talking about video game history in the context of games does not make much sense in the age of remasters and remakes. On 14 September (a date specially chosen to reflect the release date of the original MK), we will see the remake of Mortal Kombat, the game that helped define the popular fighting arcade genre in the 1990s and gave birth to a franchise that, alongside Tekken, which was based on similar principles, continues to set the course for this type of games. No one doubts that the anticipated remake will be as fatal as the original 1992 game. The original marketing is to some extent followed by the one from 2023, but back then the developers from Midway Games did without the star cast of Dave Bautista in the lead role. The original ad depicts a battle frenzy in the streets on a normal Monday. Thanks to this presentation, the Mortal Kombat battle cry has caught on and was enshrined forever in the video game hall of fame. But what is important is that the entire presentation feels triumphant - even though at the time, no one yet knew how substantial and influential MK would become. But this lack of self-awareness also reflects to some extent the identity of the game itself, including many of its protagonists. And it is a foundation from which the series has not budged an inch to date.

TV ADVERTISING IN THE PHILIPPINES: CATCHY SONGS, HUMOUR AND STORIES REFLECTING THE LIVES OF ISLANDERS

6. 9. 2023 | 8 min read The Philippine advertising scene is as diverse as the 7,641 islands that make up the archipelago. There are more than 80 different - still living - languages and dialects. The market is a mix of diverse cultures influenced by traditional and western practices, making advertising in the Philippines a truly unique adventure. Welcome to the colourful realm of television advertising in the Philippines. A BIT OF HISTORY Television was introduced in the Philippines by Judge Antonio Quirino, younger brother of former President Elpidio Quirino, on 23 October 1953. Imported television advertisements were used until 1960. The first local television advert aired in 1960 was for Tide washing powder. In 1966, when Philippine television switched from black-and-white to colour, the first colour television ad also appeared, with the first advertiser being Colgate-Palmolive.

TV ADVERTISING IN BRAZIL: SEDUCTIVE FEMALE BODIES, DIVINE PELÉ, AND CARNIVAL IN A HIGHLY CREATIVE PACKAGE

29. 8. 2023 | 10 min read Brazilians are creative, sensual, musical and are known for their good mood. No wonder their love of life and cheerful nature are mirrored in their advertisements. They are a reflection of the local people, their behaviour and their lives.