POPULAR HIT SONGS ARE A SAFE BET IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC. TEN EXAMPLES OF HOW FAMOUS TV COMMERCIALS HAVE WORKED WITH SONGS

22. 9. 2022 Even in the Czech Republic, we have no shortage of TV commercials that have given birth to new musical hits or helped revive forgotten ones. It may therefore seem like quite a superhuman task to choose just ten of them, but we tried anyway. In our selection, you will find ads that rely on the interconnectedness of the musical background with classic Czech humour, but also those that put pride and Czech national and cultural heritage at the forefront. In short, there is a lot to choose from. Please note, however, that many of these examples have the unfortunate trait that will inevitably get stuck in your head for a while. HERA - PEČENÍ JE RADOST, HERA JE PEČENÍ / BAKING IS A JOY, HERA IS BAKING (1998) Baking is a joy, Hera is baking! A slogan that has become so domesticated in the Czech Republic that no one will ever take it away from this baking product. The food company's advertising is largely traditional - it relies on classic scenes of family togetherness, where individual family members come together for the noble goal of creating a bakery masterpiece, which they then sit together over, full of joy. The visuals of the commercial look as if they have come straight out of Slováček's humorous novel Bylo nás pět (There Were Five of Us). This look is supported by both the vintage filter and the choice of the musical motif. Hera reached into the golden fund of Czech classical music and chose Humoreska by the internationally renowned composer Antonín Dvořák. All the compositions in the result form their own audiovisual symphony, during which you can't help feeling that you, too, could brush up on your baking skills and thus delight yourself and your loved ones.

WHEN MUSIC IS THE LAST STEP TO PERFECTION: THE WORLD’S TOP 10 ADS THAT BET ON THE POWER MUSIC

6. 9. 2022 Although it may seem at first glance that visual play the primary role in TV advertising, this is not so true. By the very nature of television as an audiovisual medium, it is obvious that the audio component has a firm and irreplaceable place in advertising. Music is one of the essential ingredients for success. This is something that many advertisements constantly convince us of, and which we are unable to put out of our minds for a long time afterwards. Sometimes commercials even even herald new music trends, sometimes they are the birth of global superstars. The following ten examples show the creative possibilities of working with music in advertising. All of them are united by the fact that they have an unquestionable place in the golden fund of television advertising. UNITED AIRLINES - RHAPSODY IN BLUE (1995; 2013) Opinions on air travel vary - some love planes, others have an unimaginable horror of them. But whichever one of these two groups you belong to, you can't deny this mode of transport a certain poetry and harmony that takes hold of you when you look out of the boarding window. Since the 1990s, United Airlines has been relying on this aspect of travel, urging its customers to „fly towards the friendly skies”. The campaign, which first drew attention to the fact that flying is actually a matter of customer comfort, has to some extent set the course for the airline industry. It's no wonder that United Airlines revived it a few years ago to the same success, banking mainly on the nostalgia of those who remember the original iteration. But time-tested things are not to be changed, which is why the original musical identity has been retained. Indeed, United Airlines is already so closely associated with American composer George Gershwin's symphony Rhapsody In Blue that it can hardly be claimed by anyone else - despite the fact that since the composer's death, the time limit for retaining the original copyright has passed. For it is hard to argue that the combination of Gershwin and planes criss-crossing the blue sky is not a visual symphony in itself.

BACK 2 SCHOOL! HOW DOES THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR START IN THE WORLD OF (NOT ONLY) TV ADVERTISING?

1. 8. 2022 The summer holidays have once again swung into their second half practically in the blink of an eye. With their inevitable end, it’s time to once again take charge of the responsibilities that many will find unavoidable in September. This is a reality for school children and students in particular, but for the younger ones it also affects their parents. All of this is a signal to advertising campaigners, for whom the Back 2 school season is one of the most exposed times of the year. Not participating is essentially a sin that shall be punished. Nor is participating poorly an entirely profitable strategy. What do the successful television commercials that have helped shape the phenomenon tell us about Back 2 school marketing?

PEOPLE METERS CELEBRATE A QUARTER OF A CENTURY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC. THEY ARE STILL AN INDISPENSABLE TOOL FOR BROADCASTERS AND MARKETERS.

13. 7. 2022 THIS YEAR MARKS 25 YEARS SINCE THE LAUNCH OF THE FIRST PROJECT OF ELECTRONIC tv AUDIENCE MEASUREMENT IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC. hOW HAS THE PRACTICE IN THIS AREA CHANGEd OVER MORE THAN TWO DECADES? AND HOW COULD THE NEAR FUTURE LOOK LIKE CONSIDERING IT WILL UNDOUTEDLY BE AFFECTED PRIMARILY BY THE PHENOMENON OF CROSS-PLATFORM MEASUREMENT?

THE WORLD BEHIND THE RED BUTTON: WE CAN HARDLY IMAGINE TELEVISION WITHOUT HBBTV TODAY

1. 6. 2022 Czechs are not the only ones discovering the TV world behind the red button. HbbTV has come a long way since its launch in 2011 and has rightfully become one of the most dynamically evolving global TV technologies of today. It is popular with TV stations, viewers and advertisers all over the world - demand from all parties is rising and the already wide range of options is expanding accordingly. It is because HbbTV combines the biggest advantages of TV and the internet: a wealth of quality content intended for the big screen and unlimited access in terms of space and time. What are the opportunities hidden behind the red button?

CREATIVITY IN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS: AN INDISPENSABLE INGREDIENT IN THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS AND IMMORTALITY

8. 5. 2022 Try asking yourself how many advertising campaigns you can easily recall. Then think again and ask yourself why these particular examples come to your mind. You will probably find that the unifying element in a lot of them is that they are original and evoke a particular emotion in you. Joy, emotion, horror, outrage - it doesn’t really matter. The important thing is that they stick in your mind so much that you remember them even years after you no longer see them on screen or elsewhere. Creative advertising campaigns are simply the most reliable tool available to marketers, which is why it’s a shame that today’s examples are outnumbered by those that don’t have much originality. Does this mean that creativity is dead? Not in the slightest - in fact, it’s quite the opposite. UNDER THE DOMINATION OF THE LEFT HEMISPHERE According to the American marketing theorist Orlando Wood, advertising in general is experiencing a crisis in the 21st century that is characterised by a departure from the values and trends of the last century. He explains this shift using the neuropsychological theory of the left and right brain. In very simplified terms, the two brain hemispheres perform different tasks. While the left one tends to be more schematic and categorizing, the right one is more alert and basically perceives reality in context. Of course, the two hemispheres cooperate to some extent, but some perceptions and impulses stimulate the activity of only one part of the brain. And, according to Orlando Wood, since about 2006 we have been living in the era of so-called left-brain advertising.

TV ADVERTISING IN THE DIGITAL AGE: STILL AN EFFECTIVE MEDIUM THAT IS OPEN TO NEW INFLUENCES

9. 4. 2022 In 1990s, TV advertising had to deal with the arrival of new video formats. It is no coincidence that new ads began to appear at the same time, building primarily on the growing popularity of digital technology. Unsurprisingly, they were dominated by the internet that was increasingly popular among users. Although the position of the internet was growing dynamically the impact of TV as a medium was not decreasing. Today, we are living in a streaming era which is again significantly changing the rules. However, it would be too simplified to say that linear TV and advertising have nothing to offer. First, it is not true. Second, TV has adjusted to the rapidly changing environment. So what is the position of classic TV advertising in the changing environment?

HOW DID THE WAR IN UKRAINE REWRITE THE RULES OF MARKETING NOT ONLY ON TV SCREENS? SOLIDARITY AND HELPING OUR NEIGHBOURS ARE AT THE FOREFRONT

24. 3. 2022 The military conflict in Ukraine has struck the whole world like a bolt from the blue and has significantly affected the daily lives of hundreds of millions of people. Firms across nearly all business areas have responded to the crisis through both small gestures and great deeds. Let us take a closer look at some of them. Time to rethink Russia started its invasion of Ukraine early in the morning on 24 February 2022. The region became in the spotlight of the global media practically in the blink of an eye, starting a marathon of news coverage that has unfortunately not ended until now. American CNN is certainly no exception, which is logical given its position of a news giant. However, on the very first day of the conflict, the broadcaster came in for criticism that did not relate to the coverage itself but to the fact that the broadcaster had not sufficiently revised its complementary activities. What was it all about?

TV ADVERTISING IN THE DAYS OF LONELINESS: HOW HAS THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC CHANGED OUR VIEW OF THE PRESENTATION OF OUR FAVOURITE BRANDS IN TWO YEARS?

1. 3. 2022 In March, we will celebrate a rather unpleasant anniversary. It has been two years since the first case of Covid-19 was identified in the Czech Republic and the pandemic broke out in full. Since then, many aspects of our lives have changed beyond recognition, which was reflected in the form of TV advertising. Its producers started absorbing new topics and brands wished to come up with more up-to-date messages. However, many of them paid dearly for it. But let us focus on those who have coped well with the challenging reality. Even in a time of pandemic, we have found out that that there is still room for creativity.

THE LOVERS’ HOLIDAY IN THE THRALL OF COMMERCE AND CLICHÉS? THE TV ADS THAT CONVINCED US THAT ST. VALENTINE’S DAY IS NOT LOST YET

8. 2. 2022 It is a tradition that 14 February of each year is dedicated to those in love. On the day when we commemorate St. Valentine, we also try to pay tribute to love - ideally, not only in the context of partner relationships. A frequent objection against St. Valentine’s Day celebrations is the excessive commercialisation of the holiday and more or less consumer character it has had for several decades. Ironically, marketers are often the ones demonstrating that it does not have to be that way. How do they succeed in passing on the messages of love and hope within the narratives of TV advertising? Everywhere you look St. Valentine’s Day is not only a holiday of lovers but also a mega-important item that should not be missing in the schedule of any proficient marketer. On that day, consumers are ready and willing to spend their savings. We may even say that after Christmas, it is the first opportunity of such a calibre. And the current pandemic-affected time changes nothing on this fact.

ADVERTISING FORMATS THAT CAN CREATIVELY FILL IN A (SOMEWHAT) FORGOTTEN SEASON

10. 1. 2022 What do we mentally associate with the end of one year and the arrival of a new one? A question that all those who are preparing a truly effective new year advertising campaign must seek to answer. This is not an easy task at all, as the new year quite commonly follows a bit behind Christmas. Is there any way to differentiate effectively? There certainly is - just look at the phenomenon of new year's resolutions or the trend for massive discount promotions. But the new year in general has so much more to offer… How to get away from Christmas? New Year's ads have one specific problem, namely that they are largely overshadowed by Christmas, to which popular brands and consumers attach more relevance. Large retail chains, such as Walmart in the US, even combine Christmas and New Year's in their strategies - overall, these are marketing campaigns for the so-called holiday season. This simply means that the Christmas ethos is largely reflected in the period immediately following Christmas.

TV ADVERTS THAT HAVE SHAPED CHRISTMAS. RANGING FROM CHOCOLATE BELLS TO ELTON JOHN’S RETROSPECTIVE, THEY HAVE CHANGED THE VIEW OF THE HOLIDAYS OF GENEROSITY AND MUTUALITY

10. 12. 2021 What ingredients must an iconic Christmas ad contain? Why is Christmas such a significant event in the TV world to basically form an advertising category per se? Europeans have a clear idea – they want to spend their Christmas holidays in mutual proximity. Ad makers have been aware of that for decades. Some spots have even gained such a high reputation that they have become the triggers of Christmas spirit. Do you know the most ground-breaking ads? For hints, refer to an Anglo-American cookery book.

TV ADVERTISING CELEBRATES 80 YEARS THIS YEAR. THE FIRST AD APPEARED ON TV SCREENS IN 1941

10. 11. 2021 TV advertising has been with us for 80 years. Over that period, it has undergone a very turbulent development. The first attempts were more or less tentative and experimental as commercial messages were sort of sneaked into the scripts of tv announcers. The situation changed forever in 1941. Back then, the first ten commercial licences were issued and viewers could see the first authentic TVspot: a black-and-white map of the usa overlaid by a massive clock face. Can you guess the product to which the spot was intended to attract viewers’ interest?