MYTHS VERSUS REALITY: THE TRUTH ABOUT TELEVISION AND TELEVISION ADVERTISING

18. 4. 2024 | 8 min read There have been more than enough myths about television in recent years. But none of them hold up under the weight of the facts. Television is still one of the most important media channels, still reaches a large number of viewers and is still the medium that stirs emotions, offers the highest efficiency and return on investment, maximum attention and trust. And it is far from being consumed just by the older generation. In any case, television has the potential to be effective and attractive in the long term - for marketers and media planners as well as for audiences.

THE BIG SCREEN HAS AN UNDENIABLE CHARM FOR VIEWERS

14. 4. 2024 | 6 min read The figures are clear. Television is still the undefeated queen of home entertainment. It is the familiar big screen we all grew up with. Modern technology may be exciting, but it has not dethroned television. Why? Television offers advantages that other media cannot provide. According to ATO-Nielsen data, Czech TV viewers spend an average of 3.5 hours a day in front of the screen and 93% of households watch TV programmes at least sometimes.

EASTER HUNT FOR THE BEST AD? IT PAYS MARKETERS TO RESPECT TRADITION – IDEALLY WITH AN INNOVATIVE PLOT TWIST

1. 4. 2024 | 12 min read Although Easter is primarily a Christian holiday, it is infallibly a huge event in the world of marketing and television advertising. In particular, retail chains, food companies and candy makers of all kinds cannot miss it. Every year they come up with a fresh batch of campaigns brimming with eggs, bunnies and every other possible symbol of the spring holidays. If you haven’t had a big dose of sweets yet, watch out! Today, you will be reading mostly about lots of chocolate. Cadbury - Clucking Bunny (1983-???) Easter is associated with traditions and the same is true of its imprint in television advertising. One such tradition was established by Cadbury almost forty years ago when the British company introduced its Easter Bunny on TV screens. The bunny brings the legendary Creme Eggs, one of the iconic products of the global chocolatier, into stores year after year. The original advert’s content was relatively simple - basically just a couple of shots of the bunny making strange noises followed by a basket full of Creme Eggs. But the most important is what came after that. Cadbury decided to build on the inconspicuous advert. In the years that followed, the firm came with the message that all other animals desperately wanted to be like the Cadbury bunny but couldn’t. The real masterstroke came later when the company decided to run a viewer poll each Easter where customers could vote on which animal would be the Easter Bunny for that year. Last year, it was a cat from Boise, Idaho, USA; this year, voters chose a raccoon. For Cadbury it means that their marketing idea still survives after many decades, getting the variations that the consumer wants and making the launch of the new spot a major Easter event.

TV ADVERTISING IS NOT EXPENSIVE. IT OFFERS A HIGH RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND CAN BE AFFORDED BY SMALLER COMPANIES

21. 3. 2024 | 7 min read Quite often we encounter the myth that television as an advertising medium is expensive. But the reality is quite different. The magic term in TV advertising is “return on investment”. Television as a medium has an incredibly high return on investment because it has the greatest potential to reach and engage mass audiences, create brand awareness, have an emotional impact and generate sales. Even though competition from other platforms such as social media is continuously increasing, TV still generates better results than advertising done through other media channels.

THE FRIENDLIEST DAY OF THE YEAR IS HERE. GUINNESS BREWERY ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY PROVES TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST A DROP OF GREEN BLOOD IN THEM

17. 3. 2024 | 14 min read Your favourite pub may soon be turning green too, as 17 March is fast approaching and with it comes the exuberant celebrations of the friendliest holiday of the year, St Patrick's Day. Every year it's a big event in the marketing world too - and while typically Irish brands obviously dominate with their campaigns, it's certainly not an occasion they've usurped for themselves. In fact, a certain sense of 'Irishness' has long been defined not just by nationality, but more importantly by a specific mindset and belief in certain shared values. Yet there is one brand to which we owe the popularisation of this idea - and that is why it is impossible to celebrate St Patrick's Day without the name of one of the world's oldest breweries being mentioned at least once.

TELEVISION HAS THE HIGHEST TRUST AND ATTENTION. THESE FACTORS MAKE IT MORE POWERFUL THAN OTHER MEDIA

14. 3. 2024 | 8 min read Advertising on TV still holds all the aces to show advertisers that it is exactly the part of the marketing mix to ensure effective achievement of objectives and increased sales. The myth that TV has no advantages over other media in the digital age does not hold up. Its effectiveness and performance have not been undermined by the expansion of social media without which today’s younger generation cannot do. What is behind television’s strong position as an advertising medium? The answer is simple: its credibility and the ability of TV advertising to gain and hold the attention of the audience.

TV ADVERTISING AND SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION ARE TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS THAT CAN BE EASILY CONNECTED

7. 3. 2024 | 8 min read The former myth that advertisers can get by with social networks has long been debunked. Television advertising has undeniable advantages that no other medium offers. And that is why it is crystal clear that the ideal way to get the most out of advertising is to include both channels in your advertising plan.

TV IS HERE FOR EVERY GENERATION, EVEN IF EACH CONSUMES IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY

29. 2. 2024 | 7 min read Is it said that TV is not for the young? This is another one of the strongly entrenched myths about television. The reach of linear TV is far from limited to older consumers who are usually not keen users of digital media or other entertainment. Data shows that young people still watch professionally produced TV content, just to a slightly lesser extent than older viewers. From an advertiser’s point of view, it would be very short-sighted to think that TV should only be targeted at the older generation.

AUTHORS OF EVERYDAY LIFE. ARE THE “ANONYMOUS” CREATORS OF TV ADS GETTING THE RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE?

28. 2. 2024 | 15 min read The word "author" automatically creates a kind of aura of uniqueness around itself. However, this romantic notion is not so relevant today - an author is not just some guru who creates a work of art that future generations will learn about through textbooks. Today, virtually anyone can be an author. This is especially evident in the world of television advertising, where big names are the desired but rarer exception. Of course, the so-called auteurs offer a databank of examples of good practice, and it is appropriate to return to them, but it is not appropriate to think that the creative team of an advertising agency performs a diametrically different activity. So what is it really like with authorship and auteurism in TV advertising? How do you turn an ad into a work of authorship? In terms of craft authorship, television advertising is a discipline similar to film or television series. It differs, of course, in the subject matter and the purpose for which it is created, but the creator must go through a de facto comparable process. As a result, a television advertisement communicates its main message in the same way as any other work. And, logically, there are three main channels of communication.

TELEVISION HAS A FUTURE AS A MEDIUM. NEW DATA DEBUNKS MYTHS ABOUT TV AND TV ADVERTISING

22. 2. 2024 | 6 min read Television is still one of the most popular leisure activities in Czech households. This is the conclusion reached by the association of television organizations in its new report, stating that viewers over the age of 15 spend three hours and forty-four minutes a day watching television. TV’s effectiveness, huge reach to a wide audience and other benefits make it clear that advertising on tv makes much sense for brands even in the digital age. And it is time to deal vigorously with the myths about TV and TV advertising. Long History and Strong Position of Television Advertising Television advertising has been around for decades and has survived the digital age. Despite all the new developments, TV remains one of the most powerful advertising platforms and still holds its position as the most compelling and trusted media channel. According to Peter Field, television has never been a more effective advertising channel than it is today.

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 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.

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.

HBBTV HAS A FUTURE. ITS BENEFITS ARE APPRECIATED BY VIEWERS AND ADVERTISERS ALIKE

27. 11. 2023 | 7 min read More than 20 years have passed since the birth of HbbTV. This technology combining broadcast TV and internet services has opened up a new world for viewers and advertisers, one that continues to evolve and improve. The interactivity that hybrid broadcasting technology puts in the hands of people in front of TV screens has elevated the possibilities of TV advertising to a higher level.

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.