Thanks to the new TV viewing technology, the
consumer can simply fast-forward commercials. Advertisers are searching
for innovative ways of getting back into the viewer’s good graces.
Communication agency
These Days came
up with a non-intrusive method of achieving just that: breakvertising.
The concept caught the attention of Telenet and SBS.
Delayed viewing: both blessing... and curse
In recent years, a small digital box has fundamentally changed our
viewing behaviour. Delayed viewing via the digicorder is a blessing to
the average TV viewer. Still, it also has an adverse effect – for the
advertiser. More and more viewers simply fast-forward commercials. As a
result, TV channels were forced to look for new ways of seducing
consumers – and fast…
“Breakvertising”
Antwerp, Belgium communication agency These Days catered to this
trend by looking for untapped potential. The result: pause button
advertising – or breakvertising, to use a slightly more international
term. As soon as the viewer presses the pause button on the remote, a
still is displayed. For advertisers, this is a light-hearted but
meaningful way of connecting with the viewer.
Gertjan De Smet, Art Director at These Days and co-author of the
concept: “We were looking for a fun and non-intrusive way to make the
most of those moments when viewers pause the programme. They interrupt
the programme to answer the phone or go to the bathroom, or they want
something to nibble, etc. By definition, each of these moments involves a
product or service. That’s why we thought it would be a good idea to
give advertisers the opportunity to use this precise moment to interact
with the viewer.”
The viewer has the final say
Contrary to a classic commercial break, breakvertising is
deliberately limited to a single, frozen image. While it’s OK to liven
up a break with a wink, it is essentially still a moment of rest.
And if there’s a specific message that vexes the consumer, then he can simply use the settings of his digicorder to disable it.
Telenet & SBS jump on the bandwagon
The advertising agency called upon its customer Telenet (Liberty) and
the SBS broadcasting group to flesh out the idea, and both immediately
saw the potential. Telenet is responsible for the technical development
of the concept and will provide the necessary support, whereas SBS will
use their commercial contacts to pitch the idea to a broad range of
advertisers.
World first
This new form of TV advertising is also a world first for These Days,
SBS & Telenet. In the short term, the concept can be made available
to every TV channel, distributor or telecom provider. The trial phase
of the pause button advertising concept starts in a few days. The
rollout is scheduled for the end of the year.