Bags Fly Free on SWA

Southwest is back to using benefit advertising to bag on its competitors with its “Bags Fly Free” campaign. They use a good cop; bad cop routine to point out their competitor’s shortcomings. The bad cop is screaming, “We know your charging for bags, drop the bags and turn around.” Then the good cop screams, “Protect the load.” The majority of the spots revolve around the baggage handlers and how much they care about your bags.

Even at the end of the 30-second spot SWA doesn’t miss an opportunity to point out that competitors charge up to $120 as oppose to them where bags fly free. The tone of the spot above was pretty serious in my opinion, but I think their intensions were to have it be more comedic. Due to the good cop; bad cop routine I think this can safely be referred to as Southwest Airlines NYPD Blue moment.

The spot above was created by Austin based agency GSD&M. The agency could be a good internship spot for those University of Texas at Austin advertising kids.

The spot below has more of a funny tone to it when compared to the one above.



Anyway, what do you guys think? Let me know in the comment section below.

Best,
-A.B.

NFL Sunday Ticket Campaign

Here are the other NFL Sunday Ticket campaign commercials that I could find. This is simply to show you guys the rest of the spots in the campaign. Of course my favorite is the New Orleans Saints Voodoo spot.

The first one was titled the “Cheeseheads” spot.



Second is the Dallas Dog.



Third is the Eagle’s Game.



Fourth is Home of the Pats.



Anyway, enjoy everyone and please let me know if you find more.

Best,
-A.B.

Saints "Voodoo" Direct TV Spot

Direct TV has taken their NFL Sunday ticket commercials to new heights with this Voodoo practicing Saints fan in the spot above. In the spot, the Saints fan torture a rival Atlanta Falcons supporter using a voodoo doll. What heinous crime has the Falcons fan’s only crime, you ask? He purchased a Direct TV package that will allow him to watch his team regardless of where he lives.

The Saints fan sits at home pricking a doll with needles that inturn cause the Falcons supporter to fall to the ground in pain. With an evil grin on his face the Saints fan mumbles, "Dirty birds can’t fly with a broken wing." When watching the spot you can’t help but laugh at his agony. But I must say, I’d be interested to know what sort of information the creative brief had that enabled the art directors at Deutsch to realize this would be a funny scenario for Direct TV’s football audience?

I guess the real question is why was this topic considered funny to people? The practice of voodoo is usually considered evil, black magic. I should clarify; in my opinion western media portrays voodoo as evil and dark. Its considered something used to harm others. But honestly, I don’t think that is the whole truths, nothing but the truth.

Anyway, let me know what you guys thought about the spot and why you thought it was funny or not funny. Oh, one more thing, how many times have you guys seen this particular spot aired on T.V?

Best,
-A.B.

Gangland: BBDO Germany

Oh the possibilities, the ad above could have easily been mistaken for an advertisement for Gangland, a History Channel TV series. The Gangland and BBDO Germany ad look as if they could come from the same family. But the ad above is actually a recruitment ad for BBDO Germany.

If I would have saw the ad I would have simply passed by it because I would have thought it was promoting a TV show. Well ok, maybe not me because I honestly love the show. But honestly as a print ad the message will not resonate with the intended target audience very well. An online interactive ad would work 10 better especially with young advertising professionals.

Also, why do you guys think they used the image that they did? Were they trying to intimidate potential employees into coming to work for the agency? I don’t think that’s the case. The economy is bad throughout the world, people would kill for any job. Anyway, these are just my thoughts.



Best,
A.B.

TiVo Come TiVo Go

So I have to tell you guys, I got TiVo on May 7st and returned it May 13th. I was all excited about being able to watch all the shows I try to follow throughout the week at anytime. But I quickly realized that it would not be able to serve my needs because my TV runs on a Direct TV cable box. Being on the Direct TV system means I would not be able to record a show on one channel while watching another because the Direct TV box was a single tuner, to me this shortcoming sort of defeated the purpose of having a DVR system. I mean, why have a recorder if you are going to be forced to watch what’s being recorded at the time, right?

In the short time that I had it an interesting ad caught my attention while live TV was on pause. An ad popped-up across the bottom of the screen like the one shown in the image below and it required interaction from me so that it could provide more information. My question is, do these ads ever result in a purchase for the advertiser? It’s a great idea if you are simply going for brand awareness.



Anyway, let me know what you guys think. By the way, the image is not from my TV but it provides you with the main idea of the post.

Best,
A.B.