Offmessage

The “rise of the second screen” should, in many ways, be a godsend for TV advertisers.

Until recently putting URL, Facebook or Search calls to action at the end of a 30 second spot in the middle of Coronation Street was always a leap of faith when, for most viewers, the computer was turned off in the next room.

Nowadays however, when according to some reports up to 75% of us are using other media while watching TV, there’s a real chance that an advert’s call to action is going to get followed.

What’s vital in this new environment is that the agencies producing these campaigns take into account this change in behaviour and the related routes of access.

And by this I mean “Don’t even think of using Flash”

If you’ve persuaded someone to search for your term and click the link you’d better make sure they get more than “you are trying to access this site from a non-Flash enabled device”.  Particularly when your site is at best a poor implementation of the Github 404 page.

Oh look! Two rather shocking “viral” videos, both out of Yorkshire… I’m guessing they’re not in fact related, but my word, they’re both shit and weirdly similar:

Above, Ethel and Vera star in “A New Cloud”

Above, Edna and Mary star in “‘Ow much?”

I do so sincerely hope that Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt were in some way involved in this Sugar Puffs advert.  If not, someone needs suing.

For your delectation and reference – The One And Only Four Way Crimp.

Orangina takes a step into the world of the second life furry and tries to make mainstream advertising out of it. It’s weird, I’ll give it that. Found at waxy

Stalin says you will be punished!

We appear to be having a bit of a Charlie Brooker week in the office. So here’s some more. His devastating critique of current TV advertising. Not big, not clever, not safe for work.

Hadn’t been to adbusters for a while. Nice to see that they’re still going, and still producing really nice stuff. Does this count as treason?

If you’ve ever had a row about the name or artist of a song used in an advert this site (commercial breaks and beats) has to be the most useful site ever. You can search either by song, artist or by advertised product – absolutely fantastic.

Admittedly it hasn’t resolved the argument I’m having about the current Ford Fiesta ad, but there you go. Good nonetheless.