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BigPond To Make A Sitcom?
Posted by Nick Broughall at 11:44 AM on June 23, 2008
As a general rule, television ads suck. They're badly written, boring and distract you from what you want to be enjoying. That's why so many people now download TV shows from the internet.
But every so often, you get an ad that's actually entertaining. Like the BigPond broadband ad about the Great Wall of China. I actually laughed out loud when I first saw it (although subsequent viewings have taken the edge off it).
However, as good as this ad is, I can't say I'm convinced by the prospect of Telstra developing a sitcom around it, which is exactly what could be happening according to the Australian.
The idea for a sitcom has been pitched at Telstra, along with interactive games and other engaging experiences to try and promote their broadband offering. Both ideas would revolve around the father and son featured in the original ad.
Given the large amounts of negative press Telstra constantly seems to attract, I can't imagine a sitcom would be the best branding exercise, especially considering how bad Australian sitcoms have been since Hey Dad! was taken off the air. It would probably be safer to just try and develop more entertaining ads.
[The Australian]
Comments
tsengan
Posted June 23, 2008 3:29 PM
Maybe they're hoping it'll be a new Hey Dad! The kid has the potential to be just as annoying. Instead of a quirky secretary, they've got the bagpipe playing neighbour.
Oh god no.
Bad Telstra. Bad Telstra.
Anon
Posted June 24, 2008 12:29 AM
Note: COVERAGE SPONSORED BY BIGPOND
Gizmodo.com.au is turning into A Current Affair, masking their ads with stories. Allure Media is trying to profit from all the good the US Gizmodo team are doing. It's not going to work! You need to pull in a good editor and get Gizmodo.com.au back on track.
Elder McArthur
Posted June 24, 2008 1:50 AM
[wild applause] YES!!! Go for it! A new Australian sitcom is long overdue. How do I get to be in the studio audience?
Nick Broughall
Posted June 24, 2008 6:28 AM
@Anon - so by your reckoning, Giz should refuse to cover any BigPond or Telstra stories simply because they advertise on our site? How ridiculously absurd!
If I "broke" that story, then I could perhaps see where you're coming from. But the simple fact is that the story came from the Australian. Check the link at the bottom of the page. It's an interesting story and I covered it accordingly.
I have absolutely nothing to do with the advertising on the site - we have a very professional team who look after that. At the same time, they have no say as to what or who I write about.
That's one of the best things about being the editor here.
Of course, it's easy to sit back in the great anonymity of the internet and make accusations like this. I'm sure you believe that you could do a better job. You'd be very, very wrong.