BBC 4 finds winner with advertising programme spree
BBC 4 is showing some really interesting programmes on advertising (repeated on BBC 2).
Mad Men is being hailed in critical circles as a brilliant drama exposing the glamour and the seedier side of the advertising business in early 60s New York. It also shows the transition from consumers taking admen and their work at face value to having to be more creative and honing their art to really communicate with their audience - just think how creative you have to be to catch someone’s attention these days.
The history of advertising documentaries that follow the industry from the 50s to the present are insightful and really hold your attention. How the ads worked, why some great ideas actually resulted in a drop in sales - Strand cigarettes - and how an industry that started with many chancers - not all - reached a peak in the 80s with Saatchi and Saatchi thinking they were so powerful they could buy the Midland Bank.
In the manner of Points of View: well done BBC
Tags: advertising, mad men
March 14th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Hi Rob,
I agree. The BBC has had some excellent coverage of advertisers and marketers and what they’ve done over the years.
The one I found fascinating was when the creative team that designed ITVDigital’s campaign admitted that “Monkey” playing with Johnny Vegas was better known than the campaign. ITV Digital went down the tubes but Monkey has survived and is now involved with a tea manufacturer.
Jim
March 25th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Jim,
maybe we should hire the monkey for the next campaign
Rob