Press Red Launches New Interactive Tool For Agencies
Interactive television specialist, Press Red, is attempting to make the switch to interactive advertising easier than ever with the launch of a new version of its BlackBox advert creation tool designed to woo more brands to the fledgling medium.
The software has been accredited by Sky Interactive for use by agencies in creating campaigns using the satellite giant’s Mini-DAL screens. Advertisers can now use BlackBox to create campaigns with rich graphics and dedicated video or audio channels for use by ITV, Sky, Five, Flextech and UKTV channels on digital satellite.
The BlackBox tool is currently being used by Sky and IDS to create interactive content. It is being offered free of charge to the advertising industry, providing a further incentive to create stand-out with interactive campaign elements.
Press Red claims the new technology is a substantial leap forward for interactive television. Chris Moreton, co-founder and chief executive of the company, said: “Since our launch, BlackBox Designer has had a fantastic take-up rate by the advertising industry, with over 50 agencies having signed-up for use of the tool, and in excess of 120 campaigns having been successfully created and deployed in the last nine months.”
He added: “We believe that the extra creativity offered by Mini-DALs will give a huge boost to the industry as a whole, and we look forward to working with our agency clients to enable them to take advantage of this exciting new initiative.”
The take-up of interactive advertising has been relatively slow in Britain, although the technology looks set to take off over the coming months with Sky launching several initiatives to increase its use. The broadcaster recently increased its portfolio of interactive channels, allowing advertisers to screen interactive campaigns on The History Channel and The Biography Channel, in addition to Sky’s wholly-owned channels including Sky One, Sky News, Sky Sports and Sky Movies (see Sky Expands Interactive Advertising Portfolio).
The broadcaster has also attempted to foster interest in the medium by offering a £250,000 jackpot prize to the creators of the most innovative and imaginative interactive advertisements in a promotion dubbed Out of the Box (see Sky Boosts iTV Advertising With £250k Prize).
Press Red: 08700 136 136 www.pressred.tv
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