Freesat launches first ad campaign

The free-to-air satellite service Freesat is launching its first TV ad campaign.

Freesat, a joint venture between the BBC and ITV, is launching two ads with the message “Brilliant entertainment for everyone”, with the first ad broadcasting on ITV1 during coverage of the England v Ukraine World Cup qualifier tomorrow night.

The 30-second ad uses time-lapse photography to show a man during a day of watching TV.

Will Abbott, Freesat marketing and communications director, said: “The use of a series of still shots allows us to squeeze much more content into a 30-second spot.

“It allows us to effectively convey the passing of time. We have tried to ensure he is not a telly addict. The scene shows he enjoys a varied life; there is lots of action.”

Abbot said that the ads were deliberately focusing on viewers rather than showcasing th content available on the service.

“We are more interested in talking about people rather than pixels, you could say. We have chosen not to use the techniques some other platforms have done to push HD services. We want to focus on expressions and emotions,” he said.

Standard Definition Freesat boxes are available from £49, while HD boxes cost around £100.

In January, the service revealed that it had achieved more than 200,000 sales since its launch in May last year (see Freesat sales top 200,000).