Do virgin advertise enough?

gadge · 21-12-2010, 17:48

Just been flicking through and noticed 3 sky ads in the space of ten minutes in our eyes cable customers do virgin advertise themselves enough like have we ever seen an advert on tv about the v+ i haven't i have seen a few about broadband but thats about it.

MovedGoalPosts · 21-12-2010, 17:55

Virgin Do advertise quite a bit, but concentrate on Broadband where they really should have the technological high ground.

Changing any general perception that if you want digital TV you need Sky, is always going to be a tough nut to crack when Sky is the high profile provider. Indeed a lot of skys advertising is about the channel content, rather than the distribution method.

nialli · 21-12-2010, 18:09

BSkyB is the UK's largest advertiser, so unless you want VM prices to increase to cover marketing costs I'd keep quiet on the matter

Quote:

BSkyBâ€™s marketing spend is on course to hit Â£1bn this year ...
The company spent Â£826m on marketing in the nine months to end of March, according to interim results, an increase of Â£286m on the Â£540m it spent in the first half of its financial year and up from Â£661m in the same period last year.

source
A better question would be "do they advertise effectively"? I've long thought they haven't really marketed the VOD service well - it's so superior to Sky Anytime and Box Office but it's a well-kept secret. It will be interesting to see how they promote TiVo.

Digital Fanatic · 21-12-2010, 18:22

I hate Sky's advertising, it's too much, especially on Sky branded channels. i don't watch them much because of that!

VM advertise quite a bit on local radio.

gondalio · 21-12-2010, 18:56

yeh not much advertising for the tv because i dont think they are at a stage yet that they can advertise purely because SKY have ALL the channels in HD and we dont lol so its a pointless fight at the moment, so we just stick to the broadband as we are the best at that. needless to say when new things happen virginmedia do stick a mention in, like they did with the v+ but its more local advertising billboards and posters and leaflets and letters through the post and that rather than TV.

dsmuk · 21-12-2010, 19:23

They seem to do lots of arty adverts but not the simple adverts that say get this, this and that for XX a month.

Sky are very good at saying take any Sky package and get free calls and broadband.

Example Virgin adverts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOkhmsCykpw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xry73HTcf9o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdeDd...eature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5csgB...C9CB6&index=28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7KETHB_R_Q

ChrisLUFC22 · 21-12-2010, 20:18

Sky are very good at advertising anything, I think.
Virgin need to start spouting off aswell, start being a bit more cocky.

robtuk06 · 22-12-2010, 00:48

I think they will when Tivo is available to the masses. Their TV offering is not worth shouting about just yet.

MutleyF · 22-12-2010, 09:16

We were watching sky movies last night when an ad appeared just before the film promoting sky movies !

I fully understand the need to advertise your services, but what is the point in Sky advertising a subscription channel when you are already subscribed to it. Further, you could not see the ad on the channel unless you were subscribed !!!

Digital Fanatic · 22-12-2010, 14:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by MutleyF

We were watching sky movies last night when an ad appeared just before the film promoting sky movies !

I fully understand the need to advertise your services, but what is the point in Sky advertising a subscription channel when you are already subscribed to it. Further, you could not see the ad on the channel unless you were subscribed !!!

Indeed, I find their advertising nauseating at best. They advertise way too much. It's over-kill and really puts me off their programming/channels.

The Sky Movies advertising above is a good example!

Stephen · 22-12-2010, 14:11

VM have a lot of press advertising at the moment along with billboards, bus shelters and TV adverts using Speedy Gonzalez.

I see at least 2 in the Metro paper each day.

HDFootyMan · 24-12-2010, 12:16

VM's marketing budget for this year was around Â£170m:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010...sing-broadband

They've just become the 1st major sponsor of Capital FM and will 'take over' that radio station's web page. Also, they will sponsor the drive time show for 6 months and VM will be incorporated into the programme’s name. Also:

Quote:

Initially the campaign will be used to promote Virgin’s half price bundle offer but will change to a new promotion in February.

You know, the "Capital FM Drivetime Show, Sponsored by Virgin Media's TiVo", has a nice ring to it, don't you agree?

http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/secto...021903.article

whizzard · 24-12-2010, 12:42

You can guarantee that when TiVo is ready to roll that they will majorly "ramp up" their marketing.

mertle · 24-12-2010, 13:26

Its all about balance too much is turn off counter productive. I actually think virgin got it about right but do wish they plug TV bit more.

Also if the advert is shocking take the new iceland one that just drives me nuts is loud on alot really bad. Scifi showed the damn thing 3 times between the film Myth.

My mum hats go compare and I think marketing companies can actually make or kill a company if its irritant.

MutleyF · 24-12-2010, 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by mertle

Also if the advert is shocking take the new iceland one that just drives me nuts is loud on alot really bad. Scifi showed the damn thing 3 times between the film Myth.

Fact is though, this shows that the advertising worked ! You can remember the brand name, and that is what matters.

Now for me, if I can get the image of Jason Donovan in suspenders out of my head ......