Broadcasting

Introduction to Commercials

A commercial advertisement on television (usually abbreviated to TV commercial, ad, ad-film) is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization, which conveys a message, typically to market a product or service. Advertising revenue provides a significant portion of the funding for most privately owned television networks. The vast majority of television advertisements today consist of brief advertising spots, ranging in length from a few seconds to several minutes (as well as program-length infomercials). Advertisements of this sort have been used to promote a wide variety of goods, services and ideas since the dawn of television.

Assignment: The first thing a commercial creator thinks about after the product is the auidence. Using Youtube, find commericals with specific auidences (listed below) and answer the following questions.

COMMERCIAL #1: Teenage auidence

Find a commerical with a target auidence of teenagers. (clothing, electronic devices, make-up, etc).

  1. How long is the commercial?
  1. What is the commercial selling?
  1. How many actors are used to sell the product?
  1. How many scenes/locations are utililized in the commercial?
  1. How many times does the commerical mention the product?
  1. Do you know where to get the product?
  1. Are the actors teenagers? If not, who are they?
  1. Who doe the creators think will spend the money to purchase their product?

COMMERCIAL #2: Child Auidence

Find a commerical with a target auidence of children. (toys, learning devices, diapers, baby food, breakfast cereal, etc)

  1. How long is the commercial?
  1. What is the commercial selling?
  1. How many actors are used to sell the product?
  1. How many scenes/locations are utililized in the commercial?
  1. How many times does the commerical mention the product?
  1. Do you know where to get the product?
  1. Are the actors children? If not, who are they?
  1. Who doe the creators think will spend the money to purchase their product?

COMMERCIAL #3: Elderly Auidence

Find a commerical with a target auidence of elderly people. (life insurance, Ensure, adult diapers, medications)

  1. How long is the commercial?
  1. What is the commercial selling?
  1. How many actors are used to sell the product?
  1. How many scenes/locations are utililized in the commercial?
  1. How many times does the commerical mention the product?
  1. Do you know where to get the product?
  1. Are the actors elderly people? If not, who are they?
  1. Who doe the creators think will spend the money to purchase their product?

COMMERCIAL #5: Promotional commercial

Find a commerical that is promoting something (concert, program, radio/TV show, etc)

  1. How long is the commercial?
  1. What is the commercial promoting?
  1. How many times does the commerical mention the message/promotion?
  1. Do you know where to get more information?
  1. How do you think a car sale commercial targeted towards women would be different than a car sale commercial targeted towards a man?
  1. How would a dating site commercial targeted towards white daters be different than one targeted at black daters?
  1. How would a car sale commercial targeted towards rich people be different than one targeted at those with less money?

What are three things you think that all good commercials should have?

What is one of your favorite commercials? What makes it your favorie?