TBS Slowly Trying To Pull The "Frank TV" Wool Over Your Eyes
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Big League Stew conducted an amazing interview with Jeff Gregor, the chief marketing officer for TBS and TNT, and more than anything it shed some light on the thinking surrounding "Frank TV". In fact, Mr. Gregor even went so far as to tell BLS that the ads are, "so good at entertaining," that you see one it just feels, "like you just saw one not too long ago"....
"Last year, we were part of the story," Gregor admitted. "Or (the FrankTV ads) were part of the story, and we knew that even if we ran less commercials this year, it would still be part of the story, because the spots are so distinctive, so different, and are playing to a large audience inside of baseball (telecasts)."Now, I love what TBS and TNT are doing with their Sports content, and even some of their shows, but you have to be kidding me. I know most of us are pretty impressionable, but to assume something like that almost comes across as borderline condescending. I, for one, won't be watching the show out of principal now, and if they actually come out of this thing with passable ratings.....I'd be surprised.
Gregor is also of the belief that the spots are just that good, and that is why people are drawn to them.
"This is just a hypothesis on my side: You think there are a lot of (FrankTV) spots, but there's actually not as many as you think," Gregor said. "They're just so good at entertaining and engaging that when they come on you feel like you just saw one not too long ago."
TBS exec: FrankTV ads 'good at entertaining and engaging' (Big League Stew)
10 Comments:
If TBS's announcers could shut the f- up for one second it wouldn't be too bad. Whatever happened to simply calling the game, and why has it been replaced with made up "insight" repeated over and over between every pitch?
And why hasn't anyone gotten a Craig Sager a wardrobe specialist? How is he allowed to dress himself?
GOD I HATE FRANK CALINEDO he's had they same stick his whole life ... and it wasn't funny ever whoopie doo you can make fun of john madden who cares fat ass
A friend of mine gave me a bootleg Frank Caliendo DVD a while ago (pre Frank TV) and it was actually really good.
I feel bad because he's actually really funny and really talented but those ads are alienating anyone who might ever have watched his show.
Gregor has no freaking clue what the public thinks.
His explanation of the Caliendo ads being memorable is complete crap because during the NBA Playoffs all you saw were House of Payne and Bill Engvall commercials every 2 seconds and they were just as annoying as the FrankTV ads.
In addition, I work in advertising and there's generally a relationship that media planners use where they realize if someone sees an advertisement multiple times they have a better chance of making that consumer aware, or getting them to take whatever action they want (buy a product, watch a show, etc.)
But they are also careful not to show this ad to the same person too many times (it's called frequency) or else it's considered waste, and the exposure to the advertising becomes less and less effective.
From what I've seen with the FrankTV, Bill Engvall, and House of Payne ads, Gregor needs to get a better handle on targeting an effective frequency because right now he's wasting a ton of advertising money and even worse, annoying people into not watching these shows.
I used to like Caliendo, but Jeseus H. Christ, enough is enough. I don't need to see him on my TV every 15 minutes. Can I sue TBS and the FCC for cruel and unusual punishment?
Now that I've gotten the momentary, mild amusement of watching Caliendo do every single one of his impressions, I don't need to watch his attempt at a sketch show.
Gregor is like the morons in charge of Divison I college football. His snarkiness will only strengthen my resolve to never watch FRANK TV. Oh by the way Caliendo your Jim Rome impression really sucks. I adjure you to go into the Jungle and survive an interview with Van Smack.
Does anyone know when the premiere is for it? I sure don't and I've seen the ads many a time. They may be entertaining(not) but they sure aren't informative.