ABC IVIEW’s new campaign asks ‘Which Streamer Will You Unsubscribe From?’ via Howatson+Co
With streaming subscription prices increasing and cost of living at an all-time high, millions of people are being forced to choose which streaming service to cancel. Netflix or Prime? Disney+ or Apple TV?
As a completely free streaming service, with world-class drama, comedy, sport, news, kids shows and more, ABC iview has unveiled a new brand platform developed by Howatson+Company, to position itself as one streamer Aussies never need to cancel.
‘Always free. Always Entertaining.’ launches with a series of films (directed by Sam Hibbard, FINCH) showing characters from different TV genres lamenting the fact that the streaming platform they’re on is about to get cancelled.
Says Karen Madden, head of marketing at ABC: “With Australians cancelling more than 1.3m streaming accounts in the past three months, it’s safe to say The Great Unsubscribe is well and truly here. This is the perfect time to show that ABC ivew is, and has always been, a streaming service for the people of Australia. And that we’ll always offer world-class content that’s free from cost and free from ads.”
In addition to the films, a series of OOH ads has been unveiled across the country, cheekily fuelling the subscription debate ABC iview can’t be part of.
Says Gavin Chimes, executive creative director at Howatson+Company: “ABC has a long history of broadcasting irreverent, thought-provoking ideas and content. This campaign is the next step in that legacy, positioning ABC iview as the streaming hero Aussies didn’t know they had. Huge thanks to Sam for his impeccable touch with the films. And to Leisa, Karen and the whole team at the ABC. This was a true partnership from day one.”
The campaign has aired to millions of Australians and will be supported through TV, cinema, radio, OOH, pre-roll, social and print.
Client – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Director of Audiences, ABC – Leisa Bacon
Head of Marketing, ABC – Karen Madden
Group Marketing Manager Screen, ABC – Sarah McDonald
Marketing Manager Screen, ABC – Siobhan McGeown
ABC iview Marketing lead, ABC – Sophie Beaton
Agency – Howatson+Company
Chief Executive Officer – Chris Howatson
Chief Strategy Officer – Dom Hickey
Executive Creative Director – Gavin Chimes
Creative Director – Harriet Ronn
Creative Director – Scott Zuliani
Creative Director – Simon Friedlander
Head of Production – Holly Alexander
Senior Producer – Natalie Greaves
Managing Partner – Rebecca Robertson
Group Business Director – Belle Simmonds
Associate Design Director – Jo Cao
Finished Artist – Patrick Rivera
Studio lead – Simon Merrifield
Production Company – Finch
Director – Sam Hibbard
Executive Producer/MD – Corey Esse
Executive Producer – Loren Bradley
Producer – Cath Anderson
Casting – Peta Einberg Casting
DP – Ross Giardina
Art Director – Sam Lukins
Editor – Elise Butt
Colourist – Alina Bermingham
Post Production – ARC EDIT
Original Composition and Sound Design – Mosaic Music + Sound
Composer – Adam Moses
EP – Bill Doig
49 Comments
Go Scotty Z
The old “make an ad for a TV channel in the style of a genre”. Only this iteration lands about as flat as a pancake.
Been done too many times too well.
Not in a bad way though.
Very well crafted. These are really good.
Very well crafted. Fresh and classic at the same time.
these are very good, great work Sam
Free?
The point of all of this is so lost in the scripting and the execution that no one is going to have any idea what’s going on. Insight is so far away from the execution. Swing and a miss!
Saw one of these spots while watching TV the other day and it really stuck with me. Love it
I like these…..a lot.
Well done to all, it’s awesome work.
Funny stuff! Great strat and prop. We’ll executed
If anyone at the ABC considered this campaign not only acknowledges, but is actively promoting how the ABC’s taxpayer funded status presents an unwelcome challenge to commercial operations who can’t give it away for free.
The strategy of these ads is basically making Newscorp, Nine, Netflix and Sevenwest’s point for them. Cute.
Finally a rich white guy with the confidence to say what we’re all thinking, “Poor people shouldn’t be allowed to watch TV.”
Great stuff. The most simple and obvious insight, and the right one to hit. I’m literally having this conversation with my wife atm.
Very very good. And very very smart.
Big fan…Entertaining and smart. Well done to all involved!
These are lovely. Made me think – and smile.
Congrats to all involved.
Last one is a bit confusing, but these are great.
Look great, no denying that. Is there an idea here though? Im confused. You lost me when they started speaking words.
Decent strategy, let down by a convoluted execution.
Really rate this.
Film has a narrative that’s easy to get and hits the entertainment nail on the head.
OOH beautifully single-minded.
Looking forward to seeing the results
The commercial channels also have free streaming apps.
Also, don’t hate Australia’s public broadcaster.
With ads.
Do we think people are going to hang about to decode those pieces of OOH?
They’re entertaining, and I just cancelled Disney+. Well done.
Nicely done. Now if iView was available on PS5 I wouldn’t lament the death of my PS4. Keep getting told by ABC that “it’s coming. Soon…” Waiting. Still. Soon has been & gone.
…reminds me of those MIFF ads Clems Melbourne did in 2010/2011.
Good creative. Well executed. Well done.
Funny, great references – humour always wins. Well suited to the ABC.
Did the brief asked for a complete disconnect between the TV and outdoor creative? Maybe the brief stipulated that brand attribution had to be super fuzzy. The brief must have also said that audiences should be left scratching their heads because all the commercial networks offer ‘always free’ streaming. What a convoluted mess.
Insight, good.
Idea, good.
Outdoor, good.
Films, poor. Real poor.
Bloody great work. Sharp, well shot, with a great role for brand. Love it.
Is anyone going to cancel another streaming service because iview is free?
I wouldn’t have thought so.
This agency always has a crack.Sometimes it works,sometimes less so.But there is always an idea and it’s always well crafted.
Others on here should take note.
Seriously hope you are not being paid as a strategist!
Lovely storytelling, great little films done with care and understated wit – well done. I love the tone of the OOH too.
To the haters, rest easy, I’ll bet my slippers you’ll never do anything as good.
Walking the talk. The high production values and performances (esp. of the first two vids) are great demonstrations of the high standard of programs available on iView.
Solid effort. Well done.
Beautifully shot and cast, great performances. Only issue is that I’m not sure it’s clear that their individual subscriber is going to cancel their subscription to the channel the characters live in. Ponytail says ‘Chloe is going to cancel her subscription…etc etc.” I reckon that will be lost on the average punter. A clumsy solve would have been to zoom out of the TV where we see the girl on her couch, then clicking ‘unsubscribe.’
OOH is poor.
Anyone who thinks these are good posters doesn’t know what a good poster is.
You need to read all 17 words in this OOH, including the very tiny ones, for the idea to make any sense at all. And they look boring … and are branded poorly.
Basics.
Thankfully you didn’t work on it.
From three ‘creative directors’ on one ad campaign.
love
#accentlament
Wonderful!
I love these playful little works of art!
I would like to know the names of the Actors.
They deserve credit as their contribution is huge.
Alas no credit for them!!!
The TV spots (or ‘films’) are nicely done and deliver on the core message well. The OOH reminds the consumer of the bigger, more popular and successful brands, that are competing for attention and usage in this category. It also looks totally different to the video creative, so likely there will be buffering issues in consumer minds.
Didn’t get any of them on first watch, felt convoluted, and like a poor man’s Canal Plus ad. On second viewing it landed. Hopefully there’s a healthy media budget. 2nd spot shoulda left out the hammy carpet rolling guy, but the skinny guy’s performance was killer. 3rd spot was awesome, maybe the best.
The OOH is not working at all. so convoluted, which makes me 2nd guess the convoluted-ness of the TV all over again.
Please ignore any criticism and dismiss it as coming from people tired of life. I’ve already messaged your colourist today about how brilliant the ads are, specially the Jester though. Such outstanding acting and script. So beautifully dry. And SO FRESH! Everyone involved deserves to take a bow. How we so needed a fresh take. No praise too high.