Charter Communications has launched a new humorous Star Trek-themed Spectrum ad campaign featuring actor, comedian and Saturday Night Live alum Kevin Nealon that pokes fun at satellite TV rivals, taking specific aim at rain fade and promotional pricing.
And, yes, the ads even target customer service issues, an area that's never been a strong suit for the cable industry.
Nealon is Captain Telstar, commanding the orbiting (and aging) Satellite TV Headquarters vessel that launched in 1994. The ads advance the viewer to present day to see how the orbiter is dealing with current challenges, suggesting that the ship's technology is getting a bit, shall we say, long in the tooth.
On how to deal with rain fade, Telstar recommends: “Did you try turning it off and turning it back on again?”
Each ad, clearly targeted at Dish Network and DirecTV (now part of AT&T), concludes with the tagline: “It’s time to move on from satellite.”
Charter developed the “Satellite TV Spaceship” campaign, which also features gifs and memes, with Pereira & O’Dell New York. The ads were directed by Fred Savage.
You can view the first trio of ads below or by going here:
·
