New BT Vision ad attacks rivals' channel packages

October 7, 2008 - BT Vision's new advert attacks its rival pay-TV brands, such as Virgin Media and Sky, for the fact that consumers must pay for channels they never watch.

In the new advert, Kris Marshall (of 'My Family' and 'Love, Actually') visits a friend's flat for Sunday lunch and jokes about the number of channels he pays for but doesn't watch, such as Deep Sea Fishing Channel. The advert then cuts back to his own flat, where he can choose what to watch on-demand with BT Vision. The 40-second advert was created by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO and debuted yesterday as part of an on-going GB£ 11mn (US$ 19mn) TV campaign.

BT Vision has come under criticism for the number of linear channels the service offers - it currently offers only the Freeview channels plus Setanta Sports, with only the very recent addition of high-definition content.