Red Bull maybe one of the first brands to recognize the potential of become a media company. Instead of sponsoring events, it now creates and produces its own. This gives it a huge degree of control and the ability to associate itself with the extreme events that best suit the brand.
Nike is starting to move in that direction with a slightly different take. It's using the Olympics as an opportunity to showcase its innovation and technology and to communicate this to the world, it's using the internet and dozens of video interviews with athletes and designers.
Here are some Nike personnel talking about a new sailing shoe for the Olympics.
It's a reminder that all brands have the opportunity to tell much big stories because the media bandwidth available to do so is that much bigger and costs nothing. Although, these videos currently follow a pretty straight formula, it's like that we will see a lot more creativity being introduced into this area in the future.
It's same to assume that in the near future, these brand stories will have as much creative importance as advertising does today. Whether advertising agencies will step up to take on this role, remains to be seen. If they don't PR companies and in-house creative departments will take this over.
Brands as media
Ed - Great post and a topic that has been on my mind lately. P&G invented the concept of using media/entertainment to involve consumers in our brands with soap operas in the '50's. But what we are seeing this time around is something different all together. Brands are using entertainment/media to gives consumers an insiders look. They are letting consumers be co-owning of the business and using media to tell a story. Posted by Dave Knox on 08/11/2024 03:47 AM
nike videos
Nike talking to themselves again! Not sure people care enough to watch these. Great use of media but they do need a better execution if people are to feel part of the development or care enough to pass them on. Posted by robin lanahan on 08/19/2008 05:15 AM
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Ed - Great post and a topic that has been on my mind lately. P&G invented the concept of using media/entertainment to involve consumers in our brands with soap operas in the '50's. But what we are seeing this time around is something different all together. Brands are using entertainment/media to gives consumers an insiders look. They are letting consumers be co-owning of the business and using media to tell a story.