William Shatner is fronting Foxtel's new national marketing campaign, dubbed ‘Introducing Foxtel Broadband: Powered by Entertainment.'
Best known for his iconic portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek series and movies and his role as Danny Crane in Boston Legal, Shatner makes a dramatic entrance into the campaign when he abseils from a helicopter into the command room of a gigantic Foxtel Hub, Foxtel’s WiFi modem.
At his post Shatner sets about conducting a host of Foxtel stars including Wallaby Israel Folau, Melbourne Housewives, Janet Roach, Chyka Keebaugh, Lydia Schiavello and Gina Liano; comedian Magda Szubanski, Aussie NBA star Matthew Dellavedova, Olympic sprinter and TV presenter Matt Shirvington and Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo.
Shatner assumes a familiar and humorous caricature of himself, interacting comically with his sidekick Jason, the Foxtel Hub’s chief engineer, while overseeing Foxtel’s home grown talent furiously pumping away on treadmills, illustrating the theme ‘Foxtel Broadband: Powered by Entertainment’.
The campaign is rolling out over TV, cinema and digital and features a short prequel that is currently airing; a 30” spot that started Sunday; a 60” spot, which begins on October 18; and a series of 15” pre rolls, that together build the full story.
The campaign was filmed in Sydney by one of Australia’s top commercial directors David Denneen, envisioned by Clemenger BBDO Sydney and brought to life by Felix, Foxtel’s in house creative team in conjunction with Filmgraphics Entertainment and Method Studios who were behind the commercial’s production.
Foxtel’s Broadband campaign will see Shatner front TV commercials as well as social and digital channels as marketing is ramped up.
The campaign follows Foxtel’s limited Broadband launch in February when existing Foxtel TV customers were offered the opportunity to bundle their TV service with broadband and home phone in a Foxtel Triple Play bundle.
Ed Smith, Foxtel’s Executive Director of Sales and Marketing said, “Today we kicked off our national marketing campaign alerting customers that our triple play of Foxtel Broadband, TV entertainment and home phone is available, and what better personality to help us flip the switch than TV and film legend, William Shatner. Shatner’s trademark charm and cheeky delivery provides us with a perfect platform from which to announce Foxtel Broadband’s arrival and to highlight Foxtel’s world class content and innovative technology. It was a pleasure having him on board to lead Foxtel’s Broadband mission.”