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From: tony@oha.uucp (Tony Olekshy)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Stupid AT&T Advertisements
Message-ID: <15423@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 14 Dec 90 16:34:42 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 882, Message 9 of 9


In message <15367@accuvax.nwu.edu>, john@bovine.ati.com (John Higdon)
writes:

> Steve Thornton <NETWRK@harvarda.bitnet> writes:

> > I specifically changed service *from* AT&T because of their stupid,
> > insulting ads.

> I agree that some of AT&T's advertisements (as well as many others,
> including other LD companies) are stupid and somewhat insulting. But
> never lose sight of the purpose of advertising: the sale of products.

John then goes on to write a set of items I agree with.

Now, on to advertising.  I used to complain about it, until a friend
with a graphics arts and literature background asked me why I didn't
"study" it, instead.  After all, this would give me something to do
while waiting for the commercials to end.  With a little help, I was
on my way.

The AT&T advertisement campaign of the last two or three years has, as
you know, consisted of a series of phased advertisements on particular
themes.  When the campaign summary spot came out a few months ago, and
I saw it for the first time, I was awestruck by the technique: slowly
builing a public image, responding to market shifts and competitor's
counter-attacks, challenging competitor's counter-claims, and then
pulling it all together.

You (the reader of this group) know way to much to be softsoaped by
these ads, but their *purpose* is *not* to sell more telephony to
comp.dcom.telecom readers.  I doubt that any other LD ad campaign is
as familiar to the average USA consumer.

The ad campaign, is, IMHO, a candidate for an advertising award.


Disclaimer: I tend to watch only PBS and CNN from the USA, except for
	    Letterman, of course.  This posting is an amateur's opinion.

Yours etc, 

Tony Olekshy       Internet: tony%oha@CS.UAlberta.CA
		  BITNET: tony%oha.uucp@UALTAMTS.BITNET
		       uucp: alberta!oha!tony