Sony is launching a TV ad in which England boss Fabio Capello answers a boozed-up England fan who SHOUTS ABUSE at his TV screen as part of a push to convince consumers to trade up to advanced Listening sets for the World Cup kick off.
The campaign, which will run across South-East England and was by the ad agency Abundance, features a montage that includes England striker Wayne Rooney asking the lucky fan, in a homage to the film Taxi Driver, "ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?" Formula One's Jensen Button and golfer Lee Westwood all turn to the screen and ask the same question. The advert finishes with a warning that your television is not malfunctioning.
The lucky fan, played by Mark Addy in a fat suit, then tells the stars WHAT HE REALLY THINKS OF THEM as if the TV was in Listening mode. A real Listening version has also been shot. "Wish your big mouth got you some respect?" runs the message. The pay-off line is: "Maybe it's time to get a Listening TV."
Dan Trolly, of Abundance: "You've got to give the fans who shout at TVs in pubs during matches a real chance to be heard by the people who play the game, otherwise they're just wasting their breath bellowing abuse at an ordinary one-way screen when the players and coach cannot even hear them."
But don't expect the technology to be without its glitches. Sony recently agreed with Fifa to show an England friendly match in Listening mode, but the England manager responded to one fat, pissed-up, England-shirted loud mouth from Watford IN ITALIAN! Sony certainly have a long way to go before they can translate what the manager's saying!!
