Seven thoughts on booking in broadcast campaigns over December and January
1. Christmas only starts on 1st December
Decorations may already be up in the shops, but broadcasters don’t want to mention Christmas until the first day of December. The BBC is particularly strict about this.
2. Holiday schedules between Christmas and New Year
A lot of stations (particularly radio) are reduced to a skeleton staff between Christmas and New Year. As a result, they pre-record some of the programmes earlier in December. So it’s worth booking in campaigns in the lead up to Christmas in the hope they’re also used across the last week of December. Unusually for broadcast, this can result in the same story been used over a prolonged period of time.
3. Spokesperson shortage over the festive season
Light hearted, cheesy and well, really a bit slushy……in the week leading up to Christmas broadcasters only want good news, upbeat stories. It’s a good time for charity stories too.
7. Historical pegs
Blue Monday is always a good one – although you might advise a client to go on the Friday before Blue Monday. The date we pack in our resolutions is also popular. A gain it’s trying to generate an original story.
We’re always happy to brainstorm or discuss a potential campaign with you – giving you the broadcast journalist perspective, along with ideas for top lines, spokespeople and, for television, filming opportunities.
Catherine Catherine@shoutcommunications.co.uk 0776 4412904
Keren Keren@shoutcommunicatios.co.uk 07714 723743
