A. Schweda

The residual impact of avoided television advertising

This study reports the results of a laboratory experiment that compared the effects of partial exposure associated with six major avoidance modes, including DVR (digital video recorder) ad skipping, against each other and against full-attention exposures as controls. The most common form of avoidance, ignoring advertisements (cognitive avoidance), has effects equal to fast-forwarding. Prior exposure increases effectiveness of recall as partial exposures, including fast forwarding, can act as reminder ads, but prior exposure also increases avoidance. Doubling the message of an ad in its sound track increases effectiveness and is the only way to counteract the effects of cognitive avoidance.

A Comparison of Three Interactive Television AD Formats

ABSTRACT This study explores the effects of interacting with three current interactive television (iTV) ad formats, using an Australian audience panel. Interaction with iTV ads has positive effects on awareness and net positive thoughts, which increase purchase intentions compared with the influence of regular ads. The telescopic format represents the best format, likely because it makes the most of the entertaining possibilities of iTV by offering additional long-form video; its superior performance cannot be explained readily by self-selection effects. The results suggest that the effectiveness of iTV ads should be measured by their interaction rate rather than the much smaller response rate, and iTV advertisers should consider ways to maximize interaction and response rates.

The importance of social motives for watching and interacting with digital television

Contrary to a key assumption of the TV industry, interaction with digital interactive TV (iTV) programmes and ads is driven as much by social motivations as it is by information seeking. This insight was revealed by a survey of a representative sample of 867 digital TV households in the UK, which has one of the largest and most experienced digital iTV audiences in the world. This new survey used a comprehensive but efficient set of motivation items, so that no important motivations were left out, which may explain why social motivations emerged as important in this study, whereas they have not been in studies of traditional TV watching. Suggestions are made for how marketers and programme producers can make iTV content that appeals to viewers who are motivated by social needs.

Interactive branded overlays

This study presents the results of a laboratory experiment that considers the implications of adding interactivity to branded in-program overlays, essentially creating a new model of advertising. The results demonstrate the viability of this new model. Interactive branded overlays generate a substantial amount of interactive response and have no adverse effects on the programs viewing experience. However, because program interactivity distracts viewers from their primary goal, processing program content, interactive overlays are perceived as intrusive, and the response rate to in-program triggers is lower than that for interactive ads within the ad break. We show that by carefully combining in-program interactive banners with program-related trivia banners, perceived intrusiveness, and negative spillover effects on the viewing experience can be minimized. Program interactivity was perceived as less intrusive, and was therefore more effective, in the context of a program featuring high- rather than low-prominence product placement. Implications and future research directions are discussed.