This week, while marketers in the US are engaging with fans and launching new campaigns, advertisers in the UK are reeling from news that has rocked the nation (and broadcast schedules). Catch up on it all in our Weekly Must Reads.

UK Advertisers Hit Pause

Queen Elizabeth II’s passing last week marked the end of the monarch’s historic 70-year reign. In following British tradition, all broadcast stations and newspaper publications immediately paused their planned advertisements and other programming. Instead, many of the largest television broadcasters will fill their schedule with news, tributes, and commemorations for the Queen. Similarly, social platforms including Twitter and Snapchat and online media sites suspended ads in the UK over the weekend as a sign of respect.

As a result, some UK advertisers have scrambled to reschedule planned campaigns and rollouts in the wake of the news. Some predict it will be weeks until advertising and media programming in Britain fully resumes its normal schedule. Find out more about how brands are responding to the news here: https://www.thedrum.com/news/2022/09/08/broadcasters-publishers-and-platforms-pause-ads-following-queen-elizabeth-ii-s-death

DirecTV Combines Fandoms to Reach Multiple Audiences

DirecTV’s ongoing campaign, titled “Get Your TV Together,” takes aim at consumers who are feeling overwhelmed and confused by all the current cable and streaming options. The campaign’s newest ad illustrates how easy it is to combine and navigate the choices under DirecTV’s platform by teaming up NFL stars and “Real Housewives” on the football field. According to a spokesperson for the campaign, the spot shows two very different fandoms can have more in common than they ever expected.

In the ad itself, a couple watching TV starts flipping between a football game and the reality show until the two merge into one program. Learn more about DirecTV’s strategy to reach multiples audiences at once here: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/campaign-trail-directv-nfl-football-real-housewives-fandom/631288/

Wendy’s Brings Back Fan Favorites

To celebrate the start of football season, Wendy’s is bringing back two fan favorites in their newest campaign. Former college football standout Reggie Bush is the star of the brand’s latest ad, which promotes the return of Wendy’s Pretzel Pub Bacon Cheeseburger. When the burger last returned to menus in 2020, it was one of the brand’s best-selling products ever. According to Wendy’s, fans have been requesting the burger on social media ever since.

Creating limited-time menu items and bringing back fan favorites has become a popular move for fast food restaurants. A few months ago, Taco Bell also made waves when they re-introduced their Mexican Pizza menu item at the request of rapper Doja Cat. Dive into more details about Wendy’s new stunt here: https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/wendys-returns-something-important-that-was-taken-from-reggie-bush/

Pepsi’s NFL Fan Cave

As the NFL begins a shift toward streaming, Pepsi is encouraging the trend with a contest to win a Pepsi Fan Cave tiny home. The home-on-wheels is decked out with all the features to make it the perfect football binge-watching spot, including a stadium-style seating, a food warming ottoman, and a Pepsi Gametime Fridge TV. For a chance to win the “Pepsi Week 18 Pack,” as the tiny home is named, fans must place an Instacart order for two Pepsi 12-packs and submit their receipt via SMS message.

Though Pepsi chose not to renew its contract for the Super Bowl Half Time Show, the brand has still advertised heavily around the NFL this year already. Instead of focusing on one large star-studded advertising event, Pepsi has chosen to create new experiences for fans and get creative with their strategy. Check out more details about the Pepsi Week 18 Pack Here: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/pepsi-NFL-football-tiny-home-Instacart-sweepstakes/631258/