Fox, Clear Channel Launch Blink Spots for Fall Premieres

Clear Channel Radio and Fox Broadcasting Co. break a national radio campaign using blinks—short-length radio spots—to support the fall season premieres of TV series House and The Simpsons.

The first blinks ran every hour from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. to support last night's premiere of Prison Break. Next up will be "blinks" for the House premiere on Sept. 5 and The Simpsons premiere on Sept. 10. They will air on 1,100 Clear Channel radio stations.

The Fox spots combine theme music and acerbic remarks from characters to remind loyal fans to tune in, and to attract new viewers through humorous copy. The blinks created for each Fox premiere were a collaborative effort between Clear Channel Radio's Creative Services Group and Fox Broadcasting's radio promotion team.

Clear Channel created the two-second ads as tools for brands to both reinforce their identity as well as create a fresh way to communicate with their most loyal customers. The ultra-short spots are most effectively used in combination with other length spots, the company said.

"Fox is again breaking new ground in the promotion of its shows with these fun 'blink' spots," said Kaye Bentley, senior VP-Fox Broadcasting Co. in a statement. "Like our breakthrough programming, these spots are one-of-a-kind, and through the power of radio, they will be heard across the country."

Fox and Clear Channel Radio previously collaborated on radio advertising for Fox's 24 series. Fox became one of the first advertisers last year to use hourly 30-second radio spots over a 24-hour period, which featured a countdown for the season premiere episode of 24.

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