Reclaiming the Commercial Break - TV Ad

About this advert

Iris & MG OMD develop integrated campaign to Reclaim the Commercial Break 

The Reclaiming the Commercial Break campaign included ‘The Good Advert’, the first TV ad with a conscience, voiced by comedian Simon Amstell - which aired on Channel 4 in November 2023. The campaign cuts through the ‘consumption’ noise by subverting advertising tropes to disrupt people’s auto-pilot behaviour and make them reflect on how connection with self, others and nature are what really matters.

An ad with a conscience (played by Simon Amstell). An ad which feels a little bit guilty about being an ad, and rather than asking us to buy more stuff, this ad wants us to do things that really matter to us in life, like getting out in nature perhaps?

Advertising reformers Purpose Disruptors launched this provocative TV spot subverting the purpose of advertising in the latest iteration of its ‘Reclaiming the Commercial Break’ campaign as part of their Good Life 2030 project, developed in partnership with Iris, the global creative network. This ad aired live on Channel 4 in the UK as part of their groundbreaking Change Climate season.

This campaign is the latest of a series of interventions from Purpose Disruptors that invite the advertising industry to reflect on its role in society and recognise its enormous potential to help bring about the transformational cultural and behavioural shifts required to halve emissions by 2030 and secure a liveable future for humanity.

It's a playful reminder of the power advertising has in shaping culture, norms and behaviour. For good or bad.