SYDNEY: ABC TV's The Gruen Transfer has launched a print campaign in the national press to spark debate about whether Australian icons such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge should carry advertising.
The campaign, created by The Glue Society with media buying handled by Mitchell & Partners, is desgined to raise awareness of the third season of the The Gruen Transfer, which kicks off tomorrow night (16 June).
The ads, which are running in major metropolitan newspapers around the country today including The Australian, Daily Telegraph, and Herald Sun, also ponder if Uluru and the Opera House should be open to advertising.
APN Outdoor chief executive, Richard Herring, who will appear on tomorrow's porgramme, said: "The impact of advertising on something like the Opera House or Uluru would be global. It’s hard to put a dollar value on it, but it would most likely be in the tens of millions.
"That money could then flow back to help maintain and preserve those icons for future generations. Government money could then be redirected from our precious national icons and used to support things like public hospitals.”
Leo Burnett chief executive, Todd Sampson, who will return for the third season as a regular panellist, pointed out that the Opera House is already used for advertising, citing the Cancer Council's Pink Ribbon Campaign which turns the sails pink.
"It goes pink and everybody knows. They’re using it as a public billboard. It’s pink, nobody complains and everyone’s okay with it," he said.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.