Season 4: "Opportunism"

31 May, 2010 -- Season 4: "Opportunism"

Terry O'Reilly is fond of noting, "there's an opportunity hiding in everything." This week he explores the way advertisers seize opportunities. He'll explain why Nike chose to launch its latest Tiger Woods ad just as the golfer was drawing worldwide headlines during his return to the Masters; how a car brand turned a viral video into a marketing opportunity, and even how NASA manages to sneak a little brand building into the launching of its rockets.

Season 4: "Negative Advertising"

22 May 2010 -- Season 4: "Negative Advertising" -- Attack ads have become the staple of political campaigns. Now negative advertising is gaining in popularity throughout the ad business. But do negative ads work? This week, Terry O'Reilly explores the attraction- and danger- of ads that take shots at rivals. He shows how some great campaigns are negative without seeming negative. And he'll recall some notable negative campaigns that backfired.

Season 4: "Slogans"

May 15, 2010 -- Season 4: "Slogans" -- The word slogan- (which by the way, is a word ad people never, ever use) derives from the Gaelic "slaugh gairn", meaning "cry of the host," or "battle cry." Slogans were once an advertising staple- the brief, pithy line that embodies a brand and its promise- from "A Little Dab'll Do Ya" to "Trust your Car to the Man Who Wears the Star," to- dare we say- "Canada Lives Here." But nowadays, as Terry O'Reilly explains, the slogan is dying out, as major brands turn from words to sentiments, emotions and icons.

Season 4: "Persuasion Fail"

May 8, 2010 -- Season 4: "Persuasion Fail" -- Search the words "Commercial Fail" on YouTube, and you quickly learn that advertising mishaps are funny, bizarre, and prolific. This week, Terry O'Reilly takes a break from his customary celebration of great advertising, and offers a tour of some of the great train wrecks of his industry. From Burger King's disastrous "Where's Herb", to a lesser-known, and spectacularly unsuccessful margarine commercial featuring- yes- Eleanor Roosevelt.

Season 4: "Profiles in (Marketing) Courage"

May 1, 2010 -- Season 4: "Profiles in (Marketing) Courage" -- It's not the sort of courage that makes headlines or history books: this week Terry O'Reilly tells stories of those in marketing who take risks- or make daring counter-intuitive decisions, despite immense pressure to take an easier route. He'll tell the story of brands that swam against the prevailing current, including some who used their ads to help break social barriers. And he'll profile a fast-food giant that sunk millions into a campaign to tell people how bad its product was. 

Season 4: "Where Power Resides"

April 24, 2010 -- Season 4: "Where Power Resides" -- It's a popular myth among some consumers that advertisers hold some mysterious, hypnotic sway over them: manipulating their beliefs and spending decisions. Many advertisers, on the other hand, believe the power lies entirely with consumers, who can hobble the mightiest of brands with a rumour, or a single, viral video. This week, Terry O'Reilly follows the food chain of persuasion all the way to the top- to find out where the power really resides. And he'll show you the chain of command within the ad business itself.