Bolt takes on Blot in new Virgin Media ad campaign

Virgin Media's new multi-million pound advertising campaign is quick out of the blocks with the world's fastest man, Usain Bolt and Sir Richard Branson bringing the benefits of superfast broadband to life. The ads kick off on primetime ITV and Channel 4 on Monday, 1st July.

The campaign invites Brits to put their broadband to the test and sees Bolt, representing Virgin Media's superfast fibre optic broadband, go head-to-head with Blot, a slow and inefficient challenger representing regular broadband powered by DSL technology. The ads show how Virgin Media quickly leaves other broadband providers in the dust.

A call to Challenge Your Broadband' with Virgin Media runs through the integrated campaign, pointing people to www.virginmedia.com/challenge to see how their existing broadband shapes up against Virgin Media's superfast service and to explore the perfect speeds for their online needs.

The first 30 second ad sees Bolt and Blot on the track with a movie reel in-hand and ready to race to the finish line, where viewers eagerly wait for their film to download. A blazer-clad Richard Branson fires the starting pistol and Bolt flies to the finish line and the waiting sofa filled with film fans. Meanwhile, a slow, out-of-breath Blot trails behind.

Another 30 second TV ad showcases the stellar performance of Virgin Media's broadband, demonstrating how it's a real champion for households with a number of connected devices. Bolt and Blot limber up and powerlift a bar weighted with people online with laptops, tablets and smartphones. Bolt manages the task easily, getting a thumbs up from Richard before kicking back and relaxin''. But Blot struggles and we cut to Richard having to keep himself entertained with his favourite train set. The ad ends with a defeated Blot shuffling past a very happy Bolt. Acclaimed actor, writer and director Richard Ayodade, of IT Crowd fame, provides the voiceover to the TV ads.

Richard Larcombe, director of advertising and sponsorship at Virgin Media, said: Our new ads champion Virgin Media's outstanding broadband services with superfast legend Usain Bolt in the starring role. We believe everyone should get the superfast speeds they expect like our customers do1 so you can stream TV, download music, browse online and game to your heart's content. This campaign takes a humorous look at the strength of Virgin Media's fibre optic service but goes a step further by inviting people to put their own broadband to the test and see the benefits of Virgin Media broadband for themselves.

The integrated campaign spans TV, print and online and drives viewers to the Challenge Your Broadband' microsite at www.virginmedia.com/challenge, where visitors can try various challenges like testing their current broadband speed against Virgin Media's superfast broadband.

As part of the campaign, online ads dramatise the frustrating experience of slow broadband. In one masthead advert on YouTube, viewers will see a YouTube video in the centre with Bolt and Blot on treadmills either side. When viewers hover over Bolt the clip will play perfectly but if they hover over Blot the footage will slow down and jar, demonstrating one of the many ways in which superfast broadband delivers better everyday experiences online.

The campaign was created by BBH with media planning handled by Fifty6.

Notes to Editors

1 Ofcom's most recent broadband speeds report found Virgin Media's 30Mb broadband delivers an average speed of 28.7Mb over 24 hours, which is more than two times the UK average speed.

For journalist enquiries contact

Press Office

t: 0207 909 2225

e: pressoffice@virginmedia.co.uk

About Virgin Media

Virgin Media is the first provider of all four broadband, TV, mobile phone and home phone services in the UK.

The company's cable network the result of multi-billion pound private investment delivers ultrafast broadband to over half of all UK homes, with speeds of up to 120Mb, as well as market leading connectivity to thousands of public and private sector organisations across the country.

Virgin Media has developed the most advanced interactive television service, bringing together broadcast TV, thousands of hours of on demand programming and the best of the web in a single set-top box powered by TiVo. The company was the first to offer HD TV and 3D on demand to millions of British households.

The world's first virtual mobile network was launched by Virgin Media and it is also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the country.

Virgin Media is a part of Liberty Global plc, the world's largest broadband communications group. Together Virgin Media and Liberty Global serve 25 million customers across 14 countries, helping connect people to the digital world and enabling them to discover and experience its endless possibilities.

For more information, go to www.virginmedia.com

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