The Business Blog at Intuitive.com

Dave Taylor has been involved with the online world since 1980 and is recognized globally as an expert on both technical and business issues. He has been published over a thousand times, launched four Internet-related startup companies, has written twenty business and technical books and holds both an MBA and MS Ed. He's a columnist for the Boulder Daily Camera and Linux Journal and frequently appears in other publications both online and in print. Additionally, Dave maintains four weblogs: The Business Blog at Intuitive.com, Ask Dave Taylor, Dave On Film, and GoFatherhood. Based in beautiful Boulder, Colorado, Dave is an award-winning speaker, sought after conference and workshop participant and frequent guest on radio and podcast programs, as well as active member of his community and busy single father to three children.

Chevy, Ford, 2012 and Blunt Superbowl Adverts

Just watched Superbowl XLVI and really enjoyed the game. Tense, surprisingly close, and a match that could have switched on that final "Hail Mary" pass. How can you not enjoy that?

In addition I also watch the Superbowl to enjoy the advertisements and really liked the Walking Dead-esque post-apocalyptic ad from Chevrolet that suggested only people with their heavy-duty Silverado trucks would survive the apocalypse, not people with Ford trucks.

Haven't seen the ad, officially known as the Chevy 2012 Apocalypse Video? Here's an embed:

What makes this Chevy Silverado 2012 Apocalypse Video so interesting is the back story: It appears that somehow Ford saw the advertisement and sent Chevy a Cease & Desist letter, insisting that the company not air the spot. They obviously did.

In fact, the Yahoo Autos blog Motoramic reported that: "Chevrolet says Ford sent a cease and desist letter, demanding the spot showing Silverado owners munching Twinkies and mourning the non-survival of their Ford-owning buddy. A source familiar with the dispute says Ford also called on NBC to pull the $7 million, one-minute air time."

Of course, General Motors executives say that they simply have the best, most dependable trucks. Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick has a funny quip, actually: "We can wait until the world ends, and if we need to, we will apologize," Ewanick said in a statement. "In the meantime, people who are really worried about the Mayan calendar coming true should buy a Silverado right away."

Generally I prefer advertisements that promote and highlight the features of their own product rather than slamming their competitors -- a sentiment that's even more true with political ads! -- but in this case I'll cut Chevy some slack. It's a funny spot and quite effective. Ford clearly needs to one-up the company if it feels shortchanged, not bring lawyers into the mix.

Posted by Dave Taylor at February 5, 2012 10:17 PM

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