Luxury car manufacturers choose HDTV for their ads
By Richard Lawler 
posted May 2nd 2006 4:23PM
posted May 2nd 2006 4:23PM
High definition advertisements are going upmarket, with these separate releases regarding
Mercedes-Benz and Lexus producing their new spots in HD. The first focuses on the Germans, who shot their new S-class mostly in 720p (but some 1080p, maybe for Blu-ray or HD-DVD trailer releases only) and how they used Apple software to manage all the footage. The second regards the marketing campaign for the new ES 350 and how their three commercial spots set to run on network television during prime time were all filmed in HD.
Seen any other HD ads lately? The last one i noticed was the trailer for the new Mission: Impossible.
Apple, but on their website it says HD when it is 848x480.
Target seems to be pretty good about having HD ads. I've also noticed a lot of Ford commercials in HD, mostly for trucks.
Toyota's ads for the Yaris and Camry are all in HD during HD broadcasts. The Camry ads are gorgeous.
Gilette's Fu5ion Razor ads are also in HD.
Has anyone else noticed that HD commercials are REDICULOUSLY LOUD? to me it seems like instead of redoing their audio track for 5.1 they just reproduce their track 5 times. Although some HD commercials seem to have surround sound and it is still too loud.
And what is with all the weird car commercials. Almost every one of them now just has some bizzare computer effects with a car in them. I guess it doesn't help when
50% of car commercials are for some plain looking hatchback coupe
30% are for a hybrid suv/truck/car/van/airplane/tractor
20% are for a truck/suv/hummer that can tow your house and carry every person you know.
I was impressed by a two-minute ad from American Express. AdJab covered it here
http://www.adjab.com/2006/04/25/wes-andersons-american-express-commercial/
I noticed a few commercials on ESPN have been in HD. They've all been for ESPN mobile. One is the guy outside the ESPN studios with security after him and I've seen the one with Mel Kiper getting the latest draft info. It's not all the time though, I've seen them both in SD also.
Remax commercials as well