TV3 and Denny Launch Christmas Day Live Ad Feature ~Irish Families are Offered Three Minutes of Fest

For further information:

Sharon McHugh
TV3 PRESS OFFICE
+3531 419 3430 / 087 922 4143
sharon.mchugh@tv3.ie
publicity@tv3.ie

Ciara Byrne
+353 1 419 3329 / 087 3199732
ciara.byrne@tv3.ie

Denny and TV3 has today announced a first in Irish TV history – a feature advertisement that will be broadcast live to the nation on Christmas Day.

December 25th will see a film crew transmit live from someone’s home, giving one household the opportunity to address the nation and share their thoughts on what home means to them at this special time of year.

The public can register to star in the ad at www.tv3.ie/denny where they will be asked to say in 30 words why Christmas makes their house a home. All households and gatherings are invited to take part from the traditional family, to groups of friends or neighbours. The broadcast will air live during the ad break of Coronation Street which is expected to pull in the highest viewing figures of the day.

TV3 Commercial Director, Pat Kiely said: “TV3 are delighted to be the sole media partner for this innovative and ground breaking campaign. Coronation Street is synonymous with family viewing on Christmas Day, so it is the perfect platform from which to air Denny’s and TV3’s first live TV commercial. It also signs off a great year for TV3 with record audiences and more Irish programming than ever before so we look forward to this event being a real highlight this Christmas!”

Tricia Burke of Denny says: “Christmas is essentially the most important day of the year for family, and given Denny is a very home focused brand and often part of the traditional Irish Christmas Day breakfast; we wanted to really highlight this special day by letting one family speak out. It’s a very natural step for Denny as our advertising is based on using real people with no scripts, just genuine and authentic situations.”

Denny will donate €10,000 on behalf of the winning household to the Simon Communities of Ireland, who support people who are homeless in Ireland. They will also donate €1 for every entry received on tv3.ie/denny.

The public can find out further information on how to be part of Denny and TV3’s live broadcast to the nation on Christmas day by logging on to www.tv3.ie/denny or www.homeis.ie and have until 13th December to enter.

ENDS.
For further information:
Maureen Catterson
TV3 PRESS OFFICE +353 1 419 3430/087 780 0737
maureen.catterson@tv3.ie
publicity@tv3.ie www.tv3.ie
Or
Niamh Sullivan
Bespoke with Direction
Niamh.sullivan@bespokewithdirection.ie
T: 01 665 1950
M: 087 061 7705

Notes to Editor: Denny’s “Home Is” campaign has been running since September 2009 and will continue until January 2010. Denny toured the length and breath of the country asking the people of Ireland to share what home is to them, a national survey that again is an Irish first. Along the way, Denny filmed some of the homes they came across for their 2010 adverts. Denny has a three year commitment to Simon.

Denny, part of the Kerry Food Group, is the No. 1 brand in Ireland in sausages, rashers, cooked meats and sausage rolls. Denny’s extended portfolio also includes shepherd’s pie, cottage pie, frankfurters and pastry pies. The Denny name and its association with meat go back a long way to 1820.

The Simon Communities of Ireland is an affiliation of local Communities in Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, Galway, the Midlands, the Mid West, the North West and the South East. In addition, the National Office performs a coordinating role in terms of campaigning in the areas of housing/homeless policy and the wider poverty and social inclusion agenda; best practice in service delivery and working with people who are homeless; and in the area of full time volunteering promoting excellence and providing accredited training. The Simon Communities throughout Ireland provide the best possible care, accommodation and support for people experiencing homelessness and those at risk. Together, with people who are homeless, we tackle the root causes, promote innovative responses and urge the government to fulfil their commitments. Simon delivers support and service to almost 5,000 people who are homeless – or are at risk of – homelessness every year.