Introducing the BatMarketing (the marketing of Batman)
By Max on Jul 22, 2008 in Pure Marketing
It happened again. News sites roll out updates that have more to do with marketing than news. We reported about Carlsberg promoting its brand through Hugh Grant and Hollywood advertising the upcoming and most awaited for Sex & the City movie earlier.
Now it’s the BatMarketing time: last friday Warner Bros released the most rumored Batman of the saga, The Dark Knight and today, in a very weird coincidence, Batman made it to the top of many worldwide newsmagazines (see The Telegraph and The Guardian as examples), and not because the movie was so beautiful they couldn’t help write about it.
What happened is that Christian Bale, the star of the movie, was arrested in connection with an allegation of assault to his mother and sister believed to have taken place on Sunday night at Park Lane’s Dorchester Hotel where Bale is staying.
Obviously, while reporting the story, reporters had to mention the Bat and the new movie.
Do you think Warner Bros was in need of some more coverage? Maybe first weekend revenues were unsatisfying? Or is it just another coincidence.
Put it as you want but, again, we covered the story as well, perpetuating this marketing mechanism and giving the story further coverage. Seems like this is a marketing strategy that really works!
Verry true but you need to have the resources they have to be able to pull something like this off. Anyway it’s a very subtle clever marketing. Nice post
Ta4ka | Jul 23, 2008 | Reply
So I wonder if Christian Bale, his mother, and his sister were all “spiffed” for the bonus acting to help them get free press?
Wonder how this would work for small or start up businesses?
Good post!
Nate Moller | Jul 23, 2008 | Reply
If only they could have had Heath die at the right time!
Andy | Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
@Andy
You mean he died before they had a chance to kill him? *GASP*
Osama | Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Would absolutely love to see this movie.
Missie D. | Jul 30, 2008 | Reply