Interference Inc. Cartoon Network Stunt Creates Massive Interference!

WHEN A PUBLICITY STUNT GOES HORRIBLY WRONG....

Turner Broadcasting is apologizing for their TV show ADULT SWIM

promo that created havoc in Boston.

By Joyce Schwarz, blogging at www.hollywood2020.blogs.com. I can't believe it, guess what the name of the marketing firm Turner used --who is responsible for placing the ADULT SWIM blinking promo devices in Boston that made headlines for the wrong reasons? According to news reports, Interference Inc., has been ordered to remove them immediately, said Phil Kent, Turner chairman.

We apologize to the citizens of Boston that part of a marketing campaign was mistaken for a public danger," Kent said. "We appreciate the gravity of this situation and, like any responsible company would, are putting all necessary resources toward understanding the facts surrounding it as quickly as possible."

Interference Inc. had no immediate comment for the AP reporter who talked to a woman who answered the phone at the New York-based firm's offices Wednesday afternoon. That lady said the firm's CEO was out of town and would not be able to comment until Thursday.

"We apologize to the citizens of Boston that part of a marketing campaign was mistaken for a public danger," Kent said. "We appreciate the gravity of this situation and, like any responsible company would, are putting all necessary resources toward understanding the facts surrounding it as quickly as possible."

WHO IS THE CEO OF THIS "BRIGHT" Marketing firm?

So who is that CEO of Interference Inc.? Hollywood2020.blogs.com  checked it out and find that a veteran marketer Sam Travis Ewen is the CEO. One quote we found from Ewen in an ENTRENEUR MAGAZINE seems to strike home this week, "A 30-second TV spot may deliver millions of eyeballs, says Sam Travis Ewen, CEO of Interference Inc., a New York City marketing agency, but a well-executed street campaign creates "evangelical" customers. Here's a link to one of the bios we found on Ewen: Sam Travis Ewen

CEO and Founder, Interference Inc. sam ewen Sam Travis Ewen has been setting his sights on the marketing world for over 15 years. ... promoexpo.com/conference/bios/ewen_samtravis - 14k - Cached - AD AGE SAYS: Here's an excerpt from AD AGE's coverage: The stunt stands to bring a considerable amount of publicity to the "Aqua Teen" movie and its March 23 release. The film's distributor, First Look Studios, appeared to have no involvement with the campaign and directed all calls to Turner. BOTTOMLINE -- did Interference Inc. create more interference than Promo? Don't underestimate the power of this outrageous stunt. Remember Aqua Teen Hunger Force is a cartoon series with a cult following that airs as part of the Adult Swim late-night section of Cartoon Network. WIKIPEDIA.com already has the story...Images of the characters Ignignokt and Err were found on "suspicious devices" in and around Boston, Massachusetts on January 31, 2007. The devices were circuit boards wrapped in black tape or duct tape and when turned on, LEDs would show a character ( either Err or Ignignokt) displaying their middle finger.[3][4] Peter Berdvosky, an employee of Interference Inc. has been arrested by Boston police under a recently enacted law that makes it a crime to place hoax devices that panic the public.[3] INTERFERENCE INC. website is down...wikipedia.com's entry on Interference Inc. confirms what Hollywood2020.blogs.com found -- the marketing firm's website is DOWN. STILL CAN't find out what ADULT SWIM fans say about this...some early bloggers believe that the Boston Police over-reacted. What do you think?

Comments

[joyce schwarz]

As far as I know the two 'starving artists' are out on bail. And the CEO of Interference Inc. is probably dining at a swanky NYC restaurant tonight..or maybe headed to the Superbowl. This is no small ad agency. As I've said before, please use some of this ill-gotten publicity to feed the hungry!

[Jeebs]

Incompetence on a grand scale by the city of Boston and this inane blog blames Interference Inc.!? Get a brain and get real. Things that light-up and look like cartoons and that are purposely *meant to catch the public's attention as a marketing device* are pretty clearly not bombs. Not to mention that Boston's response came after weeks of the campaign's initial launch as it had in other cities much, much larger than Boston!? Criticism should squarely land on the city's shoulders and the media should take some responsibility to make sure a small marketing firm does not besome a scapegoat for a very important public issue: the ineptitude of a major U.S. city in a post Sept. 11th world. Word.

[Brandon]

As an Adult Swim fan, I'm disappointed. I'm disappointed in the grandstanding politicians and fear mongering public servants raising a fit in Boston. Instead of using intelligence and defusing a situation that warranted little attention (except perhaps a chuckle from those of us fans the promotion was targeted at), officials subscribed to "chicken little" reasoning. It's really sad to see how poorly they reacted, versus how little attention was paid to the ad campaign in several other major cities. On the plus side, I think it's an opportunity to see who not to let back into office when the next round of elections comes about.