![Sky Media director of sales Malcolm Murray: ‘This is a great opportunity for us to support [businesses] as they return to trading.’ Photograph: Chris Bellew/Fennell Photography](https://www.irishtimes.com/resizer/v2/2IA7N3S4EHOMFBNJXHGUA2FRPM.jpg?auth=79e288ef1d3d46fbeed61a9a3a7107828637f5405a1b7bf488584637d6d4692a&smart=true&width=1024&height=576)
Sky Media, the advertising sales arm of Sky Ireland, has relaunched a business support scheme that gives companies €20,000 worth of advertising time on its channels.
The scheme, which is designed to promote the appeal of television advertising beyond its traditional base, is open to businesses that have been operating for at least one year in the Republic and have not advertised on television within the last 12 months, the broadcaster and pay-TV company said.
Businesses can nominate themselves, with at least 10 winners expected to be selected by an internal panel at Sky.
The shortlisted businesses will be connected with a creative agency to help them make ads of up to 30-seconds in duration for campaigns lasting four to six weeks. The ads will then be delivered through Sky’s AdSmart platform, which allows advertisers to target particular audiences by Eircode, household composition or lifestyle attributes.
Returning
The scheme is returning this year after first being run in 2020.
"Supporting Ireland's business community as we navigate out of Covid-19 restrictions, is essential to the economy and its growth," said Sky Media director of sales Malcolm Murray.
“Many businesses have been heavily impacted over the past 18 months and this is a great opportunity for us to support them as they return to trading. By supporting businesses who have never used TV advertising before, we are offering businesses the opportunity to connect with their desired audience in a new way.”
Entries for the Sky Media support scheme are now open and will be accepted until August 3rd.
Sky, owned by US telecoms giant Comcast, employs just under 1,000 people in the Republic. About 750 of those employees are based at its head office on Burlington Road, Dublin.
