KCOM to air its first ever TV ad with the help of community heroes

KCOM is to air its first ever TV advert this week showing how real full fibre broadband is helping to keep friends, families and communities together during the coronavirus pandemic.

The minute-long advert, which celebrates the key workers and community champions who have been at the forefront of the battle against Covid-19, will launch on ITV across the Yorkshire TV region tomorrow (Friday, 5 June) featuring a host of local talent.

Sean Royce, managing director of KCOM Retail, said: “We wanted to find a way to pay tribute to all the key workers who have worked wonders during the past few months as well as everyone at home who has done their bit to make life a little better during the lockdown.

“There are so many great examples of people going above and beyond to help others that we thought we’d show our appreciation in the most public way possible.”

The ad campaign coincides with KCOM's full fibre expansion to areas beyond its traditional heartland to make its award-winning Lightstream broadband available to customers in towns including Market Weighton and Driffield.

Mr Royce said: “It’s very exciting for us as a business to be launching the first ever TV advert in our 116-year history and now seemed like the perfect time to talk about how proud we are to be part of this great community that stretches right across Hull and East Yorkshire.

“I know our people at KCOM have pulled out all the stops to make sure our customers have been able to keep working online and schooling their children at home, but there are thousands of uplifting stories out there of people who have rallied around to help others.

“It shows that even in the most challenging of times this is still a great place to be. And that having real full fibre broadband has never been needed more.

“From the pupils at Market Weighton School making PPE equipment for frontline NHS staff to Hull’s Iron Man on his walks to lift local community spirits, and everyone in between, we just wanted to say a big thank you from us to all of you.”

To give it real East Yorkshire flavour, the advert features a voiceover from homegrown star comedian Lucy Beaumont and music from the Hull Community Voices choir.

To provide the background music for the advert the choir recorded a new version of the classic song Caravan of Love, which was a number one hit for Hull’s own Housemartins back in 1986.

The track was recorded remotely by choir members using video call technology during lockdown.

Choir co-leader Debra Darmody said she’s now looking forward to seeing the finished results and hearing the choir’s close harmonies on TV.

She said: “Members of Hull Community Voices were very excited to be invited to take part in the KCOM advert, but probably a little daunted by the process at the same time.

“Over the last two months we’ve been adjusting to the lockdown situation, using Zoom for our weekly meetings which has helped us to maintain contact with each other. Even though the singing process is very different to how we usually sing, it has reminded us of the joy of singing in a group and helped us look forward to when we can sing together again.”

The staff and pupils of Market Weighton School, who set up a production line producing vital PPE visors for frontline NHS staff, also feature in the film.

Headteacher Richard Harrison said: “When we started making visors we had no idea that the demand would be so high and have been overwhelmed by the tremendous support from the local community making donations of materials.

“Those receiving the visors have been extremely grateful and receiving so much positive feedback has certainly helped motivate us to keep going making over 2,500 visors.  It will be good for the staff and pupils to also have the recognition for their efforts by appearing in the KCOM advert.”

The TV advert has been produced by national commercial production company Chief, whose previous clients include Hyundai, Lidl and New Look and have also produced the video for Coldplay’s song Everglow.

The ad will debut on Friday at around 10.15am during This Morning with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby and will then be shown throughout the day during programmes including Tipping Point, The Chase, Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

KCOM recently announced plans to invest £100m in extending its full fibre network outside its traditional area to tens of thousands more properties across East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

It has already reached towns including Driffield and Market Weighton and will announce the next areas to be connected to KCOM’s award-winning Lightstream broadband shortly.

The KCOM advert will be shown on ITV from tomorrow and also on the KCOM website and social media channels. For more details visit www.kcomhome.com