Former presidential candidate Al Gore has launched a consumer-generated advertising contest to promote his environmental causes.
Gore made the announcement Thursday night as he was being interviewed on “Larry King Live” about the Live Earth events set to take place this weekend. Gore was prominently involved in Live Earth, a series of musical concerts to raise awareness of global warming. The events took place Saturday night in at least eight concerts around the world headlined by 150 stars.
The contest, 60 Seconds to Save the Earth, lets consumers in the U.S., UK and Republic of Ireland submit 15-, 30-, or 60-second TV public service announcements through Sept. 12 that could be used as part of a new three-year ad campaign to raise awareness about global warming.
Current TV (DirecTV 366), a global television network that Gore helped create, will handle the contest, he said. The channel gives people the opportunity to create and influence what airs on TV, is handling the contest, according to information on its Web site. Gore is the chairman of Current TV.
Details on the contest can be found at Current.com/Ecospot.
Cameron Diaz is also helping to promote the contest.
On Friday, she began asking Current TV viewers to submit ecospots.
Diaz, along with Orlando Bloom, George Clooney, director Sam Mendes, Alex Bogusky of ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky, advertising director Joe Pytka and Cathy Zoi, the founding CEO of the Alliance, will select 20 finalists. Current’s online community will then vote for their favorite. The winners will be announced on Nov. 13 and winning spots will be aired internationally on Current TV, featured in the Alliance for Climate Protection’s national campaign and showcased on MySpace’s Impact channel.
The grand-prize winner gets a Toyota hybrid car. Three finalists win Sony electronic products and 16 semi-finalists receive T-Mobile Sidekicks.
Network
