O2 sponsors Love Island
May 26, 2022
O2 has announced it is the official network sponsor for ITV’s hit show Love Island. The sponsorship builds on O2’s recent campaign ‘Roam Freely’, as the network seeks to remind Love Island fans that O2 is now the only major network that does not charge its customers to roam in Europe up to 25GB.
The new O2 integrated campaign sees brand mascot Bubl become a Love Island insider, providing exclusive backstage access to the Islanders at key moments and serving up bonus content, prizes and perks with Priority for O2 customers and Love Island fans to enjoy.
O2 worked with UK agency of record, VCCP London, Product and Service innovation company, Bernadette, and global content studio, Girl&Bear, to execute the new creative campaign.
Havas Media Group UK, with support from Havas Entertainment JUMP, tabled and brokered the licensing deal with ITV and wider media strategy to kick off O2’s Roam Freely Summer by ensuring O2 is present around key moments most relevant to younger audiences.
The fully integrated campaign launches with a 10’’ TV ad and social media launch content which will go live across O2 social channels. These will be followed by the creative rolling out on BVoD and Display alongside exclusive content on Love Island’s website and app, promotional materials in O2 stores and merchandise. O2 will run exclusive Priority offers which will include tickets to After Sun and The Finale.
O2 will work with platform partners to ensure a deeply agile and reactive approach around the show. With Twitter, they will develop bespoke formats to notify fans of exclusive news and giveaways. On TikTok, there will be multiple ad takeovers at key moments of the show, and interactive elements such as ‘super likes’ and voting stickers. Fans will have the chance to get further involved in the show every week through Instagram Stories where viewers will be able to share content of Bubl reacting to key moments around the show such as the Casa Amor. O2 will also partner with creators to comment on the show, alongside existing Love Island meme accounts to create and share exclusive content.
Simon Groves, Director of Brand and Marketing, Virgin Media O2, said: “We know from our own research that travel to Europe is returning to pre-pandemic levels and with Love Island back in living rooms across the country, we’re excited our partnership will enable fans to feel even more connected to their favourite show. From Malta to Mallorca, and all across Europe, our customers can keep connected without the hassle of hidden charges, as O2 is the only major network where you can roam freely in the EU. We know that millions of our customers are huge fans of the show, and with this in mind we’re excited to not only enhance their experience of the show with our very own Islander Bubl, but also enhance their travel to Europe.”
Kimberley Gill, Creative Director, VCCP London, added: “Every summer Love Island captivates the nation and to say we’re excited by this new campaign is an understatement. There is no bigger cultural moment to be part of that perfectly embodies O2’s Roam Freely message. We can’t wait to introduce loyal fans to the newest Islander, Bubl as our fun campaign takes over our telly.”
Kathryn Harding, Planning Partner, Havas Media Group UK, said: “Love Island is giving us supreme access and smart presence for O2 to build Roaming associations with ITV and social channels’ most talked about show. We know that there is no better or more relevant time to have partnered with Love Island and drive attention for O2’s Roaming message, not least as travel choices and excitement returns for so many. Love Island lives effortlessly across TV and social, and each channel needs the other, which makes it a rare opportunity to be truly part of cultural conversation. In all, it’s the perfect media pairing for O2 to kickstart momentum and awareness of a Roam Freely Summer.”
The integrated campaign by O2 will run until the end of the series in August.