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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
John Plunkett

Capital's new ad campaign

Capital Radio has unveiled the second phase of its biggest marketing campaign for three years - but can you spot the hidden message?

The outdoor, cinema and print campaign features familiar looking shots of the London landscape, but with a difference. There are three in total - a cityscape, a park and an overhead shot of a railway station. Click on each to see the image.

Launching on Easter Monday and running for eight weeks, it will appear in key locations including tube and railway stations around London.

The campaign is the GCap station's biggest since Johnny Vaughan joined as its breakfast DJ three years ago, and is aimed at winning back lapsed listeners by restoring the credibility of the station's music policy.

"Tracking of the TV ad to date has shown a definite shift in consumer perception of the Capital 95.8 and we are confident that the second phase of marketing activity will not only compliment the TV advertising but continue to shift people's understanding of the station," said Capital Radio marketing director Nick Button.

"We believe that focusing on well known London locations and new, modern artists such as The Killers and Mika, not only supports the fact that we are the station of choice for real Londoners, but it reinforces our music policy of being leading edge of modern mainstream."

If you haven't spotted the hidden messages yet (and if you don't want to know, look away now) the three London landscapes spell out the names of three of Capital's most popular artists - the Killers, the Kooks, and Mika.

I struggled a little, but I am also hilariously colourblind (no, I don't see in black and white). It also helps if you stand a few feet back from your computer - don't forget the ads will be on giant billboards and cinema screens. Having had a second look, I think they are rather clever. But are they too clever?

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