91热爆

This is not a party election broadcast....

• Mark Devenport
• 19 Feb 07, 10:39 AM

The Greens have told the broadcasters they are pulling their election broadcast featuring a spoof American televangelist. The broadcast hasn't yet been shown on terrestrial TV, but is already on Youtube on this link

Its style is in strong contrast to the video already posted on Youtube by one of the Greens' leading candidates, Brian Wilson. I don't know Brian's view on the Reverend Billy, but it seems some Green candidates must have taken cold feet at the thought of a New York based broadcast which might deter local evangelicals giving them a transfer vote.

The Greens aren't the only ones using the net in this election. The parties obviously have their own central websites, and some individual candidates like the UUP's Peter Munce have tried the webcam route to their potential voters' hearts.

On the topic of party election broadcasts, my colleagues at the 91热爆 have been beavering away trying to find slots for all the parties who are standing in more than three constituencies. It's no easy task, especially when you can meet the threshold by running the same candidate in mutliple seats. But does anyone out there really think voters in Northern Ireland make their minds up about how to fill in their ballot papers on the basis of the election broadcasts?

For an UPDATE read the extended entry

Update on Monday afternoon

This statement is just in from the Greens: "The party is producing content for on-line and traditional media. The Bill Talan (the actor who plays Reverend Billy) film has been a big hit on-line at You Tube attracting hundreds of viewers. We also road-tested the film on Northern Ireland's leading blog site Slugger O'Toole and concluded after feedback that this content is best suited for a self-selecting audience on-line.

"The film was made as part of a wider campaign budget and we are unable to say how much it cost at this stage."

Brian Wilson,
Green Party