Dish Network’s streaming cable replacement Sling TV has hired an unusual spokesperson to serve as the face of its latest advertising campaign.
The brand has hired the “Sweat Mop Guy” seen during professional basketball games as part of its latest promotion pointing to Sling TV as the premiere destination for the upcoming NBA Playoffs, which will be accessible through several television networks carried on the service.
Sling TV is one of the cheapest ways to watch the NBA Playoffs this year, charging streamers just $40 a month (or $20 for the first month if customers sign up at this link) to watch games broadcast by ESPN, ESPN 3 (which will show ABC games) and TNT this year.
To keep costs down, Sling TV said it hired Sweat Mop Guy instead of professional athletes to star in the commercial. The spokesperson is part of Sling TV’s larger brand campaign called “Unsung Heroes,” the company said.
“The Unsung Heroes campaign highlights Sling’s commitment to value and affordability,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “Instead of partnering with a high-priced spokesperson, Sling is passionate about focusing on providing an exceptional product at the best price for all customers.”
It isn’t clear how much Sling TV paid Sweat Mop Guy to serve as its spokesperson for the NBA Playoffs promo, but it is likely more than he makes on the court: According to the website Basketball Noise, NBA-affiliated “Mop Boys” make around $15 an hour, on par with the minimum wage in most states.
The Sweat Mop Guy spot was directed by Magellan Rubin and produced in partnership with the creative agency Mekanism. The commercial will be featured across all of Sling’s marketing platforms, including television, digital and social media.
Sling says additional spots featuring other Unsung Heroes will be produced in the future.
Sling TV offers two base subscription packages: Sling Orange ($40 a month, includes legacy Disney networks) and Sling Blue ($40 a month, includes legacy Fox Corporation and NBC Universal networks), with prices slightly higher in areas with certain local ABC, Fox and NBC stations.
The NBA’s play-in tournament starts April 11, with the full playoffs scheduled to begin on April 15. The NBA conference semifinals and final games will start in early May.
The NBA Finals championship game series takes place in June and will air on ABC stations across the country. Those games will also be simulcast on ESPN 3, which is available with a subscription to Sling Orange.
