You know the Tablo over-the-air digital video recorder is getting serious about connecting cord-cutters to free broadcast and streaming TV when the company behind the device hires not one, but two celebrity pitchmen.
This week, the E. W. Scripps Company announced it is launching a national advertising campaign called “It’s not fantasy, it’s reality” with National Football League (NFL) quarterback-turned-reality show host Jesse Palmer of ABC’s “The Bachelor” and retired NFL running back Emmitt Smith to educate the public on the benefits of coupling free broadcast and streaming TV channels from a single device.
Both pro athletes will promote the fourth-generation version of the Tablo device, which allows cord-cutters and cord-nevers to watch free broadcast TV from local stations carrying ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, CW Network and PBS programming along with dozens of free streaming channels from Scripps (Ion, Laff More, Scripps News, Grit Xtra, Bounce XL), AMC Networks (All Reality We TV, Portlandia, IFC Film Picks, Stories by AMC), Bloomberg, TIME Magazine and more.
You know @TabloTV is getting serious when they hire @JessePalmerTV and @EmmittSmith22 as celebrity pitchmen.
Watch the new "It's not fantasy, it's reality" spots right here…
Read more: https://t.co/RtsIAXaRB0 pic.twitter.com/D35aN9ibNW
— TheDesk.net (@TheDeskDotNet) December 14, 2023
The fourth-generation Tablo is the first whole-home device released by parent company Nuvyyo since it was acquired by Scripps earlier this year. The device is billed as the first whole-home DVR that allows viewers to watch free broadcast TV and streaming channels from a unified program guide, and without a subscription.
Rather than hooking into the back of a TV set, as a conventional DVR or cable set-top box would, the Tablo pairs with a TV antenna and delivers broadcast and Internet TV channels via the Tablo app for phones, tablets, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV (Google TV), with support for Apple TV and some other smart TV models coming soon.
Here is how Scripps described its newest celebrity spokespersons for the fourth-generation Tablo DVR:
Jesse Palmer is the host of “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette,” “Bachelor in Paradise” and “The Golden Bachelor,” airing on ABC and Hulu. He is a former quarterback for the University of Florida, the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers. He is also a college football analyst on ABC and ESPN, and has hosted and continues to have a leading role in ABC’s presentation of the NFL Draft. Palmer has served as host of the Emmy Award-winning “DailyMail TV,” “The Proposal,” “The Ultimate Surfer” and Disney Parks’ holiday specials.
Emmitt Smith is one of the greatest to ever play in the National Football League. In 15 seasons as a running back, Smith amassed many records that still stand today, including most career rushing yards and most career rushing touchdowns. Smith’s resume includes three Super Bowl championship rings, his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010, and, most recently in 2019, his selection to the NFL 100 All-Time Team honoring the best players of the NFL’s first 100 years.
The fourth-generation Tablo DVR was first announced in late August and starts at $100 on the Tablo website, on Amazon and at Best Buy retail stores.
