DirecTV has introduced a new character in its national TV spots running as part of the company’s “For the Birds” campaign.
Joining pigeons Frank (voiced by Henry Winkler) and Bobby (Steve Buscemi) is a hyper squirrel named Tammi (Kristen Schaal), who wonders if DirecTV’s ability to display content from linear channels available in its DirecTV via Internet packages alongside streaming video recommendations from supported apps is based on “uncanny content recommendations based on your watch history, or mind control?!”
The hyper squirrel isn’t the first to interrupt Frank and Bobby while they watch TV through an apartment window: In August, DirecTV tapped famed National Football League (NFL) wide receiver Deion Sanders to voice “Coach,” a buff pigeon who spoke with admiration about DirecTV’s ability to deliver premium sports programming without a satellite dish.
While Frank and Bobby might have felt intimidated by Coach, they were more confused by Tammy, with Bobby questioning if she was “recently electrocuted.”
The message, though, is concise throughout the 30-second spot: DirecTV’s platform aggregates all types of content — sports, movies, cooking shows, reality programs — through hundreds of premium and free streaming channels and access to services like Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube and Disney Plus, made possible by its Android TV-powered Gemini box.
The Gemini box pairs with DirecTV via Internet, which costs about the same as DirecTV via Satellite, but delivers content using a broadband connection instead of a satellite dish.
The new spot, called “Squirrel,” is available to view below:
