BELL CANADA'S MR. B APPEARS IN 100TH AD
By Adnews Staff
Bell Canada released its 100th commercial featuring the Mr. B spokesperson last week: a new spot for Sympatico high speed Internet access. The commercial is part of a new campaign for Bell introducing the company's "Go" or "Allez-y" positioning. Also part of the campaign, which will run until mid-October, is a spot promoting Bell ExpressVu's Personal Video Recorder service and Bell Mobility's Mobile Browser. Mr. B, portrayed by comedian Benoît Briere, made his debut in Bell Canada's Quebec French-language advertising in 1992. His 100th commercial shows a children's choir rehearsing over the Internet. To mark the 100th Mr. B commercial, Bell Canada is presenting a special exhibition at the Place des Arts until the end of the month. A number of Mr. B's costumes are on display, as well as props and pictures of Mr. B from the past nine years. The 100 commercials have involved 42 characters, including Mr. B's mother and brother-in-law. An online exhibition of costumes and props, a quiz, the 100th commercial itself and quotes from different characters is being hosted at <http://www.monsieurb.sympatico.ca>. Advertising for Bell Canada is done by Cossette Communication-Marketing.