Cancer Research UK and Sky Media join forces to bring new ‘Power of Pledges’ campaign to life highlighting the transformative impact of Gifts in Wills.

World’s leading cancer charity teams up with Sky Arts and Channel 5 to share inspiring stories of resilience and progress.

Sky Media, the advertising sales arm of Sky, has joined forces with Cancer Research UK to launch a compelling campaign showcasing the transformative power of legacy gifts. The ‘Power of Pledges’ campaign will debut on World Cancer Day (4th February), using real-life stories to highlight how gifts in Wills contribute to ground breaking advancements in cancer research and treatment.

Gifts in Wills have played a vital role in helping to double cancer survival in the UK over the past 50 years. This campaign brings the impact of those donations to life by featuring inspiring stories of resilience, creativity, and innovation from cancer survivors, researchers, and artists. Actor Stephen Mangan, who has a personal connection to cancer, after losing both parents to the disease, narrates the campaign.

The campaign features four creative threads, broadcast across Channel 5 and Sky Arts from the 4th of February until the end of March. These short films highlight individuals whose lives have been shaped by cancer and explore the life changing work of Cancer Research UK.

• On Channel 5, the 60” and 20” films join Dr. Jamie Dean and Professor Maria Hawkins who share advancements in radiotherapy being helped by gifts in Wills and highlight real stories of those who have benefitted from research developments 
• On Sky Arts, the 90” creatives focus on artists like Carole Ellis, who channels her cancer journey to evolve her artistic work to ‘uplift, brighten their days and give hope’, and Helen Anahita Wilson, a musician whose experience with cancer has shaped her artistic expression, using plants to create music that improves the experience of those going through treatment.

Karin Seymour, Director of Client and Marketing at Sky Media, commented: “Every two minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer, a life-altering moment that also deeply affects their families and friends. By sharing these powerful stories of progress and creativity with audiences nationwide, we aim to inspire more legacy donations that help save lives and create meaningful change.”

Clare Moore, Director of Product & Portfolio at Cancer Research UK, added: “Thanks to our supporters, our work has helped double cancer survival in the UK in the last fifty years. But with nearly one in two of us diagnosed with cancer in our lifetime, we must go further and faster**. That’s why we’re shining a light on pledging a gift in your Will, because of the life-saving impact it could have for future generations. Gifts in Wills fund a third of Cancer Research UK’s vital work, enabling us to invest in pioneering trials and long-term research projects that could find new ways to outsmart cancer and make a huge difference to thousands of families across the UK. When someone writes Cancer Research UK into their Will, they’re helping to create a future that could protect the ones they love and we take that responsibility very seriously. So, we hope that people will take steps to find out more about gifts in Wills.”

The short films produced by Recipe, will be placed in contextually aligned content across both channels including medical-themed shows such as Ambulance: Code Red, Critical Condition, and GP’s Behind Closed Doors. These programmes bring the intersection of medicine and science to life through powerful human stories, resonating deeply with the target audience – viewers aged 55+. This campaign harnesses insights that people are more likely to support a charity after hearing directly from someone affected by cancer, making these placements important in getting people to consider leaving a gift in their Will.

A survey commissioned by Cancer Research UK found that 1 in 6 UK adults (17%) are unaware that they can gift money or items to charities in their Will. However, 32% of respondents with a Will say they do include a gift to charity and 30% of people who are aware they can leave a gift to charity, would consider doing so in future. 

Managed by EssenceMediacom and Sky Media, these stories will run across TV, social and video-on-demand (VOD). The longer-form creatives will air on channels including Sky News and Sky Nature.

Nicholas Goodeve-Docker, Senior Associate Director at EssenceMediacom said: “At EssenceMediacom, we’re committed to using innovative media strategies to help our clients reach new and engaged audiences. Through media buying across Channel 5, Sky Arts, and digital platforms, we are excited to have helped facilitate this partnership between Cancer Research UK and Sky to maximise the impact of these powerful personal stories. By driving awareness, engagement, and ultimately greater support for life-saving research, this campaign also highlights the vital role of leaving a gift in a will to CRUK—helping to fund future breakthroughs and leave a lasting legacy in cancer research.”

Katie Weymouth, Senior Account Manager at Recipe said: “This has been a unique experience. Collaborating with Cancer Research UK, people​ who’ve been through cancer treatment and the researchers fighting for better treatments, has been really moving. I​t’s been a project full of authenticity and heart and partnering with the powerhouses that are Sky, Channel 5 and Essence​Mediacom, we’ve hopefully raised awareness and demonstrated the power of leaving a lasting legacy. T​his has been an insightful journey from so many perspectives and one I hope the audience will connect ​with on a deeper level​.”

Christa Thompson, UK & International Group Director, Paramount Advertising International said: “This creative collaboration provides CRUK with a national public service platform to showcase their important work in a way that will really resonate with Channel 5’s viewers.”

Sky Media unveils bold new brand positioning alongside innovations at industry upfronts

Sky Media, the advertising partnerships arm of Sky, brought the media industry together last week at the Tate Modern in London for its Sky Media Connects showcase. Over 350 media agency executives attended the high-energy event, which unveiled Sky Media’s new brand positioning: Connections Mean Everything, alongside a suite of exciting products and partnerships.

Sky Media Managing Director, Brett Aumuller, hosted the event, emphasising Sky Media’s ability to build meaningful connections in four core areas – Customers, Culture, Partners, and Innovation. Highlights included appearances from notable sports figures Micah Richards, Laura Robson, and David Flatman, Sky’s unique customer insights from Sky News’ Sarah-Jane Mee, and a fireside chat between presenter Dan Walker and Paramount Chief Content Officer Ben Frow on the evolution of Channel 5.

The event opened with a compelling performance from award-winning poet Sophia Thakur and went on to feature major announcements including;

• Sky Media IQ and Project Norman – new insight tools using Sky’s industry-leading data and campaign measurement capabilities to deliver smarter, more effective advertising.

• Expanded advertising opportunities in women’s sport, a collaboration with Hearst UK, a new sports marketplace and sponsorship options tied to the new Premier League deal.

• Advances in streaming and programmatic, including the expansion of FAST channels to VIDAA, biddable inventory on The Trade Desk, and the roll-out of voice-activated ads.

Brett Aumuller, Managing Director of Sky Media, commented “Over the last 9 months we’ve been on a journey to build out the ‘Connections Mean Everything’ brand position which captures what we uniquely bring to market. Each word in our brand position is equally important, it’s about creating the right connections with audiences, in a meaningful way for clients and bringing together everything across our ecosystem which to deliver scale, creativity and better outcomes for brands.”

With Sky Media continuing to lead on innovation and creativity, the latest showcase set a bold vision for how advertisers can unlock new opportunities and deliver impactful campaigns. Major announcements were made aligning to each key pillar of the brand positioning:

Connected to Customers

• Sky Media IQ: A sophisticated tool that delivers deduplicated multi-platform outcomes measurement, Sky Media IQ integrates web visit lift, conversion metrics, and other performance indicators into one streamlined dashboard. This allows advertisers to assess the holistic impact of their campaigns across Linear TV, video on demand (VoD), and digital platforms, offering unrivalled transparency and accountability.

• Project Norman: Powered by insights from over 2,000 campaigns spanning 10 years, this AI-driven dataset allows advertisers to benchmark performance, optimise targeting, and strategically allocate media budgets. Norman focuses on metrics like brand lift and sales conversions, empowering advertisers to plan campaigns informed by real-world results.

Connected to Culture

• Premier League sponsorship opportunities: Sky Media invited agencies and brands to access its expanded Premier League coverage, offering exclusive sponsorship opportunities to partner with the UK’s most-watched sports event across Sky Sports and TNT Sports.
• Sports Marketplace: A simplified way for advertisers to access Sky Media’s live sports inventory. Sports Marketplace introduces impression-based packs, available both programmatically and directly, to help brands of all sizes connect with live sports audiences.

Connected to Partners

• Hearst UK partnership: As the market leader in broadcasting women’s sports, Sky Media announced a new partnership with leading publisher, Hearst UK, to enhance the visibility and impact of women’s sport across the UK. Launching in 2025, this collaboration will offer advertisers the opportunity to tap into the rapidly growing women’s sports sector and connect with a new generation of fans. Research reveals that these fans are eager for more non-live sports content and want to see female athletes recognised as icons. This partnership will tap in to sporting moments throughout the year connecting them with audiences’ passions for fashion, beauty, and health, with athletes at the forefront.

Connected to Innovation

• FAST channel expansion: Following a successful rollout across Samsung TV Plus and Sky’s platform, Sky’s suite of FAST channels will be available on VIDAA, expanding its reach across Hisense and Toshiba devices.
• Paramount+ and streamers package: Sky’s new solution aggregates reach across major SVOD platforms, providing seamless access to millions of younger viewers – an audience that increasingly prefers streaming over traditional viewing.

• Biddable inventory with The Trade Desk: Advertisers can now programmatically purchase premium VoD inventory, including live sports, through private marketplace auctions. This ensures greater flexibility and accessibility for brands looking to deliver against performance goals.

• Voice-activated ads: Sky unveiled interactive ads that enable viewers to use voice commands to explore branded content directly from their TV screens. Initial tests showed significant uplifts in ad recall and engagement metrics, reinforcing the potential of voice technology in advertising.

FIFA Announces Sky Media as Official and Exclusive Ad Sales Representatives for FIFA+ in Europe, UK, and Ireland

• Major strategic collaboration comes as FIFA+ continues to expand globally
• FIFA+ will be publishing territory-dependent live streams, match replays, highlights and more during the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™
• The collaboration with Sky Media represents a strategic move to further enhance FIFA World Cup inventory opportunities for brands and the monetisation of FIFA+ content in key territories

FIFA has announced that Sky Media, the advertising sales house of Sky, has been appointed as the official and exclusive ad sales representatives for the FIFA+ platforms across Europe, the UK, and Ireland.

This representation agreement comes ahead of the highly anticipated FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, where FIFA+ will provide a range of exciting content, including live streams, full match replays, highlight cut downs, match previews, among other features – territory dependent.

The news comes as FIFA+ has been expanding globally across connected TV apps and FAST channels, bringing the platform into the homes of more football fans worldwide. The collaboration with Sky Media represents a strategic move to continue to provide brands with attractive audiences and impactful inventory that further monetises FIFA+ content in key territories.

Romy Gai, FIFA’s Chief Business Officer, said: “We are thrilled to have Sky Media as our official ad sales representatives for FIFA+ in Europe, the UK, and Ireland. Sky Media’s expertise and leading capabilities in advertising sales will maximize the commercial success of FIFA+ content enabling us to create new commercial opportunities.

“This collaboration comes at an exciting time as we prepare to showcase the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, and we are confident that together we will deliver an outstanding digital experience for football fans.”

Brett Aumuller, Managing Director of Sky Media, added: “It’s great to be collaborating with FIFA as they move into the Connected TV and FAST channels space. We already provide a wide-ranging football offering to advertisers, and adding FIFA+ will make it an even simpler and more compelling proposition for brands.”

The decision to appoint Sky Media as the exclusive ad sales representatives for FIFA+ follows the platform’s remarkable first year of operation. During the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, FIFA+ generated an incredible 190 million views on match recaps, captivating fans with expertly curated highlights while an innovative livestream in Brazil attracted over 40 million unique visitors and set new world records.