Historic Vids|Oct 27, 2026 06:01
Around 2003, Chilean television network Canal 13 broadcast the original Star Wars trilogy with one of the most bizarre advertising strategies ever seen on television. Rather than interrupting the movies with traditional commercial breaks, beer brand Cerveza Cristal cleverly inserted its advertisements directly into iconic scenes.
Viewers would watch Obi-Wan Kenobi seemingly reveal an ice-cold beer instead of a lightsaber, or Emperor Palpatine appear to summon a bottle of Cristal. The commercials were carefully designed to blend into the original footage, creating hilarious transitions that made it seem as though the characters themselves were promoting the beer.
The campaign, known as “Stop the Zapping,” had a simple objective: prevent viewers from switching channels whenever advertisements appeared. By integrating the commercials into the action, advertisers transformed ordinary product placements into unexpected moments of comedy.
The unconventional campaign earned international recognition, including honors at the 2004 Cannes Lions advertising festival. Years later, the clips resurfaced online and went viral, introducing a new generation to one of television advertising’s most hilariously creative experiments.
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