Cricket Australia ‘Unmissable First Over’ via Special, Initiative and oOh!media

12 January 2026
 

Creative Agency: Special
Media Agency: Initiative

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4,557 digitals out-of-home sites.

Cricket Australia has transformed 4,557 digitals out-of-home sites across Australia to ensure all eyes were on the first over of all five Test Matches in the NRMA Insurance Ashes Series.

This campaign was supported by agencies Special, Initiative and oOh!media, with a cumulative reach of more than 1.18 million.  

“We were thrilled to work with Special, Initiative and oOh!media to bring the first ball of each Ashes Test Match to Australians all over the country,” said Cricket Australia head of marketing and brand, Teresa Basile.  

“It was a fantastic Ashes Series with record crowds and millions engaged across broadcast and digital channels.   

“This initiative provided an opportunity to extend that reach by bringing the first ball to thousands of locations, including city centres and shopping centres, around the country." 

The takeover of the out-of-home sites lasted almost 20 minutes for each of the five activations, with a two minute countdown and 15 minutes of live action, a cumulative total of 85 minutes of screentime for the campaign. 

“By hijacking traditional media to broadcast the first overs of The Ashes, they became not only the overs that stopped a nation, but the overs that stopped Advertising in celebration and anticipation of an unmissable Ashes Series,” said Special creative directors, Adam Ferrie and Pete Cvetkovski. 

Initiative head of Melbourne, Megan Davey said they know that truly powerful media moments are those that break convention and meet audiences where they are.  

“The Ashes is one of the most iconic rivalries in sport, and bringing its first over to life across the nation demanded a campaign as high-octane and unmissable as the moment itself,” Davey said. 

“By transforming everyday environments into live broadcast touchpoints, we’ve not only connected passionate cricket fans to a moment they never want to miss, but we have also opened the door for new fans to experience the energy, anticipation and cultural weight of The Ashes in real time." 

oOh!media’s chief product and marketing officer, Bel Harper, said it was the first time Out of Home has been used as a live broadcast channel at this scale.  

“Together with Cricket Australia, we’ve shown how our national network can unite audience and hold their attention in real in real time, with the sporting moments that matter,” Harper said.

Credits: 

Client: Cricket Australia 

General Manager ‑ Digital, Marketing & Communications: Alex Lavelle: 

Head of Brand & Marketing: Teresa Basile 

Senior Marketing Manager – Participation & International: David Hutchinson 

Marketing Specialist: Samantha Scott 

Channel Strategy & Implementation Lead: Harrison Orchard 

Senior Broadcast Manager: Sarah Lord 

Senior Content Producer: Dan Allan  

Creative Agency: Special 

Partner/CEO: Lindsey Evans 

Partners/CCO: Tom Martin & Julian Schreiber 

Partner/CSO: Rebecca Stambanis 

ECD: Ryan Fitzgerald 

Creative Directors/Creatives: Peter Cvetkovski & Adam Ferrie 

Team Lead/Director of Business Management: Ollie May 

Senior Business Director: Ed Taylor 

Integrated Producer: Katherine Muir 

Planner: Ollie Immurs 

Media Agency: Initiative 

Client Partner: Aaron Farrelly 

Chief Strategy Officer: Tom Dodd 

Client Director: Ben Clarke 

Strategy Director: Tate Nalen 

Group Investment Director: Sam Bailey 

Out of Home: oOh!media 

Digital Delivery & Platforms director: Benjamin Robb 

Agile Business Analyst: Beth Cresnik 

Software Engineer: Luke Haillay 

Technical Lead: Mark Passlow 

Senior Product Owner: Surbhi Mishra 

Head of Product Innovation and Delivery: Richard Moore 

Integrated Producer: Arther Dunderdale 

Victoria Sales Director: James Goodwin 

Group Sales Leader: Nicole Athanassas 

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