Deion Sanders joins Henry Winkler and Steve Buscemi in DIRECTV campaign
Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders will star in the DIRECTV campaign For the Birds as Coach Pigeon Prime his first animated role, just in time for football season.
Award-winning actors Steve Buscemi and Henry Winkler reprise their roles as Spokesbirds Frank and Bobby in the latest iteration of DIRECTV’s For the Birds, but this time there’s a new personality perched on their satellite-free rooftops.
Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders will star in the DIRECTV campaign For the Birds as Coach Pigeon Prime his first animated role, just in time for football season.
The addition of Sanders to the flock creates new dynamics for the spokesbirds: Frank is a bit starstruck and more than ready to do anything their new ‘coach’ asks of them. Bobby, unsurprisingly, is less impressed, and maybe even a little threatened. Adding a third to any established relationship is always tricky territory.
Credits
powered by- Agency TBWA Chiat Day/Los Angeles
- Production Company SMUGGLER
- Director Randy Krallman
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Unlock full credits and more with a Source + shots membership.
Credits
powered by- Agency TBWA Chiat Day/Los Angeles
- Production Company SMUGGLER
- Director Randy Krallman
- Edit Company Arcade Edit
- Colorist Julien Alary
- VFX Company Untold Creative
- Sound Design String and Tins
- Audio Post Lime Studios
- Chief Creative Officer Renato Fernandez
- Group Creative Director Jason Karley
- Group Creative Director Ryan Buckley
- Creative Director Mark Winters
- Senior Art Director Jono Moore
- Senior Copywriter Dylan Cimo
- Art Director Bern Dalla
- Copywriter Jon Ollom
- Director of Production Anh-Thu Le
- Director of Production Robert Punchard
- Executive Producer Nyaze Vincent
- Senior Producer Alicia Portner
- Senior Producer Van Corsa
- Associate Producer Tyler Hock
- Executive Producer Patrick Milling-Smith
- Executive Producer Brian Carmody
- Executive Producer Allison Kunzman
- Managing Director Sue Yeon Ahn
- Head of Production Alex Hughes
- Producer Alain Tan
- Production Designer Pete Zumba
- Casting Director Beth Melsky
- DP Jeffrey Kim
- Executive Producer Crissy DeSimone
- Editor Geoff Hounsell
- Senior Producer Alexa Berman
- Producer Wendy Umanzor
- Color Producer Eli Mari Sandal
- Creative Director Ben Cronin
- VFX Supervisor Sam Driscoll
- 2D Supervisor Alexander Kulikov
- Executive Producer Nathan Hoad
- Producer Ashlyn Hardie
- Head of Animation Tim van Hussen
- Online Supervisor Richard Harris / (Senior Smoke Artist)
- Sound Designer Culum Simpson
- Producer Laura-Leigh Smith
- Executive Producer Susie Boyajan
- Audio Producer Cassie Underwood
- Audio Mixer Matt Miller
- Talent Deion Sanders
- Talent Henry Winkler
- Talent Steve Buscemi
![](https://d17mj1ha1c2g57.cloudfront.net/v1/ykOqgL0-7EKm4pD_YutVRCvZlZo/1024x576%23/80/shotsmag/production/clips/4e27dcf5-4fc1-417c-b5bd-45b829eb309c/1723559794283.jpg?v=1&quality=80&format=jpeg)
Credits
powered by- Agency TBWA Chiat Day/Los Angeles
- Production Company SMUGGLER
- Director Randy Krallman
- Edit Company Arcade Edit
- Colorist Julien Alary
- VFX Company Untold Creative
- Sound Design String and Tins
- Audio Post Lime Studios
- Chief Creative Officer Renato Fernandez
- Group Creative Director Jason Karley
- Group Creative Director Ryan Buckley
- Creative Director Mark Winters
- Senior Art Director Jono Moore
- Senior Copywriter Dylan Cimo
- Art Director Bern Dalla
- Copywriter Jon Ollom
- Director of Production Anh-Thu Le
- Director of Production Robert Punchard
- Executive Producer Nyaze Vincent
- Senior Producer Alicia Portner
- Senior Producer Van Corsa
- Associate Producer Tyler Hock
- Executive Producer Patrick Milling-Smith
- Executive Producer Brian Carmody
- Executive Producer Allison Kunzman
- Managing Director Sue Yeon Ahn
- Head of Production Alex Hughes
- Producer Alain Tan
- Production Designer Pete Zumba
- Casting Director Beth Melsky
- DP Jeffrey Kim
- Executive Producer Crissy DeSimone
- Editor Geoff Hounsell
- Senior Producer Alexa Berman
- Producer Wendy Umanzor
- Color Producer Eli Mari Sandal
- Creative Director Ben Cronin
- VFX Supervisor Sam Driscoll
- 2D Supervisor Alexander Kulikov
- Executive Producer Nathan Hoad
- Producer Ashlyn Hardie
- Head of Animation Tim van Hussen
- Online Supervisor Richard Harris / (Senior Smoke Artist)
- Sound Designer Culum Simpson
- Producer Laura-Leigh Smith
- Executive Producer Susie Boyajan
- Audio Producer Cassie Underwood
- Audio Mixer Matt Miller
- Talent Deion Sanders
- Talent Henry Winkler
- Talent Steve Buscemi
In the first edition of For the Birds, Frank and Bobby were hatched to tell the world that you can finally get DIRECTV without a satellite dish (much to the chagrin of birds everywhere). The challenge was: how does the brand continue to educate the world about satellite-free DIRECTV while also touting their gameday bona-fides for pro and college football? So, the brand drafted a new teammate Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, to voice the newest member of the flock.
With For the Birds, DIRECTV is continuing to bust the “DIRECTV = satellite” misconception by not only speaking about the delivery mechanism but the key entertainment that streamers are looking to effortlessly access this fall.
Credits
powered by- Agency TBWA Chiat Day/Los Angeles
- Production Company SMUGGLER
- Director Randy Krallman
-
-
Unlock full credits and more with a Source + shots membership.
Credits
powered by- Agency TBWA Chiat Day/Los Angeles
- Production Company SMUGGLER
- Director Randy Krallman
- Edit Company Arcade Edit
- Colorist Julien Alary
- VFX Company Untold Creative
- Sound Design String and Tins
- Audio Post Lime Studios
- Group Creative Director Jason Karley
- Chief Creative Officer Renato Fernandez
- Creative Director Mark Winters
- Senior Art Director Jono Moore
- Senior Copywriter Dylan Cimo
- Director of Production Anh-Thu Le
- Producer Alicia Portner
- Group Creative Director Ryan Buckley
- Copywriter Jon Ollom
- Art Director Bern Dalla
- Director of Production Robert Punchard
- HP Anh-Thu Le
- Senior Producer Alicia Portner
- Associate Producer Tyler Hock
- Executive Producer Nyaze Vincent
- Senior Producer Van Corsa
- Executive Producer Patrick Milling-Smith
- Executive Producer Brian Carmody
- Executive Producer Allison Kunzman
- Managing Director Sue Yeon Ahn
- Head of Production Alex Hughes
- Producer Alain Tan
- Production Designer Pete Zumba
- Casting Director Beth Melsky
- DP Jeffrey Kim
- Executive Producer Crissy DeSimone
- Editor Geoff Hounsell
- Senior Producer Alexa Berman
- Producer Wendy Umanzor
- Color Producer Eli Mari Sandal
- Creative Director Ben Cronin
- VFX Supervisor Sam Driscoll
- 2D Supervisor Alexander Kulikov
- Executive Producer Nathan Hoad
- Producer Ashlyn Hardie
- Head of Animation Tim van Hussen
- Online Supervisor Richard Harris / (Senior Smoke Artist)
- Sound Designer Culum Simpson
- Producer Laura-Leigh Smith
- Executive Producer Susie Boyajan
- Audio Producer Cassie Underwood
- Audio Mixer Matt Miller
- Talent Deion Sanders
- Talent Henry Winkler
- Talent Steve Buscemi
![](https://d17mj1ha1c2g57.cloudfront.net/v1/38Y1W-cFz9vbpfbb35UJ-ZOzcds/1024x576%23/80/shotsmag/production/clips/8bdd767e-fd3a-4a28-a9ac-60c6f770971d/1723559847793.jpg?v=1&quality=80&format=jpeg)
Credits
powered by- Agency TBWA Chiat Day/Los Angeles
- Production Company SMUGGLER
- Director Randy Krallman
- Edit Company Arcade Edit
- Colorist Julien Alary
- VFX Company Untold Creative
- Sound Design String and Tins
- Audio Post Lime Studios
- Group Creative Director Jason Karley
- Chief Creative Officer Renato Fernandez
- Creative Director Mark Winters
- Senior Art Director Jono Moore
- Senior Copywriter Dylan Cimo
- Director of Production Anh-Thu Le
- Producer Alicia Portner
- Group Creative Director Ryan Buckley
- Copywriter Jon Ollom
- Art Director Bern Dalla
- Director of Production Robert Punchard
- HP Anh-Thu Le
- Senior Producer Alicia Portner
- Associate Producer Tyler Hock
- Executive Producer Nyaze Vincent
- Senior Producer Van Corsa
- Executive Producer Patrick Milling-Smith
- Executive Producer Brian Carmody
- Executive Producer Allison Kunzman
- Managing Director Sue Yeon Ahn
- Head of Production Alex Hughes
- Producer Alain Tan
- Production Designer Pete Zumba
- Casting Director Beth Melsky
- DP Jeffrey Kim
- Executive Producer Crissy DeSimone
- Editor Geoff Hounsell
- Senior Producer Alexa Berman
- Producer Wendy Umanzor
- Color Producer Eli Mari Sandal
- Creative Director Ben Cronin
- VFX Supervisor Sam Driscoll
- 2D Supervisor Alexander Kulikov
- Executive Producer Nathan Hoad
- Producer Ashlyn Hardie
- Head of Animation Tim van Hussen
- Online Supervisor Richard Harris / (Senior Smoke Artist)
- Sound Designer Culum Simpson
- Producer Laura-Leigh Smith
- Executive Producer Susie Boyajan
- Audio Producer Cassie Underwood
- Audio Mixer Matt Miller
- Talent Deion Sanders
- Talent Henry Winkler
- Talent Steve Buscemi
Created in collaboration with creative agency TBWA\Chiat\Day LA, this 360 campaign will launch :30s, :15s and additional cutdowns across TV/OTT, digital video, social, display, out of home, and audio; extending beyond to paid, owned, and earned channels.
In parallel with the start of football season, DIRECTV is partnering with DraftKings to offer fans a shot at real cash prizes as they cheer for their drafted rosters in a custom free-to-play Daily Fantasy Contest series. Frank & Bobby will be hosting five custom games throughout the season. For the Birds follows in the brand’s 2024 mission to educate consumers about DIRECTV’s streaming options, crushing any misconceptions that DIRECTV is only satellite TV.
"We're thrilled to bring back DIRECTV's favourite spokesbirds, Frank & Bobby, for another campaign. It was very exciting to see audiences embrace and enjoy the duo after their first campaign took flight. This time, we're even more excited to introduce a new member to the flock, voiced by the legendary Deion Sanders, just in time for football season. Deion was a joy to work with — and surprising to no one, he effortlessly stepped into the role of ‘coach’ for our two birds. Deion had no problem whatsoever bringing a believable performance when tasked with whipping our two complaining pigeons into shape." sais Mark Winters, Creative Director, TBWA\Chiat\Day LA