Apple has launched its first-ever TV-ad campaign in Russia.
Two types of commercials are running on top networks TNT, CTC and Pyatnitsa, one of which was voiced by local TV stars.
The first commercial is for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus, and the second one features a young woman and a young man using the App store. The characters were voiced by popular TV personalities Olga Shelest and Anton Komolov.
The Russian business daily Vedomosti reported that Apple’s ad campaign, which is to run through the end of December, is setting the company back between $1.1 million and $1.6 million (50 million rubles to 70 million rubles). In accordance with the report, the TV ad campaign could signify the importance of the Russian market for Apple.
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Meanwhile, the campaign is being run at a time when Apple is losing its share of the lucrative smartphone market to Android-based devices. According to Mobile Research Group, Apple’s market share fell to 22 percent in the first six months of 2014, down from 31 percent in the comparable period of last year. At the same time, iTunes, which launched in Russia two years ago, quickly became one of the most popular music services.
Over the last few weeks, there have been reports in the Russian media that iPhones and iPads may not be operable in Russia as of January 1, 2015 due to changes in the local data protection laws.
More recently, the local media reported that young men conscripted for mandatory military service would be banned from using iPhones, but the Russian defense department denied that.
