V: ABC Takes to the Skies to Promote New TV Series

Though it might seem like an obvious choice, ABC execs won’t be borrowing “balloon boy’s” helium saucer to promote their new show, V. Instead, ABC is hiring skywriters to help attract attention to the remake of the 1980s mini-series and TV show.

Beginning on Friday, airplanes will draw giant V’s in the sky at more than 25 landmarks across the country. The network won’t say exactly which locales will be targeted but they’ll reportedly keep marking up the sky several times a day until the series’ launch on November 3rd.

After airing four episodes during November sweeps, the new V will go on hiatus and return mid-season with the remaining nine episodes. ABC’s strategy is considered risky and such breaks have hurt many shows’ ratings in the past. The network maintains that they’re trying to market the new V as more of a special event.

What do you think? Does ABC’s scheduling strategy for V make sense? How about painting the skies? Clever or annoying?