Skyrim’s TV launch ad hits Sky 1

Millions of TV viewers will watch the Skyrim TV ad for the first time this weekend during showings of An Idiot Abroad and more.

Bethesda is running the live-action TV spot during The Walking Dead on FX this Friday at 10pm, as well as An Idiot Abroad on Sky 1 at 9pm. On Saturday the ad will air during E4’s The Big Bang Theory at 6pm and on Sunday it will run around the 7.35pm showing of Iron Man on the same channel.

Bethesda’s three-day live-action shoot for its fantasy RPG’s TV ad was recorded using 400 members of cast and crew, 200 extras, 30 ravens, eight stuntmen, six horses and one CGI dragon, to be precise. You can watch the 60-secondSkyrim short here.

The publisher has already supported the release with cinema ads during showings of films such as X-Men 1st Class, Captain America and more. TV ads ran during Champions League matches in October and November, as well as video-on-demand ads on Sky Player and more.

Print ads have featured in several print publications including a Short List cover wrap, with covers for Edge and PC Gamer too. There will also be London Underground posters running for over a month, branded LoveFilm envelopes and branded plastic bags for Forbidden Planet customers. A YouTube masthead will lead the online campaign.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim hits shelves this Friday for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC with an SRP of 54.99.

GAME and Gamestation is hosting several midnight openingsto mark the game’s launch, with strategy guides and CDs on offer to early buyers.