In a totally shameless attempt to get some free publicity [brand whose name we won’t mention] has broadcast an advert into space.

The winning advert was made by Matt Bowron as part of a competition run by [brand whose name we won’t mention]. You can watch it on the embedded video below the fold.

“The signal is directed at a solar system just 42 light years away from Earth, in the ‘Ursa Major’ or Great Bear Constellation,” says Tony van Eyken, director of the European Incoherent Scattter facility that is broadcasting the message (Environmental Graffiti). “Its star is very similar to our Sun and hosts a habitable zone that could harbour small life supporting planets similar to ours.”

How much the facility, which normally studies the Earth’s magnetosphere, is getting paid to do this hasn’t been disclosed.

It was announced in March that an advert would be broadcast into space, with an open competition to create the ad. There are at least two planets round the star chosen, although these are not in the habitable zone, van Eyken explained at the time.

This is sure to please Google co-founder Sergey Brin, who recently said he is “a big believer in the exploration and commercial development of the space frontier”.

“By broadcasting the winning ad to the Universe, [brand whose name we won’t mention] is delivering a world first and Matt Bowron, the winner, will go down in advertising folklore,” says Peter Charles, head of the advertising project (Brand Republic). “We also shouldn’t be too surprised if the first aliens start arriving on planet Earth immediately demanding [whatever it is we’re selling].”

Actually this is only the first deliberate broadcast of an advert into space. Due to the way our broadcasts work we’ve been subjecting the universe to our television for years.

And if the aliens haven’t declared war on us yet for subjecting them to Everybody Loves Raymond, we’re probably alone in the universe…