World’s First Space Clown Reaps Public Relations Bonanza

Space clown drew more news coverage than Afghan mission
CBC News

Canada’s first space clown can brag that his recent trip to the cosmos generated at least 23 times more international news coverage this year than the country’s mission in Afghanistan.

The figure comes from a media research group hired by Guy Laliberté, the Cirque du Soleil founder who recently became Canada’s first space tourist.

The Quebec billionaire hired Montreal-based Influence Communication to look at 71 countries’ radio, TV, newspaper and internet coverage of his cosmic voyage. The firm’s analysis says it would have cost $592.4 million to buy that much advertising for Laliberté and his environmental foundation.

The Cirque founder shelled out $35 million US for his extraterrestrial flight, suggesting a rather nifty return on investment of more than 1,500 per cent.

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