In an April Fool’s Day move that combines humor with advocacy, Pluto TV, the streaming service, has launched a campaign to reinstate Pluto as a planet on its 10th anniversary.
The campaign, which kicked off with a sit-in at UCLA and a petition on change.org, aims to challenge the International Astronomical Union’s decision to reclassify Pluto as a dwarf planet in 2006.
The campaign, spearheaded by Pluto TV’s global SVP and head of marketing, Valerie Kaplan, seeks to inject some lightheartedness into the debate surrounding Pluto’s planetary status. “As a company, we have always pushed the boundaries and the same goes for our approach to marketing. We like to have a little fun with our brand because entertainment should be fun,” Kaplan remarked.
To add weight to their cause, Pluto TV has enlisted the support of two prominent figures in the field of astronomy: astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and planetary scientist Alan Stern. Tyson, known for his stance on reclassifying Pluto as a dwarf planet, has agreed to participate in the campaign, adding an element of controversy to the proceedings.
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“It was April Fools’ Day when we introduced Pluto TV to the world in 2014, so it’s only fitting that we found a wildly creative and irreverent way to celebrate our 10th anniversary on that same day,” Kaplan explained. “We’ve never been afraid to challenge conventions, and that’s the very reason we’re as successful as we are today.”
The debate over Pluto’s planetary status has long been a contentious issue among space enthusiasts and scientists alike. While Tyson argues for Pluto’s reclassification based on scientific criteria, Pluto TV’s campaign seeks to highlight the sentimental attachment many people have to the former ninth planet.
As the campaign gains momentum, it remains to be seen whether Pluto TV’s efforts will have any impact on the official classification of Pluto. However, one thing is for certain: the debate over Pluto’s planetary status is far from over, and Pluto TV is determined to ensure that its namesake gets the recognition it deserves, even if it’s just in the realm of popular culture.
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