Jesse Kohl
CMT casts Chevrolet in ‘Wilkisodes’
Corus Entertainment-owned CMT is giving GM’s Chevrolet Avalanche a starring role in 10 ‘Wilkisodes’ designed to build buzz for today’s season two premiere of The Wilkinsons.
Want a job in a street gang? Follow the shell casings…
Used shell casings and mock gang recruitment posters are ‘infecting’ the youth-at-risk target in Vancouver. The OOH twist is aimed at driving young people to the online elements of DDB Vancouver’s latest PSA.
Alberta free dailies: is 3 too much company?
The war of the free daily newspaper brands in Alberta is complete. Sun Media launched 24 Hours in Edmonton and Calgary this week, against a backdrop of recent RushHour announcements by CanWest and the coming introduction of Metro editions for both cities. For advertisers, there’s choice in Alberta’s commuter freebies. But are the markets big enough for these big three?
Scottish design duo crosses pond for Canadian series
Interior design gurus Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan have done wonders for HGTV audiences with the UK-produced How NOT to Decorate. Last fall, the Scottish duo visited Canada for the first time for a PR tour to build the show’s appeal. This spring, they’re coming back to start shooting the first of 52 episodes of Home Heist for the net.
Vice aims to ‘rescue you from television’s deathlike grip’ with VBS.tv
Vice Magazine, Spike Jones and MTV – those three names made media news in the US when rumours began to circulate about the launch of VBS.tv, a new Internet video provider targeting males 18-34 with edgy content. ‘It’s ridiculous how generous we are,’ says the press package – a phrase that will easily apply to marketers wondering what’s in store for them on VBS.tv.
Alliance Atlantis stirs up media mix for Slice launch
A massive campaign to promo the upcoming launch of Alliance Atlantis’ Slice network is rolling out, teasing women with the promise of guilty pleasure and an end to all other vices they have known. In-house media and creative teams are coordinating the elements with help from Vancouver’s Rethink, Toronto’s Proximity Interactive, and Montreal HQ’d National Public Relations. If you’re a woman, you will not escape this one.
The Oscars rule again… with slightly less
The Academy Awards on CTV measured a slightly lower average audience than last year’s show, and the total reach among Canadians fell by almost a million. But the red carpet still rules as the most-watched TV event in Canada.
CanWest launches third RushHour daily in Edmonton
It’s only been a few days since RushHour took to the streets of Calgary and already CanWest has launched a second edition in Alberta. But so far, the numbers aren’t as high as what Metro‘s planning for the booming province.
Astral-Standard deal may be good news for media buying
Last year, Astral Media flirted with the possibility of buying CHUM. When that didn’t work out, Astral considered getting in on the fight for Alliance Atlantis. This week, Astral is finalizing details on a $1.3 billion buy of Standard Radio – which would make them the biggest in Canada’s audio airwaves.
Toronto OOH players try to sort sign crisis
The association representing Toronto’s biggest out-of-home players is waiting for a list of ‘violations’ from the city. Meanwhile, a few OOH companies are proposing changes to the archaic sign bylaw.
New MTV series to feature musical match-ups
MTV is creating an online dating show that acts as a matchmaker based on contestants’ music tastes. And the makers of some all-time favourite candies are getting ready for some tasty brand integration from Date My Playlist.
YTV to enliven March break with engagement offers
It smells like tween spirit. Toronto-based Corus Entertainment is putting the power of the airwaves into the hands of the little people. During March break, kids will be able to vote their favourite shows back onto the airwaves – and even have a chance at being turned into an animated character in the hit TV series Captain Flamingo.
Metro and RushHour launch free dailies in Alberta
Free dailies are popping up everywhere. Metro is set to push 120,000 free daily newspapers into the Calgary and Edmonton markets within weeks. And CanWest launched Calgary RushHour yesterday morning, morphing a publication that started in Ottawa as a downloadable afternoon paper.
On-air Oscar spots sold out
The roster of advertisers vying for space during the Academy Awards show is complete. CTV sold out its on-air spots yesterday. Other shows based on the Oscar’s, such as eTalk and the Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special are almost sold out as of press time.
Cineplex to replace Tribute with Famous Magazine
The in-theatre magazine, Tribute, has been bumped out of Cineplex Entertainment’s venues. Its rival, Famous Magazine, will see a huge boost to its circulation.
- Is GroupM being dismantled? Reports point to rebrand and restructuring
- Some GroupM Canada senior executives have left the agency
- Media leaders concerned ad spend not going to Canadian media
- Upfronts 2025: Fox announces significant investment in sports
- MiQ becomes CFL’s first programmatic media partner
