Interactive

AOL Canada beefs up marketing capabilities
Advertising.com is now reaching nearly 90% of online Canadians.

GroupM integrates global search operations
‘Search has become an increasingly prevalent consumer activity and a vital part of overall communications strategy,’ says Rob Norman, CEO GroupM Interaction Worldwide. And GroupM plans to do something about it.

Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism baits tourists
Here fishy, fishy, fishy. . .

Branchez-Vous picks up Showbizz.net, Matinternet
The Quebec portal’s latest acquisition deal should boost its young adult and A25-54 reach.

Ottawa interactive media company launches
Overlay.TV enables publishers to unobtrusively link videos to marketers’ websites to convert passive online content into an interactive revenue model.

Valentine’s Day leveraged by marketers
Toronto’s Royal Alex theatre is hyping Dirty Dancing with e-cards and chances to win a pink iPod Nano. The Montreal Gazette is going green with a street event. And ZipCar is offering free wheels for winners of its Perfect Date contest.

82000reasons extends Web 2.0 tools for techies
There are purportedly thousands of reasons why Ottawa should be celebrated as Silicon Valley North – and a social media campaign just kicked off to make sure everybody in the tech world knows it.

CTV launches auto microsite
CTVglobemedia is going after online car and truck shoppers – evidently aiming to put a dent in Canwest’s Driving.ca.

Canon morphs ad campaign into CGC site
Launched in October as a brand initiative, ‘Tell Your Story’ has now launched a microsite where Canadians can post photos depicting everything from happy wedding days to scary signs of climate change.

SunoMusic.com stirs Bollywood buzz online
An interactive hub of all things Bollywood aims to go from start-up to sticky entertainment destination for the Indian diaspora.

Notes from the mediascape: Habbo critters get own talent agent
The mighty William Morris Agency just signed its first virtual clients: the 86 million characters that have been created in 31 countries where the online teen world is all the rage.

Notes from the (mobile) mediascape: Iamota and Target aim to boost mobile ad solutions
Vancouver’s iamota nabbed a top AOL Mobile exec for its upcoming plans in mobile advertising, while Target Broadcast Sales is set to sell mobile inventory for a US company.

Canwest local directory teams with Ottawa Senators
The popularity of hometown hockey stars is being leveraged to boost go!Local Ottawa, the first edition of the ‘alternative’ directories.

Flare intros TeenFlare.com
The offshoot of Canada’s most-read fashion mag aims to connect more directly with younger readers.

Write-to-Anne contest promotes novel’s centenary
Several marketers are getting in on the viral effort that celebrates the 100th anniversary of Anne of Green Gables.