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Round two of Toronto Star‘s ‘Ask why’ campaign set for multimedia domination
If you thought the ‘Ask why’ ads were ubiquitous when they broke last fall, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. While Lowe Roche refreshes the zingy proposition, Genesis Media will take a roadblock approach, along with behavioural targeting, to plaster the results pretty much everywhere potential readers might be lurking.
Bevy of brands breaks onto Eloda’s Top 15 TV advertisers
As the year turned, among the brands that showed up on the top TV advertisers list after absences were: Tim Hortons, Unilever, Vonage Holding, Subway, Oral-B Labs and McCain. New to the list is Australia’s Chrisco Hamper. All info below was gathered through Montreal-based Eloda’s online TV ad tracking, auditing and viewing services, and all data is based on its recording grid (www.eloda.com).
Zoom Media appoints new prez
Andy Querin’s a busy man. He sits on boards for the Canadian Outdoor Measurement Bureau and the Out-of-Home Marketing Association of Canada, serves as a key committee member for the National Advertising Benevolent Society, and gets up in front of students as a guest lecturer at Seneca College. Now, he’s a president.
CBC spins Toronto city-guide format for afternoon
CBC’s putting a former TVOntario host to work in an early afternoon look at living the good life in Toronto.
Snowboarder’s season begins with reality series
Snowboarders still waiting for the chance to hit the slopes this winter may find some relief, or maybe just a tease, in G4TechTV Canada’s new reality series. The Block features a snowboarding star who aims to grow a hotel chain for catering to the snowboarder’s lifestyle. Smoking or non-smoking room? Queen bed or two twins? Stripper pole or beer-proof floor?
Want to reach movie buffs? Forget posting on YouTube – try Zip.tv
After mailing customers a whopping six million DVDs, thus becoming Canada’s busiest online video service in just three years, Zip.ca is about to launch Zip.tv. The goal is to not only bypass Canada Post by enabling downloads of movies and TV shows, but also to offer free hosting of user-generated video content.
Nobody celebrated the holidays like Frank and Gordon
It began as a two-week mystery, a teaser that begged the question: Who’s behind the big blue presents? Then the campaign unwrapped itself in time for Christmas. Soon, you couldn’t go anywhere without coming face to face with the beavers. Today was expected to be the last official day of the Bell Mobility holiday campaign.
CRTC ups ad minutes, levels playing field for Télé-Québec
Although technically the Montreal-based station is conventional, Quebec media buyers consider Télé-Québec a specialty channel in terms of programming and reach. So they weren’t too excited when TQ got the green light to add four ad minutes per hour. Still, says one strategist, opps have increased for marketers interested in aligning with high-end niche programming.
Reality series to define the next superhero
Spiderman, Superman, X-Men, The Punisher – the list of comic book creations to get recent revivals on the silver screen and gaming platforms is endless. It was only a matter of time before somebody put the reality spin on this genre in hopes of drawing eyeballs. The latest contestants for superhero fame are coming to IFC next month, and it’s got credibility comic fans can appreciate from host, and comic book mogul, Stan Lee.
Events
Video Game Industry Business Forum
February 5-6
Montreal
The Canadian Institute’s first annual Video Game Industry Business Forum will include sessions such as Advergaming: Revenue Streams and Ad-Serving Dreams – a seminar on creating ad-supported business models, featuring Brian Fitzpatrick, managing partner, director of MindShare Interaction, MindShare Canada, and Eric Gross, senior partner, Gowling Lafleur Henderson.
2007 Media Conference & Trade Show
Feb. 28 – March 2
Las Vegas
Aimed at attracting media professionals, the American Association of Advertising Agencies’2 ½-day conference will feature speakers and panels covering the latest developments in media. The trade show portion of the event will feature over 100 booths with exhibitors showcasing their products and services.
Segal poised to put Hollywood characters to work for Canadian marketers
No need to trek to Lalaland to ink a deal to leverage the popular appeal of a diverse roster of movie and TV characters on behalf of a brand. Now there’s a go-to agency in Toronto.
Conspiracy could bring down Western World on Showcase
The State Within, a conspiracy thriller produced by BBC One, is coming to Canada at the end of the month. The online game’s got political oomph. Can the conspiracies give Showcase some specialty clout on Monday nights?
Fascinating facts about curling Canadians: BBM Media Snapshot
Care for some … uh, sweeping stats on the 2.1 million (8%) Canadians who curl on a regular or an occasional basis? Here you go.
Arklay to handle CTV brand development
John Arklay’s broadcasting career began in 1991 with CTV. He led the creative services team there to 30 Broadcast Design Association Awards over the last three years. Now he’s handling brand development for all of the company’s 21 television stations and 15 specialty channels.
Huschilt to lead Standard Interactive Sales
Standard Interactive is under new sales leadership with a former manager of Transcontinental Media. The network has also recruited two more talents, including one from Torstar.
