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.
SMS plus IVR spawns mobile horror campaign
To create buzz for the premiere of horror flick Black Christmas, Impact Mobile leveraged the latest IVR techniques and launched one of the best planned viral campaigns to date.
Fox winds down The OC
By late February, the steamy teen shenanigans of The OC will be strictly a thing of the past.
Auto sector, Rogers & Canadian Tire climbed: Eloda Top 15
During the holidays, GM, Nissan and Daimler Chrysler stepped up their spot volume. Meanwhile, Canadian Tire made it into the top 15 after an absence, and P&G stood pat at #1. See who else made moves in Montreal-based Eloda’s online TV ad tracking grid (www.eloda.com).
Trio of radio advertisers zooms back: Media Monitors Spot 10
After absences from the list of the top 15 radio advertisers, Sleep Country Canada soared back, and Nissan and Black’s also increased their spot volume.
UK’s Man’s Work finds home at OLN
The CTVglobemedia-owned net hopes to get an audience with a Brit bound for everything from diving into a lake from a helicopter (instead of a morning shower) to taking down coke dealers and playing with guns.
Massive Rome campaign builds buzz for empire everywhere
The second season of HBO’s Rome won’t be news to Canadian audiences when it actually hits the air on Jan. 14. But with a promo campaign hitting all bases and running live chariots down Bay Street, The Movie Network is throwing everything it has into building buzz for that premiere.
