Saatchi & Saatchi drives client success with AI innovation
Combining experimentation, strategic insights and AI-powered tools, the agency has set new standards for marketing success in an evolving digital world.
Sponsored
Hudson goes to Genesis
Lisa Hudson has taken the newly-minted role of VP, media investment management at Toronto-based Genesis Media Management. ‘The goal of this position is to leverage our collective spending across all media forms,’ says president Annette Warring. Hudson was previously media director at the Brainstorm Group also based in Toronto.
PMB Factoid
Chewy Candies: heavy users; by age
Drama the focus for CBC
CBC revealed its fall lineup today and it’s putting most of its eggs into the Canadian dramatic series basket.
The network announced its plans to increase the hours devoted to Canuck drama by 50% while increasing comedy hours by 10%. The big push is to place its predicted heavy-hitter dramatic titles during the Sunday and Monday night timeslots.
CHUM Rocks this fall
Everybody will love CHUM – they got Chris Rock. CHUM Television’s new season lineup is headlined by the hottest fall TV property, and folks are already speculating what it will be worth. Everybody Hates Chris is the new Paramount series narrated by comedian Chris Rock, based on his experiences as a teen in Brooklyn, and was the darling of upfront screenings.
Other new series include the Don Johnson-starring drama Just Legal from Jerry Bruckheimer, about crusading underdog lawyers (A-Channels, Citytv (Winnipeg, Calgary & Edmonton) & CitytvHD); the Sex and the City-esque comedy Hot Properties about four gals who sell Manhattan real estate (A-Channel Ontario, Citytv Winnipeg, Calgary & Edmonton); the McG drama Supernatural in which paranormal evil is battled (Citytv and Space); and the Aaron Spelling crime drama about a covert ops team, Wanted.
ACA lauds Corus radio guarantee
The Association of Canadian Advertisers has cited Corus Radio’s recently announced radio ‘performance guarantee’ as a model the entire broadcast industry should emulate. Corus has pledged that if a radio spot does not air as contracted, the advertiser will be given the choice of two spots for every one that aired incorrectly, or twice what the advertiser paid for the spot in a credit. The ACA is calling this move ‘a genuine commitment to the industry and to advertisers.’ Corus has also decided to ban the use of the phrase ‘commercial-free’ on its radio stations.
The ACA represents over 200 companies and divisions, which collectively account for estimated sales of $350 billion annually.
BBM Media Snapshot: Canadians who visit national or provincial parks
* 11 million (40%) Canadians visited national/provincial parks one or more times during the past year.
* There was an equal split between males and females.
* The prairie provinces (57%) and B.C. (53%) show up as the regions with more park visitors. In contrast, only 27% of Quebecois visited national or provincial parks during the last year.
* The average personal yearly income of Canadians who visited national/provincial parks is $33,000, slightly higher than the national average of $30,000.
* Park visitors drive longer distances on average (15,000 kilometers per year) than the Canadian average of 13,500 kilometers per year.
* Radio (88%), television 86% and Internet (61%) are national/provincial park visitors’ top three media by yesterday exposure.
* Looking at the preferred radio formats of park visitors, the top three are news/talk (20%), adult contemporary (15%) and classic/mainstream rock.
Source: BBM RTS Canada Fall ’03 / Spring ’04
The preceding information is from BBM RTS, a syndicated consumer-media survey of over 55,000 Canadians, conducted twice a year by BBM Canada. For more information contact Craig Dorning of BBM Canada: cdorning@bbm.ca.
CTV finds up-market reality, raises curtain on Canuck dramedy
Finally, someone using reality TV as a force for good and not stupidity. CTV has picked up ABC’s The Scholar, a new one-hour unscripted series in which the winner gets an all-expenses-paid university education. Ten qualified high school seniors, who might not otherwise have an opportunity to attend one of America’s top universities, compete for a $250,000 scholarship. They must demonstrate excellence in academics, leadership, creativity and community service, while facing sudden-death oral exams from an Ivy League scholarship committee. The show preems Monday, June 6 at 9 p.m., then moves to 8 p.m. beginning June 13.
Also rolling out are Beauty and the Geek, Fridays, beginning June 17 at 8 p.m.; Dancing With The Stars, Wednesdays, beginning June 1 at 9 p.m. (see MIC May 26/05) and Veronica Mars, which premiered on Monday, at 9 p.m. and will move to its regular timeslot – Thursdays at 8 p.m. – tonight. This show about a teen P.I. in a modern-day Peyton Place was originally announced by UPN last August (see MIC Aug. 19/04.)
In homegrown fare, CTV is set to premier an original Canadian dramatic comedy series. Robson Arms will puts an interesting spin on examining the lives of apartment dwellers in Vancouver by peeking into a different flat each week. The show has already nabbed nine 2005 Leo Award nominations (for excellence in B.C. fare) and will air Fridays at 10:30 p.m., beginning Friday, June 17 with back-to-back eps at 10 and 10:30 p.m. the 13 half-hour eps will also air Thursdays at 10:30 p.m., starting June 23 on The Comedy Network. CTV is seeking an 18-34 aud, both male and female, with peripheral viewers up to age 49.
Robson Arms is complemented with a sophisticated Web site, robsonarms.ctv.ca, on which viewers can virtually step into the apartment building for the latest tenant info and sneak peeks. To kick off the series, visitors will have the opportunity to win a year’s free rent or mortgage by e-mailing video post cards to as many people as possible and then answering contest questions relating to the first three episodes.
http://www.ctv.ca
Freedom reigns at Bravo
Canada’s NewStyleArtsChannel is hitting the stage with a new Dance series called Freedom. It profiles Canada’s modern dance scene and will run Mondays at 8 p.m., beginning July 4 in the Appointment with Dance stream. In Appointment with Music, the new series Roots ‘n’ Roll features 13 eps of interviews, performances and videos from popular roots musicians like Rodney Crowell. The show gets underway July 12 and runs Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.
In the Appointment with Literature section, Books into Film examines adaptations using clips, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. The book opens Thursday, July 7 and runs at 8:30 p.m. for 13 eps, looking at everyone from Stephen King to Shakespeare. Beginning July 22, On Screen will unspool six eps on the milestones in Canadian films, Fridays at 8 p.m.
In Appointment with Visual Arts, Passion Without a Break is an eight-part series that profiles a diverse group of French-Canadians and their fierce devotion to their art. The show airs Sundays at 7:30 p.m., beginning July 3. Bravo is seeking a 25-54 aud for this programming.
There’s also a whole day of Elvis on July 3 – but we won’t go into that.
http://www.bravo.ca
Discovery determines if it’s a hit or myth
Discovery Channel is presenting a six-episode MythBusters Marathon. The fun and fact-filled fare affirms or denies such urban myths as can a penny dropped from a skyscraper really kill a passing pedestrian? The shows will air on Sunday, July 3, beginning at 6 p.m. ET and 9 p.m. PT.
www.discoverychannel.ca.
CanWest MediaWorks loses president
In a surprise move, Richard Camilleri is departing his job as president of CanWest MediaWorks, the company’s Canadian broadcasting, newspaper and online division. Camilleri joined CanWest in 2002 as COO. His plans are unknown.
His post will be assumed by long-time CanWester Peter Viner whose CV includes the presidency of the Global TV network, publisher of the National Post and, most recently, strategic adviser on corporate development.
Alliance Atlantis changes the top of its totem pole
Toronto-based Alliance Atlantis Communications announced a change yesterday in its operating management structure. Effective immediately, Michael MacMillan, formerly AAC chairman and CEO, will become the executive chairman. Phyllis Yaffe, the current COO, will become the broadcaster’s new CEO. MacMillan will continue to focus his efforts on overseeing the long-term growth and direction of the company, while Yaffe will steer the company in achieving its financial and operating goals.
AAC’s broadcasting wing owns such specialties as Food Network Canada, HGTV, Life Network and Showcase.
Teletoon Canada names two
Teletoon Canada has appointed Leslie Krueger VP of Marketing. In her new role, Krueger will be responsible for the strategic direction, development and evaluation of marketing programs, as well as the leadership of sales promotions, creative services and online media. She joined Teletoon in 2001 and was most recently director of marketing and promotions. She was behind the launch of Toon Trax, Teletoon’s first licensing and merchandising effort.
The net has also named Trent Locke VP of Finance and Planning. Locke has been with Teletoon since 2000 and has over 14 years of experience in finance and strategic management.
CanWest unveils U.S picks
CanWest went cross-border shopping and picked up a slew of new programs for the 2005/06 broadcast season for its channels, Global and CH. The new roster includes 11 dramas such as Fox’s Prison Break; the new Jerry Bruckheimer series E-Ring starring Benjamin Bratt and the thriller Fathom from NBC/Universal. Other new dramas are Head Cases, Reunion, Threshold, The Unit, The Gate and Bones.
Nine new comedies round out CanWest’s pickup list, including Old Christine with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Warner Bros.’ War at Home and Out of Practice, starring Henry Winkler and Stockard Channing from CBS/Paramount. More comedy buys are How I Met Your Mother and My Name is Earl.
Kingstar Media wins Time Life biz
Toronto-based Kingstar Media won the contract to purchase long-form media in Canada for Time Life’s DRTV division, which includes its best-selling line of music and video products. ‘We chose Kingstar because they know and understand the Canadian market and they have a proven track record in DRTV,’ says Pat Boos, VP, media at Time Life. Time Life Music offers music and video collections that are available through unique TV offers. Its Canadian offerings will now be priced in Canadian currency and will be made available to our francophone market for the first time. Kingstar Media is the first agency to handle this biz on Time Life’s behalf. ‘It was very scattered,’ says Jake Willitts, an account exec at Kingstar. ‘No one had this business in Canada. The Canadian market was accessed via spillover from the U.S. To position Canada as its own unique market with its own needs was part of our strategy.’ Willitts was unwilling to reveal the value of the biz. The contract begins June 1.
