Media Contacts opens Toronto office
As of Jan. 3, there’s a new digital media player in town touting a strong measurement and optimization bent.
Media Contacts, which is the global interactive realm of the Media Planning Group (MPG) within Havas, focuses on media planning and marketing solutions within the digital/direct response/data base analytics area, and utilizes Artemis, a proprietary tech platform wired to yield very granular results.
CMDC nabs WPP’s Sorrell for conference
The Canadian Media Directors’ Council will be welcoming one of the most prominent members of the advertising industry to deliver the keynote address at next year’s conference. Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of WPP Group, will speak April 5 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
The confab is themed ‘Called to Account – Managing Risk with Accountability’ and almost 800 industry leaders are expected to explore whether accountability and governance can peacefully coexist with risk and creativity in today’s marketplace.
BBM Top 20
For a list of the top 20 TV shows for the week of Nov. 29 to Dec. 5, according to BBM, click the links below:
http://www.mediaincanada.com/articles/mic/20041207/nat11292004.pdf
http://www.mediaincanada.com/articles/mic/20041207/ont11292004.pdf
http://www.mediaincanada.com/articles/mic/20041207/que11292004.pdf
http://www.mediaincanada.com/articles/mic/20041207/van11292004.pdf
http://www.mediaincanada.com/articles/mic/20041207/tor11292004.pdf
Sun Media hires new SVP
Sandy Muir has been hired as SVP of sales for the Sun Media Network. Muir, who previously worked at The Globe and Mail and ROBTV as VP of marketing and ad sales, joined Sun Media just as the media conglomerate finalized its purchase of the television station Toronto 1 with Quebecor sister subsidiary TVA. According to sources at Sun Media, Muir’s role will focus exclusively on the company’s print media and when asked last week if Muir might work with Sun Media’s new television property in the future, the response was that it is ‘too early to tell.’
At the time of the Toronto 1 deal close, Quebecor announced that Sun Media plans to use the Toronto 1 acquisition to generate numerous opportunities for cross-promotions between print and television advertising as well as for leveraging the two brands with consumers and advertisers in the GTA.
Montreal mag brings back unconventional and successful gift subscription campaign
Maisonneuve, the Montreal based monthly magazine for the ‘eclectically curious,’ is celebrating the holidays and its own innovation this December. Designed as a 3D alternative to traditionally underwhelming magazine subscription card gifts, Maisonneuve has put together 1,200 handcrafted wooden gift boxes containing six issues and assorted premiums. The package had doubled as a successful promotional campaign.
The boxed set, which was originally launched last holiday season, has resulted in several hundred new subscribers, a big spike in Web traffic and increased exposure. Maisonneuve has seen such a positive response from its little wooden box that it has added it to its ad/partnership kit options. This year, Geist and the Pop Montreal Music Festival have teamed up with Maisonneuve for the box, which is available in select stores across Canada.
The majority of Maisonneuve’s circulation (14,000 for November’s issue) reaches a 25- to 34-year-old post-secondary-educated demographic. The magazine is also involved with events such as Visual Curiosity, an art show party that drew over 2,000 people last year, and it has developed unique sponsor relationships with Bell, Audi, Absolut and Moderno.
WestJet’s new in-flight magazine preps for take-off
WestJet has announced March 1 as the launch date for its new in-flight magazine Up! The monthly, published by RedPoint Media Group, will debut on the heels of the airline’s announcement of new expanded routes to Florida and California. Calgary’s own Creative Intelligence Agency, WestJet’s AOR for the last nine years, is on board with Up!, as is fellow Cowtown agency McGowan Intermac/Publicitas which has been retained as the magazine’s national advertising representative. Up! will be available on all of WestJet’s flights, which serve more than 30 destinations. Advertising sales for the inaugural issue close Jan. 14.
Holiday special taps into gay market
Billed as the first ever gay-themed holiday movie and obviously taking a stab at the affluent gay demo, Too Cool for Christmas follows a teen who would rather go skiing than spend Christmas with her two dads. Factor in George Hamilton as an understanding Santa (I can’t picture it, but maybe you can) and you’ve got yourself a Christmas special for the new millennium. However for those not ready for the tolerant ’00s, a second version of the movie was also filmed (both were done in Vancouver), the other having a straight theme and titled A Very Cool Christmas. It airs on Citytv Toronto and Vancouver Dec. 16 at 9 p.m.
Battlestar Galactica series comes to Space: The Imagination Station
The battle between man and machine rages on as the remake of the 1978 cult classic Battlestar Galactica debuts on Space: The Imagination station on Jan. 15 at 8 p.m. In the new series, Oscar-nominated Edward James Olmos pilots the spaceship Galactica as Commander William Adama, the leader of a ragtag crew scouring the universe for a new home for humanity. The target demographic is Space’s regular crowd – 25 to 54-year-old men. Jennifer Lo, director of communications at Space, said marketers can get involved with the show in a number of ways including sponsorship, close- captioning, traditional advertisements and added that Space would be willing to create a unique marketing opportunity specially created for a individual client. A behind-the-scenes documentary airs on Dec. 24 at 12:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and again on Jan. 14. at 9 p.m. The new Battlestar Galactica series will air Saturdays at 8 p.m. with repeats airing on Sunday at 6 p.m. Citytv also has plans to air the show in the future.
TSN to cover 2005 World Juniors in HD
TSN and RDS will broadcast this year’s International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Hockey Championship from Dec. 25 to Jan. 4 entirely in high definition. The tournament, which takes place in North Dakota, will begin on the 25th with preliminary round matches and will be followed by the quarter-finals, semifinals and bronze medal game, and finishes on the 4th with the gold medal game.
The World Juniors return to North America for the second time in three years, but only the fourth time in the last 10, and TSN is ready to cash in on a country of viewers who are starving for a familiar brand of hockey. TSN’s top two rated programs of all time were from the 2003 World Juniors held in Halifax (semifinals & finals) and it is expected that with the lack of NHL hockey, the tournament will draw some of its highest numbers ever, particularly if Canada manages to make it to the final game for its fourth consecutive year.
For the entire TSN and RDS broadcast schedule, check out: http://www.tsn.ca/World_jrs/feature.asp?fid=445
Robinson, Dean named at Nielsen
Markham, Ont.-based Nielsen Media Research has appointed Paul Robinson to the position of director, marketing and communications. In his new role, Robinson will manage media relations and marketing communications for Nielsen Media Research’s Canadian services. Robinson has more than 10 years of PR and marketing communications experience in the media and technology industry.
As well, Kathy Dean becomes data specialist. She will support the analysis needs of Nielsen Media Research’s television audience measurement and advertising information clients, covering all aspects of the advertising industry. She joins Nielsen Media Research from CTV’s market research department where she worked as a research analyst.
http://www.vnu.com
Corus radio appoints a new VP of news and talk
Corus Entertainment has promoted Doug Rutherford to the position of VP News and Talk, Corus Radio. Rutherford, whose specialty is news-talk radio, got his start with the company in 1999. In his new capacity, he will focus on increasing audiences and expanding the capabilities of Corus’ news-talk radio stations. Corus Entertainment is a Canadian-based media and entertainment company whose holdings include news-talk/sports stations in eight of the 10 major markets in Canada.
PMB Factoid
Percent of Vancouverites who go walking/hiking: 51. Toronto: 38
Events
December 7
Webinar: Measuring and Managing Consumer-Generated Media (CGM) in the Automotive Market
4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (EST)
http://www.intelliseek.com/
Zapping and multitasking increase during primetime viewing
A study of primetime TV viewing by California-based Knowledge Networks shows that TV viewers just can’t put down that remote control. Primetime viewing behaviour such as switching channels, multitasking, and cherry picking what they watch continue unabated, something the consumer research company says indicates that consumers want more control over their TV viewing.
Sharpe Blackmore Euro wins Direct Energy
Toronto-based agency Sharpe Blackmore Euro RSCG announced yesterday that it had been named agency of record for Markham, Ont.-based Direct Energy. No other agencies were considered or short-listed.
The win includes media planning and buying duties for the international energy giant. Sharpe VP media director Jeffery Thibodeau would not reveal what the account represents in terms of annual media spend but describes it as ‘significant.’ Media was previously handled by OMD. Strategic planning and response forecasting for the account starts immediately with a new creative platform expected in January 2005.
