Shelves now talking with audible ink
NYC-based News America Marketing is now using ‘audible ink’ to give an added boost to its SmartSource ShelfTalk and FloorTalk display vehicles. The new AudioInk lets shoppers hear a message when they touch the display.
The ads are printed using ‘conductive ink’ that can carry different messages to different shoppers. ‘Because the electronics are actually printed, it’s a remarkably durable and cost-efficient way to get the customer’s attention,’ says EVP marketing Jesse Aversano.
http://www.newsamerica.com/
CSI tops Survivor to grab No. 1 slot in Canada
CTV’s all-acronym lineup has won Thursdays. With The O.C. at 8, CSI at 9 and ER at 10, CTV’s Thursday night lineup is number one on two fronts. According to the latest BBM audience data, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation‘s season-to-date average of 3.076 million viewers has edged past Survivor (3.028 million) by 2% and growing in overall audience. By contrast, BBM reports Survivor has slipped 3% since its premiere.
Second, with the strong debut of The O.C (1.83 million), a resurgence of viewers this year for veteran series ER, and the continued growth of CSI, CTV’s overall Thursday night line-up is now number one, with more prime-time viewers than any other Canadian broadcaster.
Global airs The Jane Show, kind of like The Office meets Sex in the City
Back in Sept, MIC reported that Global Television planned to air a pilot for The Jane Show, starring Second City alumnus Teresa Pavlinek, and now it has an airdate, Dec. 15. Global calls it The Office meets Sex in the City as Jane and her best friend deal with dating, job stress, love, and the weirdos they work with.
Global says they’re courting an 18-49 demo, adding that advertising and sponsorship opportunities exist. The Jane Show premieres in Manitoba/Saskatchewan at 7:30 p.m., Ontario/Quebec/British Columbia at 8:30 p.m. and the Maritimes/Alberta at 9:30 p.m. Based on the success of the pilot, Global will decide whether or not it will purchase further episodes.
La Nouba, a Cirque du Soleil special
From the people who brought the world Cirque du Soleil comes La Nouba, a two-hour long circus adventure airing on CBC television Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. La Nouba takes viewers on an lavish journey punctuated with high wire acts, flying trapeze and stunning acro-gymnastics that will appeal to children and adults alike. Directed by David Mallet, the special features more than 70 international artists from 14 countries.
CBC to air Prince Harry and the Forgotten Kingdom
Following his mother’s tradition of selfless dedication, Prince Harry has made a documentary about the plight of AIDS orphans. The film will air on CBC’s The Passionate Eye on Dec. 13 at 10 p.m. Travelling to the AIDS-ravaged southern African country of Lesotho, the 19-year-old prince spent eight weeks working at the orphanages. The documentary also includes Harry’s first television interview in which he speaks candidly about his mother.
CTV greenlights movie deal
CTV announced on Friday that its next original movie title will be The Man Who Lost Himself: The Terry Evanshen Story, from its Heroes, Champions and Villains production strand. The movie tells the true story of the former Canadian Football League star and Hall-of-Famer who lost his memory in a car accident in 1988. Based on the book of the same name by June Callwood, the story chronicles Evanshen’s fight to rise above the accident to rediscover his family and become a motivational speaker.
The movie is skedded to begin shooting in the spring and will be produced by Toronto-based Sarrazin Couture Entertainment in association with CTV and Lifetime Network.
PMB Factoid
Percentage of people in Toronto who entertain at home: 34. Montreal: 29.
People — Passages, Moves & News
Last week MusiquePlus went through a series of internal changes with the former GM of MusiquePlus, Pierre Marchand assuming the new role of VP marketing and communications for the channel. Paola Simonetto, former director of programming development and production, will be the new director of the programming while Jacque Camerlain continues in his role as the director of programs for MusiMax. Lyse George will support Marchard as a consultant for marketing and communications while Bernard Diaz, current director of sales and creative media, will assume the interim position of VP sales. Richard Gamache’s position as director of communications has been dissolved, but he will become director of disks and entertainment, a newly created post in the sales department.
Leaving MusiquePlus is Louis Panneton, VP sales and marketing and Johanne Menard will lose her position as VP programming.
http://www.musiqueplus.com/
Entrepreneur, visionary and chairman and president of Multimedia Nova, Daniel Iannuzzi passed away suddenly on Nov. 20 as a result of a cardiac arrest while in Rome. Fluent in English, French and Italian and born in Montreal, Mr. Iannuzzi resided in Toronto for the past 50 years while dedicating his life to multiculturalism.
Along with his involvement in Multimedia Nova, he was a founder-shareholder, director and exec producer of multilingual programming at CityTV from 1972 to 1979 before heading to CFMT-TV Channel 47 for 10 years.
Funeral arrangements are currently underway.
Satellite radio seen as threat to local radio
The CRTC hearings on satellite and subscription radio applications that began November 1 have drawn numerous intervention submissions from both supporters and detractors along fairly predictable lines.
NASCAR/CASCAR deal opens up ad opps
In a joint effort to increase fan interest and visibility for stock car racing in Canada, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) and the Canadian Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (CASCAR) have entered into a multi-year operational and marketing agreement. ‘NASCAR will lend operational and marketing expertise to help grow Canada’s only national stock car series,’ says George Pyne, COO of NASCAR. ‘This partnership further demonstrates NASCAR’s support of grassroots racing throughout North America and our efforts to bring sponsorship and licensing opportunities to businesses at every level of the sport.’
The alliance means ‘advertisers will have real access to racing on the ground,’ says Randy Paul, managing director, sponsorships at Toronto-based TSN Events. He says there will be fully integrated opportunities ranging from brand awareness to on-car and on-track advertising to hospitality.
There are, of course, different levels of sponsorship, with customized packages to meet the advertiser’s demands. The integration can also include a media component. NASCAR officially entered Canada in June and is in the process of talking to potential sponsors. None has been revealed as yet. NASCAR is the top-rated motor sport on Canadian television with a fan base in this country of six million.
New study reveals shoppers drawn to the net for holiday shopping
A new study done by MSN Canada shows that more Canadians are planning on avoiding the chaotic shopping mall scene by making their purchases for the holidays on the Internet. The study revealed that 42% of Canadians polled plan to buy gifts online in 2004, compared with 32% in 2003 and 23% in 2002. Of the Canadians who plan to buy gifts online this year, reasons like 24-hour shopping (76%), the ability to shop from any location (72%), and the ease of price comparisons (63%) topped the list for why they prefer shopping on the Net.
The online poll of 1,200 Canadians (aged 18 and older) was done by OpenVenue e-Research Solutions from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4 among visitors to the sympatico.msn.ca Web site.
Clear Channel dominates mega mall
Clear Channel Outdoor has an imposing presence in recently-opened Toronto area mega-mall Vaughan Mills with 24 new mall poster ad displays. The company’s four-by-six-foot backlit mall displays and directories have been custom designed for each different zone within the mall.
Vaughan Mills, Canada’s first enclosed centre in 14 years, is 1.2 million square feet with more than 200 anchor and specialty stores, restaurants and entertainment venues. Of these, many are the first in Canada, including Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Burlington Coat Factory, NASCAR Speed Park, Lucky Strike Lanes and The Hudson’s Bay Company’s Designer Depot. The centre also features the largest Tommy Hilfiger outlet in the world. In addition to mall media advertising, three-year-old Clear Channel Outdoor (www.clearchanneloutdoor.ca) product line also includes airport advertising and spectaculars around Dundas Square, Atrium Media Tower, and on the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto as well as transit in Ottawa and interior and exterior signage at the Metropolitan Toronto Convention Centre.
VIM: the ultimate product placement scenario
Vimation, a video interactive media agency based in Newport Beach, California, have created VIM, the ultimate product placement scenario, which allows marketers to place a brand or product into an interactive video.
ImaginAsianTV, a 24-hour Asian cable TV network, is Vimation’s first client and their Vim-enhanced Web site allows visitors to navigate through a branded cityscape. By clicking on items, visitors can obtain programming previews and extra features within the video. The technology also enables advertisers data reports and customizable measurement tools based on user profiles, time of day, or geographic location. Company president David Hemingway plans to push the technology even further, although those improvements are still in development. Pricing depends on how complex the video interaction will be, but Hemingway says the bare minimum will run about $50,000 (U.S.), and that Vimation has yet to entertain a Canadian offer.
New Canadian incentive association launches
The Incentive Marketing Association-Canada Council had its opening bash last night in Toronto. The new group is the first offshoot of the seven-year old Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) in the U.S. Currently membership stands at 15, but Rob Purdy, IMA Canada president (and Carlton Group president), is aiming to hit 50 in the first year. IMA
Canada’s executive director is Dave Forde, who is also GM for the Association of Internet Marketing and Sales.
The group plans to raise the profile of the $32 billion North American industry through training and research. Currently Canada accounts for $1 billion of that, but Purdy says the IMA goal is to take that to $5 billion. Canadian members have access to U.S. IMA resources through the partnership, which include legal resources on areas such as gift certificates and online, seminars, and a certificate program. Other services include data base resources, targeted marketplace research and ‘best practices’ case studies.
http://www.imacanada.ca.
In other media news…
TiVo Will No Longer Skip Past Advertisers (L.A. Times, November 17). When it debuted in 1999, TiVo revolutionized the TV experience by wresting control of screen time from advertisers, allowing viewers to record shows and skip commercials. TiVo’s slogan said it all: ‘TV your way.’
Behind the scenes, though, TiVo was courting advertisers, selling inroads to a universe most customers saw as commercial-free.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-et-tivo17nov17,0,927837.story?coll=la-home-headline
- Corus Entertainment to shut down five children’s channels
- Snap appoints The Trade Desk’s Bob Cornwall as new GM in Canada
- Industry experts weigh in on TikTok Canada’s halt to cultural funding
- Touché! wins new grocery client in Quebec and New Brunswick
- Nextdoor rolls out ads for the first time in Canada
