Marketing Week
13 March 2008

  • Ad spend set to resist credit crunch

    Mon, 17 Mar 2008

    Global ad spend will not suffer a “severe” slowdown in 2008 despite the credit crunch and growing economic uncertainty, according to research from media agency Carat.

  • Aegis reports 16% rise in pre-tax profits

    Wed, 19 Mar 2008

    Aegis Group, the owner of Carat and Vizeum, says it is "relatively optimistic" about its performance over the coming year but sounded a cautious note about the "macro-economic outlook" for the year. It made the comments as it reported a 16% increase in underlying pre-tax profits ...

  • AOL to buy Bebo for $850m

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Internet company AOL has announced it is to acquire social networking site Bebo for $850m (£427m). AOL says the deal will give it a "premier position" in social media.

  • Arsenal TV to be shown on Virgin Media

    Fri, 14 Mar 2008

    Arsenal Football Club has won its battle to air its TV channel on Virgin Media, a month after urging fans to lobby the cable company. Virgin Media says the channel, which already airs on satellite, will be available from Tuesday.

  • Barbie signs promotion deal with Butlins

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Girls entertainment brand Barbie has signed a deal with holiday company Butlins to promote its new film and product range featuring the doll.

  • BBC Worldwide and eBay team up for recycling push

    Fri, 14 Mar 2008

    BBC Worldwide is partnering with online auction site eBay to encourage people to recycle and reduce unnecessary waste. Under an affiliate partnership agreement the bbcgreen.com portal will run adverts encouraging consumers to buy "used only" goods from eBay.

  • Beyond the bedroom door

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Young people have great access to media channels and can work wonders for marketing campaigns, as long as the brand can get them onside, says Jamie Goldblatt

  • BSkyB awarded share of Champions League football rights

    Tue, 18 Mar 2008

    BSkyB has been awarded the lion's share of Champions League football rights for three years from the 2009 season. Sky is understood to have trumped rivals by tabling an estimated £240m bid.

  • BT appoints former health secretary Hewitt

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    BT has appointed former health secretary Patricia Hewitt as its non-executive director. The Blairite MP lost her post last summer when new Prime Minister Gordon Brown reshuffled his front bench.

  • Bulldog aims to see off men's skincare competition

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    It may be small, but the men's skincare market is fast becoming a brand battleground, with established players fighting it out with a raft of new entrants.

  • C4 will maintain public status in digital future

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Channel 4 has unveiled an "ambitious" blueprint of the enhanced public role it wants to fulfil in the "digital" future. The Next on 4 strategic blueprint, unveiled today (Thursday), underlines Channel 4's commitment to maintaining its public status and calls for a new legislative framework to reflect ...

  • Campaigners outraged over EFSAs refusal to ban food additives

    Fri, 14 Mar 2008

    Food campaigners are up in arms following the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) ruling against Food Commission's calls for a complete ban on food additives.

  • Carphone Warehouse puts money where the mouth is

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Twenty years ago it was the first independent mobile phone shop but now Carphone Warehouse is facing tough competition. Rufus Jay reports on how it is diversifying its services to stay ahead

  • Chris Ingram on how to come out on top in a recession

    Wed, 19 Mar 2008

    There are many people who don’t want to mention the “r” word on the basis that it is self-fulfilling. As an optimist I understand this argument well, but there comes a point when it is foolish to ignore the possibility of recession – that ...

  • C-list ads pay off for Morrisons

    Wed, 19 Mar 2008

    A collection of minor celebrities has helped supermarket chain Morrisons out-manoeuvre Tesco in the grocery wars.

  • Codemasters sets up viral campaign on Facebook

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Codemasters is promotingits latest computer game by setting up a Facebook site in the name of a man who almost killed Winston Churchill in 1931.

  • Dennis web mag goes mobile

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Dennis Publishing is extending its Monkey web magazine brand into a mobile TV channel. The mobile offering will be free and offer content from the magazine including comedy clips as well as made-for-mobile features.

  • Eden Bidco names ex-Informa head as chief executive

    Mon, 17 Mar 2008

    Eden Bidco, the group formed by Guardian Media Group and Apax to acquire the business division of EMAP, has appointed Informa chief executive David Gilbertson (left) to the same role. He will take over the role on March 20.

  • Egg sale generates Prudential profits

    Fri, 14 Mar 2008

    Prudential's move to offload its loss-making Egg credit card business to Citigroup has helped drive UK profits. It also says its strategy to focus on profitable business in the UK – such as in the retirement and savings space – has paid off following "clear" full-year profit growth at its domestic arm.

  • Enjoy England set to launch a comedy tourist campaign

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Enjoy England is to launch a campaign to promote locations and attractions associated with British comedy this summer.

  • Euro RSCG wins Kraft Foods Ritz and LU biscuits ad accounts

    Mon, 17 Mar 2008

    Kraft Foods has moved the UK advertising business for Ritz biscuits into Euro RSCG from JWT as part of a consolidation of it roster. The agency has also scooped the pan-European ad account for the LU biscuit brand.

  • Ferrero launches white chocolate Kinder Bueno bar aimed at women

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Ferrero is introducing a white chocolate version of its Kinder Bueno bar in the UK. The launch, aimed at women looking for a light chocolate treat, will be backed with a 1.5m marketing push.

  • Focus DIY reviews 10m advertising account

    Mon, 17 Mar 2008

    DIY retailer Focus has put its 10m advertising business up for pitch almost a year after it was sold off for a 1. It is understood that the retailer has invited eight undisclosed agencies to briefing meetings.

  • FOE puts Chancellor under pressure over green taxes

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Friends of the Earth (FOE) has called on Chancellor Alistair Darling to stick to his pledge to put "sustainability at the heart of the Budget".

  • Former P&G marketer becomes Liberation marketing chief

    Fri, 14 Mar 2008

    Fairtrade nut brand Liberation has appointed former Procter & Gamble marketer Ilaria Ida to head its marketing. Ida, who becomes the brand's first head of marketing and communications, will oversee the brand strategy and marketing.

  • Foxy Bingo e-magazine to build on web success

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Foxy Bingo, the online bingo operator, is launching an e-magazine, as it seeks to strengthen its relationship with its customers.

  • French Government gives cash to Euro Google rival development

    Fri, 14 Mar 2008

    The French government has boosted plans to develop a European rival to Google by awarding a group of 23 European private firms, led by electronics firm Thomson, €99m (£66.5m).

  • Friends of the Earth appoints Make Poverty History creator as executive director

    Tue, 18 Mar 2008

    Friends of the Earth has appointed Tearfund campaigns director Andy Atkins as executive director. Atkins will join the charity in late June and will replace outgoing executive director Tony Juniper later in the summer.

  • Fruitus health bar appoints agency ahead of relaunch

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Principles Agency, the Leeds-based advertising, marketing and media agency, has been appointed to run snack food group Glisten's media and creative campaign for the relaunch of its Fruitus range.

  • Global marketing director to increase Easynet presence

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Internet service provider Easynet has appointed Mark Madden as its first global marketing director.

  • Government eco ad proposals put motor industry on its guard

    Wed, 19 Mar 2008

    The car industry is facing further calls for green warnings to be included in ads, after the publication of a Government backed report.

  • Hard Rock Hotels to invest 1bn on European expansion

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Hard Rock Hotels has Europe in its sights as it embarks on a $2bn (1bn) expansion plan.

  • Home Office seeks agency for ID card marketing work

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    The Home Office is seeking an agency to create an advertising and marketing campaign to promote its controversial ID cards under its new National Identity scheme.

  • How Antidote nurses the perfect pint while holding talks with Shell

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

  • Initiative appoints Hill to strategic role as part of global restructure

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Initiative UK and Ireland chief executive and joint European chief operating officer Jerry Hill has taken the newly-created role of global strategic development director for Initiative.

  • Isobar appoints ex-EMAP director Pullan to head global team

    Fri, 14 Mar 2008

    Former EMAP marketer David Pullan has been promoted to head up global team management for Isobar, the digital arm of Aegis Media. The move comes as the company also appoints a new chief operating officer, Ralph Folz.

  • ITV appoints Fox VP as chief operating officer

    Mon, 17 Mar 2008

    ITV is strenghtening its global content division with the appointment of Lee Bartlett as chief operating officer. Bartlett joins from Fox, where he is executive vice-president of business affairs.

  • John Lewis raids Figleaves for online chief

    Fri, 14 Mar 2008

    John Lewis has poached Figleaves chief executive Robin Terrell to head its John Lewis Direct division. Terrell will be responsible for all aspects of the retailer's online business.

  • Macmillan appoints top marketer following charity merger

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Macmillan Cancer Support has appointed Kate Shanley as its top marketer following a merger with fellow charity Cancerbackup.

  • Marketers face axe at games publisher

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    SCi Entertainment Group's marketing department faces an uncertain future after the Tomb Raider publisher announced it was slashing a quarter of its staff in a restructure.

  • Match.com drops M2M for Initiative in 10m review

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Online dating site Match.com has appointed Initiative to its 10m planning and buying brief following a four-way pitch.

  • MPs back calls for BAA break-up

    Mon, 17 Mar 2008

    Calls by leading airlines for the break up of BAA and an overhaul of UK airport regulation have been backed by the House of Commons transport committee. It described BAA's industry position as "bad for passengers".

  • New campaign - Aardman Studios

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    JellyBeats dance to Bebo's tune

  • New campaign - E.on

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    E.on makes energy visible

  • News International aims for young readers with quick response codes in news stories

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    News International is looking to drive younger readers onto its mobile internet site, with the company’s mobile strategy chief revealing that its newspapers could be using quick response codes (QR codes) in its news stories within 18 months.

  • Non-food consumers flock to supermarkets

    Fri, 14 Mar 2008

    Shoppers are increasingly turning to supermarkets to buy non-food itmes, intensifying the competition on traditional specialist retailers, according to research unveiled by Verdict Research Consulting.

  • O2 and Napster launch iTunes rival

    Fri, 14 Mar 2008

    02 is launching an iTunes rival service with music download company Napster in the UK. The service strengthens the operator's music credentials, which include the annual O2 Wireless Festivals in London and Leeds and priority ticket ...

  • Ocado and Tesco both go on the defensive with campaign launches

    Mon, 17 Mar 2008

    Ocado, the online grocery service, and Tesco have ramped up their spat over pricing with both launching campaigns defending their strategies.

  • Ocado criticises Tesco's aggression in ad row

    Mon, 17 Mar 2008

    Online grocery service Ocado has hit back at "aggressive" Tesco in a row over comparative advertising. Tesco had earlier disputed claims in Ocado's advertising and threatened to complain to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

  • Ofcom admits it is powerless over kids' programming

    Tue, 18 Mar 2008

    Ofcom has admitted it is powerless to prevent ITV from reducing the amount of children's programming the broadcaster airs on terrestrial channel ITV1. The media regulator was responding to ITV proposals for children's programmes in 2008.

  • Ofcom confirms radio spectrum auction

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    UK telecoms regulator Ofcom has confirmed details of plans to auction radio spectrum which can be used for mobile TV and satellite radio. The provisional deadline for applications is April 10, with the auction for the spectrum likely to begin at the end of April.

  • Ofcom reviews TV ad break rules

    Wed, 19 Mar 2008

    Ofcom is proposing to "simplify" rules on how often TV ads can run during programmes and how many can be shown. It has published its proposals on the distribution and amount of TV advertising today (March 19).

  • Olympic medallist launches sports marketing consultancy company

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Double Olympic rowing gold medallist James Cracknell is to set up his own sports marketing consultancy and events company.

  • PepsiCo launches celebrity social network

    Mon, 17 Mar 2008

    PepsiCo International is launching a social networking site focused on global sports stars and celebrities. It will be supported by a major advertising campaign.

  • Platforms for change on display

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    The development of online trading systems is set to propel the booking of Web display ads into the 21st century. But Martin Croft discovers media agencies have little to fear from the new technology

  • Plucky Adam & Eve sails close to the wind

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Agencies are a shifty business. It's not only the accounts, which are their financial and creative lifeblood, that come and go with alarming facility - so too does the talent that makes success possible in the first place.

  • Reaching for the rungs

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    The property ladder is becoming increasingly hard for young people to get a footing on, and many more are being forced to rent or live with their parents as property prices soar beyond their reach

  • Rebranding campaign pays off for Morrisons

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Morrisons has continued its strong performance, almost doubling pre-tax profit in the year to February to £612m. The result comes following the supermarket chain's major rebranding campaign in the second half of last year.

  • Regional papers must embrace the Web

    Wed, 19 Mar 2008

    Regional newspapers are struggling, undergoing long-term falls in both circulation and advertising expenditure, and in­creased competition from the internet, national newspapers – and the BBC.

  • S&N UK widget cans offer pub quality home lager

    Wed, 19 Mar 2008

    Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) UK is launching its Fosters and Kronenbourg 1664 brands in widget cans, to offer pub quality lager at home. The move is the biggest innovation for both brands since they were first bought to the UK in the Seventies.

  • Samsung checks in at Heathrow Terminal 5

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Samsung is launching a campaign at Heathrow's Terminal 5 to promote its new "personal training phone" miCoach.

  • Sky brand chief Anderson moves to News Corp

    Mon, 17 Mar 2008

    Matthew Anderson, BSkyB group director of communications and brand marketing, is joining former boss James Murdoch at News Corporation. He will take on the new role of group director of strategy and corporate affairs for Europe and Asia next month.

  • Sky starts major push for Terry Pratchett dramatisation

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    BSkyB is launching a multimillion pound campaign to support its flagship Sky One Easter holiday drama Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic.

  • Sony to switch focus towards entertainment

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Sony is looking to reposition itself as an "entertainment company" as it begins to roll out packaged goods such as DVD sets when consumers buy a television.

  • SpinVox appoints AIS to roster

    Tue, 18 Mar 2008

    SpinVox has appointed Archibald Ingall Stretton (AIS) to its agency roster without a pitch. The agency been given a brief to develop an international digital customer relationship strategy.

  • Starve the bourgeoisie and reverse the chill wind of climate change

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Thanks to their insatiable appetite for pui lentils, the self-satisfied Waitrose classes are causing more damage to mother earth than global warming

  • Stella Artois and LTA call time on 30 year deal

    Mon, 17 Mar 2008

    Stella Artois has ended its 30-year relationship with the Lawn Tennis Association over strategic differences. The 2008 Artois Grass Court Championship will be the last to carry the Artois name.

  • Strongbow signs deal to sponsor TalkSport show

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Scottish & Newcastle flagship cider brand Strongbow has signed a six-month sponsorship deal with TalkSport radio as the key sponsor for its drivetime programme.

  • Tackling the learning curve

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    As the skills requirements for marketers increase, the industry is seeking candidates from a broad range of educational fields; and training methods are being overhauled, says Richenda Wilson

  • Team Carter tackles mission impossible

    Fri, 14 Mar 2008

    When Otto von Bismarck first coined the phrase politics is the art of the possible he probably had a little project called the unification of Germany in mind.

  • Tesco and Ocado clash over ad claims

    Fri, 14 Mar 2008

    Supermarket giants Tesco and Waitrose are set to clash over comparative advertising, with Tesco rubbishing claims that online grocery service Ocado can match its prices.

  • The Army launches campaign on Iraq invasion anniversary

    Mon, 17 Mar 2008

    The Army has launched a publicity campaign to encourage the public to show support for soldiers as part of a recruitment drive. The campaign comes days before the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion. The recruitment campaign includes a website ca...

  • Tourism Ireland set to court controversy with St Patrick's Day ad

    Fri, 14 Mar 2008

    Tourism Ireland has launched a controversial ad campaign to promote the celebration of St Patrick’s Day. The poster campaign features the patron saint of Ireland with the headline “missing” and identifying characteristics as “long beard, flowing gowns and pointy hat”.

  • Typhoo reviews 4.5m ads

    Wed, 19 Mar 2008

    Typhoo Tea is reviewing its 4.5m advertising and media accounts. The incumbent agencies CHI & Partners and ZenithOptimedia have both been invited to pitch for the businesses.

  • Uncertain times for cinema advertising after ITV sales house disposal

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    ITV's agreement to sell loss-making advertising sales house Carlton Screen Advertising (CSA) releases the broadcaster from onerous and unaffordable contract obligations.

  • Video game sales boost Argos and Homebase owner

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Argos owner Home Retail Group has reported an unexpected pick-up in sales in the last eight weeks of the year, due to buoyant video game sales and the earlier timing of Mother's Day.

  • Virgin runs campaign in BA territory at Heathrow

    Wed, 19 Mar 2008

    Virgin Atlantic is launching a direct assault on rival British Airways after buying ad space at Heathrow’s Terminal 5. The airline will have three billboards in the BA long-haul lounge to promote the “relative speed” of its check-in service.

  • Vision Media plots network of interactive ad-info pods...

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    Outdoor media contractor Vision Media Group (VMG) is launching an interactive information and advertising pod in shopping centres across the UK

  • What can ex-WPP adman Muir do to transform Gordon Brown's election strategy?

    Thu, 13 Mar 2008

    It would be quite unfair to write off WPP stalwart David Muir as just another member of the growing "Scottish mafia" surrounding Gordon Brown. It was announced last week that he was leaving WPP subsidiary The Channel to join Gordon Brown's government, as an adjutant to fellow Scotsman Stephen ...

  • Yo! Sushi adopts traffic light labelling scheme

    Tue, 18 Mar 2008

    Yo! Sushi is the first restaurant group to adopt the Food Standard Agency's traffic light labelling scheme. The chain has produced a booklet using the front-of-pack scheme to help diners make choices "at a glance".

Job of the Week

Latest Jobs

Top Jobs

social+media Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
knowledge+bank