LONDON – DSG International, owner of Currys, PC World and Dixons.co.uk, has become the first electrical retailer to stop sales of analogue televisions, in preparation for the roll out of digital switchover.
LONDON – Aegis agency Feather Brooksbank has merged its TV and radio units to form a new single broadcast department, led by previous head of TV Andy Niblett.
LONDON – Outdoor agency Kinetic has retained the Unilever European out-of-home brief.
LONDON – Research International’s UK chairman Paul Edwards has swapped roles with UK chief executive Julian Bond.
LONDON – The Radio Advertising Bureau has launched a new research tool to help advertisers understand the effectiveness of their radio ads.
The latest “Truth†anti-smoking spot from the American Legacy Foundation is described in a press release as a “tongue-in-cheek, darkly humorous musical campaign [that] takes on tobacco industry words and actions.†The note I got also mentions “top talent from Broadway†appearing in the spot. Where’s Matthew Broderick? Where’s … um … Rita Moreno? She’s still alive, right? We get some kids singing with animated “magical†beings like unicorns and leprechauns. Is the style meant to skewer Joe Camel? Looks more like Disney to me. Disney’s a big whiner, so maybe they’ll complain about being maligned and give Legacy a chance to snap back about the depiction of smoking in movies. Unicorns and leprechauns. … Don’t you have to smoke a special kind of cigarette to see those?
—Posted by David Gianatasio
LONDON – Yahoo! has continued its policy of striking partnerships with online and mobile sites after being appointed by T-Mobile to sell ads on its portal.
LONDON – The D&AD president Simon Waterfall has selected Neville Brody’s Research Studios to design this year’s D&AD Annual.
LONDON – PepsiCo has teamed up with ‘Bourne Ultimatum’ actor Matt Damon and Columbia University as part of an initiative to bring clean water to communities in Africa, China, India and Brazil.
LONDON – Customer publishing company Redwood has promoted Jamie Toward from group account director to the newly created position of board account director, where he will lead the company’s digital development.
LONDON – Online trade body the Internet Advertising Bureau has hired its first head of regulatory affairs – ex-Orange government and public policy manager Nick Stringer.
LONDON – Gambling.com, the Media Corp-owned website designed as a hub for gamblers, has relaunched as an online magazine.
LONDON – Mysinglefriend.com, the dating site created by TV presenter Sarah Beeny, is poised for its first concerted marketing drive, after hiring search and digital agency Bigmouthmedia.
LONDON – UK consumers’ interest in mobile advertising is far lower than in mainland Europe, according to research by the Mobile Marketing Association.
LONDON – Customer publisher Seven Squared has made its first major move into digital publishing with a deal to launch a multi-platform offering for bookseller Waterstone’s.
LONDON – KBH Transport Media has been awarded the contract to sell onboard advertising on all trains owned by operator Southern.
LONDON – Pearson, publisher of the Financial Times, generated record profits during 2007, helped along by a strong performance at its education business and solid advertising revenues, according to the group’s January trading update.
LONDON – Brand and communications agency IAS Smarts, part of the Media Square group, has rebranded its Scottish advertising division as The Gate in Scotland, which now becomes part of sister agency network The Gate Worldwide.
LONDON – Kia Motors has appointed OMD to handle media planning and buying on its global corporate account.
LONDON – The UK online advertising industry has moved a step closer towards regulation with the IAB’s appointment of Orange man, Nick Stringer, as head of regulatory affairs.
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