New Batman film breaks movie opening record

LONDON – The latest instalment in the revived Batman franchise, starring the late Heath Ledger, has smashed box office records with $155.3m (£77.7m) in its first two days of release in the US.

Google beats Microsoft to become UK’s top consumer brand

LONDON – Google has knocked Microsoft off the top spot to take the crown of the UK’s most popular brand for the first time, according to the latest Superbrands survey.

Sony In Car Audio: I’ve escaped work early

I've escaped work early

Sony In-Car Audio Together with Bluetooth presents “I’m on my way. I’ve Escaped from Work Early.” Live 8.53 pm – 8.54 pm Great Western Hwy Penrith.
Hands free conversations through your sound system.

Advertising Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi Australia
Creative Director: Steve Back
Art Directors / Copywriters: Vince Lagana, Steve Jackson
Illustrators: Ken Taylor, Daymon Greulich
Published: June 2008

Sony In Car Audio: Don’t forget the milk

Don't forget the milk

Sony In-Car Audio Together with Bluetooth presents “Hey Sweetie, Don’t Forget the Milk.” Enmore Rd. Mike & the Mrs Live at the Crossroads. Friday 6.30 pm to 6.33 pm.
Hands free conversations through your sound system.

Advertising Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi Australia
Creative Director: Steve Back
Art Directors / Copywriters: Vince Lagana, Steve Jackson
Illustrators: Ken Taylor, Daymon Greulich
Published: June 2008

Sony In Car Audio: Traffic’s Insane

Traffic's Insane

Sony In-Car Audio Together with Bluetooth presents “I’m Running Late, The Traffic’s Insane.” Live Fri 6.45 – 6.48 pm, High St, Windsor.
Hands free conversations through your sound system.

Advertising Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi Australia
Creative Director: Steve Back
Art Directors / Copywriters: Vince Lagana, Steve Jackson
Illustrators: Ken Taylor, Daymon Greulich
Published: June 2008

City Republic: Markets look to earnings for some good news

LONDON – A round of earnings reports this week could well be a stabilising force for the markets, writes Stephen Foster, while the Daily Mail might provide a model for ITV’s recovery.

Yahoo! shareholder backs directors for re-election

NEW YORK – Yahoo! chief executive Jerry Yang has won the qualified support of one the company’s biggest shareholders, ahead of the crucial showdown with dissident investor Carl Icahn next month.

User Created Batman Films – Batman Dead End by Sandy Collora Fan Film (VIDEO)

(TrendHunter.com) Batman is one comic book character that appeals even to non-comic book readers. It’s not just about the flawed villains but the dark hero himself who has a touch of madness about him. Perhaps that is…

Amateurish OCBC pitch marred by agency pull-outs

SINGAPORE – The regional creative pitch for OCBC Bank has descended into farce as every competing agency, besides the incumbent Y&R, is believed to have pulled out of the review.

Maybank reviews advertising in Singapore

SINGAPORE – Maybank, Malaysia’s largest financial services group, is reviewing its advertising activity in Singapore as the company searches for a long-term strategic partner to improve its standing in the market.

Diageo hires Momentum for Guinness 9-Ball Tour final

JAKARTA – Diageo has appointed Momentum Worldwide Indonesia to handle its activation business for the final stage of the Guinness 9-Ball Tour, to be held in Jakarta in late October.

Dentsu and Yahoo offer clients cross-media ad service in Japan

TOKYO – Dentsu has entered into partnership with Yahoo Japan to develop an experimental cross-media advertising service that links TV commercials with banner advertisements and online search results.

Aegis restructure sees Stahle take on new duties

GLOBAL – Aegis Media has restructured its global management team following the exit of global CEO Mainardo de Nardis, a move which sees Asia-Pacific CEO Patrick Stahle (pictured) take on a new role as chairman of a new division, Aegis Media Service Solutions.

Tribal DDB Philippines hires first MD

MANILA – Tribal DDB Philippines has appointed John Lucas (pictured), former DraftFCB Philippines’ client services director and new business director as its first managing director.

Links for 2008-07-20 [del.icio.us]

A-B Shops May Feel Pinch as InBev Looks to Cut Costs

CHICAGO (AdAge.com) — What will Anheuser-Busch's purchase by InBev mean for its ad agencies? Quite possibly a revenue hit.

ABC Campaign Gives Washed-Up Soaps New Image


NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital" have run on
ABC since 1970, 1968 and 1963, respectively. That's why the Walt Disney network is sexing up the soaps with a promotion geared to get Millennials to watch.

The Need for Partnership at a Time of Fragmentation


The exponential growth of media channels, platforms and audience segments has made brand marketing much too complex to approach without the collective strengths of communications partners.

CEOs’ Heirs Apparent? Clearly, CMOs

I am predicting a trend that will see the CMO inheriting the CEO post. CEOs who dismiss the corporate brand as fluff will pay the price in terms of their own credibility with the board, and if they refuse to modify their views, don't be surprised to see CMOs taking their places.

Why a Texas Oilman Is Spending $58 Million to Promote Wind Power


COLUMBUS, Ohio (AdAge.com) — T. Boone Pickens' $58 million public-relations and advertising blitz for wind power has been both widely criticized and widely praised.