New Media Age articles from February 2009

New Media Age archives from February 2009

Industry demands clearer view for Digital Britain.
February 5, 2009... Reaction to DCMS's interim report calls for greater clarity and deeper input from digital sector The digital industry has called for greater clarity, content and consultation from the Government ahead of the launch of the Digital Britain...

UK publishers ready to regain control of their inventory.
February 5, 2009... Be careful of trading your online ad impressions like pork bellies. That was the warning from Wenda Harris Millard, president of media at Living Omnimedia in the US, last April, a month after ESPN announced it would stop using ad networks. The...

Dairy Crest grows Milk & More online delivery service.(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Dairy Crest takes its online ordering and delivery service nationwide to drive people to use their local milkman Dairy Crest is planning to extend its ecommerce trial in a bid to sell more dairy products online and encourage people to use...

BREAKING NEWS: ISBA advises on working with digital agencies.(Incorporated Society of British Advertisers)(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Advertiser body ISBA is to release a guide to help its members work better with digital agencies. The 50-page guide will outline the key differences between traditional and digital agencies and give advice on digital practices, pitches and...

BREAKING NEWS: BBC Weather launches personalised site.(British Broadcasting Corp.)(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... BBC Weather is to launch a site focusing on user personalisation and simpler functionality. The design is in line with broadcast forecasts, with local weather becoming more detailed. The Met Office will also feed information through more...

Major publishers planning to ditch online ad networks.
February 5, 2009... Newspaper groups are understood to be considering dropping deals with ad networks to manage their inventory themselves Major publishing companies are considering dropping ad networks and bringing their online display advertising sales...

LoveFilm moves onto mobile with news and trailers destination site.(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Online video rental service LoveFilm is positioning itself as a destination film site on mobile following a major push onto the platform. A soft launch of LoveFilm Mobile features more than 25,000 cinema and DVD video trailers,...

YouTube campaign success leads T-Mobile to up digital spend.(T-Mobile International AG und Company KG)(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... T-Mobile plans to increase its digital marketing spend to 40% of its budget after the online success of its T-Mobile Dance campaign. Based on Nielsen data for the operator's total ad spend last year, this would see digital spend grow to...

Never stop striving to find more new things.
February 5, 2009... So here it is, the moment hardcore Tweeters have either been dreading or dreaming of: it's Twitter's moment in the sun. Britney and Barack have been hacked - there are column inches and airtime about it everywhere - and Jonathan Ross...

Rough Guides to overhaul online strategy for 2009.(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Travel brand steps up its digital plans with launches on social networks and an increase in its natural search activity Travel specialist Rough Guides is to overhaul its online strategy to boost the brand in the face of increased...

Thomas Cook launches online tool to create personalised cruise videos.(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Thomas Cook has launched a major rich-media campaign to target cruise holidaymakers, with a tool enabling them to create tailor-made videos. It features a series of rich-media banners and home-page takeovers across MSN, Yahoo and AOL. ...

Comfort enters into sponsor deals with four parenting sites.(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Unilever brand Comfort has entered into a year-long sponsorship of four of the UK's largest parenting sites. Askamum, Johnson's Baby-owned BabyCentre, Mothercare-backed Gurgle and NBC/Universal-owned women's portal iVillage will all host...

WWF pushes Asian elephant adoption with Valentine theme.(World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.)(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... WWF is launching a Valentine-themed online campaign to drive people to adopt an Asian elephant as a Valentine's gift. The display campaign will appear across web portals including Yahoo and MSN to drive audiences to the WWF Asian Elephant...

Tesco Compare trials mobile service for insurance comparison.(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Tesco Compare has launched a trial mobile service to help consumers find the best financial deals during the economic recession. It features information on car, home and motorbike insurance, plus details of credit cards and mortgages. ...

Wallpaper* adds celebrity video channel to site.(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... International design magazine Wallpaper*'s website has launched a video channel for exclusive content. The channel has gone live with a selection of videos from celebrities talking about their views on design, fashion and the meaning of...

Car sites should make cheap and easy refinements to user experience.
February 5, 2009... The automotive industry is in decline. Spend is being cut across all areas of marketing so it's more important than ever to make every resource count. In December 2008, Global Reviews assessed 13 car manufacturers against its automotive...

Barbican centres online strategy on more site content.(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... The Barbican has launched an online marketing strategy centred around producing more online content to attract global visitors. The arts venue plans to introduce more video and is exploring the possibility of streaming live events. Its...

Kickers appoints LinkShare to run first affiliate push.(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Footwear brand Kickers is launching its first ever affiliate activity as part of significant investment in performance marketing. It has appointed affiliate marketing agency LinkShare to increase brand presence online and promote sales...

Haircare brand to highlight BAFTA link via online content.(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Haircare brand Charles Worthington is to produce special BAFTA-themed online content as part of its role as official hairstylist for the event. It will launch content around the awards, to be held on 8 February, including backstage...

Football Superstars targets new regions.(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Football Superstars, the fledgling football-based virtual world, is to roll out into new markets and potentially open global advertising opportunities following strong take-up. Football Superstars, developed by virtual gaming specialist...

Fox launches Facebook app campaign for comedy show.(Fox International Channel (UK) Ltd.)(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Fox International Channels (FIC) has launched a video campaign in the form of a Facebook application to build interest in a new sketch show. Launching this week, No Signal will show spoofs of reality shows and documentaries. Facebook...

IAB invites firms to sit on Mobile Steering Group.(Internet Advertising Board)(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... The IAB is on the hunt for members for its Mobile Steering Group as it attempts to broaden its remit. Invites to join the existing five operator members were sent out last month, with new members likely to be appointed by the end of...

LETTER: Online display needs to play to its strengths.(Letter to the editor)
February 5, 2009... Greg Doone, MD, Collective I enjoyed Michael Nutley's dissection of the display media market (nma 15 January) and agree it's a sector set for a series of challenges. Lazy online advertising isn't delivering results. The argument to...

LETTER: Client service is crucial to digital agency success.(Letter to the editor)
February 5, 2009... Michelle Mitchell, client services director, Graphico Simon Rhind-Tutt says digital agencies generally approach client service differently to other agencies (Opinion, nma 22 January). If that's true, is different wrong? With most clients...

Comment from nma.co.uk.(Website overview)(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Re: Digital agencies must step up to the mark with greater service I agree we need to improve our standards of client service but feel digital agencies need to think of alternative models to the traditional agency. We analyse data, plan and...

OPINION: Digital industry must remember it's not beyond regulation.
February 5, 2009... How far would Barack Obama have got on the campaign trail for the residency of the White House if he had declared he didn't care about the Constitution as it's simply common sense? Ditched in Delaware, I guess. So when the COO of a renowned...

AD WATCH: Compare The Meerkat gets attention but needs to turn up heat.
February 5, 2009... I don't know why I've been asked to write this. I'm the creative director of Wok Club, Europe's premier supplier of integrated Asian cooking equipment. What I do know is that online and offline should share a single great idea but use it...

PROFILE RUSSELL BUCKLEY: Answering the call.
February 5, 2009... Having shown how mobile advertising can work through AdMob, MMA global chair Russell Buckley has his sights set on the world's emerging markets Russell Buckley believes he can help advertisers reach a billion new consumers in the...

RETAIL: Shopping folly.
February 5, 2009... As the recession eats into the high street, is the future of retail purely in the hands of etailers or can their techniques benefit offline brands too? The bite of the credit crunch has already left its mark on the British high street...

MOVES: Double Fusion.(appointment of Michael Bayston)(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Double Fusion has hired Michael Bayston as senior sales manager for Europe. He joins from News International Commercial where he was digital group head, responsible for Sun Online, NOTW Online, Dreamteam and Page3.com. Copyright: Centaur...

MOVES: VideoEgg.(appointment of Martin Cakebread and Ben Brown )(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Video and rich-media ad network VideoEgg has expanded its sales team with the appointments of Martin Cakebread and Ben Brown as account directors and Tania Roquette as account manager. Cakebread was previously an online account director at...

MOVES: Ebay Advertising.(appointment of Phillip Rinn to the role of director)(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Ebay Advertising has promoted Phillip Rinn to the role of director of advertising partnerships, responsible for the UK, Ireland and EMEA. He was previously director of advertising partnerships for Ebay Advertising International. ...

MOVES: Current.(appointment of James Baker)(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Cross-platform media company Current has appointed James Baker to the new position of general manager for the UK. He moves from BSkyB where he was MD of Sky Networked Media, responsible for web, mobile, interactive TV and broadband content...

MOVES: Code Computerlove.(appointement of Ross Mawdsley, Alex Comyn and Barry Briggs )(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Manchester-based agency Code Computerlove has added four members to its team with the appointments of Ross Mawdsley as group creative director, Alex Comyn as group account director, Barry Briggs as user experience architect and Chris Gibbons...

SITE INSPECTION: Orange film.(Website overview)(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Orange.co.uk/film Owner Orange Agency Poke Content 22/25 Usability 17/25 Branding 23/25 Monetisation 15/25 Total 77/100 The Orange Film site looks very glossy indeed. The...

SITE INSPECTION: Changing faces.(Website overview)(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Changingfaces.org.uk/lendyourface Owner Changing Faces Agency KentLyons Content 15/25 Usability 25/25 Branding 15/25 Monetisation 10/25 Total 65/100 Changing Faces has...

SITE INSPECTION: World of Milk.(Website overview)(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Milkmatters.co.uk Owner Cravendale Agency Outside Line Content 12/25 Usability 15/25 Branding 16/25 Monetisation 10/25 Total 53/100 Last year Cravendale won Site of the Week...

FULFILMENT: letterbox.co.uk.(Website overview)(Brief article)
February 5, 2009... Selection Traditional, modern and outdoor toys and games, together with personalised gifts. Navigation You can browse by 12 categories, each with extensive sub-menus, or by age. A search facility is also provided. Results can...

What's next for online TV?
February 12, 2009... Demise of Project Kangaroo has left the UK's online TV market wide open to commercial services The Competition Commission's decision to veto Project Kangaroo has sparked a race to become the single destination for online TV access. ...

Kangaroo gets knocked back but convergence is still key.
February 12, 2009... TV has taken 50-odd years to reach its status as the world's most successful entertainment medium. As it and the internet collide in glorious explosion of opportunity and chaos, the models of the last 50 years are being fast overturned. But in...

BREAKING NEWS: Music service Spotify expands UK beta.(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Ad-funded music streaming service Spotify is opening up its UK beta trial. The service, which launched with support from all four major record labels in October last year, previously required users to be invited. Copyright: Centaur...

BREAKING NEWS: Cartoon Network to launch virtual currency.(Bin Weevils)(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Cartoon Network has teamed up with children's social network Bin Weevils to allow children to trade virtual currency for merchandise within online marketplace SwapitShop for hit cartoon Ben 10. The sites have created an exchange rate to allow...

Publishers keen to share reader data for targeted ads.(advertising)
February 12, 2009... Despite talking about it for 15 months, publishers say they're committed to sharing data on online readers' behaviour Publishers, including News International and Future, are still committed to creating a closed network to share reader...

Kia Motors doubles digital spend to boost position in UK market.(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... International car brand hopes increasing its digital marketing budget will generate more customer interaction after sale Kia Motors plans to grow its digital spend by 50% and overhaul its website in a bid to boost its brand awareness in...

Teens expect more integration says KateModern team.
February 12, 2009... Miles Beckett of Eqal says TV production companies must consider cross- platform content at the commissioning phase The makers of hugely successful online dramas KateModern and Lonely Girl 15 have called on production companies to wake up...

IPA discovers rising cost of Google search ads may put off advertisers.(Institute of Practitioners in Advertising)(advertising)
February 12, 2009... The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) has warned that brands could pull money from Google if click prices continue to increase as indicated in its first research into search ad costs and response. Research conducted by the...

Forrester raises prediction for online's share of ad spend.(advertising)
February 12, 2009... Online's share of total European ad spend will increase to 14.8% by 2012, despite a slowdown in growth to 10% in the next year, according to Forrester Research. The figure is an increase on its previous forecast of 12.6%, despite a...

Mobile apps have laid the ghosts of past scandals.(applications)
February 12, 2009... There was a time when worry warts feared Jamba had ruined the mobile content market forever with its subscription services requiring confusing opt-outs (aka lock-ins). Then public pressure induced self- regulation and government intervention...

DMA calls on IAB to revive search code of conduct.(Direct Marketing Association)(Interactive Advertising Bureau UK Ltd.)(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... The Direct Marketing Association believes the IAB's existing guidelines and advice need to be replaced by enforceable rules The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) has called on the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) to resurrect plans for a...

BBC to create list of agencies to run interactions with audience.(British Broadcasting Corp.)(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... The BBC is to create a new roster of partners to handle its audience interaction services following a series of editorial breaches over the past two years. The broadcaster closed a tender process on Friday as it hunts for companies to...

Camelot offers free National Lottery play via mobile ads.(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Camelot has kicked off its first mobile ad campaign, designed to encourage consumers to play the National Lottery by offering a free play. The display campaign runs until mid-February across a range of mobile portals and sites including...

Delia Online to be given first major revamp to mix in video content.(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Delia Online, Delia Smith's cooking site, is to undergo its first revamp since its launch in 2001. Delia Online, which features recipes by the celebrity cook, food and drink news and an online shop, is to be redesigned as it looks to...

NHS and Yahoo create online community to help smokers kick the habit.(United Kingdom. National Health Service)(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... The NHS has partnered with Yahoo to build an online community of smokers to support its Smokefree initiative. The Stub It Out campaign, which will run until the end of March, aims to create a place where smokers who are attempting to kick...

I Spy Search's Jim Brigden says industry must prove its value.(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Search agencies will face increased pressure to prove the channel's worth this year, according to I Spy Search's new CEO Jim Brigden. The former The Search Works CEO who joined the SEM agency last week (nma.co.uk 7 February) said SEMs...

Video is the key to monetising social networks' audiences.
February 12, 2009... Social networking was undoubtedly the poster child of the online world in 2008. The medium grew 13% to reach 29.3m users in December, meaning that by the end of the year 80% of the UK's total online population was a part of this community....

ChildLine teams with Channel 4 for online video show.(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... ChildLine has teamed with Channel 4 to produce an online-only video series created by youngsters to explore their ideas on identity. The project, called Headspace, kicked off this week with a website inviting 13-18-year-olds to write...

The Economist in first behavioural targeting move.(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... The Economist is to adopt behavioural targeting as it reacts to calls by media agencies to embrace the controversial technology. The current affairs magazine has appointed Revenue Science to collect and analyse data on users visiting its...

Online dating users increase 31% as people return from social sites.(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Unique users to online dating sites have increased by 31% as people return from using social networking. According to Nielsen Online data, dating sites are welcoming back users following decreases between December 2007 and May 2008 as...

Live Search Cashback still on for UK launch, claims Microsoft.(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Microsoft has insisted Live Search Cashback is still on course for launch in the UK, despite concerns within the search industry over delays and possible cancellation. Last summer Microsoft told new media age it was looking to roll out the...

Mydeco signs deals to secure growth.(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... One year after launch, interior start-up Mydeco has signed two significant deals in a bid to secure its growth within the UK and US. The site, which allows users to virtually design rooms with items from real retailers and then purchase...

Egmont plans personalised Mr Men books.(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Children's publisher Egmont is launching an online push for its Mr Men brand as it rolls out a site and plans a move into personalised books. Two versions of the site are available, one featuring the Mr Men illustrations from the original...

LETTER: Kangaroo's demise will put users in control.(Letter to the editor)
February 12, 2009... Tom Weiss, CEO, TV Genius So the Competition Commission has blocked BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4's Kangaroo venture (nma.co.uk 4 February). The broadcasters argued that they needed to work together to provide a compelling consumer...

LETTER: Digital Britain needs to clarify mobile position.(Letter to the editor)
February 12, 2009... Hugh Griffiths, director of mobile services, Microsoft Digital Britain points in the right direction but the mobile industry will want to understand in much greater detail the plans behind the five proposals in 'Modernising radio spectrum...

LETTER: Etailers must respond fast in uncertain times.(Letter to the editor)
February 12, 2009... Dan Sutherland, CEO, Carrenza I read with interest your cover story on online shopping during a recession. Online shopping is indicative of our shift in lifestyle and the internet generation coming through the ranks. And with recent...

Comment from nma.co.uk.(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Re: Analyst Speak: Young audience leads sharp rise in on-demand TV viewing Yes, it's true the social dimension is important in terms of what children refer to in conversation, but one key element is that on- demand allows these segments to...

OPINION: Romance blossoms as economic times get tough.
February 12, 2009... As the credit crunch bites we all tighten our belts and contemplate the priorities in our lives. It's why, in times of economic hardship, marriage and birth rates rise, and can perhaps explain why a subscription to an online dating site is...

PROFILE - MARKO AHTISAARI: Going far.
February 12, 2009... Marko Ahtisaari, UK CEO of travel social network Dopplr, discusses the benefits of using a joined-up service and aggregating worldwide knowledge According to the Doppler effect, the sound of a passing car changes in tone relative to your...

DESIGN AGENCIES: Back in the race.
February 12, 2009... After taking an early lead, design agencies are trying to recapture their share of digital business With margins being squeezed and brands increasingly shifting budgets online, agencies born of old-school graphic design backgrounds are...

NMA MOBILE: In from the cold.
February 12, 2009... As the mobile platform matures, media owners are starting to integrate in into their other digital operations. What are the benefits and is it necessarily the right move for everyone? Mobile content started out as an unknown quantity for...

NMA MOBILE: CASE STUDY - Disney.(Walt Disney Co. Walt Disney Studios)
February 12, 2009... Disney has a long history as a global forerunner in mobile content and services, from branded handsets to an ill-fated US MVNO. It has also negotiated around 120 operator distribution deals, built up its own content portal and pushed...

NMA MOBILE: Mobile may be the best way to sell digital music.
February 12, 2009... The lack of talk about the recession was the most refreshing aspect of Midemnet, the digital-focused weekend sessions that kick off music industry tradeshow Midem. Music execs may cheerily remark that the simple reason is the music business...

NMA MOBILE: Here & Now does a good job of flagging up Nokia services.
February 12, 2009... Nokia here & Now Owner Nokia Agency 12Snap Nokia launched a preloaded mobile entertainment site and storefront dubbed Here & Now last month. The site is aimed at 18-35-year-olds and features global content from companies such as...

NMA MOBILE: In service.
February 12, 2009... Third-party ad serving has been vital to boosting the growth of online advertising and there are signs mobile is starting to take note In December, ad serving platform Eyeblaster extended its service to include a tool for agencies to book...

MOVES: Archibald Ingall Stretton.(appointment of Paul Moss )(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Integrated agency Archibald Ingall Stretton has appointed Paul Moss as head of data planning. He joins from RMG Connect where he was data planning director. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

MOVES: Tremor Media.(appointment of Richard Hicks and Steve Dorey)(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Global online video advertising network Tremor Media has appointed Richard Hicks as national sales manager, Steve Dorey as publisher development director and Imogen Littlejohns as account manager. Hicks joins from Video Egg where he was video...

MOVES: Pod1.(appointment of Mark Hopwood )(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Creative digital agency Pod1 has appointed Mark Hopwood as technology and operations director. He joins from ecommerce company Snow Valley where he was chief technical officer. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

MOVES: Maximiles UK.(appointment of Guy Keeling )(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Online marketing and loyalty services company Maximiles UK has appointed Guy Keeling as MD. He joins from Dunnhumby where he was head of consumer markets and a UK board member. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

MOVES: Disqo.(appointment of Joe Lovelock)(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Digital production company Disqo has appointed Joe Lovelock as designer. He previously worked as a designer and art director for Global, formerly GCap Media. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

MOVES: NetPlay TV.(appointment of Damon Letzer )(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Interactive gaming company NetPlay TV has hired Damon Letzer as commercial director. Prior to NetPlay TV, he was commercial director of Turner Media Innovations. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

MOVES: Dailymotion.(appointment of Jesse Vile)(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Video entertainment site Dailymotion has appointed Jesse Vile as its creative agent. He was previously the producer of the Raindance Film Festival. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

MOVES: Soup.(appointment of Jim Coleman )(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... Digital agency Soup has hired Jim Coleman as business development director. He joins from MRM Worldwide where he was business development director. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

SITE INSPECTION: Lonely Planet.(Website overview)(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... lonelyplanet.com Owner Lonely Planet Agency in-house, Poke Content 23/25 Usability 22/25 Branding 24/25 Monetisation 25/25 Total 94/100 As an Australian, when I think of...

SITE INSPECTION: Find Any Film.(Website overview)(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... findanyfilm.com Owner UK Film Council Agency Blue Barracuda Content 21/25 Usability 20/25 Branding 21/25 Monetisation 18/25 Total 80/100 Find Any Film is a movie search...

SITE INSPECTION: Building for Life.(Website overview)(Brief article)
February 12, 2009... buildingforlife.org Owner CABE Agency Mook Content 14/25 Usability 23/25 Branding 22/25 Monetisation 14/25 Total 73/100 In a country where sustainable and thoughtful house...