New Media Age articles from January 2005

New Media Age archives from January 2005

Commercial broadcasters join forces to push iTV advertising.(interactive television)
January 13, 2005... The UK's five biggest commercial broadcasters are joining forces to promote interactive TV advertising to potential clients. ITV, Channel 4, Five, Sky and IDS have been considering the idea for some time. Now NMA can reveal that they have...

Endemol moves into mobile gambling.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Big Brother creator Endemol is to make a concerted push into mobile gambling this year, launching spin-off games from existing TV brands and creating new standalone properties. The first mobile gambling games will launch this spring. They...

mOne launches global search marketing offer.
January 13, 2005... mOne, the digital arm of WPP-owned media giant MindShare, has revealed it's on the lookout for acquisitions in the search marketing sector as it prepares to roll out its new global search brand, mSearch. The move, which is aimed at...

Sun launches WAP portal as extra channel to sell content.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... The Sun has launched its first WAP portal as a new revenue stream. The newspaper's portal is another sign of the increasing maturity of WAP sites - essentially the mobile Internet - as a lucrative content medium for media companies and...

UIP directs radio listeners to Web in 'Team America' campaign.(United International Pictures goes for radio advertising of 'Team America: World Police')(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... United International Pictures has launched a range of online activity to promote tomorrow's launch of movie Team America: World Police. Radio ads, featuring on stations including XFM, use the Internet as the destination medium. They...

Play wins Virgin Books account.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Virgin Books has signed up Play, the new digital joint venture between M&C Saatchi and three ex-itraffic directors, as its first-ever interactive agency of record. The book publisher and retailer is the first client win to be officially...

IPA launches review of digital courses as part of online focus.(Institute of Practitioners in Advertising)
January 13, 2005... The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) is putting greater emphasis on digital in its training and development programme this year, a move that could help stem the digital skills shortage. The industry body, which represents...

Bank ups ad spend on AOL sites to #1m.(Alliance & Leicester PLC)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Alliance & Leicester is more than doubling its online ad budget with AOL for this year to almost #1m. It's the third year running that the bank has signed an annual deal with the ISP. The deal will see the Alliance & Leicester brand...

Universal Group takes on UK rivals with online DVD rentals.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Universal Group, the film and music giant, is launching an online DVD rental offering into the UK market within a matter of weeks. Eflix looks set to undercut every major rival and will provide strong competition for the likes of...

LB Icon buys Wheel to add to its network.(Wheel Group)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Full service digital agency Wheel has been acquired by interactive services group LB Icon for an undisclosed sum. The deal will see Wheel become part of LB Icon's network, which includes the Lost Boys creative outfit in Amsterdam and the...

'The X Factor' comes top of the interactive pops.(popularity of the reality television program)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Reality TV show The X Factor is being hailed as the most successful interactive TV show of 2004. Data from Freemantle Media and ITV Interactive shows that a total of 22m votes were cast during the series via text message and the red button on...

Boodles opens online jewellery store.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Jeweller Boodles is launching its first online shop in March to coincide with the company's rebranding. The 206-year-old business hopes the Web site will become its "eighth shop". The site will also feature news about each of the Boodles...

Zendor picks up Woolies fulfilment contract.(Woolworths Group PLC)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... High street retailer Woolworths has awarded its online order fulfilment contract to Zendor, the Manchester-based fulfilment specialist. It will handle orders made via woolworths.co.uk and the shop's retail catalogues for the next two years,...

Butlins launches new site to drive online sales.(Butlins Skyline Ltd.)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Holiday park operator Butlins has launched a new Web site as part of plans to increase its online sales four-fold over the year. The firm is spending #5m on a new TV campaign which will drive potential customers to the site. The URL will...

Redweb creates banner ads for Norwich Union.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Digital communications agency Redweb has created a series of animated, expandable banner ads for insurance giant Norwich Union. The ads are being placed on mainstream sites such as AOL, MSN and Wanadoo. Nine creative concepts were used...

Greenland appoints Dan Rosen as MD.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Greenland, the interactive services provider owned by the Daily Mail, has signalled its intention to step up its focus on mobile with the appointment of mobile industry veteran Dan Rosen as MD. The company, which will shortly be launching...

Texaco uses transactional site to support WE.O.U.(Windows Ease Of Use)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Oil company Texaco has launched a personalised, transactional Web site to support its long-running WE.O.U customer loyalty programme. The scheme's 2m members can now register online to redeem the 'stars' they receive when buying petrol for a...

Online industry pulls together in support of tsunami appeal.(Disasters Emergency Committee )(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Online is continuing to play a key role in the appeal for donations to help victims of the tsunami disaster in South-East Asia. The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), the co-ordinating umbrella organisation for charities involved in the...

Slimfast uses Web to push Low Cal Low Carb range.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Slimfast is putting the Web at the heart of its marketing strategy for its new Low Cal Low Carb range. The Unilever brand - which is making its first venture into the low- carb diet sector in a bid to reverse a fall in sales last year -...

Kia in cross-media deal with Mirror Group.(Kia Motors Corp.)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Korean car manufacturer Kia will use the Internet to give away a car every day for a month in its biggest ever UK promotional campaign. E3 Media has created a bespoke microsite for the initiative, which forms part of a cross-media deal...

Mobile Messaging Consortium forms for benefit of SMEs.(small and medium sized companies)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Three UK mobile messaging companies have banded together to form the Mobile Messaging Consortium. They intend to use combined purchasing power to obtain the best operator outpayments for their clients. The group is looking for more...

NTL and Telewest set to launch video-on-demand services.(NTL Communications Corp., TeleWest Communications PLC)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... NTL and Telewest will both announce plans for video-on-demand (VoD) services within a matter of weeks, turning the UK into the leading market in Europe for such services. With the BBC and BT also pushing ahead with plans for their...

Saab and Peugeot to drive forward mobile marketing communications.(Saab-Scania AB)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Saab and Peugeot are both planning to develop mobile customer communications activities this year. Saab will soon launch an SMS service that will inform customers when their car is due for a service and then when it's ready to be picked...

TradeDoubler offers UK brands short-term affiliate campaigns.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... UK brands will be given the opportunity to run short-term affiliate marketing campaigns on the TradeDoubler network for the first time. TradeDoubler hopes that partnerships with media agencies such as Diffiniti (formerly Carat Interactive)...

Vodafone relaunches Find and Seek offer.(Vodafone Group PLC)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Vodafone has relaunched its location-based Find and Seek service and launched an extended 3G service. The 3G Find and Seek service, on Vodafone Live!, enables customers selecting the option to be presented with a map of their immediate...

Guy Phillipson to replace Danny Meadows-Klue.(Interactive Advertising Bureau)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... The UK Interactive Advertising Bureau's hunt for a new CEO ended last week with the appointment of Guy Phillipson, former head of advertising at Vodafone. Phillipson, who has over 17 years' experience in marketing and advertising on both the...

Weapon 7 creates iTV ad for Chemical Brothers.(interactive television)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Virgin Records has commissioned Weapon 7 to create an interactive TV campaign to promote the launch of the new album from the Chemical Brothers. The campaign allows interactive viewers to sample the forthcoming release by selecting tracks from...

Madasafish steps up aggressive tactics.(free broadband access to customers)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Madasafish is offering two months' free broadband access to customers who switch from rival ISPs, continuing its aggressive efforts to sign up new users. The offer comes on top of the firm's TV and online campaign featuring Harry Enfield,...

Two Way TV UK in #3.4m deal with Australian arm.(Two Way TV Australia)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Two Way TV UK has completed a #3.4m deal with its Australian counterpart to roll out its interactive products in a number of key Asian markets. The deal will give Two Way TV Australia between three and four years to establish new interactive...

Government plans public contract portal for SMEs.(small and medium sized companies)
January 13, 2005... The Government has unveiled plans for a Web portal to accord businesses easier access to public sector contracts. The Small Business Service, part of the Department of Trade and Industry, has begun an open tendering process for the provision...

Adamind announces intention to float on AIM.(Alternative Investment Market)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... MMS software developer Adamind has announced its intention to float on AIM. The company's products, targeted at mobile operators, enable the delivery of mobile multimedia content. adamind.com Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd....

IBurbia to test mobile marketing effectiveness.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Interactive media research company iBurbia is launching a major new study into the effectiveness of mobile marketing. The Decipher-owned operation is working with mobile specialist WhoHow to recruit media agencies into a consortium that will...

Career Legal and Hudson York Farrell appoint Pod1.(contract with advertising agency)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Law recruitment firm Career Legal and sister financial sector recruiter Hudson York Farrell have appointed digital agency Pod1 to relaunch their online presence. pod1.com Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Profero poaches offline creative team from Saatchi & Saatchi.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Full service digital agency Profero has poached a copywriter/art director duo from Saatchi & Saatchi in a bid to further strengthen its creative positioning in the market. The appointments expand Profero's UK creative team to 20 and are a...

Vonage targets BT's customers with UK marketing campaign.(British Telecommunications PLC)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Vonage, the leading US Internet telephony firm, is aiming to win a share of BT's huge customer base with the launch of a multi-million- pound UK marketing drive within the next two weeks. The company is aiming to more than double its...

ThinkBingo to use offline ads to attract women players.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Recent entrant to the online gambling market ThinkBingo.com is to launch an offline marketing campaign at the end of January. It has earmarked #100,000 for the campaign, which will target women players through magazines such as Closer, Chat...

'Millionaire' regains interactive service.(Network Q sponsor ITV PLC 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?')(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... ITV is bringing back the playalong interactive TV gaming element of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? after securing Network Q as its sponsor. Despite its popularity, the red-button application was sidelined 11 months ago after ITV and...

Lawton separates rich-media apps as part of broadband push.(Lawton Communications)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Agency group Lawton Communications has spun out its three rich-media technologies into a new division, backed by up to #300,000. Its email tool Trailermail, banner ad tool Motioncast and desktop communicator Admonkey are all now part of...

US provider slips quietly into the UK VoIP sector.(voice over internet protocol)
January 13, 2005... ANALYST SPEAK: Julian Watson WMRC On 6 January, US service provider Vonage officially started offering voice-over-IP (VoIP) in the UK. But in contrast to the hype surrounding the technology and the company, this was an unassuming launch....

Banner ad numbers up by a quarter in 2004.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... The number of banner ads featured on European Web sites increased by almost a quarter in the year from November 2003, reports Nielsen//NetRatings. Numbers jumped by 24%, from 76,375 to 94,939, in November 2004. The Internet analyst also found...

Operators set to benefit from mobile content rise.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... The UK mobile content market could double in value this year, says content platform provider Bango. It predicts that mobile operators will take the largest share of content revenues, as new consumers turn initially to trusted brands' mobile...

Etailers focus on turning browsers into customers.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... The majority of big online retailers say their top priority is to improve conversion rates in 2005, according to retail consultancy Javelin Group's new report. 90% of Internet shops will focus on converting traffic into customers by improving...

Ad industry predicts online will outstrip all other media in 2005.
January 13, 2005... Three different sectors of the advertising industry are united in the belief that 2005 will be the year of online, forecasting huge increases in Internet ad revenues for the coming year. Reports from industry body the Advertising...

BayTSP traces illegal file sharers.(use of new technology peer to peer networks)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... California-based intellectual property monitoring specialist BayTSP has devised technology that identifies the first users to upload copyrighted or trademarked content to the eDonkey and Bit Torrent peer- to-peer networks. FirstSource is...

HMV seeks partner to manage digital music service back end.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Music retailer HMV is looking to partner with a new back-end digital service provider to help fulfil its #10m Jukebox service. The retailer, which has to date used Loudeye-owned OD2 for both back- and front-end service-delivery, has...

E-shopping doubles in value from 2003 to 2004.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Online retail in Europe almost doubled in value in 2004 compared to the previous year, according to emarketing solutions provider TradeDoubler. Its Ecommerce Tracker report says that total sales rose by 97% over the last 12 months. The...

Freeloader lets users share their ringtones.(new service from Kisky Netmedia Ltd.)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... A new mobile ringtone service has launched that enables consumers to create their own ringtones. Freeloader has been created by new media technology company Kisky Netmedia. Consumers are offered WAP distribution for most ringtone types at no...

MSN adds video content to US site.(Microsoft Network L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... MSN is launching video downloads from its US site. The content, which will include sports highlights, news and children's programming, is intended to tie into parent Microsoft's recent entry into the portable entertainment sector. The...

Adtech offers virus scanning of banner ads.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Online marketing technology firm Adtech has launched a new virus scanner for banner advertising, designed to protect users and prevent online ads from being abused as trojan horses or to circulate viruses. The automatic virus check, which is...

Big agency players keen to buy into search.
January 13, 2005... As major agency groups begin to acknowledge the advantages of search marketing, search specialists find themselves well-placed to sell their knowledge and skills Aegis Group's recent #26m acquisition of US search marketing agency...

COMMENT: Online ads may be booming, but don't forget the strategy.(Column)
January 13, 2005... Guy Phillipson must be feeling that now is a good time to be taking over as CEO of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). No sooner has he taken the job than a series of reports comes out predicting significantly faster growth in online...

In times of tragedy, the Internet turns us all into news reporters.
January 13, 2005... SHELDON ON CONSUMERS Several years ago I worked at the ad agency responsible for running the campaigns for appeals co-ordinated by the Disasters Emergency Committee. While there was a real sense of urgency, it took time to gather...

Letter: Good content counts just as much in online world.(Letter to the Editor)
January 13, 2005... I have noticed a heartening trend: new media professionals are at last wising up to the advantages of organic text searching. This is because, as consultancies, we're paying more attention to the factors that really affect Internet search...

Letter: Recycle your old mobiles to help tsunami appeal.(Letter to the Editor)
January 13, 2005... No doubt your readers have been watching the news reports of the South- East Asian tsunami, stunned at the devastation following the massive earthquake off the coast of Sumatra. A phenomenal amount of support has been given by the British...

Letter: Top brass need to wake up to hacking threat.(Letter to the Editor)
January 13, 2005... Towards the end of 2004, those working in the online sector and related industries must have started to feel very uncomfortable about the emergence of the cyberattack as one of the most serious threats to their livelihoods. Many column...

OPINION: Traditional models of creative advertising apply to online too.
January 13, 2005... By hiring traditional creative teams, the best digital agencies now produce work to rival their above-the-line cousins. But with traditional agencies taking an increasing interest in the Web, how do the digital independents continue to compete?...

PROFILE - ADRIANA CRONIN-LUKAS: Plain speaking.
January 13, 2005... Adriana Cronin-Lukas is on a mission to educate and convince companies of the benefits of improved communications through blogging, discovers Michael Nutley "There are two trends in online marketing. One is to say, 'This is our message...

STRATEGIC PLAY - PEUGEOT: In the driving seat.
January 13, 2005... Now Peugeot has stamped a British identity on its UK Web site, it's looking to catch up with its rivals by improving its online service for dealers, finds Sean Hargrave Now that Peugeot UK is drawing to the end of a two-year process of...

AGENCY RECRUITMENT: Seeking new blood.(recruitment of trained personnel)(Panel Discussion)
January 13, 2005... Online agencies are struggling to attract suitably trained personnel. Have they been neglecting recruitment issues, or are offline marketers shying away from new media? NMA: Last year recruitment became an issue for the digital agency...

Moves: Freestyle New Media Group.(Andy Wood appointed)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Andy Wood has joined digital agency Freestyle New Media Group as account director. He previously worked at agencies Wunderman Interactive and Fuse Digital, and will focus on Freestyle's Land Rover and Jaguar accounts. Copyright: Centaur...

Moves: Perfect Information.(Kurt Stam appointed)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Perfect Information, the online financial information provider, has appointed Kurt Stam as business development manager. He previously worked at the company's New York office in the same role, and has joined the London team to generate new...

Moves: Splendid.(Angus Robertson appointed)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Angus Robertson has joined digital media company Splendid as business development director. Prior to this he held senior positions at interactive ad agency Complete and European ebusiness group Escador. Copyright: Centaur Communications...

Moves: New Media Knowledge.(Deirdre Molloy appointed)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Industry network New Media Knowledge has appointed Deirdre Molloy as Web editor for nmk.co.uk. She formerly held the same title at music site Deo.com and was a senior producer for Express Online. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

Moves: M-Corp.(Victor Gibson appointed)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Digital communications agency M-Corp has taken on Victor Gibson as a digital strategist. He joins from charity RNLI, where he spent three years as e-programme manager. Overall, Gibson has ten years' new media experience, having held posts at...

Moves: Zoo Digital Group.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Zoo Digital Group, the entertainment technology and games publishing company, has opened an office in Paris and appointed Stephan Aubert as country MD. He was previously sales and marketing manager for EMEA at Media 100, and will head...

Moves: Amaze.(Andrew Shillaber appointed)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Digital agency Amaze has taken on a change management consultant to advise clients on integrating new digital solutions into their daily business. Andrew Shillaber, who previously held a similar role at technology solutions provider EDS for its...

Moves: Raisingkids.co.uk.(Catherine Hanly appointed)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Raisingkids.co.uk, the parenting site, has taken on Catherine Hanly as editor. She was previously online managing editor at publishing group Emap Elan. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Moves: izR Solutions.(Uwe Nitsche promoted)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2005... Uwe Nitsche has been promoted to the post of joint MD at izR Solutions, the business-focused ISP. Previously operations and technical director, he brings to the company over 15 years' experience in the design and management of telecoms...

SITE INSPECTION: Dove.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 13, 2005... Dove campaignforrealbeauty.co.uk Owner: Dove (Unilever) Agency: OgilvyOne Content 17/25 Usability 20/25 Branding 23/25 Monetisation 0/25 Total 60/100 If you get the Tube to work, you could...

SITE INSPECTION: G8.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 13, 2005... G8 g8.gov.uk Owner: Foreign & Commonwealth Office Agency: in-house Content 23/25 Usability 20/25 Branding 15/25 Monetisation n/a Total 58/75 A timely Web site, as the UK took the helm of...

SITE INSPECTION: Headsup.(new website)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 13, 2005... Headsup headsup.org.uk Owner: Hansard Society Agency: MMI Content 24/25 Usability 23/25 Branding 5/25 Monetisation N/A Total 52/75 The Headsup Web site tackles the unenviable task of...

Fulfilment: apple.com/ukstore.(website)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 13, 2005... apple.com/ukstore Selection Full range of Apple hardware, software and accessories. The site stocks everything from iPods to the latest iMac G5 computers. Technical problems None. Navigation Very straightforward,...

Celador arm eyes global brands in move to focus on licensing.
January 20, 2005... Who Wants to be a Millionaire? creator Celador has embarked on a strategy to aggressively acquire the rights to global brands, to build interactive properties around them. Celador International, set up in 2000 following the success of...

KitKat promo drops wrappers for SMS.(Brief Article)
January 20, 2005... Nestle has launched one of its biggest interactive promotions to date. KitKash enables consumers to collect points via SMS to win prizes in an online auction. The KitKat campaign has been designed to appeal to the widest possible...

Call for enforcement of mobile regulations.
January 20, 2005... Vodafone has called on the mobile content industry to enforce its various codes of conduct more vigorously. A raft of dishonest business practices is still plaguing the growth of mobile content as a commercial medium by damaging consumer...

Fiat puts Web in driving seat of campaign with Xbox.(Brief Article)
January 20, 2005... Car manufacturer Fiat has joined with Xbox to launch a series of limited edition cars aimed at consumers with an interest in gadgets and gaming. The Web will play a key role in promoting the Xbox-branded cars. Fiat has built a dedicated...

BSkyB debuts advertorial on Sky Active with album preview.(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC)(Brief Article)
January 20, 2005... BSkyB is looking to exploit new commercial opportunities around its recently relaunched Sky Active entertainment platform. Ian Shepherd, MD of Sky Interactive, said that last year's redesign of the portal with a magazine-style format had...

Internet wins highest increase in marketing budgets in Q4 2004.(Brief Article)
January 20, 2005... Internet marketing budgets received the highest number of increases compared to all other media in Q4 2004, says the IPA's Bellwether Report. 26.5% of marketers allocated extra money to Internet advertising, up 2.6 percentage points on Q3...

ITV revamps Web site to enable more creative commercials.(Brief Article)
January 20, 2005... ITV is revamping its online strategy during 2005 to offer advertisers more creative commercial opportunities. The initiative is part of a major push to attract big-name TV advertisers to itv.com as it attempts to increase revenue from...

Mini reveals online branding campaign.(Brief Article)
January 20, 2005... Mini has unveiled new online creative as part of its latest branding push, aimed at raising awareness in the run-up to the new car registration in March. The online campaign, which will run until mid-February, was created by WCRS digital...

Mobile video market stalled by need to renegotiate rights.(Brief Article)
January 20, 2005... The growth of the nascent mobile video market is being significantly slowed by the need for broadcasters and production companies to renegotiate with talent for the rights, claim industry insiders. 2005 had been tipped by many as the...

NMA Awards 2005 calls for entries.
January 20, 2005... The greatest prize in new media is up for grabs once again. The NMA Effectiveness Awards 2005 are looking for the best-performing new media projects and businesses of 2004, across the Internet, mobile and interactive TV. Entries can only...

BBC expands Internet radio player coverage.(Brief Article)
January 20, 2005... The BBC is relaunching its Internet radio player in a bid to make 95% of the Corporation's national radio output available on-demand via the Web. For the first time, the new radio player will make it possible for listeners to stop a...

NTL and Telewest both launch video-on-demand.(TeleWest Communications PLC)(Brief Article)
January 20, 2005... NTL and Telewest have both formally launched their video-on-demand services this week, as predicted in NMA last week. Telewest is starting with a films-on-demand service in Bristol. The more wide-ranging NTL service will include TV programming,...