New Media Age articles from January 2009

New Media Age archives from January 2009

Online shopping habits in recession revealed.(Report)
January 8, 2009... Exclusive survey of online consumers discovers where they plan to shop and what they'll buy in 2009 The first new media age online shopping survey has revealed consumers' spending plans for 2009 as the UK economy teeters on a recession....

Value brands need to follow the purse holders online.(Survey)
January 8, 2009... Online has won its long-fought battle with the high street on both price and value. Our first Online Shopping survey (see this week's cover story) found that over two-thirds of consumers believe it's cheaper to buy online and that the internet...

TUI looks to social media for online user engagement.(TUI UK)(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Holiday company plans to make social media central to its plans as it hopes to have online conversations with its customers Travel company TUI, which owns brands First Choice and Thomson, plans to make social media central to its online...

BREAKING NEWS: 96% Of singles market from digital downloads.(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Digital music downloads now account for 95.8% of the singles market, after the sector sold 110.3m units of digital music singles in 2008. The figure released by The Entertainment Retailers Association revealed digital singles sales increased...

BREAKING NEWS: WWE appoints Unanimis to handle online sales.(World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.)(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has appointed Unanimis to handle its online ad sales business. Unanimis will be responsible for selling display inventory and creating sponsorship deals. WWE.com attracted 375,000 users in November 2008,...

Google and Yahoo drive use of search call to action in ads.
January 8, 2009... Following the success of search calls to action in ads for Orange and the COI, search giants push for brands to trial the format Google and Yahoo are encouraging brands to include search calls to action within their ad campaigns to...

Nokia launches Here & Now site as it moves to become internet player.(Nokia Corp.)(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Nokia has launched a mobile entertainment portal called Here & Now, which is designed to increase traffic and grow ad revenues. The mobile interest site, aimed at 18-35-year-olds, features a range of content from partners including news...

Phorm looks into financial incentives to sign up users.(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Phorm is considering using financial incentives to encourage users to sign up to its ad targeting technology. new media age understands the controversial ISP behavioural targeting company, which works by serving relevant ads to consumers...

IASH appoints Julia Smith as first full-time staff member.(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... IASH, the ad network trade body, has appointed Julia Smith, former head of digital at Mirror Group Newspapers, as its first senior manager. Smith, who will work full-time and starts on 12 January, will be responsible for overseeing the...

Keeping up with ever- expanding social media.
January 8, 2009... Each day I discover another few social media companies that require punters to create a profile to engage users on their network. For internet-savvy early adopters, fatigue is setting in, even if some of these niche social networks do one thing...

Orange beefs up online video offer to grow ad income.(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Orange trials new deals for online video content as it fulfils plans to focus more on its broadband service and mobile TV Orange has beefed up its online video service in a bid to expand its range of advertising opportunities. The...

IDG ahead of rivals with mobile versions of MacWorld and PC Advisor.(International Data Group Inc.)(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... IDG Communications is to roll out mobile versions of flagship titles MacWorld and PC Advisor as it looks to grow audiences and revenues. The publisher sees mobile as a vital step for growing the titles. PC Advisor has the most popular...

Arriva launches mobile site for CrossCountry rail company.(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Arriva Group train company CrossCountry has launched a mobile site and application as part of its #1m investment in digital development and ecommerce. The mobile site and application include station information, train times, travel...

The Guardian targets ads at Europeans.(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... The Guardian has appointed international ad sales house AdGent 007 to sell online advertising across its site targeting European visitors. The relationship will help boost ad revenues for the site's international audience. It attracts...

Sky extends available ad inventory after relaunch of text service.(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC. Sky Media)(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Sky has developed its range of ad inventory following the relaunch of its digital text service. The broadcaster is keen to extend the cross-platform deals its sales house Sky Media can offer clients. Sky Text has new design, layout...

National Rail Enquiries links with Lastminute for hotel service.(National Rail Enquiry Service Ltd. to partner with Lastminute.com )(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... National Rail Enquiries (NRE) is to partner with Lastminute.com to offer travellers a hotel booking service as part of a strategic move to broaden the former's online services. NRE, which provides journey planning and train service updates,...

Dynamic in-game advertisings has positive impact on brand equity.
January 8, 2009... The gaming industry is huge, with some recent forecasts predicting that spend on games will pass expenditure on music and video this year. With the enormous popularity of gaming comes the interest of advertisers. Advertising to online...

LETTER: Take advantage of opportunities now.(Letter to the editor)
January 8, 2009... Colin White, UK CEO, Oxygen8 Communications The digital marketplace is undoubtedly the future. However, in a bid to maximise new media, too many companies are pitting their traditional print, radio and TV products against associated...

LETTER: Yahoo maintains discounts are the same.(Letter to the editor)
January 8, 2009... Mark Rabe, VP and MD of sales, Yahoo UK & Ireland In response to Will Cooper's recent Viewpoint 'Yahoo cuts back' (nma.co.uk 12 December 2008), I would like to clarify our updated agency discount policy. The Viewpoint omitted to...

LETTER: Specialists have a place in production process.(Letter to the editor)
January 8, 2009... Darrell Wilkins, creative director, Specialmoves Richard Huntington does a massive disservice to a huge number of highly creative, talented people in his piece 'Ad agencies are the best place for the best ideas' (nma 30 October 2008). ...

LETTER: Comment from nma.co.uk.(Letter to the editor)
January 8, 2009... Re: Analyst Speak: Mobile web used by all ages I've just carried out a small qualitative survey with marketers for venues/attractions in order to gauge the level of interest in the mobile web. Only one in ten had seriously considered the...

OPINION: The speed of change means anything could happen in 2009.(Column)
January 8, 2009... Such is the speed of technological change and new demands from the public that we could well see some surprising partnerships arising, inspiring examples of diversification and groundbreaking transactions for the year ahead. Here are my...

AD WATCH: British Heart Foundation gives kids a glimpse of their future.
January 8, 2009... When checking out digital work, there are three questions I always ask: would I tell someone about it, does it make me feel something, and would people participate? Each of this month's ads answers these very differently. The smartest...

PROFILE: Chris Davies.(Chris Davies of British Airlines)(Occupation overview)
January 8, 2009... As the airline industry takes a hit, British Airways is upping the ante with online investments in social media projects. BA's Chris Davies talks through his plans for the year ahead Chris Davies is BA through and through. Not only has...

VERTICAL FOCUS FITNESS: Feeling the burn.
January 8, 2009... In hard times gym membership may become an expensive luxury, so chains are turning to mobile and social media to maintain New Year sign-ups As people join gyms as part of their New Year's resolutions, the fitness industry is itself...

VERTICAL FOCUS FITNESS: Cutting churn by predicting member lapses.(Nuffield Health)
January 8, 2009... Nuffield Health, formerly Cannons, wants to take its understanding of churn beyond the industry norm of counting how many times a member went to the gym recently. The company has turned to CRM specialist ICLP, which interrogates large...

MOVES: Directgov.(Directgov to appoint Guy Ker as director of publishing, Mike Hoban as director of communications and David Matthewman as director of product infrastructure and technical capability)(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Directgov, the digital home for public services and information, has appointed Guy Ker as director of publishing, Mike Hoban as director of communications and engagement and David Matthewman as director of product infrastructure and technical...

MOVES: The YOC Group.(YOC Group to appoint Rhoanna Glenn and Hannah Cotton)(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Full service mobile agency The YOC Group has appointed Rhoanna Glenn as business development manager and Hannah Cotton as strategic partnership manager. Glenn joins from Zamano where she was business development manager, while Cotton was...

MOVES: Amplify.(Amplify to appoint Angela Lawson)(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Linguistic content analysis company Amplify has appointed Angela Lawson as director of community strategy. She was previously at Athena East as lead consultant for community content development. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

MOVES: RedBee Media.(RedBee Media to hire Bill Patrizio as chief executive officer)(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Multimedia distribution and promotions company RedBee Media has hired Bill Patrizio as chief executive officer. He joins from Technicolor Network Services where he was president. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

MOVES: Graphico.(Graphico to appoint Simon Richards as director of Graphico New Media Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Full service creative digital agency Graphico has appointed Simon Richards as director of innovation. He moves from the BBC where he was a TV and radio producer. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

MOVES: Picsel Technologies.(Picsel Technologies to hire Ted Katagi)(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Mobile platform provider Picsel Technologies has hired Ted Katagi as global chief operating officer. He joins from Vodafone Japan, where he was chief marketing officer. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

MOVES: Webgains.(WebGain Inc. to hire Alistair Nichols)(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Affiliate marketing agency Webgains has hired Alistair Nichols as head of agency sales. He joins from Commission Junction where he was UK sales manager. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

MOVES: User Vision.(User Vision to appoint Patrycja Kazmierczak )(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... User experience consultancy User Vision has appointed Patrycja Kazmierczak as usability consultant. She was previously usability and user experience consultant at Bunnyfoot. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

SITE INSPECTION: Horse Hero.(www.Horsehero.com)(Website overview)
January 8, 2009... Horsehero.com Owner Horse Hero Agency Sequence Content 22/25 Usability 18/25 Branding 20/25 Monetisation 18/25 Total 78/100 According to this site's own media pack, there...

SITE INSPECTION: Five.(www.Five.tv)(Website overview)(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Five.tv Owner Five Agency Agency.com, Ibuilding Content 20/25 Usability 22/25 Branding 24/25 Monetisation 10/25 Total 76/100 I've always found TV channels' websites to be a...

SITE INSPECTION: Holiday-Rentals.(www.holiday-rentals.co.uk)(Website overview)(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Holiday-rentals.co.uk Owner HomeAway Agency in-house Content 19/25 Usability 19/25 Branding 16/25 Monetisation 18/25 Total 72/100 HomeAway has redesigned its Holiday-Rentals...

FULFILMENT: cakescookiesandcraftsshop.co.uk.(Website overview)(Brief article)
January 8, 2009... Selection A huge selection of basic and unusual baking products, including icing equipment, decorations, gift boxes and even cookie cutters shaped as cowboys. Navigation Items are divided into clear categories, such as making,...

London 2012 unveils social media strategy.(London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games )
January 15, 2009... London Organising Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games prepares major social network programme The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is preparing to launch a significant social networking...

Consolidation is inevitable for advertising in a recession.
January 15, 2009... How bad is it and how bad is it going to get? These are questions journalists love, even as the chill winds of the downturn whistle through their own industry. Even the FT, which has done so well out of the crisis, announced this week it'll let...

BREAKING NEWS: BBC relaunches sites for flagship radio stations.(British Broadcasting Corp.)(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... The BBC has relaunched the websites for its flagship stations Radio 1 and 1Xtra. The broadcaster has rolled out two sites designed to refresh the stations' images and be simpler to update with the latest content and developments like videos...

BREAKING NEWS: Big Chip Awards 2009 opens call for entries.(Manchester Digital )(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... The Big Chip Awards has launched this year's call for entries, with a closing date of 16 March. The awards, organised by Manchester Digital and supported by new media age, reward outstanding use of digital by companies based in the North...

Channel 4 appoints first head of cross-platform projects.(Channel 4 Television Co. to appoint Louise Brown)
January 15, 2009... Head of operations for new media Louise Brown to lead drive for more multi-platform commissioning around existing shows Channel 4 News and Hollyoaks will be the first programme areas to undergo the broadcaster's new cross-platform...

COI and DCSF take teen safe-sex message onto mobile in video drama.(Central Office of Information and Department for Children, Schools and Families)(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... Want Respect? Use A Condom campaign extended with 22-week series showing British teenagers dealing with sex issues The COI and Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) have launched a mobile drama series as part of an ongoing...

Monster invests $130m in face of falling vacancies.(Monster Worldwide Inc.)
January 15, 2009... Site revamp focuses on interactive Web 2.0 tools to give users clearer picture of job market as recruitment site traffic drops Online recruitment company Monster Worldwide has invested $130m (#89m) to relaunch its international sites in a...

Digital experts divided over Bellwether findings on online ad spend.
January 15, 2009... The digital industry remains divided over the full impact of the growing economic uncertainty after this week's Bellwether report revealed a record 7% reduction in online spend. The report, from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising...

Pizza Hut claims boom in sales over Christmas.(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... Pizza Hut has claimed it's on track to become the UK's "ultimate" online restaurant after Christmas sales jumped 237%. The pizza giant said sales through its online ordering service, which launched in March 2007, grew at an average of 25%...

How long can online display's growth last?
January 15, 2009... new media age's survey of digital media agencies at the end of last year painted an encouraging picture (nma 18 December 2008). Despite dire warnings of economic slowdown, agencies predicted an increase in online display spend of 10%,...

Google amends gambling policy across AdWords.(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... Gambling-affiliated companies are allow to bid on AdWords for the first time as the search giant attempts to boost clicks Google has amended its policy towards gambling advertising to allow gambling-affiliated companies without a UK gaming...

Ford launches consumer portal to push new Ka model.(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... Ford has extended the campaign for its new Ka model online with a consumer-generated portal. The Go Find It site, currently in its early stages, aims to offer visitors access to a range of content including street art images from...

Microsoft Media Network launches with combined offer.(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... Microsoft Advertising has officially integrated its ad networks Drivepm and Microsoft Direct Response to launch Microsoft Media Network. The media giant has rolled out the combined network, which brings together Drivepm's network of sites...

Royal Navy uses online as it looks to boost enlistments by 30% this year.(United Kingdom. Royal Marines)(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... The Royal Navy has launched an online recruitment drive as it looks to boost enlistments by 30% this year. A series of rich-media ads will go live across sites for 18-24-year- olds, including social media and entertainment sites. This...

Young audience leads sharp rise in on-demand TV viewing.
January 15, 2009... More than 15.6m adults with digital TV have viewed TV content on-demand in the last six months, either through their TV, a computer or a handheld device. That equates to 39% of adults with digital TV and growth of 27% compared to six months...

Random House takes 2009 Good Pub Guide online.(Random House Inc.)(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... Random House has taken its bestselling The Good Pub Guide online in order to expand its audience and generate ad revenue. Thegoodpubguide.co.uk has gone into public beta, giving visitors information about more than 55,000 pubs, including...

Skype reports success with Facebook app.(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... Skype has reported that a Christmas-themed application on Facebook drove more than 764,000 visitors to visit a campaign site. The campaign allowed users to build Christmas and New Year video greetings for friends. The application on...

Freesat revamps site to focus on channel content.(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... Freesat, the free-to-view satellite offering from the BBC and ITV, is to overhaul its website in the coming months to focus on content. The service, which last week revealed it has more than 200,000 subscribers, is moving Freesat.co.uk...

Tennis tours trial web video venture.
January 15, 2009... The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour and ATP Media, the two major international tennis circuits, are set to soft-launch their joint online video venture, TennisTV.com, this week. The subscription-based site will host live streaming of more than 40...

Gaydar to offer video uploading to site members.(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... Gaydar is to expand into online video this year to drive engagement across its social and dating brands. The QSoft-owned gay personals site will launch video uploading facilities, allowing users to post home-made clips to their profiles....

LETTER: Survival of the fittest for ad networks.(Letter to the editor)
January 15, 2009... Mark Butt, joint-MD, Eyeconomy Your claim that "ad networks are battling to survive" (nma 18 December 2008) paints a bleak outlook for 2009. With the latest news that independent ad network Adrevenue has gone into administration after a...

LETTER: Attitude to online has changed since last bust.(Letter to the editor)
January 15, 2009... Alex Bremer, graphic designer and web developer, 3B Web Design There are inevitably some conflicting views on the state of the digital industry and how it will perform in the recession, but our experience is very much in tune with the...

LETTER: A simple idea can be anything but.(Letter to the editor)
January 15, 2009... William Makower, MD, Panlogic If only I'd tucked away a couple of pennies every time a client or prospect told me they only wanted a simple banner, email, game (substitute your format of choice). What actually are we being asked for?...

Comment from nma.co.uk.(online advertisements)(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... Re: Ads on YouTube have higher impact than on TV Thanks to YouTube for trying to show that online TV ads have great value. However, this research - conducted with only two brands - is about recall, which isn't the same or as valuable as...

OPINION: For the freshest ideas and a can-do attitude, head down under.(Column)
January 15, 2009... I spent some time last month at our sister company, Holler Sydney. I was down under among the corked hats and cans of Castlemaine XXXX, in the country of the crash bandicoot. The whole experience was what you'd pay good money for. It was akin...

PROFILE - BEN RHODES: Reaching out.(MasterCard International Inc)(Occupation overview)
January 15, 2009... Ahead of taking the stage at new media age's Interactive Summit, Ben Rhodes of MasterCard explains how he wants to use the internet to energise the card payment company Marketing an intangible product that's one step removed from its end...

BLOGGING: Natural selection.
January 15, 2009... Despite the fact there are some 130m blogs worldwide, some industry experts believe blogging is on its way out The growth of the blogosphere is showing no signs of slowing, with blog bible Technorati indexing more than 130m blogs worldwide...

BLOGGING: Is blogging best way for brands to converse with cusomters?
January 15, 2009... On his blog The Grocer's Blog, Waitrose MD and 'Chubby Grocer' Mark Price has been posting fairly openly. Despite being in the business of selling food, he has recently been documenting his attempts to lose weight. Price is a high-profile...

DIY ADVERTISING: Right tool for the job.
January 15, 2009... Build-your-own online ad tools have opened up the market to smaller players. But is the long-term effect likely to damage the industry? DIY web advertising products such as Google UK's recently launched Display AdBuilder democratise online...

NMA MOBILE: Mobile could ease banks' customer relations.
January 15, 2009... There's that warm and fuzzy legend of the trusted local high-street banker of old, but it has long been pretty rare for people to have a particularly loving relationship with their banks. However, 2008 was the year when those nagging...

NMA MOBILE: Ford steers mobile usage forward.(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... While some car brands put mobile marketing on the proverbial back burner last year, one mass-market manufacturer accelerated its use of the medium through 2008 and into 2009. Having piloted a WAP site last year for a Mondeo model launch, Ford...

NMA MOBILE: Editorial gets elbowed in push for revenue by Virgin Bites.
January 15, 2009... Virgin Bites Virgin.com/mobile/wap Agency Que Pasa Platform Motricity Virgin Mobile has relaunched its mobile portal under the Virgin Media brand, keeping its own unique youth-oriented editorial rather than aggregating from...

NMA MOBILE: Heavy traffic.
January 15, 2009... Publishers have realized the potential of personalized mobile content, but can they keep up with consumer demand? A slew of top publishers launched or overhauled their mobile presence over the past 12 months as it became increasingly...

MOVES: Lida.(Lida to hire Dylan Glover and Karl Woolhouse as senior creative team)(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... Digital and direct marketing agency Lida has hired senior creative team Dylan Glover and Karl Woolhouse. They both join from JWT. Prior to that, they worked together at MRM Worldwide. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

MOVES: Digital Marketing Group.(Digital Marketing Group to appoint Gregory Leslie John Minns as finance director)(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... The board of directors of Digital Marketing Group have appointed Gregory Leslie John Minns as the Group's finance director and company secretary. He was previously group finance director of software services company Vividas Group. ...

MOVES: MEF.(MEF to hire Stephen Jenkins as global marketing director)(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... MEF, the global trade association of the mobile media industry, has hired Stephen Jenkins as global marketing director. He joins from PIAS Entertainment Group where he was head of international marketing. Copyright: Centaur Communications...

MOVES: STV.(Mike Ferguson to be appointed by STV Group Inc.)(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... Scottish broadcaster STV has appointed Mike Ferguson as head of classifieds. He joins from s1jobs.com, where he held the position of general sales manager. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

MOVES: The Direct Marketing Group.(Direct Marketing Group to appoint Alex Michael as group digital director)(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... Direct marketing agency The Direct Marketing Group has appointed Alex Michael as group digital director. He was previously mobile marketing and content director at Sprite Interactive. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

MOVES: Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw.(Kitcatt, Nohr, Alexander and Shaw to appoint David Yates as senior planner)(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... Integrated agency Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw has appointed David Yates as senior planner. He joins from CHI & Partners where he was an account planner. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

MOVES: Operative.(Operative to appoint Todd Sloan as chief financial officer)(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... Global ad revenue management software and services provider Operative has appointed Todd Sloan as chief financial officer. He previously held the same role at US independent video site Heavy.com. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

MOVES: Beattie McGuinness Bungay.(Beattie McGuinness Bungay to hire Andreas Zaremba as digital producer)(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... Creative agency Beattie McGuinness Bungay has hired Andreas Zaremba as digital producer. He was previously at creative agency Play and worked on accounts for Foster's, the BBC, the BMI and RBS. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

MOVES: AffiliateFuture.(AffiliateFuture.co.uk to hire Victoria Mcquillan as key account manager)(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... UK affiliate network AffiliateFuture has appointed Victoria Mcquillan as key account manager. She previously worked on the online brand relaunch of Littlewoods' New Football Pools, including its affiliate program. Copyright: Centaur...

SITE INSPECTION: Spotify.(www.Spotify.com )(Website overview)
January 15, 2009... Spotify.com Owner Spotify Agency in-house Content 24/25 Usability 23/25 Branding 18/25 Monetisation 15/25 Total 80/100 Everyone I've shown Spotify to has been impressed and...

SITE INSPECTION: BBC.(Website overview)(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... bbc.co.uk/iplayer/cbbc Owner BBC Agency in-house Content 17/25 Usability 22/25 Branding 25/25 Monetisation n/a Total 64/75 The beauty of the BBC's iPlayer is its...

SITE INSPECTION:.(www.denofgeek.com)(Website overview)(Brief article)
January 15, 2009... denofgeek.com Owner Dennis Publishing Agency in-house Content 18/25 Usability 15/25 Branding 9/25 Monetisation 14/25 Total 56/100 The internet is packed with sites and...

FULFILMENT: juxtaplus.com.
January 15, 2009... Selection This is the ecommerce site for Juxta Furnishings, a contemporary design store selling furniture, lighting and accessories. Navigation There are six product categories plus Special Offers and What's New sections. The...