New Media Age articles from November 2006

New Media Age archives from November 2006

P&G offers downloads of Sony singles in Pringles campaign.(Procter & Gamble contracts with Sony BMG and 7 Digital)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Procter & Gamble brand Pringles has tied up with Sony BMG for a pan- European digital music giveaway. Its on-pack promotion Pringles Presents is being supported by a branded digital download store created by 7 Digital. The move comes three...

AKQA wins Smirnoff global account.(Diageo PLC contracts with AKQA )(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Diageo brand Smirnoff has committed to digital marketing by appointing AKQA to handle its creative account and hiring its first ever global digital marketing director. AKQA was appointed to the Diageo roster in May after landing Johnnie...

Etailers must step up to online challenge.
November 2, 2006... Etailers risk facing a backlash from consumers unless they improve their delivery services, according to a leading industry body. James Roper, CEO of the IMRG (Interactive Media in Retail Group) said that many etailers "lack...

ISPA slams Government over plans for ISP block list.(Internet Service Providers Association)(Internet Service Providers)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... The Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA UK) has slammed plans by the Government to publish a list of ISPs who block child abuse images, as "playing into the hands of paedophiles." Under-secretary of state Vernon Coaker MP said...

Atlas bows to industry pressure as it opens up container tags.(Atlas Solutions)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Marketing technology company Atlas Solutions is bowing to pressure from media agencies and will open its container tags allowing clients to see which online ad network is responsible for an ad conversion. Atlas's move to open up its tags...

The Sun asks for UGC via 63000 service.(News Group Newspapers Ltd., user generated content)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... The Sun has launched a new service encouraging its readers to search out news stories and send them through to the paper's editorial departments. The paper is inviting its print and online readers to use its new 63000 service to get in...

Sony BMG uses Musicbox to give on-demand access to fans.(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Music giant Sony BMG is giving UK music fans on-demand access to videos by its roster of artists, including Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Pink, through a direct-to-consumer music channel, Musicbox. Following a deal with US...

Pay-as-you-go etail service launches.(3V Transaction Services )(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Online payment company 3V Transaction Services has launched a new pay- as-you-go Visa service, which is aimed at boosting online purchasing by the security conscious. The service is marketing itself as the safest means of shopping online,...

Remote gambling industry threatened with statutory code.(UK Gambling Commission's Jenny Williams)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Remote gambling companies based in the UK will face statutory regulation of their advertising practices if self-regulation doesn't work. The threat of new advertising laws for online gambling companies comes at a turbulent time for the...

Efficient Frontier plans expansion in UK.(appoints Jonathan Beeston)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Efficient Frontier, one of the largest players in the US search sector, is set to expand its fledgling British office to take advantage of a UK market preoccupied with sales and consolidation. Efficient Frontier intends to expand its...

BREAKING: Ann Summers enters into online deal with AOL.(America Online Inc.)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Erotic lingerie retailer Ann Summers has entered into its biggest online marketing partnership yet with AOL, to launch a dedicated shopping channel for the brand on its portal. The site, which went live at the end of October, will run for the...

BREAKING: Hamleys steps up online presence for Christmas.(appointed Rowan Harrop)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Hamleys, the toy store, is ramping up its online presence ahead of Christmas as it tries to extend its reach further out from its world- famous Regent Street base. The company has appointed Rowan Harrop as its first direct marketing manager....

BREAKING: PPL sends out warnings over music databases.(Phonographic Performance Limited)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... The Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), which represents record company's rights, has sent out a letter to ad agencies, TV production companies, broadcasters, games companies and multimedia companies warning them it's illegal to copy CDs...

BREAKING: YHA takes on Reading Room to overhaul site.(Youth Hostel Association)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... The YHA, formerly known as the Youth Hostel Association, has appointed digital creative agency Reading Room to completely overhaul its website in order to change perceptions about the brand and drive online bookings. yha.org.uk ...

IN BRIEF: ASA reprimands BT over 'Total Broadband' ads.(Advertising Standards Authority, British Telecommunications PLC)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has pulled up BT over advertising for its new 'Total Broadband' package, which stated that if you signed up to the new 18-month packages you would receive free UK evening and weekend calls over the...

IN BRIEF: PSP rolls out viral ad for 'Gangs of London' game.(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... A controversial viral campaign, which involves a mob of gangsters urinating in cars, has been rolled out to support the launch of the new Gangs of London game, from SCE London, for the Sony PlayStation Portable. Developed by viral specialist...

IN BRIEF: Kontraband launches viral seeding agency.(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Viral specialist Kontraband is attempting to attract business from digital agencies by launching a viral seeding agency. Until now Kontraband has been a viral seeding agency and a video and game portal combined, but by creating The Seventh...

IN BRIEF: Sony pushes new games to target child obesity.(Sony Computer Entertainment Europe contracts Bloc Media )(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is launching a pan-European online campaign to promote the second in its range of games intended to combat child obesity. The launch campaign for EyeToy: Kinetic Combat begins next week in 22 countries...

IN BRIEF: Group360.(Correction notice)
November 2, 2006... In last week's NMA we reported that Group360 had launched an online arm called Liquid360. However, the web address given for Group360 was incorrect. It should have been group360.co.uk. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

3 Revises music strategy with direct-to-PC download move.(Hutchison 3G UK Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Mobile operator 3 is changing its music strategy by offering a music store that allows users to download music direct to their PCs as well as onto their handsets. Previously, 3 customers could only purchase music from their phones and...

VW signs up brands in cricket tournament sponsorship deals.(Volkswagen UK signed deals with CricInfo, Daily Telegraph and Guardian)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Official England cricket team sponsor Volkswagen has signed deals with cricketing portal CricInfo, The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian to promote its Touareg model around coverage of this year's Ashes Tour and next year's Cricket World Cup....

Topshop pushes site via prize viral game.(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Topshop.com is to run a pass-theparcel-style viral game in the build-up to Christmas to promote both the site's relaunch and its in-store Christmas services (NMA 24.08.06). From 27 November, visitors to the site can select a parcel and...

Emap extends revamp of 'NW' magazine online with new site.
November 2, 2006... Emap's monthly women's magazine NW (formerly New Woman) will launch its new website within the next few months as part of an aggressive revamp of the title. NWdaily.co.uk is expected to launch in January 2007 and will give the magazine...

Web Register site given overhaul to show digital work.(New Media Age contracts with Steel)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... NMA has revamped its Web Register resource to showcase the best websites that have been created by leading UK digital agencies. The new portal opens for business on 6 November and has been redeveloped to reflect its two main groups of...

Real Networks offers bespoke radio services to site owners.(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Real Networks is launching a bespoke radio service called Real Amplify that allows website owners to play one of 50 genre-based radio stations to users on their site. The company is close to signing a deal with teenage social networking...

UGC sites roll out onto handheld devices.(user generated content)(Intuitive Media)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Intuitive Media has rolled out SuperClubs Plus, its social network for school children, on Sony's PSP and Nintendo's DS handheld devices. This is one of the first examples of a social network migrating from the PC. Social networks are in...

IN BRIEF: Music network site to run talent competition.
November 2, 2006... Music social networking site Bandwagon is launching an online schools music talent competition, Sound Clash, and has announced headphone brand Sennheiser is to sponsor and MTV Flux is to be a media partner. The winner of the competition will...

IN BRIEF: The Energy Helpline to run DRTV ad campaign.(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Utility comparison site The Energy Helpline is using a DRTV ad campaign to promote its gas and electricity comparison services. The ad will air during working hours on a range of satellite channels and has been created by The DRTV Centre....

IN BRIEF: OgilvyOne Worldwide appoints deputy MD.(Annette King, managing director )(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Direct marketing agency OgilvyOne Worldwide has appointed Annette King to the new position of deputy MD. OgilvyOne said King's role will involve "putting digital at the heart of the agency". She was previously head of interactive at...

IN BRIEF: Stroud & Swindon offers online mortgage finder.(Stroud & Swindon Building Society)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Stroud & Swindon Building Society has launched an online mortgage finder to let customers find out whether they are eligible for a mortgage. Visitors to the Stroud & Swindon site have to input simple details on the mortgage finder tool, such...

IN BRIEF: 365 Media Group.(plans for multi sports content on site)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... As reported in NMA last week, 365 Media Group does intend to launch a multi-sports content aggregation site, but doesn't plan on calling it Sporting365.com. Further details will be released at a future date. Copyright: Centaur...

Visit London to add direct hotel booking in major site redesign.(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Visit London, the organisation pro-moting the UK capital to visitors, is planning a radical overhaul of its web operations, including offering visitors the ability to book hotels directly. The site currently works with affiliate partners...

Golley Slater assigned to make Euronics site a tech advice hub.(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Euronics, the European network of 8,900 electrical goods stores, has hired design agency Golley Slater Digital to overhaul its web presence. The agency plans to make the Euronics website a pan-European hub for information on electrical...

EA Games hides content in Sky DAL.(contracts with Weapon 7)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... EA Games is using an iTV DAL on Sky with hidden content to promote the latest game in its Need For Speed series. The campaign, by iTV agency Weapon 7, features audio of canyon racers talking about their experiences that's hidden within...

Woolworths internet ad spend up fivefold.(Woolworths Group PLC)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Woolworths is to increase its online marketing spend fivefold as part of its ambition to be the best multichannel retailer on the high street. Although the company wouldn't disclose exactly how much of its overall #25m Christmas...

US ad-supported games site to sell directly to UK advertisers.(Zango)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Ad-supported games and entertainment website Zango will be selling ad space directly to UK advertisers and agencies from next year. The company's supporting online ad network will be opening a London- based office to sell Zango desktop...

Analyst Speak: Web-based telecoms creates new challenges.
November 2, 2006... Telecommunications has gone through a quick evolution in the services and products available to consumers over the past 15 years. While landline telecoms providers (the BTs of the world) have evolved their legacy services to meet the needs...

IN BRIEF: Digital River signs two-year deal with Symantec.(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Digital River, the ecommerce outsourcing company, has signed a two-year deal with online security company Symantec to provide ecommerce support for new sales, product upgrades and subscriptions sales, as well as Symantec's new On-Line...

IN BRIEF: Tickbox.net trials live online research system.(association with TNSInsight.tv)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Online market research company Tickbox.net is trialling a new live online research method in association with TNSInsight.tv. The system works by allowing users to view a presenter on screen, broadcasting from a TV studio in Central London, who...

IN BRIEF: O2 and Mobiqa to offer drinks at Arsenal ground.(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... O2 has teamed up with mobile coupon specialist Mobiqa for a drinks promotion aimed at O2 customers visiting Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium. Fans will be able to text for a SMS voucher containing a unique barcode, which can be redeemed at bars...

Bango creates mobile tracking service to put users in control.(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Mobile technology specialist Bango has developed a secure subscription service that will give content providers the ability to provide consumers with a sign-up and management process to track their mobile content subscriptions accurately....

Rebtel launches VoIP service for calls from mobile phones.(voice over IP)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Scandinavian mobile technology company Rebtel has launched a voice-over- IP service that allows customers to make unlimited international calls from their mobile phones. The company - which describes itself as 'Skype but without the...

Splendid and Flow build Vista desktop app for easyJet.(easyJet Airline Company Ltd., Flow Interactive)(Microsoft Windows Vista)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Design agency Splendid, in partnership with user-centred design consultancy Flow Interactive, has built a desktop application for easyJet that operates on Microsoft's new Vista operating system. The desktop application gives access to...

Customer service top concern delaying upgrade to digital TV.(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Subscriptions to interactive TV services could quadruple if consumers were offered free trials before having to pay, suggests research from digital TV support service MGt. Talking to over 1,000 consumers nationwide, the research found...

UGC is taking over record labels' role.(user generated content)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... The popularity of user-generated content is widening the gap between young people and the music industry, according to the second Mobile Youth report from Wireless World Forum. Record labels that once mediated between artists and fans,...

Creative agencies' profits at risk from financial ignorance.(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Miscommunication between creative and financial teams is harming agency business, says a report from Maconomy. The business systems firm found over-servicing, under-charging and a general ignorance of financial methods to be rife among...

IN BRIEF: September sees new high for SMS messaging.(short messaging service)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Over 3.7bn SMS messages were sent during September, 100m more than the previous monthly record, according to the Mobile Data Association (MDA). An average of 123m messages were sent each day in September, representing a 30% increase on the...

IN BRIEF: Halloween reveals user search thinking.(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... The share of UK internet searches for 'Halloween costumes' was up 19% for the week of 15 October compared to last year, according to Hitwise. While searches for 'Halloween costume ideas' was 27% higher than those for 'Halloween costume', it...

IN BRIEF: Mobile okay for music.(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Mobile phones with MP3 functionality have the potential to sit alongside iPods as a dominant portable music device, according to a report from Continental Research. 39% of 16-24-year-olds were found to have listened to MP3s on their mobiles,...

ANALYSIS: IWF turns attention to international arena.(Internet Watch Foundation)
November 2, 2006... The Internet Watch Foundation has slashed the proportion of illegal content hosted in the UK to just 0.2%. But it still has overseas-hosted and new forms of content to combat The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) celebrated its tenth...

ANALYSIS: Who polices the internet?(Internet Watch Foundation has minimise the availability of potentially illegal internet content by law enforcement )(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... The remit of the Internet Watch Foundation is 'to minimise the availability of potentially illegal internet content', including images of child abuse hosted anywhere in the world, criminally obscene content and incitement to racial hatred...

COMMENT: No obvious way to regulate gambling.(UK Gambling Commission's Jenny Williams plans for new Gambling Act )(Editorial)
November 2, 2006... Mapping national laws over the internet has always been a tricky business. Just how tricky was highlighted again recently by US law enforcement agencies tackling firms offering online gambling in the US, no matter where they're based, and by...

Broadcast TV stands for more than just showing programmes.
November 2, 2006... Being rather sad, I have rather a lot of TV kit at home. I have a Sky+ box and a Homechoice video-on-demand subscription on the main TV. I have a Freeview-enabled media centre plugged into a TV screen, with the new YouTube-for-TV plug-in on...

LETTER: Consumers in the driving seat for mobile internet.(Letter to the editor)
November 2, 2006... From Stuart Lambert, mobile marketing manager at Graphico What do businesses expect from the mobile internet? It's been asked before, but it's not actually about what a business wants, it's about what the consumer wants. I'm not a...

LETTER: Time for agencies to control their rights.(Letter to the editor)
November 2, 2006... From Ramsey Khoury, MD of Head There's been a lot of talk about the ideal agency model as we wrestle with the challenge of growing our business in a converging yet fragmenting digital environment. One inherent reality of the...

If you're going to let users skip your intro why bother with it?
November 2, 2006... What's the value of an introduction on a website? Does it really add anything to the user's experience? Is the introduction a first vital chapter in a user's journey through your content, or is it just an opportunity for a wannabe TV...

AD WATCH: Digital advertisers lack the craft of the offline old guard.
November 2, 2006... There was a spat in the trade press recently when the grand old Peter Souter, deputy chairman and director worldwide of Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, put some little digital upstarts back in their box. They'd clearly rattled his cage. He said...

PROFILE - JONATHAN KINGSBURY: Opening doors.(British Broadcasting Corp.)
November 2, 2006... Leading the BBC's charge to outsource 25% of its production by next year is Jonathan Kingsbury, who's keen to talk to digital agencies about their ideas, finds Gareth Jones BBC New Media & Technology's head of external supply Jonathan...

MINORITY RECRUITMENT: Mixed selection.
November 2, 2006... Despite its reputation, the new media sector shows no evidence of attracting workers from outside its white male core. Greg Brooks asks if it can do more to gain diversity The battle for talent across the digital sector has already forced...

NMA INTERVIEW: Calling the shots.(UK Gambling Commission's Jenny Williams)(Interview)
November 2, 2006... Gambling Commission chief executive Jenny Williams explains to Greg Brooks the aims of the updated Gambling Act and its impact on UK and offshore online operators Jenny Williams became chief executive of the Gambling Commission when it...

Moves: Puca.(appointed Tom Bean)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Mobile marketing agency Puca has appointed Tom Bean as marketing director. He joins from Vodafone Ireland where he spearheaded product launches for Vodafone Live!, Vodafone Office and Vodafone 3G. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

Moves: Bit10.(appointed Stephanie Chamberlain)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Stephanie Chamberlain has joined digital solutions agency Bit10 as project portfolio manager. She joins from Channel 4 where she was project manager for the development of a financial reporting system and the company intranet. Copyright:...

Moves: Unanimis.(appointed Gemma Coffee)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Digital agency Unanimis has recruited Gemma Coffee as account manager to work across a wide portfolio of brands. She previously worked at the John Brown Group. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Moves: Spinnaker.(appointed Danna Koonce)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Creative communications agency Spinnaker has appointed Danna Koonce to the new role of digital operations director. She joins from Wunderman Interactive where she was director of engagement. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

Moves: Addvantage Media.(ADDvantage Media Group Inc. appointed Luke Hayter)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Performance ad network Addvantage Media has recruited Luke Hayter as agency account manager. He joins from UpMyStreet.com where he was commercial manager. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Moves: Guardian News and Media.(Guardian Newspapers Ltd. promoted Adam Freeman)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Guardian News and Media has promoted former deputy ad director Adam Freeman to deputy commercial director. This is the first appointment made by new MD Tim Brooks. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Moves: eCircle.(appointed Marc Morris and Lucy Hudson)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Digital software provider eCircle has expanded its sales and marketing team. Marc Morris joins as senior account manager from Silverpop while Lucy Hudson joins as marketing manager from document management company Formscam. Copyright:...

Moves: Somethin' Else.(appointed Jeremy Phillips)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Cross-platform production company Somethin' Else has hired Jeremy Phillips as its first commercial director. He joins from City AM where he was sales and marketing director. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Moves: Pigsback.com.(appointed Gavin Hughes)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Gavin Hughes has joined reward-based consumer site Pigsback.com as commercial director. He joins from Centaur Media where he was associate publisher on thelawyer.com. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Moves: Trader Media Group.(promoted Mark Goddard)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Online media company Trader Media Group has promoted Mark Goddard to group MD of ThinkProperty and the newly acquired Vebra. He has been at TMG for over 12 years, most recently as TNT Magazine Group MD. Copyright: Centaur Communications...

Moves: ITV.(appointed Rob Hicks, Alexis James and Fiona Steadman)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... ITV has expanded its online sales team with a series of new hires. Rob Hicks from BBH, Alexis James from David Todd Associates and Fiona Steadman from Dennis Interactive will all work across itv.com, Friends Reunited and ITV Broadband. ...

Moves: Initiative.(appointed Georgina Weeds)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Georgina Weeds has joined media agency Initiative as online account manager. She moves from i-level where she was senior planner/buyer on the BSkyB account. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Site inspection: The O2.(Website overview)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... the02.co.uk Owner: AEG Live Agency: DNA Content 18/25 Usability 19/25 Branding 24/25 Monetisation 20/25 Total 81/100 The Dome, Britain's favourite white elephant, has been rebranded by its...

Site inspection: Gerald Online.(jewelry stores)(Website overview)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... geraldonline.com Owner: Gerald Ratner Agency: Bluhalo Content 18/25 Usability 18/25 Branding 22/25 Monetisation 22/25 Total 80/100 Typing 'Gerald Ratner prawn sandwich' into Google brings...

Site inspection: England All Stars.(Website overview)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... englandallstars.com Owner: Head London Agency: in-house Content 8/25 Usability 18/25 Branding 14/25 Monetisation 14/25 Total 54/100 With England's poor World Cup performance...

Fulfilment: jessops.com.(camera stores)(Website overview)(Brief article)
November 2, 2006... Founded: 1999 Selection Jessops bills itself as the UK's largest camera retailer, stocking over 16,000 photographic, video and digital products. The site also offers digital photo printing services. Technical problems The...

Yahoo! picks up contract to run mobile web search on Orange.
November 9, 2006... Yahoo! has won the race to provide both paid and natural search services to mobile operator Orange. The deal is significant for Yahoo!, strengthening its place in the fast- growing mobile search arena by building on its existing search...

Tory leader campaigns via YouTube.
November 9, 2006... Tory party leader David Cameron is tapping into the social networking craze to communicate with young people online in a first for a UK MP. He has launched a channel on video-sharing site YouTube in an attempt to engage with Britain's...

Beatwax picks up Grand Prix at the IMAAs.
November 9, 2006... Interactive agency Beatwax was celebrating last night as it received the Interactive Marketing and Advertising Awards Grand Prix for its promotion of the Buena Vista International film The Hitch-Hikers Guide To The Galaxy. A packed...

Fuel denies it's in trouble despite staff redundancies.(Brief article)
November 9, 2006... Fuel, the online media agency formerly known as DGM, has denied that it's in trouble following both the departure of MD Simon Trigg and a dozen redundancies on the affiliate side of the business just weeks after its rebranding. The...

Online property giant shrugs off threat from free-to-list rival.(Brief article)
November 9, 2006... have any impact on the UK market, countering suggestions that its free- to-list model will destroy a valuable online revenue stream. AND is one of the biggest players in the UK market, having paid #48m for Primelocation.com in December...

FHM to roll out mobile to global audience.(Brief article)
November 9, 2006... FHM is to replicate its online strategy for its mobile portal by rolling it out across the world, using the UK site as the template for localised versions. The Emap magazine has appointed mobile technology and content firm MIA to underpin...

Diageo and Stolichnaya join in rush for branded music stories.(Brief article)
November 9, 2006... Digital music company TuneTribe has struck ad deals with Diageo, Stolichnaya and The National Magazine Company to produce branded digital download stores. The first deal to go live is a music redemption website for Diageo's Jamaican beer...

FMCGs see value of online ads with 75% growth rate.(Fast Moving Consumer Goods )(Brief article)
November 9, 2006... Online advertising is increasingly attracting large FMCG and entertainment brands, with a 75% growth rate in the last three years, according to a survey by the European Inter-active Advertising Association. The EIAA-commissioned report...