The Irish Independent media group and the French media group, Havas,
have set up a joint company called Sirocco International which aims to
supply a new form of outdoor advertising. Sirocco will draw on the
latest technology to display four posters in succession on a new
illuminated panel.
The GWR Group has unveiled preliminary results for the year ending
September 1995. Turnover increased 57 per cent to pounds 32 million;
profit before tax jumped 71 per cent to pounds 5.3 million and operating
margins improved by more than two percentage points. Following the
acquisition of Chiltern Radio last July, the GWR Group now operates 28
licences with a potential audience of ten million people. The Group has
also announced its intention to apply for a raft of UK regional
licences.
Katy Turner, the former Golden Rose Communications sales and marketing
director of Viva! 963, has become managing director of Creative Media
Partnerships, a new Spero Communications group company. CMP aims to
provide clients with a service that optimises the cohesive use of print
and electronic media in support of client-driven promotions and
sponsorships. Projects will range from TV and radio sponsorships to
magazine advertorials.
Victor Meldrew is more popular than the Queen, according to CIA
MediaLab’s latest Sensor survey. When asked which programmes they were
most looking forward to at Christmas, 38 per cent of adults said One
Foot in the Grave, while just 14 per cent of respondents said the
Queen’s Speech. BBC1’s films are second choice after One Foot in the
Grave, attracting 33 per cent of the vote, ahead of Coronation Street
with 29 per cent.
A new Buspak advertising format is being rolled out nationally after
launching in Glasgow. The completely flat double-deck bus rears have no
windows, route markers or other obstructions and measure 16 feet high by
eight feet wide. They use the latest large-scale digital printing
technology. Advertisers who have signed up for Buspak Megarear so far
include Cadbury’s, Labatt’s, Courage and Warner Brothers.
The Independent Television Commission is currently considering a
submission from the Periodical Publishers Association on the subject of
‘masthead programming’, which involves turning magazines into TV
programmes. The ITC rules prevent publishers from creating TV programme
spin-offs from their magazines, although there are no restrictions
preventing TV programmes from being turned into magazines. The PPA chief
executive, Ian Lock, believes the current situation distorts the market.
Patrick Taylor has been appointed director of advertising sales for the
regional office of the National Magazine Company. Taylor, who was
previously group head of media sales at Thomson Regional Newspapers,
will report to Duncan Edwards, director of corporate business
development.
The fashion retailer, Esprit, has appointed MBS Media to handle its
media planning and buying. A pounds 500,000 advertising launch is set to
coincide with the opening of Esprit’s global flagship store in Sloane
Street. Separately, MBS has also been appointed by Norwich Union to plan
and buy its pounds 15 million assault on the direct insurance
marketthrough the launch of Norwich Union Direct. Creative work through
Saatchi and Saatchi will start on national TV in the new year.
The photolibrary, Tony Stone, is launching an Internet site on 1 January
1996 (http://www.tonystone.com). Aimed at photographers, art directors,
designers and photobuyers, the site contains more than 60 pages.
