Warner Brothers Home Video and Opus have joined forces to secure
the world’s first audio and data campaign on the UK’s new national
digital station, Core. The campaign will promote the video release of
the Matrix. Specially created audio copy and simultaneously scrolling
text will be replicated on Core’s website.
Gregory Watson, GWR’s head of special projects, has been given the role
of director of operational strategy to spearhead the commercial radio
group’s further growth in the UK analogue and digital radio sectors.
Flextech Interactive is supporting its new-look online entertainment
guide, www.sceneone.co.uk, with a national TV advertising campaign. This
marks the first time that Flextech Interactive has leveraged the weight
of its TV portfolio for a major campaign. The ads were created in-house,
with media planning and buying by New PHD Compass.
Rapture TV was the best performing channel for young adults in October,
according to the latest audience data from BARB. The channel attracted
the highest proportion of 16- to 24-year-olds, with a 231.6 per cent
conversion against this audience.
The Radio Authority has received notification from Kelvin MacKenzie’s
Wireless Group that it intends to acquire the Independent Radio
Group.
IRG controls two overlapping FM licences in Scotland and the proposal
will therefore be subject to a public interest test.
Belfast Telegraph Newspapers has promoted John Leslie to commercial
director. Leslie was previously advertising director for BTN’s
titles.
In his new role, he will be responsible for all ad and newspapers sales,
promotion and marketing, alongside developing the Belfast Telegraph’s
internet interests.
IPC Magazines has signed a number of licensing deals for a clutch of its
titles. Homes & Gardens is to launch a range of home furnishings, while
the lads mag, Loaded, is to produce posters, postcards and
mousepads.
IPC’s teen title, Mizz, will produce a range of hair accessories and
clothing during the spring.
Calls for a joint agency-publisher group, to be set up to deal with the
long-running issue of late payment, were made during the Periodical
Publishers’ Association Credit ’99 conference last week.
The global business magazine, Business Week, has expanded its
London-based sales team with the appointment of Michael Wolf as the
technology sales director for Europe and Julian Staples as the financial
sales manager for Europe.
Sleazenation Ltd, publisher of the youth culture magazine, Sleazenation,
is renaming itself Swinstead Publishing and has bought the
Manchester-based music and clubbing title, Jockey Slut. The company has
also announced that it is to launch a contract publishing division which
will produce youth-focused magazines, brochures and catalogues.
New Millennium Newspapers is producing an environment-focused national
newspaper this weekend, called Planet on Sunday. The tabloid newspaper
will carry news and features that encourage environmentally friendly
attitudes.
It will have an initial print run of 350,000 and cost 50p.
The fashion magazine, Scene, is to fold next month and relaunch in March
as an online title, Scene Online. The site will not carry advertising
but will seek revenue through links with fashion houses and online
shopping sites.
John Ayling & Associates has won the task of launching intersaver.co.uk,
an online service selling brown and white goods up to 35 per cent
cheaper than the high street. A campaign, planned and bought by the
agency, broke last week in the national broadsheet and mid-market press.