Unilever has unveiled details of its first co-funded programme for ITV – a design series produced by Yorkshire Tyne-Tees Television with whom the company has established a development fund. The Shape of Things is a four-part series covering subjects ranging from fashion to football stadia. It will be broadcast in selected ITV regions this autumn. […]
The Diary witnessed the travel industry’s “battle of the summer brochure launches” at first hand last week. In fact, it took place between the starter and dessert at lunch last Thursday with one industry marketing chief. The choice of starter was accompanied by a phone call to say that AT Mays, the UK’s third largest […]
Diamond company DeBeers has pulled its $47m (31m) US account out of NW Ayer & Partners after 57 years and consolidated it into J Walter Thompson. JWT already handles the account in the rest of the world. A statement from DeBeers points to advantages in having the services of a single multi-national agency with global […]
Roar Marketing & Promotions, part of integrated marketing and communication specialists the Roar Group, has been appointed by Hoverspeed Fast Ferries to conduct its Christmas 95 promotion on both sides of the Channel.
Westmill Foods is talking to advertising agencies about a campaign for an instant cake mix which has previously only been available in Australia. Westmill bought the licence to use the brand – Shakeacake – in the UK from Green’s of Australia about three weeks ago. Shakeacake comes in a bottle and is available in a […]
Fair trade coffee company Cafédirect is attempting to reposition itself as a main-stream brand with a series of advertisements in the women’s press, breaking next month. Cafédirect believes that coffee growers in Africa and Latin America should be paid a fair price for their crops and the company is targeting a broader base of consumers […]
Supermarket chain Safeway could be breaking the law by allowing consumers to buy dried baby milk products with its ABC customer loyalty card. Regulations introduced last March under the Food Safety Act 1990 prohibit “the promotion of infant formulae to the general public by providing such formulae free or at reduced prices”. The regulations state […]
NEWS Guinness Brewing GB marketing director Rob MacNevin is taking up a new role of commercial development director for Guinness Europe.
Johnson & Johnson UK managing director Tom McManus is understood to be moving to a European position as area manager for Europe.
Linking products to licensed characters has been fuelled by film and TV companies wanting to exploit their properties to the full. But, as Meg Carter warns,
Duckworth Finn Grubb Waters is developing an autumn advertising campaign for Sky Television, following the satellite broadcaster’s decision to part company with its former agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty (MW July 21). Parent company BSkyB is believed to be putting 18m behind the push, matching the investment spent on last year’s pre-Christmas marketing and advertising campaign […]
The ITV Network Centre is reviewing its advertising account in advance of an increased ad spend worth 6m next year. The ITV Marketing Forum – comprising Marcus Plantin, chief executive of the Network Centre, programmers and the heads of the three ITV sales houses – meets next week to draw up a pitch list. ITV […]
Almost 90 per cent of advertisers are planning to pull some of their budgets from TV because of ITV’s airtime inflation and declining audience share. According to a survey of 48 advertisers conducted last month by advertising consultancy Media Audits, 82 per cent of advertisers are planning to use other commercial TV channels. Sixty-six per […]
After boxing sensation Prince Naseem and world superbike champion Carl Fogarty – dubbed the next Barry Sheen by admirers – Sony has turned its attention to another, possibly safer, sponsorship opportunity, London club haunt The Ministry of Sound. Best known for its large queues, raves until the early hours, pasty youths and “chill-out” room, the […]
By acquiring a stake in STV, Flextech looks set to become a major force in UK television.