The Future Sound System Festival rolled in to Auckland for its debut at Mount Smart Stadium late last month and sponsor Panasonic was there to support them with a range of experiential activations across the event.
Agency called Birdman’s Oscar – in advance
Global advertising intelligence outfit Exponential, which set up in NZ in 2011 under the management of former ZenithOptimedia planner Sophie Radford, is citing its eerily accurate prediction that outsider Birdman would win this year’s Best Film Oscar proof of the company’s intel power.
Steven Adams talks Kiwi in US bank ad
The TV networks last night thrashed the US bank fronted by US basketball star Steven Adams, who cashes in on his Kiwi image to front a video for a bank in the United States peppered liberally with Adams’ interpretation of Kiwi slang (with subtitles). He is hugely liked in this country – but this is not his best work.
News Corp to acquire 14.9% of APN
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp is set to take a 14.9% in ASX-listed APN News & Media subject to regulatory approval, according to a report on Australian ad site mUmBRELLA. The move follows the sale by APN’s biggest shareholder – INM Ireland – of its 30.8% share in the company (which owns NZME in NZ).
Cannes to honour Al Gore
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced that former US vice president Al Gore will be awarded the Cannes LionHeart Award at this year’s festival.
Arrivals & Departures
PHD Group taps Simon Bird: PHD Group has appointed leading strategist Simon Bird to group strategy director. Bird, who was most recently at FCB Auckland as planning director, joins PHD Group to head up the agency’s growing strategy team.
AV shop signs ASB Showgrounds
Corporate AV Services, celebrating their 15th year, advise that they are now working as a venue partner of the ASB Showgrounds.
Record ad industry sales driven by Interactive
The New Zealand Advertising Industry generated a record $2.38b in 2014. The increase was largely fuelled by a significant rise in reported revenue from the Interactive Sector which generated $589m over the period, an increase of $118m compared to 2013.
Outdoor sector grew 9%+ in 2014
The Outdoor industry is talking up the latest ASA Advertising Turnover Report, which shows the sector brought $83 million in revenue in 2014, representing 3.5% of all advertising spend in New Zealand and growth of 9.2% year-on-year.
Colenso’s young guns aim is true
Colenso BBDO have picked up four bullets at the 2014 Young Gun Awards, announced overnight.
Hot on the heels of a Grand Prix at Axis, Beth O’Brien, Oriel Davis-Lyons and Matt Lawson have won gold (Radio Campaign) and bronze (Radio Individual) for Pedigree’s K9FM. The radio station for dogs has consistently picked up awards at multiple international festivals including a grand prix at the Spikes and two silver lions at Cannes.
