Sony Ericsson's Halloween-theme viral for W595

Sony Ericsson has launched a viral campaign and microsite in the UK to drive sales of the new Sony Ericsson Walkman W595 handset in the run-up to Halloween. The viral aims to draw the viewer in using classic scary movie cues before a dramatic final climax to build buzz around the mobile phone. Entitled ‘St Mary’s ...

PC vs Mac rivalry gets dirty

Talk about cheeky tactics! Website AppleInsider is reporting that Microsoft is now placing a recording booth of its ‘I’m A PC’ advertising campaign outside an Apple Store in Birmingham, England. Its source also notes that a trio of staff from Microsoft will be turning people away from the Mac as much as they can ...

ACMA releases long-awaited Digital Radio Channel Plans improvements

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released improved Digital Radio Channel Plans (DRCPs) for comment. Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner said the industry had been working with ACMA to modify the DRCPs first released in December 2007. “We are confident ...

Qantas head change could open door for agencies

Ad agencies will no doubt be watching closely to see if the change in leadership at Qantas sparks a review of the marketing and advertising companies it works with, including its ties to Singleton Ogilvy & Mather. Qantas’s chief executive, Geoff Dixon, will hand over to his successor next week, Jetstar’s chief, ...

Halloween ads get a nod

Unpack your cape, wash out those plastic fangs - it’s time to get into Halloween marketing mode. Traditionally a holiday celebrated outside of Australia, Halloween still brings out kids and teens to harass their neighbours for loot (generally of the sweet kind) under threat of ‘eggings’ or toilet paper sieges. ...

Paul Hogan: Tourism Australia ads not that great

With his ‘illustrious’ movie career on hold and the ATO crawling up his pants, Australian actor Paul Hogan has still had time to criticise Tourism Australia’s latest $50m ad campaign, saying the country should be promoted as it was when he was involved – focussing on the ‘friendly residents’. We remember Hogan’s ...

Rolling Stone pimp its offering with a MySpace page

Rolling Stone magazine is extending the brand’s presence into social networking site MySpace. The monthly music magazine has launched its presence on MySpace (www.myspace.com/rollingstone) as part of an ongoing strategy to get closer to current and prospective readers. Following the recent purchase of Rolling Stone, ...

Over the hump ...

Now you can sit on something green... Atlas Creative has launched the GreenSeat in Australia. Manufactured in Australia from a Scandanavian design, the GreenSeat is the perfect answer to the lack of sitting at outdoor festivals and events. 100% reusable and recyclable and with low production costs, the GreenSeat ...

Mills & Boon steams up e-books

Wondering why that person across from you on the train is getting hot and bothered over their iPhone? Yes they could be tech-nerds, but now Mills & Boon is introducing its range into the e-book publishing world, deciding to make dozens of new titles available as digital downloads every month. They can be read ...

BMF build a boat for XXXX Gold

Traditionally combining boats and beer has not been a great idea, but beer stalwart Lion Nathan has decided that it’s a great way to pitch its mid-strength XXXX GOLD brand. The ‘XXXX GOLD Boat Building Project’, developed with BMF Sydney, spells the end for the long running ‘Jacko’ campaign that supported the brand ...

Google faces angry Russians

Search engine megalith Google has been foiled by Russian regulators who have said that it cannot acquire Zao Begun, a local advertising company in Russia. This effectively halts a $140 million deal that was agreed to in July and dampens Google’s attempts to break into the lucrative Russian market. The agency that ...

Ad sales record losses for Microsoft

The woes continue for Microsoft’s beleaguered online services division, which includes the company’s ad sales operation – it has posted an operating loss of $480m, nearly twice as much the $267m loss it made a year ago. Due to forecasts of a difficult ad environment, the company has cuts its year-end projections. ...

Tooheys White Stag campaign from Saatchi & Saatchi

Tooheys has launched its White Stag beer in Australia with a humorous TVC advertising campaign using the theme of ‘Carb Relief’. The campaign centres around the slogan, ‘Because Tooheys White Stag has 1/3 the carbohydrates than full strength beer, we sent them to the people who appreciate them the most – Americans.’ The ...

Powerade loses its sweetness with a new line extension

Coca-Cola Australia has launched Powerade No Sugar, a new scientifically formulated sports drink containing no traces of sugar. The launch of Powerade No Sugar is being supported by a multi-million dollar integrated marketing campaign, featuring extensive out-of-home and print advertising, mass sampling activation, ...

Big banks fail consumer test - new web service to help Australians in the midst of financial crisis

Australia’s big banks are failing to make the grade according to consumer ratings released by Mozo.com.au, which named Bendigo Bank as Australia’s favourite bank. Mozo.com.au is the first service to combine financial product comparison tools with customer ratings, allowing Australians to compare banking products ...

Amazon.com shares plunge

Online retail monolith Amazon.com, shares have plunged 14% following a bleaker outlook on revenue projections. Amazon.com said it would earn between US$6bn and $7bn during the fourth quarter. The lower estimate is more than $1.2bn down on the $7.2bn it had earlier projected. It is bad news for investors in Amazon.com ...

2008 AMI Awards for Marketing Excellence round-up

The Australian Marketing Institute's (AMI) Awards for Marketing Excellence were held on the 22nd of October in Melbourne and showed diversity in the winners, with Youngcare and the University of Sydney Union both taking out the AMI 2008 Marketing Program of the Year award.The Certified Practicing Marketer of the ...

Australian agencies up the ante at MAA Globes

This year’s Marketing Agencies Association Worldwide’s (MAA) Globes have been the most successful for Australian agencies, which included the top gong, the Best in the World for Leo Burnett’s Earth Hour campaign. The MAA Globes for the Best Promotional Marketing Campaigns in the World for 2008, hosted this year ...

Over the hump ...

If only every marketer could have a pet like Patches the horse. To dote on them, fetch them beer from the fridge, answer the phone and accompany them on the latest fast food drive-thru hurl, hell even sleep in their bed! This is small town life at its finest. Long live the cute pet videos on YouTube! ...

Who’s who in the Zoo: Saatchi & Saatchi X new Asia-Pacific CEO

Saatchi & Saatchi X worldwide CEO, Andy Murray, has appointed Barney Hylton to the newly created role of regional CEO, Asia-Pacific. Previously regional business director across 11 Asian markets at OgilvyAction in Tokyo, he has nearly 10 years’ experience in the Asia-Pacific region. He will report directly ...

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