Monthly Archives: December, 2015

News
What the STW-WPP deal means for the local market
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On Monday morning, widespread speculation that WPP would up its stake in STW was confirmed by news that it had increased its shareholding from 23.6 percent to a controlling 61 percent. This merger sees the 70 STW-owned and part-owned companies, including Ogilvy & Mather, Ikon, JWT, Designworks, Assignment Group, pulled further into the WPP family of businesses, creating the largest marketing group across Australia and New Zealand. So what does this mean for the local market?

News
Air New Zealand brings the North Pole to New Zealand—and there’s not a sleigh in sight
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With more local competition from Jetstar and more international competition from the likes of Qantas and American Airlines, Air New Zealand has been working the local angle pretty hard this year, with a new brand campaign, plenty of All Blacks action, an impressive 75th anniversary effort and a recent focus on its partnership with DoC. And now it’s aiming to top off what’s been a very good year, both in terms of marketing output and financial results, by delivering a bit of Christmas magic.

News
My little pony
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Amazon was once a company that just sold books online but now with Amazon Prime you can buy just about everything, including tiny horses.

News
Paul Thompson on how RNZ grew its weekly audience by 60,000 listeners
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Nielsen’s All National Radio survey showed that the weekly cumulative radio audience for RNZ National and Concert was 564,000 people aged 15 and over, a decent year-on-year lift when compared to the 503, 000 listeners recorded in the previous survey. We talk to Paul Thompson some of the moves that led to this uptick in weekly listener numbers.

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V Energy fans practise their spelling
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V energy are sparking interest yet again with their latest promotional campaign asking people to use letters on cans and bottles of V to spell out their heart’s desire then share it on social media for the possibility of winning their wish as a prize.

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Is commercialisation killing Christmas?
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With the annual slam of Christmas commercial messaging hitting us from all sides, it comes as little surprise that 59 percent of Kiwis feel that Christmas has become too commercial. So are brands doing themselves a disservice by focusing on sales rather than more authentic Christmas messaging?

News
YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Ted look back at 2015
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It’s no secret that 2015 has been punctuated by some horrific moments, with the Nepal Earthquake, the Paris attacks, the refugee crisis and the Charleston Shooting standing out as some of the more harrowing examples. But interspersed alongside these events, there were also many positive moments that saw people celebrate and express their creativity online. YouTube, Facebook and Twitter look back at the moments that defined the year.

News
What’s your SE?
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Those who blurt out spoilers without considering the consequences of their actions have become widely reviled species that are simply met with groans and sighs of disgust from those in their company. And the new Netflix spot educates viewers on the etiquette that viewers must exercise when in the company of fans of particular shows.

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Fairfax shacks up with Facebook, Stuff gets first Kiwi crack at Instant Articles
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Facebook appears to be steadily eating the internet and, in August this year, it took over from Google as the biggest driver of web traffic to news sites. It’s a bit of a love/hate relationship, however, with many publishers relying on the network for traffic, ad revenue and validation/stimulation, but also fearing that they are vulnerable to a tweak of the algorithm or demands for more money to reach its audience. Earlier this year, Facebook announced the arrival of Instant Articles, which let selected media brands publish content directly to Facebook and display it in newsfeeds without requiring users to leave. And, as part of a regional deal with Fairfax, stuff.co.nz will be the first local brand that gets to play with it in New Zealand.

News
PR with a touch of journalism: Vodafone gives Libby Middlebrook a chance to do what she does best
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Alongside the recent announcement of Vodafone Xone, the telco released a short video clip explaining the story and motivations behind Vodafone Xone. What was interesting about this clip was that it wasn’t presented as a conventional PR spiel, filled with grandiose commentary on how amazing the business was. Admittedly, the clip was still promotional, but it felt and looked much more akin to a news segment that wouldn’t be out of place on any of the news shows of any of the mainstream television broadcasters. We chat to Vodafone consumer director Matt Williams about how Vodafone tapped into the journalistic credentials of Libby Middlebrook to produce the clip.

News
A view from inside
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Videos shot with 360-degree capabilities are becoming more popular, giving viewers the ability to twist around and see the action unfolding in a clip from myriad angles. Both YouTube and Facebook have released launched 360-degree video capabilities, and various brands have already tapped into the immersive opportunity this offers. As is to be expected, Go Pro has been one of the early adopters, releasing an incredible clip that shows a surfer in Tahiti catching a wave and tucking into a barrel.

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As boring as watching pies bake
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McDonald’s is currently showing that it knows how to be boring by running a campaign that simply live-streams footage of the new bacon and egg pies baking in the oven. But while others take their live-streaming and slow TV very seriously, McDonald’s is clearly taking a more tongue-in-cheek approach, calling the live stream Baking News and treating it like a TV news show.

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