TVNZ is introducing a new service for its vision impaired Coronation Street enthusiasts. The service, called Audio Description, launched on Tuesday this week and is described by TVNZ Corporate Affairs’ Megan Richards as “the visual equivalent of captioning for hearing impaired audiences”. Similar services are already available in the UK and US.
The New Zealand Press Association now has fewer mouths to feed after cancelling content contracts with some of the country’s larger media companies. And while those affected by the loss claim it will have limited impact on their news services, it does appear to be an acknowledgment from the print media sector that different mediums are now competing head-on for online traffic—and the advertising revenue that follows.
Understandably, with surreal pictures such as these, overseas interest in the Christchurch earthquake has been extremely high and generous offers of international support have been numerous. And, according to YouTube, a six minute edited compilation of footage posted on the ONE News channel was the second most watched video worldwide yesterday, receiving 1.1 million views.
When it comes to increasing eyeballs, natural disasters are, rather perversely, usually good news for media owners. But where does the line get drawn? Is it acceptable for TV3 and Stuff to bid for search terms around the Christchurch earthquake? When TVNZ has committed to commercial free broadcasts from 6pm through to 12pm tomorrow and promised to make good on any campaigns impacted by the event and Google has set up a people finder (although it also benefits from the search purchasing), it seems awfully cynical to try and benefit from the disaster. As one media insider says, “this is not a time to increase traffic through to a website through paid means”.
… Sunday announces its replacement for Cameron Bennett; Carlos Savage takes up a new gig in Australia; International Rescue announces a few new additions, including a Kiwi artist whose work made it into Luerzers Archive; another new face arrives at the TVNZ marketing department; Pacific Micromarketing welcomes another team member; and WaikatoLink secure the services of two upstanding gentlemen.
Who’s it for: Cadbury by DDB NZ and GoodLife Films
Why we like it: Everyone knows there’s plenty of joy to be found in chocolate, but there’s joy everywhere during a New Zealand summer. And this acoustically-led visual feast is certainly a joy to behold …
Things seem fairly sedate on the Movings/Shakings front at present, but there are a few noteworthy exceptions, with a Kiwi chap being tapped for higher Unilever honours, TVNZ announcing some new blood for its board and the Semi-Permanent doyenne who’s sailing for waters anew.
The New Zealand television scene is already über-competitive. But, with a range of new initiatives from the broadcasters, a slowly increasing sense of economic optimism and an array of new technology that’s changing the game for everyone, things look set to get even spicier in 2011. In an effort to eat into the more lucrative older demographics that have long been the domain of TVNZ, TV Works is changing its focus slightly and is set to launch its mainstream entertainment channel FOUR very shortly. And it’s a decision chief executive Jason Paris says is already bearing fruit.
Aside from a couple of very well-publicised PR disasters and a host of aggrieved agency folk who seemed mightily pissed off about the halving of their 20 percent commissions, TVNZ had a stellar year in 2010, with solid ratings, steadily increasing ad revenue and an array of impressive innovations—both for viewers and advertisers. It also welcomed new sales director Paul Maher into the fold in August and, while he thinks it will be slow and steady as she goes this year, he’s confident TVNZ can repeat—and maybe even exceed—the performance of 2010.
… a dynamic duo is announced for Effie duties, TVNZ’s Breakfast gets its new co-hosts, adstream NZ increases its staff arsenal, MediaWorks says goodbye to some long-serving news staffers and Robyn Janes opens a production outfit in Hokitika. This is the last edition of Movings/Shakings of 2010. There, there, don’t cry. We’ll be back next year and we promise to quench your nigh-on insatiable thirst for employment scandals, unexpected departures, dastardly poachings, new postings (all of which will be written in capital letters to show their importance) and various industry accolades.
The scramble for free television advertising space is on after TVNZ announced applications are open for its CSR programme, which gives a handsome $50k worth of filler time every month for two years to four national charities or NGOs.
… as Yellow wins some more awards, the wheels on the Instant Kiwi scratchie bus go round and round, Fresh PR slips into something more comfortable, the University of Auckland School of Business reaches a big milestone with its 40,000th Short Course attendant, TVNZ ups its streaming, TV3 spruces up its website, the crowd goes wild for Microsoft Kinect and Sealegs is endorsed by scientists.
There was an impressive haka, there was cheese (literally and, with Pippa Wetzell and some guy in orange overalls to open proceedings, figuratively), there were 560 RSVPs and there was a solid dose of market leader mentality on display as the national broadcaster launched its New Season 2011 line up for ONE and TV2 last night.
TVNZ’s Ondemand is all about choice; about giving viewers the opportunity to watch content when (and increasingly where) they want to. And, with the help of TVNZ’s latest online advertising innovation, Ad Selector, they now have the ability to choose what ads they want to watch.
There seems to be an underlying disdain for the persuasive arts among the masses, something that can presumably be put down to a combination of outright envy and the (slightly) misguided belief that you dastardly marcomms schemers are somehow able to trick them into parting with their cash through the wonder of advertising. But there’s certainly no shortage of interest from the aforementioned masses in the commercial messages that grace their screens and, much like Paul Henry, this strange love-hate formula creates TV gold, as evidenced by the continuing popularity of the Fair Go Ad Awards.
Part of Paul Henry’s broadcasting appeal is that he usually treads a very thin line. But he well and truly crossed that line yesterday after suggesting to Prime Minister John Key on Breakfast that Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand’s successor should look and sound more like a New Zealander. And TVNZ chief executive Rick Ellis has taken action over his comments, suspending Henry without pay until October 18.
No sooner has the last staff merry-go-round post gone live than a host of other rotations come to light, including the departure of OMD Auckland’s managing partner Rosanne Robinson, a few big snafflings by the Clemenger gang, TVNZers heading to APN Online, a new NZRU comms gatekeeper and a fresh big cheese for PMP.
TVNZ has announced it will be reducing the January rate card by 11.1 percent from its 2010 rates to reflect the controversial drop in agency commission from 20 percent to 10 percent on 2 January 2011. So, according to mathematical sources who apparently know how to use calculators, that appears to be an overall rate increase of 0.1 percent.
TVNZ raked in a fair few awards at the Qantas Film and Television Awards. And it added to its weekend haul at the Promax/BDA ANZ festivities, an awards show that aims to recognise the broadcasting world’s best promotional work.
New Zealand’s glitterati braved the elements and put on their best ‘take my photo’ smiles, Paul Henry used the c word and the broadcasting industry came together to pat itself on the back for a job well done over the last rather difficult 12 months as the winners of the Qantas Film and Television Awards were announced. And, in the usual stoush between the major networks, TVNZ came out on top.
TVNZ and MediaWorks trade recruitment blows; Saatchi’s creates a new role in an effort to ramp up ‘irresistability’; a man who struck fear into the hearts of marketing shysters hangs up his boots; and Omnigraphics, Villa Maria and Supply Design bolster their staff offerings.
There were plenty of celebrations when the team behind interactive online TVNZ drama Reservoir Hill won the country’s first ever International Digital Emmy in Cannes earlier this year. And there were a few more last week after mobile marketing company Run The Red and KHF Media took home the Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ) Innovation Award for best mobile application of the year.
Source: ONE News
With thoughts of yawning chasms and widespread destruction in Christchurch piquing the interest of the New Zealand populous, many turned to the good old reliable television to get a glimpse of the quake carnage. And with what was basically a full day of live coverage, it’s fair to say ONE News smoked 3 News in the media battle.
TVNZ ‘s recently departed head of advertising sales Dave Walker has accepted a role as national sales manager with Prime Media Group in Australia, putting to bed a few rumours that ex-TVNZ and now MediaWorks chief executive Jason Paris had implemented some kind of dastardly scheme to poach the whole TVNZ staff after Walker, Sharon Daly and general manager of marketing Charlotte Findlay all departed in quick succession.
Turns out TV isn’t dead: in the middle of what TVNZ chief executive Rick Ellis calls “the media industry’s greatest international downturn”, the national broadcaster has reported underlying earnings of $12.9 million for the financial year to 30 June, a $2.8 million (28 percent) increase on the previous financial year.
OMD Auckland and TVNZ have developed what they claim is a New Zealand first and almost certainly a world first: an ‘Ad on Pause’ for Fonterra’s Primo brand.
Anyone who has had the pleasure of dealing with corporates, government departments or academic institutions presumably knows there are an almost limitless number of seemingly ridiculous rules that have to be obeyed. Many of these rules fly directly in the face of common sense and are generally frustrating time-sucks. But StopPress can’t recall a rule that seems quite as ridiculous as this one from Apple.
After more than 200,000 votes from the public were tallied for this year’s People’s Choice NetGuide awards, the winners have all been crowing, with Stuff.co.nz picking up the top prize and tvnz.co.nz winning best media site.
Who it’s for: Sanitarium Up & Go by Ogilvy.
Why we like it: Like farts, double rainbows and men getting hit in the groin, that slurping noise you get near the end of a drink will never stop being funny, especially when it involves the All Blacks. Good …
Dave Walker, TVNZ’s well-regarded head of advertising sales, has resigned and will effectively be replaced by new sales and marketing boss Paul Maher.