Month: January 2002

Carat questions BARB figures

Marketing Week

ITV could be missing out on up to £39.5m a year in advertising revenue on Coronation Street’s Friday centre break, according to research commissioned by Carat. The findings throw into question viewing figures produced by the new BARB panel, which show that last Friday’s episode of the soap reached 11.2 million adults, while the equivalent […]

Hair of the dog is no fun at all

Marketing Week

The Diary loves a good freebie. Unfortunately the freebie in question, from McCann-Erickson, didn’t fall into that category. Scary freebie is probably the best way to describe it. The item in question is a nodding dog, complete with replica-afro wig from the latest ad for Nescafé. But whereas the dog in the ad has a […]

A serious look into The Mirror

Marketing Week

Nice to see Mirror editor Piers Morgan making the news again – this time in a way more calculated to enhance his reputation. It seems The Mirror is seriously debating whether to grow up. In other words, relinquishing its red-top status in favour of a maturer, considered middle-class punter who demands slightly more grist in […]

WFCA picks up £3.5m Budgens ad business

Marketing Week

Budgens has appointed WFCA Integrated to handle its £3.5m through-the-line advertising business. Its brief is to highlight the chain’s fresh food and value-for-money approach. The Tunbridge Wells-based agency beat competition from incumbent Da Costa & Co and three unnamed agencies. The media business, which is handled by Total Media, is unaffected by the appointment. Budgens […]

Green Isle marketing chief quits without a job to go to

Marketing Week

The group marketing director of Green Isle Foods, which makes Goodfella’s Pizza, is to leave the company without a job to go to. Andrew Kinsella’s office confirmed that he has tendered his resignation and will leave the company in March. He came to Green Isle from Guinness, where he held a number of roles in […]

Three agencies challenge DoH over EU tobacco directive

Marketing Week

Three advertising agencies have criticised the European Union’s (EU) proposed ban on tobacco advertising, with one questioning the Department of Health’s (DoH) competence to handle the directive in the UK. Soup, Lowe Lintas and Mustoe Merriman Levy, all of which work for tobacco companies, argue in written submissions to the DoH that the directive is […]

Adding star quality to Auld Reekie

Marketing Week

Ever wanted to see Star Wars memorabilia up close and personal? Well The Royal Bank of Scotland is making your dreams come true. As Yoda would say: “Sponsoring an exhibition, they are.” Admittedly not a brand generally associated with cool, the bank is nevertheless sponsoring the exhibition at Edinburgh’s City Art Centre in March. The […]

Energywatch slams direct-selling techniques used by energy providers

Marketing Week

Consumer watchdog Energywatch has reported a 69 per cent increase in complaints about the aggressive direct-selling techniques used by electricity providers, according to its latest figures. Energywatch also says that complaints against direct-selling techniques of gas providers have increased by as much as 35 per cent. The energy regulator Ofgem was recently at odds with […]

BT reshuffles to improve brand image

Marketing Week

BT Retail has promoted two senior marketers as it tries to improve the consistency of its branding. Head of business communications Catherine Kehoe takes up the new post of head of campaigns across marketing services. She will report to director of marketing services Amanda MacKenzie. Head of consumer communications Katrina Lowes becomes head of marketing […]

British Gas reviews £24m media account

Marketing Week

British Gas is reviewing its £24m (AC Nielsen) media planning and buying account, which is split between OMD UK and Carat. This is expected to be a prelude to a review of the entire Centrica media account, which includes the £10m Automobile Association (AA) and £3m Goldfish businesses. The review follows a recent corporate shake-up […]