Analysis

In-depth features, interviews and insights into marketing’s biggest issues.

Sony Ericsson and Orange search for new music talent

Marketing Week

Sony Ericsson and Orange are sponsoring a competition to find new music talent in the UK. MobileAct Unsigned will air on Channel 4 and will allow viewers to download tracks and vote for their favourite bands. The show, which will launch in October, will appear on Channel 4’s T4 and 4Music strands and will be […]

Celebrities ‘bare all’ for safer sex campaign

Marketing Week

BBC Radio 1, MTV and Durex are backing a new safer sex campaign that aims to encourage people to be more open about sex. BareAll 07, which launches today (July 24), will feature celebrities sharing their experiences and asking viewers and listeners to do the same. The campaign, which has been created by MTV and […]

Wrigley’s Airwaves sponsors powerboat racing team

Marketing Week

Wrigley’s Airwaves, the chewing gum brand, has added powerboat racing to its growing portfolio of extreme sport sponsorships. Airwaves has signed a one-year deal to be the principal sponsor of the Claygate Offshore Powerboat team in the latest phase of its Airwaves Pro campaign. The deal will includes TV coverage on ITV4, a corporate hospitability […]

Alcohol brands may face sports sponsorship ban

Marketing Week

The Government is considering a ban on sports sponsorship by drinks companies in an attempt to curb alcohol misuse and binge drinking.  In an interview with a weekend newspaper, chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson is reported to have said that he wants to ban drinks companies from sponsoring sporting events because “it’s something that […]

Channel 4 and Emap confirm music TV joint venture

Marketing Week

Channel 4 and Emap have confirmed they are launching a music TV joint venture that aims to fight MTV for control of the market. Emap is selling a 50% share of its music channel portfolio, Box Television, to the broadcaster for £28m. The media companies say the joint venture will look at exploiting digital growth, […]

GMG Radio appoints first digital media chief

Marketing Week

Guardian Media Group Radio has appointed Sarah Bellamy to the new role of director of digital media. Bellamy joins from TV production company Endemol, where she was commercial operations director. Bellamy will be responsible for developing opportunities across interactive and digital platforms for the group’s 11 stations, including the Smooth and Real Radio brands, and […]

The IPA launches environmental survey

Marketing Week

The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising is launching a survey on green and environmental issues that aims to gauge levels of interest and concern across agencies. It also hopes to assess where there is confusion about green issues. The survey, which will be sent out on July 25, will target employees at all levels of […]

BBC orders "immediate" suspension of phone-in competitions

Marketing Week

The BBC has ordered an immediate suspension of all phone ins and interactive competitions across TV and radio after a corporation-wide search found a raft of “serious breaches”. The BBC Trust says that breaches of editorial standards had been reported on shows including Comic Relief, Sports Relief and Children in Need. It says further information […]

Virgin issues reassurance over Media brand’s future

Marketing Week

Virgin has rebuffed suggestions that would-be suitors for Virgin Media will pull the plug on the brand and has given its strongest indication yet that it will invest more in the cable company rather than sell out. Private equity houses and consortia including Carlyle and Permira are vying to buy Virgin Media, which was created […]

Ryanair made false emissions claims

Marketing Week

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has rapped Ryanair’s knuckles after receiving 48 complaints about claims made by the Irish low-cost airline in a series of ads criticising an increase in passenger tax. Ryanair ran four ads damning then Chancellor Gordon Brown for doubling air passenger duty (APD) to £10. The ASA upheld 34 complaints, including […]

Elvis takes Peroni out on the town for branding campaign

Marketing Week

Peroni Nastro Azzuro has appointed Elvis to handle below-the-line work for the premium Italian beer owned by Miller Brands, following a four-way pitch. The first activity from the agency launches this week with a brand experience campaign in five cities new to Peroni – Leeds, Cardiff, Brighton, Bristol and Birmingham – and five cities where […]