Regional Watch MMHK

1. Hyundai parks at Initiative

Accounts Hyundai Motor Company has appointed Initiative Media Australia as its lead media agency, ending the car company's long relationship with Mediacom.

The appointment of Initiative to the Hyundai's Australian business was independent of the recently announced appointment of Initiative Media America to the Hyundai's American business.

"The media landscape is fluid and we believe an agile approach is imperative to maintain and grow market share," Kevin McCann, director of sales & marketing at Hyundai Australia, said.

"Our appointment of Initiative rested on the company's merits, especially in regard to research and consumer analysis, within the Australian market," he added.

"Hyundai Motor Company Australia enjoyed a long and successful relationship with Mediacom. But we have made a business decision to develop a strong partnership and new approach to communication with our new strategic agency and are confident this will further enhance Hyundai Motor Company Australia's consumer understanding and market penetration" said McCann.

 

2. Media Prima to go regional

Media Malaysia's integrated media investment group, Media Prima, is negotiating to buy a stake in a Chinese language radio station in China.

The company also plans to expand into radio and TV in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam or Cambodia, according to sources. Meanwhile for TV3, there are plans to list on the Ghana Stock Exchange, possibly this year.

The company owns TV stations including TV3, 8TV, NTV7 and TV9, radio stations Fly FM and Hot FM, the New Straits Times newspaper and outdoor billboard companies Big Tree and UPD in Malaysia.

 

3. Discovery Channel in print venture

Media Discovery Networks Asia has launched a bimonthy magazine in partnership with Reader's Digest Asia, covering science and technology, adventure, animal behaviour, history and the future.

Discovery Channel Magazine will have an initial circulation of 100,000 primarily in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines comprising both subscriptions and newsstands. It will also be on sale in China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. There are plans to roll out to other Asia-Pacific markets later in 2008.

The retail price is RM14.90 and there is an option of yearly subscriptions or online purchase at a discounted price from selected bookstores.

 

4. Getty snapped up for $2.6bn

Companies Hellman & Friedman, a private equity firm with investments in advertising and market research, has acquired 75% of Getty Images, one of the world's best-known picture libraries.

The US$2.4 billion purchase price includes Getty's stock photography, archival image and video bank now widely used by advertising agencies, magazines, newspapers and other clients.

Getty has seen its share price fall in the past year, due to competition - not from industry rivals - but from the huge uptake of digital cameras.

Jonathan Klein, co-founder and chief executive of Getty Images, said the sale "was in the best interest of our stockholders."

 

5. Etihad Airways in regional push

Marketing Etihad Airways has launched a global TVC in a bid to build brand awareness and understanding across key markets and particularly with business travellers.

The TVC launched in the UAE and rolls out across the Middle East, Europe, North America and Asia. The focus of the commercial is hospitality and was filmed in Abu Dhabi with a cast comprising both Etihad cabin crew and professional actors in locations such as the Emirates Palace. The TVC was directed by London-based Bare Films's James Wheedon and conceptualised by TBWA.

"Etihad is still a relatively young airline and a high-profile international television commercial like this will help raise awareness of the Etihad brand," Peter Baumgartner, EVP of marketing & product for Etihad Airways, said.

 

6. Gavin Anderson hands Weeks APAC role

PR Corporate, financial and public affairs agency Gavin Anderson has promoted James Weeks to the role of executive chairman for Asia Pacific.

Weeks was previously president and CEO for Gavin Anderson Japan, a post he held since 1995, and will be succeeded by Deborah Hayden who is currently deputy CEO.

"Our offices in Asia, Japan and Australia are all established leaders in their markets and now is the time to capitalise on our success by further strengthening regional collaboration to accelerate our growth," Richard Constant, chief executive worldwide for Gavin Anderson, said.

"Jim's new role will be to strengthen our network in Asia Pacific."

In his new role Weeks will oversee Asia Pacific operations in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Taipei, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. The Singapore and Hong Kong offices are led by CEO for Asia excluding Japan, Richard Barton.

 

7. Citizen journalism and CNN meet online

Media CNN Worldwide has launched a beta version of iReport.com, a progression of the network's successful iReport initiative which generated nearly 100,000 video, photo and text submissions to CNN.com since its mid-2007 launch.

A full-scale launch of iReport.com, a user-generated community web site providing an open forum and a set of tools and applications to upload, share and discuss news is expected to roll out this month. Contributors also may gain recognition by having the material they submit to the site - once vetted and approved for use - appear on a CNN network or CNN.com.

CNN does not censor or screen the site's content but users must adhere to community guideline. Content creators also have the option to check a ‘discretion advised' box if they feel they are uploading a news valued yet sensitive story.

 

8. Omnicom Shifts into digital mode

Omnicom Group has taken a controlling stake in New Zealand-based digital consultancy Shift.

Specialising in web-based communications and multimedia services, Shift will work closely with Omnicom agencies TBWA, Tequila and Agency.com Worldwide, to help enhance the TBWA\Group's digital offering around the world.

"The investment in Shift is an exciting addition to our fast growing digital capabilities in the Asia Pacific region," Michael Birkin, Omnicom's vice chairman and chairman and CEO of Asia Pacific, said.

"We are enormously impressed with the quality of their work and the diverse range of their clients."

Selwyn Feary, founder  of Shift, said the decision to partner with Omnicom opens "unlimited international opportunities" for the digital agency.

"Our strategic goal  was always to introduce our specialist solutions to the world, and Omnicom agencies are a global powerhouse of creativity and strategic acumen that will see us deliver our vision," he said.

 

9. WPP post strong Asia growth

Agencies Asia continued to be among the fastest growing regions for the WPP group in 2007, with revenue up almost 22%.

WPP, the world's second-largest advertising and marketing group and owner of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide and Hill & Knowlton public relations firm, said growth continues to be strong across the region. Mainland China however was the strongest market, up 31% in 2007.

Martin Sorrell, WPP CEO, continued the group's aggressive growth strategy, snapping up some 37 companies worldwide over the past 12 months.

Dell, the world's second-largest personal computer maker, also awarded WPP its advertising account, valued at US$4.5 billion over three years.

The contract, dubbed project DaVinci, will result in WPP launching a new global marketing agency model, combining media and creative services from the WPP roster of agencies.

Public relations and public affairs continued its strong growth for the group with strong showings from Hill & Knowlton, Burson-Marsteller and Ogilvy PR.