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 ihub gets 20-year licence in Shanghai The ihub Media Group, the internet marketing company, has secured a 20-year advertising licence to operate in Shanghai. The group will now extend into Greater China, representing premium websites. It has already signed up Ctrip.com, Elong.com, QQ.com and others. M&C Saatchi shrinks in region Yes, the rumours were true. M&C Saatchi will shortly be closing down its operations in Singapore. This follows the closing of the Bangkok office in May. Regional CEO Chris Jaques talks of the company becoming a strategic consulting business, citing Singapore as a low margin, low growth and highly competitive market. It is not only the staff who will be sad to see this agency fade in the republic. Discovery launches HD in Australia Discovery Networks Asia Pacific has launched its HD channel on Foxtel HD+ in Australia. This is one of five dedicated 24/7 HD channels offered in this new service by Foxtel. Discovery HD was first launched in this region in 2005. Friendster announces mobile text alerts ad:tech Singapore was the platform for several launches this year. Friendster, who has gone on the offensive to remind people that it is the number one social networking site in Asia, has introduced Friendster Text Alerts to tell members about activities in their network. The alerts are sent via SMS to mobile devices. Edipresse Asia acquires Solitaire Media Edipresse Asia is once more on the prowl to bring more publications under its portfolio. It has bought over Solitaire Media which publishes Solitaire (Asia Pacific Edition), Solitaire China, PRO Jeweller, Brilliant Jewellers, Showtime and Abadi. Solitaire Media was founded in 2002.  SPH makes the Singapore search easier Earlier this month Singapore Press Holdings launched Singapore’s first local search and directory engine Rednano for mobile users. From 1st August mobile customers can enjoy this service without charge for a limited period. Directory, Maps and News all come free. Rednano was launched earlier this year for personal computer customers. Health & Lifestyle Channel launches in Shanghai The Health & Lifestyle Channel, the brainchild of Robert Chua, the Hong Kong-based entrepreneur and producer, will shortly be broadcast in Shanghai. Shanghai fringe time offers 4.2 million viewership as against Hong Kong prime time of 2.5 million, and this is a subject which interests most people. Chua has lined up an impressive advisory board which includes Ian Thorpe, the Australian Olympic gold medallist. Both TCM and Western medical care is covered by HLC. D&AD Yellow Pencils to Temasek students Two students from Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore have won the top creative prize of ‘Student of the Year’ and the prestigious ‘Yellow Pencils’, This is the first time any student outside of the UK has won this award in 30 years. Reinald Chee and Jason Feng created their entry for an MTV project. Games Convention in Singapore There has been an amazing growth in the games market and so it is important as marketers to attend the Games Convention Asia (GCA 2008) in Singapore on 18th-20th September. MTV is the official media partner of this event which is organised by Leipziger Messe International. Go to www.gc-asia.sg for full details.  TNS head gets award Jim Sailor, Managing Director of TNS Greater China, has been awarded for his contribution to the development of China’s market research industry in the 2008 'Top Ten Economic Talents Awards in Beijing'. Pulse group goes for IPO The 33 months old research group Pulse which currently has five offices has gone for public listing under ‘Pulse Group PLC’. The capital raised will be re-invested for panel growth, international expansion and working capital. The board includes ex-Synovate and industry heavyweight Bill Pegram. Cartoon Network iTV games available in Australia Turner has announced that Cartoon Network games will now be available on a subscription basis via GamesWorld on Channel 555, the enhanced interactive television (iTV) service of Foxtel, reaching out to the audience in Australia. IHT adds branded business section in Indian business paper The International Herald Tribune has launched a branded world business section in the new Indian business paper Financial Chronicle published by the Deccan Chronicle Group. This will be a daily four-page section. . Only one month left to enter the Asia Interactive Awards For anyone working in the interactive or digital world, these are the awards to enter in this region. This event has grown in importance over the last two years and has become a showcase for the best work in web design, interactive advertising, mobile marketing and digital media. Details on how to enter can be found at www.asiainteractiveawards.com. Malaysian women find emotional comfort in shopping 74% of Malaysian women admit that a therapeutic form of emotional comfort was gain by shopping, according to a Synovate survey. However, the women hold back most of their income for savings. The research firm also found out that close to half could afford to pay for what they want without asking their husbands. BDA already a winner at the 2008 Olympics Bruce Dunlop & Associates (BDA) won the bid last year to produce the opening sequence for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Their work will be revealed on 8th August when it will be beamed all around the world. BDA’s concept integrates the five elements of metal, wood, water, earth and fire.  Research Day 2008 This popular annual event held earlier this month drew 165 marketing directors and agency professionals. The event was sponsored by Harris Interactive, Research Now, Synovate, TNS and Acorn as well as CLS Research Solutions with Joshua Research Consultants. With the theme ‘Engagement’, speakers from India, UK and the region presented a variety of ideas and data. IAS has shortlisted the ‘most influential’ creative directors The Institute of Advertising Singapore has listed 18 creative directors who they think are 'Singapore’s Most Influential Creative Directors'. SMRT Media is sponsoring this award with posters on MRT stations. IAS said the list is not yet closed so there may be more in the final selection. Digital to overtake newspapers and outdoor in China According to a report by GroupM, digital adspend in China this year is expected to overtake not only newspapers but outdoor as well. The media group believes this gap will widen still further in 2009. Asia Digital Marketing Yearbook now available The Asia Digital Marketing Association (ADMA) has launched its second Asia Pacific Digital Marketing Yearbook 2008 offline as a free publication as well as online. Go to www.asiadigitalmarketingyearbook.com for a free download. This is a good source book compiled from Government, industry, company and research data on the digital world in this region. People going places Mabel Wong has moved from POAD to Crush Advertising as Associate Account Director; Tim Pinnegar has been appointed Managing Director, Asia Pacific at The Economist; Brandie Tan has been appointed Head of Art and Tin Sanchez has been appointed Head of Copy at BBDO Guerrero in the Philippines; Internal moves at Hill & Knowlton see Singapore-based Raoul Le Blond heading up the digital division Southeast Asia, with Lynn Fong based in Beijing leading digital in North Asia while in Korea, Kyle Jongmoon Kim will be researching and developing new digital solutions for Asia Pacific clients; Jeff Cheong becomes Executive Creative Director and Head of Tribal DDB Singapore. He has added Alan Leong as Associate Creative Director, Jimmy Yar as Business Director, Chris Lim as Head of Copy and Ciaran Lyons as Associate Technology Director; Ron Plante moves from Lifetime Networks to Star as Senior Vice-President, Research. Winners Bang Public Relations has been appointed by Dumex; India’s Jet Airways moved from M&C Saatchi to the Interpublic Group; DBS, the Singapore bank, has given its regional media business to PHD; Bobby Fresh brand has gone to Bates141 in Vietnam; Bang Public Relations has been appointed sole PR partner for Zuellig Pharma; TBWA-TCP Indonesia has won the Star Mild cigarette account; Tribal DDB has been appointed to handle communications for the 2010 Singapore Airshow; PR Communications has been appointed public relations consultancy to Ang Mo Kio Hub and DFS Galleria; Diageo has given the Guinness business to BBDO.  |
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