The Media Online’s weekly round up. Media24 appoints new general manager for Lifestyle division. Marcia Swart joins Telmar as deputy MD for Africa. M&C Saatchi Abel Joburg appoints Adam Weber as partner and executive creative director. Zandi Tisani joins Arcade Content. Rian van Heerden isn’t hanging up his mic just yet. Disney Africa concludes major free TV agreement in SA. Google chooses comScore. Stratitude announced as exclusive SA agency for AMIN Worldwide. Blackbird Books adds it’s Me, Marah to its stable of published books. GREY Group chooses Centrespread as its lead agency in Nigeria. TMG business news websites complete move to Google App Engine. Facebook moves into larger South Africa premises as African growth accelerates.
This week’s BIG move: Provantage Media Group launches Mall Ads
Provantage Media Group has launched a new media company that will provide innovative solutions to brands and marketers wanting to target consumers in the mall environment. Mall Ads has been added to the Group’s extensive portfolio of out of home offerings and will provide advertisers with innovative and bespoke solutions to their mall advertising requirements.
“Malls have become integral to our society. It is where consumers shop, eat, socialise, bank and are entertained. And because of this, the environment is ideal for brands wanting to effectively engage with consumers,” says John Faia, general manager: Mall Ads.
The mall industry in South Africa and on the rest of the continent is exploding, in line with the growth in population, mass urbanisation and trends in consumer purchasing power. The mall culture in South Africa, and its ability to sustain an increasingly diverse and economically viable consumer profile, is evident in mall refurbishments, extensions and the development of new mega-malls. For brands wanting to engage with consumers when the propensity to spend is high, malls offer the perfect environment.
Who’s moved where
Media24 appoints new general manager for Lifestyle division
Raj Lalbahadur, previously CFO of Media24 Lifestyle, has been appointed the general manager of this division effective 1 April, Media24 has announced.
“Raj knows the magazine media business inside out, from the technical side to the crucial role of editorial teams and advertisers at our portfolio of market-leading brands,” says Esmaré Weideman, CEO of Media24. “He has the right experience and skills required to lead the division at a time when the company is transitioning to be the leading digital publisher in Africa while also running a highly successful print media business.”
The position became vacant when Media24 consolidated its print media operations – newspapers, magazines and distribution – into a single division under the leadership of Ishmet Davidson in October 2016.
Marcia Swart joins Telmar as deputy MD for Africa
Telmar, the global pioneer in advertising and media planning software, has announced that Marcia Swart, who has led strategy at several of the world’s largest media agencies, has joined the company as deputy managing director for Africa. Based in Johannesburg, Swart will report to Jennifer Daniel, managing director for Telmar Africa.
“There’s great opportunity for Telmar as the pace, scale and sophistication of marketing increase around the world,” says Swart. “Systems that allow marketers to make sense of unprecedented amounts of data, not just organize it, will be fundamental to business growth and form the backbone of forward-thinking brands. Telmar is the best insights system I’ve worked with. Using it can uncover new connections between audiences, activities, behavior and media. I’m excited to show the possibilities to advertisers, agencies and media across the African continent.”
Ms. Swart comes to Telmar from Mindshare Johannesburg
M&C Saatchi Abel Joburg appoints Adam Weber as partner and executive creative director
Advertising agency M&C Saatchi Abel Joburg has appointed Adam Weber as partner and executive creative director.
Weber, who began his career over 20 years ago, joins the partnership at M&C Saatchi Abel, coming from Joe Public. He has worked with several industry icons at high profile agencies including Red Nail and Hunt Lascaris.
“M&C Saatchi Abel is positioned as an ideas company. Our creative philosophy of Brutal Simplicity of Thought demands that we produce ideas that are easy for the consumer to engage with, while delivering a return on marketing investment for our clients,” notes Jerry Mpufane, chairman of the M&C Saatchi JHB Group of Companies. “We are committed to producing discipline-neutral ideas, and I am very excited that Adam’s experience is a perfect match to our ideals.”
Weber joins the fast-growing, independent global network, M&C Saatchi, started by Maurice and Charles Saatchi in 1995 after leaving Saatchi & Saatchi. The M&C Saatchi Abel Johannesburg office will certainly offer Weber unlimited opportunities to apply his creative talents and leadership skills, with an impressive array of high profile clients including Nedbank, Sun International, Nando’s SA and AVI.
Zandi Tisani joins Arcade Content
Rising star Zandi Tisani has joined Arcade Content, where she’ll be working from their Johannesburg office.
Tisani has already directed her first two brand films with Arcade, for Native VML’s Make One Day #Today campaign for Standard Bank, starring Moonchild Sanelly with The Sartists and Mashayabhuqe kaMamba with Lebogang Rasethaba respectively.
“Zandi’s mind works in amazing ways,” says Arcade co-founder Lebogang Rasethaba. “She’s able to link ideas, tap into the nuances of life and make it seem so obvious. Sometimes it’s embarrassing talking to her because you are constantly asking yourself, ‘Damn, why didn’t I think of that?’ She’s forward-thinking, progressive, and badass – exactly the kind of person we want on our team.”
Tisani marries a strong understanding of narrative with a commitment to powerful imagery. After specialising in screenwriting at UCT, she went on to be part of teams that won SAFTAs for TV scriptwriting in both Comedy (Those Who Can’t) and Drama (Umlilo). But she also studied photography for two years and found success as a stylist for the likes of Rolling Stone South Africa and award-winning fine artist Kudzanai Chiurai.
Rian van Heerden isn’t hanging up his mic just yet
Rian van Heerden, host of the award-winning Complimentary Breakfast on Jacaranda FM, is staying put. He was due to leave the station at the end of the month but, in a dramatic turn of events, has been persuaded to stay on as host of The Complimentary Breakfast.
Jacaranda FM’s programme manager, Gavin Meiring, interrupted Rian’s show explaining that there had been numerous requests from listeners for Rian to stay, and read some of these messages on air. A very surprised and somewhat reluctant Rian eventually decided to open the lines to his listeners so that they could make their voices heard. Rian took a day to deliberate and given the fact that he still has a couple of exciting things to tick off his bucket list, Rian apologised in advance for staying on a bit longer. He is looking forward to bringing you more laughter, more tears and of course looks forward to pushing your buttons even more.
“Rian is a class act broadcaster and we at Jacaranda FM are really happy that he has decided to stay,” says Meiring. “His brand of controversial, funny and emotive content, mixed with more of the music you love, is what makes him the most popular morning show host in Gauteng.”
Who’s won what
Disney Africa concludes major free TV agreement in SA
In line with its commitment to delivering the most compelling, locally relevant and extensive range of content to consumers and broadcasters around the world, Disney Africa has announced an exclusive free-TV deal with e.tv in South Africa.
The agreement offers e.tv’s viewers a wide selection of feature films, animated series and shorts, as well as live-action shows from The Walt Disney Studios, Disney•Pixar and ABC Studios. This is in addition to the existing Marvel Studios live action films, animated series, as well as ABC Studios drama and comedy shows aired on e.tv for the very first time last year.
Under this new agreement, e.tv’s viewers are already enjoying the first special programming roll-out this March, with the Disney Princess Month. This includes iconic features such as The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Frog and Frozen and the hit animated series Sofia the First, broadcast every Saturday.
Marlon Davids, MD of e.tv, is thrilled about the relationship with Disney. “e.tv strives to bring the best content to the 7.9 million households that have access to free-to-air television. The partnership with Disney is valued greatly and further ensures that e.tv can bring the most talked about and best content for all ages to our viewers.” says Davids.
Google chooses comScore
Google has selected comScore to provide independent brand safety reporting for advertising campaigns on YouTube.
Bringing trust and transparency to digital advertising is a critical focus at comScore, and helping its clients protect the safety of their brands has for years been an important part of that mission.
Here are some highlights from the announcement:
This new collaboration is part of Google’s efforts to provide advertisers with greater visibility into the context in which their ads appear.
comScore continuously monitors content across mobile and desktop platforms to identify the brand safety of a given ad context – both in general and for specific campaigns.
To power this solution, comScore uses a proprietary brand safety engine that is integral to our validated Campaign Essentials (vCE) suite.
Stratitude announced as exclusive SA agency for AMIN Worldwide
Award-winning agency Stratitude has been chosen as the exclusive South Africa member agency to join Advertising & Marketing Independent Network (AMIN) Worldwide. AMIN is an alliance of more than 50 independent marketing agencies from countries around the world.
“We are excited that Stratitude has joined our network,” said René van Gameren, development director and EMEA Network Co-ordinator. “We had four agencies shortlisted for South Africa, but we only select one agency per country. The vote for Stratitude was unanimous.”
AMIN provides Stratitude with access to their global network, along with an introduction to international clients with offices in South Africa. This also allows the agency to expand their Africa network and expand their client base beyond the continent. Stratitude staff will also benefit from international exposure to best practice and effective campaigns from across the world.
Blackbird Books adds it’s Me, Marah to its stable of published books
Recently, Blackbird Books celebrated the launch of its newest title, it’s Me, Marah. This is the latest published book by the imprint incubated by Jacana Media.
Blackbird Books owner Thabiso Mahlape was overcome with emotion as she acknowledged the honour of publishing such an icon’s autobiography. “Marah Louw has been a star for over three decades, I am happy that now South Africa gets to know and celebrate her as they should. With every book I publish, the vision for Blackbird Books grows, I am thrilled that from today, the vision carries with it, the star of Marah Teboho Louw.” Mahlape is South Africa’s first black female publisher.
It’s Me, Marah will join Endings & Beginnings by Redi Tlhabi, the groundbreaking My Father my Monster by Mcintosh Polela and Malaika wa Azania’s Memoirs of a Born Free – all titles published by Blackbird Books that have managed to talk to multiple audiences on issues which impact us as South Africans. Other titles published under the imprint include Bonnie Henna’s Eyebags & Dimples and Zoleka Mandela’s When Hope Whispers.
BlackBird Books launched in 2015 is a ground breaking addition to South Africa’s literary landscape. The imprint has aided the emergence of essential new South African narratives as it seeks to provide a platform and publishing home to black writers.
Who’s making moves
GREY Group chooses Centrespread as its lead agency in Nigeria
GREY, Adweek Global Agency of the Year 2015, is re-entering Nigeria with immediate effect, having appointed Centrespread, one of Nigeria’s largest independent advertising communications groups as its affiliate in that market. The Centrespread Group, which operates from offices in Lagos and Abuja, will rebrand as Centrespread GREY, re-establishing the global advertising giant as a leader in providing creative and effective fullservice marketing solutions across the African continent.
WPP, the world’s largest global media and communications agency network, made the announcement in Singapore today, signalling yet another critical step in GREY’s growth strategy of developing its networks in fast growing and important markets and sectors in the MEA region. The Centrespread Group will focus on developing a strong local GREY presence in Nigeria and is another step in GREY’s expansion in key African markets.
Kola Ayanwale, Centrespread CEO, says he is enthusiastic about the alliance with an iconic agency such as GREY. “The GREY Group ranks among the world’s top advertising and marketing organisations, with an enviable global footprint. GREY’s credentials and achievements are impressive and their unique positioning of ‘Famously Effective’ resonates with the same values that have shaped Centrespread into one of Nigeria’s most successful integrated marketing communications agencies over the last three decades. The decision to take on the exciting opportunity of re-establishing GREY in Nigeria and across the continent is one that is met with great enthusiasm by both parties, and we look forward to being an integral part of the continued global success of GREY.”
TMG business news websites complete move to Google App Engine
Times Media Group has completed the transition of its business news websites to a server-less architecture that runs entirely on the Google App Engine (GAE) environment. TMG is also one of the first major publishers in SA to force the HTTPS protocol across all its business websites to guarantee the authenticity of its content, and protect the privacy and security of its readers, journalists and editors.
TMG recently replatformed and redesigned all its prominent business titles, Business Day, Financial Mail and RDM, and launched the new BusinessLIVE site, with premium content options from R120 a month.
The company is also moving fast on Progressive Web App (PWA) enabled sites. The technology promises numerous performance benefits to optimise reader engagement, and further enhance confidence in the integrity of Times Media’s news content.
“The move to a server-less computing environment allows Times Media to future-proof its infrastructure, and be instantly scalable for our very fast-growing audiences. The powerful data and analytics we receive from the Google platform allows us to build better products for our readers and advertisers alike,” says Percy Goetsch, head of product in Times Media’s digital division.
Facebook moves into larger South Africa premises as African growth accelerates
Facebook has moved its Johannesburg offices into new premises, creating a new home for the company to work with its partners to boost innovation and provide an African home for the Facebook culture. The new office will continue to provide support to Facebook advertisers, application developers and other key partners across the continent.
“Since we first established a direct presence in sub-Saharan Africa in 2015, Facebook has grown from strength to strength,” says Nunu Ntshingila, Regional Director, Africa, Facebook. “We have enjoyed working closely with entrepreneurs, partners, developers and small businesses as they have used Facebook as a platform for growth. It’s inspiring for us to learn from the continent and to play a role in helping people and organisations connect with the world.”
Since 2015 the number of people connected to Facebook across Africa has grown to 42% to over 170 million monthly active users. Of these, 94% come back on mobile. The Facebook team in Africa has grown alongside the number of people and businesses who use it and its ecosystem of developers, entrepreneurs and business partners.
Facebook executives Carolyn Everson, VP Global Marketing Solutions and Nicola Mendelsohn, VP EMEA, attended the launch of the new office together with Ntshingila.
“Facebook is deeply committed to Africa, a mobile-first continent where seven in 10 of all connected people use the platform,” says Carolyn Everson. “Many people in Africa are coming online for the first time, unleashing new possibilities for people and businesses alike. We’re also seeing growth of small and medium-sized businesses that are driving economic development, companies that Facebook wants to help grow locally and regionally across the continent. Our new offices are part of our ongoing commitment to invest in the African market and work with innovators across our key target countries.”
Hisense becomes official sponsor of 2018 FIFA World Cup
Hisense has announced its status as an official sponsor of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first-ever Chinese consumer electronics brand to sponsor the tournament.
As an Official FIFA World Cup Sponsor, Hisense will engage in an array of global marketing and advertising activities for both the 2017 Confederations Cup and 2018 FIFA World Cup, reaching more than 200 territories in the process and greatly enhancing international exposure for the brand. Hisense will be able to associate its logo with the forthcoming FIFA events mentioned above, as well as numerous other rights that include access to advertising boards in stadiums, on-screen credits and other various creative marketing opportunities on-and-off the pitch during the events.
The President of the Hisense Group, Mr. Liu Hongxin, sees the FIFA World Cup as one of the most significant sporting events in the world, rivalled only by the Olympic Games. For Hisense, sponsoring the prestigious tournament not only serves as a massive marketing opportunity for the brand, but also as a crucial, strategic initiative for the entire enterprise. “Over the years, Hisense has earned a lot of experience and brand growth through sports sponsorships,” said Liu.