The Media Online’s weekly round up. Discover Digital ‘revolutionises’ Sun International’s loyalty programme. Dentsu Aegis Network South Africa strengthens its digital leadership team. General manager of SABC TV bouquet resigns. Exciting new appointments at EWN. James Hewes appointed new FIPP CEO. Internet Solutions deploys first point of presence in Madagascar. OOH advertising takes a giant stride forward. Diageo SA sponsors R50 000 prize in this year’s Youth in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Awards. ‘The Afropolitan’ achieves global recognition. Business Day & Financial Mail take top honours at Financial, Health, and Property journalism Awards. CreativeUprising will be a proactive, interactive and stimulating experience for all Art Education delegates. Propak Cape to showcase latest technologies in packaging and related industries
Discover Digital ‘revolutionises’ Sun International’s loyalty programme
Sun International is partnering with South Africa-based video on demand (VOD) solutions provider, Discover Digital, to revolutionise its Most Valued Guests (MVG) loyalty programme reward offering.
As of end June 2017, Sun International MVGs will receive a discounted offering to Discover Digital’s premium Digital Entertainment On Demand (DEOD) services to enjoy DEOD’s vast range of movies, TV series, news and sports programmes. This will allow MVGs to enjoy their choice of video entertainment on TVs, laptops, tablets and mobile phones at a place convenient to them.
Discover Digital managing director, Stephen Watson, says adding DEOD access to Sun International’s loyalty programme is a pioneering move for the local hospitality, gaming and leisure industry, as well as for loyalty programmes. “By partnering with us, Sun International is rewarding their customers for their ongoing loyalty,” he said.
“VOD makes it possible to view the latest movies, TV series and other digital entertainment content on their mobile devices, regardless of their location. They also have the added advantage of being able to simply pause whatever they are viewing, and pick up on watching it later.”
“VOD services, especially if backed by free wi-fi, presents many potential advantages for not only corporate reward programmes, but also for the hospitality, gaming and leisure industry” says Watson.
People moves
Dentsu Aegis Network South Africa strengthens its digital leadership team
Dentsu Aegis Network, a global media and digital marketing communications network, has expande its digital team in South Africa with the appointment of Sadiqah Levy. Levy will work across both teams at Amnet, Dentsu Aegis Networks, programmatic and real time bidding specialist and iProspect, their digital performance marketing agency.
Levy will be working with both teams as the client service director. A digital marketing veteran, she comes with extensive work experience. Levy will strategically complement the network’s aggressive growth plans, as she takes on the lead responsibility of servicing the company’s clients across the region.
Jaco Lintvelt, managing director for Amnet and iProspect SA, said, “We gladly welcome Sadiqah to the team, and are confident that Sadiqah’s wealth of experience will give the business the continued momentum to expand its growth in SA & across Sub Saharan Africa. With her skills and expertise, we have no doubt that she will ensure that we retain our current clients and assist us in winning new business across SSA.
General manager of SABC TV bouquet resigns
The South African Broadcasting Corporation has announced the resignation of Maijang Mpherwane as general manager of TV Bouquet (SABC 1, 2, 3 and Encore). The resignation from the public service broadcaster takes effect from the 31 July 2017.
Nomsa Philiso, group executive for television, said Mherwane’s resignation was “bittersweet”. “His departure comes at an exciting time for us as we are starting to see the fruits of our repositioning as a division, a project that Mpherwane contributed immensely to. However, we are proud that the SABC had an opportunity to guide and shape Mpherwane who came into the organisation as an intern in 2004, and leaves today as a general manager with a broad skill set across content and channel management. He now has an opportunity to further make a meaningful contribution to the broader production industry”.
Philiso said the SABC would be starting the recruitment process with immediate effect.
Exciting new appointments at EWN
Eyewitness News (EWN) has appointed Lebogang Moeketsi and Charlotte Kilbane as news editors in their Joburg and Cape Town newsrooms.
The pair are responsible for overseeing the news content for their respective regions, to strengthen EWN’s reputation for credible, breaking news and powerful storytelling across platforms.
“At a time when credible, independent news is more important than ever, these two powerful women are perfectly positioned to instill and maintain the integrity of our EWN news values in each journalist and ensure this is reflected across all of our platforms,” said EWN’s editor-in-chief, Katy Katopodis.
“Lebogang and Charlotte are both respected, principled journalists and editors and are ideal candidates to ensure these values are lived in our newsroom every day.”
Both editors have extensive experience in the field, on the desk and in editing roles. Moeketsi has been with EWN for the majority of her career, starting with an internship on the news desk at what was then 94.7 Highveld Stereo and growing into the breakfast show anchor on 702. She has balanced her radio work with TV and has anchored on e.tv and eNCA.
James Hewes appointed new FIPP CEO
FIPP – the network for global media, is pleased to announce that James Hewes has been appointed president and CEO. He will succeed Chris Llewellyn, who is stepping down to pursue his own interests, after a short handover period in September 2017.
Business moves
Internet Solutions deploys first point of presence in Madagascar
Internet Solutions, a pan-African telecommunications service provider, has deployed the company’s first Point of Presence (PoP) in Madagascar.
Further expanding their African footprint, Internet Solutions has also commissioned a second PoP in Zambia. Internet Solutions now has 68 PoPs in 16 African markets, with operating offices in South Africa, Mozambique, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria, as well as international PoPs.
“We can boast a significant managed services network on the continent because of our investment in both infrastructure assets and partnerships with trusted, in-country service providers,” says Murray Steyn, executive head: wholesale at Internet Solutions. “This, along with our in-depth market intelligence, means we are able to deliver scalable, tailored ICT services across Africa and now also in Madagascar.”
Co-locating with Airtel Madagascar and NetOne in Zambia, Internet Solutions’ PoPs provide clients with access to local Internet networks in each country without the need to identify and contract with local Internet service providers (ISPs).
Mortimer Harvey wins Western Union social media account
Over 200 countries and territories trust Western Union to send and receive money worldwide. And now, Western Union has entrusted Mortimer Harvey with unifying the African segment of their global audience through one social media platform.
A combination of in-depth strategic insights, creative social media copywriting and intensive programmatic targeting has enabled the company to produce segmented communications that cater to a diverse community. The primary mandate is to unify this community through inspiring, thought-provoking social media content.
OOH advertising takes a giant stride forward
Cape Town and Johannesburg based media owner, Hubble, is Uber’s preferred in-vehicle interactive entertainment partner, providing real Return on Investment (ROI) through a unique depth of engagement.
As marketing and advertising budgets are becoming even more pressurised, brands are realising that reach and frequency – the traditional advertising metrics, are no longer the be-all and end-all. Rather, it’s having meaningful and deeper engagements with individual consumers that are becoming increasingly important.
“We have tapped into this global trend by enabling brands to have a deeper engagement with riders through our interactive in-vehicle entertainment touch screens in Uber vehicles,” says David Taitz, Commercial Director at Hubble.
Out of Home (OOH) advertising has always been considered a ‘one-to-many’ form of communication, but that’s no longer the case. In today’s world the consumer is looking for intimate engagement, with relevant information, at a time and place suited to them. Technology has provided Hubble with the opportunity to engage with these top-end consumers at a time when they are more relaxed and more receptive to a brand’s message.
The fully interactive advertising platform offers high quality video and interactive content in a captive environment with measurable ROI.
During a recent campaign, BMW ran video and interactive campaign elements to launch their all new 5-Series. Uber riders were treated to four different creative elements on an interactive touch screen, which included the opportunity for riders to configure the new 5-Series, culminating in an option to book a test drive.
Besides incredible interest shown in the campaign and the 15.1% interaction rate (compared to typical digital rates of less than 0.2%1), over 200 test drives were booked over a period of two months.
According to Alexander Baraka at BMW: “We immediately bought into the concept of interactive screens in Uber vehicles. The results far exceeded our expectations and we’re pleased to have been able to push through a significant number of quality leads to our Dealer Network.”
Diageo SA sponsors R50 000 prize in this year’s Youth in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Awards
In celebrating Youth Month, Diageo South Africa and one of its leading brands Johnnie Walker, has partnered with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to sponsor one of the Special Awards categories in its annual #YAFF (Youth in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) Awards.
Sonwabile Fadana, an entrepreneur of agriculture at Sivulamasango Co-operative Ltd. won R50 000 in prize money as the winner of the Agricultural Training Institutes’ Graduate Award (ATIs), sponsored by Diageo SA. The #YAFF Award winners were announced at a gala dinner on Friday, 23 June at Kievits Kroon Country Estate in Pretoria.
Zanele Njapha, Diageo SA sustainability manager, says: “An integral part of our sustainability mandate is to build thriving communities in the regions where we operate. Building on this, we are pleased to be in a position to make a meaningful contribution in the agricultural sector by rewarding the youth who have excelled in contributing to rural development and sustainable agricultural production.”
Rush Sports unveils new brand identity
Pietermaritzburg-based Rush Sports, a brand which has attracted an experienced team and leading cycling brands to its stable, unveiled the evolution of its brand identity created by Boomtown, including a modernised and simplified update to its iconic red and black logo and a new look and feel for branded communications and experiences.
The appointment of a new senior management team, expansion (including a new office in Pretoria), and future growth plans were fundamental to this change. Briefing Boomtown to create its new identity, the agency also rolled out a direct mail campaign to introduce consumers and partners to the new brand.
“The brand needed to mature in-line with the business,” remarks Rush Sports managing director, Andre van Aarde. “The visual execution of Rush Sports needed to demonstrate our focus, professionalism and our love of riding.”
UCI mountain bike World Cup champ Greg Minnaar was recently appointed as a director and proves Rush Sports recruits a team who ride and succeed: “As a Santa Cruz rider, I believe the brand has found a great home in South Africa with Rush Sports. Both companies have a rider-focused strategy, and are innovative in their approach to business.”
The evolved brand identity will be rolled out to all Rush Sports products, communications, and experiences.
Intact Software Distribution to distribute Group-IB
Intact Software Distribution has won the distribution rights to Group-IB, one of the global leaders in providing high-grade Threat Intelligence and best in class anti-fraud solutions. Group-IB has been active in the field of computer forensics and information security since 2003, and has been protecting the biggest international organisations against financial losses and reputation risks.
It is recognised by Gartner as a ‘threat intelligence vendor with strong cyber security focus and the ability to provide leading insight to the Eastern European region’ and has been recommended by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
“The company’s experience and threat intelligence is unprecedented, and has been fused into an eco-system of highly sophisticated software and hardware solutions to monitor, identify and prevent cyber threats,” says Simon Campbell-Young, CEO of Intact Software Distribution.
Making moves
Business Day & Financial Mail take top honours at Financial, Health, and Property journalism Awards
Rob Rose, editor of the Financial Mail, and Claire Bisseker were respectively awarded for their journalism in the Financial Markets and Economy categories of the prestigious Sanlam Financial Journalist of the Year Awards 2016. Tamar Kahn claimed the Best Health Journalist: Analysis & Commentary Award ahead of being announced as the overall Health Journalist of the Year at the 2017 Discovery Health Journalism Awards. Alistair Anderson received the Property News Journalist of the Year Award at the 2017 SAPOA Journalism Awards for Excellence.
Tim Cohen, editor of Business Day says, “As South Africa’s most influential and respected business titles, we are expected to maintain the highest levels of journalistic quality and integrity across every field on which we report. It makes us very proud that the excellent work of our journalists is publicly recognised by our audiences. Well-deserved congratulations must go to all recipients.”
‘The Afropolitan’ achieves global recognition
On the back of the Afropolitan magazine’s smash-hit, 50th anniversary celebration, the magazine has further done publishing house Contact Media & Communications proud by placing in the Top 10 of the ‘Best Single Issue’ category of the Tabbie Awards.
Every year, Trade, Association and Business Publications International (TABPI) invites B2B editors, publishers and art directors from around the world to submit their entries for the annual ‘Tabbie Awards’.
This year’s award ceremony (2017), was held at TABPI headquarters in Cleveland, US and showcased more than 400 nominated entries, out of the thousands of international publications that participated.
“It’s a very proud moment for our company and for The Afropolitan brand to be recognised as one of the world’s Top 10 magazines, and to be able to represent Africa on an International stage,” said Contact Media CEO Sean Press.
The 2017 Tabbie Awards marked Contact Media, and The Afropolitan magazine’s, first ever entry into the globally recognised competition and TABPI president, Paul J. Heney, congratulated the magazine by saying, “The Afropolitan was a strong contender in this year’s Tabbie Awards competition. Its lively mix of brilliant photography and dynamic layout design was nicely balanced with approachable reporting on interesting subjects. Breaking into the top 10 of the ‘Best Single Issue’ category – our programme’s most comprehensive – was an impressive feat.”
CreativeUprising will be a proactive, interactive and stimulating experience for all Art Education delegates.
The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Arts & Culture (a division of FADA) in partnership with The SAMRO Foundation have announced its dynamic two day #CreativeUprising Conference programme. The programme will run from the 27t – 28t of July 2017 at The University of Johannesburg’s Arts Centre situated on Kingsway Campus in Auckland Park.
“We have been workshopping ideas around arts education and arts in education by consulting industry experts as well as active practitioners in the arts and culture industry for the past ten months to ensure that the ACT | UJ #CreativeUprising Conference speaks to all its delegates” says conference project manager, Anastasia Pather. Since the fall of the Rhodes Statue in April 2015 and the rise of #RhodesMustFall movements, a nationwide call for a transformed and decolonised curricula has risen.
In response to this, the #CreativeUprising programme has been designed to ensure that it is accessible, relevant and proactive in its approach towards arts education and arts in education. “In order to do this we have also ensured that there is a space for the conversation to take place before the conference on our Conference Website, Facebook and Twitter pages as well as a space for post-conference engagement in the form of an exciting publication” says Storm Jade Brown Marketing and Fundraising Coordinator at ACT.
Propak Cape to showcase latest technologies in packaging and related industries
Taking place from 24-26 October at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the highly successful Propak Cape exhibition will be showcasing cutting-edge advancements in the packaging and related industries. Over 200 hundred local and international exhibitors will be displaying their latest products, equipment, machinery and services, across packaging, food processing, plastics, printing and labelling. Many live demonstrations will showcase machinery and equipment in action.
Propak Cape has proved to be an effective and popular regional showcase with over 6 000 visitors attending in 2014, an increase over all previous editions of the show. Bringing wine and olive oil production and supply into the spotlight this year will be the newly-launched Wine and Olive Oil Production Expo which will be held alongside Propak Cape.
