MediaCommunications

MediaCom View: Yes, develop your plans now. Determine to what extent the various associations your brand can develop via the 2012 Olympics are relevant across to your brand across the short, medium and long term. The Local Organising Committee (LOCOG) packages will offer the obvious and important associations with the Olympics and sporting excellence. In addition they should offer a platform for genuine associations with themes as diverse as youth development, urban renewal, infrastructure and logistics, community and regional messages plus "backing Great Britain" communications. Do the due diligence on the opportunities and implications for your marketing strategy, then when LOCOG sponsorship packages come to market in mid-late '06 your best placed to gain first mover advantage.

MediaCom View: Chrysalis may be experiencing mixed emotions at present. Their flagship station Heart 106.2 has just beaten Capital 95.8 to become the number one station in London but a week later the parent company announces that ad revenue is down 8.6% against an NMR figure of just 0.85% for the same period.

MediaCom View: According to a recent survey conducted by the RAB and IAB, 67% of internet users claim to have listened to the radio at the same time as surfing the web. Almost 60% of those taking part also said they'd researched products and services on the internet after hearing an ad on the radio. This is a compelling argument for using both as part of an integrated campaign especially when you consider the direct accountability of online and the cost effectiveness of radio.

MediaCom View : It's about time! An online sales house has booked one in five of all internet ads in the UK but there has been limited control over where these ads have appeared. The Internet Advertising Sales House (IASH) is made of 10 of the leading advertising companies in the UK. They will work with ABCe and Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) to ensure that networks are not collaborating with sites that compromise brands or are considered unacceptable. It's just a shame the IAB didn't take the lead and deal with issue sooner.

MediaCom View : Ink Publishing, known for publishing in-flight magazines, has won the contract to publish an Asia Pacific edition of CNN Traveller magazine in association with CNN International. The current edition of CNN Traveller magazine is distributed in business and first class cabins on leading airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic, as well as QE2 Cruises and Heathrow Express. Following research from both Ink publishing and the World Advertising Research Centre it is thought that revenue for in-flight advertising will grow by nearly 20% year-on-year in 2006. Jeffrey O'Rourke, Chief Executive of Ink publishing believes the growth in passenger numbers and development of niche markets by airlines will have both a dramatic and positive effect on the in-flight advertising market.

MediaCom View : In an attempt to break into the US scripted TV marketplace on a higher level, BBC Worldwide have negotiated a deal with Sony Pictures Television. The three year deal gives SPT the rights to develop comedy and drama series based on BBC formats for the American market. The deal excludes reality formats which the BBC hopes to take directly into the marketplace. The move comes after the success of the American version of 'The Office' which has given new momentum to BBC properties.