http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2010/11/25/private-equity-firm-may-buy-marketer/?nl=business&emc=dlbka31
Apax Partners has agreed to acquire Advantage Sales and Marketing from J.W. Childs and BAML Capital Partners, the latest large leveraged buyout in which a company passes from one private equity group to another.
The deal values Advantage at about $1.8 billion, according to a person close to the deal who requested anonymity because he was unauthorized to discuss it publicly.
Apax will acquire about 85 percent of the company, with Advantage’s existing management owning the rest.
Advantage, based in Irvine, Calif., is a leading sales and marketing agency for consumer goods, working with clients like J.M. Smucker and Johnson & Johnson to maximize the value of their brands.
The company has about $1 billion in annual revenue and is expected to generate about $180 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization this year, according to this person.
J.W. Childs and BAML Capital Partners, formerly Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity, acquired closely held Advantage in 2006 for $1.05 billion. The firms are expected to make roughly three times their cash investment on the deal, which is expected to close by year-end.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
ARGI, iPacesetters merge
http://www.btobonline.com/article/20101123/FREE/101129979/argi-ipacesetters-merge#seenit
ARGI, which provides audience development, lead generation and marketing technology, and iPacesetters, which operates call centers, announced Monday that they have merged under the name of iPacesetters. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The merged company will offer unified, transactional databases combined with performance-based call centers. Ray Butkus, currently ARGI's CEO, will be CEO of iPacesetters. Frank Royal, currently president of iPacesetters, will continue in that role at the newly combined company.
Gerry DeBiasi, partner of Kidd & Co. and executive chairman of iPacesetters will also continue in his role.
iPacesetters is primarily owned by Kidd & Co. and fellow private equity fund Shore Points Capital
ARGI, which provides audience development, lead generation and marketing technology, and iPacesetters, which operates call centers, announced Monday that they have merged under the name of iPacesetters. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The merged company will offer unified, transactional databases combined with performance-based call centers. Ray Butkus, currently ARGI's CEO, will be CEO of iPacesetters. Frank Royal, currently president of iPacesetters, will continue in that role at the newly combined company.
Gerry DeBiasi, partner of Kidd & Co. and executive chairman of iPacesetters will also continue in his role.
iPacesetters is primarily owned by Kidd & Co. and fellow private equity fund Shore Points Capital
WPP acquires the TAXI creative network
http://www.wpp.com/wpp/press/press/default.htm?guid=%7Ba0061ab7-87e0-4f84-96f4-f77c47fd08fb%7D
http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/agency/article.jsp?content=20101119_145048_5932
WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY) announced today that it is acquiring the TAXI creative network.
TAXI, founded in 1992 in Montreal by Paul Lavoie and partner Jane Hope, has built its reputation on its highly innovative creative work. It has five offices in Canada, as well as an agency in New York and one in Amsterdam.
The TAXI leadership team will continue to drive the organization, with Lavoie retaining his role as Chairman and Rob Guenette serving as TAXI's CEO. Paul will report to Peter Stringham, who is Chairman and CEO of Young & Rubicam Brands and TAXI will become one of the Young & Rubicam Brands agencies.
Beringer Capital acted as exclusive advisor to TAXI.
http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/agency/article.jsp?content=20101119_145048_5932
WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY) announced today that it is acquiring the TAXI creative network.
TAXI, founded in 1992 in Montreal by Paul Lavoie and partner Jane Hope, has built its reputation on its highly innovative creative work. It has five offices in Canada, as well as an agency in New York and one in Amsterdam.
The TAXI leadership team will continue to drive the organization, with Lavoie retaining his role as Chairman and Rob Guenette serving as TAXI's CEO. Paul will report to Peter Stringham, who is Chairman and CEO of Young & Rubicam Brands and TAXI will become one of the Young & Rubicam Brands agencies.
Beringer Capital acted as exclusive advisor to TAXI.
Schawk, Inc. Completes Acquisition of Digital Marketing Agency Real
http://www.schawk.com/about-us/press-room/schawk-inc-completes-acquisition-of-digital-marketing-agency-real-branding
Schawk, Inc. (NYSE: SGK), a leading provider of brand point management services, enabling companies of all sizes to connect their brands with consumers to create deeper brand affinity, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of the digital marketing agency Real Branding, which has offices in San Francisco and New York.
Real Branding was founded in 1994 to pioneer the emerging field of digital communications for brands. The agency’s clients include Unilever, Lipton, Disney, Michelob, Red Lobster and ABC.
Schawk, Inc. (NYSE: SGK), a leading provider of brand point management services, enabling companies of all sizes to connect their brands with consumers to create deeper brand affinity, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of the digital marketing agency Real Branding, which has offices in San Francisco and New York.
Real Branding was founded in 1994 to pioneer the emerging field of digital communications for brands. The agency’s clients include Unilever, Lipton, Disney, Michelob, Red Lobster and ABC.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Morgan Stanley's Meeker Sees Online Ad Boom
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/nov2010/tc20101116_062591.htm
Mary Meeker will predict a $50 billion online advertising boom in an address at the annual Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco today. The Morgan Stanley analyst will say as well that mobile commerce may gain market share faster than traditional online retailing.
Mary Meeker will predict a $50 billion online advertising boom in an address at the annual Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco today. The Morgan Stanley analyst will say as well that mobile commerce may gain market share faster than traditional online retailing.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
ZelnickMedia Completes Acquisition of Alloy, Inc.
Alloy, Inc. (Nasdaq:ALOY - News) ("Alloy") announced today that an investor group led by ZelnickMedia has completed the previously announced acquisition of Alloy following the approval of the transaction by an overwhelming majority of Alloy shareholders at a special stockholders meeting held yesterday. The purchase price of $9.80 in cash for each share of Alloy common stock represented a transaction value of approximately $126.3 million.
As announced in June 2010, Geraldine Laybourne has been named Chairman of Alloy. Matt Diamond and Jim Johnson, Alloy's co-founders, will continue to run the Company as CEO and COO, respectively.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ZelnickMedia-Completes-pz-1907720171.html?x=0&.v=1
As announced in June 2010, Geraldine Laybourne has been named Chairman of Alloy. Matt Diamond and Jim Johnson, Alloy's co-founders, will continue to run the Company as CEO and COO, respectively.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ZelnickMedia-Completes-pz-1907720171.html?x=0&.v=1
PDI, Inc. Acquires Group DCA, a Leader in Innovative Digital Communications to Health Care Providers
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/PDI-Inc-Acquires-Group-DCA-a-prnews-975766543.html?x=0&.v=1
PDI, Inc. (Nasdaq:PDII - News), a leading provider of integrated promotional outsource services to health care companies, today announced the expansion of its business with the acquisition of Group DCA, a privately held interactive digital communications agency serving biopharmaceutical companies.
Group DCA, based in Parsippany, NJ, was founded in 1999 as a privately owned digital communications agency by pharmaceutical industry veterans Jack Davis and Robert Likoff in order to provide more effective ways to engage health care providers. Group DCA and its business units leverage the strengths of the Internet, multimedia, tablet PCs, dimensional direct mail, and its proprietary software called DIAGRAM™ (DIAlog, GRAphics, Motion). Through these elements, Group DCA is able to deliver breakthrough solutions via interactive communications exchanges that conveniently accommodate the busy schedules of health care providers. Group DCA's programs also yield meaningful response data that allow clients to better understand the needs and opinions of their audiences, and, in turn, to market to them more effectively.
PDI, Inc. (Nasdaq:PDII - News), a leading provider of integrated promotional outsource services to health care companies, today announced the expansion of its business with the acquisition of Group DCA, a privately held interactive digital communications agency serving biopharmaceutical companies.
Group DCA, based in Parsippany, NJ, was founded in 1999 as a privately owned digital communications agency by pharmaceutical industry veterans Jack Davis and Robert Likoff in order to provide more effective ways to engage health care providers. Group DCA and its business units leverage the strengths of the Internet, multimedia, tablet PCs, dimensional direct mail, and its proprietary software called DIAGRAM™ (DIAlog, GRAphics, Motion). Through these elements, Group DCA is able to deliver breakthrough solutions via interactive communications exchanges that conveniently accommodate the busy schedules of health care providers. Group DCA's programs also yield meaningful response data that allow clients to better understand the needs and opinions of their audiences, and, in turn, to market to them more effectively.
WPP Acquires I‐Behavior
http://www.jegi.com/files/docs/Press_11.10.10.pdf
KBM Group (www.kbmg.com), the leader in providing a full spectrum of data‐driven marketing solutions and a unit of WPP (www.wpp.com), has agreed to acquire IBehavior (www.i‐behavior.com), a market leader in consumer and business transaction data. I‐Behavior
helps multi‐channel merchants market more effectively through a cooperative database including over eight billion SKU‐level transactions representing more than $280 billion in online and offline purchases. IBehavior is a privately held company based in Louisville, Colorado.
KBM Group (www.kbmg.com), the leader in providing a full spectrum of data‐driven marketing solutions and a unit of WPP (www.wpp.com), has agreed to acquire IBehavior (www.i‐behavior.com), a market leader in consumer and business transaction data. I‐Behavior
helps multi‐channel merchants market more effectively through a cooperative database including over eight billion SKU‐level transactions representing more than $280 billion in online and offline purchases. IBehavior is a privately held company based in Louisville, Colorado.
HIG backs Engine Groups’ forays overseas
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/aa43c68c-d6ed-11df-aaab-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=rss
Engine Group, the London-based marketing services company, is raising up to £62.5m from a private equity firm to fund expansion into the US, Brazil and China.
The initial investment of £32.5m by HIG Capital is a relatively rare foray by private equity into the advertising agency world. A further £30m will be available over the next two years as Engine expands, with HIG eventually holding a stake below 40 per cent.
The group, which owns ad agency WCRS and PR group MHP, said last month that it was postponing a planned initial public offering this year, due to the unwelcoming financial markets.
HIG’s investment, from its mid-market European fund, will also allow existing shareholders – including 200 Engine employees and management – to cash in up to 30 per cent of their stake.
Engine’s like-for-like revenues grew by 8.2 per cent to £34.3m in the first half of 2010, after the group swung into profit last year.
Engine Group, the London-based marketing services company, is raising up to £62.5m from a private equity firm to fund expansion into the US, Brazil and China.
The initial investment of £32.5m by HIG Capital is a relatively rare foray by private equity into the advertising agency world. A further £30m will be available over the next two years as Engine expands, with HIG eventually holding a stake below 40 per cent.
The group, which owns ad agency WCRS and PR group MHP, said last month that it was postponing a planned initial public offering this year, due to the unwelcoming financial markets.
HIG’s investment, from its mid-market European fund, will also allow existing shareholders – including 200 Engine employees and management – to cash in up to 30 per cent of their stake.
Engine’s like-for-like revenues grew by 8.2 per cent to £34.3m in the first half of 2010, after the group swung into profit last year.
Deep Focus Acquired by Engine USA
New York digital shop Deep Focus was acquired by Engine USA, the newly created stateside division of U.K. agency conglomerate Engine Group.
Deep Focus prides itself on being an early adopter of new platforms. It was the first, or among the first, to execute immersive client campaigns on properties like Foursquare, Gaia Online, FarmVille, and MySpace. Its emphasis is on fueling interactivity and earned media, rather than more traditional reach and frequency metrics.
The eight-year-old agency's most active current client is Microsoft, for which it built a high-profile integration with FarmVille. However, its primary focus has been on entertainment giants like HBO, Sony Pictures Television, and AMC, for which it created last year's ubiquitous "Mad Men Yourself" and this year's reprise.
Engine USA's model among agency holding companies is somewhat unique in that it aims to operate companies without overlapping services. That in turn limits competition among in-house agencies and better serves clients, said Deep Focus CEO Ian Shafer.
http://www.clickz.com/clickz/news/1794268/deep-focus-acquired-engine-usa
Monday, November 8, 2010
Source Marketing Acquires Think 360
Marketing services agency Source Marketing has acquired Think 360, Inc., an integrated marketing agency founded in 2001 that includes health and wellness subsidiary Antidote 360.
Think 360 prides itself on its pool of talented employees and its roster of largely blue chip consumer packaged goods clients including Heinz, Pepperidge Farm, Hain Celestial, Crayola, Tata Beverage Group and Unilever. The agency has won a number of prestigious industry distinctions, including twice being named to the Promo 100 ranking of the Top 100 U.S. promotion agencies, ranking the No. 15 Fastest Growing Agency in 2008 and the No. 5 Best Creative Agency in 2007.
Source Marketing’s clients include companies such as Philips, Panasonic, Reckitt Benckiser, Motorola, Bic, CIBA Vision, StarKist and HSBC. In addition to the Norwalk office, the agency has locations in Providence, RI, and Danbury, CT.
Under a rather unique aspect of the MDC Partners model, managing partners Mark Toner, Rich Feldman and Correia of Source Marketing all have equity in Source in partnership with MDC, and the three, along with MDC collectively invested to purchase Think 360.
Source Marketing ranked No. 46 on the 2010 Promo 100 with an estimated 2009 U.S. net revenue of $16.9 million.
Think 360 prides itself on its pool of talented employees and its roster of largely blue chip consumer packaged goods clients including Heinz, Pepperidge Farm, Hain Celestial, Crayola, Tata Beverage Group and Unilever. The agency has won a number of prestigious industry distinctions, including twice being named to the Promo 100 ranking of the Top 100 U.S. promotion agencies, ranking the No. 15 Fastest Growing Agency in 2008 and the No. 5 Best Creative Agency in 2007.
Source Marketing’s clients include companies such as Philips, Panasonic, Reckitt Benckiser, Motorola, Bic, CIBA Vision, StarKist and HSBC. In addition to the Norwalk office, the agency has locations in Providence, RI, and Danbury, CT.
Under a rather unique aspect of the MDC Partners model, managing partners Mark Toner, Rich Feldman and Correia of Source Marketing all have equity in Source in partnership with MDC, and the three, along with MDC collectively invested to purchase Think 360.
Source Marketing ranked No. 46 on the 2010 Promo 100 with an estimated 2009 U.S. net revenue of $16.9 million.
IBM to acquire analytics provider Netezza
http://www.btobonline.com/article/20100921/FREE/100929982/ibm-to-acquire-analytics-provider-netezza
IBM Corp. plans to acquire data analytics company Netezza Corp., reinforcing its growing presence in Web analytics and marketing metrics. The all-cash deal, to close in the fourth quarter pending shareholder approval, is for $1.7 billion.
Netezza's data warehousing analytics capabilities serve such customers as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Nationwide Insurance, Neiman Marcus, Time Warner and Virgin Media.
In the last four years, according to IBM, it has invested more than $12 billion in 23 analytics-related acquisitions. This summer the company announced deals to acquire marketing management software company Unica Corp. and Web analytics and marketing optimization company Coremetrics Inc. Last year, IBM bought predictive analytics company SPSS Inc.
IBM Corp. plans to acquire data analytics company Netezza Corp., reinforcing its growing presence in Web analytics and marketing metrics. The all-cash deal, to close in the fourth quarter pending shareholder approval, is for $1.7 billion.
Netezza's data warehousing analytics capabilities serve such customers as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Nationwide Insurance, Neiman Marcus, Time Warner and Virgin Media.
In the last four years, according to IBM, it has invested more than $12 billion in 23 analytics-related acquisitions. This summer the company announced deals to acquire marketing management software company Unica Corp. and Web analytics and marketing optimization company Coremetrics Inc. Last year, IBM bought predictive analytics company SPSS Inc.
SurveyMonkey Raises $100 Million In Debt Financing, In Part For M&A
SurveyMonkey, the popular online polling service, has raised $100 million in debt financing, which intriguingly it says it might use in part to fund acquisitions. The announcement comes nearly a year-and-a-half after PE firms Spectrum Equity Investors and Bain Capital Ventures bought a majority stake in the company and brought in former Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) Music GM Dave Goldberg to run it.
So, what might SurveyMonkey want to buy? Under Goldberg, the company appears to have decided to double down on the polling market, rather than branch out into offering its customers other, related services. The company has made one small acquisition this year, buying up phone survey firm Precision Polling.
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-surveymonkey-raises-100-million-in-debt-financing-in-part-for-ma/
So, what might SurveyMonkey want to buy? Under Goldberg, the company appears to have decided to double down on the polling market, rather than branch out into offering its customers other, related services. The company has made one small acquisition this year, buying up phone survey firm Precision Polling.
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-surveymonkey-raises-100-million-in-debt-financing-in-part-for-ma/
Online Video Ad Network Tremor Media Acquires ScanScout
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-online-video-ad-net-tremor-media-acquires-scanscout/
Several months after raising a huge $40 million funding round, Tremor Media is acquiring streaming ad placement service ScanScout. Both companies have been expanding for the past year, attempting to better ride the growing wave of online video ad spending.
The amount was not disclosed. Under the terms of the deal, ScanScout’s brand will disappear and both companies will operate as Tremor.
For Tremor and ScanScout, the deal isn’t just about increasing their reach among audiences—it’s about accessing a greater slice of advertisers’ spending. Once the merger is complete, the deal will increase the amount of ad impressions Tremor and ScanScout can scale. Specifically, Tremor Media’s Acudeo Platform offers advertisers reach across 3,500 sites, as opposed to just one site like Hulu. It also is aimed at helping publishers manage their entire in-stream inventory, as more websites look to ramp up their video offerings. Besides, with many advertisers looking to buy audiences, as opposed to sites directly, it could help both companies capture the ad dollars that are flowing to online video.
Several months after raising a huge $40 million funding round, Tremor Media is acquiring streaming ad placement service ScanScout. Both companies have been expanding for the past year, attempting to better ride the growing wave of online video ad spending.
The amount was not disclosed. Under the terms of the deal, ScanScout’s brand will disappear and both companies will operate as Tremor.
For Tremor and ScanScout, the deal isn’t just about increasing their reach among audiences—it’s about accessing a greater slice of advertisers’ spending. Once the merger is complete, the deal will increase the amount of ad impressions Tremor and ScanScout can scale. Specifically, Tremor Media’s Acudeo Platform offers advertisers reach across 3,500 sites, as opposed to just one site like Hulu. It also is aimed at helping publishers manage their entire in-stream inventory, as more websites look to ramp up their video offerings. Besides, with many advertisers looking to buy audiences, as opposed to sites directly, it could help both companies capture the ad dollars that are flowing to online video.
UBM buys Canon Communications
Acquisition-prone United Business Media (LSE: UBM) says it is buying Canon Communications, a company which operates manufacturing and medical tradeshows and related media, for $287 million.
The publisher says Canon will complement its electronic engineering business to enhance its information and marketing services.
UBM is making the acquisition from Canon owners Spectrum Equity Investors and Apprise Media LLC; the price is 7.8 times Canon’s pre-tax profit. Canon publishers Qmed.com, Medical Device Register, PharmaLive, e-knowledge base, PlasticsToday and other online services.
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-ubm-buying-canon-events-business-for-287-million/
The publisher says Canon will complement its electronic engineering business to enhance its information and marketing services.
UBM is making the acquisition from Canon owners Spectrum Equity Investors and Apprise Media LLC; the price is 7.8 times Canon’s pre-tax profit. Canon publishers Qmed.com, Medical Device Register, PharmaLive, e-knowledge base, PlasticsToday and other online services.
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-ubm-buying-canon-events-business-for-287-million/
Alterian acquires Intrepid, a social media firm
Alterian, which provides marketers with a suite of content management and social media monitoring tools, has bought up Intrepid, a social media consulting firm. Alterian says it’s buying Intrepid—which has 40 employees—in order to provide a “packaged solution of social media analytics and market research capability to organizations who have neither the time or in-house expertise to understand what the social media world is saying about them and how to make best use of it in their businesses.”
This is fast-growing Alterian’s third acquisition in two years; it bought up online content manager Mediasurface two years ago and followed up that purchase by acquiring social media monitor Techrigy last summer.
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-alterian-buys-social-media-consultancy-intrepid/
http://www.destinationcrm.com/Articles/CRM-News/Daily-News/Alterian-Buys-Intrepid-for-$11.5-Million-69740.aspx
The acquisition will cost Alterian up to $11.5 million, $3.5 million of which will be paid up front. The other $8 million will be paid based on whether or not revenue targets are met over the next several years.
This is fast-growing Alterian’s third acquisition in two years; it bought up online content manager Mediasurface two years ago and followed up that purchase by acquiring social media monitor Techrigy last summer.
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-alterian-buys-social-media-consultancy-intrepid/
http://www.destinationcrm.com/Articles/CRM-News/Daily-News/Alterian-Buys-Intrepid-for-$11.5-Million-69740.aspx
The acquisition will cost Alterian up to $11.5 million, $3.5 million of which will be paid up front. The other $8 million will be paid based on whether or not revenue targets are met over the next several years.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
TargetCast Acquires Triumph360
http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/media/e3i793156d6041aecbf5966dca3614dab9c
To meet growing client demands for digital capabilities, TargetCast:tcm, a New York-based independent media agency, has acquired i-shop Triumph360 of Stamford, Conn.
The agreement was disclosed to staffers today, along with the fact that the Triumph team will relocate to the Manhattan offices of TargetCast, which has annual billings of more than $500 million.
Triumph, founded two years ago by Jordan McGrath Case and imc2 veteran Steve Minichini, counts marketers such as Pizza Hut, angina drug Ranexa and Beauty Bank (a unit of Estee Lauder) among its clients. Billings total $20 million.
To meet growing client demands for digital capabilities, TargetCast:tcm, a New York-based independent media agency, has acquired i-shop Triumph360 of Stamford, Conn.
The agreement was disclosed to staffers today, along with the fact that the Triumph team will relocate to the Manhattan offices of TargetCast, which has annual billings of more than $500 million.
Triumph, founded two years ago by Jordan McGrath Case and imc2 veteran Steve Minichini, counts marketers such as Pizza Hut, angina drug Ranexa and Beauty Bank (a unit of Estee Lauder) among its clients. Billings total $20 million.
YPG launches digital advertising arm Mediative
http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/media/article.jsp?content=20101026_202316_2212
Yellow Pages Group has launched a digital advertising and marketing subsidiary called Mediative to serve national advertisers and agencies.
Its services include SEO, SEM, social media marketing and location-based marketing consulting. YPG has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Acquisio, in which YPG has held a 24% ownership interest since mid-2009, for Mediative to provide clients access to Acquisio's search, social and display advertising platform in Canada.
The new venture is a result of Yellow Pages laying out $60 million in acquisitions, including search engine marketing company Enquiro, national retail advertising firm Ad Splash Media and independent online advertising representation shop Uptrend Media. As a result, Mediative has burst out of the gate with over 150 employees across four new Canadian offices in Montreal, Toronto, Kelowna and Vancouver.
"We're launching a new brand outside the YPG umbrella to build a different, media tech culture," said Mediative president Patrick Lauzon. "Yellow Pages has never been a product that ad agencies have traditionally worked with. As the media world migrates to digital, there's been a huge opportunity to get going with these national advertisers."
Yellow Pages Group intends to leverage its network of print and online properties–including Autotrader.ca, RedFlagDeals.com and YellowPages.ca–to provide display advertising and audience targeting on Canada's leading online and mobile ad networks, as well as vertical ad products and solutions in the automotive, real estate and retail categories.
Mediative will also sell online advertising inventories for publishers including Future Shop, Best Buy, Walmart, Toys R Us, Martha Stewart, ET Online and the CFL.
"We have 11.7 million unique visitors that come to YPG properties every month, even before these acquisitions," said Lauzon. "Yet, we still weren't [connecting] with agencies or coordinated [enough] to be a display ad reseller. The initiation of [the acquisitions] was really, 'How do we regroup these properties and create a group that will go out and sell them?' "
With the addition of Ad Splash and Up Trend alone, Lauzon said Mediative has grown its ad space to 250 sites.
"Mediative is the next step in YPG's digital growth strategy." said Marc P. Tellier, president and CEO of Yellow Pages Group, in a statement. "We now have the products and team to serve advertisers looking for robust and cost-effective digital marketing solutions."
Yellow Pages Group has launched a digital advertising and marketing subsidiary called Mediative to serve national advertisers and agencies.
Its services include SEO, SEM, social media marketing and location-based marketing consulting. YPG has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Acquisio, in which YPG has held a 24% ownership interest since mid-2009, for Mediative to provide clients access to Acquisio's search, social and display advertising platform in Canada.
The new venture is a result of Yellow Pages laying out $60 million in acquisitions, including search engine marketing company Enquiro, national retail advertising firm Ad Splash Media and independent online advertising representation shop Uptrend Media. As a result, Mediative has burst out of the gate with over 150 employees across four new Canadian offices in Montreal, Toronto, Kelowna and Vancouver.
"We're launching a new brand outside the YPG umbrella to build a different, media tech culture," said Mediative president Patrick Lauzon. "Yellow Pages has never been a product that ad agencies have traditionally worked with. As the media world migrates to digital, there's been a huge opportunity to get going with these national advertisers."
Yellow Pages Group intends to leverage its network of print and online properties–including Autotrader.ca, RedFlagDeals.com and YellowPages.ca–to provide display advertising and audience targeting on Canada's leading online and mobile ad networks, as well as vertical ad products and solutions in the automotive, real estate and retail categories.
Mediative will also sell online advertising inventories for publishers including Future Shop, Best Buy, Walmart, Toys R Us, Martha Stewart, ET Online and the CFL.
"We have 11.7 million unique visitors that come to YPG properties every month, even before these acquisitions," said Lauzon. "Yet, we still weren't [connecting] with agencies or coordinated [enough] to be a display ad reseller. The initiation of [the acquisitions] was really, 'How do we regroup these properties and create a group that will go out and sell them?' "
With the addition of Ad Splash and Up Trend alone, Lauzon said Mediative has grown its ad space to 250 sites.
"Mediative is the next step in YPG's digital growth strategy." said Marc P. Tellier, president and CEO of Yellow Pages Group, in a statement. "We now have the products and team to serve advertisers looking for robust and cost-effective digital marketing solutions."
Colour acquires a new shade of digital with E3
http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/agency/article.jsp?content=20101022_164017_6428
Halifax agency Colour has bolstered its digital capabilities with the acquisition of Toronto-based web design and development agency E3 Online Marketing.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Colour president and CEO Chris Keevill called the deal a logical step in an ongoing process to make Colour's service offering "much more digitally centred."
"This is a continuation and acceleration of that, because in one fell swoop we've been able to add digital resources and establish a new presence in a new market where we think our value proposition will be well received," he said.
Established in 1999 by Brad Bettinson, Toronto-based E3 has worked with major brands including McDonald's, Koodoo, ESPN, XBox, Coke and Cadbury. As part of the deal, Bettinson will become a Colour shareholder and join the agency as managing partner of its digital practice.
Keevill said the deal came about because he and Bettinson shared similar goals for their respective agencies.
"What I found was that we had the same ideals, shared a lot of the same values and were quite synergistic in what we were looking for in a partner," he said. "We saw the opportunity to strengthen our digital capability and expand into a market presence in Toronto; for Brad, a small boutique digital shop, he saw the need to be part of an integrated offering."
"To be successful in the new digital landscape you can't just slap digital on the side–it needs to be sewn right into the fabric of how you approach the challenges of your clients," said Bettinson in a release. "When Colour approached us about how we could help them continue their evolution into a digitally-centric agency at every level, we knew we were on the right page."
Established in 1977, Colour's client list includes Royal LePage Atlantic, Nova Scotia Tourism, Exxon Mobil Canada and the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. The company is not in acquisition mode, Keevill stressed, but is on the lookout for potentially beneficial deals.
"We're attracted to attractive opportunities, and this is certainly one," he said.
Halifax agency Colour has bolstered its digital capabilities with the acquisition of Toronto-based web design and development agency E3 Online Marketing.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Colour president and CEO Chris Keevill called the deal a logical step in an ongoing process to make Colour's service offering "much more digitally centred."
"This is a continuation and acceleration of that, because in one fell swoop we've been able to add digital resources and establish a new presence in a new market where we think our value proposition will be well received," he said.
Established in 1999 by Brad Bettinson, Toronto-based E3 has worked with major brands including McDonald's, Koodoo, ESPN, XBox, Coke and Cadbury. As part of the deal, Bettinson will become a Colour shareholder and join the agency as managing partner of its digital practice.
Keevill said the deal came about because he and Bettinson shared similar goals for their respective agencies.
"What I found was that we had the same ideals, shared a lot of the same values and were quite synergistic in what we were looking for in a partner," he said. "We saw the opportunity to strengthen our digital capability and expand into a market presence in Toronto; for Brad, a small boutique digital shop, he saw the need to be part of an integrated offering."
"To be successful in the new digital landscape you can't just slap digital on the side–it needs to be sewn right into the fabric of how you approach the challenges of your clients," said Bettinson in a release. "When Colour approached us about how we could help them continue their evolution into a digitally-centric agency at every level, we knew we were on the right page."
Established in 1977, Colour's client list includes Royal LePage Atlantic, Nova Scotia Tourism, Exxon Mobil Canada and the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. The company is not in acquisition mode, Keevill stressed, but is on the lookout for potentially beneficial deals.
"We're attracted to attractive opportunities, and this is certainly one," he said.
KBS+P Expands Into Canada
http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/agency/e3i39cbc5228150ebabdaf173a2e5eaddc1
The New York-based MDC Partners shop has joined with sibling Allard Johnson to form KBS+P Canada. This gives the brand a 100-person presence in Toronto and Montreal. The Allard Johnson name will cease to be used. Key clients include Subway, Church & Dwight, Purdue Pharma and Merck.
Another MDC shop, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, made a similar move this summer, absorbing sibling Zig to rebrand as CP+B Canada.
Allard Johnson exec Mario Daigle will run KBS+P Canada as president, reporting to agency CEO Lori Senecal (pictured). Former Allard Johnson chief exec Terry Johnson becomes chairman. Dan Pawych is CCO. Cameron Wykes will serve as gm in Toronto and also lead BabyRobot, the shop's digital unit.
Johnson noted that the union gives the Canadian operations immediate access to "new capabilities, talent [from KBS+P] and further enhances our social media and digitally integrated offering for clients."
http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/agency/article.jsp?content=20101019_151238_8860
The agency informed clients of the change last Friday and Daigle said the reaction has been supportive and overwhelmingly positive. The client list includes Subway, Church and Dwight Canada, Dairy Farmers of Canada, The Keg Steakhouse and Bar, Purdue Pharma, and Merck.
KBS+P now has four offices–Toronto, Montreal, New York and Atlanta–and the new deal is being viewed as a perfect springboard for further international expansion. "We're looking for further expansion, whether Asia, Europe or Latin America, it's just a matter of time," said Daigle. "This is a big step towards that."
The New York-based MDC Partners shop has joined with sibling Allard Johnson to form KBS+P Canada. This gives the brand a 100-person presence in Toronto and Montreal. The Allard Johnson name will cease to be used. Key clients include Subway, Church & Dwight, Purdue Pharma and Merck.
Another MDC shop, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, made a similar move this summer, absorbing sibling Zig to rebrand as CP+B Canada.
Allard Johnson exec Mario Daigle will run KBS+P Canada as president, reporting to agency CEO Lori Senecal (pictured). Former Allard Johnson chief exec Terry Johnson becomes chairman. Dan Pawych is CCO. Cameron Wykes will serve as gm in Toronto and also lead BabyRobot, the shop's digital unit.
Johnson noted that the union gives the Canadian operations immediate access to "new capabilities, talent [from KBS+P] and further enhances our social media and digitally integrated offering for clients."
http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/agency/article.jsp?content=20101019_151238_8860
The agency informed clients of the change last Friday and Daigle said the reaction has been supportive and overwhelmingly positive. The client list includes Subway, Church and Dwight Canada, Dairy Farmers of Canada, The Keg Steakhouse and Bar, Purdue Pharma, and Merck.
KBS+P now has four offices–Toronto, Montreal, New York and Atlanta–and the new deal is being viewed as a perfect springboard for further international expansion. "We're looking for further expansion, whether Asia, Europe or Latin America, it's just a matter of time," said Daigle. "This is a big step towards that."
Mobile Ad Spending Trends Upward
http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/agency/e3if5f773e59310e059c43c985188622dc1
With Apple and Google in stiff competition for mobile advertising dollars, it's useful to review how much money is at stake.
eMarketer predicts that mobile advertising across all principal formats -- display, search and messaging-based -- will reach $1.56 billion by 2013.
Commensurate with its status as an emerging channel, mobile advertising will achieve a lofty compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 37.3 percent between 2008 and 2013 -- considerably higher than online ad spending as a whole, but more in line with emerging online formats such as digital video.
With Apple and Google in stiff competition for mobile advertising dollars, it's useful to review how much money is at stake.
eMarketer predicts that mobile advertising across all principal formats -- display, search and messaging-based -- will reach $1.56 billion by 2013.
Commensurate with its status as an emerging channel, mobile advertising will achieve a lofty compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 37.3 percent between 2008 and 2013 -- considerably higher than online ad spending as a whole, but more in line with emerging online formats such as digital video.
Torstar buys Web2Mobile to boost mobile firepower
http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/media/article.jsp?content=20101013_150442_1440
Torstar Digital has increased its presence in the growing mobile marketing space with the acquisition of mobile marketing company Web2Mobile. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Candice Faktor, vice-president of strategy and new ventures for Torstar Digital, described mobile as an important growth area for the company, noting that Web2Mobile offers a "nice rounded capability set" that complements its existing assets.
"We're constantly looking at the future of our business and what spaces we want to play in, and we think that mobile is a very important area that we want to continue to build businesses in–especially taking some of our digital businesses and evolving them into mobile," said Faktor.
Toronto-based Web2Mobile develops campaigns and apps for a wide range of mobile devices including the iPhone, iPad, Android and BlackBerry.
The company recently developed a free app for Random House called Conversation Starters that offers up tidbits from the company's non-fiction books for use at dinner parties.
The app also enables users to read an expanded excerpt from the selected book with a simple click, buy the book online, or use their mobile device's GPS capability to locate the nearest retailer.
Web2Mobile will operate independently of Torstar Digital's other business units and will continue to be led by founder Deborah Hall, who was recently named one of New York-based Mobile Marketer's "Women to Watch" for 2010." The company will report into Torstar Digital's Strategy & New Ventures group.
"We believe very much in having independently run businesses so that they're able to achieve their objectives without having to focus on what one of our other business's objectives are," said Faktor. "Where it makes sense we'll work together, but we think independence is really important."
In her new role, Hall will be charged with helping clients develop both mobile marketing strategies and new revenue models for the mobile space. Throughout her career, Hall has worked with clients including Chapters Indigo, Nike, Diageo, Corus Entertainment, The Weather Network and Cogeco.
Torstar Digital has been busy on the acquisition front in the past year, with recent purchases including Montreal-based travel deal aggregator TravelAlerts.ca and the group buying operation WagJag (a competitor to companies like Groupon and WebPiggy).
"We're definitely in growth mode," said Faktor. "This is a very exciting time to be doing this. The pace at which things are happening now is just so fast."
Torstar Digital has increased its presence in the growing mobile marketing space with the acquisition of mobile marketing company Web2Mobile. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Candice Faktor, vice-president of strategy and new ventures for Torstar Digital, described mobile as an important growth area for the company, noting that Web2Mobile offers a "nice rounded capability set" that complements its existing assets.
"We're constantly looking at the future of our business and what spaces we want to play in, and we think that mobile is a very important area that we want to continue to build businesses in–especially taking some of our digital businesses and evolving them into mobile," said Faktor.
Toronto-based Web2Mobile develops campaigns and apps for a wide range of mobile devices including the iPhone, iPad, Android and BlackBerry.
The company recently developed a free app for Random House called Conversation Starters that offers up tidbits from the company's non-fiction books for use at dinner parties.
The app also enables users to read an expanded excerpt from the selected book with a simple click, buy the book online, or use their mobile device's GPS capability to locate the nearest retailer.
Web2Mobile will operate independently of Torstar Digital's other business units and will continue to be led by founder Deborah Hall, who was recently named one of New York-based Mobile Marketer's "Women to Watch" for 2010." The company will report into Torstar Digital's Strategy & New Ventures group.
"We believe very much in having independently run businesses so that they're able to achieve their objectives without having to focus on what one of our other business's objectives are," said Faktor. "Where it makes sense we'll work together, but we think independence is really important."
In her new role, Hall will be charged with helping clients develop both mobile marketing strategies and new revenue models for the mobile space. Throughout her career, Hall has worked with clients including Chapters Indigo, Nike, Diageo, Corus Entertainment, The Weather Network and Cogeco.
Torstar Digital has been busy on the acquisition front in the past year, with recent purchases including Montreal-based travel deal aggregator TravelAlerts.ca and the group buying operation WagJag (a competitor to companies like Groupon and WebPiggy).
"We're definitely in growth mode," said Faktor. "This is a very exciting time to be doing this. The pace at which things are happening now is just so fast."
Maritz Research acquires research analytics company evolve24
Maritz Research, a division of incentives and meeting-planning company Maritz Inc., has acquired evolve24, a business analytics and research company that uses social media and other means to measure brand and product perception, reputation and risk.
Evolve24, based in St. Louis and with an office in Chicago, will function as a standalone business within Maritz Research. Company founder and CEO Anthony Sardella will take the title of managing director of evolve24, reporting to Jim Stone, exec VP-chief research officer at Maritz Research.
http://www.btobonline.com/article/20101005/FREE/101009970/maritz-research-acquires-research-analytics-company-evolve24#seenit
Evolve24, based in St. Louis and with an office in Chicago, will function as a standalone business within Maritz Research. Company founder and CEO Anthony Sardella will take the title of managing director of evolve24, reporting to Jim Stone, exec VP-chief research officer at Maritz Research.
http://www.btobonline.com/article/20101005/FREE/101009970/maritz-research-acquires-research-analytics-company-evolve24#seenit
Ad Optimizer Rocket Fuel Lifts Off With $10M From Nokia
http://www.nytimes.com/external/venturebeat/2010/09/22/22venturebeat-ad-optimizer-rocket-fuel-lifts-off-with-10m-19429.html?emc=dbk
Rocket Fuel, a startup claiming to bring honest-to-God rocket science to the online advertising world, has raised $10 million in its second round of funding.
The Redwood Shores, Calif. company says it uses technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and statistics to figure out the best placement for a display ad. It either buys impressions on an ad exchange, or directly from online publishers. A number of ad optimizers look at user behavior, said chief executive George John, but Rocket Fuel looks at behavior, context, geography, demographics, and more. It can also give advertisers immediate feedback on how their ads are performing.
The new round brings Rocket Fuel’s total funding to $20 million, and it was led by Nokia Growth Partners. New investor Northgate Capital and previous investors Mohr Davidow Ventures and Labrador Ventures also contributed.
Rocket Fuel, a startup claiming to bring honest-to-God rocket science to the online advertising world, has raised $10 million in its second round of funding.
The Redwood Shores, Calif. company says it uses technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and statistics to figure out the best placement for a display ad. It either buys impressions on an ad exchange, or directly from online publishers. A number of ad optimizers look at user behavior, said chief executive George John, but Rocket Fuel looks at behavior, context, geography, demographics, and more. It can also give advertisers immediate feedback on how their ads are performing.
The new round brings Rocket Fuel’s total funding to $20 million, and it was led by Nokia Growth Partners. New investor Northgate Capital and previous investors Mohr Davidow Ventures and Labrador Ventures also contributed.
DG FastChannel To Buy Match Point Media For $26 Million
http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2010/09/30/dg-fastchannel-to-buy-match-point-media-for-26-million/?mod=yahoobarrons
DG FastChannel (DGIT), which provides digital media service to the advertising and broadcast industry, this morning said it will acquire privately held Match Point Media, a provider of direct response advertising, for $26 million in cash. The deal is expected to close October 1.
DGIT said Match Point expects revenue for the nine months through September 30 of $14 million, with EBITDA of about $3 million. DG said it expects $2 million in cost synergies from the deal by the end of 2011.
DG FastChannel (DGIT), which provides digital media service to the advertising and broadcast industry, this morning said it will acquire privately held Match Point Media, a provider of direct response advertising, for $26 million in cash. The deal is expected to close October 1.
DGIT said Match Point expects revenue for the nine months through September 30 of $14 million, with EBITDA of about $3 million. DG said it expects $2 million in cost synergies from the deal by the end of 2011.
Partners & Edell acquired, rebranded as Rain 43, acquires Combustion Studios
http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/agency/article.jsp?content=20100916_165231_7772
Following a change in ownership at Partners & Edell, the Toronto agency has rebranded as Rain 43.
"Rain will make brands grow," said John Farquhar, chief creative officer, of his agency's new name. "That was the starting point for us. Also, it's about the kind of campaigns we're going to put out there. There are campaigns that are like a giant thunderstorm, and then there are those that are like a thousand tiny rain drops, which are the any number of things you can do to get the [brand] to the consumer."
The number 43 in the name refers to the GPS way point number indicating where the agency's office is located in Toronto.
Farquhar and partner John Yorke, Rain's president, acquired and then merged Partners & Edell with Farquhar's small independent agency Wildmouse in June.
Though Partners founder Dennis Edell now sees his name come off the door, he remains with the agency as its CEO.
Rain is currently hiring; having brought in Bernice Allinson, formerly associate creative director at Juniper Park, the partners are looking to bolster her creative team and expand the shop's digital credentials.
"Bernice is pure digital and works directly with me, and I come right out of the traditional advertising world," Farquhar said. "We're going to be creating campaigns that are far more integrated than those from a traditional advertising team."
Rain has also acquired Combustion Studio, a print and web design firm.
Partners & Edell's client base remains intact following the rebranding, including agency-of-record relationships with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Blue Mountain ski resort, Ontario Power Generation and Carstar.
http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/agency/article.jsp?content=20100602_145732_3236
Following a change in ownership at Partners & Edell, the Toronto agency has rebranded as Rain 43.
"Rain will make brands grow," said John Farquhar, chief creative officer, of his agency's new name. "That was the starting point for us. Also, it's about the kind of campaigns we're going to put out there. There are campaigns that are like a giant thunderstorm, and then there are those that are like a thousand tiny rain drops, which are the any number of things you can do to get the [brand] to the consumer."
The number 43 in the name refers to the GPS way point number indicating where the agency's office is located in Toronto.
Farquhar and partner John Yorke, Rain's president, acquired and then merged Partners & Edell with Farquhar's small independent agency Wildmouse in June.
Though Partners founder Dennis Edell now sees his name come off the door, he remains with the agency as its CEO.
Rain is currently hiring; having brought in Bernice Allinson, formerly associate creative director at Juniper Park, the partners are looking to bolster her creative team and expand the shop's digital credentials.
"Bernice is pure digital and works directly with me, and I come right out of the traditional advertising world," Farquhar said. "We're going to be creating campaigns that are far more integrated than those from a traditional advertising team."
Rain has also acquired Combustion Studio, a print and web design firm.
Partners & Edell's client base remains intact following the rebranding, including agency-of-record relationships with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Blue Mountain ski resort, Ontario Power Generation and Carstar.
http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/agency/article.jsp?content=20100602_145732_3236
Microsoft to Shutter Massive Inc.
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/news/digital-downloads/gaming/e3i09837ee3d3a16fac687abd46bb6219c3
Looks like Microsoft has a Massive failure on its hands.
The software giant will shutter its in-game advertising unit Massive Inc. before the end of this month, according to sources close to the company. Insiders at Microsoft said that Massive general manager JJ Richards has been seeking another job, while members of Massive’s technology and sales team are gradually being assigned to other projects.
Microsoft had been seeking a buyer for Massive over the past few months, per sources. The company is said to have even approached rival in-game ad vendor Double Fusion, seeking a high six-figure or low seven-figure deal, as well as several other companies in the gaming space. When Microsoft acquired Massive in 2006, the price the software giant paid was estimated to be between $200 million and $400 million. At the time of the acquisition, the exuberance for dynamic in-game advertising was at its peak; former Massive CEO Mitch Davis had predicted a $2 billion market by this year, a level the market never approached. Since then, Microsoft’s gamer-aimed subscription service Xbox Live has taken off—it now reaches 25 million users globally.
Xbox Live—an entertainment hub where gamers can chat, play games and watch movies—is considered a much more attractive advertising option for brands. Plus, Microsoft keeps all ad revenue it earns from Xbox Live, while it must share Massive’s ad revenue with game publishers—publishers who are often more interested in selling hit games than selling ads. Yet Massive had been on a hot streak several years ago, as the company lined up deals to deliver ads within some of the biggest video games on the market, such as Guitar Hero and Madden Football. But earlier this year Electronic Arts, publisher of some of the world's most popular sports and racing games, elected to pull its in-game ad business in-house, which resulted in Massive losing a large chunk of its premiere inventory.
Plus, according to sources, Massive’s ad sales efforts were never fully integrated within the Xbox team. In fact, at the time of the acquisition, several Xbox executives were said to be against the deal, but ex-Microsoft executive Cory Van Arsdale and other members of the company’s business development team had pushed hard to buy Massive, citing the fast-growing interest in the gaming space among brands.Microsoft officials declined to comment for this story.
Looks like Microsoft has a Massive failure on its hands.
The software giant will shutter its in-game advertising unit Massive Inc. before the end of this month, according to sources close to the company. Insiders at Microsoft said that Massive general manager JJ Richards has been seeking another job, while members of Massive’s technology and sales team are gradually being assigned to other projects.
Microsoft had been seeking a buyer for Massive over the past few months, per sources. The company is said to have even approached rival in-game ad vendor Double Fusion, seeking a high six-figure or low seven-figure deal, as well as several other companies in the gaming space. When Microsoft acquired Massive in 2006, the price the software giant paid was estimated to be between $200 million and $400 million. At the time of the acquisition, the exuberance for dynamic in-game advertising was at its peak; former Massive CEO Mitch Davis had predicted a $2 billion market by this year, a level the market never approached. Since then, Microsoft’s gamer-aimed subscription service Xbox Live has taken off—it now reaches 25 million users globally.
Xbox Live—an entertainment hub where gamers can chat, play games and watch movies—is considered a much more attractive advertising option for brands. Plus, Microsoft keeps all ad revenue it earns from Xbox Live, while it must share Massive’s ad revenue with game publishers—publishers who are often more interested in selling hit games than selling ads. Yet Massive had been on a hot streak several years ago, as the company lined up deals to deliver ads within some of the biggest video games on the market, such as Guitar Hero and Madden Football. But earlier this year Electronic Arts, publisher of some of the world's most popular sports and racing games, elected to pull its in-game ad business in-house, which resulted in Massive losing a large chunk of its premiere inventory.
Plus, according to sources, Massive’s ad sales efforts were never fully integrated within the Xbox team. In fact, at the time of the acquisition, several Xbox executives were said to be against the deal, but ex-Microsoft executive Cory Van Arsdale and other members of the company’s business development team had pushed hard to buy Massive, citing the fast-growing interest in the gaming space among brands.Microsoft officials declined to comment for this story.
Digital Out-of-Home Ad Spend Rises
http://www.brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/shopper-marketing/e3if40aadb1b179f42a8dab44bbdd36ca0c
The Digital Place-based Advertising Association reported that spending on digital place-based video networks grew 25 percent in the first half of 2009.
The DPAA's figure, estimated by Miller Kaplan Arase, did not include cinema advertising, which makes up more than half of the dollars spent in the digital place-based out-of-home market. That makes the overall impact of the medium difficult to gauge.
PQ Media, publisher of the Global Digital Out-of-Home Media Forecast, estimated that the total digital OOH network ad spend—including all 211 networks in five major venue categories (cinema, retail, office, entertainment and transit)—grew 10 percent to 15 percent in the first half of the year. Cinema grew about 8 percent to 10 percent.
"The growth rates and activity in this sector are very encouraging," said Kris Magel, evp, director of national broadcast at Initiative. "It's an indication that place-based media is moving beyond the startup phase and becoming a viable medium that is here to stay—and one that is very complementary to more traditional video media options."
Including cinema, the DPAA estimated total advertising for digital pace-based media was more than $1 billion.
The Digital Place-based Advertising Association reported that spending on digital place-based video networks grew 25 percent in the first half of 2009.
The DPAA's figure, estimated by Miller Kaplan Arase, did not include cinema advertising, which makes up more than half of the dollars spent in the digital place-based out-of-home market. That makes the overall impact of the medium difficult to gauge.
PQ Media, publisher of the Global Digital Out-of-Home Media Forecast, estimated that the total digital OOH network ad spend—including all 211 networks in five major venue categories (cinema, retail, office, entertainment and transit)—grew 10 percent to 15 percent in the first half of the year. Cinema grew about 8 percent to 10 percent.
"The growth rates and activity in this sector are very encouraging," said Kris Magel, evp, director of national broadcast at Initiative. "It's an indication that place-based media is moving beyond the startup phase and becoming a viable medium that is here to stay—and one that is very complementary to more traditional video media options."
Including cinema, the DPAA estimated total advertising for digital pace-based media was more than $1 billion.
Transcon gets more mobile with Vortex deal
http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/media/article.jsp?content=20101103_150736_9256
Transcontinental this week acquired integrated mobile solutions firm Vortex Mobile.
It's the first major move since September, when the company reported a third-quarter profit of $30.6 million and announced its intentions to make targeted acquisitions in digital technology.
"Every day we work with our customers on analyzing, executing and deploying marketing strategies that are built on personalization and new communication platforms," said Christian Trudeau, president of Transcon's Marketing Communications Sector, in a statement. "The acquisition of Vortex Mobile fits in perfectly with this approach. It will enhance our centre of excellence in mobile marketing solutions and confirm our leading position in the interactive marketing solutions offering."
Vortex Mobile was founded in 2004 and bills its service as one that builds marketing and technology solutions to foster consumer relationships across mobile messaging, mobile Internet, mobile advertising and social media channels.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Vortex's 37 employees will join Transcontinental's Marketing Communications Sector, and Brady Murphy, co-founder and CEO of Vortex Mobile, has been named vice-president, sales and mobile solutions.
"Transcontinental's vision was a key factor in our decision," said Murphy. "Its service offering is very attractive and Transcontinental's management understood the importance of including mobile and social media in their marketing solutions and making it a priority. Vortex customers can now make use of Transcontinental's expertise in campaign metrics and data analytics to optimize their marketing campaigns."
The acquisition continues Trancontinental's move to better position itself across multiple platforms through outside acquisitions. In May, the company bought Montreal-based Lipso Systems Inc. , a developer and marketer of technology that facilitates communications and transactions between organizations and mobile users.
Transcontinental this week acquired integrated mobile solutions firm Vortex Mobile.
It's the first major move since September, when the company reported a third-quarter profit of $30.6 million and announced its intentions to make targeted acquisitions in digital technology.
"Every day we work with our customers on analyzing, executing and deploying marketing strategies that are built on personalization and new communication platforms," said Christian Trudeau, president of Transcon's Marketing Communications Sector, in a statement. "The acquisition of Vortex Mobile fits in perfectly with this approach. It will enhance our centre of excellence in mobile marketing solutions and confirm our leading position in the interactive marketing solutions offering."
Vortex Mobile was founded in 2004 and bills its service as one that builds marketing and technology solutions to foster consumer relationships across mobile messaging, mobile Internet, mobile advertising and social media channels.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Vortex's 37 employees will join Transcontinental's Marketing Communications Sector, and Brady Murphy, co-founder and CEO of Vortex Mobile, has been named vice-president, sales and mobile solutions.
"Transcontinental's vision was a key factor in our decision," said Murphy. "Its service offering is very attractive and Transcontinental's management understood the importance of including mobile and social media in their marketing solutions and making it a priority. Vortex customers can now make use of Transcontinental's expertise in campaign metrics and data analytics to optimize their marketing campaigns."
The acquisition continues Trancontinental's move to better position itself across multiple platforms through outside acquisitions. In May, the company bought Montreal-based Lipso Systems Inc. , a developer and marketer of technology that facilitates communications and transactions between organizations and mobile users.
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