Archive for the 'General News' Category

ASAI Urges Industry to Defend Self Regulation

Published by CiaraM on September 6, 2011 in General News. 0 Comments Tags: , .

With two separate reviews of the codes covering the advertising of food and alcoholproducts underway, the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI) has written to the various industry stakeholders calling on them to support and defend the concept of selfregulation in the industry.

A letter from the ASAI’s chairman, Ed McCumiskey, which was sent to agencies and media suppliers this week says that “selfregulation is a vital resource for the industry in defending the right of advertisers to operate without unnecessary statutory regulation. It will only be effective in this regard when it is seen to work and all sections of the industry accept their individual responsibilities to fully operate the system.”

McCumiskey’s letter goes on to state that “the effectiveness of advertising self-regulation is constantly under scrutiny and, at present, Government departments and agencies are considering both the extent of regulation required and the appropriate operating models in areas involving alcohol and diet/nutrition for children. The functions of the Authority are growing and we now regulate the expanding area of digital media. We will shortly take on responsibility for an independent complaints system related to online behavioural advertising and we are the sole regulators for the Code (approved by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland) for commercial communications associated with on-demand services.”

The letter was sent to industry stakeholders following the decision by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland earlier this week to embark on a public consultation on how food and drink should be commercially promoted to children on broadcast media. The public consultation is part of a review by the Authority on the diet and nutrition rules contained in its Children’s Commercial Communications Code. Under the existing rules, commercial communications that are of particular interest to children or those broadcast during children’s programmes are required to be responsible in their messaging and portrayal of food and drink to those aged under 18.

Later this month, it is also expected that the National Substance Misuse Strategy will also publish its interim report on the advertising of alcohol with some sources saying that it could propose a statutory near blanket ban on all alcohol advertising, a move that is likely to enrage both the advertising and media industries as well as the drinks manufacturers

Spending in freefall, but confidence on the up – Consumer Market Monitor

Published by CiaraM on August 19, 2011 in General News. 0 Comments Tags: .

Consumer spending fell by 1.9pc in the first quarter of 2011 and, according to the Bank of Ireland Quarterly Economic Bulletin Q3, is set to decline by 2.4pc in the year as a whole, but confidence is reasonably high, the Consumer Market Monitor Q2 has revealed.

Tom Trainor and Mary Lambkin Released today, the report, which is published by UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and The Marketing Institute of Ireland (MII), finds that the retail sector has been hardest hit with a continued decline in sales in the first six months of 2011. Second quarter figures show a decline in retail sales of 1.7pc, wiping out a modest recovery in the first quarter. Excluding the motor trade, which was heavily influenced by the scrappage scheme, no retail category has grown in value.

“The latest official forecast by the Central Bank is for consumer spending to level off in 2012 at -0.6pc with a return to growth of about 1pc per annum after that,” said Mary Lambkin, Professor of Marketing at UCD Smurfit School. “It would be nice to believe that this is correct but reality suggests a less favourable picture against a continuing downward trend in incomes and employment.

Residential mortgage lending, which accounts for 85pc of all personal sector credit, has, according to the monitor, continued to drop in 2011 with loans to households down 4.8pc year-on-year to May 2011.

Loans for house purchases were 2.1pc lower, while lending for other purposes declined by 13.6pc, which the monitor concludes as indicating that consumers are reluctant to borrow and prefer to either save or pay off their current debts.

The number of houses for sale has remained flat at about 60,000 nationally since the middle of 2008, with 33,000 empty or incomplete new houses. The monitor suggests, however, that the higher than expected rate of new household formation, of 41,000 per year between 2006 and 2011, gives some cause for optimism that demand and supply will come back into balance over the next few years.

“Although the retail sector fared quite badly in this quarter’s monitor, it has been encouraging to see that the motor industry performed quite well even with the end of the scrappage scheme,” said Tom Trainor, chief executive of the Marketing Institute of Ireland. “My concern is that, with prices of essential items rising substantially in areas such as housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (9.3pc), miscellaneous goods and services (8.3pc), communications (4.1pc) and health (4pc), marketers will have to work harder than ever for a share of consumers’ disposable income.”

Advertising agencies are invited to swim with the Sharks for the first time

Published by CiaraM on August 19, 2011 in General News. 0 Comments Tags: .

Irish media agencies will for the first time take part in the Sharks advertising awards festival in Kinsale next month. Up to now, the Sharks was an adland event solely aimed at saluting creative work. But the organisers are keen to bring the festival in line with other international shows by honouring other advertising and marketing services.

Sharks organiser Tanya Cawley said the new media category comprises six sections — integrated media strategy with budgets under €100,000 and another with spends over €100,000, a return on investment award and a prize for innovative media strategy.

There will also be awards for the best use of single media and best use of earned media. The UK’s Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) chairman Richard Eyre will head up the festival’s media jury. He will be joined by Starcom MediaVest’s Iain Jacob and Bartle Bogle Hegarty’s planner Kevin Brown. Representing Ireland on the jury will be UCD Smurfit School of Business’ marketing professor, Damien McLoughlin.

Chacho Puebla from Leo Burnett Madrid and Jake Walshe from Screen Scene in Dublin will judge creative entries. Britain’s top adman John Hegarty will return to Kinsale as honorary chairman. He has described the Sharks as “the Glastonbury of award shows”. Despite the continued economic downturn, Ms Cawley said the festival is fully booked in terms of delegates, and traditional entries are up on last year. Next year’s Sharks is the show’s golden jubilee. Overseas media agencies will be invited to enter for the first time.

Financial services sector unimpressed by proposals

Published by CiaraM on August 19, 2011 in General News. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

 The industry is unhappy with the Central Bank’s ‘overperscriptive’ draft code on product adverts. Intended new regulations from the Central Bank of Ireland to govern how financial institutions can advertise their products have been criticised as unworkable by banks, building societies and insurance companies.

About 30 per cent of the space allocated to a financial product advertisement on radio or in the printed press is compliance wording. The new rules will mean longer broadcast adverts and bigger press adverts, adding further cost to the advertiser.

 The industry says the revised compliance requirements will mean that specific products will not be able to be advertised on radio at all. Stung by criticism that they were asleep at the wheel as the Irish banks went into meltdown, the industry argues the Central Bank is now going too far the other way, with plans to suffocate financial providers with bureaucratic red tape.

The regulator’s proposed new advertising code includes a raft of rules that stipulate the prominence of financial health warnings. The warnings must not be obscured or disguised in any way by the content, design or format of the advertisement, and all advertisements will have to state clearly any qualifying criteria of a product or service.

These warnings will not be allowed to be put in small print if they relate directly to the product. Small print or footnotes will only be allowed to supplement or elaborate on the key information in the main body of the advertisement and they must be of sufficient size and prominence to be clearly legible.

 The Irish Banking Federation says the proposed code will make it “very difficult to advertise effectively at a time when advertising will be even more essential in a smaller market”. The federation argues that the proposed rules would hamper effective web-based banner advertising as the regulatory disclosure would take up the majority of the banner. “Where a lot of detailed information is contained in an advertisement and all information is given equal prominence, there is a real danger that consumers will beunable to absorb all the information or the key information in it.

Central Bank press officer Nicola Faulkner counters: “In light of recent events, a review of the code is timely. There have been two industry consultations on the proposed update. No more consultations on this specific code update are expected. “None of the financial institutions will be aware of any recommendations we have taken on board from them until the final code is published. The Central Bank plans to finalise its new Consumer Protection Code by the end of this year. Once implemented, it will provide for a range of penalties, including fines of up to €10 million for any company found to be in breach.

Census shows population increase

Published by CiaraM on July 14, 2011 in General News. 0 Comments

The first results from Census 2011 show Ireland’s population now stands at 4,581,269, an increase of 341,421 over the last count in 2006. The last census in 2006 showed that the population had reached 4.2 million, the first time it had risen above the 4 million mark.

This year’s census – based on forms collected last April – shows the population has grown by an average of 1.6 per cent each year. The results show Laois had the fastest growing population, increasing by 13,399 from 67,059 in 2006 to 80,458 in 2001, a rise of 20 percent. This is over twice the rate for the State as a whole and significantly higher than the next fastest growing county, Cavan, which increased by 13.9 per cent. Other counties showing strong growth were Fingal (13.8 per cent), Longford (13.3 per cent), Meath (13.0 per cent) and Kildare (12.7 per cent), which are part of the wider Dublin commuter belt. The population of Limerick and Cork cities fell by 5.0 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively between 2006 and 2011.

The census results give the most accurate picture of the population as it stands. While population growth was high in 2006 – driven by inward migration and a high birth rate – it has slowed considerably since the economic downturn. Despite large numbers leaving the State, officials believe Ireland’s very high birth rate means the population has continued to grow. Latest official figures show there were some 73,724 births last year, down slightly from 74,278 the year before. Ireland was estimated to have the highest birth rate in the European Union in 2009. These figures have helped offset population decreases as a result of emigration.

These preliminary census results give an overall figure for the population as it stood on Sunday, April 10th of this year. They are based on summary counts for each enumeration area which were compiled by almost 5,000 census staff, or “enumerators”. These forms were returned to the CSO in advance of the census forms themselves.

Population change by Regional Authority area, 2006-2011.

Graphic courtesy of the CSO

Guide to Staycations

Published by CiaraM on July 14, 2011 in General News. 0 Comments

ROI TGI data can provide insights into social phenomena. One such example of this is the recent rise in the number of domestic holidays or “staycations” taken by Irish adults.

72% of Irish adults took at least one holiday or short break in the last 12 months, a slight increase from 2009. Meanwhile, more than 1.6 million Irish people opted for a “staycation” in 2010 – an increase of over 40% on 2009. There are now 675,000 “staycation-only” holidaymakers i.e. those taking trips solely in the Irish Republic – up by over 200,000 since 2009.

48% of Irish adults holidayed abroad in 2010, this represents a fall of 170,000 from 2009 (53% of the population). The sharpest year-on-year fall in holidaymakers abroad is among those with a family income over €50,000 per year where 132,000 fewer adults took trips overseas in 2010. The average cost of a holiday varies dramatically with “staycations” costing €653 and holidays abroad €1,715. The average cost of a “staycation” short break is €463 and a short break abroad €558.

Preferred activities of “staycation” adults include camping / walking, visiting parks / gardens and visiting natural sites. Regular golfers are also 19% more likely than average to take a “staycation”. Domestic holidaymakers in the Republic of Ireland are more than half as likely to stay in a B&B or their own holiday home. Irish consumers taking short break “staycations” are 72% more likely to stay in a hotel (either full or half board).

Irish domestic holidaymakers are also 20% more likely to have purchased a product following a promotions campaign in a newspaper. In addition, 74% read a local paid-for weekly newspaper.  They also find it important to maintain local institutions, for instance they are 23% more likely to “prefer not to shop in major high street chains” and they are 20% more likely to “prefer local radio because it covers local news.”

Latest Vizeum Members

Published by karl on June 30, 2011 in General News, Vizeum Graduate Programme and Vizeum News. 1 Comment Tags: , , .

We are delighted to announce that we have hired four graduates who join the planning, TV and digital teams. The new team show our commitment to keeping key talent in Ireland. Additionally whilst not a graduate, Fiona Fagan joins our TV department. With over seven years experience, she previously worked in Publicis. She brings a wealth of experience across FMCG, Telecoms, Retails and Insurance

TV viewing rises worldwide

Published by CiaraM on April 13, 2011 in General News and TV News. 0 Comments Tags: .

Research firm Eurodata TV reported that the global average consumption time hit 3 hours 10 minutes per day last year, an increase of six minutes compared with 2005. North America delivered a lift reaching four minutes measured against 2009, registering 4 hours 39 minutes overall, while Europe grew in line with the norm, on 3 hours 48 minutes, across the same period. At present, Asia Pacific’s total stands at 2 hours 34 minutes, although this is expected to improve going forward.

In Belgium and Ireland, where delayed viewing – such as by DVR – has been incorporated into measurement figures, viewing time rose by ten minutes and 11 minutes respectively. Major sporting events retained their appeal, as totals climbed by 36 minutes in Canada and 22 minutes in Denmark year on year during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. In Spain, Telecinco attracted a 78% audience share for its broadcast of the 2010 World Cup Final, featuring (and won by) the national team.  Entertainment content topped the category charts for the first time, taking 40% of the ten highest audiences in 70 countries, beating fictional output, on 39%.

The Eurovision Song Contest posted the top scores in 16 countries, while local versions of America’s Got Talent, Strictly Come Dancing and the X-Factor also generated excellent ratings in several markets. Local dramas tended to perform more strongly than big American series, but medical offering House and police procedural the Mentalist proved international successes. To monitor changing attitudes and the impact of digital media, the study assessed the broadcast consumptionsof 15-24 year olds covering several screens, such as mobile and PC. It revealed that, when including all channels, the amount of time dedicated to this material rose by 14 minutes in the UK, six minutes for Germany and five minutes for the US.

Data sourced from Eurodata TV; additional content by Warc staff, 28 March 2011

Luas extension to add 2m

Published by CiaraM on April 13, 2011 in General News. 0 Comments Tags: .

 The new Luas extension in west Tallaght is expected to add some two million passenger journeys per year to the network when it opens this summer. Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar and RPA chief executive at Cheeverstown in Dublin today for the first test run on the new Luas line serving Citywest and Saggart. The 4.2km extension, which leaves the existing track at Belgard, will serve Fettercairn,

Cheeverstown, Citywest, Fortunestown and Saggart close to the border with Co Kildare The route is scheduled to be open by the end of July. Journey times from Saggart to the city centre will be about 55 minutes. The cost of the route was €150 million, about 55 per cent of which is to be contributed by private sector land owners in the area.

 Frequency on the new extension is to be one tram every 10 minutes at peak times, while the frequency from the existing stops on the Tallaght branch is to be one every six minutes. The Railway Procurement Agency, which is developing the line, said significant interes had come from commuters in the Naas, Co Kildare area. Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar, who attended a tram test on the route today,. The line is likely to be the last Luas extension to be opened for some time as Mr Varadkar said just one of the three ‘big ticket’ transport projects – Metro North, Dart Underground and the Luas city centre link will go ahead in the next five years. While he said a decision on which projects would proceed would not be made before September, the Minister described the case for Metro North as very strong. “It is not just a train line to the airport. It goes to Swords, it links up the Maynooth-Connolly line, it links up the Luas, it serves DCU, it serves the Mater,” he said. Mr Varadkar also said he had already directed that funds not used by the National Roads Authority this year should be used to repair damaged secondary, regional and local roads. This would, he said, result in “hundreds of contracts this year.

Wonderbra ads ‘Most eye-catching’

Published by CiaraM on April 13, 2011 in General News and Outdoor News. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Eva Herzigova’s traffic-stopping Wonderbra billboards have been declared the most eyecatching ads of the past few decades. The “Hello Boys” campaign – featuring a huge photograph of the Czech model’s cleavage – caused a sensation when it was first unveiled in 1994. Now it has won a public vote as the favourite “iconic” advertising image in a poll by the Outdoor Media Centre, the trade body for outdoor advertising. In second place was the Conservative Party’s

“Labour Isn’t Working” campaign which depicted a dole queue to highlight rising unemployment figures. And the much-copied Lord Kitchener recruitment posters which date back a century came third. More than 10,000 votes were cast to identify the most striking images to feature in the Outdoor Hall Of Fame, launched in conjunction with ad industry magazine Campaign. The Herzigova posters propelled her to stardom around the world, making her a household name. The huge images were also said to have caused a number of accidents after drivers became distracted by the shots of the model in her underwear. Mike Baker, chief executive of the Outdoor Media Centre, said: “It’s great to see those great iconic images from the past rubbing shoulders with recent advertising work in the public’s affections.”

Switch to our mobile site