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From Adworld Jan 20th. But if you’re interested in Six Nations packages – Ask us. 

“With a big year in store for Irish rugby with the Guinness Six Nations kicking off in two weeks and the RWC2023 scheduled to take place in France later this year, a bit of broadcasting history was made off the field this week when Virgin Media Television and RTÉ teamed up for a commercial partnership to deliver all Ireland’s Six Nations matches on a free-to-air basis.

Details of the commercial partnership were unveiled this week at an industry gathering with key advertisers and media buyers from agencies there for the historic occasion.

While this is the second year of the broadcast partnership it is the first time that both broadcasters have come together to offer joint advertising packages.

As part of the collaboration, the Guinness Six Nations Men’s Rugby coverage on both RTÉ and Virgin Media Television will be sponsored by Vodafone

The Guinness Six Nations kicks off on February 4 with Ireland’s opening match against Wales and it will conclude on March 18 with the final match of the tournament – Ireland versus England in the Aviva Stadium

Speaking about the commercial partnership, Ian Byrne, director of digital & commercial enterprises, Virgin Media Television said:  “Firstly, I would like to thank our advertisers and clients for their support in 2022, particularly as we enter the second year of this very successful collaboration with RTÉ Media Sales.

“Virgin Media Solutions is delighted with the results in 2022 and more importantly with how well we have worked together to make sure we deliver a seamless Six Nations Tournament experience for our clients and advertisers. The tournament itself performed excellently in 2022, reaching 2.5m viewers and delivering an average share of viewing of 41% for all matches and a 59% share of viewing for Ireland matches. This year both sales houses have continued developing the shared proposition and there has been plenty of constructive dialog behind the scenes to ensure this concept delivers for all local Irish TV broadcasting stakeholders in 2023 and for any future opportunities that RTÉ and Virgin Media Television may work on together in the future.”

Geraldine O’Leary, commercial director, RTÉ adds: “I am absolutely delighted that we got to celebrate the overall collaboration between RTÉ and Virgin Media Television and to mark the importance of the commercial partnership. It was a special day, and we were delighted to share the occasion with valued agency and client partners.”

January 16th – When you book a Homepage Takeover on RTE.ie during the week (which includes News) each one costs 5k (down from 10k) AND you get 3 for the price of 2. Book 2 and get the third free! See it in our digital section or enquire stuart@admatic.ie, but remember, availability is always the issue if you want specific dates but we’ll try and get them, or get close.

A January Media Sale. Now there’s a thing.

And thanks to you all.

It’s now over since 5pm Friday 27th BUT look out for new February Offers this week!

In our Sale it was:

Buy Two get One Free on Radio. When you book 2 weeks on any station shown on the platform (including RTE) which would be 2 packages, we will then give you another identical package on the same station for Free to use as you wish. Buy two, get One Free.

Buy One get One Free on Press. When you buy any Press Ad on any title in any size as shown on the platforms, we’ll give you an identical Press Ad in the same paper, same size for Free, to use as you wish.

Buy One and get a Free Ad Messenger Campaign on Digital. When you book any digital product, we’ll give you a Free Ad Messenger Campaign of 75,000 impressions. You’ll see details on Ad Messenger throughout the platform to see what you’re getting.

Buy 74k on Television at Rate Card and we’ll give you 50% off On Television. So you pay 37k. This is any audience buy on all stations (RTE One/Two, Virgin One/Two/Three, Sky Ireland, TG4, C4 Ireland) and it’s as simple as that. The Player and Sky/Adsmart Advertising are also included. You’ll never get Television Advertising at such low costs.

Outdoor is not on Sale. Yet. But it will be, so enquire as you wish.

Here’s how it works and our rates have not been increased, so the normal discount rates are still there.

But when you book during the Sale for any Media on Admatic.ie at the rate shown, we will then ‘accept’ your booking (always with the right of refusal) and then you’ll be asked to pay online. Same as usual.

Your booking is accepted/made once you book, but it’s never guaranteed until funds have been received, as is always the case.

Once you pay, you’ll automatically receive a confirmation invoice. We’ll be in touch then to discuss any issues such as copy uploads.

Offers apply to all bookings between 9am January 9th and 5pm Friday January 27th.

We may withdraw the Sale at any time before January 27th if it’s even more successful than we think it might be.

It will simply come to an end. 

All Bookings can apply to any appearance date of your choosing, but before December 31st 2023. Just book your appearance date on the platform as normal.

So you book now, but can use the Advertising at any time you choose, even if media rates increase in the meantime.

Guaranteed means, Guaranteed.

If anything is unclear, please ask us stuart@admatic.ie or call us 085 7100458.

Looking back on 2022, our sales/turnovers stack up, more or less, as:

Television Advertising 35%

Radio Advertising 25%

Digital 2o%

Press 10%

Outdoor 10% 

Our Television spend (RTE, Virgin, TG4, Sky, C4) is a little distorted in that TV spends are higher – so whilst the overall value is high, the number of transactions is lower than say, Radio. More Clients buy Radio Advertising but the cost is less and therefore whilst TV brings volume, Radio transactions are there day-in day-out. The strength of TV advertising is significant still, though given the longer term demise of linear TV with a future really, as live Sports broadcasting only. That said RTE were operating at 92% Ad capacity during the year which is incredibly strong given the cost of TV Advertising and the need to have a TV Commercial (a general barrier to entry). However, the intro of addressable TV (Skysmart/Adsmart) has brought TV to a new ‘budget’ advertiser  audience as it was intended to and indeed, the players sell well.

TV is still unquestionably the ‘brand builder’ and our Clients who used TV (some for the first time) cannot speak highly enough of its effectiveness. It works, it continues to work.

Radio has been an eye-opener too. Relatively low cost (especially when compared to TV) it is really delivering high audiences and high frequency. It’s a medium that’s doing the business and will continue to do so. We expect TV and Radio to be our big focus in 2023.

The relatively low numbers on Digital might show a ‘plateauing’ (if that’s even a word) but also is indicative of Clients in-housing (doing it themselves). A bit of Admatic expertise does help….but there’s a general view that Clients feel it’s not working as well as it was and they’re looking for other new choices. Still, very happy to do it!

The low Press spend is more than surprising. Shocking even. A few years ago it would have been number one or two. Declining readerships, high costs but particularly, a strong view with our Clients anyway, that “no one reads them anymore” is a natural barrier. Unfairly, but it’s the way it is.

Outdoor at 10% is probably where it has always been, but definitely represents a bounce back. Certainly, we’ve never seen such positive interest in Outdoor from mid 2022. Perhaps as people have been Covid ‘out and about’ they’re more conscious of it, but it’s definitely on a spurt.

We’re here to help, had a good year and will build on it. Keep saying it’s all thanks to our growing Clients and to whom, we owe everything. We know that but we’ll keep delivering value. It’s not our money, it’s theirs.

Just thought these trends might be interesting, for what it’s worth.

Stuart

Jan 1st From Business Plus:

Live sport dominated Virgin Media Television’s top 20 most watched programmes of 2022, with the broadcaster garnering 17% share of viewing across the 15–44 demographic, a new high for the company.

The most watched programme of 2022 was on 12th February when Ireland played France in their opening game in the Guinness Six Nations.

Thirteen out of the top 20 most watched programmes across Virgin Media Television in 2022 were live sporting events, including four Guinness Six Nations games and three Autumn International Series games.

The Ireland v South Africa match was VMTV’s third most watched programme of the year as Ireland beat the Springboks 19-16 in a closely contested match between the world’s number-one ranked side and the reigning world champions.

Three UEFA Champions League games make the list, with the semi-final first leg between Liverpool and Villarreal coming in at No.12. The Real Madrid v Man City semi-final leg at the Etihad Stadium ranked No.14.

VMTV’s fifth most watched programme of 2022 was the opening episode of the long running reality show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! that aired on 6th November.

The Masked Singer final made VMTV’s top ten most watched programmes, as did the Aintree Grand National. The Gold Cup at Cheltenham also features on the list at No.16

January episodes of Coronation Street and Emmerdale also feature in the VMTV’s top ten.

Outside of sport, the only home-produced programmes in VMTV’s top 20 are an episode of Gogglebox Ireland and a News at 5:30 broadcast in February.

Love Island was the most streamed show of 2022 on Virgin Media Player, with 14 million streams across all platforms.

November 22 from the great Ciaran Hancock Irish Times –

The board of The Irish Times has announced that group managing director Paul Mulvaney has decided to step down from the role. He will be replaced by Deirdre Veldon, who was most recently deputy editor of The Irish Times.

Ms Veldon has held a number of senior editorial roles at The Irish Times and has also been a member of The Irish Times DAC Board since April 2017.

Mr Mulvaney was appointed as group managing director in September 2021. He had previously served as an executive with State-owned energy group ESB, where he was a member of the executive management team and executive director of customer delivery for ESB Networks.

Commenting on Mr Mulvaney’s decision, the board of The Irish Times said: “The board acknowledges his contribution to the company and wishes him well in the future.

Ciarán Hancock

Ciarán Hancock is Business Editor of The Irish Times

And to be honest, we’re happy about this, although it will affect Media owners income. That said, it’s worth it. Mind you, it doesn’t apply to the Lottery which is…well….

From The Journal November 16. Gambling ads to be banned before 9pm watershed under new laws

GAMBLING ADVERTS WILL not be allowed before a 9pm watershed, under new legislation approved by Cabinet this morning. The Gambling Regulation Bill, which has been led by Minister of State James Browne in the Department of Justice, aims to provide a more modern and improved approach to the licencing and regulation of gambling in Ireland today.

It will recognise the variety of gambling activities available in the State and the impact of technology on the gambling industry in Ireland.  It will also see stricter regulation of gambling advertising, with a watershed prohibiting gambling advertising – including online ads – between 5:30am and 9:00pm to be introduced.

ATMs will also be banned from bookmakers’ shops. The legislation will also establish, for the first time, a statutory body to regulate the sector. The Gambling Regulatory Authority will focus on public safety and wellbeing, covering in-person and online gambling. It will also have powers to regulate advertising, gambling websites and apps.

‘Safeguards’

Speaking at a press conference today, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the bill would put in place “a series of safeguards to protect people from falling prey to gambling addiction.”

“There are, of course, many people in our country will enjoy a bet and for whom it’s part of their social life. But we must also acknowledge and safeguard against the truly awful impact that gambling addiction can and does have on some families and communities.”

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee added: “Something that I’ve seen more and more in my constituency in recent years is the age at which people are becoming addicted.

It doesn’t just impact the individual themselves, but it can have huge ramifications for their family, their extended family as well, because so often people want to help and want to to be able to help that individual get over the financial burdens that they’re landed with

Advertising

In September, Browne announced the appointment of Anne Marie Caulfield as the new CEO of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.

It is expected that the authority will commence operations as soon as possible after the draft Gambling Regulation Bill is enacted, with the authority to become operational in 2023. Browne said today that a gambling regulator will have the power to “appropriately, meaningfully and swiftly respond to ongoing and future developments in the gambling sector. “Under the legislation, advertising intended to appeal to children, and advertising that promotes excessive or compulsive gambling, will be prohibited. A watershed prohibiting gambling advertising at certain times of the day, between 5:30am and 9pm will be introduced.

“In this digital age, to address the particular proliferation of young advertising on social media, such advertising will be prohibited by default.” Online gambling advertising will only be visible on an opt-in basis, Browne said, such as users being asked to tick a box asking if they want to receive ads for betting agents. Sponsorship of clubs by betting companies will be prohibited if the club has juvenile members.

Browne said that a total ban on gambling ads was considered, but was deemed to be “disproportionate”.

“Gambling is a legal activity, it’s carried out by many people in a safe manner,” he said. “Our aim here is to ensure that vulnerable gambling users are protected and that children are protected.”

The National Lottery is not included in the new regulations, as it is covered by separate legislation. Campaigners have long said the industry cannot be allowed to self-regulate, and that Ireland should introduce legislation to regulate an industry that has seen revenues skyrocket in recent decades.

The Irish Government, however, has been somewhat slow to regulate the gambling arena.  As far back as 2013, the Government was seeking to create new laws around gambling in Ireland and a regulator to oversee it. In 2005, the UK Gambling Commission was set up, however, it has only been in the last two years that there has been movement.

With reporting by Christina Finn, Tadgh McNally and Emer Moreau

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OR of course, call us 085 7100458 and yes, still 247.

Bauer Media are the people who bought Communicorp (2021 talked about as being a ‘100 million deal’) so they’re Newstalk, Today FM, 98FM etc owners and now they’ve added RED FM. You can read about that station in the Radio section (and buy spots!) but basically it’s Cork ‘younger’ station versus 96fm. The Irish Times had acquired nearly 18% in the station when it in turn acquired The Examiner Group but the other shareholders (Vienna Group) included Pearse Farrell (well known investor in media).

I think/hope I’m right in saying too, Radio man Dermot Hanrahan whom many will know and love but who was certainly there some years ago. 129,000 listeners, 21% market share, subject to approval, it’s a great move to broaden the Bauer base. Especially these days. Brave.