New Media Offers, Opportunities & News

From Marketing:

Charley Stoney has resigned as chief executive of the Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland (IAPI) to become CEO of the European Association of Communications Agencies (EACA). Stoney will advocate at EU level on behalf of EACA member agencies, promote best and fair business practice, and ensure that the association remains relevant and beneficial to all stakeholders. She has chaired EACA’s national associations council since 2022.

During that time, she has been instrumental in shaping the strategic agenda for the representative body. She will assume her new position in February next year, following the departure of the current CEO, Tamara Daltroff, who has been responsible for the expansion of the association over the past six years.  IAPI has begun the recruitment process to appoint a new CEO for 2025, the details of which are published online at iapi.ie/CEOrole

Since taking on the role of IAPI chief executive in 2018, she has helped transform the association into the leading voice for advertising agencies  in Ireland, almost doubling its membership. She replaced Adfx with the global marketing effectiveness awards programme, Effies, in 2021. She drove the support of Ad Net Zero across the industry, resulting in Ireland becoming the first country outside the UK to adopt the programme.

Equality

This year, she spearheaded the promotion of the Irish creative sector at Cannes Lions, including securing the first Enterprise Ireland trade mission to the festival. A passionate advocate for equality, she introduced the Female Futures Fund, a leadership programme for high potential female talent. During her tenure, the equality at leadership level in the industry has radically improved, with a significant 41 per cent of agency C suit being female.

On Stoney’s move, Abi Moran, IAPI president and CEO of of Folk VML, said that while Stoney’s move in the immediate sense was a great loss for IAPI, her  appointment was a recognition of the growing strength and prowess of the Irish advertising industry globally, and the entire board couldn’t be prouder. “Charley has been a truly extraordinary leader, steering IAPI with unwavering passion, warmth, and dedication,” Moran added.

Advocate

“Her vision has elevated strategic leadership and innovation across the industry, establishing Ireland as a globally respected hub for commercial creativity. She has been a tireless advocate for responsible business practices, diversity, and inclusion, giving our industry a stronger and more influential voice at every level. Charley’s impact has been profound, and her legacy will continue to shape our path forward.”

Before taking on the job as chief executive at IAPI, Stoney was group managing director of Alternatives for four years. She also headed up FMI, the field management agency, and was managing director of the McConnells Fusion below the line agency for four years. She served on the boards of CopyClear and the Advertising Standards Authority since 2018.

From RadioCentre;

At Radiocentre Ireland’s recent Sounding Out 2024 event, research company Differentology released a study, commissioned by Radiocentre Ireland which focused on how audio can play a critical role in strategic brand growth objectives. The research sought to understand whether audio can drive brand growth by increasing a brand’s mental availability. The research study leaned on the framework for brand growth that Byron Sharp details in “How Brands Grow”.

The results showed that for a range of brands, they had a 12% greater share of mind amongst people exposed to their audio visual advertising; and this rose a further 10% when people were exposed to the combination of audio visual and audio advertising for  these brands. The fact that share of mind was so much higher for those exposed to the combination of audio visual and audio advertising, highlights the impact of including audio in the mix.

Audio advertising has a significant effect on helping brands spring to mind more readily in purchasing situations, with mental penetration for a brand higher amongst those who have heard advertising for it. It therefore expands a brand’s network of mental associations and ultimately it increases share of mind for that brand. You can read a summary of the presentation, watch the presentation in full and download the presentation deck by clicking on the link below.

https://www.radiocentreireland.ie/sounding-out/using-audio-advertising-to-expand-your-brand

From Irish Times

Bill is first significant reform of sector, estimated to be worth between €6bn and €9bn annually, since 1956

Landmark legislation to regulate gambling has finally been passed by the Oireachtas after 17 years of planning and the involvement of six successive ministers in trying to progress it.

The Gambling Regulation Bill, championed since 2020 by Minister of State James Browne is the first comprehensive legislation to regulate the gambling industry since 1956, in a sector that is estimated to be worth between €6 billion and €8 billion annually.

Published in 2022, the Bill confirms the establishment of a seven-member Gambling Regulatory Authority with its chief executive designate, Anne Marie Caulfied, already in place. The regulator will have strong powers on mandatory licensing and in setting down conditions for licences.

Its remit will also cover advertising, sponsorship, protecting problem gamblers, and ensuring children are not exposed in any way to the industry. The Bill introduces a social impact fund, paid for by the industry to support educational measures and problem gambling treatment activities.

It prohibits related advertising from 5.30am to 9pm and provides for prison sentences of up to eight years on those who fail to protect children from gambling.

Mr Browne told the Dáil on Wednesday night that “an extraordinary amount of work has gone into an extremely complex piece of legislation”. He said the Bill “will not simply regulate a massive industry that has largely gone unregulated but coming from a public health perspective, ensures that the relevant sections to protect the public” are in place.

He added that there are strong provisions in the Act, which will allow the regulator to make recommendations to the Minister “to change regulations to move as the industry moves and changes in how they may target people”.

The legislation moved back to the Dáil last night after the Minister introduced amendments in the Seanad to address the potential impact on charities and sports clubs advertising fundraisers, following extensive lobbying by representatives of the groups.

Inducements such as “free bets”, VIP treatment, free credit and free hospitality are all banned under the legislation. Adults will have to actively opt in to receive betting advertisements online and the legislation also provides for a ban on social media advertising.

Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty warned however that there was a significant loophole in the legislation where companies could have competitions whether for “10 Oasis tickets and two nights in Dublin” or for a new car or even a new house.

He said that “as long as you have opted in and they have your mobile phone number they can advertise as much as they want” through text messaging.

But the Minister said there is a dedicated section in the legislation on advertising and if anybody is in a situation where they have consented to be included “they would always be able to draw consent at any time”.

On black market operators, the Bill “contains a suite of measures to address illegal or criminal gambling activity and includes explicit prohibitions on illegal activity or practices, some of which could result in significant custodial sentences”.

The gambling regulator will receive €9.1 million in 2025.

The Minister said: “I am conscious that many people have strong views on the issue of gambling, and I believe that this Bill is designed to meet the challenges of gambling responsibly in 21st century Ireland.

“The Bill takes a responsible approach to balancing the freedom to gamble with the safeguards to protect people from falling prey to addiction. This Bill provides a clear framework for operators and for consumers.”

The legislation now goes to President Michael D Higgins for consideration and signing into law.

From Marketing

The news is finally out The Traitors is coming to RTÉ in 2025 and we are very excited to finally share the Sponsorship Package (see attached).   There will be an opportunity to package the Broadcast Sponsorship with the 2 x Product Placements, or individual packages.

Guide prices below 

Main Show Sponsorship €600,000

Car PP €150,000

Supermarket Partner €100,000

( Deluxe Own Brand Products )

RTÉ announces Irish edition of hit TV show The Traitors (rte.ie)

Kite Entertainment have received thousands of applications already.

This package is being shared directly with our agency partners today, please feel free to share with your wider teams.

From Business Plus:

Channel 4 has said it has reached a “crossover point” between linear and digital viewing.

The British State-owned, advertising-funded broadcaster saw digital advertising revenue increase 10% to £280m last year while linear advertising revenue declined 16% to £642m.

The company recently launched its ‘Fast Forward’ strategy with the aim of becoming a digital-first public service streamer by 2030.

Digital now accounts for 27% of Channel 4 revenue and is on track to make up 30% in 2024.

Overall, revenues declined 10% to £1.02bn, and CEO Alex Mahon said the broadcaster’s £52m deficit was the “intentional result of financing our transformation from linear to digital.”

“We chose to prioritise investment in content and recorded a significant deficit in 2023 as a result,” Mahon said, noting that surpluses and deficits are part of the “natural ebb and flow of Channel 4’s unique model”.

Channel 4 achieved 1.6bn streaming views in 2023, up 14% year-on-year, and expects to surpass 1.7bn this year.

From The RadioCentre:

Limited spaces remain for Radiocentre Ireland’s Sounding Out 2024 event.

The  event will take place on Thursday, the 10^th of October and will feature Robert Heath, author of the seminal book “The Hidden Power of Advertising”.  Renowned strategist Craig Mawdsley (Founding Partner Craig + Bridget) will also talk about attention and whether it really matters for brands.

There will also be a focus on effectiveness where you will hear from Bridget Angear (Craig + Bridget) using IPA data to talk about the business case for humour in advertising.  Andrew Tindall, System1 will summarise Radiocentre’s  Listen Up! research which highlights how brands can create audio advertising that stirs passions and drives profits, and he will assess how well Irish audio ads fare at implementing best practice.

Ralph van Dijk will show why brands which define their audio strategy, both media and creative, enjoy strong business outcomes.  And you will hear from the U.S. market with Steve Keller, SiriusXM talking about how in today’s media rich environment, sound is quickly emerging as a primary driver for brand identity, discovery, and experience.

This event will also feature a new research study, commissioned by Radiocentre Ireland which reveals insights on the role audio plays in driving mental availability. And Jess Kelly, Newstalk will host a panel on busting the myths around digital audio.

The event takes place on Thursday, the 10th of October 8.30am to 1pm in The Round Room at The Mansion House and it is an event not to be missed.

Now that the Sale has ended….New Offers on the homepage for October to December.

Note the RTE late Late Toy Show offer, but also, digital, Press, Radio and Outdoor.

Always, this time of year, please, please, please, book early because availability traditionally, becomes an issue.

From Irish Times (bold is ours):

Broadcasting group enjoys stronger performance overall in 2023, a year when it reached its highest ever audience

Virgin Media Television (VMTV) substantially narrowed its after-tax loss to €578,000 last year, accounts filed at the Companies Registration Office show. This compares to a net loss of €6.1 million in 2022.

Accounts for the company behind the Virgin Media One channel and the Virgin Media Player recorded a 7.2 per cent climb in its revenue to almost €59.2 million in 2023.

The directors of the company – owned by telecoms group Virgin Media – said this was mainly due to an increase in digital advertising revenue from the Virgin Media Player, its on-demand app, which attracted a record 48 million streams last year. It was recently replaced by a new service called Virgin Media Play.

The directors also cited growth in what is known as addressable advertising, which is when advertisers pay to target particular audiences based on their location or lifestyle attributes. (Adsmart)

The accounts for Virgin Media Television Limited show that the company’s operating loss narrowed 69.2 per cent to €1.4 million in 2023 after both the revenue increase and a fall in the cost of sales.

A separate set of accounts for Channel 6 Broadcasting Limited, the company vehicle for Virgin Media Two, show that its net profit fell 4.2 per cent to €8.1 million last year.

Its revenue softened 3.4 per cent to about €14.2 million after spot advertising declined slightly on the channel, which is Virgin Media Two is VMTV’s linear television home for Love Island, Big Brother and other imported reality series.

Operating profit fell 2 per cent to almost €8.4 million with net profit down 4.2 per cent to €8.1 million.

Meanwhile, the company showing the performance of Virgin Media Three, Cullen Broadcasting Limited, made a small loss (€23,000) last year, down from €1.8 million in 2022. Its revenue rose 21 per cent to €4.7 million.

The ultimate parent of each of the companies is the John Malone-controlled cable giant Liberty Global, which bought the former TV3 Group in 2015 and later rebranded the original TV3 channel as Virgin Media One.

The main channel recorded its highest ever audience in its then 25-year history in 2023 when Ireland’s defeat to New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup attracted 1,384,000 viewers.

Year-end figures from ratings body TAM Ireland and research firm Nielsen also show that VMTV channels grew their share of viewing among adults aged 15-plus to 19.8 per cent in 2023, a record for the group.