M-Net and Media24 have come on board as major sponsors - M-Net for the sixth year in a row and Media24 for four years' running - and the additional sponsors will provide a combination of financial and service sponsorship.
In line with its sponsorship commitment, kulula.com will offer industry employees special airfares of R488 return between Jo'burg and Durban and R688 return between Cape Town and Durban.
In addition to these sponsors, KingJames is developing the new corporate identity and campaign for this year's awards, and Six Million Dollar is developing the official website - both working pro bono.
Human said he was impressed by the willingness of South Africa's marketing-savvy companies to contribute to the new-look Loerie Awards initiative, and adds that several more significant sponsors will be announced over the coming period. This 'new look' includes a return to the key objective of the inaugural event, that is a passionate celebration of the best local work; a new category catering for the evolved communication strategies employed today, called Integrated Campaigns; and a venue change from Sun City to Margate on the spectacular KwaZulu-Natal south coast. It also sees the introduction of a travelling exhibition that will be open to the public.
Critical dates for those managing their agency's entries are:
Exposure qualification: First flighting between 1 June 2004 and 31 July 2005
Entries open: 31 May 2005
Entries close: 31 July 2005
Judging: 26 September - 2 October 2005
The Loerie Awards 2005: October 15 and 16
The Loerie Awards 2005 committee working hand-in-hand with The Loerie Awards comprises Wingwing Mdlulwa, Chairman (Creative Circle), Russell Cory (Financial Officer), Veejay Archery (Think), Peter Carr (Commercial Producers Association), Nonjabulo Hlengwa (Café), Gerry Human (Creative Circle), Maserame Mouyeme (Association for Communication and Advertising), Mike Schalit (Creative Circle), Nici Stathacopoulos (Direct), and Roelof van Wyk (Interactive).
All queries can be directed to: www.theloerieawards.co.za or .
