Space rapidly selling out for Markex 2008
With six months to go before Markex and World of Events 2008, this show for the South African marketing and promotions industry is already 62% sold out.

Economic slowdown forces change in marketing mix
[Terry Behan] In a year when Chinese astrology tells us we are all supposed to be making money, 2008 has not started off very well for the globally economy in general and the South African economy in particular. This has caused a shift in how brands view their markets and how their markets respond to brands.

Challenges of marketing industrial products
[Marc Ashton] The marketing of industrial products presents its own unique bunch of challenges. After all – there's only so much you can do when trying to market the widget that's attached to the thingymajig via the hose attached to the whatchamacallit…

BUSA meets with Eskom
Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) held a meeting with the CEO of Eskom, Jacob Maroga, at the BUSA offices in Sandton yesterday, Wednesday, 23 January 2007. The meeting was the widest consultation by Eskom with the business community so far, with more than 44 BUSA member organisations representing both small and large businesses.

Taking advantage of scope of online marketing
Marketing services agency proximity#ttp has launched what its claims as a South African first for cellular provider Cell C through a subscriber campaign that is taking full advantage of the scope offered by online marketing. The Cell C/Hummer campaign, which has been flighted across a range of media over the past five weeks, also incorporates an online competition with a novel approach to gathering customer details.

Sustainability issues crucial for managing IT
LONDON: Sustainability has become a significant issue for every enterprise, and is particularly pertinent for IT management which must focus on supporting the requirements of the organisation in this area. This is one of the key conclusions of the report “Sustainable IT Provision – Meeting the Challenge of Corporate, Social, and Environmental Responsibility”, published by last week by leading European IT research and advisory organisation Butler Group.

Are your employees stuck in ‘Ground Ad Day'? - Actuate
[Neil Clarence] Imagine driving to work and hearing the same ads on the radio, seeing the same ads every time you go to the movies, and driving past the exact same billboards as yesterday and the day before. A sort of ‘Ground Ad Day' if you will, with the same messages repeated every day... How long would you watch, or listen, before you decided to tune out?

Integrated agencies take on channel specialists - Traffic Integrated Marketing
In the constantly evolving world of branding, the concepts outlined in last year's varsity textbooks are already outdated and 2007 trends have become marketing dinosaurs. The last decade has seen the full overhaul of traditional marketing structures as advertising agencies widen their service offerings and attempt to reach that elusive goal – full integration. Does this signal the end for the dedicated channel specialists?

Paul Zacks new Global Brands SA GM
Paul Zacks will lead the South African office of international brand management, retail and licensing company Global Brands Group as GM, it was announced late last week. In this capacity, Zacks will be responsible for building business and expanding licensing activity across the company's brand portfolio by working closely with retailers and manufacturers.

Starcom wins global Samsung account
Electronics giant Samsung has selected Starcom as its global media partner with effect from January 2008, it was announced this morning, Friday, 25 January 2008. "The selection process was concluded in record time," says Gordon Patterson, MD of Starcom in South Africa.

So, you want to be a strategist…
If you're 18 years of age, this is an important time. The career path you choose to follow now has the potential to be the best decision you could ever make. So, step up if you believe you're a strategist – and find out from Antoinette Tyrrell, director of strategy: the Switch Group, if this career is really the one for you…


Loeries Awards season begins
Not only will the Loeries 2007 winners be on show for the first time at this year's Design Indaba in Cape Town in February 2008, the 2008 season starts on 15 March, when entries open for all work produced between 1 July 2007 and 31 May 2008 from all African countries and the Middle East.

SAARF to present latest RAMS release
The South African Advertising Research Foundation (SAARF) will publically present its RAMS January 2008 Release on Wednesday, 6 February 2008, at the Bryanston Country Club, Johannesburg. The concise one-hour presentation will highlight the most important aspects of the latest RAMS release wave, the fieldwork for which was conducted from mid October to beginning December 2007

Lowe Bull earns a spot in the top 50 creative advertising agencies worldwide - Lowe Bull
The 2007 Gunn Report, which is the only global independent report on creativity for the advertising industry, places Lowe Bull 45th in the world creativity rankings. The agency was also ranked the second best performing agency in the Lowe Worldwide group although they were top ranked in the group at Cannes, One Show and Clios.

No black-outs or cold coffee at Gallo Images - Gallo Images
Gallo Images turbo-charged generator is keeping South African advertising, publishing and marketing teams connected to www.gettyimages.com despite the countrywide power crisis.


Marching north to Joburg
Eighteen months after launching in Cape Town, Under the Radar (UTR) is opening up a new office in Johannesburg at the end of January 2008, to be headed up by business development director, Baphumze Msengana. “We are tremendously excited at the prospect of having to vie for business in this highly competitive environment, which we believe will suit our entrepreneurial spirit and approach to business. This move is also fueled by our commitment to our largest client, Old Mutual, in order to give them the kind of support and service that they have come to expect from us,” comments Jason Ray, MD of UTR.

Women don't buy brands, they join them!
“Big brands” can no longer rely on brand loyalty as consumers are more media and marketing savvy than ever and are no longer drawn by pretty packaging or slick marketing. There are many more products on the shelves than just a decade ago, and there will be many more offerings in the next two years.

Sharapova and Sony Ericsson in a love match
Sony Ericsson has announced that it has signed an exclusive four-year sponsorship agreement with female tennis player, Maria Sharapova, to become the company's first global brand ambassador.


The balancing acts of national image
[Naseem Javed] Who are the new champion nations on the global stage delivering the finest performances and altering the course of branded imagery of goods and services? Where are the old traditional nations and what's happening to them today?

The hip young bright stuff
A trader on the JSE, an inventor, a saxophonist, a computer whiz, a ballerina, a tennis player, a forensic scientist – and others who are sometimes whacky, sometimes weird, but all loaded with creative whiz – have made the cut from over 400 applications to be brand ambassadors for Mark Shuttleworth's Hip2B² Programme.


Join the part-time Diploma in Communications Management at Vega - Vega School
Vega Orbit, The Continuing Professional Development division of Vega The Brand Communications School offers various part-time offerings. The Diploma commences 4 February 2008 at Vega campuses in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.

Professionals need to maintain their market value - Vega School
Ongoing career development is essential to maintain your market value. This is the belief of Bonita Lee-Shew, who heads up Vega Orbit, a professional career furthering centre at Vega The Brand Communications School.

Sir Martin Sorrell to speak at Added Value “Branding for Good” Summit - Added Value
Added Value, a global marketing insight and brand development company, will host its second Branding for Good Summit in Canary Wharf, London in March this year. The summit was inaugurated in 2006 to tackle the marketing industry's most pressing global issue: that of the impact of climate change on brands and businesses.


What a load of shed! - Brand Alive
[Giles Shepherd] This is a national emergency. Forget soft words like ‘crisis', or even ‘disgrace'. What is currently (if you'll pardon the pun) taking place in South Africa stands not only to do us serious immediate harm, but long-term damage that may be irreparable. Whatever the reasons behind our energy crisis, brand Eskom is in very serious trouble, and brand South Africa is going into a tailspin. And if our powers that be (there are plenty of puns available) cannot create a solution immediately, we may never recover.

Vega, The National College of Photography align – Vega moves to new Johannesburg campus - Vega School
Vega The Brand Communications School will be benefiting from the Independent Institute of Education's recent acquisition of the National College of Photography. The relationship will see both parties complementing and extending upon one another's current educational offerings.

Your brand is a vehicle for growth - Kemistry
Just harness the kinetic potential of your brand and deliver growth for your business.

SA exec producer celebrates Oscar nomination
One of the films in the South African-coordinated global documentary project Why Democracy?, Taxi to the Dark Side, has been nominated in the documentary feature section for the Academy Awards to be held in Los Angeles on 24 February 2008. SA filmmaker and a producer of the Why Democracy? project Don Edkins was an executive producer of the documentary.

Listener loyalty programme for Cape radio station
Loyal 94.5 Kfm listeners are being rewarded for interacting with the station by its new KlubVIP loyalty programme. “We are doing this on the back of the success of our sister station 94.7 Highveld Stereo's Club VIP programme, launched at the beginning of last year,” said 94.5 Kfm station manager, Colleen Louw.

Brixton boy designs his way to the top
Laser-cut lamps that are welded, fitted and spray-painted in his Brixton backyard have won 25-year-old Adriaan Hugo the Emerging Designer prize in the recent Elle Decoration International Design Awards (EDIDA).


Record entries for scooter design competition
A record number of 252 entries have been received for the 2007/8 Art Vespa Competition competition, a 40% increase from last year.


Book now for Young Designers Simulcast
As part of Design Indaba's ongoing commitment to design education, Design Indaba 2008 will again offer a Young Designers Simulcast, a live broadcast from the main plenary session to a second auditorium. Students and young designers under the age of 25 will also be able to access speakers in short, informal chat sessions during and at the end of the day.

Blogs influence availability of news, but not quality
According to a survey of US journalists by Brodeur, a unit of Omnicom Group, blogs are not only having an impact on the speed and availability of news but also influencing the tone and editorial direction of reporting.

Low Fat viral engine gets its hands dirty - Low Fat Digital Communications
After extensive testing, the Low Fat viral engine has officially been launched with a live online viral competition. Key aspects in its development were the integration a professional bulk emailing system with associated functionality, such as full statistical reporting, and the flexibility to allow multiple applications to run off the system.

New Clicks awards email, SMS contract to Striata - Striata
Secure email and messaging specialist Striata has won, on open tender, an electronic communications service provision contract with the JSE-listed specialist retail group, New Clicks Holdings.

2008 – bring it on! - KREW Interactive
Coming off the back of its most successful year yet, digital communications agency KREW Interactive looks set to take on 2008 with even greater passion and vigour.

Email is not dead – it's just starting to grow up - Acceleration
[Richard Mullins] The problems that email faces are simply growing pains that need to be dealt with as a reasonably young marketing channel matures.

Unify marketing with an integrated platform - Cambrient
[Jarred Cinman] Integrated marketing offers the promise of unifying the entire marketing process, from internal activities conducted by the marketing department, to a consistently projected brand and customer experience.

Friends of Design swaps pencils for pixels - Friends of Design
[Impti du Toit] Since its establishment just a year ago, the Friends of Design Academy of Digital Arts (FoD) has made great strides.

Yes, you have one too! - Top Companies Publishing
The choice is yours: You can simply comply – or you can put your BEE Scorecard to your strategic advantage, and gain a march over competitors.

Sound Media rocks St. Francis Bay - Sound Media
New Year's Eve 2007 saw Sound Media, together with partners Platinum Productions, The Links St Francis and Algoa FM, come together to reinstate St Francis Bay as the party capital of the country.


A must-attend: the Africa Energy Summit 2008 - Top Companies Publishing
“South African business cannot plan or implement any major new energy-consuming projects until 2013.” - Bongani Nqwababa, financial director, Eskom. This is an unthinkable scenario that would derail not only the South African economy but the society that is dependent on it.


Kadoro celebrates phenomenal first year - Kadoro Events & Communications
Amanda Maynard and her dynamic Kadoro team celebrated a magnificent launch year by popping champagne and surprising clients with thank you gifts of exquisitely-boxed, chocolate designer cupcakes frosted with glitter icing in Kadoro's signature blue.

Twenty-second year for hospitality, catering expo
Local players within the KwaZulu-Natal and Cape hospitality and catering industries are gearing up for Hostex 2008, which will see the show ushered into its 22nd year.

Retailing at trade exhibitions
[Joy Donovan] Trade exhibitions are frequently misunderstood and totally under-estimated as a dynamic and effective marketing media, which is ironic if you consider that they are the world's fastest growing marketing media.

Khosi Zwane Move!s on up
Makhosazana “Khosi” Zwane has been appointed as the new editor of Move! magazine, effective since 2 January 2008, Media24 Family Magazines announced on Friday, 25 January 2008. Outgoing editor Sbu Mpungose has left to pursue other interests.


Hair magazine launches in SA
The South African version of international hair fashion magazine Estetica launches on Friday, 25 January 2008, promising to bring to the local market cutting-edge hair trends, contemporary catwalk fashions, and hair and beauty techniques aiming to honour the creativity of local salons.


English version for intimate Afrikaans title
Not only is Intiem, the Christian inspirational magazine that peeks under the bed covers and empowers women, one year old, it will be launching English version Intimacy in March 2008.


Performance concert to benefit The Big Issue
Renowned SA playwright Mike van Graan will host a performance of his much-anticipated satire, Mirror Mirror, as a special benefit concert for The Big Issue. Heralded by critics as a "slick brand of sharp humour and piercing introspection" the curtain-raiser for The Big Issue will be staged at The Baxter Studio on Friday, 25 January 2008.

Seventh provocative edition of Top Performing Companies appears - Top Companies Publishing
Businessmen go through menopause and its effect can prove catastrophic to their business and their private lives. This is one of the more startling pieces of information contained in a feature article written by counsellor and executive coach Mary Ovenstone in the recently published 2008 issue of Top Performing Companies.


MPASA going places
As of Monday, 4 February 2008, the new physical address of the Magazine Publishers Association of South Africa (MPASA) will be 2nd Floor, 7 St David's, St David's Office Park, St David's Place, Parktown, 2193 (Johannesburg). The new telephone and fax numbers are still to be confirmed but once they are allocated, they will be recorded on the existing switchboard number's voicemail, +27 (0)11 721 3255. The postal address (PO Box 47189, Parklands, 2121) remains unchanged.

New look for Dispatch Online
[Simone Puterman] NEWSWATCH: Avusa's Dispatch Online went live today, Monday, 28 January 2008, with the first phase of its new look and functionality. The revamp includes integration of the newspaper's “blog community into every aspect of the site”, according to Andrew Trench, deputy editor and Dispatch Online editor.


Marc Hasenfuss returns to newsroom
Fin24 and Finweek editor-in-chief Marc Hasenfuss has expressed his intention to return to his first love, journalism, and will be relieved of administrative responsibilities at the titles, Fin24 announced this morning, Monday, 28 January 2008. His management responsibilities will be divided between David McKay, executive editor of Fin24.co.za, and Colleen Naude, Finweek executive editor.

New judge for Citadel journ awards
Respected media consultant and experienced journalist Nick Kotch joins the panel of judges for the 2008 Citadel Words on Money Journalism Award, which recognises excellence in reporting on investment and personal finance issues.

Zuma guilty of media over-generalisation – analyst
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] ANC president Jacob Zuma's views about mainstream media and the way its editorial content and decisions are being influenced by commercial consideration cannot be dismissed, Robert Brand, senior lecturer in media and ethics at Rhodes University, told Bizcommunity.com yesterday, Tuesday, 22 January 2007. “However, he is guilty of over-generalisation,” Brand said in disappointment.

Momentum launches M magazine - Habari Media
Momentum will soon be launching its first dedicated customer magazine, M.


ABC also going places
As of Monday, 4 February 2008, the new physical address of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) will be 2nd Floor, 7 St David's, St David's Office Park, St David's Place, Parktown, 2193 (Johannesburg). The new telephone and fax numbers are still to be confirmed but once they are allocated, they will be recorded on the existing switchboard number's voicemail, +27 (0)11 721 3490. The postal address (PO Box 47189, Parklands, 2121) remains unchanged.

Mobile soccer service a first for MTN
The 2008 MTN Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Ghana is in full swing and MTN subscribers may access “real time” information, as the competition unfolds, directly from their handsets. More importantly, this will be delivered across the African continent – an MTN first which will ensure that football action is available to millions of MTN subscribers directly on their handset.

Book reading gets even more mobile
CellBook, a Cape Town-based mobile applications developer, has recently developed technology enabling book publishers to publish and distribute books on mobile phone handsets. It is also in the process of developing a range of new technologies intended to change the face of mobile book publishing.

Clickatell, Dontgo launch real-time SMS customer feedback service - Clickatell
Clickatell, global provider of mobile messaging and Dontgo, online consumer advocate service, have announced the launch of a mobile customer service notification system.

Mobile usage on the rise - Multimedia Solutions
The number of people who are using their cellphones for access to the Internet is exploding in South Africa. Riaan Groenewald, Multimedia Solutions operations director, says while SMS and MMS figures have been increasing year on year, low data tariffs, easy access to the mobile web and a growing amount of online content customised for mobile viewing are responsible for the increase in the number of consumers accessing the mobile web and related services.

HSDPA war speeds up
Not only did MTN last week launch its new 3.6 Mbps HSDPA broadband service free to subcribers for several months, as well as announce that 7.2 Mbps HSDPA is being trialed in certain parts of Cape Town, according to MyADSL, over the weekend Vodacom announced that its 3.6 HSDPA service will also be free to subscribers until 30 April 2008.

Vodacom's Grid goes public
Vodacom this week kicked off the public launch of the website and WAP version of its mobile social network, The Grid, with two campaigns. The first is a "fresher's guide" – blips dropped all over campus showing social hotspots such as pubs– running at certain universities over the next few weeks. Secondly, users stand the chance of winning a Nintendo Wii by registering and using the WAP version and also by inviting friends to join.

Community newspapers “touching” South Africans
[Claudelle Naidoo] Community newspapers are a “touchable” media resource in that local press reaches a specific target audience, connecting a consumer to a brand within a geographical designated area and hence the ability to touch the right market.

Government blitz wipes out 40% ad revenue for newspaper group
[Dumisani Ndlela] A Zimbabwean newspaper executive this week revealed that his group had lost 40% of advertising revenue following what he described as “wanton looting of retail outlets” as a result of a government price blitz that triggered economy-wide shortages in the country.

A new look for a new year
DARMSTADT, GERMANY: “Empowering the news publishing industry” is the new slogan describing what IFRA stands for. “Technology is and remains the significant driver of business, while at the same time new business ideas are increasingly driving technological further development” is how CEO Reiner Mittelbach describes IFRA's stance. “This is true for all platforms: paper and digital. The new logo and slogan were developed with this in mind."


Readers get clicking for Beeld - Beeld
With over R100 000 in cameras and prizes on offer, as well as the opportunity to have a photo published in the Afrikaans daily, its no wonder that entries kept pouring in for Beeld's latest amateur photography competition.

Whatever happened to the development cycle?
[Allison Ross] Too often, the first step for business owners wanting an online presence is to find someone to build them a website. Why is it any different to implementing an in-house point-of-sale system?


KickOff.com enters Ghana market
KickOff.com, one of South Africa's biggest standalone soccer websites, has announced a new addition to its online stable in the form of www.KickOffGhana.com.

Visual Tours launches into 3D visualisation arena - Visual Productions
Visual Tours has recently launched a premier 3D architectural visualisation and animation studio. While the studio's main focus is on architectural work, manufactured products will feature from time to time.

New GM to drive Primedia Outdoor into Africa
Frikkie Cornelius has been promoted to GM Africa Division to drive Primedia Outdoor in the African environment, Primedia Outdoor CEO Skhumbuzo Nkosi announced yesterday, Tuesday, 22 January 2007. He replaces Mike Thomas, who has resigned to pursue alternative opportunities.


POP Outdoor targets emerged market malls - POP Outdoor
POP Outdoor have entered the emerged market with their exclusive mall medium, the POP Scroller, establishing a distinct presence in low-end malls nationally, now offering national advertisers and tenants the opportunity of reaching specific target markets at the relevant point-of-purchase.


POP Outdoor bolsters billboard holdings in Fourways area - POP Outdoor
POP Outdoor have recently secured the billboard rights for Fourways Crossing and will be installing its POP Scrollers and other media types in this important shopping precinct.


Alliance Media unveils largest building wrap for the Africa Cup of Nations - Alliance Media
On the eve of the Africa Cup of Nations in Accra, Alliance Media Ghana unveiled the country's most spectacular building wrap. MTN Ghana, the country's leading telecoms network and the sponsor of the Cup, took this key site specifically for the launch of Africa's largest football tournament.


POP Outdoor to launch SA's largest outdoor digital LED billboard at Sandton City - POP Outdoor
Television and outdoor advertising will soon merge at Sandton City with the launch of a 40m² LED screen capable of delivering 4.4 trillion colours – ostensibly South Africa's largest and highest resolution outdoor digital advertising screen.


POP Outdoor launch large format POP Icons at key malls - POP Outdoor
POP Outdoor has taken heed of the trend towards larger format billboard advertising and is currently installing its POP Icons at some of the country's top shopping destinations.


POP Outdoor boosts its holding in Western Cape - POP Outdoor
POP Outdoor has added the highly valuable shopping precinct of Somerset Mall to its Western Cape POP Scroller billboard holding, providing valuable outdoor advertising space in this market.


Cell C blasts off at the airports - Airport Media
When Suzanne Roberts and Debbie Lea founded Airport Media in 2002, they set out to take on the big boys who had dominated airport advertising for many years. The company now holds the sole and exclusive rights for displays, promotions and experiential marketing campaigns across ACSA's airports.

New opportunities for Paarl Media managers in 2008 - Paarl Media
The Paarl Media Group, one of South Africa's largest and most dynamic printing groups, has announced three management moves in support of its strategy of developing its people and maximising the ability to deliver on the requirements of clients.

Production talent faces the music
Five senior students studying multimedia at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) have had their work selected and accepted into the M-Net EDiT Competition 2008 in the music video category.


David Golden joins the Sanga herd - Sanga Films
Award-winning director David Golden has joined Sanga Films. Dave has a story-is-king approach and his work can be described as story-driven. He has a contagious energy and a love for what he does.


Sanga Films takes the new year by the horns - Sanga Films
Sanga stampedes into the new year with a desire to bring new light into the production industry, with ads reaching as far north as Morocco, Nigeria and Ghana. The Sanga family has grown into a stronger, formidable herd, now comprising directors Clive Will, Cindy Lee, Russell Underhill, David Golden, Morgan Dingle and Tebs Mosothoane.


9mm Films applies new mobile technology to traditional production - 9mm Films
Keeping abreast of the latest developments in technology and the mobile revolution approaching traditional production, 9mm's current project is a new media service.

Sound sign-ups for the AA - Sound Media
The Automobile Association of South Africa delved into the BMM this December, teaming up with Sound Contact to run a Mopanya Mall activation. Knowing the extensive difficulties in targeting a new market, the AA commissioned Sound Contact in the hope that this new, lucrative market could become engaged and excited about the AA brand.

Tips to improve your email subject lines
[Robynn Burls] Email – it's such a mundane, everyday type of task that we just assume that we know (and our colleagues know) how to send emails. But considering that a journalist is going to be scanning through hundreds of these every day, it would be wise to put a little thought into crafting something that catches the eye, don't you think?

Rocks and Hard Places - The Write Co.
The first Write Co graduate author to be published, Alex Harris, reaches the South Pole in 2008.

Open season for the headhunting industry
The headhunting industry is bracing itself for its busiest period as companies bed down annual strategies and identify crucial human resources gaps. Incidentally, says a top executive headhunter, it is also the time of year in which highly skilled individuals are much more willing to hear about new employment opportunities as they take stock of their careers.

One week until close of early-bird bookings for 2008 SAMRA Conference - SAMRA
Bookings for the 2008 SAMRA Conference, which will take place at the Royal Swazi Sun & Spa in Swaziland from the 27th to the 28th of May 2008, are open, and early-bird booking rates apply until the 31st of January.

Ipsos Markinor re-brands - Ipsos Markinor
Markinor, one of South Africa's leading research providers, has entered the global marketplace by joining the Ipsos family.


Kraft client wins global internal award with C.I.A. insight - Consumer Insight Agency
The 2007 winners for the Consumer Insights' Put the Consumer First Award have been recently announced by C.I.A. Insight. The award recognises those employees who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments for both the Consumer Insights function as well as Kraft Foods businesses as a whole by working on activities and projects that put our consumer first and better position Kraft Foods as an industry leader.

What is the population of South Africa on Tuesday, 22 January, 2008? - Eighty20
Eighty20 has launched an online population clock that gives an estimate of the population of South Africa right now. Not only that, it has created dynamic clocks so you can see the estimated population of Gauteng right now, or the number of men, or the number of black people, or the number of people who are HIV positive.

SA retailer shortlisted as one of the world's most responsible
Woolworths has received international recognition in the retail sector by being shortlisted for the Responsible Retailer of the Year. Woolworths competes for the title with six companies from across the globe that have been shortlisted by the World Retail Awards 2008.

Organic foods hit the big time but second thoughts for some
Organic foods are so successful that production cannot keep up with demand. However, there is another snag as well...

Be critical of even the most progressive
[Patrick Carmody] Last year's article Woolworths Foods: customer champions, environmental villain? was met with a vociferous response from the South African marketing community – effectively from one camp, “How dare one question the credibility of the shining star of the SA retailing firmament?” Part II explains in more detail why we need to have a critically engaged relationship with even our most progressive companies.

The day Mama Shirley changed my life - Clover
“My life changed when I came to the Ebenezer Care Centre. Mama Shirley had a lot of patience with me – she would talk to me for hours and pray for me. She made me feel like a person again and showed me that I was special and that I have a purpose to fulfil” – these are the heartfelt words of Felicity Kriel.

Sales incentive programmes and turnover reduction
[Peter Gilbert] Incentive programs can motivate your staff to new heights, but make certain you sidestep counterproductive mistakes.

Luxury sponsor for radio promotion
The five-star Sheraton Pretoria Hotel will be sending two lucky listeners on Jacaranda 94.2 to Paris, France, to see Grammy Award singer James Blunt live in at the Zenith de Paris. The promotion runs 28 January – 8 February 2008 on Tove Kane's afternoon show.

The return of MPH and Clarkson
Once again powered by BP Ultimate, MPH returns to South Africa between 31 January and 3 February 2008 at the Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg, and motoring celebrity Jeremy Clarkson will be the man behind the wheel, joined by South African radio and TV personality Sasha Martinengo.

Third year of powering sports guide

click to enlarge

Powerade has climbed on board for a third year in a row to sponsor the Sports Illustrated Super 14 guide, featured in the February 2008 issue, on sale in retail outlets since 21 January at the cover price of R29.95. This 32-page season-starting guide to the Super 14 rugby series features all the squads, game plans and predictions for this year's big event, the most explosive man-on-man clashes and a photo gallery.

Awards show for pay TV operator
While the ongoing writers' strike in Hollywood has disrupted production of television and awards shows in 2008, M-Net announced last week that it has secured the broadcast of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards for this year. The show will be broadcast tonight, Monday, 28 January 2008.

SABC to participate in MIDEM 2008
The SABC is for the first time participating in showcasing South Africa's music heritage at MIDEM 2008, Cannes, France, 27 –31 January 2008, together with the Department of Art and Culture and the South African music conference and exhibition Moshito.

Nedbank Cup preliminary fixtures for TV
Five of the eight preliminary Premier League Soccer fixtures for the Nedbank Cup taking place this weekend will receive television coverage, it was confirmed earlier this week. Supersport will screen three of the matches and SABC the other two.

New GM at MultiChoice Kenya
[Carole Kimutai] Stephen Isaboke is the new GM of MultiChoice Kenya. He is the first Kenyan to hold this position.


Making the right choice – again
Following the success of its first season last year, the interactive detective series Castle Lite Crossroads returns to the small screen on Friday evening, 1 February 2008. The series – where plot is determined by viewers – was the first of its kind on the continent.

More threats to 30-sec TV spot
[Chris Moerdyk] New software capable of stripping ads out of TV programmes seems to be yet another nail in the coffin of the die-hard 30-second TV commercial. A US company, VideoReDO, has developed a product called TV Suite that can strip content from television and cinema.