Tough times can be enlightening
[Frances Wright] South Africa has followed the world into a period of lean times as the global economy splutters and recession looms for the world's largest economies. Tough times do not necessarily mean going out of business, however, for companies prepared to take the necessary steps to trim waste and streamline their operations.


How to become a killer freelancer
[Tiffany Markman] Whether you're a) already freelancing and looking for a more substantial knowledge base to back you up, b) entirely new to freelancing and wanting to get going or c) still thinking about beginning a freelance career, here, in the first of a three part series, is something for nothing. Enjoy.


Further FutureFact findings
The fourth FutureFact conference, to be held on Thursday, 24 July 2008, in Johannesburg, focuses on the potential tipping points for these changes, relevant to future scenarios for business and the country. Here are some findings on township living from the FutureFact survey, which has been monitoring the attitudes, values and beliefs of South Africans for 10 years now.


Call to enter Marketing Excellence Awards
Nominations are now open for the third annual Sunday Times Business Times Marketing Excellence Awards, which recognise successful marketers and marketing companies for the key role they play in the industry. Marketing practitioners from all industry sectors are invited to nominate candidates that have excelled in the areas of industry, business, and individual accomplishment before entries close on 30 September 2008.

Destination SA always better on the big screen
South African Tourism is launching a global cinema advertising campaign that will take destination South Africa commercials to more than 1770 cinema screens in Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, the UK and the US. The campaign launches next month in Canada and runs until February 2009.

Celebrating "Just Do It" at Beijing
On the 20th anniversary of the launch of ‘Just Do It', Nike kicked off its global advertising campaign for Beijing from mid-July 2008, with a new emotionally charged 60-second commercial, Courage. The high-energy ad features 31 different Nike athletes from over a dozen different countries, including the US, Russia, Portugal, Switzerland, Afghanistan and South Africa.

Olympic ad campaign goes masked
Puma's latest ad campaign, launched for the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, features three different creative mask designs, one for each country sponsored by Puma - Jamaica, Morocco and Sweden. The campaign uses traditional Chinese Opera masks and other iconic Chinese elements as its creative foundation.

New agency takes Checkers account
The decade-and-a-half relationship between Checkers and Berry Bush/BBDO Cape Town is now over. "This year, in 2008, we decided that it was time to make sure that we were still receiving the best brand insight available in the industry," says Neil Schreuder, marketing manager for the Shoprite Checkers Group. "After the pitching processes we decided on NINETY9CENTS to handle our full advertising account.”

SABC Radio Sales supports Afrikaans renaissance through Pendoring Awards sponsorship - SABC Radio Sales
SABC Radio Sales has announced a title sponsorship of the Pendoring Awards, a competition that aims to acknowledge and reward excellence in the Afrikaans advertising space.

The animated journey of SABC's Radio Through The Ages - Masters & Savant
To celebrate the SABC's Radio Broadcast Facilities' (RBF) pioneering innovation through the ages at the launch event of the upgrade of RBF, SABC Group Marketing turned to Masters & Savant Worldwide JHB to produce an audiovisual that depicted the continued growth and reach of the national broadcaster - an AV that has since been nominated for a 2008 Loerie Award.


Lowe Bull CT creates new laughs for Redd's - Lowe Bull
Those four fabulous, straight-talking friends are back, and we don't mean Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda. We're talking South Africa's own trendy foursome - CJ, Phumzile, Cindy and Lindiwe - the popular stars of the long-running Redd's Premium Dry “Phola with Redd's” campaign.


Loeries Finalists Brainstorm Projects - Soccer Laduma Event - Brainstorm Projects
Brainstorm Projects, a corporate communications agency established in January 1998, conceptualised and managed the recent Soccer Laduma campaign. The object of the campaign was to celebrate Soccer Laduma's 11th birthday and reinforce the fact within the advertising industry that Soccer Laduma is the largest weekly male sports publication in South Africa.


Santam marks 90th birthday with celebratory campaign from Draftfcb Cape Town - Draftfcb (South Africa)
Leading short-term insurer, Santam, has marked its 90th birthday with a celebratory campaign from Draftfcb Cape Town, highlighting how the company has revolutionised its industry many times during its nine decades.


Loerie Awards, Sunday night and Wicked Pixels - Wicked Pixels
Sunday night in Margate promises to keep us all in suspense, but there is an early winner.


The suite life! - 210 on Long Creative Suites
An innovative synthesis of adaptable office suites, housed in a fresh, stylish space, on Cape Town's vibrant Long Street, creates a welcome buzz and energetic hub for both local and international media and creative communities.


Open invitation to free SAARF RAMS presentation
The South African Advertising Research Foundation (SAARF) will highlight the most important aspects of the latest RAMS release wave (no. 3) at the SAARF RAMS August 2008 Release on Wednesday 6 August 2008, at the Bryanston Country Club, Johannesburg, starting promptly at 9.30am. The fieldwork for this wave was conducted from Mid-March to end June 2008. The main objective is to update everyone on the latest movements in radio audiences and to give stakeholders the opportunity to interact with SAARF and its contractors. The team will consist of SAARF's CEO Dr Paul Haupt, technical support manager Michelle Boehme and technical support executives: Claire Milne and Lucas Raganya, as well as Dr Anina Maree of African Response and Sue Scott and Angelique Amado of Shonigani. The presentation will be made available on the SAARF website afterwards. Email saarf@saarf.co.za or phone +27 (0)11) 463 5340 to RSVP.

Pendoring entry deadline extended
The Pendoring entry deadline has been extended until Friday, 1 August 2008, at 5pm. A cash prize of R6000 is up for grabs in each category and the overall student winner will walks away with a study bursary to the value of R10 000. The Prestige Prize winner wins an overseas trip to the value of R25 000. Go to www.pendoring.co.za to enter.

SA creatives take June YoungGuns of the month
Lawrence Katz and Olivia Tesson from Draftfcb South Africa have taken the second Professional YoungGun of the Month, for June 2008, for their Ultraoptec Extinct campaign. This was only the second YoungGun of the Month but entries grew, including a number of new countries: Czech Republic, Serbia and Montenegro, Columbia, Russia and Italy. The YoungGun of the Month was also opened to include students and their ideas, going to Fabian Ruetschi from Miami Adschool for his Colgate idea. To view the winning work, go to www.ygaward.com/2008-content/younggun-of-the-month/younggun-of-the-month-showcase.html.

Bakersman gets a makeover
Biscuit producer Bakers, which for over 150 years has brought the Bakersman into South African homes, has relaunched the brand with a complete packaging makeover.


Minister of Education opens new Vega campus - Vega School
Minister of Education Naledi Pandor last week opened the Independent Institute of Education's (IIE) Vega campus in Bordeaux, Johannesburg.

Your winners - the Encounters Audience Awards
The winners of this year's Audience Award at The Encounters South African International Documentary Festival are Shamiela's House directed by Robyn Rorke for Best South African Documentary, and Angel's in the Dust directed by Louise Hogarth for Best International Documentary winner, it was announced yesterday, Thursday, 24 July 2008.

NFVF sponsors Durban International Film Festival yet again
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) will once again be a sponsor of the Durban International Film Festival, where cinema in all its diversity will be celebrated from 23 July to 3 August 2008 for the 29th time.

DStv - so much more with CineMARK - CineMARK
Broadcast medium DStv has selected cinema advertising, and CineMARK, as a major part of its new advertising campaign. The campaign will run for a period of 30 weeks, running from 5 September 2008 until 2 April 2009.

Core - Design Essence rebrands 50/50 nature TV programme - Core - Design Essence
Core - Design Essence was honoured when it received news it had won the pitch to rebrand one of South Africa's oldest shows. 50/50 Human Nature has been running on SABC2 for 24 consistent years, presenting the successes and disasters of conservation to South Africa's people.


The Mandela 90th birthday gift - Red Rocket
Craig Morris, who heads up Red Rocket Design, recently designed and produced the birthday book gift that was given to Nelson Mandela by his immediate family.


FusionDesign gives birth to a new brand - Volunteering Hands - FusionDesign
Newly established, Volunteering Hands, has become the latest brand to be created by FusionDesign, under its CSI brand Isibindi. Christine Tworeck the owner of the business - or chief volunteer - as she prefers to be known, started Volunteering Hands to address a critical need in the CSI industry.

Interactive cross-platform storytelling for Channel GO
Billed as South Africa's first cross-platform “minisoap”, M-Net youth channel GO's Seduction 101 is a series of downloadable podcasts and streaming video via the web and WAP. It is also the first mobile series to be distributed via MXiT. An extensive social media and mobile marketing campaign supports the cross-platform distribution strategy.

Rapid corporate adoption of social media
[Walter Pike] Twice as many rapidly growing companies believe that social media is very important in their marketing strategy in 2008 than did in 2007, with 77% using at least one form of social media, according to new research released by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center for Marketing Research. The subject of the research was the Inc 500, a list of the fastest growing companies compiled by Inc Magazine.


International A-list blogger roadshow for SA
Simon Barber from the International Marketing Council (IMC) of South Africa and Brand South Africa is putting together a South African roadshow of big-name international, mostly US-based, bloggers, writes Matthew Buckland, outgoing GM of the Mail & Guardian Online, on his blog.

Digital marketing: Doing the homework - digiVOX
[Andrea Mitchell] Digital marketing today, means a very different thing to what it did ten years ago. Ten years ago, it simply meant placing a banner on a web site. Some banners didn't even click through to a web site, as advertisers often didn't have a web presence. Media owners even charged a “loading fee”. Knowing how many times it had been viewed, let alone any more data beyond that, was not even considered.


Stonewall+ celebrates 10 years of Red Bull Big Wave Africa - Stonewall+
Digital marketing agency Stonewall+ recently launched the 10-year anniversary website for Red Bull Big Wave Africa.

KREW Interactive is at it again! - KREW Interactive
KREW has been hard at work again and is proud to announce the launch of the all-new Kellogg's Special K website!

Profiling data equals good customer experience - Striata
Communication between companies and their customers or potential customers in this electronic age has become a critical factor in the overall “customer experience”.

Headspace, 5TH Dimension merge
5TH Dimension and Headspace have merged, creating a full service below-the-line marketing agency with expertise in direct and below-the-line marketing and promotions. The merged entity will trade under the established 5th Dimension brand as a new-age communications company that is passionate about international trends. "The holy grail of direct marketing is to convert consumers into purchasers and to create a long-term relationship with that individual. Combined, we will be able to deliver a fully integrated package that will address any direct marketing need that a client may have," explains Hylton Rutherford, CEO of Headspace.

Quirk launches eMarketing textbook
Quirk eMarketing will offically launch its textbook entitled eMarketing - The Essential Guide to Online Marketing this Friday, 25 July 2008, aimed at business, universities and those interested knowing more about online marketing but who don't want to spend hours trawling the Internet for bits of information that may not even be relevant to their need or situation.


Executive Succession Management - Challenge or crisis...? - Knowledge Resources
This two-day Executive Succession Management Seminar will provide you with research and case studies exploring some existing trends and practices that will provide you with key insights on how to get your executive succession management programme moving forward. Come and hear from SABMiller, Goldfields, NECSA, and more...


Are South Africans living way beyond their means? - Knowledge Resources
Join us at the Financial Literacy for The Workplace Seminar on the 31 July 2008 and learn how you can educate your work force to become more financial literate, and to avoid potential scams and fraudulent schemes in these increasingly demanding times.


UCT GSB teaches the tools of change leadership - UCT Graduate School of Business
Rapidly adapt or face becoming obsolete - this is the challenge business leaders are grappling with today in a tough global marketplace. To empower leaders with the knowledge and tools to lead change expertly, the UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) will run an innovative course called Organisational Change Leadership this September.

Contact with horses can encourage good leadership - USB-ED
One of the most effective ways to evaluate good leadership is to observe how a horse reacts with a human being. Although leadership can be researched, evaluated and categorised, it is ultimately the reality of life which makes the individual an effective leader. Contact with horses can emulate this reality.

Gearhouse at the Loeries - Gearhouse SA
It's time for the annual Loerie Awards, and Gearhouse SA is more involved than ever in this highlight on the advertising industry's calendar.

Viva Hecate Productions, 46664 and “Khululeka” break the silence in London - Viva Hecate
“Khululeka! Break the silence! Its in our hands!” These messages brought to over 42 000 children in South Africa by a generic HIV and Aids play developed by Viva Hecate Productions in 2005 were taken to England by 46664 in June 2008.


Tru Touch Events and Vodacom Direct a winning team! - Tru Touch Events
Tru Touch Events, together with Maurice Kerrigan, have been awarded the facilitation of the Vodacom Direct Management development programme.


Seattle Coffee introduces mobile coffee bars powered by LiquidChefs - LiquidChefs
Last week the Seattle Coffee Company launched its delicious new, beautifully brewed mobile coffee bars, powered by LiquidChefs. The partnership will see LiquidChefs providing all infrastructure requirements, including managers to maintain its high levels of service, and Seattle Coffee Company providing the coffee machines and highly skilled baristas.


The launch of Sasol Inzalo - True Colour Events
Glitz, glamour and pure sophistication surrounded the Sandton Convention Centre for the launch of Sasol Inzalo.

Oasys includes Durban's beachfront in the city's Fashion Week catwalk - Oasys Innovations
Oasys Innovations ensured that Durban's beachfront provided a backdrop with the infrastructure they delivered to MTN's Durban Fashion Week, which took place during the last week of June.


Discover something new at the 2008 Vaal HOMEMAKERSexpo - HOMEMAKERS
Whether you're renovating, building, or just want to try something new for your living space, you can discover new ideas and trends at the third annual Vaal HOMEMAKERSexpo, on at the events and exhibition centre, Emerald Casino, 24 - 27 July 2008.


Baba Indaba celebrates 100% sold out for the third year in the Mother City! - Baba Indaba
It may be cold in Cape Town, but the fervour is heating up as Baba Indaba prepares for lots of enticement, shopping and ample entertainment for mamas, papas and babas.

News for the boyz
Newsstands are crowded with successful magazines aimed at teenage girls, but there are few, if any, general interest magazines for teenage boys, and yet there are over 4.75 million young men in this demographic in South Africa. With this in mind, DevAd Publishing & Promotions is launching Boyz Only magazine, targeted at young men between the ages of 10 and 18.

Debut of cultural district brochure
The first annual Newtown Brochure - published and project managed on behalf of the Newtown Management District (NMD) by Blue Planet Media - is now available, focusing on the potpourri of cultural, educational and tourist attractions in Newtown, Johannesburg, ranging from museums, art galleries, restaurants, theatre, dance and live music.

Is wild Africa disappearing?
In 2006, Africa Geographic took the unprecedented step of devoting an entire issue of the magazine to a single species: elephants. In 2007, the publishing team pushed the boat out even further, resulting in the successful "Climate Change issue" (August 2007). Now, in August 2008, the magazine returns to its conservation and wildlife roots, bringing readers a detailed and critical look at the state of conservation across the continent.


RS&P mourns death of Harold Eedes
Harold Eedes, MD of media company Ramsay, Son & Parker for the past nine years and a significant figure in the local publishing industry, died peacefully on Sunday, 20 July 2008, after a long battle with cancer. According to a statement from RS&P, “he will be remembered for his leadership, wisdom and integrity by his fellow directors, colleagues and friends.”


Obrigado print and online: space for all! - The Publishing Partnership
The award-winning magazine's latest offering recently landed in the form of the Out-of-this-World issue, and once again highlights The Publishing Partnership and Vida e Caffè's commitment to serving a generous slice of urban life to coffee drinkers.


In the September issue of FHM - UCM
FHM's Sexiest Woman on the planet, Megan Fox, the 2008 global winner of this title, lets us sneak a peak into what goes on underneath the covers. The Transformers star tells us about her high libido, finding interesting strip joints in Florida and her fondness of skin art.


Afrikaans teen girl title increases frequency

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Carpe Diem Media's teen girl magazine Finesse Meisie has from this week become a bi-monthly title. Previously, it was only distributed three times a year. Luané Grobbelaar has also been appointed as the new permanent editor, replacing Jozelle Pretorius who was the part-time editor for the first three issues. Following in the footsteps of her older sister, Finesse Meisie consults with gurus who interactively answer readers' questions about specific areas of teenagers' lives like sexuality, health, body, beauty, mind and soul. For more, go to www.finessemeisie.co.za.


ABC releases amended rules
The Audit Bureau of Circulations has released its ABC Rules Version 1.5 amended 29 May 2008, which have been effective since 1 July, at www.abc.org.za/NewsFull.aspx?Id=90. The new version supercedes all previous versions.

Ten truths for B2B journalists
[Louise Marsland] KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: Business-to-business editors are facing similar issues globally: the relentless pull towards digital editions, fear of print products being cannibalised by online brands, squeezed revenues, shrinking newsrooms and an increasing fight to assert the rights of editorial expertise versus mass content aggregation online.

FXI argues for public Hlope hearings
Earlier this week, the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) made a submission to the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) calling for the hearing to investigate the alleged misconduct of the Constitutional Court Judges and Cape Judge President John Hlope to be held in public. The FXI further supported the broadcast media's right to broadcast the hearing live.

Call to enter travel, tourism reporting awards
Journalists who report on travel and tourism matters can now enter the 'Excellence in Travel and Tourism Reporting' category of the 2008 Hospitality Investment Africa Awards.

Rugoho-Chin'ono, CNN Multichoice African Journalist 2008
Hopewell Rugoh-Chin'ono, from Zimbabwe, has been awarded the top prize at this year's CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2008 Awards ceremony.

WAN materials available for celebrating World Literacy Day
PARIS: For newspapers around the world that wish to commemorate International Literacy Day on 8 September 2008, the World Association of Newspapers is now offering materials for publication which include an eight-part serialised story for children, and comic strips and panels from some of the world's most notable cartoonists.

iLogic gets to know Ronald Sassoon - iLogic
iLogic's latest website development for the iconic Ronald Sassoon Jeans brand forms an integral part of the brand's revival.

iafrica.com powers up accommodation booking with SafariNow - Primedia Online
iafrica.com, South Africa's oldest internet portal, has beefed up the reader-offering on its dedicated Travel community with the integration of SafariNow's online booking technology.

Ormerod to drive ComutaNet
Specialist community marketing company ComutaNet has secured the expertise and considerable sales and network experience of Trevor Ormerod, executive chairman, Cinema and Print Division, Primedia, as acting CEO, it was announced on Friday, 25 July 2008.

Linear Stand point-of-sale and brochure holder - Right Stuff
Upgrade your showroom with the latest brochure/banner display combo - the Linear Stand. Made from durable materials, this high-quality point-of-purchase system is designed and manufactured to the highest standards and has a superb finish.


Madiba's massive birthday card - Clear Channel
Sir Anthony O'Reilly's Independent Newspaper Group, owners of the Star, the Mercury, the Daily News, Sunday Tribune, Isolezwe, Pretoria News, the Cape Argus and Cape Times, and Clear Channel Independent in Africa, joined forces to congratulate Madiba, father of our nation, a happy and blessed 90th birthday on Citilites last week in Johannesburg and Pretoria.


Lighting up for Madiba's birthday

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On the evening of Thursday, 17 July 2008, the day before former president Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday, the Primedia Outdoor team elected to flight a birthday message for Madiba which flighted until the end of Friday 18 July. According to the media contractor, this is an example of the versatility of its LED billboards.

TABPI SA duo head for USA - TABPI
Bizcommunity.com editorial director and editor Louise Marsland and Now Media managing editor Natalia Thomson are heading off to the US this week to attend and present at the American Society of Business Publications Editors (ASBPE) annual conference in Kansas City, Missouri, 23 - 25 July 2008.

Huge global audience anticipated for SA doccie
‘Sharkville' - a documentary on the sharks of Mossel Bay made and hosted by local resident Ryan Johnson - will premiere on National Geographic in the US this Friday, 25 July 2008, at 10pm. It will then start screening on National Geographic's international channels within four to eight weeks and is expected to be repeated regularly over a period of five years - to an estimated audience of 100 million viewers.

TEC Video supports the empowerment of scriptwriters - TEC Agency
Although the three-month strike by US film and TV writers is a distant memory for some, TEC Video believes it is something we cannot just forget, and there are long-term lessons for the industry as a whole.

juju adds flash to The 2008 Loerie Awards - juju
For the third year in a row, juju has been selected by The Loerie Awards and H-Factor to supply show graphics and titles. In January 2008, when H-Factor unveiled its plans for the 30th anniversary show, it briefed juju to focus exclusively on Saturday night.

Telkom Charity Cup TVC produced by Cinergy - Cinergy
Cinergy's Telkom Charity Cup TV commercial for The Agency, directed by Jonathan Cohen and produced by Darren Gordon, conveys a Thank You message to all those who changed someone's life by making a phone call to vote for their favourite Charity Cup soccer team.


Audio Militia track has India in a spin - Re:public
Two young South Africans have created the sound behind the visuals which have the Internet world astir.


Ontwerp update! - Ontwerp
Ontwerp have been busy lately so head on through to our press office to check out a bunch of new projects that we have recently completed.


Creative Vision is proud to have produced a birthday message for Madiba - Creative Vision
In honour of a world hero, Y&R and its client SABC commissioned Creative Vision to create an emotive birthday card for Madiba. Using the letters in Mandela, the agency's concept was to see how many words could be derived from his name.


Cinergy moves - Cinergy
Commercial film producers Cinergy has moved from Bryanston to new offices in Rosebank, Johannesburg.

Picture Tree plays host to Arab and Italian coffee enthusiasts - Picture Tree
Creating the look-and-feel of an international commercial, destined exclusively for the South African market, was no easy feat. But this is just the kind of challenge the Picture Tree team were prepared for with the new spots for House of Coffees.

Are you a key communication practitioner in South Africa? - Janine Lazarus Media Consultancy
As you know, we work in a dynamic communications industry which is rapidly evolving and developing as various economic sectors and SME markets mature. With the result that the demand and output of excellent communication is higher than ever!

Writers Write: Amanda Patterson's creative writing course comes to Durban - The Write Co.
"If you have to explain your book to me, rewrite it. I doubt that you will be there when I'm reading it," says Amanda Patterson, CEO of Johannesburg-based, The Write Co.


Deadline for writing course on doorstep - Quo Vadis Communications
The days are ticking by before the interactive Organisational Communications Course run by Quo Vadis Communications begins in Durban next month.

94.7 responds in turn to Sony BMG
94.7 Highveld Stereo has issued a response to the statement from Sony BMG this week concerning the 94.7 Music Shop partnership between the radio station and eXactmobile that has been put on hold.

Sony BMG responds to 94.7
Sony BMG Africa earlier this week issued a statement in response to 94.7 Highveld Stereo's announcement that its 94.7 Music Shop initiative in partnership with eXactmobile had been put on hold because Sony BMG had withdrawn its consent.

Mobile music initiative on hold
94.7 Highveld Stereo listeners will have to wait a while before they can start downloading music they hear on the airwaves onto their phones. The station announced yesterday, Monday, 21 July 2008, that it will be postponing the launch of its music sales initiative to listeners as Sony BMG has withdrawn its consent.

PenQuin International launches The Star Workplace Expo - PenQuin International
All businesses strive to be an employer of choice, one of the building blocks for attaining this goal is employing the right people on which to build the foundation of a well-rounded business. Conversely, every individual seeks a career which will challenge and develop them.

Approval of President Mbeki drops to its lowest level since 2002 - TNS Research Surveys
TNS Research Surveys, South Africa's leading marketing and social insights company, has conducted a series of surveys since 2000 that ascertain whether people feel the President is doing a good job as President of South Africa.

c.i.a's NOW Archetypes quantified in groundbreaking consumer study - Consumer Insight Agency
Leading research agency Synovate has teamed up with the Consumer Insight Agency (c.i.a) on a new initiative that is marrying qualitative and quantitative techniques to give South Africa marketers a powerful new way to see and understand consumers.

Lucy Tugwell joins Research International - Research International
Research International South Africa (RISA) has announced that Lucy Tugwell has joined as client service director on the FMCG team with effect from 1 July 2008.


Fast-growing and recession-resistant over-40's market presents golden opportunity for SA business - UCT Unilever Institute of Strategic Marketing
South African business could be ignoring the moneyed over-40's market at their peril, says director of the UCT Unilever Institute for Strategic Marketing, Professor John Simpson.

Free Madiba birthday special serves over 10000
When a public challenge was issued to Nando's last week by SABC2's Morning Live to better its offer of free meals to everyone 90 years and older in honour of Nelson Mandela's birthday, Kevin Utian, Nando's MD, immediately picked up the gauntlet.


Sharp to demystify the six myths of retailing
Professor Byron Sharp leads the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, which conducts serious research and development into how marketing works based on over 80 years of data from top global companies. Join him at South Africa's first ever Retail Advertising Conference, where he will demolish six myths of retailing.

Software for retail: show the value
The rising interest rates and credit squeeze mean significant things for retailers. With less disposable income to spend, customers are becoming that much more selective. As such, retailers need to start using their IT software that much more effectively.

Four pitch presentation errors to avoid
[Sid Peimer] The OJ trial was weird. Although I don't have any of the specifics, I do know that DNA can't jump and that if you're innocent you don't go driving away in a white Bronco with the entire police force on your tail. Or maybe you do. But that's beside the point. I was not a juror and OJ was found innocent. Marcia Clark, though, was guilty - of making four key errors in her pitch to the jury.

South African Sponsorship Association formed
The inaugural meeting of the South African Sponsorship Association (SASA) was held in Johannesburg earlier this month. SASA aims to unify, strengthen and advance the business of sponsorship in South Africa by being the pre-eminent organisation that promotes responsible best practice, which builds understanding, value and demand for sponsorship.

Resort group goes for gold at Beijing Olympics
Boutique accommodation and five star game reserve group, Mantis Collection has joined Arizona-based tour operator Destination Southern Africa in supporting members of the South African 2004 Olympic Gold Medal winning 4x100m freestyle relay team.

MultiChoice launches HDTV
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] MultiChoice has launched high definition television (HDTV) in the South African market, the first of its kind in Africa. The event took place last night, Thursday, 24 July 2008, at Atlas Studios in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.


The return of Noot vir Noot
Noot vir Noot, officially the longest running game show in South Africa and also the most popular Afrikaans TV show ever, returns to SABC2 for a groundbreaking 31st season from next Friday, 1 August 2008 at 7.30pm.

Spread it with Jam Sandwich
SABC2's new music “reality”/documentary show Jam Sandwich is a 13-part reality/documentary/entertainment series where musicians from different market segments of the South African music spectrum are put together to collaborate. Jam Sandwich promises to deliver television that opens the door on how musicians work, how they create and what they are really capable of, given a free rein without the demands of commercial success.

ICASA grants ODM pay-TV licence
On Digital Media (ODM) announced earlier this week that it has been awarded a pay-TV broadcast licence by ICASA. "We are ecstatic that ICASA has issued our broadcasting licence," commented Vino Govender, director of ODM.

Fourth season of Let's Fix It launches - e.tv
One of e.tv's most popular programmes, Let's Fix It, returns for its fourth season on Tuesday 29 July at 8.30pm. Once again, the programme will focus on looking to lend a helping hand to those in need.


Let's Fix It returns for a fourth time
Popular e.tv programme Let's Fix It returns for its fourth season on Tuesday, 29 July 2008, at 8.30pm, with Joel Zuma as the new presenter. Once again, the programme will focus on looking to lend a helping hand to those in need. Says Zanele Mthembu, head of local productions at e.tv: “This type of programme is part of e.tv's ethos and philosophy of giving back to the community and to the many needy people who live in our country. e.tv is not just about entertainment; we also play a vital role in the upliftment of the people of South Africa. Let's Fix It has over the years proved to play an important part in our station's corporate social responsibility programme and it will continue to do so in the years to come.”

Top Billing talks to Madiba

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Top Billing will screen an exclusive birthday interview with Madiba and his beloved wife Graça Machel at his private residence in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Thursday, 7.30pm on SABC3. Top Billing talks to his closest family and friends and those who've brushed up against the magic of the man and found their lives changed, inspired and driven by this greatest of South Africans.

HDI, MTV partner for industry roadshow
Youth market specialists HDI Youth Marketeers and music and youth entertainment network MTV Networks Africa are joining forces to create a roadshow designed to show advertising and media planning agencies what's really going on in the forever evolving youth space, and how to tap into it.