Archive for January, 2006
Showtime Arabia has announced that it will add ‘the classic animation channel Boomerang’ to four of its top packages.
According to to Showtime Arabia, this ” further reinforces Showtime’s position as a leader in the region, not only for young viewers but also for the young at heart. ”
Well, it’s actually true that grown-ups can enjoy cartoons like Top Cat, Bugs Bunny, Scooby Doo, Tom & Jerry, The Flintstones and others.
In the words of Peter Einstein, President and CEO of Showtime Arabia “who can resist Daffy Duck and Scooby Doo?”
But, the channel is primarily aimed at the 4–9 age group segment. (the press release says so!)
For now, the Showtime Arabia website doesn’t mention Boomerang. But, here’s a link to it anyway.
January 14th, 2006
Andrew Fischer, also known as the “Forehead Guy,” who received international attention after successfully marketing and selling advertising space on his forehead last year, has just announced plans to make his forehead available for corporate branding once again.
Back in January 2005, he wore a temporary tattoo on his forehead and managed to raise over $50,000 for doing so!
Seems like Andrew is out of money, or that he plans to create the world’s first periodical (annual) forehead media tool!
Surely, us Arabs have wider and more prominent forheads 
which are more suitable for advertising!
Anyway, check out the auctioning madness here.
January 14th, 2006
As advertisers begin to utilize the wonderful world of blogs, to promote their products, it was bound to happen that a company like Coca Cola would try to set-up its own, branded blog.
For Coca Cola Zero, a blog has been launched with a strange theme:
“The Zero Movement has one goal in mind. To rid the world of the negative consequences that limit us all. Everywhere you look, someone is telling you how to behave, how to act, what you should and shouldn’t be doing. What if you could live life with zero negative consequences? Zero Hassles. Zero Stress. Zero Fights. Zero Worries. Zero Limits. Zero Shoulds. Zero Parking Fines. Zero Demands. Zero Frowns. Zero deadlines.
That is our goal. Our purpose.”
As you can see, it makes Zero sense!
Why don’t you see it for yourself and decide.
January 13th, 2006
It’s that time of year again, when you start seeing predictions of how much online advertising will grow.
eMarketer is one of the credible and long-serving research firms who have recently made some bold predictions; most prominent of which is that online advertising is expected to finally exceed 5% of total advertising spend.
Although that’s a prediction for the US market, you can see such trends already in Europe; and it makes you wonder when we’ll see such developments in the Middle East!
So, media planners in Dubai, Beirut, Jeddah and everywhere else take note and let’s see more advertising spend on websites in the region.
Here’s the report. It’s a very good & long read with lots of graphs.
January 12th, 2006
Non-profit and charity organizations are utlizing marketing communications to raise funds and awareness.
One of the latest examples is Tikeyat Um Ali’s charity drive for Eid Al Adha in Jordan.
Give it a look. Check out the copywriting. Not bad at all.
The campaign was designed by Objects Advertising in Amman.
Happy Eid Adha to you all!
January 8th, 2006
Dentsu Inc. has announced that its India-based joint venture, Dentsu Marcom Pvt. Ltd. will establish a UAE subsidiary, called Dentsu Marcom Middle East FZ-LLC in January 2006.
Apperantly, this follows Dentsu’s investment in Drive Communication in June last year.
So, maybe it’s time an Asian titan muscled in on the European-US dominated network agency scene in Dubai.
Here’s a look at their announcement.
January 8th, 2006
Adobe will launch a campaign to promote it’s InDesign desktop publishing software using real customers.
It’s called “Faces of InDesign,” and is being handled by Goodby-Silverstein and Grey Direct.
Check it out, at Adobe’s website, when it starts on Monday 9 January, 2006.
January 8th, 2006
Previous Posts
