THE WORK 07: OGILVY NAMED NETWORK OF THE YEAR, SAATCHI NZ BAGS AGENCY OF THE YEAR

The total number of ads and campaigns accepted into The Work 07 annual was 395, down on last year’s record number of entries of 413. Well over 4000 entries were received from 253 of the best agencies and production companies throughout Asia, Australia and New Zealand. A high quality 400 page hardback publication, including two DVDs of TV and integrated, will be published in November.
Saatchi & Saatchi Auckland is the "Agency of The Work 07", scoring the most number of entries from an individual office with 15 making it into the annual. JWT Singapore and DDB Auckland share second place this year with 12 entries each, while fourth place was a real battleground and saw five agencies finish with 10 apiece: Colenso BBDO Auckland, DDB Sydney, Ogilvy & Mather Mumbai, Saatchi & Saatchi Kuala Lumpur and Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney.
BBDO Guerrero/Ortega and Ogilvy & Mather Bangkok share ninth place with nine points each completing The Work 07 Top Ten.
Last year Saatchi & Saatchi offices finished first, second and third and though they have not managed this dominance again, they do still have three agencies in the Top Ten. DDB have made a good improvement on this table in 07 with the Sydney and Auckland offices increasing their acceptance totals by seven and five respectively. Saatchi & Saatchi Kuala Lumpur came from nowhere last year with ten more entries in the book this time around. Ogilvy and Mather Bangkok were up five with their nine entries and BBDO Guerrero/Ortega had four more entries in this year’s book than last year.

THE TOP NETWORKS
The Work’s Top Three Networks are unchanged from 2006: Ogilvy & Mather is number one again, taking the "Network of The Work 07" title. BBDO was again second and Saatchi & Saatchi third. O&M had 15 individual offices contribute to its winning number of entries of 58. Their top performers were Mumbai (10), Bangkok (9) and Beijing (7). This year's total is the same total as last year in The Work 06.
BBDO were a more distant second this year with 52 entries compared to last year’s 56 and Saatchi & Saatchi’s 48 entries was one down on last year’s 49.
BBDO's top performers were Colenso BBDO Auckland (10), BBDO Guerrero Ortega Manila (9), and BBDO Bangkok and Clemenger BBDO Wellington (6 each). The Saatchi & Saatchi network was headed by the "Agency of The Work 07" - Saatchi Auckland with 15 acceptances. Saatchi Sydney and Saatchi Kuala Lumpur also had a large haul (10 each) as did Saatchi Singapore (7).
The fourth placed network was the fast improving JWT. Their total of 44 acceptances was headed by JWT Singapore (12), JWT Bangkok (8) and JWT Mumbai (7). Next best networks were DDB with 30 acceptances (DDB Auckland 12, DDB Sydney 10) and Leo Burnett with 28 (Burnetts Mumbai and Sydney 7 each).

TOP AGENCIES IN EACH COUNTRY:
AUSTRALIA: DDB Sydney (10), Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney (10), Leo Burnett Sydney (7)
CHINA: O&M Beijing (7), O&M Shanghai (5), JWT Shanghai (3)
HONG KONG: Grey HK (3)
INDIA: O&M Mumbai (10), JWT Mumbai (7), Leo Burnett Mumbai (7)
INDONESIA: O&M Jakarta (4)
JAPAN: Dentsu (4), O&M (2)
MALAYSIA: Saatchi & Saatchi Kuala Lumpur (10), O&M Kuala Lumpur (6), Y&R Kuala Lumpur (5)
NEW ZEALAND: Saatchi & Saatchi Auckland (15), DDB Auckland (12), Colenso BBDO Auckland (10)
PHILIPPINES: BBDO Guerrero/Ortega (9), O&M (3), Y&R (3)
SINGAPORE: JWT (12), Saatchi & Saatchi (7), McCann Erickson (5)
THAILAND: O&M Bangkok (9), JWT Bangkok (8), BBDO Bangkok (6)

TOP UK VFX DESIGNER RUSHES TO SYDNEY'S EMERALD CITY

Highly renowned London VFX/Post company Rushes loss was Emerald City’s and Australia’s gain when Claire Pollock joined Emerald this month as Senior Visual effects Artist/Designer. Pollock was lured to Emerald City after working in London where she was exposed to and worked with some of Britain's greatest creative minds.
With 20-years experience in design and visual effects for the feature film, advertising and broadcast industries internationally, Pollock has designed, supervised and produced numerous award-winning creative concepts, corporate identities, television commercials, music videos and visual effects sequences for leading Australian and international organisations.
Pollock's highlights include:
Commercials: After Eight; Alfa Romeo; BT; Carling; Carlsberg; Chevron; Ford; Halifax; Hugo Boss; Hyundai; Jaguar; Lego; Listerine; Peugeot 307; PG Tips; Philips; Renault; Rimmel; Rover; Virgin Atlantic; Virgin Mobiles; Visa; Vodafone; Walkers.
Music Videos: Depeche Mode; DJ Shadow; Gabrielle; Garbage; George Michael; Liberty X; The Spice Girls; The Streets; Toploader.
Feature Films: ‘Around The World In 80 Days’ (2004); ‘Lost In Space’ (1998); ‘Love Is The Devil’ (1998); ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ (1997).
Programme Titles, Idents & Promos: Dove/GMTV; ITV Premiership; KFC / SM:TV; Discovery Channel Re-brand; BBC Match of the Day; MTV; Robbie Williams ‘It Ain’t Half Hot, Mum’.
For bookings, contact: geoff@emeraldcity.com

BUTT TOSSERS RADIO CAMPAIGN WIN ROUND 2 OF SIREN AWARDS

A series of ads targeting “butt tossers” has scooped the pool by taking out both the Campaign and Single categories for Round 2 of the 2008 Siren Awards, which also deems the campaign the overall round winner.
The campaign, named “Bin Your Butts – Lost and Found” prank calls unsuspecting offenders for Sustainability Victoria. The ads get the important environmental message across in a unique way.
Writers Ben Keenan and Connor Beaver (pictured) from Grey Worldwide, Melbourne said “what makes the ads so unique is the actual prank dialogue used is from US TV Show 'Crank Yankers'.
The pair also managed to snatch up the title of Single Category winner with “Bin Your Butts – Male”, which was part of the overall and Campaign winning series.
Judges Ed James, Simon Johnson, Charlie Cook, and Justin Carew from DDB in Sydney remarked on the campaign’s ability to communicate “a simple message in a real and honest way”. And again this is what saw the ad come out on top in the single category.
Three ads were highly commended in the campaign category: Carlton Draught 'Advertising Computer' for Foster’s, written by Ant Keogh and Grant Rutherford from Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne and submitted by Flagstaff Studios who produced the ad.
A further two ads were also highly commended in the campaign category: “Great Beer Inventions” for snackfood, Beerka, written by Brendan Greaney and David Ponce de Leon from Leo Burnett in Melbourne and “Open Family – Junk Food/Hits/Monsters/Dreams” for Open Family Australia, written by Brendon Guthrie and Tim Holmes from Grey in Melbourne.
Two ads from the “Great Beer Inventions” campaign, “Shopping Trolley” and “Urinal” were highly commended in the single category and written by Brendan Greaney and David Ponce de Leon from Leo Burnett in Melbourne.
This round’s Craft Category Winner went to “Black Widow Trackers” written by Jo Campbell and produced by Gregg Sinclair from ARN, Sydney. Last round’s winner and this round’s judge Dylan Stephens from Risk Sound in Melbourne commented; "The Sound FX put us in a real situation and have been crafted well to the timing of the narration, enhancing the story".
An ad called “Shower” for Rent Rescue was highly commended in the craft category. Sound engineer was Marty Braine from Brainestorm Productions, Perth and creative director was Ron Samuel.

HEAR ALL THE SPOTS HERE

HEARING VOICES

Photographer Garry Moore, who is represented by Miss Bossy Boots, has been working alongside the Prahran Mission (a non profit community organization) in Melbourne, to create a fantastic visual exhibition. It aims to help people understand auditory hallucinations, the effects and experiences, and that these hallucinations are not always associated with schizophrenia. In fact, they can be experienced by people who are not effected by a mental illness at all.
Says Samantha Lee from Miss Bossy Boots: "We are very passionate about being involved in the community and supporting this great cause. It would be great if the advertising industry/community can also get involved and witness some of Garry’s great photographic work! And it’s free for all! The more people we can get there, the better."

WHEN: 5:3opm, Thursday September 13
WHERE: Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran
COST: FREE
RSVP: (03) 9692 9500

CAMPAIGN BRIEF TAKES OVER WWW.BESTADSONTV.COM

Campaign Brief is the new owner of www.bestadsontv.com, the only FREE showcase of the world's latest and greatest commercials, print, outdoor, interactive and integrated work.

www.bestadsontv.com

will now be updated on a daily basis, bringing ad punters the world's best work as it happens. You can access the site's extensive archive of work, and search by various criteria, absolutely FREE (as most of you know, competing sites charge an annual subscription).
Bestads was started by Beamo Music owner Brian 'Beamo' Beamish in 2003 and it has grown to become one of the most popular sites of its type in the world. (Most punters are still not aware it is based in Sydney). Last year Beamo sold Beamo Music and now bestads to concentrate on other ventures outsde the ad business.
Many CB Bloggers, like more that 11,000 creatives from around the world, are already registered on www.bestadsontv.com, but if you are not already one of them, please feel to join us.
Registered subscribers (it's FREE to sign up) receive a weekly email which links to the current Top 6 ads in the world in various categories. But don't forget to check in daily to see the latest and greatest work from around the world.

For advertising or general enquiries on www.bestadsontv.com contact:
michael@bestadsontv.com

GETTY IMAGES UNVEILS SMARTER SEARCH WITH LAUNCH OF NEW WEBSITE

Getty Images has announced the launch of the new gettyimages.com featuring a unique brainstorming tool for editorial and creative professionals called Catalyst. Fully redesigned and re-engineered, the site serves as a powerful source of inspiration while delivering a more efficient search experience. Numerous enhancements make it easier than ever to find a specific image, or discover an expanded selection of relevant visuals, with a flexible user interface that complements a broad range of work styles.
Extensive customer input informed the development of Getty Images’ new site features, including Catalyst - a first-of-its-kind search tool that uses interactive tag clouds to suggest different words to express an idea. The tool exposes the user to unexpected keywords, concepts and images, making it an especially helpful resource in the early stages of creative brainstorming.
“We owe our customers a great deal of credit for this innovative rebuild,” said Jonathan Klein, co-founder and CEO of Getty Images. “Their input and expertise has allowed us to preserve the strengths of the old site and introduce a host of new features, resulting in a more agile and interactive gettyimages.com that is uniquely equipped to enrich the current and future communications landscape.”
For the first time, customers can access Creative, Editorial and Footage content through a single site. Other new and improved features enable customers to:
• Refine search by narrowing results with a wealth of associated data including event, location, style or other criteria;
• Find similar images using associated keywords or an existing image as a frame of reference;
• Move from one detail page to the next and simultaneously view multiple detail pages;
• Perform separate or combined searches for Creative and Editorial imagery;
• Backtrack to previous results pages using the search path; and
• Avoid search dead ends by using spelling suggestions and expansion tips.
Offering real-time inspiration to customers looking for timely visual content, the company has recently added creative imagery to its selection of news, sport and entertainment imagery delivered through Getty Images Live. Available at gettyimages.com/live, this robust tool streams a customisable selection of freshly captured images directly to customers’ desktops.
The new gettyimages.com is available in nine languages. Catalyst is currently available exclusively in English, and will be adapted for other languages in the coming months.

UNIVERSITY GRADUATES ENTICED TO THE JWT WOMB

JWT Australia is running a graduate competition called The Womb. Open to anyone in their final year of tertiary study, there will be two winners - one in Sydney, one in Melbourne – and the prize is a nine month long paid position at JWT.
The initiative is designed to seek out and cultivate creative-minded students. The website, www.jwtwomb.com, is now live and students can register and find out more information about the process.
The JWT Womb is the brainchild of Amy Smith, CEO of JWT Australia and New Zealand, and is part of her drive to turn the agency once considered the ‘university of advertising’ into the University of Magic and Logic. Amy has long been an advocate for nurturing new talent in the industry and is championing the JWT Womb as a way of unearthing more of that talent.
The process will involve a live brief given by one of the agency's biggest clients, Ford Australia.
“We want to see how the candidates are able to deal with some of the same challenges we face,” Smith said.
“That’s why we’re asking them to work on a live brief. The results will be judged internally and then the finalists will have to present to a board of judges which will include senior JWT and Ford staff.”
Applicants will be asked to produce a creative communications campaign, based on a robust strategic platform. They will also be invited to attend workshops where they will be advised on what the judges will be looking for when assessing the work.
“It doesn’t matter where you think your talents lie - be they creative or strategic, account service or production – the Womb will let you showcase your strengths and expose you to all aspects of the way an agency works,” Smith said.
The project has the support of universities around Australia and places for the information seminars are filling quickly.
The website features one of the designers of the program, Paul Johnston. He is curled up in the foetal position, working on his laptop. When you launch the site, you can hear the voice of his ‘Mother’ talking. The two interact, with the ‘baby’ kicking Mother at one stage and Mother directing him to do things. In -utero, our ‘baby’ talks on the phone, bats away an alarm clock and drinks a cup of coffee.
The JWT Womb also has a presence on Facebook, with a link from the Womb website. Here people can view behind the scenes footage from the making of the website and the poster shoots (volunteers, Paul Johnston and Alice Mason were covered in the thickener used for Four’n’Twenty meat pies to recreate that in-utero ‘goo’ look), meet other applicants, get the latest updates on the program from the JWT team and perhaps even garner some inside information…
Says Smith: "A huge bunch of people worked tirelessly, both in and out of office hours, to make this project happen. They were: Holly Matchett, Graham Alvarez, Susan Hinton, Paul Johnston, David Hakkennes, Leo Ibrahim, Nick Weller, Phil van Bruchem, Michael Ball, Alice Mason and Justine Kubale."
The poster has gone up around university campuses.

DDB NZ WINS JUNE/JULY COULD BE A CAXTON COMPETITION

A press ad for Sky Television promoting CNN’s 'Paris on Prison' interview with Paris Hilton has been chosen as the June/July winner of the Could Be a Caxton competition, established by the Caxton Committee and supported by The Newspaper Works to recognise and showcase great creativity on a more regular basis.




CLIENT: SKY TELEVISION
AGENCY: DDB NEW ZEALAND
COPYWRITERS: MARTIN BROWN and BRIDGET SHORT
ART DIRECTORS: DARRAN WONG KAM and PETE THOMPSON

Mike O’Sullivan, Executive Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi, and the judge of the June/July competition, said: “Ads are funny. The moment you think you’ve worked out how to do them, you start to think there is a better way. A couple of years ago I was really fussy about what made a great idea. Was it original? Was it well crafted? Then one day I worked it out. A great idea is one that makes you laugh. And that’s what the Paris Hilton ad did. It made me laugh. A great achievement in the newspaper category where there’s a lot not to laugh at. Good onya DDB.”
The creative team wins an all expenses-paid trip to the Caxton Weekend, 26-28 October at The Byron at Byron Resort in Byron Bay.
A Highly Commended was also awarded by Mike O’Sullivan to Special, New Zealand for their nzski.com press ad.

CLIENT: NZSKI.COM
AGENCY: SPECIAL, AUCKLAND
COPYWRITERS: ROB JACK and STEVE MCCABE
ART DIRECTOR: TONY BRADBOURNE

The August/September competition, to be judged by Dejan Rasic of Colman Rasic Carrasco, is now open for entries. It’s free to enter and anyone can submit nominations. For more information on how to enter the Could Be a Caxton competition and the Caxtons in general, visit www.thecaxtonawards.com.au.
Please contact Lucia Elliott at The Newspaper Works on +61 2 9696 6300 or email luciaelliott@thenewspaperworks.com.au for further information.

SUNCORP CELEBRATES THE ORDINARY VIA GPY&R, BRISBANE

Suncorp has launched a major drive designed to reinforce its role in the burgeoning Queensland financial services sector.
The new campaign tracks two ordinary characters and their humorous attempts to manage everyday life.
Three new TVCs, which were set up as stunts at real Open for Inspections, in a real suit shop and in an actual human form drawing art class, track the pair’s journey through home lending and everyday banking scenarios.
The campaign extends to retail executions, outdoor, on-line, Suncorp branded coffee caddys at auction sites and open homes, mobile billboards at display villages and ambient advertising at shopping centres in around Queensland.

Agency: George Patterson Y&R, Brisbane
Creative Director: Tim Green
Copywriter: Andrew Thompson
Senior Art Director - Clare Richards
Art Director: Petra Noonan
Head of Television: Tamyson Power
Production Company: Black Lab
Director: Ryan Renshaw
Producer: Noelle Stevens
DoP: Tim McGahan
Outside Broadcast Manager: Mark Bonnici & Team
Sound Engineer: Ross Battern
Online Compositor: Ant Newton

ADMAN KEITH FORBES' FUNERAL TO BE HELD THIS WEDNESDAY

Adland has lost yet another stalwart with the passing of Keith Forbes, who many peers rated the consummate suit. His clients were intensely loyal and he lived and breathed account service. He worked for Leo Burnett and JWT in Hong Kong and Canada before returning to Australia to join Mullins Clarke & Ralph. In 1980 he became a founding partner of Forbes Macfie Mitchell Hansen, one of the early creative hotshops in Australia. The agency produced a series of award winning campaigns for a client roster that included Medicare, Jaguar Rover, Uncle Tobys, Lindemans and the Pork Promotion Board.
Forbes, 71, died after a three-year battle with cancer. He is survived by his daughter Natalie.
His funeral will be held this Wednesday, August 29 at St Marks, Darling Point at 1.30.

SNOOP DOGG APPEARS IN PRINT, POSTER AND WEB FOR MTV

MTV Networks Australia has extended the 'Welcome Snoop' integrated brand
campaign with these magazine ads, posters and downloadable wallpapers.

Agency: Lowe Hunt, Sydney
Client: MTV Networks Australia
Creative Team: Dejan Rasic, Rebecca Carrasco & Howard Collinge
Photographer (Brand Print Campaign): Andreas Smetana
Producers: Rachel Henderson & Kristen
Stylist: Suzannne King
Retouching: (Brand Print Campaign): Electric Art
Agency Head of Production: Darren Bailey
Agency Producers: Lisa Cordukes and Charna Henry
MTV Creative Director: Vanessa Zuppicich
MTV Marketing Team: Colin Blake & Sam Coombes
MTV Managing Director: Dave Sibley
MTV Communications & Publicity Manager: Laura Vozzo

AWARD SCHOOL BRISBANE STUDENTS GRADUATE, AND SELL THEMSELVES ON EBAY

News Limited AWARD School Queensland celebrated their Graduation last Friday night on the Rooftop Terrace of Cutting Edge (AWARD Silver Partners). The theme ‘fight night’ was continued after AWARD and BAd members received an online game where two creative directors fight it out.
Hosted by AWARD General Manager, Lucy McKee, and AWARD Committee member Natalie Ambrosini, a fantastic turnout of industry creatives, students, and News Limited reps Paul Eteen-Bliss and Joanne Gierke gathered to view the best selection of student work.
The highlight of the evening was an ambient stunt created by the students to support Mission Australia. Pillows and sleeping bags littered the entrance to the event, with posters depicting a down and out student in need of work.
Students have also put themselves on EBay so creative directors can bid for their services for a day - with all proceeds to go to Mission Australia. You can bid by searching brisbaneaward07 on ebay.com.au.
The students finished the night by presenting wine to each of the tutors, with labels describing what they have learnt from the course.
This year’s top student award went to Kory McAvoy, who will now go forward for national judging and be in the running for a trip to the Caxtons donated by News Limited. Judges also selected the top 5 students:

Kory McAvoy - Top Student
Christian McKecknie - Second Place
Joshua Braithwaite - Third Place
Bernie Watt - Fourth Place
Brenton Craig - Fifth Place

The judges also voted the ‘best ad of the year’ to Monique Daiga, for her L’Oreal print ad.
This year’s judging panel responsible for selection of the top students and the ‘work on the wall’ included:
Rem Bruijn, Make
Cos Luccitti, De Pasquale
Sandy Peacock, CHE
Shane Murray, Red Suit
Michael Kennedy, GPY&R

AWARD wishes to thank the judges, as well as GPY&R, CHE, Make, De Pasquale, Red Suit and Decoder for their dedicated support in tutoring the students this year.

CORRINE LONGS FOR PERTH

Corrine Long, following 25 years in Sydney’s advertising industry as both an agency and production company producer, is due to relocate to Perth at the end of September for Family reasons.
Says Long: “I have been really lucky to have made many dear friends in the industry over the years, and have had the opportunity to work with some incredibly talented and wonderful people. Republic will continue to support my directors Dena Ashbolt and Sigi Spath. Will be looking forward to hopefully continuing working in the industry over West."
Corrine can still be contacted on email corrine@republic.tv for the time being.

VALE MICHAEL MAGNUS

The ad industry is once again in mourning following news that Michael Magnus, who was only 62, passed away on Thursday. He had suffered ill health over the past year but was thought to be on the recovery trail, having only recently returned from a trip to Europe.
He was a truly cultured adman, the type they don't make anymore. Magnus Nankervis & Curl were the most stylish ad agency in Sydney during the eighties, creating the most stylish ads, led by three stylish gentlemen: John Nankervis, who was CD, Ted Curl, who was head of art, and Michael Magnus, who was CEO.
Says Colin Wilson-Brown, who worked with Magnus for many years: "Magnus began his advertising career at Lintas and founded Magnus Nankervis & Curl in 1976 with John Nankervis and Ted Curl. MN&C grew to become one of the most respected agencies of the 80's, being voted B&T Agency of the Year in 1988. In 1993 MN&C was sold to FCB and Magnus, Nankervis and Curl left the agency in 1998.
"As was his style, Magnus never looked back. He moved on to new business ideas and new successes. He will be remembered for his irrepressible energy and optimism, gracious charm, his generosity with his time (AFA, AWARD, NSW Art Gallery and the Sydney Theatre Company were all beneficiaries), his loyalty to his colleagues (six of the MN&C Directors worked together for 25 years) and his love of the best things in life.
"He may have died young (62) but he put a lot in to life and he got a lot out. He leaves his wife, Michele, daughter Katherine, sons Matthew and Timothy and he leaves his nephew, Noel (recently appointed as CEO at JWT Sydney) to fly the Magnus flag in advertising."

MTV 'SNOOP' FULL 10 MINUTE FILM LAUNCHED VIA LOWE HUNT

The intro film is above, the 10 minute film is below...

MTV Networks Australia has launched the full 10 minute film of Snoop Dogg's quest to become an Australian citizen.
The film is part of the integrated 'Welcome Snoop' brand campaign which includes print, poster, web, mobile and event channels among others.
According to the agency, the campaign has attracted massive downloads from the web already and the on-line petition for Snoop to obtain citizenship is growing fast.
The web component is divided between a dedicated mtv site at mtv.com.au/snoop and as part of a joint mtv and myspace promotion at myspace.com/voteforsnoop.

Client: MTV Networks Australia.
Agency: Lowe Hunt, Sydney
Creative Director: Dejan Rasic.
Creative Team: Dejan Rasic, Rebecca Carrasco & Howard Collinge.
Talent Liaison: India Bent, Happy Bash Communication
Head of Production: Darren Bailey.
Website: Liquid Protocol.
Senior Producers: Charna Henry & Lisa Cordukes.
Editors: Peter Whitmore, Kris Rees.
Production Company: Plaza Films.
Director: Paul Middleditch.
Producer: Peter Masterton.
Photographer: Andreas Smetana.
Retouching: Electric Art.
Sound: Sound Reservoir.
MTV Creative Director: Vanessa Zuppicich.
MTV Marketing Team: Colin Blake & Sam Coombes.
MTV Managing Director: Dave Sibley.
MTV Communications & Publicity Manager: Laura Vozzo.
Deep Fried Chicken Wings: Uncle Rio

CB VIDEOBLOG GOES INSIDE THE TOP AGENCIES - EPISODE TWO: BMF SYDNEY

As part of an ongoing series, CB Videolog drops into the top agencies in Australia, thanks to the support of FILMGRAPHICS, DUBSAT and THE LAB.
This week we visited BMF Sydney to talk to executive creative director, Warren Brown and take a tour of their custom-built premises in Pyrmont, meet their creative line-up and of course, showcase their best work.

THE PALACE MELBOURNE LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN FOR TARGET DENIM NATION

The Campaign Palace, Melbourne has launched a new campaign for Target Denim Nation. The jeans look pretty good. So good in fact you might not want to take them off. Hence the idea.
Creative Director: Tony Leishman
Writer: Pat Lennox
Art Director: Ben Green
Director: Sotiris Dounoukos

SEE SPOT 1

SEE SPOT 2

SEE SPOT 3

NETWORK MOVES AT SAATCHI AUCKLAND, LONDON, NEW YORK

Saatchi NZ creative team Dave Govier and Levi Slavin (left), originally from Marketforce Perth, are transferring to the London office of Saatchi & Saatchi. Says Executive Creative Director Mike O'Sullivan: "The boys have earned their stripes and are heading to the big smoke. To date Levi and Dave have done great work on Sol, NZ Army, Corolla and TV ONE Brand to name but a few.
"Their passion for mobile and interactive have seen them move from a traditional team to all round hybrid creatives. Kate Stanners (ECD London) jumped at the chance to take on people at their level. They start at Saatchi & Saatchi London on 1 October."
Creative team Paul Coghlan (middle left) and Stephen de Wolf (below left)have been promoted to senior creatives. They've worked closely with Govier and Slavin since joining in February. Says O'Sullivan: "They have been the understudies for Dave and Levi and they are ready to take the next step in their careers. They've been a real find for us and I'm confident they will continue to excel in their new roles."
O'Sullivan says he expects to announce an additional team in the coming weeks.
Additionally, Helen Steemson and Matt Swinburne will be 'switching' to the New York office in mid September. SWITCH is a program that Saatchi & Saatchi runs worldwide, enabling high performing staff the opportunity to work in other Saatchi offices around the world. Mitchell Gage and Natalie Fevig will be joining the New Zealand office from Saatchi New York for the SWITCH period. The team have recently contributed to the NYC office being named Cannes and Clio Agency of the Year for 2007.

COMMERCIAL RADIO AND AFA JOIN FORCES TO RUN FREE CREATIVE WORKSHOPS FOR AD AGENCIES AROUND AUSTRALIA

Commercial Radio Australia and the Advertising Federation of Australia (AFA) are running a series of free, radio creative workshops for advertising agencies hosted by the creative director of Eardrum Australia, Ralph van Dijk, a 2007 Cannes Radio Lions judge and the creator of the award-winning radio brand campaign.
The workshops will be held in Brisbane today, Perth on August 30, Adelaide on September 18 and Sydney in November. The Brisbane workshop is being run in partnership with audio production studio Cutting Edge.
The one-day workshops are part of a continuing strategy by Commercial Radio Australia to help improve the education and training for creatives in advertising agencies and ultimately deliver better radio ads. The first workshop was held in Melbourne in July.
The chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said Australia was now being recognized as a source of great innovation in radio advertising, and the radio industry was keen to provide ongoing support and training for agencies.
“The workshops are a great way for creatives to broaden their skills base on radio, providing a look at the ingredients of a great radio ad, script writing, casting and hands-on studio work,” Ms Warner said. “We are really seeking to inspire and challenge the traditional way of approaching a radio brief.”
AFA General Manager Ian Finlayson said the AFA was delighted to be involved in the workshops: “Radio, if used well, is one of the most powerful mediums available. It’s great to see commercial radio taking the initiative with education and encouraging specialized skills – it’s good for agencies and it’s good for advertisers who are the ultimate beneficiaries when ad campaigns hit the mark.”

51 ADS MAKE THE CUT AT FINALIST STAGE OF CAXTON AWARDS 2007

Judging of the 2007 Caxton Awards has been completed resulting in 51 finalists across 19 categories. At the top of the finalist scoreboard is Host Sydney with 7 finalists (6 with creative by Happy Soldiers, one with The Glue Society), DDB Sydney, Publicis Mojo Sydney and Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand each with 5 finalists and Clemenger BBDO Sydney with 4.

The judging panel:
Ben Welsh, M&C Saatchi Sydney – Chairman of Judges
Ron Mather, The Cavalry Melbourne
Andy Mckeon, JWT Sydney (now at Bulldozer)
Richard Maddocks, Colenso BBDO New Zealand
Michael Stanford, George Patterson Y&R Sydney
Steve Back, DDB Sydney
Rebecca Carrasco, CRC Sydney
Chris Round, Leo Burnett Sydney

Winners will be announced at the 2007 Caxton Seminar Weekend to be held at The Byron at Byron Resort, Byron Bay NSW from the 26th to 28th of October. Places are filling fast so be sure to guarantee your place at Caxton 2007 by downloading a delegate form from the Caxton website: www.thecaxtonawards.com.au.


AUTOMOTIVE
Lexus Dirt via Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney
Audi Golds via M&C Saatchi Sydney

CHARITY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Animals Australia Traumatised pork chop via LOUD, Sydney
Animals Australia Emotionally stressed sausage via LOUD Sydney
SAFE Alligator via Lowe New Zealand
Eternal Flame Foundation Poppy Appeal 'Ted' via Clemenger BBDO Sydney

CONSUMER DURABLES
Midalia Steel Fence 'em in via Ad Impact Advertising Perth
Hasbro Open Cut Sandpit via DDB Sydney
Hasbro Construction Sandpit via DDB Sydney
Hasbro Building Sandpit via DDB Sydney

CORPORATE, GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE
Adelaide City Council Carparks via KWP! Advertising, Adelaide
The Office of Road Safety 40x Rural Tree via Marketforce Perth
NZ Army Psych Recruitment via Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand

DRINKS - ALCOHOLIC AND NON-ALCOHOLIC
Frucor V 'XMAS' via Clemenger BBDO Sydney

FASHION, CLOTHING, COSMETICS AND TOILETRIES
Douglas Pharmaceuticals / NAB Ageing via Special

FOOD, GROCERY PRODUCTS AND CONFECTIONARY
Pedigree Sausage Dog via Whybin TBWA Sydney

MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT
Clemenger Blue Powergenitalia via Clemenger BBDO Adelaide
Clemenger Blue Expertsexchange via Clemenger BBDO Adelaide
Clemenger Blue Penisland via Clemenger BBDO Adelaide
Sky Television Paris on Prison via DDB New Zealand
Sky Television - Rialto Channel Vera Drake via DDB New Zealand
Sky Television - Rialto Channel Open Water via DDB New Zealand
Australia Post Letter Hug via M&C Saatchi Melbourne
Fairfax Media Dog via HOST / Happy Soldiers Sydney
Fairfax Media Surf via HOST / Happy Soldiers Sydney
Fairfax Media Kid via HOST / Happy Soldiers Sydney
Fairfax Media Jump via HOST / Happy Soldiers Sydney

TRAVEL AND LEISURE
McDonald's Australia Bus via DDB Sydney
Wellington Zoo Giraffe via Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand
Tourism WA surfing wave via Marketforce Perth
Tourism Victoria Maze via Publicis Mojo Australia
Tourism Victoria Curtin House via Publicis Mojo Australia
Red Rooster Real Fish & Chips via 303 Advertising Perth

BEST CAMPAIGN
Tourism Victoria Maze, Curtin House & Walking Tours via Publicis Mojo Australia
Hasbro Building Sandpit via DDB Sydney

BEST SMALL SPACE AD
OPSM WaterFront Property via BMF Sydney

BEST BRAND CAMPAIGN
Fairfax Media Screen Savers via HOST / Happy Soldiers, Sydney

BEST TOPICAL AD
Nando's Safety Card via CHE, Melbourne
Frucor V XMAS via Clemenger BBDO Sydney
Ikea John Howard via HOST / The Glue Society Sydney

MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF THE NEWSPAPER MEDIUM
Wellington Zoo Cheetah, Giraffe & Bear via Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand

BEST COPYWRITING
NZ Army Psych Recruitment via Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand
Fairfax Low Energy via M&C Saatchi Sydney

BEST ART DIRECTION
Lexus Dirt, Grass & Rock via Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney
NZ Army Psych Recruitment via Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand
The Sun Herald: Screen Savers via HOST / Happy Soldiers Sydney

BEST PHOTOGRAPHY
McDonald's Australia Bus -- Mat Baker Photographer
Eternal Flame Foundation Bill, Ted & George via Clemenger BBDO Sydney

BEST ILLUSTRATION
Tourism Victoria Maze via Publicis Mojo Australia

AUTOMOTIVE, TRAVEL AND LEISURE
Tourism Victoria Walking Tours via Publicis Mojo Australia

BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT
Fairfax Low Energy via M&C Saatchi Sydney

TALBOT INVITES TOP LINE-UP TO JUDGE AWARD IN SEPTEMBER

AWARD are pleased to announce the salubrious panel of judges and the best Call for Entry result in seven years.
Joining the auspicious line-up of judges from Asia, New Zealand and Australia AWARD welcomes Chris Garbutt, TBWA\Paris and Leo Premutico, Saatchi & Saatchi New York.
Representation from Asia is at an all time high, including Prangthip Pradipong, Creative Juice\G1 Bangkok, Sheung Yan Lo, JWT Shanghai,
Weerachon Weeraworawit, BBDO Bangkok, Eugene Cheong, Ogilvy & Mather Singapore, David Guerrero, BBDO Guerrero Oretga, Manila and Tay Guan Hin, JWT South East Asia.
Says Toby Talbot (pictured), ECD DDB New Zealand and Chairman of Judges: “Once more, the finest minds in our business will descend on Sydney like a plague of erudite locusts for two weeks of intense judging. It will be fun. It always is. But this year promises to be really tough too. AWARD is now big enough to showcase some of the very best work in the world. It’s not a small, parochial show. It is, after all, the only show that truly represents Australia, New Zealand and Asia. To get in the book should be an honour. To win metal, you will have had to have done something world class. Last year was a record year for Australia at Cannes. This year, the Kiwis shone. Asia had another strong year. We must be doing something right. Let’s hope this year’s AWARD reflects this very positive trend “.
AWARD Judging will be held in Sydney, September 24th until October 5th ; 59 Judges will fly in from interstate and overseas, making a total of 95 who will decide the finalists and winners, the latter heralded at the AWARD Presentation Evening November 30th at CarriageWorks, Eveliegh Railyards Sydney.
AWARD Entry numbers are at a seven year high, with a surge in interactive and TV Craft entries, the latter a positive reflection in the wake of the important merger of the KODAK Gongs and AWARD earlier this year.
Says Co-Chairmen of AWARD Philip Putnam and Paul Prince: “The 2007 AWARD
Membership, The Committee, Chairman of Judges Toby Talbot and AWARD Management have assembled a truly great line up of Judges for AWARD 2007, one that truly represents the best of our peers, and one that pays homage to the near 30-year Legacy of AWARD."

Print Craft - Chairman: Richard Muntz, JWT Melbourne
Andreas Smetana, Andreas Smetana Photography, Sydney
Andrew Tinning, Marketforce, Perth
Ben Lockwood, The Craft Shop, New Zealand
Christian Finucane, 12:20, Sydney
Graham Johnson, M&C Saatchi, Sydney
Grant Rutherford, Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne
Guan Hin Tay, JWT Singapore, Asia
Lorenz Perry, Publicis Mojo Auckland, New Zealand
Mick Hunter, Brain Surgery, Sydney
Paul Hankinson, DDB, New Zealand

Print, Posters & Outdoor - Chairman: Simon Langley, BMF Sydney
Emmanuel Bougneres, DDB, New Zealand
Eugene Cheong, Ogilvy & Mather Singapore, Asia
Jason Williams, Leo Burnett, Melbourne
Leo Premutico, Saatchi & Saatchi New York, USA
Leon Wilson, Publicis Mojo, Melbourne
Luke Crethar, The Glue Society, Sydney
Mark Harricks, Clemenger BBDO Wellington, New Zealand
Mike O'Sullivan, Saatchi & Saatchi Auckland, New Zealand
Sheung Yan Lo, JWT Shanghai, China
Weerachon Weeraworawit, BBDO Bangkok, Thailand

None of The Above, Integrated, Ambient - Chairman: Paul Catmur, George Patterson Y&R, Melbourne
Andy Blood, TBWA\Whybin Auckland, New Zealand
Andy Greenaway, Saatchi & Saatchi Bangkok, Asia
Birger Linke, JWT Vietnam, Asia
Bridget Short, DDB, New Zealand
Chris Garbutt, TBWA\Paris, France
Jonathan Kneebone, The Glue Society, Sydney
Joshua Stephens, AJF Partnership, Melbourne
Rebecca Carrasco, Colman Rasic Carrasco (CRC), Sydney
Richard Morgan, BMF, Sydney

Design - Chairman: Mark Stott, Common, Sydney
Ash Bolland, Umeric, Sydney
Fabio Ongarato, Fabio Ongarato Design, Melbourne
Jacko van Deventer, The Craft Shop, New Zealand
Justus von Engelhardt, BMF, Sydney
Lachlan Summer, 3 Deep Design, Melbourne
Simon Pemberton, KvB Institute of Technology, Sydney
Zoe Eggleston, RBD, Melbourne

TV & Cinema - Chairman: Toby Talbot, DDB New Zealand
Ant Keogh, Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne
David Guerrero, BBDO Guerrero Oretga, Asia
David Nobay, Saatchi & Saatchi, Sydney
Jamie Hitchcock, Colenso BBDO, New Zealand
Nick Worthington, Publicis Mojo Auckland, New Zealand
Prangthip Pradipong, Creative Juice\G1 Bangkok, Asia
Rob Jack, Huxley Auckland, New Zealand
Takuya Matsuo, Ogilvy & Mather Japan K.K., Tokyo, Asia
Warren Brown, BMF Sydney

Interactive - Chairman: Shaun Branagan, NetX, Sydney
Bob Mackintosh, HOST, Sydney
Chris Jones, Tribal DDB, New Zealand
Damian Royce, Clemenger Blue Digital, Melbourne
Erik Hay, Publicis Mojo, Sydney
Graham Kelly, TBWA/Tequila Singapore, Asia
Kieran Ots, Leo Burnett, Sydney
Matt Sarah, Sensis, Melbourne
Mike Zeederberg, Profero, Sydney
Rob Lawn, Tundra, Melbourne
Sam Smith, Yahoo! 7, Sydney
Thierry Halbroth, McCann Erickson Hong Kong, Asia
Tim Buesing, NetX, Sydney

Craft in TV - Chairman: Richard White-Smith, Euro RSCG Sydney
Barry Stewart, Sound Reservoir, Sydney
Bruce Hunt, @radical.media, Sydney
Corey Esse, Publicis Mojo, Melbourne
Darryl Ward, Curious Film, New Zealand
Denis Mamo, Ursa, Sydney
Emma Hill, Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne
Georgia Arnott, The Campaign Palace / Red Cell, Sydney
Jon Baxter, Perceptual Engineering Auckland, New Zealand
Karl Richter, Level Two Music, Melbourne
Linds Redding, The Department of Motion Graphics (DMG), New Zealand
Paul Middleditch, Plaza Films, Sydney
Steve Cochran, Colenso BBDO Auckland, New Zealand
Steve Ayson, The Sweet Shop, New Zealand

Direct Marketing - Chairman: Gavin McLeod, M&C Saatchi Sydney
Bob Miller, Sydney
Dave King, Aim Proximity, New Zealand
Dustin Lane, BMF Sydney
Fiona Davison, Rapp Collins, Melbourne
Liz Fulcher, Proximity, Melbourne
Sandy Rudd, Leo Burnett, Sydney
Tan Kien Eng, Leo Burnett / Arc, Malaysia
Wayne Pick, Tequila, New Zealand
Wellison D'Assuncao, Mercer Bell, Sydney

Radio - Chairman: Ben O'Brien, DDB Sydney
Chris Schofiled, FCB Auckland, New Zealand
Dennis Koutoulogenis, BMF, Sydney
John Mescall, Smart, Melbourne
Johnny Velis, Clemenger BBDO, Adelaide
Justine Armour, Saatchi & Saatchi, Sydney
Mike Edmonds, Meerkats, Perth
Philip Webster, Risk Sound, Melbourne
Rem Bruijn, Make, Brisbane
Sean Larkin, Publicis Mojo, Sydney
Tony Greenwood, The Cavalry, Melbourne

NEWS LIMITED AWARD SCHOOL GRADUATION IN ADELAIDE

News Limited AWARD School Adelaide graduated Thursday night, and the local advertising industry celebrated at Fad Gallery Bar.
AWARD Executive Committee Member Greg Knagge, Clemenger BBDO Adelaide Creative Director, welcomed the crowd and announced the top student, Andrew Slattery.
“This year six students were accepted into the South Australian course and once again AWARD School was well supported by senior creative professionals representing a broad cross-section of Adelaide agencies. Andrew won confidently taking out the highest score in seven out of the eleven assignments. AWARD School continues to be a vital part of the South Australian industry,“ said Knagge.
Slattery will now go forward for National Judging against the top students in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart to compete for a place at the Caxton Awards weekend seminar in Byron Bay. Adds Knagge: “Last year it was a South Australian who won the title of National Top Student...”
To register your interest in the 2008 programme visit awardschoolonline.com

AWARD SCHOOL PERTH GRADUATES AT VIC BASH

Last night the Perth advertising industry celebrated the end of the 2007 News Limited AWARD School at The Vic Hotel in Subiaco.
AWARD Executive Committee Members Andrew Tinning and Adam Barker welcomed the crowd and announced the top student, Jadranko Silic.
Says Tinning, Executive Creative Director Marketforce: “I've hired one of the students full time as I did last year and the year before which confirms to me at least the great job AWARD School does in unlocking and unleashing some of the country's most promising new talent.”
Barker, Gatecrasher CD and partner said: “We’re involved in AWARD School every year because there’s no better way to nurture new creative talent in our industry. We’ve hired top graduates for three years running and encourage all other agencies to do the same”.
Other creatives involved in tutoring include Murray Laird, Juilia Elton-Bott and Andrew Chu.
Jadranko will now go forward for National Judging against the top students in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart to compete for a place at the Caxton Awards weekend seminar in Byron Bay.
AWARD School thanks local industry magazine Campaign Brief WA for supplying prizes to the top three graduates.
AWARD School is a 12-week part-time programme and each week students are required to attend a lecture and tutorial class. At the latter they are given one fictitious brief, each time on a different medium of advertising.
Students are accepted into the programme via a competitive application process, only 180 students are taken across Australia each year out of 800 applicants.
To register your interest in the 2008 programme visit: awardschoolonline.com

WERE THE KIWIS FIRST?

A New Zealand blogger points out the similarity between the recent AWARD School Melbourne posters created by George Patts Y&R Melbourne (below), with last year's NZ Herald campaign (left) created by M&C Saatchi, Auckland that got metal at Axis and was shortlisted at Cannes.

MAJOR CREATIVE/MANAGEMENT CHANGES AT JWT IN AUSTRALIA/NZ

JWT has made sweeping changes to its management and creative lineup in Australasia, affecting Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland.
In Sydney, Noel Magnus, who has just left the MD post at Draft FCB Sydney, has been appointed Sydney CEO, while current deputy CDs Andy DiLallo and Jay Benjamin (pictured above) have been appointed as joint executive creative directors, partly replacing national ECD Andy McKeon, who is leaving to form his own shop, Bulldozer (see separate story on the blog). Current Sydney managing director Simon Fitch will now oversee New Zealand, replacing John Gutteridge, who will come across to take up the new role of Managing Director of JWT Melbourne, while Richard Muntz (pictured below) departs George Patterson Y&R, Melbourne to take the executive creative director gig of JWT Melbourne. The agency's former CD, Jeremy Wynne, left the agency several weeks ago.
Says Australia and New Zealand regional CEO Amy Smith: “Over the last 15 months we have put the building blocks in place we need to engineer the next generation agency model. We have overhauled our creative and strategic product, attracted some great talent, invested in digital, brand experience specialists and design, and are inviting the best young talent from both here and overseas to join a newly invigorated JWT.
“The work has improved dramatically and we have won both local and international business, including Sheridan, Thrifty, Olympus, Band-Aid, Reach and more recently, Nokia. And now I am shifting the agency up to the next level. The key is to integrate the diverse capabilities we have created into the new generation agency that will deliver Magic for our clients. To this end, I have assembled my dream team."
McKeon, who had only been in the job for little over a year, hired the multi-awarded DiLallo and Benjamin from Saatchi & Saatchi, Auckland in December last year. [The pair were originally discovered by Saatchi & Saatchi Australia ECD David Nobay when he was at Bozell New York, and who followed him when to took the Saatchi Sydney gig.] McKeon was lured to JWT by Amy Smith, who knew him from their Wieden & Kennedy days. He was CD at Strawberryfrog New York when he got the call.
Says DiLallo and Benjamin: "Chances like this are few and far between. We feel that our entire careers have been spent in preparation for this next challenge. We are excited by the chance to apply the knowledge we have gained.”
Says Muntz: "“With an impressive list of icon brands, new heads of business in all markets and a worldwide creative mandate from Craig Davis, this was an agency I just had to be a part of.”
Meanwhile, with the departure of Magnus, Draft FCB Sydney executive creative director Michael Simons will take over his management role for the time being. Simons told CB the agency was in the process of rebranding its offering reflecting the new agency name, which should be completed in six weeks.

McKEON TRADES ECD GIG AT JWT TO OPEN BULLDOZER IN OZ

Just 12 months after taking the executive creative director at JWT Australasia, Andy McKeon has left to open the Australian arm of Bulldozer, an advertising company he founded in New York in 2005.
“It’s been dormant while I have been working hard to get JWT in good shape but now it’s time to crank it up and try the Bulldozer business model in Australia. If I am going to be slaving away for the man I might as well make that man me.”
Bulldozer will bring experience on projects and pitches for agencies such as Mother, Taxi, Anomaly, BBDO, Publicis, McCann, Ogilvy and Mather and Deutsch on brands such as Mini, BWM, Virgin Airlines, Microsoft, Coke, Sharp, Blue Shield Health Insurance, Amp’d Cell Phones and General Motors, to the Australian marketplace.
“The philosophy behind Bulldozer is simple,” said McKeon. “Bulldozers are compact. Powerful. Reliable. No nonsense.
 They work in often difficult terrain to dig, push, flatten, raise, plough, clear, demolish and cultivate things. They don’t aspire to be famous but they build famous, necessary and needed things. We enjoy building stuff. Brands and sales.”
“Bulldozer can provide clients and agencies everything from package design, branding advice, event ideas, online, and traditional advertising,” he said. “We have an amazing network of talented world-class people around the planet that clients and agencies can now tap into.”
And although McKeon has won numerous creative awards, Bulldozer will be far more than just another creative hot shop. Adding strategic firepower is a partnership with The Open Intelligence Agency; a collection of world-class strategic planners with experience at BBH, Wieden & Kennedy and Goodby Silverstein & Partners. It is a true global collective, with planners based in London, New York, Amsterdam and Sydney.
“We are also talking directly to clients and will hopefully be able to announce two pieces of business in the next few weeks,” says McKeon.
Amy Smith, CEO of JWT Australia/New Zealand, says she will be sad to see McKeon go: “Andy is a terrific talent and I am really proud to say that we brought him home. He has helped me kick-start change in JWT Australia/New Zealand and I look forward to seeing what he does next,” Smith said.
Bulldozer is available to work on projects both locally and in Europe and the USA.
Email: andymckeon@hotmail.com
Mobile: 0420-317-792

303 OPENS SYDNEY AGENCY

Perth based 303 is setting up shop in Sydney, and the agency there will be operational from this weekend.
The Sydney agency has been formed by acquiring FNL Communications and McNabb Advertising.
MD Andrew Sargent and the six employees of FNL Communications are currently moving out of FNL’s Yurong Street premises into the St Leonards offices of McNabb Advertising, which employs around 15 people, and the combined business will be re-branded 303.
As Foster Nunn Loveder, FNL was one of the highest profile and creatively-awarded agencies in Australia in the 90s. Founding partners Graham Nunn and Dave Loveder sold FNL to Andrew Sargent and Dave Rollins last year but the agency was hit hard by the loss of long-term client Sony back in January. Perhaps their best known client currently is Harley Davidson.
Though not as well known, McNabb has a very profitable client list that includes Fujitsu, Centrum, Dencorub, Selsun, Pearl Drops, Nair and Dilmah Tea.
There is speculation that 303 partner and managing director Nick Cleaver, who was CEO of DDB Australia until January 2006 and now in Perth, may relocate to Sydney eventually, but for now the business will probably be run by Sargent and Paul McNabb.
Cleaver was in Sydney today (Thursday) when CB called the Perth agency.

PHASE ONE OF OMNILAB MEDIA'S NEW BROADCAST OPERATIONS FACILITY COMPLETED

Continuing their expansion and future planning strategy across Asia Pacific, Omnilab Media, the region’s largest, privately owned, vertically integrated content development and media service business, has completed phase one of its new state-of-the-art broadcast operations facility in Yurong Street, Sydney. The first phase includes MTV taking the entire ground and mezzanine floors of the four-story building for its Australian operations and management.
Head of the project team responsible for the Yurong Street facility is Andrew Hogg, General Manager of one of Omnilab’s key brands, The Playroom Sydney. Hogg explained the background to the group’s most significant technical project to date: “The plan to build a new playout facility started in October 2004 when we were advised that The Playroom Sydney would have to move from our North Ryde facility by 2007. At that time we consulted with MTV as we wanted to further our existing relationship with them and wanted them to be involved with the relocation from the ground up.”
Omnilab went through a major design evaluation taking six months in which they proposed keeping the character of the original 1934 Studebaker building whilst adding a mezzanine floor and state-of-the-art technical infrastructure. The review involved several meetings with the local council in order that the refurbishment fit with plans to revitalise William Street and the surrounding area, known to be a hub for advertising and media companies.
Hogg continued, “Our strategy was not just to build a playout centre but to future proof our offering to clients. Thus we included facilities for major playout outsourcing, convergence technologies, the new digital domain and IPTV. This required a major submission to the Omnilab Media board and included a complete new power system, mezzanine floor, new technical design, dark fibre, diverse fibre optic ring and high speed interfaces being built and installed.”
With the review completed and approved by the Omnilab board, negotiations were finalised with MTV who agreed to lease the ground and mezzanine floors of the building on a long term agreement.
The new facilities’ major technological achievements were inspired by Omnilab Media’s strategy of forward thinking and leadership through innovation. “We wanted to help make all our clients more efficient.” Said Hogg, “Our fibre optic ring connects Foxtel, Globecast and all Omnilab companies including Cornerpost and the LaB in Sydney and Digital Pictures and Iloura in Melbourne. This allows the group to work offline and offsite then use the Playroom Sydney as the distribution hub to our uplink providers. This system is already successfully in place and used by Qantas for the Oprah Winfrey show.”
Much of the internal infrastructure design was done in collaboration with MTV to ensure maximum efficiency for their operation. As a result the Yurong Street facility boasts full HD wiring, substantial servers for HD files, data links in addition to SDi and inter-floor high-speed fibre.
MTV’s current operation includes 20 Final Cut Pro after-effects stations connected to the central storage and archiving systems, a local ingest room, on-site library facility for up to 15,000 tapes, asset management system and 100 general workstations. “We worked with MTV to provide them a complete business solution.” Explained Hogg. “This included all their servers and external connectivity to parent company Viacom.”
Phase Two of the Yurong Street project also includes The Playroom Sydney occupying the first floor of the building where it runs its broadcast facility for the MTV NZ and the Movie Network channels in addition to audio sweetening booths and Final Cut Pro and Avid editing suites.
Says Omnilab Media Managing Director Christopher Mapp: “Successfully implementing MTV’s services is only phase one of our plans for the Yurong Street site. Phase two later this year includes a full broadcast and audio facility for up to 20 channels run by the Playroom and phase three involves significant projects that fully encapsulate our strategy of offering content creation, professional services, infrastructure and partnerships in sales and distribution. There are big announcements to come in each of these areas.”