Greater China News
Non-sponsors banned from using Olympians
by Ella Fitzsimmons, Media Asia 04-Jul-08, 08:33
BEIJING - The China Advertising Association is believed to have banned ads by brands that are not Olympic sponsors featuring Olympians - including athletes, coaches and associated officials - in their ads between 1 and 27 August in a bid to limit "invisible" copyright infringements.
Chinese sites win US$100 million funding
by David Tiltman, Media Asia , 04-Jul-08, 08:04
CHINA - China's digital sector has continued to attract heavy investment, with more than US$100 million flowing into the sector in the past week.
Facebook hits trouble in China
by David Tiltman, Media Asia , 04-Jul-08, 07:55
CHINA - A series of problems connecting to Facebook in China has led to rumours of a crackdown by authorities.
Telstra acquires Chinese assets
by David Tiltman, Media Asia , 04-Jul-08, 07:48
CHINA - Telstra has boosted its presence in China's digital market with the purchase of majority stakes in two website companies.
Hong Kong, Shanghai to gain lunchtime TV show
by Benjamin Li, Media Asia , 03-Jul-08, 08:07
SHANGHAI - Hong Kong's Health & Lifestyle Broadcast Company will join forces with Shanghai Media Group's free-to-air Young Channel in Shanghai to co-produce a one-hour lunchtime TV show for the two cities starting 2 August.
PHD HK hires strategic planner
by Benjamin Li, Media Asia , 02-Jul-08, 09:35
HONG KONG - PHD Hong Kong has hired Deric Wong (pictured) as strategic planning manager, reporting to Ray Wong, managing director of the agency.
Profero hires creative chief
by Ella Fitzsimmons, Media Asia , 02-Jul-08, 09:17
SHANGHAI - Digital agency Profero has appointed Pascal Hierholz (pictured) as creative director based out of Shanghai, starting July.
Youku confirms US$30 million investment
by David Tiltman, Media Asia , 02-Jul-08, 07:58
BEIJING - Youku, one of China's 'big three' video-sharing sites, has secured US$30m in private equity funding.
O&M promotes Lee to ECD
by Benjamin Li, Media Asia , 02-Jul-08, 07:53
SHANGHAI - Kevin Lee (pictured), creative partner of Ogilvy & Mather Shanghai since early 2006, has been promoted to the newly created ECD post, effective 1 July.
Live Issue... Is this the final curtain call for Run Run Shaw and TVB?
by Arun Sudhaman, Media Asia , 02-Jul-08, 03:29
After 100 years, it appears that one of the longest-running shows in Asia may be preparing for its final curtain call.
Do digital agency joint ventures make sense in China?
by David Tiltman, Media Asia , 02-Jul-08, 02:52
Saatchi & Saatchi's tie-up with digital agency Energy Source requires careful planning if it is to work.
Feature... Boom or bubble?
by Dominic Fitzsimmons, Media Asia , 02-Jul-08, 02:34
Investment is pouring into China's burgeoning digital sector, but many of the companies receiving the cash have yet to turn a profit.
Li-Ning debuts Olympic outfits
Media Asia , 02-Jul-08, 02:20
HONG KONG - Chinese sporting goods brand Li-Ning has launched a seven-day roadshow in Hong Kong's Mong Kok district to unveil the collection of sporting outfits designed for China's Olympic hopefuls.
Motorola’s Chapman-Banks promoted to general manager
by David Tiltman, Media Asia , 30-Jun-08, 11:18
HONG KONG - Motorola's mobile handset marketing chief, Ian Chapman-Banks (pictured), has been promoted to take charge of the entire mobile business in Asia outside of China.
HKTB launches Facebook application
by Benjamin Li, Media Asia , 30-Jun-08, 09:08
HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Tourism Board has unveiled a Facebook application designed to drive awareness of the range of activities in the territory.
China Life Insurance calls creative pitch
by Benjamin Li, Media Asia , 27-Jun-08, 08:07
BEIJING - State-owned giant China Life Insurance has put its corporate creative business up for review, with a slew of MNC agencies believed to be in contention.
New agency network launches
by Ella Fitzsimmons, Media Asia , 26-Jun-08, 07:18
HONG KONG - The Marketing Orchestra - Global Communications Network, a network spanning 13 independent communications agencies in 20 markets, has officially launched.
Cathay shifts Purvis into new green role
by David Blecken, Media Asia , 26-Jun-08, 05:18
HONG KONG - Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong's principal airline and flag carrier, is stepping up efforts to reduce its environmental impact with the appointment of Dominic Purvis (pictured) - who until recently led the company's loyalty initiatives - as general manager of environmental affairs, a newly-created position.
Amway China splits media between agencies
by Ella Fitzsimmons, Media Asia , 26-Jun-08, 05:13
GUANGZHOU - Direct sales company Amway is believed to have split its China media duties between incumbent OMD and challenger Carat after a three-way pitch that also included Starcom.
Beijing reins in online video
by David Tiltman, Media Asia , 26-Jun-08, 04:55
BEIJING - China's online video sector is coming under intense Government scrutiny, raising questions about its future as an advertising medium.
New marketer joins Coca-Cola in China
Media Asia , 26-Jun-08, 04:53
SHANGHAI - Coca-Cola has appointed a new marketing director for brand Coke in China.
China Times announces drastic downsizingg
by Glenn Smith, Media Asia , 26-Jun-08, 04:36
TAIPEI - Taiwan's China Times has announced it is to produce a dramatically smaller paper and drastically cut staff.
Focus Media unswayed by first-quarter loss
by Anita Davis, Media Asia , 26-Jun-08, 03:39
SHANGHAI - Chinese digital media group Focus Media is rethinking its approach to mobile marketing after announcing a first-quarter loss of US$54 million.
Lotte Confectionery expands its reach in the mainland
by David Blecken, Media Asia , 25-Jun-08, 12:08
SHANGHAI - Lotte Confectionery, part of South Korean chaebol conglomerate Lotte Group, has announced plans to extend its marketing activities in China by distributing its chocolate brands outside of its three initial test markets of Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin.
Hongguo partners Burnett in China
Media Asia , 25-Jun-08, 12:06
GUANGZHOU - Hongguo International Holdings, a high-end Chinese fashion and design company, has appointed Leo Burnett as its creative agency of record in a bid to raise the profile and competitiveness of two of its women's fashion footwear brands in China.
Neutrogena asks women to ‘decode’ their beauty
by David Blecken, Media Asia , 25-Jun-08, 11:44
SHANGHAI - Johnson & Johnson-owned cosmetics brand Neutrogena is looking to achieve emotional engagement with female Chinese consumers with a series of mini-dramas promoting its recently introduced Fine Fairness skin-whitening product range.
ChiMei punts luxury happiness with TV
by Glenn Smith, Media Asia , 25-Jun-08, 11:36
TAIPEI - ChiMei Optoelectronics is hoping a new advertising campaign for its eponymous range of LCD TVs will help the brand challenge market leader Tatung.
China Mobile campaign pushes new technology
by David Blecken, Media Asia , 25-Jun-08, 11:06
BEIJING - China Mobile, the mainland's largest mobile operator, has unveiled a TV and outdoor campaign to draw attention to its TD-SCDMA mobile video functions.
HP Hong Kong buys into reincarnation
Media Asia , 25-Jun-08, 11:05
HONG KONG - Hewlett Packard (HP) has drawn on the concept of reincarnation in a new online, print and point-of-sale environmental campaign designed to educate Hong Kong customers about the benefits of the IT company's trade-in programme.
Saatchis fills top creative vacancy
Media Asia , 25-Jun-08, 10:55
GUANGZHOU - Saatchi & Saatchi Guangzhou has hired Ogilvy & Mather creative partner Ng Fan (pictured) to fill the position of executive creative director left vacant since predecessor Polly Chu moved to JWT earlier this year.
