News July 2008
Spain’s Euro 2008 triumph draws more than 10m to BBC One
Spain’s 1-0 victory over Germany to win Euro 2008 pulled in an audience of 10.6m viewers on BBC One.
Spain’s triumph, delivered through a goal by Liverpool striker Fernando Torres in the first half, netted a 42% share of the audience for the BBC between 6.55pm and 10pm.
The BBC said that the audience peaked at 12.9m and achieved an average audience of 10.6m. The 10m-plus audience gave BBC One its highest viewing figures of the whole tournament and easily beat its coverage of Germany’s 3-2 win over Turkey in the semi-finals, which pulled in 7.2m.
The second episode in the new series of ’Top Gear’ attracted 4.7m viewers for BBC Two and a 17.9% share of the audience between 8pm and 9pm.
The show featured Richard Hammond racing an Audi RS6 estate in the French Alps against two French skiers, who narrowly beat him.
’Top Gear’ beat the second part of ITV drama ’The Royal’ which attracted 4.3m viewers and a 16.6% share of the 8pm slot.
ITV1’s detective series ’Taggart’ attracted 3.7m viewers and a 15.2% share of the 9pm to 10pm audience, while BBC Two’s repeat of ’Jeremy Clarkson: Greatest Raid of all Time’ netted 2.3m viewers and an 8.6% share.
’Top Gear’ presenter Clarkson told the story of the commando raid on the German occupied dry dock at St Nazaire in France on March 28 1942.
’Big Brother’ only managed to attract 2.5m viewers and a 9.5% share of the 9pm audience for Channel 4. Including Channel 4+1 it reached 3m viewers and an 11.5% share.
Celebrities Celebrate Mandela’s 90th
Some of the world’s best known names have come together to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday.
The concert in London - hosted by actor Will Smith - raised cash for AIDS sufferers.
Looking frail but smiling, Mr Mandela was physically helped on stage and used a stick as he delivered his birthday speech at Hyde Park.
He told the audience: "We say tonight, after nearly 90 years of life, it’s time for new hands to lift the burdens. It’s in your hands now. I thank you."
He added: "Even as we celebrate, let us remind ourselves that our work is far from complete.
Where there is poverty and sickness, including AIDS, where human beings are being oppressed, there’s more work to be done. Our work is for freedom for all."
Stars performing included Leona Lewis, Queen, and Amy Winehouse - who defied her detractors to take the stage just days after coming out of hospital.
Victoria Beckham was booed by the crowd when she sent Mr Mandela a birthday wish via video link from LA.
The event took place 20 years after a 70th birthday concert at Wembley Stadium galvanised momentum for the end of apartheid.
Mr Mandela was finally released from prison in 1990 after 27 years behind bars and elected president of a democratic South Africa in 1994.
Beckham stars in first Sharpie Markers UK TV ads
Sharpie Markers is launching its first UK TV campaign, starring footballer David Beckham. The global campaign is the first since Sharpie signed Beckham as the face of the brand earlier this year.
The execution shows Beckham using a Sharpie pen to autograph unusual items for fans. When the time comes to return the Sharpie to its owner, Beckham resists, finally swapping it for his signed shirt.
The ad launches in the UK on July 1 across ITV, Channel 4 and Five, as well as digital channels including MTV, Sky One, Living and Trouble.
Sharpie announced a two-year global partnership with Beckham in March (MW.co.uk March 10). He will star in marketing communications in key regions across the world including North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific. He will also appear in in-store displays and packaging, and a revamped global web site.
Labour MPs pile pressure on Heinz over gay kiss ad
Labour MP Diane Abbott has submitted a Parliamentary early day motion calling on Heinz to reinstate its "gay kiss" ad.
Heinz withdrew the ad for its Deli Mayo brand, which features two men kissing, after the Advertising Standards Agency received more than 200 complaints.
The motion has been signed by five other Labour MPs, and says Heinz’s decision is likely to offend millions of gay and lesbian people.
Diane Abbott told Campaign: "I think that Heinz totally misjudged this. I cannot find anyone who was offended by the ad, which was clearly intended as a joke.
"But I have spoke to lots of people - and not just gay and lesbian people - who think that the way Heinz pulled the ad was silly and offensive."
The text of the motion says: "Millions of children watch depictions of same-sex relationships in soap operas every day."
It continues that the ad was "not intended to be a realistic depiction of a same-sex relationship, and that the ad was intended to be humorous".
The original ad was created by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO.
It was due to air for four weeks, but Heinz’s move to drop the ad led gay rights group Stonewall to call for a boycott of Heinz products.
Heinz and AMV BBDO are refusing to comment on the furore.
Coverzones launches digital campaign to boost traffic
Online business insurance marketplace Coverzones is launching a digital marketing campaign to boost brand awareness and increase traffic from key business targets to its site.
The campaign, created by digital marketing agency iCrossing, combines paid search, natural search and display advertising.
iCrossing will use the data gained from the paid and natural search campaigns to pinpoint the most relevant websites for the display campaign. Coverzones works in partnership with major business insurance companies, including Allianz, Hiscox and AIG to provide cover for more than 700 types of small and medium-sized businesses.
SMEs can rapidly search the market, compare business insurance and then make their purchase all on the Coverzones website.
Users get an unlimited number of free online quotations, which they can save and manage in their own MyCoverzones account, alongside any insurance purchases they have made.
Mel Alcock, chief client officer of iCrossing in the UK, said: "Coverzones is an exciting challenger brand that offers its target business customers an intelligent way of buying and managing their insurance portfolios.
"To guarantee that we are delivering on the core objectives, we have blended our expertise in natural and paid search with our extensive knowledge of how consumers relate to brands online to develop a winning campaign for Coverzones that will deliver consistent and long-term results”.
