ZenithOptimedia of Toronto is making news around the world as recent co-winner of The Nestle Group global media business estimated at more than $1.5 billion U.S. The agency, which is a unit of France-based Publicis Groupe, splits the account with WPP-owned Group M of London, England. Read More

New York-based Massive Incorporated has made it easier for global brands to get their ads to young male demographics with a new network that delivers the messages into the top-selling video games. The network spans platforms and genres sending ads via Internet-connected console and computer games. Read More

Television (Conventional Broadcast) - 4.5 out of 5

Buyers say that conventional avails are typical of previous fall periods with heavy but manageable demand, although Edmonton avails are currently in tight supply. The Quebec, Ontario, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver markets have been very active this fall, according to media execs surveyed by Media in Canada.

The agencies are finding the lack of consistency in programming to be a problem when it comes to buying conventional. They say because time periods don't have the same genre of programming year to year and with shows coming and going so quickly, it's difficult to accurately estimate ratings for them.

The Montreal-based marketing agency Draft Quebec and the media planning and placement agency Initiative Canada, two members of the Interpublic Group of Companies, announced the creation of their new brand - Draft Initiative Quebec.

The new brand, which will be housed in the Draft Quebec Montreal location and will now be one of the largest media planning and placement agencies in Canada, will integrate the employees along with their research and analysis tools to offer the Quebec market a broader range of services.

Mobile entertainment and communications are ripe for rapid growth during the next three years, as Canadians adopt new technologies like wireless home networks, wireless laptop PCs and enhanced smartphones, says a Toronto-based research group. This comes from a key finding of Fast Forward, an independent research series by the Solutions Research Group, which found that more than four million Canadians (12 years old and up) make up this new trend-setting "mobile class."

This new class has two groups of nearly equal size - the techno-savvy 12 to 24 year olds who grew up with the Internet, and the urban professionals 25 to 49, who place a high value on mobility because of their work and lifestyles. The study also found significant growth in the size of this emerging group, which has grown 50% between 2003 and 2004 and is expected to double by 2007.

Although the NHL lockout may have postponed this year's season, disappointed hockey fans can still get their hockey fix during the video game NHL season airing on G4techTV. On October 13, Comcast-owned G4 TechTV began broadcasting video game versions of all 1,230 regular season games.

Get daily highlights, scores and stats from G4techTV's virtual hockey season, which directly reflects the originally slated 2004-2005 season, on G4 Sports NHL Updates Monday to Friday at 7 p.m., Saturdays on Pulse at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m.

Thursday night's episode of Survivor: Vanuatu continues to be a viewer favourite by earning 1.838 (18 to 49 year olds) viewers nationally, with a total 2+ audience of three million. According to BBM People Meter Data, the reality series earned an 11.2 rating among 18 to 49 year olds in the Toronto market while in Vancouver the episode garnered an 18.8 rating.

The National Advertising Benevolent Society (NABS) Canada has announced a new national board of directors headed by their new chair Sunni Boot (President & CEO of ZenithOptimedia Canada).

Other new national and regional initiatives include the launch of two new websites on Monday. One is the re-launch of the NABS Canada website (www.nabs.org), which received its first face lift by Toronto's Foote Cone and Belding, and now encompasses the new initiatives and services that NABS has to offer (ie. workshops developed to address issues such as stress management and work/life balance). In conjunction with the launch of the NABS home website is the creation of the online information support to the new Quebec branch of NABS - BEC (Bénévolat d'entraide aux Communicateurs).

And for the sixth consecutive year, Zoom Media's ongoing annual donation to NABS through their Zoom Agency Network has raised total corporate contributions of more than $250,000.

http://www.nabs.org
http://www.bec-nabs.org

The Toronto-based magazine The Walrus has been nominated for two awards - best new title among magazines, and the best cultural and social coverage for their report on Grant Bristow, the CSIS agent who infiltrated white supremacist movements in the U.S. and Canada - in the annual Independent Press Awards for North American magazines.

Other awards for The Walrus have been three National Magazine Award gold medals for articles published in its first two issues in 2003.

CLX, the wireless permission-based Atlanta, GA company is using Air2Web's 2Notify solution to develop and power its opt-in text message application - PollCast. More than 20 instant market intelligence polls have been conducted for major retailers, consumer brands and marketing companies and the subscriber base is providing more than a 70% response rate to the simple text message inquiries.
Marriott International, Bellsouth, EDS and Hydrade are a few of the companies developing and launching pilot programs with CLX. PollCast allows its users to precisely target their audience at any level and analyze the results on their desktop in minutes and hours. PollCast campaigns to date have focused on consumer brands like sports drinks, athletic gear, clothing outlets and current events (the recent presidential debates). The subscriber base for PollCast (called MemberMatrix) is comprised of opt-in users from around the country, who sign up for free and must be 15 years and older. Subscriber responses are compensated by a reward of cash, points (hotel or rental car) or miles (airlines).
http://www.air2web.com Read More

Belo Interactive, the Dallas-based Internet subsidiary of Belo Corp., has launched AdCenter, a self-service advertising tool for businesses promoting products and services online. Available on Belo's 24 local websites and powered by Amazing Media's AdVariant product, advertisers can use the service to create rich-media display ads and geographically target their campaigns at Belo Interactive's websites.

In anticipation of the U.S. Presidential Election, CBC presents Just for Laughs Votes - Laughing at American Politics on Friday, October 29th at 9 p.m. Ian Hanomansing, host of CBC News: Canada Now, presides over the comical and scathing look at what makes the political landscape south of the border so funny. Comedians such as Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, Rick Mercer and Rich Little skewer the election, the candidates, the war, past presidents and even the not-so-funny topic of terrorism.

Brand-sell opportunities and billboards remain in this one-of-a-kind comedy special.

Live from The Daily Show's news centre in New York, host Jon Stewart will helm Election Night 2004: Prelude to a Recount in an expanded one-hour primetime special that will be simulcast live across the country on The Comedy Network and CTV on Tuesday, November 2 at 10 p.m. In addition to its live broadcast, the special will immediately repeat at 11 p.m. on The Comedy Network.

The new weekly, hour-long series, Proof Positive, which examines the paranormal and explores other unexplained mysteries through interviews and documentary footage, will air on Space every Wednesday at 10 p.m. beginning November 3.

http://www.spacecast.com/shows/firstRun/proof_positive.asp

The motto of building it bigger, better and bolder all comes together in this two-hour special How to Monsterize Everything set to premiere on Sunday, November 7 at 8 p.m. on Discovery Channel.

Featuring the three hosts from Monster Garage, Monster House and BIG! the team hits unsuspecting homeowners in their search for everyday things that inspire some creative reinvention - and the trio only have five days to monsterize everything.

http://dsc.discovery.com/schedule/episode.jsp?episode=0&cpi=24780&gid=0&channel=DSC

Wayne Newton hits the road in a nationwide search for the next Las Vegas superstar in a new 10-part E! reality drama, The Entertainer. The new E! series follows ten performers (everything from vocalists to illusionists) as they go through various tasks and performance challenges in a weekly elimination. The last one standing earns a spot as a feature performer in Wayne Newton's Las Vegas show.

The series is set to make its debut January 2005.

The Swan, which follows 18 women who take part in a physical, mental and emotional transformation and ultimately compete in a beauty pageant, will return with a two-hour premiere Monday, October 25 on CH Hamilton, CH Vancouver Island and CH Montreal at 8 p.m.

http://www.fox.com/swan/home.htm

In MIC's October 14th news brief (Mediaedge:cia wins Paramount media biz but things are staying put in Canada) it was said the Toronto-based MBS/The Media Company would keep the Paramount account (in Canada), when in fact the planning and buying for the Paramount Home Entertainment business moves to Mediaedge:cia and the theatrical business will stay with Toronto-based MBS in Canada.

And in the programming brief (VisionTV's new drama explores the secret lives of hairstylists) it was reported that Kink in My Hair would be airing on November 3 at 10 p.m., when it will be airing on November 23 at 10 p.m.

CFRB 1010 talk radio host Bill Carroll will be joining the Global News team taking over as host for Focus Ontario. Carroll makes his debut on the provincial political show on October 23.

Print media professional can gather to discuss competitive advantage at the Audit Burea of Circulations' (ABC) 90th Conference and Annual Meeting on November 10 - 12. The Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Toronto

http://www.accessabc.com/annlconf.html