The term “emerging media” has fast become obsolete as new media have already graduated from a state of emergence to one of growing prominence. Perhaps more reflective of today’s evolving landscape would be the slightly altered yet quite different in meaning two-word description “merging media” as underscored by the results of the recently concluded 55th Cannes International Advertising Festival.
Indeed media has meshed seemingly across the board in Cannes categories. The Film competition, for example, produced two Grand Prix winners: Cadbury’s “Gorilla” TV commercial–which actually has viral YouTube roots–and Microsoft’s “Halo 3 Believe” campaign, which spanned several spots and longer form web content. The former was from Fallon London (and directed by the agency’s creative director/copywriter/art director on the job, Juan Cabral via Blink, London) while Microsoft was a joint effort of McCann Worldgroup, San Francisco, and sister shop T.A.G., also in S.F. “Halo 3” additionally copped the Integrated Grand Prix.
Then consider HBO’s breakthrough “Voyeur” initiative spanning TV, the web, outdoor projection and print. Created by BBDO New York, “Voyeur” garnered the Grand Prix in both Promo and Outdoor, an additional Gold Lion and a Silver Lion in Promo, two Golds in Film, Gold in Cyber, Gold in Design and Bronze in Media.
“Voyeur” also helped BBDO New York earn the Cannes Agency of the Year honor and had a hand in BBDO earning distinction as Cannes Agency Network of the Year. Just six months earlier, BBDO New York was named SHOOT‘s Agency of the Year (12/7/07) with “Voyeur” among the centerpiece work helping to secure that honor.
Meanwhile Tokyo-based Projector saw its “Uniqlock” for Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo spread beyond its anticipated Grand Prix Cyber win to also unexpectedly take the Titanium Grand Prix as breakthrough work. The linchpin for “Uniqlock” is a clock widget that synchronizes time, audio and live-action dance video of young women while showcasing Uniqlo fashion.
The other Cyber Lion Grand Prix honorees were Pasadena-based 42 Entertainment‘s “Year Zero” alternate reality game for Nine Inch Nails; and Scandinavian online entry Sol Comments out of Mediafront Oslo.
Even a Cannes-honored print ad carried multiple media chops as the “Lead India” campaign for the Times of India parent company Bennett Coleman & Co. out of JWT, Mumbai, copped the Cannes Lions Direct Grand Prix. It began with a print ad promoting the newspaper as well as a call for people to get involved and “lead India” as the country commemorated its 60th year anniversary of independence. Launched in print, the campaign encompassed TV, mobile, video and outdoor. The site drew more than 1.3 million hits, in excess of 1 million downloads on YouTube and more than 34,000 candidates–whittled down to a group of finalists–to lead the Lead India movement.
Palme d’Or
The Palme d’Or production company derby was also impacted by merging media as the lead shop, MJZ‘s U.S. operation, had a hand in the “Halo 3” campaign with Rupert Sanders having directed the Grave Site web film, for example. Finishing second in the Palme d’Or competition was RSA Films in the U.S., which saw its director Neil Blomkamp direct the Halo 3 Internet film Combat, and Jake Scott helm HBO’s Voyeur project.
(MJZ also produced such Gold Lion Film competition winners as Skittles “Touch” for TBWAChiatDay, New York, Axe Deodorant’s “Chocolate Man” out of Vegaolmosponce, Buenos Aires, and Microsoft Halo 3’s “Diorama” from McCann and T.A.G. RSA also scored Gold in Film for the HBO spots “Surprise,” “Diner” and “Couple” via BBDO New York, as well as two “Voyeur” Golds.)
Finishing third was Gorgeous Enterprises London, followed by O Positive, New York in fourth place, Biscuit Filmworks, Los Angeles, in fifth, Rattling Stick, London, in sixth, Phenomena, Bangkok, in seventh, Hungry Man’s U.S. operation in eighth, Landia, Buenos Aires, in ninth and Partizan, London, which rounded out the top 10.
Agency, Network Honors
BBDO scored two of the top three slots for the Agency of the Year kudo. Right behind BBDO New York was Almap BBDO in Sao Paulo. Third in the Cannes tally was DDB London.
BBDO took Network of the Year followed by DDB London and Saatchi & Saatchi.
Interactive Agency of the Year was Lean Mean Fighting Machine, London. Second was Crispin Porter+Bogusky, Miami. And third was the aforementioned Projector, Tokyo.
Media Agency of the Year was Forsman & Bodenfors, Gothenburg. Second was Dentsu, Tokyo, and third was Leo Burnett USA, Chicago.
Direct Agency of the Year was Shackleton, Madrid, followed by JWT India, Mumbai, and Saatchi in Auckland, N.Z.
The Press Grand Prix went to DDB South Africa for its Energizer batteries campaign consisting of “Paint,” “Pants,” “Park” and “Spit.” The first ever Design Grand Prix was awarded to Turner Duckworth, London and San Francisco, for “Coca-Cola Identity.”
For a full rundown of Cannes honorees, log onto www.canneslions.com/winners.
Apple and Google Face UK Investigation Into Mobile Browser Dominance
Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said Friday in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year.
The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker's tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. Apple does this by restricting progressive web apps, which don't need to be downloaded from an app store and aren't subject to app store commissions, the report said.
"This technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices," the watchdog said in a provisional report on its investigation into mobile browsers that it opened after an initial study concluded that Apple and Google effectively have a chokehold on "mobile ecosystems."
The CMA's report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers "the clearest or easiest option."
And it said that the a revenue-sharing deal between the two U.S. Big Tech companies "significantly reduces their financial incentives" to compete in mobile browsers on Apple's iOS operating system for iPhones.
Both companies said they will "engage constructively" with the CMA.
Apple said it disagreed with the findings and said it was concerned that the recommendations would undermine user privacy and security.
Google said the openness of its Android mobile operating system "has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to smartphones and apps" and that it's "committed to open platforms that empower consumers."
It's the latest move by regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to crack down on the... Read More