Mumbrella live blog: Wednesday, May 28
Welcome to Mumbrella’s live blog, the rolling diary of everything you need to know in marketing and media. Refresh the page for the latest updates.
Top stories:
- Botched PR stunt causes bomb squad to be called to Ninemsn offices
- TV ratings: What Happens in Bali gets a million viewers
- Lachlan Murdoch describes ‘emotional’ return to News Corp, drives print future line
- TMS retains Lexus dealers securing Toyota relationship
- The Loop co-founder splits from business
- Dr Mumbo: Thought Voteman was scary? Meet his maker
- Answers for Adam: Are Aussie agencies better with Brits, or without?
5:32pm – Ahead of tonight’s State of Origin match up News.com.au has decided to compare some past and present footy stars to animals. A bit risky you might think given the Adam Goodes controversies last year. Fortunately, every Queenslander is a cane toad, and the Blues appear to be cockroaches. Ummmm.
4:52pm – Totes amazeballs news, the Bondi Hipsters have begun production on their new sketch series, looking at past lives, called Soul Mates, which will air on ABC2 later this year.
3:27pm – So, have you noticed what’s changed on one of the world’s most visited websites? Google has changed it’s logo, ever so slightly, and smh.com.au has the gif that highlights it.
2:34pm – Here’s a PR stunt that went horribly wrong. The stunt, for a new video game, saw the bomb squad called to Ninemsn’s offices yesterday afternoon after a black safe was delivered to the Australia Square offices of the publisher along with a “suspicious” letter which told a reporter to “check your voicemail”. 
1:33pm – Yahoo!7 is rolling out a new “infinite scrolling” website which it claims will better translate across devices. Read about it here.
1:23pm – Media agency TMS has retained the media account for the dealers for luxury car brand Lexus.
12:23pm – The debate is heating up on this weeks Answers for Adam post, in which Adam Ferrier asked whether clients prefer agencies with a British infulence, or true blue Aussies?
Eaon said: “Interesting question about intuitive heuristics. And the middle-class public school English planner you describe conforms to some law of prototypicality that it can be useful to adopt (loads of these in the US too).”
Progressive Thinker said: “Adam, what a stupid topic. Change Brit to someones ethnicity, color, cred or religion and realise how stupid your question is! Why should a person underplay there background or hide their character traits. To fit in? to be the same? i expect so much more from you! What does it matter, diversity is key in this country and this is a diverse multicultural meting pot! long may everyone has a voice to be more individual and brave…there in lies the uniqueness this industry craves.”
What do you think? You can read the story here.
11:50am – Lachlan Murdoch has delivered his first public speech since rejoining News Corp in which he outlined his reasons for returning to the company after an absence of almost a decade. Details here.
11:41am – As always there’s lots of interesting tid bits in our FYI section – today we’ve got items covering a new board announced for iSentia as the company goes public; Presto’s streaming service to be available on Google Chromecast and Adstream Australia appointing a commercial director.
11:10am – In his weekly column, Adam Ferrier is asking whether clients prefer agencies with a British infulence, or true blue Aussies? What are your thoughts? You can read the story here.
11:07am – M&C Saatchi Sydney executive strategy director Gareth Cooper, who left the agency in January this year, has turned up at Host as executive planning director. Details here.
10:22am – TV ratings are in and What Really Happens in Bali, Seven’s new fly on the wall doco about some colourful characters in Bali grabbed a million viewers last night, and Masterchef enjoyed a better run as well.
9:45am – Good news for fans of the Sex Party, which has hit its Pozzible funding target and is now in the process of creating a timely response ad with its take on the budget. We can’t wait to see how many analogies for people getting ‘screwed’ they can come up with.
9:30am – Some interesting news coming out of The Loop this morning, with co-founder Pip Jamieson parting ways with the creative networking site to set up a similar venture of her own in Europe.
9:10am – Nine Entertainment Co is having its first investor presentation this morning since it floated again six months ago, and contrary to some reports CEO David Gyngell has shown up to front it, taking time from his paternity leave. What’s more he’s even switched his tracky pants for a suit, and had a shave.
8:21am – Overnight Google has announced it is launching its Chromecast system in Australia, priced at $49. Basically it’s a plug-in to your TV which allows you to stream shows directly to it.Theoretically it opens up a world of possibilities for content providers, but as one critic points out in the Australian Financial Review in its current form it will depend (paywall) on what rights holders jump on board here, and how they price their offerings.
8:07am – Morning all. Yesterday was a pretty full-on day for some of the industry’s best and brightest, with seven panels of experts running the rule over their credentials. We’ll be revealing the winners at next Thursday’s Mumbrella Awards at The Star in Sydney. Get your tickets here.
topics
Crowd funding
David Gyngell
Dr Mumbo
Mumbrella live blog
Nine
Seven
Sex Party
suit
Ten
The Loop
TV ratings
Ubisoft
voteman
