ESPN channels Apartheid-era South Africa for 2010 FIFA World Cup ad

For it’s part in the 2010 FIFA World Cup advertising wars, ESPN is channeling a major part of South Africa’s history:  Apartheid. The sports channel is starting it’s World Cup advertising with a Wieden + Kennedy created spot highlighting the importance of  football (soccer to Americans) at South Africa’s infamous Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. The commercial is part of a four-part series which will be rolled out over the course of the months before the World Cup start on June 11.

Our goal with this spot is to educate people about the historical significance of the World Cup being played in South Africa. – ESPN Marketing Director Seth Ader

Watch the commercial below and let me know what you think in the comments below.


via Adrants

If you can’t see the video above, go here.

African markets in top 20 as mobile advertising continues strong growth in Q2 2009

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(photo by uzimagazine on flickr)

</i>With traditional advertising revenue continuing it&#39;s downward spiral, mobile advertising continues to dominate advertising growth areas globally. BuzzCity, a global provider of wireless communities and consumer services, <a href="http://www.mobile-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=67945&amp;full_skip=1" target="_blank">recently released</a> it&#39;s Global Mobile Advertising Index report for the second quarter of 2009, showing some good numbers and areas of interest. Among the top 10 ranking countries for ad banners served in the companies mobile internet advertising network, South Africa holds the #4 spot behind Indonesia, India, and the United States (numbers 1 - 3). Egypt comes in at #7, followed by Kenya (#10), Nigeria (#14), Libya (#17), and Tanzania (#18). These numbers support what many analysts have been saying for years, mobile phones and their use in Africa and other emerging markets are the growth areas of the 21st century.<p />      Full list of the top 20 countries by the number of paid advertising banners delivered in each (compared to Q1 2009 results):<br /><ol><li>Indonesia: 3.78 billion (-14%)</li><li>India: 1.07 billion (+28%)</li>  <li>United States: 487 million (-8%)</li><li>South Africa: 461 million (+8%)</li><li>United Kingdom: 133 million (+17%)</li><li>Philippines: 124 million (-1%)</li><li>Egypt: 108 million (-34%)</li><li>China: 95 million (-27%)</li>      <li>Saudi Arabia: 92 million (+63%)</li><li>Kenya: 92 million (+15%)</li><li>Malaysia: 81 million (2%)</li><li>Canada: 79 million (5%)</li><li>Thailand: 73 million (11%)</li><li>Nigeria: 60 million (-34%)</li><li>Bangladesh: 57 million (-49%)</li>      <li>France: 50 million (26%)</li><li>Libya: 48 million (-44%)</li><li>Tanzania: 48 million (-42%)</li><li>Italy 43 million (23%)</li><li>Brunei 42 million (-42%)</li></ol>(via <a href="http://africa.bizcommunity.com/Article/410/78/37919.html#" target="_blank">BizCommunity</a>)  

Mobile devices fueling Africa’s advertising growth?

There’s a reason many multinationals and entrepreneurs alike are scrambling to get into the Africa’s telcom business. The future of the mobile phone in Africa is looking quite promising. And as the mobile platform becomes more reliable new areas of enterprise are finding a foothold to grow. Reports reveal that in one major market, South Africa, average response rate for mobile advertising campaigns is from 10% to 25%. A luxury advertisers are certainly not enjoying in more established markets.
Continue reading “Mobile devices fueling Africa’s advertising growth?”