Google's Alphabet 17% revenue jump
Google's parent company Alphabet, has reported a a 17% rise in its quarterly revenues after seeing strong ad sales on mobile. Alphabet's revenue rose to USD$20.26bn between January and March, from $17.26bn a year earlier. However this jump fell short of analysts' expectations, which caused the companies shares to fall. In the results, it was revealed that Google's advertising revenue grew 16.2% in the first quarter to $18.02bn. The company said the number of ads, also known as paid clicks, jumped 29%. However the average price of online ads, known as cost-per-click, fell 9% in the quarter. See the results for yourself here.
Maccas calls US creative review
McDonald's in the US has called a creative review in an attempt to consolidate its creative roster from three agencies to one, Ad Age is reporting. McDonald's currently has Omnicom's DDB and Publicis' Leo Burnett handling the bulk of its national advertising. Both Omnicom and Publicis are part of the RFP process that begins Monday, along with WPP. This is the first RFP going out under new US CMO Deborah Wahl, who joined McDonald's in March 2014. A McDonald's spokesperson told AdNews: “This only relates to McDonald’s USA and has no impact here in Australia.”
Ooh!Media wins Virgin terminal rights for Brisbane
Ooh!Media has won the out of home (OOH) digital signage rights to the Virgin Australia terminal in Brisbane. The win, which will see Ooh!Media assume rights on 1 July 2016, means the outdoor company holds exclusive advertising rights across the entire Brisbane domestic terminal, international terminal and on Brisbane Airport Corporation’s land.
DT opens Singapore office
Digital agency DT has launched an office in Singapore, in partnership with Ogilvy & Mather. Ogilvy & Mather Group Singapore Chris Riley says: “Through this partnership with DT, O&M Singapore will now offer high-performance digital platform and e-commerce specialist expertise that will help our clients to scale new heights of modern marketing performance. We have already worked together for many years, and I'm thrilled our clients in Singapore and around the region can now benefit from our joint experience.”
REA Group acquires Flatmates.com.au
REA Group Limited has announced it has acquired Flatmates.com.au, a share accommodation website in Australia. The transaction will see the REA Group acquire 100% of the business and provide an opportunity for REA Group to enter into a joint venture with its founders as it eyes international expansion.
Apple results to show fallen iPhone sales
Apple Inc. has warned investors that its quarterly earnings report will bear bad news about iPhone sales, reports Bloomberg. Apple forecast in January that revenue would drop for the first time in more than a decade as IPhone sales slow. Global smartphone sales growth will slow to 7% this year, the slowest rate in the product’s history, Gartner Inc. predicted in March.
Apple in January said that revenue in its fiscal second quarter would be from $50 billion to $53 billion, compared with $58 billion a year earlier, the first quarterly decline since 2003.
Ikea Australia appoints Pulse Communications for PR
Ikea has selected Pulse Communications, part of Ogilvy PR Australia, as its agency of record following a competitive tender and review process. Pulse will work with the IKEA team on consumer and corporate public relations, influencer engagement and experiential campaigns.
The appointment comes after a thorough review process that included several agencies across Australia, including One Green Bean, AdNews understands.
Bauer Media to sell Auto Action
Bauer Media Australia will cease publishing motorsport magazine Auto Action, across print, digital and social channels. The final weekly print edition under Bauer’s tenure will go on sale Thursday, 5 May. A Bauer spokesperson tells AdNews Bauer is presently seeking a new owner for the masthead.
Bauer has previously sold three of its motorcycle titles to Trader Group and closed title Top Gear.
Australia finishes D&AD with 29 pencils
Australia has finished up D&AD judging week with 29 pencils, coming seventh behind New Zealand. The UK topped the awards with 217 pencils and the US as number two with 143 pencils.
Winning agencies include GPY&R Brisbane for its Melanoma Likes Me campaign with Melanoma Patients Australia, Leo Burnett Sydney's work with Diageo Australia and M&C Saatchi's Heartbeat car for Lexus.
Independent agency For The People has won a pencil for its branding work for Sydney Dogs and Cats Home while production company Finch has been awarded for its University of Western Sydney work featuring refugee lawyer Deng Adut.
While winners might be listed, they will need to wait until the award ceremony in May to learn which pencils – black, yellow, graphite or wood – they’ve won.
Vice Media partners with UTS
VICE Australia has been selected by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) to gear students for the future, becoming a central focus of 450 media and communications students' capstone project. Students majoring in journalism, video production, PR, and more will examine and challenge what "a media brand of today/the future" looks like, exploring the stories and topics that matter most to them, using VICE’s history of agenda-setting editorial as a touchstone.
Dentsu Aeigis Network UK launches new agency for disadvantaged people
Dentsu Aegis Network UK is launching a new agency with people from disadvantaged backgrounds, the network's chief executive, Tracy De Groose, announced at Advertising Week Europe, reports Campaign Live.
The agency will by staffed from people outside the industry, and De Groose aims to have around ten members by the end of the year. No word if Dentsu will make this move in Australia.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.