Business

Carat published its updated forecasts for worldwide advertising expenditure, showing a positive outlook for the global advertising market in 2016, set to continue in 2017 powered by the ongoing growth of Digital*.

Television advertising faces a critical moment of transition. Digital media and, in particular, digital video channels are becoming first options for consumers—and for marketers that increasingly expect television to deliver targeting and measurement capabilities similar to digital.  By Charlie Kim and Danny Hong

MillerCoors is releasing Zumbida, a beverage inspired by traditional Mexican aguas frescas with a kick, or toque de piquet

Among the 5.4 million U.S. firms with paid employees, 481,981, or 8.9 percent, had been in business for less than two years in 2014, according to findings from the U.S. Census Bureau’s inaugural Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs.

The start-up scene is in a state of change right now — at least partly because there are too many companies out there who haven’t fully thought through their offering. Too many companies’ core offering is really only a potential feature for a larger product vs. a stand-alone product with broader implications. 

Antoinette Zel and Diego Prusky have joined to create The Story Room, a new digital, content and performance marketing company specializing in the US Hispanic and Latin American markets.

By Gonzalo López Martí – creative director, etc etc     / LMMiami.com

• The token Latinos in the room are taking over.
• The folks whose role was to smile and acquiesce sheepishly in order to afford a veneer of diversity to business as usual in corporate America are starting to make themselves heard.
• There are dozens of examples out there but let’s focus on Madison Avenue.
• After a serious shake-up not one but two Latinos have been promoted to run Saatchi’s emblematic NY office.

According to AdExchange, Google has been offering multiple rebate programs to ad agencies and advertisers that amount to considerably large checks.  The question here for US based agencies is if the agency keeps the rebate or sends a check back to the client.

Nielsen’s fifth report on the Latino consumer, “From the Ballot Box to the Grocery Store,” underscores the continued rise of Hispanic influence and purchasing power across the U.S. Yet the August 28 death of Juan Gabriel, an iconic Latin recording artist whose songs are known across the globe, was met with tepid response from “total market” media. That’s unacceptable.  By Adam R Jacobson, Editor-In-Chief – Radio + Television Business Report

Whoever wins this election, major governmental changes that could significantly affect the advertising sector are almost certain to take place. A major turnover of personnel will occur in D.C. next year regardless of the election’s winner. One of the first jobs for the new President will be to nominate someone to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court. Since many of the recent decisions supporting First Amendment protection for advertising have been 5-4 decisions, the newly appointed Justice could have a very large impact on our industry.  

By Gonzalo López Martí – Creative director, etc etc  /  LMMiami.com

• Apple is, allegedly, about to launch its new lineup of iPhones with one notable absence among its functionalities: the audio jack will, according to rumors, be discontinued.
• Yeah, say adiós to the little hole that connects your headphones to your device.
• Another of the bold disruptive moves that has made the Cupertino giant a sexy tech darling and global corporate leader.
• Another surprise to reinvent the game, attract the world’s attention and generate buzz.
• Speaking of bold moves and surprises that make people talk, who wasn’t taken aback when, a year or so ago, Univision terminated its decades-old, money-printing relationship with Mr. Mario Kreutzberger, aka Don Francisco?

In a constantly evolving digital landscape, it’s no wonder that US marketers want their personnel to remain both informed and nimble. According to March research, almost seven in 10 feel the drive to innovate will likely impact their staffing decisions over the next two years.

While the number of independent workers is expected to grow to 54 million people by 2020 (MBO Partners: State of Independence in America 2015), the rise of the “gig economy” many forecasters see on the horizon may develop slower than expected.

The Deloitte Greenhouse™ Experience team recently completed a survey asking more than 23,000 professionals about their stress levels at work and found statistically significant variation in how respondents react to workplace stressors. Overall, the majority of respondents reported modest levels of stress. Fourteen percent reported being stressed only rarely and 57 percent reported being stressed sometimes, while 26 percent reported being stressed often, and 3 percent reported being always stressed.

Telemundo announced the promotion of Angel Domenech to Vice President of Creative Strategy. He will oversee the strategic creative approach, development and execution of the network’s high profile launches and overall branding initiatives for Telemundo Network. Domenech will report to Aileen Angulo-Merciel, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Creative, Telemundo.

Variety has hired Betsie Batista as National Sales Director for Variety Latino. Batista, who most recently led new business development for ESPN Multimedia Sales & Sponsorships, will be based in Variety’s Gotham offices where she will lead all of Variety Latino’s sales initiatives.

In the last two weeks, NBC’s Rio Olympics has garnered nearly half of the total national TV revenue of many top ad categories.

By Gonzalo López Martí – Creative director, etc etc  /  LMMiami.com

• Some companies have courage.
• Aka cojones.
• Others don’t.
• Apple belongs to the former group.
• As does Univision.

For many companies, cost reduction efforts become an endless downward spiral.  As soon as one cost reduction program is completed, it’s followed by another.  Competitors become locked in a race to the bottom, as price reductions predicated on cost reductions are countered by more cost-cutting from competitors to drive another round of price declines.  Before you know it, the industry has shrunk and retailers, manufacturers and consumers alike all lose out on greater growth and access to greater innovation.  By Jason Green, CEO, The Cambridge Group, and Dan Vucovich, former SVP, President U.S.,
The Hershey Co.

Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) announced the promotion of Silvia García to senior vice president of Media Planning and Multiplatform Strategy. She will continue to be based in Miami and report to Jessica Rodriguez, EVP and chief marketing officer at UCI.