Sunday, November 29, 2009
A bundle of bad PR
Ouch!! What we all suspected was true has been confirmed. Christmas hampers are way over-priced!
The Sunday flick
Apart from the dust haze it was another glorious day in Sydney so the family headed off to the beach as we often do.
Standard fare is a leisurely flick through both the Sunday Telegraph and its perennial nemesis the Sun Herald. Sadly it was all over in the blink of an eye... literally flicking through each page, through each supplement and through each paper, in a matter of minutes.
Perhaps I'm in a demographic or stage of life that isn't catered for - but I doubt it.
Male, 49, with 2 kids, and right before Christmas... you'd think there would be plenty of articles and even ads that would be of middling interest, but no, it was flick, flick, flick... straight through to the keeper, straight from front cover to back.
Maybe I'm just not typical... the stories on B-list celebs, weird animals, boring finance stories and even more boring political guides, health guides, car guides and form guides just don't interest me... must be just me.
Standard fare is a leisurely flick through both the Sunday Telegraph and its perennial nemesis the Sun Herald. Sadly it was all over in the blink of an eye... literally flicking through each page, through each supplement and through each paper, in a matter of minutes.
Perhaps I'm in a demographic or stage of life that isn't catered for - but I doubt it.
Male, 49, with 2 kids, and right before Christmas... you'd think there would be plenty of articles and even ads that would be of middling interest, but no, it was flick, flick, flick... straight through to the keeper, straight from front cover to back.
Maybe I'm just not typical... the stories on B-list celebs, weird animals, boring finance stories and even more boring political guides, health guides, car guides and form guides just don't interest me... must be just me.
Monday, November 23, 2009
No Bankruptcy - take the first step!
If you're strugging to make ends meet and things are looking financially desperate for you, consider appointing a debt manager like http://www.nobankruptcy.com.au/. They really do help people sort out their massive debts, and get their lives back on track.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Quadrophenia still rocks, even after 30 years!
There are some great classic movies and series being aired by the Free-to-Air (FTA) second digital channels as they scramble to fill the hungry beast that is TV.
The 1979 Mods vs Rockers classic "Quadrophenia" was on FTA TV last night and what a stellar cast! Not to mention the soundtrack by "The Who" - perhaps in their descendancy by 79 - but nonetheless a great match for the electrified atmosphere of this film, set in 1964.
Apart from Sting's cameo, the other cast members represented a virtual who's who of British TV series. Afficionados of The Bill would recognise Mark Wingett (The Bill's longest playing actor Jim Carver) as well as Phil Davis who is more recently known for his roles in the cracking "Rose and Maloney" and also the menacingly manipulative office manager in "North Square", another ripper. His character in Quadrophenia allowed him to show off his great acting skills and was a perfect fit for him.
Another great role played by Leslie Ash best known perhaps for playing the upstairs love-interest in "Men Behaving Badly".
Leading actor of Quadrophenia though was Phil Daniels who I must admit not knowing too much about... however a Google search came up with some juicy roles over the past 20 years. And being just 21 at the time, he was obviously at the top of his game from early on.
Starring: Phil Daniels, Sting, Mark Wingett, Philip Davis
If you get a chance, watch it.
The 1979 Mods vs Rockers classic "Quadrophenia" was on FTA TV last night and what a stellar cast! Not to mention the soundtrack by "The Who" - perhaps in their descendancy by 79 - but nonetheless a great match for the electrified atmosphere of this film, set in 1964.
Apart from Sting's cameo, the other cast members represented a virtual who's who of British TV series. Afficionados of The Bill would recognise Mark Wingett (The Bill's longest playing actor Jim Carver) as well as Phil Davis who is more recently known for his roles in the cracking "Rose and Maloney" and also the menacingly manipulative office manager in "North Square", another ripper. His character in Quadrophenia allowed him to show off his great acting skills and was a perfect fit for him.
Another great role played by Leslie Ash best known perhaps for playing the upstairs love-interest in "Men Behaving Badly".
Leading actor of Quadrophenia though was Phil Daniels who I must admit not knowing too much about... however a Google search came up with some juicy roles over the past 20 years. And being just 21 at the time, he was obviously at the top of his game from early on.
Starring: Phil Daniels, Sting, Mark Wingett, Philip Davis
If you get a chance, watch it.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
FACTual Shampoo TV Ads
Does anyone really digest the facts and figures quoted in shampoo TV ads?
Some of those scientific sounding stats are so out there: "Your hair will be 85% brighter"; "4 in 5 women said their hair was X times, healthier, stronger, bouncier"; "Makes your hair 5 times stronger in just 4 weeks!" etc etc etc!
How do they know, and how can they prove it???
In the past, marketers had to verify all their TVCs' claims, with strict analysis before approval for going on air. So either the ad approvers at FACTS (now FreeTV) have really given up trying, or they've given the shampoo manufacturers carte blanche to have their best shot at boring the viewers into a state of mental lethargy and numbness!
Shampoo is a waste of time and money anyway... Richard Glover got it right on ABC Radio 702 recently when he polled listeners' shampooing habits and unearthed many who no longer used the expensive and ecologically unsound shampoos and conditioners, the bulk of which ended up in the drainage system, and eventually in our oceans.
Most devotees of the non-shampoo regime, reported their hair was as healthy and non-greasy as when they had washed with shampoo... same goes for shaving foam... as reported recently, warm water does a similar if not better job...
The segment had a huge response and ran over several days.
Just think of the money you'll save!
Some of those scientific sounding stats are so out there: "Your hair will be 85% brighter"; "4 in 5 women said their hair was X times, healthier, stronger, bouncier"; "Makes your hair 5 times stronger in just 4 weeks!" etc etc etc!
How do they know, and how can they prove it???
In the past, marketers had to verify all their TVCs' claims, with strict analysis before approval for going on air. So either the ad approvers at FACTS (now FreeTV) have really given up trying, or they've given the shampoo manufacturers carte blanche to have their best shot at boring the viewers into a state of mental lethargy and numbness!
Shampoo is a waste of time and money anyway... Richard Glover got it right on ABC Radio 702 recently when he polled listeners' shampooing habits and unearthed many who no longer used the expensive and ecologically unsound shampoos and conditioners, the bulk of which ended up in the drainage system, and eventually in our oceans.
Most devotees of the non-shampoo regime, reported their hair was as healthy and non-greasy as when they had washed with shampoo... same goes for shaving foam... as reported recently, warm water does a similar if not better job...
The segment had a huge response and ran over several days.
Just think of the money you'll save!
Friday, November 20, 2009
TV Sport Regulation
Foxtel CEO Kim Williams spoke at the Network Insights Conference yesterday (Nov 19) at the University of Technology, Sydney. Some of the key points he made included commentary on the ABC and ending the sports rights “rort”.
Digital economy and the ABC:
“Foxtel has been the digital television innovator and if there is public money for worthwhile new Australian content… we’re more than happy to commission new programs on a contestable basis with the ABC and others.
“And let us remember that while the ABC is a much loved institution and at its best a good broadcaster, Aunty is not Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom. The ABC does not have a monopoly on wisdom or commitment to Australian content.
“Unlimited bandwidth, the profusion of new distribution platforms and new channels increasingly call into question one of the traditional rationales for funding the ABC – namely that the market has failed to provide key programming.”
Anti-siphoning list – “It’s time to end the rort.
“On the Anti-siphoning list, the ACCC has found it ‘reduces competition’, potentially ‘reduces the amount of sport on television’, ‘imposes costs on the codes’, means ‘less revenue for the codes’ and is ‘more burdensome than is necessary’.
“The remedy is to shorten the list and include a 'use it or lose it' scheme in legislation where events not broadcast by the old networks would come off the list and sports lovers would be better able to see them (the old networks traditionally do not broadcast 77% of events on the 1,300 long anti-siphoning list).
“Everyone but the free to air networks agree, its time to end the rort and shorten the list.”
Digital economy and the ABC:
“Foxtel has been the digital television innovator and if there is public money for worthwhile new Australian content… we’re more than happy to commission new programs on a contestable basis with the ABC and others.
“And let us remember that while the ABC is a much loved institution and at its best a good broadcaster, Aunty is not Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom. The ABC does not have a monopoly on wisdom or commitment to Australian content.
“Unlimited bandwidth, the profusion of new distribution platforms and new channels increasingly call into question one of the traditional rationales for funding the ABC – namely that the market has failed to provide key programming.”
Anti-siphoning list – “It’s time to end the rort.
“On the Anti-siphoning list, the ACCC has found it ‘reduces competition’, potentially ‘reduces the amount of sport on television’, ‘imposes costs on the codes’, means ‘less revenue for the codes’ and is ‘more burdensome than is necessary’.
“The remedy is to shorten the list and include a 'use it or lose it' scheme in legislation where events not broadcast by the old networks would come off the list and sports lovers would be better able to see them (the old networks traditionally do not broadcast 77% of events on the 1,300 long anti-siphoning list).
“Everyone but the free to air networks agree, its time to end the rort and shorten the list.”
Thursday, November 19, 2009
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