Global Storyteller’s from Radio and TV & Film Come Together at NAB

New York Festivals Radio Awards kicks off their inaugural  Storytellers Gala on Tuesday, April 21st at the annual NAB Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

With the digital audio arena encompassing music-streaming, podcasts, online and satellite radio, radio has come a very long way since the first radio broadcast of election coverage by KDKA on November 2, 1920.

“Having been a part of the NYF Grand jury and Radio Advisory board for several years, I’m so pleased to see the competition join forces with NAB. I can think of no better platform for the world’s best radio than an organization like NAB, which has celebrating “bringing content to life” for close to a century. This is a bold new chapter for NYF and I simply can’t wait to hear this year’s entries.” –Mark Travis, Associate Director of Media, Production, New York Philharmonic and NYF Radio Awards Advisory Board

In honor of this momentous invention, New York Festivals Radio Awards will celebrate 100 years of Radio while bringing together global storytellers from both the Radio and TV & Film industry on the same stage.

“100 years ago, in 1920, radio linked a formerly insular public and created common ground for understanding, for sharing of culture, for education and entertainment. Today, more than ever, through podcasts and global distribution, broadcasters touch hearts and minds around the world and around the clock,” said Lou Simon, Radio Producer for SiriusXM Radio and NYF Radio Awards Grand Jury. “It’s wonderful to gather and celebrate some of our shining examples of freedom and integrity.”

Radio storytelling begins with a distinctive voice and ends with a captivating narrative that engages listeners on a broad range of topics.

“The NYF is right in sync with the most important movement taking place in media today – a revival of enthusiasm for the art of storytelling. Storytelling has been the foundation of oral communications from the dawn of language to the present-day explosion in technology. The idea of outstanding storytellers from around the planet gathering in Las Vegas to celebrate this most evolved element of human connectivity is deeply gratifying to those of us who love the spoken word and remain in awe of its power.” – Michael Harrison, Publisher, Talkers and NYF Radio Awards Advisory Board

New York Festivals Radio Awards robust roster of categories celebrates the innovative storytelling from content creators from 40 countries around the world. From Live Shows to Entertainment Specials, Sports to Talk Radio, Music Shows to News, Serialized Storytelling to Podcasts and Audiobooks, powerful storytelling today succeeds in engaging listeners and illustrating that the voice of the storyteller is loud, clear and very much alive in radio.

“In dark days or divisive troubled times, stories can be the lifeblood to creating understanding between people and touch the very heart of humanity and civilization. NYF honors the importance of powerful storytelling on a global level. I am proud to be a part of this organization.” –Valerie Geller, President, Geller International Media and NYF Radio Awards Advisory Board

The 2020 Storyteller’s gala celebrates the tenth year of NYF’s strategic partnership with the annual NAB Show. As content creators from around the globe take to the stage, world-class content from prominent radio stations, networks, international independent producers and presenters will be recognized and awarded.

Attendees to the 2020 Storyteller’s Gala will also have access to NAB’s multi-day event which is the world’s largest media entertainment marketplace. Award winning guest presenters from around the globe and will bring a new level of prominence, interest, and recognition for all our participants which will continue in the year ahead.

The deadline to enter the 2020 Radio Awards competition is February 1, 2020.

Photo Credit: The second annual Global TV Demand Awards host and presenters. Pictured from left to right are: Hailie Sahar, Jerry Springer, Martin Kove, Carson Kressley (host), Esai Morales, and Emily Swallow. (John Parra/Getty Images).

Game of Thrones also wins Most In-Demand Drama Series in the World; Stranger Things wins at Most In-Demand Digital Original; The Mandalorian wins Most In-Demand Series Debut

Game of Thrones was the big winner at the 2nd Annual Global TV Demand Awards presented by Parrot Analytics today during the 2020 NATPE Miami Marketplace + Conference. HBO’s epic series took home the top honor, Most In-Demand TV Series in the World, along with the trophy for Most In-Demand Drama Series in the World, for 2019. Netflix’s Stranger Things was acknowledged as Most In-Demand Digital Original and Disney+’s The Mandalorian won for the Most In-Demand Series Debut of 2019.

Hosted by Carson Kressley (Queer Eye), the Global TV Demand Awards acknowledged the most in-demand shows in 12 different categories. Here is the complete list of winners:

Most In-Demand TV Show in the World: Game of Thrones

Most In-Demand Digital Original in the World: Stranger Things

Most In-Demand Drama Series in the World: Game of Thrones

Most In-Demand Comedy Series in the World: The Big Bang Theory

Most In-Demand Documentary Series in the World: Planet Earth

Most In-Demand Variety Series in the World: The Daily Show

Most In-Demand Reality Series in the World: The Voice

Most In-Demand Series Debut in the World: The Mandalorian

Most In-Demand Superhero Series in the World: The Flash

Most In-Demand Export from Latin America: La Rosa De Guadalupe

Most In-Demand Export from Asia: One Punch Man

Most In-Demand Export from Europe: Peaky Blinders

In addition, a special Global Iconic Demand Award was presented to David Crane and Marta Kauffman, co-creators of the TV series Friends, by Meredith Vieira in acknowledgement of its enduring popularity around the world. David Crane accepted the award on behalf of himself and Kauffman.

“The fact that this award reflects the continued global popularity of Friends makes us prouder than even Parrot Analytics could calculate. It’s been over 25 years since we started the show.  That we’re still a part of the conversation is more than we could ever have imagined,” said David Crane.

Presenters at the 2nd Annual Global TV Demand Awards included actors Martin Kove (Cobra Kai), Esai Morales (Titans), Hailie Sahar (Pose), Jerry Springer (Judge Jerry) and Emily Swallow (The Mandalorian).

Parrot Analytics’ measurement of global demand for television shows includes social media engagement, video streaming and peer-to-peer protocols, photo sharing, blogging, and research platforms. Parrot Analytics is the only company that captures, weighs, and combines all of these different touch points into a single TV content demand measurement. The Demand Expressions® metric represents the total audience demand being expressed for any title across all platforms, in any market, around the world. The winners of the 2nd Annual Global TV Demand Awards were determined based on demand data from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.

“Parrot Analytics owns the world’s largest first-party content consumption and audience demand dataset, enabling the company to award the most comprehensive global ‘people’s choice award’ ever given to a TV show,” said Rebekah Zabarsky, Director of Marketing, Parrot Analytics, and Executive Producer of the Global TV Demand Awards. “This year’s Global TV Demand Awards was incredibly exciting, and I want to thank our host Carson Kressley, our presenters, David Crane and everyone who participated in today’s celebration. Congratulations to Game of Thrones and all the winners.”

Mindshare Sydney wins Grand Prix and Scalable Idea awards for Fox Cricket

Campaigns for global brands such as Google Translate, Knorr and Maybelline, and local brands including Danner in Denmark and Jinlingguan in China, are among the winners of the Effective Use of Tech category of the WARC Media Awards 2019, a global case study competition recognising communications planning which has made a positive impact on business results.

A total of eight winners - one Grand Prix, two Golds, two Silvers and three Bronzes - have been awarded in the Effective Use of Tech category, showcasing communications that have effectively used or combined emerging platforms or technology in the media mix, contributing to the overall business success of the campaign.

The jury chaired by Isabel Massey, Global Media Director, Marketing, Diageo, also awarded three Special Awards for particular areas of expertise:

-         Early Adopter Award: how a brand successfully embraced a new platform

-         Most Scalable Idea Award: for a tech-led idea with the scope to make an impact within its sector and, potentially, beyond

-         Platform Pioneer Award: how a brand found an innovative and effective way to use an existing platform

The Grand Prix has been awarded to Mindshare Sydney for 'Monty - The World's first AI predictive commentator', a game-changing campaign for Australian pay TV brand Foxtel to encourage people to pay to watch cricket, a product they'd previously enjoyed for free.

Realising they had to deliver more value and transform the viewing experience, Foxtel invested heavily in data to train a custom machine learning model capable of predicting when wickets would fall in live games. Monty delivered an 18% increase in average weekly sales, while Fox Cricket became the number-one channel for share, beating the full-year performance of every other channel.

Commenting on the Grand Prix winning campaign, jury member Rosh Singh, Managing Director EMEA, UNIT9, said: "What I liked about it is that consumers don't need to know anything about the tech, so there are no barriers to go through - it's additive to that piece of media."

The winners of the 2019 WARC Media Awards - Effective Use of Tech category are as follows:

Grand Prix

Monty - The world's first AI predictive commentator · Fox Cricket · Foxtel · Mindshare Sydney · Australia + Scalable Idea Award

Gold

Blend-In · Pantene · Procter & Gamble · MediaCom Connections Israel, ACW Grey Tel-Aviv · Israel + Platform Pioneer Award

The Irreplaceable Home Taste · Knorr · PHD Hong Kong · Hong Kong + Early Adopter Award

Silver

AI Baby Expert · Jinlingguan · Yili · Mindshare · China

The Secret Menu · Google Translate · Google · PHD China · China

Bronze

Capacity-Based McDelivery 2.0 · McDonald's · Hanbaobao Pte Ltd · OMD Singapore · Singapore

QQ Dancing · Maybelline · L'Oréal · Mindshare China · China

United Against Abuse · Danner · MediaCom · Denmark

Power your 2020 planning with 2019 holiday shopping insights from over half a billion global shoppers

A wise person once said that hindsight is 20/20. In most aspects of our life and business, this statement holds true.

But when it comes to predicting future shopping trends, we have a trick up our sleeve: data. Based on the shopping activity of over half a billion shoppers from around the world, and many years of experience analyzing holiday trends, we can predict what consumer trends will dominate the following year. 

Undoubtedly, this past shopping season was one for the record books. With six fewer days to attract and convert shoppers, brands and retailers worked hard to drum up early demand and guide shoppers through a quick holiday season.

But UK shoppers operated on their own terms this year. Digital traffic to UK brands’ and retailers’ sites grew 13% the week before the start of Cyber Week (November 19th - November 25th), almost doubling last year’s growth over the same period. But they weren’t just browsing, they were buying too. Digital orders grew 11% year over year.

However, the real star of the show was Cyber Week. Cyber Week continued to gain more share of the season’s overall spend, growing 15% year over year, capturing 32% of the entire UK season’s digital revenue. Yet as the season progressed, consumer behavior changed. Digital spend fell 18% year over year the week leading up to Christmas, mirroring global trends. If digital dominated early season headlines, the physical store stole the show in the latter half as shoppers headed to their local stores after missing the shipping cutoff. 

So how can you apply the lessons of 2019 to your 2020 planning? We took the liberty of beginning your 2020 resolutions lists using our proprietary data-driven insights.

Resolve to be where your shoppers are

Nearly 1 in 10 online purchases are now made on emerging digital purchase points like voice and social media. We call these emerging digital touchpoints "shopping at the edge." With Gen Zers 3.5x more likely than Baby Boomers to purchase on emerging digital purchase points, shopping at the edge is poised to become the norm over time.

In 2019, we saw the peak of commerce extending beyond brands’ and retailers’ properties. On peak days during the 2019 holiday shopping season, over 12% of mobile traffic and 6% of mobile orders in the UK came from a social referring channel. For traffic, UK shoppers are on the leading edge of social commerce.

Today, brands and retailers have far less control over the experiences their shoppers are having. But it’s not just the commerce experience that brands and retailers have to worry about. Every single touchpoint from marketing to service has the potential to happen off your own property. Messages sent to mobile phones grew by 134% during Cyber Week, becoming the fastest growing marketing channel.

The message from 2019 was clear: shoppers want to engage on their own terms. In the next decade, it will be critical to take yourself to your shoppers.

Resolve to be physical

While digital clearly dominated the beginning of the shopping season, the latter half of the season was dramatically different. Late season softening in digital revenue growth was likely fueled by shoppers’ need to fulfill orders quickly after the shipping cutoff. The answer? The brick and mortar store.

In fact, this holiday season proved that the in-store experience is more relevant than ever. Global brands and retailers offering click and collect (or buy online pick up in store - BOPIS) saw 56% more active shoppers in the last five days leading up to Christmas compared to those with stores not offering the perk.

And the benefits didn’t end there, sites offering BOPIS captured 18% more revenue after the retail ground shipping cutoff. While the end of the store has been forecast for years, shoppers are telling us something much different. 

Eighty one percent of shoppers report that they prefer the physical store to make their purchases. So what’s the real story behind the store? Well, the answer lies beyond the products it sells. Shoppers crave experiences. Consumers, even those in younger generations, seek out stores that offer unique experiences.

Brands and retailers offering a great in-store experience (or perk, like BOPIS) are reaping the rewards in customer loyalty. Shopping today is no longer transactional, it’s experiential. Getting this wrong has its consequences: 25% of shoppers have taken their business elsewhere as a direct result of a poor in-store experience.

Resolve to be mobile

The 2019 holiday shopping season proved that shoppers are more confident than ever shopping on the small screen, especially UK shoppers.

The year 2019 ended with mobile being the number one device driving both digital traffic and orders. To put that into context, at the start of the decade back in 2010, mobile devices were driving virtually no digital activity for UK brands and retailers.

As we head into 2020 one thing is clear, mobile devices are the device of choice for the modern shopper. Peak days, like Christmas Day, saw up to 82% of digital traffic and a whopping 74% of digital orders come through a mobile device, far above the global averages.

A mobile-first world is already here, and UK shoppers are well ahead of the mobile-curve. A mobile-first strategy is likely already an integral part of your digital strategy. In 2020, find ways to integrate the mobile experience into the physical for a true omnichannel shopping journey.

Resolve to go green

While consumer confidence and retail performance were strong this holiday season, the rising trend on consumer minds is sustainability. More people than ever value their role in preserving the environment. According to our global survey of 10,000 shoppers, 65% of shoppers say that they care more about sustainability than they did a year ago.

What does this mean for retail? The new year will usher in a new era of sustainable retailing. Think innovative and clever recycling like Madewell’s Denim Recycling program in the US, where consumers donate a pair of used jeans (any brand will do) for a $20 credit. Or, thredUP’s charter to reduce the 26 billion pounds of clothing sent to landfills each year by providing a fashion resale marketplace.

And, others are focusing on efforts to reduce packaging waste and decrease carbon footprints. Take L’Oreal as an example. This iconic health and beauty brand has committed a core mission of their brand to environmental sustainability. Trailblazers are already leading the way for a more sustainable future.

In 2020, shoppers will be paying attention to brands and retailers who get serious about the environment.

Resolve to be nimble

If the last decade taught us anything, it’s that legacy retailing is over. Consumers choose how they are going to engage and they are increasingly on apps, social media, messaging platforms, voice, gaming consoles, and more. They’re not only browsing, but also buying on digital intermediaries. In fact, our research shows that 9% of all digital transactions will take place on these emerging touchpoints in 2020.

Social media has empowered niche and digitally native players to gain audience share over some of the largest and well-known brands and retailers that have been mainstays in malls for decades. The democratization of retail over the last 10 years has put shoppers in the driver's seat. Don’t be afraid to experiment and get creative with how you engage your shoppers in the new decade.

Think experience over product. Think sustainability over value. And be prepared to push yourself beyond the confines of your four walls.

Peacock to Launch April 15 to Comcast’s Xfinity X1 and Flex Customers; Debuts Nationally July 15

Peacock Strikes Bundled Distribution Deals with Cox and Comcast, Bringing the Service to a Combined Total of More Than 24 Million Initial Subscribers

Brands Including State Farm, Target and Unilever Sign on as First Set of Launch Sponsors of Peacock

Juggernaut Law and Order and Chicago Brands From Dick Wolf’s Wolf Entertainment to Stream on Peacock

Peacock Signs Multi-Year Deal With Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Network

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers to Stream Early on Peacock Each Day

Exclusive Live, Daily Olympic Programming From the 2020 Summer Games Featured on  Peacock

At a Comcast investor presentation held in the iconic Studio 8H of 30 Rock, NBCUniversal unveiled Peacock, a free premium ad-supported streaming service with subscription tiers offering more than 600 movies and 400 series, as well as compelling live and on-demand content across news, sports, late night, and reality. From world-class originals and treasured hits, to blockbuster films and streaming channels, Peacock will offer consumers everything fans love to watch, all in one place.

Taking a different strategic approach, the company announced a tiered offering that gives consumers broad access to Peacock across web, mobile and connected-TV devices:

•    Peacock Free: This free, ad-supported option will provide fans everywhere with more than 7,500 hours of programming. Peacock Free includes next day access to current seasons of freshman broadcast series, complete classic series, popular movies, curated daily news and sports programming including the Olympics, Spanish-language content, select episodes of marquee Peacock originals and tent-pole series, as well as curated Peacock streaming genre channels such as “SNL Vault,” “Family Movie Night” and “Olympic Profiles.”

•    Peacock Premium: Bundled at no additional cost to 24 million Comcast and Cox subscribers, this ad-supported option will additionally include full season Peacock originals and tent-pole series, next day access to current seasons of returning broadcast series, early access to late night talk shows, and additional sports – such as the Premier League - totaling more than 15,000 hours of content. Also available for $4.99 per month on all popular connected mobile and web devices for non-bundled customers.

The company expects to bundle Peacock Premium with additional partners in the coming months.

Premium customers can upgrade to an ad-free experience for an additional $5.00 per month, or any customer can purchase the ad-free experience directly for $9.99 per month.

“This is a very exciting time for our company, as we chart the future of entertainment,” said Steve Burke, Chairman of NBCUniversal. “We have one of the most enviable collections of media brands and the strongest ad sales track record in the business. Capitalizing on these key strengths, we are taking a unique approach to streaming that brings value to customers, advertisers and shareholders.”

“Peacock will provide consumers with a destination that goes beyond movies and television, aggregating a variety of content that fans want on one service,” said Matt Strauss, Chairman of Peacock and NBCUniversal Digital Enterprises. “By delivering timely and topical content like breaking news, live sports, and watercooler moments from late night, Peacock is uniquely bringing a pulse to the world of streaming that does not exist in today’s marketplace.”

WARC Marketer's Toolkit 2020: The Greta effect

Climate change became the climate crisis in 2019. The work of campaigners such as Greta Thunberg, and the Extinction Rebellion movement in the UK, has dovetailed with growing consumer concern about issues such as plastics. The result is a growing pressure on brands to act on behalf of the environment.

The Greta effect is the topic of the Societal chapter of WARC's Marketer's Toolkit 2020, an annual report that assesses the influences on marketing strategies for the year ahead.

84% of respondents to the Marketer's Toolkit survey said conscious consumerism and sustainability would have significant or some impact on marketing strategies in 2020. More than 75% agree that brands need to take a stand on social issues. Nearly half of Unilever's top 40 brands are focused on sustainability; they are growing 50% faster than other portfolio brands and account for 60% of growth.

David Tiltman, VP Content, WARC, comments: "Brands are eager to respond to environmental concerns, however, the challenge will be how they can respond credibly to changing consumer expectations. Our findings and recommendations outlined in this report, will go some way to help tackle these issues."

The Society chapter of WARC's Marketer's Toolkit 2020 draws out the following findings:

Consumers demand action on the environment, and brands are responding

Accenture found 62% of consumers are attracted to companies that believe in reducing plastics and improving the environment. A Nielsen study showed this is age-agnostic: 85% of millennials and 65% of those age 65+ feel it's important for companies to "implement programmes that improve the environment." And according to IRI research, three-quarters of shoppers across Europe say they prefer to buy products with environmentally friendly packaging, and similar statistics can be found throughout the world.

Brands will be judged not by what they say on sustainability, but by what they do. Consumers expect companies to reset their corporate strategy to show they are limiting damage to the environment and that they are taking steps to help solve the global environmental challenge.

Andy Last, Co-Founder, MullenLowe Salt, observes: "Brands that demonstrate clear and relevant social purpose can expect to find preferential treatment from retailers." 

Tariq Hassan, Chief Marketing Officer, Petco, says: "We have a sustainability council placed inside the organisation that is cross-functional and not only looks at the vendor brands [Petco carries], but looks at every aspect of the internal organisation, from our IT infrastructure, our facilities management, to what I'm starting to think about in terms of production and communications."

Brands are auditing their packaging and looking to eliminate single-use plastic

Packaging presents a major challenge for manufacturing and retail brands - and it's a 2020 focus for 46% of respondents to the Marketer's Toolkit survey. Single-use plastic is particularly high on the agenda. A recent research report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the UN shows there is much work to do.

The focus on packaging extends to a review of the way products are sold. Procter & Gamble has introduced a packaging concept specifically designed to reduce e-commerce packaging. The company is also one of several brands looking at 'refills': it now offers some Olay face-cream jars with refill pouches on the brand website.

Gabriel Garcia, Global Head Mobile Apps Marketing & Head of Marketing APAC, Expedia, says: "One of the things that we're working on is to see how we can enlist hotels that are reducing plastic, that are eco-friendly, and to have a stamp of validation or accreditation."                           

Marketers are assessing their supply chains and implementing recycling-by-design

Supply chains, cited by 41% of respondents to the WARC survey, will also be a 2020 focus, particularly with carbon emissions in mind. Fashion company H&M Group is looking to have a climate-neutral supply chain, extending through many of its suppliers, by 2030.

All H&M stores around the world encourage customers to bring unwanted garments and textiles for recycling, rewear or reuse. H&M-owned brands (& Other Stories, Monki and Weekday) also encourage customers to return empty beauty containers for recycling. But offering such a service is not enough; brands may need to incentivise customers to use it.

The circular economy (reused goods are recycled and reused to make new products) and recycling-by-design (developing products with an eye to eventually recycling as many parts as efficiently as possible) are growing in popularity amongst major brands. P&G, Unilever and PepsiCo are part of the Loop initiative, which is looking to introduce refills to reduce packaging.

This pressure is also being felt by online retail. Alibaba's initiatives in 2019 included the creation 75,000 permanent recycling stations nationally to recycle cardboard and reduce the impact of consumption, and trade-in programs to allow consumers to replace over 40,000 used electrical products from 250 brands for new ones.

Brands need more than purpose to 'take a stand' successfully

Given the growing consumer interest in environmental issues, brands may be tempted to double down on 'purpose' communications.

There is risk here. Consumers are often sceptical about brands that tap into societal issues, with a recent Edelman survey showing more than half think this is merely a marketing ploy rather than evidence of any genuine conviction. The same study pointed out that trust in a brand does not replace the importance of quality, convenience and value to consumers. It is only when the three elements of product, customer experience and purpose are combined that brands really start to reap the benefits.

Brands need to be realistic about what they can do. While associating a brand with a noble cause is an emotional winner and can be an effective brand-building tool, it's also challenging. Taking a stand should not be momentary, regional, or situational. Choosing the right partnerships can be one way of building credibility.

Sarah Owen, Senior Editor, WGSN, also points out: "The post-trust society has exacerbated the feeling that governments are not dealing with many of the issues that concern us today, and that creates white space where brands can step in."

Increases in brand value to $8.5bn as the most valuable consumer brand in MEA

Portfolio of brands now touching $11bn

Most valuable telecom brand in MEA for 4th consecutive year

The only telecom brand in MEA to retain AAA brand rating

Etisalat today set another milestone by coming out on top again as ‘The Most Valuable Consumer Brand’ and ‘The Most Valuable Telecom Brand’ in Middle East and Africa (MEA) by Brand Finance as a recognition for the success and growth of the brand spurred by digital customer service driven strategy and engaging with consumers across markets with innovative global branding initiatives.

Based on the report from Brand Finance, world’s leading independent brand valuation and strategy consultancy, Etisalat boasts of an impressive portfolio of brands touching $11bn including Etisalat Misr, Mobily, Ufone, Maroc Telecom and PTCL. The brand has also demonstrated consistent performance over the years retaining its title as the most valuable telecom brand for the fourth year in a row.

The brand value increased to $8.5 bn as the most valuable consumer brand in MEA for a third consecutive year on a standalone basis. Etisalat is also the only telecom brand to retain AAA brand rating.

David Haigh, CEO, Brand Finance said: “Etisalat is the most consistent performer in the Middle East & Africa and the winner of the most valuable consumer brand title in our Global 500 for a 3rd year running. It is amongst the most innovative players globally with its portfolio of brands approaching a brand value of $11 billion. Etisalat has a whole new set of digital solutions coming through which are presented during GITEX every year and its fast roll out of 5G, set to become the backbone of the Expo 2020 showcase when it kicks off in October.”

Eng. Saleh Abdullah Al Abdooli, CEO, Etisalat Group said: “Reaching the top is hard but maintaining a leadership position is harder. With the regional leadership of Etisalat as a brand it is a testimony to our continuous efforts in digital transformation amplifying our efforts in the societies we serve by investing in new digital platforms, 5G technologies and global brand building initiatives.

“Inspired by our ambitious and digitally fueled vision ‘Driving the digital future to empower societies’ Etisalat has taken the lead in the launch of 5G in MENA opening a world of opportunities and spurring innovation in the government and industries providing a platform to enable future  technologies to become an integral part of our economy and lifestyle. This achievement also reinforces the synergy of operating companies across our footprint, creating brand loyalty and enhanced engagement with our customers. Thanks to the UAE leadership’s support, vision and encouragement that helped Etisalat achieve this significant milestone surpassing some of the top renowned regional brands.”

Etisalat as a brand has played a growing role in fulfilling the UAE’s National Innovation Strategy and its dominant influence in shaping the region’s digital future are behind its continued success. Operating in 16 countries with 148 million subscribers across Asia, Middle East and Africa, Etisalat’s success can also be attributed to its continued efforts in developing its customer loyalty programmes, sports sponsorship commitments and in driving the digital future to empower societies.

Etisalat pioneering 5G efforts in the region and delivering one of the fastest, smartest and best-connected places on earth during the global mega Expo 2020 Dubai has attributed to its success as a brand in the region. As the premier digital services and telecommunications partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, Etisalat is prepared to deliver the event’s visitors and delegates 5G connectivity that brings the Expo themes to life for the 25 million expected visitors.

Several factors have attributed to the success and growth of Etisalat’s brand value mainly driven by an innovative customer service strategy, adapting well to a digital savvy marketplace, leading the 5G revolution and the successful launch of global brand building initiatives. Etisalat has also led digital innovation in the country by working on several digital initiatives in infrastructure, entertainment and smart cities.

Etisalat has reached out and engaged with its consumers across markets with global branding initiatives by sponsoring global football teams and clubs aligning with the brand’s priorities of being at the forefront of major sporting events. Etisalat also launched the new positioning campaign ‘Together Matters’ to highlight togetherness among its subscribers in today’s world of connectivity.

Brand Finance, is the world’s leading independent branded business valuation and strategy consultancy, and is the organisation behind the Global 500 Brands and Telecom 300 league table of the world’s biggest brands ranked by their brand value, assesses the dollar value of the reputation, image and intellectual property of the brand.

9 Global Executives Recruited to Select 2020’s Financial Category Entries

New York Festivals® Advertising Awards unveiled the 2020 Financial Category Executive Jury (formerly Midas).

This is the first year that the Midas Awards has merged with NYF’s Advertising Awards creating a new category group honoring campaigns that recognize all types of media used in financial services advertising and marketing. A prominent global panel will review all the shortlisted financial services entries selected by the international New York Festivals Grand Jury.

NYF’s Financial Category Executive Jury is comprised of a diverse group of founding officers, creative partners, and executive creative directors from global advertising agencies as well as internationally recognized experts in financial policy and communications. This elite group of award-winning creatives is well versed in financial advertising and will provide an even more comprehensive evaluation of the global creative work submitted.

“With Midas residing under the umbrella of New York Festivals Advertising Awards, there’s even more of an opportunity for the incredible work emanating from the financial services sphere to be center stage,” said Ellen Smyth, CEO, New York Festivals. “The Midas Financial Category Executive Jury will assemble a world-class collection of award-worthy financial services work that represents flawless and expertly executed financial campaigns from around the globe.”

“NYF is thrilled to have these stellar innovators from the world of financial advertising on board to judge entries into NYF’s inaugural Financial Category,” said Scott Rose, Executive Director of New York Festivals Advertising Awards. “Their deep understanding of the category as well as their years of industry expertise crafting award-winning financial services campaigns will result in ground-breaking entries within this genre being honored.”

2020 Financial Category Executive Jury to date:

Kaydee Bridges, Vice President, Digital Marketing & Social Media, Goldman Sachs USA

Augusto Correia, Senior Creative Art Director, Grey Brasil

Tom Cullinan, Founder & Creative Partner, Cullinan South Africa

Dana Cullinan, Founder & Creative Partner, Cullinan South Africa

Bruce Lee, Founding & Creative Partner, IPNY, Inc. USA

Crayon Hsieh, Head of UX, OnePlus Smartphone USA

Tahaab Rais, Regional Head of Strategy & Truth Central, FP7 MENAT UAE

Dylan Taylor, Creative Partner, Dylan Taylor Agency Australia

Alfred Wee, Creative Director, McCann Worldgroup Singapore

“Being part of the Financial Executive Jury always leaves me inspired and reinvigorated to go back to my team and produce the best work possible. The work in our industry gets better every year and it’s so much fun to dig into it all.”—Kaydee Bridges, VP, Digital Marketing & Social Media, Goldman Sachs Additional Financial Category Executive Jury members will be announced in the coming weeks.

Entries into the 2020 NYF Advertising Awards competition will be judged by 400+ members of NYF’s Executive Jury, Financial Category Executive Jury, Film Craft Executive Jury and Grand Jury, a panel of prominent global creative minds, who collectively cast over 400,000 votes to select the World’s Best Advertising®.

The final deadline to enter the 2020 New York Festivals Advertising Awards is March 2, 2020. For more information about NYF’s Financial Categories visit: HERE and to enter the 2020 competition please visit: HERE.

Experiences and technology come together at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

As the largest technology show in the world,  CES now goes beyond products and prototypes and has established itself as a global gathering of ideas and experiences that transform and enrich people’s lives.  

Indeed, as tech companies have evolved into lifestyle brands, the E in CES has increasingly come to stand for “experience” rather than “electronics”. Hyper-personalisation, human connectivity, and experience all dominated the conversation at the WPP Terrace.

Highlights from the WPP Terrace:

Recognising the innovations, among thousands, that will impact the future remains one of the most valuable takeouts of the show. Here's my four key trends from CES 2020:

Connected living

Connected living means a world where everything – homes, offices, cities – are connected via smart devices. These bring together data, voice, video and more to provide a continuous experience, according to our personal needs. This year will see increased connection, reasonable pricing and seamless presence in everyday life, resulting in increased consumer investment and adoption.

Beyond major players such as Amazon Echo and Google Home, plenty of third-party devices demonstrated the power of connected living in the home, car and office at an accessible cost. More importantly, many extend beyond simple voice assistance and tout the power of embedded smart screens to connect sound, touch and sight.

As screens become increasingly embedded into devices of all sorts and sizes, there’s potential to explore new spaces. Understanding opportunities for integration and screen share could be useful ways to reach consumers in unexpected but practical ways.

Personalised health tech

This year at CES, non-invasive health monitoring, fitness tracking, sleep hygiene, virtual care, fertility, artificial intelligence, bio-hacking devices, and femtech generated the most buzz.

Health tech will continue to change the healthcare experience both at the doctor's surgery and at home. Increasingly, at-home diagnostic testing and examination devices (like TytoCare and the MedWand) replace the need for a doctor to examine you IRL, at least for at-home acute-care situations.

There were many examples of technology-based solutions to help with the management of existing medical conditions. Brilliant Company, who use sensors, cloud and analytics “to track the quality of the air you breathe”, exhibited their Pico Go device which allows for real-time data tracking and potentially life-saving interventions to help with the management of paediatric asthma patients. Smart wearable non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring product Glutrac was another notable example.

Technology-based health monitoring and self-treatments will become a solid segment within the world of technology and are ones to watch closely in the future. 

The future of mobility

From concept cars to improving safety and entertainment for passengers, 2020 was another prominent year for transport. There was no shortage of ‘wow’ moments in automotive innovation at CES. Mercedes and James Cameron teamed up to develop an avatar-based vehicle, Uber and Hyundai debuted their flying taxi, Honda unveiled a concept car known simply as the Augmented Driving Concept and Sony’s ultra-wide panoramic dashboard screen demonstrated what in-car entertainment experiences in driverless cars could be like.

Companies also addressed the “last mile” problem among commuters – which stipulates that most businesses are located further from transport than people are willing to walk to, so brands are coming up with answers and solutions in the form of new foldable bikes and advanced scooters.

Content as the great connector

Connecting with consumers requires a story, and content’s power will only grow as the technology that delivers it becomes more powerful.

The ‘great streaming war’ between incumbent platforms (such as Netflix and Hulu) and emerging competitors (such as NBC’s Peacock and HBO Max) was evident on the convention floor. This year’s show floor featured more streaming platform reveals and announcements of licensing deals, original content, tech platforms and pricing than any previous year. We’re already seeing how technologies such as 5G, AI, gaming accessories, wearables and new TV/mobile form factors are driving entertainment experiences like never before.

With new platforms come new promises and stories. Content consumption in all its forms isn’t slowing down. As the battle between the platforms plays out, consumers’ want to be served hyper-personalised content experiences. This means more utility, more screens, more content and more opportunities for advertisers.

Consumers Downloaded a Record 204 Billion Apps

● Annual worldwide downloads have grown 45% in the 3 years since 2016 and 6% year over year, which is particularly impressive given this excludes re-installs and app updates. 

● Downloads are largely fueled by emerging markets, including India, Brazil and Indonesia. 

● Consumers in mature markets like the US, Japan and Korea have seen download growth level off, but are still seeking out new apps. Downloads in 2019 alone topped 12.3B, 2.5B and 2B in the US, Japan and South Korea, respectively.

Mobile Is Our Go-To Device, Capturing 3 Hrs 40 Min Per Day

● Across the markets analyzed, consumers are spending 35% more time in mobile in 2019 than 2 years prior.

● Mobile-first emerging markets like Indonesia, Brazil and India continue to spend the most time in mobile each day. 

● France, India and Canada saw strong growth with the average user spending 25% more time in mobile each day in 2019 than in 2017. 

Mobile-First Companies Saw 825% Higher Avg IPO Valuation

● The 3 largest initial public offerings (IPOs) in 2019 were companies with mobile as a core focus of their business: #1 Alibaba Group ($167.6B USD), #2 Prosus & Naspers ($100B USD), #3 Uber ($82.4B USD).

● Mobile-focused companies had a combined $544B valuation, 6.5x higher versus companies without a mobile focus. 

● These are further indications that mobile is essential to succeeding with customers in 2020 and beyond

60% More Sessions Per User in Top Apps Than Older Demographics

● 98% of Gen Z (born 1997 - 2012) report owning a smartphone. 

● Gen Z is expected to surpass Millennials as the largest generation by the end of 2019, comprising roughly 32% of the population.

● It is imperative to win Gen Z on mobile, or risk missing out on a mobile-native generation of consumers.

“Millennials and Gen Z have over $1 trillion in direct spending power, and will continue gaining influence in 2020 and beyond. In order to reach them, marketers need to take advantage of immersive mobile platforms like Snapchat, where we build engaging mobile experiences and drive powerful incremental reach among younger audiences.” Kathleen Gambarelli, Group Product Marketing Manager, Snapchat

2020 Is Set to Be Mobile’s Biggest Year, With Advertising Fueling Revenue

Mobile ad spend to reach $240B as brands harness mobile’s potential. 

● The streaming wars will heat up in 2020 and consumers will decide where they spend their 674B hours on mobile. 

● Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass will result in innovative new games for consumers and new revenue streams for publishers.

● 5G Is the next battleground, and gamers will be first to reap the rewards. 

● Consumer and mobile ad spend to top $380 billion globally in 2020. 

"As most growth marketers know all too well, driving performance through programmatic channels, be it CPA, ROAS or LTV, comes down to two things: (1) having a broad set of high quality unbiased, fraud-free user data, and (2) a rigorous practice for building and testing ad creatives. To successfully scale UA on mobile, marketers must invest equally in each." Dennis Mink, VP Marketing, Liftoff

Mobile Gaming — All Other Gaming (Home Console, PC/Mac Gaming, Handheld Console)

● Mobile games in 2019 saw 25% more spend than in all other gaming combined.

● Call of Duty: Mobile and Mario Kart Tour launched on mobile in 2019 — evidence of console migrating to mobile to capitalize on the larger market.

● Mobile gaming extended its global lead in consumer spend to 2.4x PC/Mac gaming and 2.9x home game consoles in 2019. 

● Mobile has democratized gaming, allowing for a portable gaming console to be in the pocket of nearly every consumer. 

● Mobile gaming is on track to surpass $100B across all mobile app stores in 2020.

Globally, Consumers Are Migrating More of Their Financial Activities to Mobile 

● Globally, consumers accessed Finance apps over 1 trillion times in 2019, up 100% from 2017. From stock management to mobile banking to payment apps, this showcases mobile’s central role in managing our daily finances.

● Loyalty and referral programs can help cultivate deeper engagement in finance apps. Citi reported 83% of consumers — and 94% of millennials — are more likely to participate in a loyalty program if it’s on mobile. 

● Both Apple and Google have both recognized the power of mobile as our financial hub, with Google offering checking accounts and Apple offering a credit card.

User Base Growth of Top Fintech Apps Topped Traditional Banking Apps

 ● Globally, the average MAU of top 10 Fintech apps grew 20% year over year in 2019, while Banking MAU grew 15%. While Banking apps tend to have higher existing user bases, this illustrates Fintech’s disruption — enabled and accelerated by mobile — of traditional banking services.

● The key to mobile is ease, accessibility and simplicity. Features like face or finger recognition streamline the user journey. This underscores why companies can’t port over an existing experience to mobile. Mobile requires deliberate planning to meet consumers’ expectations.

● After all, a good mobile experience can make trading stock or transferring money as fun as leveling up in a game or as engaging as social media. 

Shoppers Turn to Mobile for Research, Consideration, Purchase and Loyalty

● Increased time spent in Shopping apps is driven by both growing user bases and increased engagement. 

● Global Shopping app downloads grew 20% from 2018 to 2019 to over 5.4 billion, an indication of strong demand.

● Time spent in Shopping apps in Indonesia grew 70% from 2018 to 2019 — highest among markets analyzed.

● With more companies adopting mobile platforms and experiences for their users, businesses are enhancing mobile experiences to streamline usability, personalization and services offered. 

Brick-and-Mortar Retailers Made Strong Gains in Mobile Engagement 

● Bricks-and-Clicks apps saw strong gains in total sessions year over year, often out-pacing Digital-First apps in their respective markets, a notable change from past years. 

● However, among markets analyzed, Digital-First apps still had up to 3.2x more average monthly sessions per user than Bricks-and-Clicks apps in 2019. 

● Mobile is central to growing retail businesses in 2020 — for both Brick-and-Mortar and E-Commerce brands. In Q3 2019, Nike’s digital business grew 42% — driven by mobile and app experiences. 

● Nike has also focused on innovative app features that enhance the in-store experience, including product reservations and foot scanning technology to give shoppers an accurate shoe size.

Consumers Choose the Small Screen: Mobile Is Our Go-To Device for Entertainment

● Globally, consumers spent 50% more sessions in Entertainment apps in 2019 than in 2017. 

● The ever-growing adoption of video streaming apps    on mobile devices to watch movies, TV shows, and live events on-demand helped bolster demand for Entertainment apps. 

● High quality streaming, growth in user-generated content, and offline mode becoming standardized were industry advancements that helped tip the scales from screen size to on-the-go viewing. 

● Competition in the video streaming space will bolster better user experiences to drive growth in downloads, usage and revenue, and ultimately lead to partnerships and consolidation to win the wallets of consumers long term.

TikTok Tidal Wave: Time Spent Exceeded 68B Hours in 2019 

● TikTok has grown to become both a social networking app and a source of entertainment, showcasing short, user-generated videos, often featuring lip-syncing or comedy. Musician Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” started as a meme on TikTok and went viral on the platform, landing at #1 and breaking Billboard Hot 100 records. 

● Global time spent in TikTok grew 210% year over year in 2019, both from expanding user bases and increasing time spent per user. TikTok’s advertising platform positions this engaged and growing audience for brands to reach through videos designed to show value and entertain. 

● 8 of every 10 minutes spent in TikTok in 2019 were by users in China, but the app’s usage has also skyrocketed in other markets. 

Consumers Spent Over $2.2B in Dating Apps, 2x As Much As in 2017

● Tinder dominates for global consumer spend in dating apps. Tinder was the 2nd highest non-gaming app for consumer spend over the last decade, seeing strong success from in-app subscriptions. 

● While the most popular dating apps are still growing, companies are also growing by creating a portfolio of apps that cater to a variety of dating interests, as opposed to trying to fit all needs in one app, such as JSwipe, Single Parent Meet, Chispa, and OurTime. 

Ride-Sharing Apps See Strong Growth in Total Rides in 2019

● Ride-sharing apps saw strong growth in sessions in most markets analyzed, with South Korea being the main outlier. 

● UK is the most concentrated market among those analyzed. It will be interesting to see if the November 2019 licensing changes in London will impact this in 2020. 

● As sessions continue to grow, more mobility options proliferate. Some come from larger players looking to diversity (e.g. JUMP by Uber), while others are focusing solely on a sub category such as scooter-sharing (e.g Bird). 

Consumers Turned to Mobile to Stream Their Favorite Sports Matches

● Globally, time spent in sports apps has grown 30% from 2017 to 2019. 

● However, during the same time period, total megabytes used has grown 80%. This indicates that sports fans are increasingly turning to mobile to stream matches — whether from a connected device casting to a TV or on-the-go from their always-on device: their smartphone. 

● In the US, ESPN and MLB.com at Bat were the top two sports streaming apps, respectively, by time spent on Android phones in 2019. In the UK, the top two were BBC Sport and Sky Sports, and in Japan the top two were Sports Navi and DAZN. 

● 5G stands to lead to advancements in augmented sports viewing in 2020 and the years to come.

Consumers Spent 130% More Money in Health and Fitness Apps in 2019 vs 2017

Globally, consumers spent $1.5B in Health and Fitness apps in 2019.Mobile offers new pathways to meal planning, training regimes, exercise tracking and wellness and meditation — carving into the time and money spent at the gym. 

● Growth in engagement and spend were strongest in APAC among markets analyzed. Consumers in China spent 330% more in Health and Fitness apps and in South Korea, 570% more time in them from 2017 to 2019. 

● Cashwalk, a pedometer app, saw incredible growth in time spent in Korea at 175% year over year.