The week in marketing

Sony UK has created a series of idents to support its exclusive sponsorship of England's 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign. Breaking today (Wednesday), the ads will air during ITV's coverage of England's qualifying match against Ukraine. The idents, created by ad agency Fallon, will feature a mechanical heart made from Sony products, which beats faster as the match progresses.

To watch the ad, visit marketingmagazine.co.uk

- Diabetes ad cleared

A Diabetes UK ad has been cleared by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) following complaints that it was 'distressing'. The 'Silent assassin' press and poster ads, which broke last October, highlighted how diabetes can cause other conditions, such as heart disease and blindness. They depicted diabetes as a shadowy figure ready to pounce on members of the public, and featured the text 'Beware the silent assassin'.

- Wired in launch drive

Conde Nast has rolled out a digital, outdoor and press campaign to back the UK launch of Wired magazine. A 36-page sampler of the launch issue will also be distributed with copies of the Evening Standard, GQ and The Times in a specially printed Wired poly bag.

Jeremy Lee on media at marketingmagazine.co.uk

- Oz tourism changes

Tourism Australia has appointed Alasdair Farrimond as marketing manager for the UK, Ireland and Nordic markets. Farrimond, who joins the tourism body from holiday company Travel 2, replaces Tim Jones, who is relocating to become marketing manager for Australia and New Zealand.

- VisitEngland ad debut

VisitEngland is to roll out its first marketing campaign, targeting British holiday makers. The £3m integrated push begins this month and will run until the end of May. It will focus on the value available to UK consumers who choose to holiday in England. For domestic campaigns VisitEngland will continue to use the Enjoy England brand.

- ICC backs Twenty20

The ICC is launching a two-month campaign to promote the World Twenty20 cricket tournament, which will take place in England from 5 June. The print, radio, outdoor and digital drive, by 23red, rolls out on 6 April and emphasises the competition's inclusiveness. The work takes a humorous tone, with one execution showing an elderly member of the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) with a St George's Cross painted on each cheek.

Ed Kemp on sports at marketingmagazine.co.uk

- Charity tells kid's tale

Action for Children is to launch the final TV ad in its awareness campaign today (Wednesday). The third execution in the series follows the story of Lee and his family, who were pushed to breaking point by a variety of complex issues. The activity highlights how support from the charity helped Lee and his family to cope.

- Gaymers gets festive

Gaymer Cider Company has increased the investment in its music marketing programme by 25% to £5m. The brand, which is the official cider of Glastonbury, also has pouring rights at the Download, Camp Bestival and Reading festivals, as well as those held in London's Hyde Park. Gaymers is extending its activity by sponsoring one of the stages at Lovebox. This will host 8000 festival-goers, and features London's biggest purpose-built tree house, complete with its own bandstand, hammocks and tree-top bar.

- Sainsbury's meal deal

Sainsbury's has undercut Marks & Spencer by launching a 'meal for two' for just £5. The deal offers consumers a choice of three main dishes, three side dishes and two desserts. Unlike the Marks & Spencer deal, it does not include a bottle of wine.

- Tesco to open banks

Tesco plans to open 30 branches of Tesco Bank within existing supermarkets. After running a pilot scheme in Glasgow since 1996, the retailer will open three banks this month, in Brislington, Blackpool and Coventry. The remaining 27 will be opened by the end of the year.

- Umbro unveils strip

Umbro has rolled out an above-the-line campaign to promote its latest England football shirt. The push, by marketing agency Anomaly, will attempt to position the strip as more upmarket, with the strapline 'Tailored by England'. The shirt, which debuted during Saturday's international friendly match against Slovakia, features an updated version of the FA's Three Lions crest.

For video footage, visit marketingmagazine.co.uk

- Benenden agency hire

Benenden Healthcare has appointed Brilliant to its media planning and buying account. The mutual society offers low-cost health insurance to public-sector employees. Brilliant will handle all online and offline media for the brand. Benenden is reviewing its customer acquisition strategy and partnership plans.

- Brawn GP signs ties

Nascent Formula One team Brawn GP unveiled British clothing manufacturer Henri Lloyd and Virgin as its first commercial partners ahead of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championships. The team's drivers, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, took first and second place in the Australian Grand Prix, which took place in Melbourne, on Sunday.

- Google axes jobs

Google is making 200 sales and marketing staff redundant. Half of the job cuts will be made outside the US but Google would not confirm how many people would be affected in the UK. The search giant said it had 'grown very quickly in a very short period of time', which had led to the restructuring.

- K-Swiss backs Classic

K-Swiss is launching its Classic Remastered trainer with an interactive campaign website featuring a range of celebrity ambassadors including Anna Kournikova and New York designer Judollars t Another Rich Kid. The trainer is a relaunch of the white leather shoe first seen at the Wimbledon tennis Championships in 1966. The K-Space website has been developed by agency Perfect Fools. It will launch in Italy, Germany, the UK, US and Netherlands, and will be supported by TV, print and PR activity.

To watch a video of the K-Swiss campaign, visit marketingmagazine.co.uk

- G20 inspires advertising

Vodka brand Absolut is running a protest-themed ad push in which campaigners and police are shown engaging in a light-hearted pillow fight.

The ads coincide with this week's G20 summit in London.

Meanwhile, Divine, the Fairtrade chocolate brand, has launched a viral game in which players can throw chocolate eggs at global leaders Barack Obama, Nicolas Sarkozy, Hu Jintao, Gordon Brown and Manmohan Singh.

A press campaign promotes the game with the line, 'Keep fair trade on the G20 summit agenda'.

MOST READ

Marketingmagazine.co.uk's most clicked-on stories for the week ending 27 March 2008

1. Top 10 unnecessary consumer products of the year 2009
2. Marketing's Top 100 UK advertisers 2009
3. UK government poised to be biggest advertiser
4. Sainsbury's trumps M&S and Waitrose with 'dine for a fiver' deal
5. Coors targets women with first UK clear beer
6. Nestle adopts kansei Japanese design philosophy to tap into emotions
7. John Lewis makes marketing director Gill Barr redundant
8. Should brands advertise in Twitter streams?

BLOG OF THE WEEK

News of the Home Secretary's husband's viewing habits provided a nice opportunity for some cheeky tactical advertising

Jeremy Lee on Media marketingmagazine.co.uk.

This article was first published on Marketing