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For the first time ever, the Outdoor Measurement Council (OMC) launched its latest iteration of ROAD data virtually, covering the 2016/17/18 fused data results after interviewing a total of 45 466 respondents over the three-year period.

Trish Guilford, General Manager of the OMC, said that the OMC and partners, Ask Afrika, Kuper Research, Cuende Infometrics and Telmar had an interesting time leading up to the launch. “OOH continues to be a medium with robust, usable data that definitely assists the industry in providing clients with world class research and justifications for proposals,” she said.

“In total, this three-year fusion resulted in more than 13.4 billion impressions made up of 80% reach of All Adults with an average frequency of 621. Since our last release we have also grown our members to 22. The added growth has meant more trip analysis for more panels.  We now have over 6 800 panels on the Quantum system of which just over 6 500 are visible and available for agencies and clients to plan against.”

Methodology highlights of the research were presented by Lauren Shapiro, Managing Partner of Kuper Research who emphasised that OOH research is more fluid than other media types and that each release of the travel survey will represent a different sample with different travel patterns.

“Due to Covid-19, we have not been in field with our Travel Survey questionnaire.  Ask Afrika did complete just a portion of our interviews during February and the first half of March and therefore will have to complete the wave of 2020 data at the beginning of 2021 if all goes well and we don’t encounter the projected second wave of the virus.  We will reassess the situation again in 2021 and are therefore looking at alternative ways to deal with interviewing respondents” Lauren said.

With the move to change over from static billboards to digital plans, Lelanie Butler, Acting Sales and Marketing Director at JCDecaux shared the algorithm which the OMC has adopted to evaluate DOOH audiences.  The OMC launched this algorithm to the industry in April. Lelanie reminded the audience that the old way of taking the audience and dividing it by the number of ads in the loop is incorrect.  She shared the variables and information that is needed to be taken into account in order to get more accurate audience figures.

During the launch, international guest speaker Kym Frank, President of GEOpath, the Out of Home measurement, joint industry council equivalent from the United States of America stressed that the OOH industry globally has taken strain. She said that even though advertisers were concerned at the lack of travel around the States, data showed that people were still moving around quite a lot. She also said that the advent of Covid has placed increasing importance on available research globally, with advertisers demanding more data and more recency.

Trish adds: “The OMC is striving to close the gap in our research releases despite now being able to work on the 2016/17/18 data that is more up to date than what the industry has had until now. Therefore, our next release is planned for mid-2021 and will be the fused data covering 2017/18/19, with the consistent 45 000 sample size.

There is so much more information to share! What has come through the research, especially after speaking with our overseas counterparts, is that the world is a small place and it is heartening to know that the challenges we face are not that different to the rest of the world. DOOH, coupled with programmatic buying, is becoming a prominent advertising platform, globally and here in South Africa.

We continue to strive for the highest quality ROAD research, giving our members, media agencies and clients the most realistic audiences and data possible in order to effectively and efficiently plan OOH,” says Trish.

The full recorded presentation will be available online soon at www.omcsa.org.za for those who missed the online launch.

About the Outdoor Measurement Council

The OMC (Out of Home Measurement Council) is a non-profit Joint Industry Committee that has been incorporated to provide buyers of Out of Home Media with a currency and survey that allows for efficient and accurate OOH planning.  It produces consolidated, inclusive and representative research covering the key OOH formats, commencing with Static Roadside panels in South Africa including the panels from all Out of Home participating Media Owners.  The JIC aims to market and grow the OOH advertising industry within South Africa.

http://www.omcsa.org.za/

Issued on behalf of the Outdoor Measurement Council

For further information, please contact Trish Guilford

trish@omcsa.org.za

The second wave of Coronavirus will arrive soon if South Africans become complacent and no longer take precautions. This was the warning from Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, who notes that as of the middle of October 2020, the number of new infections that have been remaining steady at around 10 000 a week, are starting to increase. “It’s still vitally important to remember that the virus is still here, and everyone should take steps to protect themselves and others from the infectious disease,” the minister explained. His warning came just days before he and his wife tested positive for the virus.

Until a safe, effective and widely available coronavirus vaccine is developed, there will continue to be a risk of infection, even as people get back to work, school and a more normal life. Nearly 8 months of wearing masks, sanitising and washing hands constantly are taking its toll and many are tired of the restrictive hygiene protocols. “Complacency is the biggest threat we face,” noted a WHO spokesman. Blood studies done around the world suggest that fewer than 1 in 10 people has had the coronavirus so far, leaving the potential for new waves of infection to spread.

“As business owners, employers and community leaders, we have a responsibility to protect those in our care from contracting the coronavirus”, says Prevan Naidoo, Director Hygiene Zone. “Proactive solutions are now available in South Africa to protect everyone, especially in high traffic areas.”  Naidoo is referring to the launch of an anti-microbial film developed by the Hexis Group in France. In a written statement the HEXIS Group announced that their patented technology, developed and marketed since 2013, is active in combating the viral load of coronaviruses. The characteristics of the antimicrobial protective films reduce coronavirus viraemia by 95% after contact of 15 minutes, and nearly 99.9% after contact of one hour (compared to an untreated membrane).

Internationally businesses like restaurants, gyms and retail outlets are offering customers increased protection by wrapping high touch zones like door handles, fitness equipment and food preparation areas with the specialised antimicrobial film. “It’s a good visual reminder, “says the owner of a restaurant in California, “It reminds customers that we are still in the midst of a pandemic while offering protection from silent spreaders – asymptomatic people who carry the virus but show no symptoms”. The transparent film has also become a common sight across South Korea, covering lift buttons, shopping trolley handles, touch screens and public toilet seats. “It’s an efficient way to offer protection to our customers,” says a retail owner, “Ensuring public spaces offer maximum protection is good for business and it’s our way of proving to customers that we take their safety seriously.”

All communal environments contain many different types of bacteria and microbes, and whilst not all are dangerous, some are. A case study carried out in two medium-sized primary schools in the UK measured the difference between an anti-microbial film protected school and a school where no film was applied. The schools were chosen for their similarities in use, location and demographics. The anti-microbial film was applied to computer desks, chairs, door handles, light switches, liquid soap dispensers, bookcases and storage units at the test school. A weekly collection of swab samples was collected before and after the school day and processed in a microbiology laboratory to isolate, count and identify the bacteria recovered. A comparison of the average number of bacteria recovered from the surfaces protected by the anti-microbial film revealed almost 96% less bacterial contamination than in the unprotected school.

“We trust that the public environments we go to every day are hygienically cleaned, “says Naidoo. “Anti-microbial films add a layer of protection and peace of mind. The film doesn’t miss spots or hard to reach places and it’s working 24/7.”  As complacency becomes the biggest factor in deciding whether South Africa is hit by a second Coronavirus wave, anti-microbial films may just be the proactive solution needed to help keep that threat at bay.

Suits and Sneakers Founder Mark Sham has teamed up with South Africa’s Good Things Guy Brent Lindeque to bring bigger and better vodcasts that share good news about ordinary South Africans doing extraordinary things.

The video interviews will be recorded in the Suits & Sneakers studios and will feature guests Mark Sham, Mandy Weiner, Joe Black, Catherine Constantinides, Proverb and more.

“Mark Sham and I have a long and innovative history but more importantly, we have shared values of spreading happiness which makes this partnership all the more special,” says Brent.

The Good Things Guy vodcasts will be shared weekly on all GTG digital platforms and the team is also open to hearing about other inspiring candidates to interview. “We’re looking to feature South Africans who are doing truly good things that have the potential to change not only their immediate community but our country,” says Brent. “Good news is honestly all around us, if you just know where to look.”

Mark, who has recently launched a series of Happiness workshops adds: “I’ve always wanted to help people and believe that informal learning can change the world. It’s been a great journey so far but like Brent I’m very purpose driven and my goal is to be as happy as possible. I also truly believe that 2020 is the year to spread happiness. We’re very excited to watch this interview series evolve and grow.”

The first episode can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/goodthingsguy/videos/1489351164600230 or https://youtu.be/rkS3Pc8Hkyg

The Good Things Guy can be found at www.goodthingsguy.com, on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

Mention the word ‘sponsorship’ in a media agency or client briefing and the eye rolls may start faster than most budgets can be spent. The fact is that Sponsorship as a function is no longer as relevant as it once was. It has a purpose, says Marketing and Integration agency G2 Connection, but that purpose has changed. Enter the world of 360˚ brand integration!

“Nothing is ever going to be the same again! We as an industry have to start thinking differently,” says Virginia Hollis, Co-Founder of G2 Connection. “For real brand integration to be possible, a solution that offers concrete ROI for agencies and brands has to be one that is sustainable and offers real returns no matter the medium.”

G2 Connection is an agency co-founded by Virginia and Gail Hoffman Parrish in 2019, both with extensive media and agency experience within the South African market. G2 Connection effectively integrates brands into multiple touchpoints. “We receive calls on a daily basis from production agencies, and that’s where we come in, offering brands from every industry a way to fully integrate their products into exceptionally popular shows,” adds Gail.

“For example, integrating a brand into a project like Family Feud South Africa hosted by Steve Harvey may begin as a TV production but from there it can evolve into radio, digital, print, mobile, social and outdoor, providing that the brand, the message and the medium all fit. Sponsorship is no longer a matter of depositing your cash into a TV production or event and stepping back. There has to be managed continuity for the chosen brand within a quality environment.”

Steve Harvey said of the team: We have really enjoyed working with the G2 team. They have a unique ability to connect the right people, clients, brands and sponsors together across Africa.”

“KFC came on board as the headline brand for Family Feud South Africa, and we were honestly blown away by the resulting value their brand received within the show’s airing, but also from the supplemental media touchpoints that gave the brand longevity throughout the series and beyond,” says Virginia. “The show averaged over 2.1 million viewers per week among e.tv audiences over the age of 15 – a perfect target audience for KFC as more than half the audience were between the ages of 25 and 49.

Additionally, the show itself influenced a change in viewership patterns over the timeslot it ran on e.tv, increasing the audience by one million people over the first broadcast.”

Suhayl Limbada, Marketing Director at KFC said that during lockdown, most people were looking forward to entertainment for the whole family and Family Feud delivered on exactly that. “We are delighted that we have been able to not only partner with such a popular gameshow, but to bring the best family entertainment to African shores for the first time hosted by none other than comedian Steve Harvey. KFC is renowned for bringing families together over buckets of chicken and this partnership was a natural extension of that – after all what’s better than great food coupled with great entertainment.”

“YouTube enabled the audience to grow exponentially, with well over 44 million views – that’s unheard of in South Africa – and Family Feud SA regularly trended in the top three on Twitter since the commencement of flighting,” adds Gail. “The show’s social media following grew with each episode as did the value for KFC. Even when the show wasn’t on air, the social media posts continued, growing affinity for the show.”

Due to its phenomenal success, Family Feud South Africa has launched on Netflix South Africa – a completely unexpected but a wonderful acknowledgement to the success of the SA show which has provided even more opportunity for KFC to shine.

“This is just one example of how great brand integration can elevate a brand within a natural, seamless and relevant environment,” says Virginia. “Local production invariably delivers higher audiences than international shows, and in SA we have extremely talented production companies that have great formats open to integration on many levels. We can connect the right brands with the right content, and deliver great results for all parties.”

G2 Connection DNA

We connect brands to strategic, aligned communication opportunities to amplify and reinforce the creative brand message. G2 partners with leading production companies whose track record is well established in executing both quality international formats and local content for all broadcasters, including Africa. We complete our solutions offering through partnerships with highly respected PR agencies, specialist digital and mobile companies as well as all ATL media.

Issued on behalf of:                   G2 Connection

Virginia Hollis

Gail Parrish

Co-Founders

Facebook: G2 Connection

LinkedIn: G2 Connection

W: www.g2connection.co.za

The Outdoor Measurement Council (OMC) has announced the release of the fourth data set of its ROAD audience data which will take place virtually on the 20^th October. ROAD is one of the largest sets of research in the market boasting a rolling sample of a massive 45,000 respondents.

Entitled ‘Navigating the Future’ the launch features international guest speaker, Kym Frank, President of GEOpath, the Out of Home measurement, joint industry council equivalent from the United States of America. Kym will provide an update on OOH measurement procedures from around the globe, the impact of Covid-19 on the industry, an update on DOOH (digital OOH) in different markets and much more.

Lauren Shapiro, Managing Partner of Kuper Research, Lélanie Butler, Acting Sales and Marketing at JCDecaux and an OMC board member and Trish Guilford, OMC’s General Manager complete the line-up.

“Lauren will be presenting our new data and highlighting the changes and other interesting information found in our new data as our technical overseer,” says Trish, “while Lélanie will be presenting an update on South Africa’s DOOH (digital OOH) measurement processes.”

Trish will provide an update on OMC’s accomplishments over the past few months and explain the processes followed to get the latest ROAD data released. “We encourage our current and potential members of the OMC, as well as our media agency and media owner partners and clients to take full advantage of this webinar. It provides a great opportunity to hear from Kym, Lauren and Lélanie and to get first hand updates of the efficacy of the Out of Home platform from around the globe.

The OMC is South Africa’s premier Out of Home industry research body and we pride ourselves on sharing the most up to date metrics and data sets to our members to ensure accurate planning with detailed audience insights,” she says.

To register for the webinar simply visit http://www.owlhurst.co.za/events/navigating-the-future/

For more information on the OMC follow @SouthAfricaOMC on Twitter or find OMC Out of Home Measurement Council on Facebook.

Issued on behalf of:                The Outdoor Measurement Council (OMC)

Trish Guilford

General Manager

T: 083 325 0404

We’re almost into the last quarter of 2020 and it looks like South Africans are feeling a light at the end of the tunnel, according to South Africa’s Good Things Guy Brent Lindeque.

 “Yes, South Africans remain angry at the situation we’re in, they’re displaying their frustration and disgust at local and national government’s seemingly endless blatant corruption more vocally. We’re seeing a lot more online active citizenry these past few months from ordinary South Africans calling our politicians to account.

As individuals, I’m seeing more and more South Africans calling on each other to support local small businesses in their area, a charity or even just to visit a restaurant for a meal and now a beer (yay!)”

Since lockdown began in South Africa, the Good Things Guy’s various platforms have received hundreds of emails, SMS’s WhatsApps and direct messages on a daily basis from South Africans of all walks of life and in varying forms of distress seeking financial aid or emotional support. “Since we entered Level 2 Lockdown those requests have slowed slightly which tells me that South African’s personal circumstances have either slightly stabilized or marginally improved from two or three months ago. We of course still have an insurmountable unemployment and poverty issue in this country which is going to take a very long time to alleviate.”

Mental health has been another massive concern of South Africans with offline and online therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists being completely overwhelmed as we try and navigate the many emotional rollercoasters we’re experiencing on a daily basis. “The positive out of this is that mental health is no longer a taboo subject,” says Brent. “South Africans as a collective are talking about their depression and anxiety more openly and are dealing with it more directly.

Maybe it’s the declining number of cases, or that more areas of the economy are breathing a little easier or maybe it’s even the promise of Spring and warmer weather around the corner but I’m certain that for the remainder of 2020, we’ll be seeing growing economic activity, increasing local tourism and more of the incredible Ubuntu we know that only South Africans can bring.

Let’s get this country started again, emotionally and economically, by supporting local and each other as much as possible!”

The Good Things Guy can be found at www.goodthingsguy.com, on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

South Africa’s Good Things Guy, Brent Lindeque, has announced that readers of GoodThingsGuy.com will always enjoy its content free of charge, in perpetuity.

 “That includes breaking news and ‘premium’ content like our podcasts, in-depth articles and investigative opinions,” says Brent. “We wholeheartedly believe that good news should always, and will always, remain free for consumption.”

“We understand that budgets are incredibly tight and that every single media owner is struggling to survive right now but we also know that a little ingenuity goes a long way. GoodThingsGuy.com believes in partnering with its advertisers beyond just a pay and play relationship,” he says.

“Take into account the fact that Google and Facebook dominate digital advertising spend, it’s clear that online news sites have to adapt to how they operate. For example, we nurture real partnerships with our advertisers, our readers and our community at large both online and offline. We also believe in giving back and being approachable. As an example, GoodThingsGuy.com has for the longest time offered free banner advertising to one chosen charity per month and will continue to do so. We also work closely with one of our retail advertisers to encourage various calls to action from our local communities.”

The good news site also vows to never allow any intrusive and completely irrelevant pop up advertising. “We are intimately conscious of what our readers want and engage with them directly, in a personal way, on a daily basis,” says Brent. “South Africans want good news, they want connection and they want it readily available – we offer our continued commitment to do just that – without a paywall.”

The Good Things Guy can be found at www.goodthingsguy.com, on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

Many operators are hesitant to purchase new trucks as an uncertain business environment threatens confidence. Unprecedented economic challenges are forcing fleet managers and business owners to rethink their traditional purchasing cycles. In response, Scania South Africa is rethinking its business model to make upgrading financially easier.

“We understand that trucks need to be working for companies to make a profit,” says Mark Erasmus, General Manager: Sales. “It’s now that the improved efficiencies leading to vital cost economies, offered by our New Generation Trucks, will really make a difference.”

Putting these cost efficiencies into the hands of businesses who could benefit from the cost-savings but don’t have the appetite for large capital expenditures in these difficult times has required Scania South Africa to look for optimal financing agility. “We understand our role as equipment providers and the value chain we need to provide to make our equipment relevant in a tough economy,” explains Nomonde Kweyi, Marketing Director, Scania South Africa.

“To this end we have developed industry-leading financial offers that allow our customers to work with and use our world-class technology and performance, backed by our extended warranty and coverage plan, while also benefiting from financially agile repayment models.” Scania’s new all-inclusive monthly payment offer includes maintenance, repairs, insurance and extras, with the option to upgrade or purchase after 36-months. “It gives operators a bundled offer that covers the essentials at an unbeatable monthly rate”, explains Kweyi.

The New Generation Scania trucks and services have been engineered to perfection with the goal of improving fuel efficiency. Through improved aerodynamics, new engine concepts together with intelligent support systems, such as eco-roll and active prediction, the new generation Scania trucks are making huge strides towards reducing fuel consumption. Connectivity is also highlighted as a valuable cost-cutting tool.

“Our connected services deliver it all – from automated tachograph reporting to remote diagnostics and driver coaching. Our systems are also uniquely easy to use so they are used more often, leading to greater insights that translate into long-term cost efficiencies,” explains Erasmus. Connected technologies are used to manage entire fleets, maximising uptime and productivity. Scania is also setting new standards in maintenance plans using several operational factors and vehicle specifications to offer a continuously updated and flexible maintenance plan that minimises downtime to the lowest possible cost.

“Factors such as topography, fuel quality and stop and start frequency all affect the level of maintenance needed,” says Erasmus. By individually optimising the different modules in the maintenance plan, such as air filter and gearbox, Scania ensures that downtime is planned and only occurs when necessary. For each maintenance event, timing and content is calculated based on factors such as cost of spare parts and labour. This way, an optimised maintenance interval can be adapted to suit a particular business operations schedule. Even when things don’t go according to plan, Scania provides operators with a complete back-up system designed to minimize downtime and keep a vehicle on the road. Scania Assistance is an essential support service that is available 24/7/365.

For Scania South Africa, it’s about supporting their customers. “To keep businesses sustainable, we need to play a role in ensuring they have access to the latest technology, best performance and most cost-effective aftersales services. However, to get them into that value chain, we needed to make affordability a focus,” says Kweyi. “Scania South Africa is ready to play a pivotal role in ensuring businesses have the best-in-class equipment and support to confidently recover and thrive, not just in the short-term but in years to come.”

South Africa’s Good Things Guy, Brent Lindeque, has expanded his online platform to include Good Things Live, a live streamed show hosted on the Skyroomlive.com platform that has already amassed over 76 000 views over just five episodes.

 Featuring guests the likes of The Kiffness, Riaan Manser and Mike Sharman, Good Things Live profiles SouthMaggie Africans in the business, entertainment and leisure industries providing both entertainment and inspiration to all South Africans during lockdown and into the future.

With each episode around half an hour, Good Things Live began in June this year when Adriaan Gerber of Mushroom Productions approached Brent with the idea. He says: “I met Brent a few years ago. Whilst producing Goliaths Go Live I approached Brent to be on as a guest with the Goliaths. When that episode hit 7000 views, I knew we had to ask him back for a second episode. When his second appearance also hit great numbers, I approached him about launching a Good Things Live programme, an idea that he was coincidentally playing with at the same time.”

“The response so far has been absolutely phenomenal,” adds Brent, “and it has given South Africans another avenue to connect with people, hear their stories and know that they are not alone in this pandemic. Additionally, for me, it’s an opportunity to raise the profile of struggling artists and people of influence and to remind South Africans to support one another in any way that we can.”

SkyroomLive has been pioneering the livestreaming market since 2012 and offers an opportunity to reach fans beyond borders and across time zones, giving artists and performers the opportunity to be filmed and broadcast live to a worldwide audience.

“The awareness of each Good Things Live episode has definitely grown,” says Adriaan. “We have completed five episodes to date with just over 76 000 total views. With the current trend on archived broadcasts we should hit 82 000 views before we air episode 6. We really enjoy working with Brent and know that the show will grow in popularity week to week.”

Sponsorship opportunities are available for brands interested in collaborating the Good Things Live show and can be tailored per budget.

The Good Things Guy can be found at www.goodthingsguy.com, on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

Chris Botha, Group Managing Director, Park Advertising

We’ve been through 9/11, load shedding and one of the worst droughts our country has ever seen says Chris Botha, Group Managing Director, Park Advertising. Now in the thick of COVID-19, there is more evidence that we will learn, overcome and possibly emerge from this crisis all the better.

So here we are, on what feels like day 7 020 013 of Lockdown. Our country and the world is going through arguably one of the biggest seismic shifts of society (try say that three times fast) we’ve ever faced. And the one thing we can be sure of is that nothing will ever be the same again.

Crazy times have long, far reaching, deep societal impacts. History shows that these are mostly for the better because the result is a change in behaviour. And not just for now, forever. New fears are drummed into our heads, and we respond in a bold manner. New businesses are formed, and old ones die off. It’s the way of the world.

On the 10^th of September, 2001 – you could walk up to an airline counter, buy a ticket with no ID, walk straight through to the gate, get on a plane, pop into the cockpit to say hi to the captain, and within reason do what you wanted. Post September 11 the whole world changed. Now we hold fears and precautions we never envisioned of before. We changed our travel behaviour. I would argue that travel today is safer, and better than it ever was before. But how, where and when we travel fundamentally changed since that fateful day.

Remember 2009? Life was hunky dory when without notice the lights went out across the country. South Africans learnt a new term called “load shedding” and it has been a hot topic for the past 11 years and will be for some time to come. The interesting change in behaviour we saw was that we became aware of a finite supply of electricity. In 2019 – South Africans used less electricity than they did in 2009. We learnt how to cope with less. Generators became a standard, and many new businesses and industries popped up.

In Cape Town 2016 a monumental drought changed a province. I don’t have access to any stats, but would imagine that water consumption in 2019 would be drastically lower than what it was in let’s say 2014. Capetonians are now deeply water aware as a result of this crisis.

What does this all mean? Crazy times, change behaviour. Forever.

Now here is the interesting part. What behaviours will change? I suspect we can all look at our individual industries and identify a few.

1. Will travel ever the same again? How comfortable do you feel with 300 strangers breathing the same air as you for 8 hours or more?
2. Speaking of travel – how strict will nations become before they let “outsiders” in again? I suspect we will all have to travel with an “all clear” from a recognised doctor to any destination.
3. Cinemas and restaurants might have to change the experience to accommodate for more cautious customers.
4. How many people who normally read newspapers and magazines, have “fallen out of the habit” during this lockdown period, and are unlikely to ever pick one up again?
5. Many businesses have learnt that staff can work from home in a very effective manner. What does that mean for commuter patterns? If there is no more “drive time” what does it mean for Television and Radio audiences? What does it mean for OOH and other road side furniture?
6. Day time Television – always a powerful medium (even though under rated) might become even stronger. And streaming services like DSTV Now, and Showmax will continue to grow at an exponential rate and take their place in the sun.

The list could carry on for ages. Take your pick. Commercial property will never be the same, neither will hospitals, or how governments operate and I do believe we will see a spike in conservative nationalism.

Time will tell, but for those making business plans for the future, know that all bets are off.

The consumer will be different. The world will be vastly different. That presents a threat and also a massive opportunity. Stay light on your feet, keep adapting and offering value, and the world post COVID-19 might well be your oyster.