Initiative Melbourne says they are "thrilled" to win the account, which is in one of the most competitive marketing sectors. 

Freeview Australia has launched a new app, the free HbbTV (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV) service, which will provide Australians with a "more seamless integration between broadcast and on-demand BVOD services". Heads of Australia's major FTA networks all welcomed the announcement as a win for Australian viewers, who will be able to search for content without downloading individual broadcaster apps. 

Indie agency This is Flow has continued its successful run of client wins in 2021, adding international removal service 1800-GOT-JUNK? to its portfolio. After securing six new business wins last year, This is Flow will handle all media buying and planning for the brand in Australia.

Tourism Australia is hoping to lure millions of New Zealanders down under with a new campaign taking advantage of the quarantine-free travel bubble. New Zealanders typically spent more than $2.5 billion in Australia, pre-Covid. This $3 million campaign will run between now and June. 

Boosted by Covid-induced digital acceleration, Amazon is threatening Google and Facebook's duopoly faster than predicted, taking more than 10% of the U.S. digital ad market in 2020.

Digital has been dethroned as quickly as it assumed the top spot for ad spending in January after TV reclaimed the top spot in February, according to SMI. TV revenue from agencies was up 8.5% for the month, bolstered primarily by the Australian Open, while digital had "patchy demand", growing by 1.2% - social and video were up while search posted a surprising decline. Overall, media agency bookings, which typically skew to larger SMEs and blue chips, was down 2.6% to $558m for February.

Radio's industry body, Commercial Radio Australia, has appointed Omnicom's Jo Dick to the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer. Joining the business in May, Dick will be responsible for driving the sector's current commercial strategy and identifying opportunities for radio in the growing audio landscape.

Havas Media has hired former Ikon chief Dan Johns as Managing Partner. Johns, most recently a consultant, will add digital firepower and deep media experience to the business, according to new CEO, Virginia Hyland.

In an overnight update, Nine’s CEO Mike Sneesby and CTO Damian Cronan asked staff to take specific measures to ensure remote working was secure. Three weeks ago the CMO of handset-turned-cyber security firm Blackberry told Mi3 remote working had turned Covid into a booming hacker and corporate espionage paradise – and a growth trigger for Blackberry’s reinvented business. There’s only one certainty, says Mark Wilson: who is next?