Since October 2011, PRfact has been responsible for the media and PR work of Heineken Switzerland as detailed in a press release issued on Wednesday. The agency also supports the SVGroup's new Renaissance Zurich Tower Hotel with the Equinox restaurant since September in the areas of PR and media work, cooperations, events and marketing support. Since November, PRfact has also been responsible in Switzerland for the media and PR work of Orianne Collins Jewellery responsible.

The foundation Little Dreams has been working towards one goal for years: To fulfill the dreams of young talents, with or without disabilities, in the fields of art and sport. PRfact is responsible for all PR and communication measures and provides support at events to raise awareness of the foundation in German-speaking Switzerland.

The provider of experience gifts Jochen Schweizer covers various activities in the areas of outdoor, sport, adventure, travel, hotel, wellness and lifestyle. PRfact has been supporting the company with media relations and PR measures for the whole of Switzerland since November.

New employees

PRfact has had two new employees since mid-October. Moritz Schlanke and Julie Albisser are completing an internship at the agency. Schlanke studied journalism and communication sciences at the University of Zurich, Albisser completed her A-levels in the summer and has initial professional experience in the fields of fashion, event management and film.

At the beginning of December 2011 Caroline Ebenroth is taking up her new challenge as a Junior Consultant at PRfact. Thanks to her agency background at the PR agency Karl F. Schneider, where she managed projects and clients in the energy, household and gastronomy sectors, she brings with her a broad range of PR and social media experience, according to the press release. This summer, Caroline completed her extra-occupational course to become a federally certified PR specialist.
 

On a microsite, people could order the bottle to give someone a gift. The proceeds benefited the Swiss Red Cross. The recipients now receive a bottle of water in elegant packaging for Christmas - with a certificate bearing the name of the giver and showing their donation to the Red Cross.

Responsible at the Swiss Red Cross: Lucy Schweingruber, Account Manager. Responsible at Publicis: Ralph Halder (CD), Grischa Rubinick (Senior Art Director), Felix Freese and Chantal Panozzo (Text), Margrit Weber and Jennifer Meier (Consulting), Production: Bianca Nerlich; Programming Mircosite, Andy Günter.

According to a press release, in December 2009 TVO television in Eastern Switzerland reported intensively on the Federal Administrative Court's decision that TVO's license should be reconsidered. Within a week, several reports on the topic were broadcast, as well as the program "Fokus", in which the then President of the Government of St. Gallen, Joe Keller, and TVO Managing Director André Moesch discussed the difficult situation for the broadcaster. Tele Säntis initiator Günter Heuberger then complained to the ombudsman for radio and television broadcasters about the reporting. This was one-sided and unbalanced. The ombudsman rejected the complaint in March 2010, whereupon Günter Heuberger turned to the next instance, the Independent Complaints Authority for Radio and Television. In January 2011, the UBI ruled that the TVO news reports complained about were correct. On the other hand, the "Fokus" program had violated the principle of fairness, particularly with regard to the composition of the discussion panel.

TVO did not agree with the UBI's decision on the "Fokus" program and appealed to the Federal Supreme Court. The Second Public Law Division of the Federal Supreme Court has now ruled in the last instance and agrees with TVO: the Fokus broadcast of December 16, 2009 did not violate the principle of fairness. The UBI's decision is therefore annulled. The author of the complaint, Tele Säntis initiator Günter Heuberger, will bear the court costs and must pay TVO compensation.

Even though the detailed ruling is not yet available, TVO is pleased with the result, according to the press release. The unjustified accusations against TVO's reporting, which have been repeatedly raised in the still unresolved proceedings regarding the TV license for Eastern Switzerland, are thus finally off the table.
 

All you have to do is bang on the keyboard to the rhythm of Jingle Bells, Silent Night or O du fröhliche - and the classic Christmas carols ring out from the team's mouths. But don't worry, the Webguerillas warn: the agency's ideas are better than the singing. Well, we're reassured. But listen for yourself:

> To the interactive choir

Free of broadcasting licenses and national borders, web radio stations can reach a potentially huge audience, writes Mediapulse in a statement. The offering on the Internet is correspondingly diverse. But what about usage? Will radio consumption really become borderless, mobile and international? The first comprehensive study by Mediapulse on web radio consumption in Switzerland (520 interviews in German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland) shows that web radio is not yet a competitor to conventional radio consumption. Although around one in five Swiss listens to the radio occasionally via the Internet, live web radio achieves a daily reach of only 6 percent; compared with 88 percent for conventional radio, this is still low.

55 percent of web radio listeners opt for reception via the Internet because they cannot otherwise receive the desired station. At 41 percent, Swiss private radio stations have the highest market share of web radio consumption. 25 percent of web radio usage is accounted for by SRG stations.

Use on the move not very widespread

There are clear differences in sociodemographics: the younger people are, the more frequently and longer they consume web radio. Web radio use is thus just the opposite of conventional radio use, where older people consume more frequently and for longer. However, if all forms of use are cumulated, older people still spend more than twice as much time listening to the radio.

Web radio is consumed almost exclusively in the office (53 percent of total usage time) and at home (43 percent). At 4 percent, use on the move is much less widespread. Accordingly, consumption via cell phone has also been rather low to date: On average, web radio users consume only four minutes per day via cell phone (compared to 50 minutes via computer and 12 minutes via Internet radio device).

(Image: Keystone)
 

Next year, the two independent expert juries will once again honor the best cross-media and social media campaigns with the Goldbach Award, which has counted towards Werbewoche's annual creative ranking since 2008.

The jury for the Category Crossmedia is chaired by Marco Taborelli, Consulting (President) and Leila Summa, Facebook Germany (Vice President) and includes the following members: Geri Aebi, Wirz Werbung; Josi Bauer, Starcom Mediavest Group; Nadine Borter, Contexta; Peter Brönnimann, Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett; Bernhard Christen, Ricola; Annina Flückiger, 20 Minuten; Markus Gut, Advico Young & Rubicam; Marion Marxer, Swisscom; Roger Rüegger, Publicis Communications Switzerland; Urs Schneider, Mediaschneider; Walter Tagliaferri, Euro RSCG Zurich/Eurad; Dominique von Matt, Jung von Matt/Limmat.

To the jury in the Category Social Media Together with Leila Summa, Facebook Germany (President) and Marco Taborelli, Consulting (Vice President), the following members belong to the Board: Moritz Adler, Local.ch; Gerhard Andrey, Liip; Alain Egli, GDI Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute; Prof. Dr. Nils Hafner, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts; Thomas Hutter, Hutter Consult; Nico Luchsinger, Sandbox; Thom Nagy, NZZ Online; Lic. oec. HSG Manuel P. Nappo, HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft Zürich; Marie-Christine Schindler, Mcschindler.com; Cary Steinmann, Zurich University of Applied Sciences; Patrick Stoll, Station; Dr. Martin Widmer, Serranetga; Dirk Worring, Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund.

In a two-stage procedure, the expert juries will award prizes for silver and bronze medals in addition to the two category winners. The first place in each category is endowed with CHF 10,000. Two special prizes, each worth CHF 2,500, will be awarded for the best integration of mobile and video across all categories.
The winners will be announced on May 10, 2012 at the Goldbach Award Night at Kaufleuten in Zurich. Further information will follow at the end of January at Goldbachaward.ch.

According to the agency, recipients of the mailing received a card with an unusual drawing, and it took a lot of imagination to guess that it was supposed to be a Christmas motif. However, the recipients were enlightened on the inside of the mailing. The Christmas greeting was created on the passenger seat of a new BMW M5 - at full speed on a race track. Via QR code or via the link Fastestchristmascard.ch recipients of the mailing can watch the film documenting the creation of the card.

The mailing and the film accompanying the mailing have since gone viral, as the press release goes on to say. The Christmas mailing itself is now being sent from fan to fan in BMW blogs worldwide and is even being traded as a "collector's item". On YouTube and on the microsite, the documentary has generated over 100,000 views within 72 hours. According to the agency, BMW (Switzerland) has achieved something very special: a viral mailing.

Responsible at BMW (Switzerland): Mark Backé (Head of Marketing), Roger Calisi (Head of Marketing Communications), Miranda Amsler (Advertising and Trade Marketing Specialist), Regula Wieser (Direct and Online Marketing Specialist). Responsible at Draftfcb/Lowe: Dennis Lück (Executive CD), Christoff Strukamp (AD), Maximilian Kortmann (Text), Rolf Jeger, Kirstin Brand (Consulting), Daniel Tschanz (CD Online). Directed by: Götz Hudelmaier. Production: Lamar Hawkins, Christopher Novak (both Pumpkin Film), Florian Görlich (Bavaria Film). Illustrator: Gavin Patterson. Station (programming).

In recent weeks, Schoch&Sonders has expanded its client portfolio with several brands from the automotive, electronics and cosmetics sectors, as the agency writes in a press release. Amag Automobil- und Motoren is the largest addition with the Volkswagen brand. Schoch&Sonders was able to take on projects in various areas of the brand. Long-standing client Melectronics entrusted the brand agency with the relaunch of the basic equipment line Durabase this year. Following its successful collaboration with Zoé Day Care, Mibelle Cosmetics is now also relying on the Zurich agency for the new limited edition of the I am hand balm.

In addition, three new members have joined the team led by Dominik Schoch and Roman Sonders. Tina Fuchs is delighted to be joining the consultancy team. David Moore and Anja Hegelbach have joined the design team. The Schoch&Sonders team is set to grow even further. They are therefore currently looking for a consultant and project manager.

Raymond Loretan, Chairman of SRG from 2012, welcomed the new members Regula Fecker, who succeeds Elisabeth Veya, and Luigi Pedrazzini, Chairman of the regional company for Italian-speaking Switzerland Corsi, who replaces Claudio Generali, at the constituent meeting, according to a press release. Viktor Baumeler, President of SRG Deutschschweiz, was unanimously elected Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors on the proposal of the Chairman.

New appointments to committees

From January 1, 2012, the Nomination Committee and the Remuneration Committee will be merged to form the Personnel Committee. Raymond Loretan will chair it, and the other members are Viktor Baumeler, Hans Lauri and Jean-François Roth. The members of the Audit and Finance Committee are Hans Lauri (Chairman), Duri Bezzola, Luigi Pedrazzini and those of the Investment Committee are Duri Bezzola (Chairman), Ulrich Gygi and Lucy Küng. The members of the Swissinfo Committee are Lucy Küng (Chair), Jean-François Roth and Regula Fecker.

As before, there is also a working group of regional presidents chaired by Raymond Loretan and with the presidents of the regional companies Viktor Baumeler (SRG.D), Jean-François Roth (RTSR), Luigi Pedrazzini (Corsi) and Duri Bezzola (SRG.R) as members. The SRG Board of Directors as of January 1, 2012: Raymond Loretan (Chairman SRG), Viktor Baumeler (Vice Chairman), Duri Bezzola, Regula Fecker, Ulrich Gygi, Lucy Küng, Hans Lauri, Luigi Pedrazzini, Jean-François Roth.

This merger will allow production to be concentrated at one site, resulting in even greater flexibility and better use of synergies, according to a statement issued on Tuesday. In Oberentfelden, at the headquarters of the former Suter Druck, the Suter Keller Druck team will offer its customers comprehensive print and online solutions from January. The new company, which will take over all 45 employees of Suter and Keller Druck, will be managed by a team of three consisting of Rudolf Hasler, Marco Husistein and Markus Schenk.
 

PHD has grown very well worldwide in recent years and has managed to convince numerous new customers of its services, says OMD. The launch of PHD is therefore the logical consequence and proof that Switzerland is an important pillar for PHD.

Manfred Strobl, CEO of the Swiss agency group: "I am very pleased to have Dominik Hofstetter, previously Managing Director of OMD Unit Sky, join PHD as Managing Lead. Dominik and his team have already demonstrated a great entrepreneurial spirit over the past years at OMD Unit Sky - this commitment will now benefit PHD. I wish the team continued success for this great opportunity."
 

Maxomedia prevailed in the summer following an agency evaluation and was awarded the mandate for Teleboy, as the agency writes in a press release. The first works have been on display for a few days now. Further measures are planned in the areas of outdoor, guerrilla, social media, print, TV and radio.