Three marketing/media/PR stories. Two agency updates. Read in five minutes.
   
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TIME'S UP
Facebook has unveiled a new tool as part of its ongoing PR battle to be a responsible social media company. ‘Your Time on Facebook’ is an application that provides users with access to a live counter which displays how much time they have spent on Facebook daily. It will also generate notifications when users reach a limit, that they have set, to manage their time online. The initiative comes after growing concerns about social media. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, has talked about Facebook creating “more meaningful interactions” on the platform. Users can view a daily breakdown of their time spent on Facebook, with feedback on what devices were used and what times the social media site was accessed. Zuckerberg has gone on record as saying, “protecting our community is more important than maximizing our profits.” Apple also recently announced a feature that can alert you or lock you out of apps when you hit a pre-set time limit.
A view from Rule 5...
This is window dressing. Most of us don't need an app to tell us we've been spending too much time on Facebook. For those with a real problem this isn't enough. We don't think Facebook is brave enough to lock out those who are genuinely spending too much time on the platform.
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HUNT CURSE
For the Reverend Spooner, Jeremy Hunt, Culture Secretary might have presented a challenge but now he’s the Health Secretary there shouldn’t be an issue. However, getting Mr Hunt’s surname right seems to be a perennial problem for the BBC Radio 4 flagship Today programme. In December 2010 BBC broadcaster, Jim Naughtie dropped the C-bomb on the programme when introducing the then Culture Secretary. This morning, presenter Justin Webb, did it again, while reading out a news story about the health and social care secretary. Justin immediately realised what he'd done and corrected himself without missing a beat. On Twitter he later claimed to have “swerved” and Jim Naughtie, also felt that Webb had corrected himself just in time “it brought things back. But a magnificent recovery from the cliff edge, like a Jonathan Joseph sidestep.” We're not so sure. If you didn’t catch the Today programme live on air this morning you can form your own opinion by listening to the clip here. Several broadcasters have made the same slip including Sky's Thomas Moore, the BBC's Ellie Price and Sky anchor Claudia-Liza Armah.
A view from Rule 5...
We are starting to wonder how the Today presenters are referring to the Health Secretary when they are off the air.
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NETFLIX AND BILL
Netflix didn’t pay a penny in UK corporation tax last year, in fact they billed UK tax payers £174,000 in the form of a tax rebate. That’s despite the TV streaming service making half a billion (£500m) in revenue from British subscribers. Netflix claims low revenue figures in the UK because, its revenues from subscribers are booked in the Netherlands. They claimed a tax rebate due to Brad Pitt’s War Machine being made in the UK, as the government offers tax credits for films and high-end TV made here. Netflix has around 40 UK staff, but this will reach 60 by the end of the year, as it opens a new UK office next month. “We are investing hundreds of millions in the UK entertainment industry, with close to 40 projects under way this year including new seasons of The Crown and Black Mirror and co-productions with British broadcasters,” a spokesperson said. The US company is extending its operations in the UK with Netflix Studios UK. which was set up in March. This will see more Netflix Originals being made here and that might mean even more tax rebates heading their way.
A view from Rule 5...
Netflix is not alone. Amazon and Google operate in similar ways. More business is going online and the government needs to find ways of making sure revenue raised in the UK is taxed here.
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NANDO'S TAKE OUT
Rule 5 has been recruited to deliver social media training for Nando’s. The agency has been appointed by Gillian Harrison, Regional Marketing Manager for the restaurant company to create bespoke training for fifteen social media champions who work for Nando’s restaurants across Scotland, Ireland and the North of England. "It’s always good to get an external perspective and Rule 5 came highly recommended” said Gillian. The training will cover current best practice when using all leading social media platforms and will also look at what changes may be in store and how that will impact on the work of communications professionals in the sector. For example, developments in AI are already having an impact in social media both in ordering deliveries and for customer service. “Nando’s have a strong social media presence nationally and regionally” said Rule 5 Managing Partner, Rob Brown, “as part of the training we’ll explore many of the emerging trends.” The team at Rule 5 has delivered tailored social media training for a host of national global brands including: British Airways, Wedgwood, British Cycling and ASDA.
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ICON LAUNCHES
After years in the planning Blackpool Pleasure Beach has unveiled ICON, its new £16.25 million rollercoaster. The agency invited the nation’s media to the press preview and the first runs of the thrilling ride last month. Nearly two hundred journalists descended on the amusement park. They were provided with all the collateral they could ever need including Go-pro footage taken from the front car and a catalogue of attention grabbing statistics. ICON generates the same G-Force as an F1 car, the launch velocity is double that of a commercial airliner and the 120 degree banking is three times as great as a cycling velodrome. The launch resulted in over 450 items of press coverage including the Mirror (online and print), The Mail, The Sun, The Star and The Telegraph. Blackpool Pleasure Beach has seen an 18% increase in advance bookings made online compared to the prior year. During a seven-minute feature on ITV’s This Morning the two presenters were treated to a virtual ride on ICON and they weren’t disappointed. "That was good, that was really good...fantastic" said Philip Schofield. "I want to come and do it...so brilliant... I wanna go" added Holly Willoughby.
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