The MOST Awards 2022 - The Media Online by SundayTimesZA

www.themediaonline.co.za ISSUE 193 SEPTEMBER 2022 INDEPENDENT INDUSTRY INTELL I GENCE All the other winners inside AGILE. DYNAMIC. E XCEPTIONAL MEDIA24 LIFESTYLE MEDIA OWNER O F THE YEAR FAME MEDIA MEDIA A GENC Y O F THE YEAR EBEN GEWERS MEDIA OWNER LEGEND GWEN BEZUIDENHOUT MEDIA A GENC Y LEGEND REFILOE NTESO MEDIA OWNER R ISING S TAR CLARE TRAFANKOWSKA MEDIA A GENC Y R ISING S TAR CHRIS BOTHA S HEPHERD A WARD PETER LANGSCHMIDT BE LL A WARD

The strength of the MOST Awards within the media sector remains undisputed.

32 MEDIA AGENCY LEGEND

As a driving force in media research, Peter Langschmidt gets a resounding nod as winner of the

Chris Botha, winner of the 2022 Shepherd Award, is a man who says what he thinks, and does what he says.

Arena Holdings’ Eben Gewers, tech head and early adopter, claims the 2022 title.

2 i THE MED i A

Solutions focused and professional, DStv Media Sales’ Refiloe Nteso takes home this year’s award.

37 MEDIA AGENCY RISING STAR

40 SHEPHERD AWARD

10 MOST AWARDS RESULTS

42 BELL AWARD

Gwen Bezuidenhout, veteran media planner with FCB Johannesburg, is the 2022 winner.

Contents

30 MEDIA OWNER LEGEND

3 FROM THE EDITOR From the editor

40 32 35

35 MEDIA OWNER RISING STAR

8 NOTE FROM THE ORGANISERS

Researcher BRAD AIGNER analyses the 2022 MOST Awards and outlines how media agencies and owners have done what it takes to get through recent tough times, to get to, or remain, at the top of their game.

A respectful, considered and innovative leader, Clare Trafankowska is the 2022 winner.

ust before I settled down to write this editor’s letter, one of those ubiquitous Facebook memories popped up. It was a reminder to register to watch the MOST Awards virtual ceremony. It promised a lesson in mixology, and luxury mixology kits for the first 500 individuals to register for the 2021 online awards show.

TheWhatstress!awonderfully different experience the MOST Awards 2022 were.

Content Manager: Raina rainaj@picasso.co.zaJulies

Advertising Co-ordinator: Johan Labuschagne

As FGI founder and researcher, Brad Aigner, says, “The 2022 MOST Awards survey shows that the bar of service excellence among buyers and sellers of media space in South Africa has never been higher. It reveals how many media agencies and media owners have done what it takes to get through the tough times in recent years to remain – or get to – the top of their games. This is testament to their tenacity and their commitment to the power of partnerships.”

Head of Design: Jayne Macé-Ferguson Designer: Bulelwa Sotashe

That brought back recent memories of the virtual media awards shows and important announcements of 2021: the flurry of deliveries of goodies – from coffee and cookies to gin and biltong – ahead of the online events; the scurry to make up one’s face and don a stylish top while wearing sloppy PJs below the eye of the camera. The fear of being called out for not properly following instructions on how to mix a cocktail (that would be you, Pabi Moloi, at the eVOD launch). The hope that one’s fibre connection would stay steady and that load shedding could be avoided.

THE MEDIA I 3themediaonline.co.za FROM THE EDITOR

Glenda

Hear Congratulationshear. to our winners. You are all superstars.

EDITORIAL

Sales Administrator: Neesha Klaaste

PRODUCTION

MANAGEMENT

DESIGN

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material. The Media Online is published by Arena Holdings. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Arena Holdings. All advertisements/advertorials have been paid for and therefore do not carry any endorsement by the publisher.

Contributors: Brad Aigner, Kgaugelo Maphai

Just a week after tickets to the live event went on sale, the bulk sold out – not surprising, really, considering the record number of entries in this year’s survey.

Hill on Empire, 16 Empire Road (cnr Hillside JohannesburgParktownRoad)2193

Editor: Glenda glenda.nevill@cybersmart.co.zaNevill

SALES

Arena Holdings (Pty) Ltd

While the MOST Awards are underpinned by the serious and vitally important business of buying and selling advertising space, with relationships between agencies and owners a key part of the successful transactions, part of keeping the machine oiled is to have some fun together, too.

INDEPENDENT INDUSTRY

Sub-Editor: Lucinda Jordaan

Cover images: Supplied

Postal Address: PO Box 1746 JohannesburgSaxonwold2193

Telephone: +27 11 280 3000

General Manager, Magazines: Jocelyne Bayer

Sales Manager: Tarin-Lee wattst@picasso.co.zaWatts+27795047729

Production Editor: Shamiela Brenner

The Media. Got to love it.

SUPPLIEDIMAGE:

Another much loved and appreciated element of the MOST Awards are the activations and experiences – never let it be said sponsors don’t go large when it comes to the experiential of the awards show – especially after a two-year hiatus.

PUBLISHED BY

Content Co-ordinator: Vanessa Payne

www.themediaonline.co.zaINTELLIGENCE

That is why one of the MOST Awards’ most important fundamentals –besides the announcing of the winners – is the opportunity for members of the media world to press the flesh and network face-to-face; to engage with colleagues on the owner and agency sides in an informal environment. Yes, to have some fun together. And probably do a bit of business too…

On the record…

MEDIACarat OWNER RISING STAR

The MEDIAMediaShopOWNER LEGEND

Living its philosophy of ‘Great minds think different’, The MediaShop is South Africa’s most awarded and transformed media agency. Comprising a team of discoverers, enthusiasts and pacesetters, powered by a passion for its clients’ business success, The MediaShop’s progressive, data-driven thinking supports its culture of digital innovation and excellence. The company uses cutting-edge tools, thought leadership and strategies that translate into outstanding, meaningful and measurable results for its clients.

Thank you! Meet the MOST Awards’ 2022 sponsors

We couldn’t run the MOST Awards without our sponsors. Thank you all for your support to the industry, and for sponsoring these prestigious awards.

Mediology, founded in 2006, is South Africa’s largest independent media agency, with a Level 2 B-BBEE score. It is an award-winning, creative, data-driven media and digital marketing agency. Mediology leads by revolutionising approaches and breaking down silos, integrating traditional and digital solutions that translate into real business value. The company’s mantra is #WhereLogicMeetsMagic.

Carat, a dentsu company, works with innovative global brands and is consistently ranked as one of the top media agencies in the world, with more than 10 000 experts operating in 135+ countries. Carat has the unparalleled capability to unlock real human understanding, connecting people and brands by designing powerful and engaging media experiences. In South Africa, we have ofﬁces in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

KAYA DESSERFMT SPONSOR

MEDIAMediologyOWNER OF THE YEAR

On air and on digital platforms, Kaya 959 connects with a loyal black middle-class listenership through a variety of music that is familiar yet surprising, as well as hyper-local news and relatable conversations. Kaya FM is intentional about providing an authentic representation of its audience’s layered life experience. On the street. On the air.

themediaonline.co.za4 I THE MED I A SPONSORS

Engagement Inspired by insights. A full service marketing agency - strategy, creative, design, media, social and digital offering strategic + tactical campaigns where 1 +1 = 11.

Paramount Africa is a television and multi-media broadcast organisation based in South Africa and Nigeria, reaching audiences of over 100 million viewers across 52 territories of the African continent through its portfolio of 14 television channels, including BET, Comedy Central, MTV, MTV Base, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., NickToons

Paramount africa beLL award

Mediabony+ivorySaLeS COnSuLTanT

Torque Media Media Owner radiO

arena Holdings SHePHerd award

Arena Holdings is one of Africa’s largest English language publishers in both print (Sunday Times, Business Day, Financial Mail, The Herald, Sowetan and Daily Dispatch) and online (TimesLIVE, SowetanLIVE, BusinessLIVE, DispatchLIVE, HeraldLIVE). Its broadcast interests include DStv (Business Day TV, Ignition, The Home Channel) and radio (Vuma FM and Rise FM). It also owns a number of B2B and B2C magazines as well as an events division.

THE MEDIA I 5themediaonline.co.za

Torque Media is a niche radio and media specialist that assists clients across the full spectrum of commercial, community and campus radio stations, as well as other media in South Africa and Africa. Striving to set the gold standard in planning, buying and selling media, the friendly, professional team is committed to providing excellent service.

Spark Media, a division of Caxton & CTP Publishers and Printers Ltd, is an advertising and media-solutions sales company. It represents Caxton-owned local newspapers, as well as selected independent publications in

Spark MediaMediaOwner LaMb

Home to trusted content creators and inﬂuential storytellers, Primedia Broadcasting facilitates powerful connections between brands and consumers. Its market-leading radio stations include 947, 702, Kfm 94.5 and CapeTalk. Together with trusted independent news provider Eyewitness News, Primedia Broadcasting has a cumulative weekly reach of more than seven million people.

Jacaranda FM, the 2021 winner of South African Radio Awards’ Commercial Station of the Year, is one of the biggest independent radio stations in South Africa. A bilingual broadcaster with a footprint in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West, it has a combined audience of over four million. It’s the home of top talent, award-winning content and more music you love!

Mediamark is the leading Audio and Digital Solutions company representing World Class media brands who offer deep and engaged connections with their audiences. Mediamark connects advertisers with these audiences through relationships that matter, and solution driven results that count.

GENCY LEGEND

themediaonline.co.za6 I THE MED I A SPONSORS

MEDIAYFM AGENCY RISING STAR

YFM speaks to the young adult audience in South Africa. Known as the capital of youth culture, the station addresses the issues that young South Africans face. YFM is a 75% music, 25% talk station; supporting not only established artists but also new, up-and-coming acts. With a multichannel approach, the station has an audience of 2.5 million across radio and digital platforms.

Jacaranda FM MEDIA AGENCY OF THE YEAR

Primedia Broadcasting FULL SERVICE MEDIA AGENCY

Gagasi Heart Media Group (GH Media Group) is a new and dynamic media solutions company providing brands with superior reach and engagement that connects them to South Africa’s main market. GH Media Group achieves this through its stable of powerhouse coastal brands that include the largest regional commercial radio station, Gagasi FM, and the Western Cape’s most beloved station, Heart FM. The GH Media Group team takes brands from coast-to-coast with industry-leading hybrid solutions.

Nalesa Media epitomises breaking boundaries, creative ﬂair and hitting the mark. Since 2015, Nalesa Media has been counted among the biggest innovators of out of home in South Africa’s township market, with the right sites in the right locations to accurately hit all

DStv Media Sales – an award-winning and globally recognised media buying services company – boasts over 20 years of experience, which enables brands to reach millions of people with the best local and international entertainment and sports shows on our DStv and GOtv channels across Africa.

THE MEDIA I 7themediaonline.co.za SUPPLIEDIMAGE:

GH Media Group SPECIALIST MEDIA AGENCY

Digital Turbine (NASDAQ: APPS) powers superior mobile consumer experiences and results for the world’s leading telcos, advertisers and publishers. Digital Turbine offers a video technology platform in mobile gaming apps, delivering the highest quality mobile video experience for brands. With 7.9 million engaged mobile users in South Africa, DT is the most effective gateway to reaching this mainstream audience, ensuring the highest levels of attention and impact.

Nalesa Media VIRTUALLY PERFECT SERVICE

Digital Turbine, formerly AdColony ADE MARKETING SERVICES

DStv Media Sales MEDIA AGENCY LAM

The team behind the organisation of the MOST Awards has had to navigate tricky terrain over the past few years. But in 2022, the MOST Awards are back live – and ready for the biggest media networking event of the year, writes JADE FLEISHMAN.

sector was hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Some didn’t survive the devastation it wrought on the industry. Other rallied and innovated and fought to stay in business. This can be seen in our winners and runners up, many of which are new players in the field. The industry is certainly alive and thriving.

AdColony, Kaya FM, Mediology, CapeTalk, are the MOST Awards!

Interestingly, we recorded a fantastic new level of support from out of home media businesses – much higher than in previous surveys. In 2021, we didn’t get a chance to celebrate the MOST Awards in its full glory. But now, in 2022, we have seen the industry rally together and appreciate the excitement and anticipation of once again celebrating in Weperson.must thank our MOST Awards partners, particularly Brad Aigner at FGI Research, which conducted the industry-wide MOST survey.

he strength of the MOST Awards within the media sector remains undisputed. Now in its 13th year, the MOST Awards are testament to the role the awards play in the working lives of South Africa’s media agencies and media owners.

This year, close To 600 voTes were received direcTly from media owners and media agencies across The counTry.

themediaonline.co.za8 i THE MED i A

A WORD FROM THE ORGANISERS

We also offer huge thanks to all the Jacaranda FM, Primedia Broadcasting, Nalesa Media, Torque Media,

The MOST Awards celebrate companies that contribute to building a better South African media landscape and an inclusive economy through innovative and impactful sales service delivery initiatives, innovation and knowledge.

Alive and thriving

FULLY INTEGRATED SINCE 1969 8884EI NGAGEMENTNSPIREDBYINSIGHTS

Agile. Dynamic. Exceptional. The people and companies representing South Africa’s rich media industry never fail to deliver on expectation and promise – with some notable surprises, writes BRAD AIGNER on the findings from the 2022 MOST Awards survey.

RESULTS

he 2022 MOST Awards survey shows that the bar of service excellence among buyers and sellers of media space in South Africa has never been higher. It reveals how many media agencies and media

It is no secret that media owners in the Print category have had it tough in recent times with some, sadly, not

When the going gets tough, the tough get going

This is testament to their tenacity and their commitment to the power of partnerships.

This year’s survey shows some new performers and some perennial achievers in the top rankings, with the Media24 Lifestyle team the overall winner.

THE MEDIA I 11themediaonline.co.za

Second position overall in this year’s rankings went to a newcomer to the MOST Awards, the East Coast Radio (ECR) sales team. While this team has been in operation for a relatively short time, its senior members and management are highly experienced and dynamic sales practitioners. So, the team’s excellent result should not be discounted.

RANK MEDIA OWNERS 2022 – TOP 10 VOTES MOST SCORE CATEGORY 1Media24 Lifestyle 54 8.43 Print 2ECR Radio Sales 37 8.38 Radio 3Digital Turbine, formerly AdColony 67 8.21 Digital 4Adspace24 368.18 Print 5Primedia Outdoor 718.09 Out-of-Home 6Spark Media 518.04 Print 7YFM 578.02 Radio 8Relativ Media 508.01 Out-of-Home 9Tractor Outdoor 348.00 Out-of-Home 10Ster-Kinekor Sales 317.97 Audio-Visual

media owner three years in succession (2018, 2019, 2021). While the saying goes, “It is hard to get to the top but even harder to stay there,” there is no doubt that this team is a class act and knows how to maintain the status quo.

A respondent commented: “They take into account all of the elements (target market, budget, campaign duration, etc) and come up with innovative ways to execute an impactful campaign. Their sales team puts the client ﬁrst and their service delivery is hard to ﬁnd faultThirdwith.”overall

One participant in the survey summed up this sentiment well by commenting: “Media24 are one of the few print houses that have kept abreast of the ever-changing nature of our industry and has remained a stalwart in its own right. They offer great platforms and even better solutions for our brands. They are open to negotiate to ensure the best outcome for all parties. They are a joy to work with and make the work relationship feel like a breeze.”

The top-10 media owner rankings in this year’s MOST Awards survey were:

There was no shortage of people who had good things to say about the Digital Turbine team, including one who enthused: “Our reps are amazing, and they are game changers. Senior management is never out of reach, making it easy to have highestlevel conversations around brand opportunities. They are always looking to collaborate; they are professional, and their platform does incredibly well for us. We have a great partnership with them as a group, and they deliver results. Results are key for us for our clients, and we ﬁnd that the team is always in our corner to ensure that we deliver the

It is interesting that media owners from ﬁve different media types (magazines, radio, digital, newspapers, out-of-home) occupied the top-ﬁve rankings in this year’s survey. This is hardly a new trend for the MOST Awards, with the same or similar occurring in a number of previous surveys. It shows that sales excellence is agnostic when it comes to media. There is little doubt that strong salespeople and sales teams can sell just about anything well – if given the resources to do so.

this year was the dynamic sales team at AdColony, which recently rebranded to Digital Turbine, and is no stranger to the top rankings, having won the overall

making it through. Others, such as the Media24 Lifestyle team, have responded by re-engineering their businesses and adapting to the challenge. When the going got tough, the Media24 Lifestyle team got going.

Third place in the out-of-home category went to Tractor Outdoor, which should be proud of its achievement considering the size of the category and the relative size of the sales teams that it was competing against. The Tractor Outdoor team, which won the Lamb Award for Media Owners in 2013, has clearly been punching above its weight in thisOnecategory.respondent had the following to say about the team: “Great client services; great reach across the country and great value across digital OOH.” Another said: “They are always available, bring value to the table in terms of ideas and discounts, have impeccable client service and a great portfolio offering.”

The top three media owner rankings in this year’s out-of-home category were:

One respondent noted: “Primedia dominates the OOH sector not only as a well-established brand, but also because they take lead in every innovation and bring the best results.” Another commented: “They are prompt, often give more than requested, are always available, have a short turn-around time, good pricing, and are willing to help – on top of theirThegame.”second spot in the OOH category this year went to Relativ Media, which was placed second in 2021 and won the category in 2019, demonstrating a commendably consistent performance. The team was highly rated for its knowledge of the category within the broader media environment. As one respondent explained, “[They are] committed to ﬁnding new opportunities. They have an in-depth knowledge of client brands. They offer innovative, ﬂexible and strategic solutions. Excellent sales service 24/7; they are accessible and prompt in replying to calls and messages. They share new and relevant information and get things done promptly and correctly. They understand the broader market landscape.”

Radio CategoRy

The radio category included two ﬁerce competitors who, between them, have won the most MOST Awards in the category every year since the inception of the survey in 2009. However, this year there is a newcomer to the MOST Awards: ECR Radio Sales has put a stop to Mediamark and Primedia Broadcasting’s historic dominance. The ECR Radio Sales team may be small, but has clearly managed to make a signiﬁcant impact at media agencies.

The MOST Awards has shown that very often a sales team is rated highly for its general overall sales delivery rather than one or a few speciﬁc sales performance criteria. This was the case with the Primedia team, which was recognised for its all-round sales excellence.

The Primedia Outdoor team is a regular top performer in the MOST Awards, having been placed in the top four rankings annually over the past eight years, showing its consistency and class. It is also admirable that the Primedia Outdoor sales team is a relatively large one, requiring every member to deliver a high level of service lest they compromise their MOST Awards score.

themediaonline.co.za14 I THE MED RESULTS RANK MEDIA OWNERS – OUT-OF-HOME CATEGORY 2022 VOTES MOST SCORE 1Primedia Outdoor 718.09 2Relativ Media 508.01 3Tractor Outdoor 348.00

The out-of-home category was the largest media category in the MOST Awards survey this year, with 28 media owners in the listing. Traditionally a highly competitive category, this year was no exception with the top three positions in the rankings being separated by small overall score margins. The winner of the MOST Award in the out-of-home category this year was Primedia Outdoor, repeating its excellent result in 2021.

out-of-Home CategoRy

The Relativ Media team was also recognised for its commitment to its media agency clients as partners: “They are just splendid suppliers. Their way of collaborating with us as an agency is phenomenal. They always go the extra mile to assist and are respectful of our client requests. They are just a great company to deal with overall.”

THE MEDIA I 15 RANK MEDIA OWNERS – RADIO CATEGORY 2022 VOTES MOST SCORE 1ECR Radio Sales 378.38 2YFM 578.02 3Mediamark 1267.92

The audio-visual category has had to adapt to changing global dynamics in recent years. Not only did it have to contend with the Covid-19 pandemic, but also with the impact of new broadcasting technologies and changing viewing behaviour.

Audio-VisuAl CAtegory

One thing is for certain: traditional broadcasters have had to adapt to their markets to remain relevant. No doubt, their sales teams have had to do the same. It is within this context that the achievement of this year’s audio-visual category winner, Ster-Kinekor Sales, is extremely impressive! Faced with closed cinemas during Covid-19 lockdowns and a dearth of good inventory emerging from the pandemic,

Second spot on the radio category ranking this year went to another relative newcomer to the podium, YFM. There was a hint in last year’s survey (2021) that good things were happening at YFM, with the team placing third in the category behind Primedia Broadcasting and Mediamark respectively. So, this year’s excellent result shows that the team has maintained its sales service standards and momentum.

The ECR Radio Sales team was especially highly rated for its innovative approach to sales and its commitment to building relationships with its clients: “Innovative sales, outstanding in retaining client relationships as well as fostering agency relationships. Flexible. Great offers and discounts,” said one respondent. Another commented: “The ECR team are extremely passionate about radio and their product. They also use unique ways to showcase what they have to offer brands.”

Ranked third in the radio category this year was Mediamark. The team is a consistent top achiever in the MOST Awards, having not been out of the top-three ranking in the category since 2009, winning its category eight times and being recognised as the Radio Media Owner of the Decade in 2018.

The Mediamark team achieved 59 Best in Category votes this year, so there was no shortage of clients singing their praises.

One said: “Mediamark is the best in the radio category because it embodies the essence of maintaining the prominent stature of radio, which in this digital age can so often be overlooked. Mediamark continues to strive for innovative solutions to keep radio relevant, prominent and a medium that connects and captures the hearts of millions.”

The YFM team was recognised for its outstanding knowledge of its brand: “The YFM team knows their brand well. They are a good team to collaborate with. The sales team is simply exceptional and helpful. When it comes to targeting youth markets, they are the best. They always come up with amazing ideas when you brief them. My favourite sales team to work with”. Another respondent agreed with the sentiment: “The YFM team is consistently creative, open to new ideas and delivers excellent customer service. They know their audience very well and sell the community – not just the radio audience. They bend over backwards to deliver innovative and integrated solutions.” Well done YFM!

The top-3 media owner rankings in this year’s radio category were:

As a small, regionally-focused media owner it is never easy to achieve national coverage with respect to sales team reach within media agencies and advertisers. The ECR Radio Sales team has done this – a commendable achievement.

The top three media owner rankings in this year’s audio-visual category were:

One respondent had the following to say about the team: “e.tv go beyond client service. They always deliver and make a plan to ensure that they go the extra mile, without being asked. It is always a pleasure to deal with them – from sales to booking. Really a super awesome company to work with, and the people know exactly what client service is all about.” Another shared this sentiment: “e.tv is the most ﬂexible broadcast station, as they are consistent in meeting client requirements and objectives. They are the leaders in content integration – making TV advertising more engaging andNotinteractive.”inthetop three ranking this year, the DStv Media Sales team must be wondering what more it needs to do to get there. Ranked fourth in the category, DStv Media Sales received 71 best-in-category votes, which was more than any other media owner in any other category. This has been a signiﬁcant trend for the media owner in the MOST Awards in the past and remains a mystery as to why so many people consistently rate DStv Media Sales as the best in the

One of the 71 respondents had this to say: “DStv continues to partner in the most collaborative way and takes the time to interrogate the brief, challenge details where necessary and their proposals always include more than the original ask – often opening up new avenues for client. Given the continuous change in the landscape and evolution of AV consumption (cross platform), DStv is also well-positioned to deliver against this.”

against the ‘knowledge’ criteria: “Paramount are an agile, versatile, and results-driven media owner with an impeccable focus on meeting speciﬁc client needs. They are a dream to work and collaborate with and they are always keen to push boundaries. Their knowledge of their own platform and data is second to none – not to mention their knowledge of clients andThirdcompetitors.”inthecategory was last year’s category winner, e.tv, which is another consistent top performer in the MOST Awards. The e.tv team has won its category ﬁve times in the past and has never been lower than fourth in the ranking since the inception of the MOST Awards in 2009. This year the e.tv sales team received 40 best-in-category votes, achieving particularly high scores for ‘service’.

In the 2021 MOST Awards survey, the newspapers and magazines categories were combined into a single print category following the closure of two large magazine publishers. This resulted in the new category listing magazines and newspapers sales teams against each other, some of which were from the same stable. In this year’s survey, the Media24 group has excelled, winning the overall MOST Award for Media Owners (Media24 Lifestyle) and ranking second in the print category (Adspace24). The results of last year’s survey gave a hint of what was possibly to come when the Media24 Lifestyle team achieved the highest overall MOST Awards score – but did not receive enough votes to qualify (a minimum of 30 votes is required to qualify for a MOST Award). The team’s challenge was to maintain its standards and to continue its momentum. These boxes were duly ticked this year and as they say, the rest is history.

themediaonline.co.za16 I THE MED I A RESULTS

(previously ViacomCBS)

1147.76

1Ster-Kinekor Sales

317.97

3e.tv

audio-visual category, yet their rating scores do not translate accordingly.

2 Paramount Africa 627.84

RANK MEDIA OWNERS – AUDIO-VISUAL CATEGORY 2022 VOTES MOST

Print Category

THE MEDIA I 17themediaonline.co.za

RANK MEDIA OWNERS – PRINT CATEGORY 2022 VOTES MOST SCORE 1Media24 Lifestyle 548.43 2Adspace24 368.18 3Spark Media 518.04

The top three media owner rankings in this year’s print media category were:

One said: “Their service is great. They understand their products, as well as what limits them. The global team always goes above and beyond. They understand the landscape and understand that they cannot be on every campaign for

“They came up with the best integrated solution to a brief that went out to multiple media owners. This year I have had experience across a number of print media owners, and they are head and shoulders above the competition.” This was not the only person who was pleased about the team’s integrated offering: “Absolutely the best service. Always ensures that the brief is met. Excellent products and integrated offerings.”

Ranked third in the print category this year was Spark Media. This media owner has also experienced change in the structure and composition of its sales team in recent times, which often reverberates in the MOST Awards scores as the industry gets used to the new team settling in. Its MOST Awards score and result this year suggests Spark Media has made it through its changes and is aiming to achieve the same high levels of service excellence as it did in the 2010 survey when it won the overall MOST Award for media owners as NAB Caxton. It is great to see that the Spark Media team has

Digital Category

The digital category is another one that has grown signiﬁcantly in terms of the number of companies listed in the MOST Awards in recent years, no doubt driven by the explosion of the media type globally. With digital, it is evident that innovation driven by technology is a must-have, bringing new entrants and ideas with it. The obvious threat is that if a media owner is unable to keep up with the technology-innovation curve, it is likely to exit the category as quickly as it entered.

are open to negotiation to ensure the best outcome for all parties. They are a joy to work with and make the work relationship feel like a breeze.” In a tough trading environment tenacity is very often a critically required trait, which has been recognised in the Media24 Lifestyle team: “This individual has serviced our agency for many years, through the good times and the bad. She has remained visible, relevant and always willing to go the extra mile... she is always placing our clients ﬁrst and adding value to their Havingbusiness.”undergone restructuring and a name change in 2021, the Adspace24 sales team should be justiﬁably proud of its second spot ranking in the print category this year. Formerly operating separately as Ads24 and The SpaceStation, the new combined Adspace24 team has evidently gotten up to speed quickly. And the team’s integration of online and print media sales has been noticed and appreciated.

A sales team that has managed to stay relevant and ahead of the game with aplomb is Digital Turbine, formerly known as AdColony, which for the past three years has been the overall best media owner in the MOST Awards, and this year, the winner of the digital category for the fourth time in a row. Judging by the motivations given by respondents, the Digital Turbine team delivers all-round service excellence.

been able to deliver a quality service to all regions, including KwaZulu-Natal.ADurbanitehad this to say: “We are served by a great account executive in Durban who is ready to assist with informative research. Their speedy response and administrative skills are on point. Always innovative in their approach to providing clients with alternates to just per column centre adverts.” Another respondent, based in Cape Town, expressed a similar sentiment: “I’ve relocated to Cape Town, but just as my Johannesburg reps were exceptional, so are my Cape Town reps. They go beyond the extra mile, which is really appreciated.”

The top three media media owner digital rankings in this year’s digital category were:

Ranked second in the digital category this year was Turn Left Media, which in the 2021 survey was ranked second in the Media Owner Lamb category (this is the category for media owners that have marginally missed the minimum 30 votes qualiﬁcation criteria).

RESULTS

While there is little doubt that the debate will rage on in future, the fact that relatively smaller teams such as Turn Left Media and larger teams like that of Media24 Lifestyle can be rated and ranked against each other, not on size but on performance, is a very special feature of the

2022 VOTES MOST SCORE 1 Digital Turbine, formerly AdColony 678.21 2Turn Left Media 347.97 3Ad:Dynamo 577.96

Another shared: “Our reps are amazing and game changers. Senior management is never out of reach, making it easy to have high-level conversations around brand opportunities. They are always looking to collaborate; they are professional, and their platform does incredibly well for us. We have a great partnership, and they deliver results. We ﬁnd the team always in our corner to ensure that we deliver best performance.” Well done to the Digital Turbine team.

As a relevant aside, it is signiﬁcant to note that the MOST Awards has never in its history been dominated or skewed in the rankings by ‘larger’ or ‘smaller’ sales teams – despite the vigorous debate on this subject every year. While some may believe a larger sales team is less advantaged than a smaller sales team, or vice versa, this has never been evident in the MOST Awards results rankings. The fact is that both relatively ‘large’ as well as ‘small’ media owner sales teams have won their respective categories and the overall MOST Award for media owners, with this year’s results no exception.

The winner of the multimedia category in this year’s MOST Awards survey was Media24, the result no doubt driven by the excellent achievements of its Media24 Lifestyle and AdSpace24 sales teams. As one might expect, Media24 was highly rated for its ability to offer integrated multimedia solutions.

themediaonline.co.za18 I THE MED I A

One respondent explained: “Innovative multi-channel, multimedia strategies to target various target markets and segments with innovative 360-degree media programmes that leverage all of their channels.” MEDIA OWNERS – DIGITAL CATEGORY

RANK

every client. They are not ‘rash’ with their sales approach.”

MultiMedia Category

Third place in the digital category was Ad:Dynamo, another team that has performed consistently well in the MOST Awards. This year the team was highly regarded for its ability to ﬁnd innovative solutions for its clients: “Always providing innovative ways to amplify our campaign and always keeping us up to date with the changes of the platform.” Another respondent said: “They offer many unique brands under one umbrella. They provide proposals and strategies from a multi-channel perspective. They are approachable and knowledgeable, always sharing innovations and willing to customise solutions to ﬁt the brief”.

As a relatively small team, Turn Left Media has clearly been punching above its weight. “Their knowledge of the B2B landscape is second to none, and so is their understanding of their platform and what it can offer clients. Even though a small team, they are always willing to go above and beyond!” said a respondent. Another added: “Their attention to detail, support and knowledge of their own platform has meant that working with the Turn Left team is like working with an extension of our own team.”

The multimedia category, unlike other media owner categories, is a ‘group’ category whereby the overall sales performance of all the sales teams in a media owner group is rated and ranked. To be listed in this category, a media owner is required to sell media space across three or more different platforms. It is for these reasons that the media owners listed in the multimedia category are not eligible for the overall MOST Award for media owners.

Ranked second in the multimedia category was Mediamark. The company has evidently placed a considerable amount of focus and effort in this area.

Like the sentiments expressed for Media24, Mediamark was recognised for its ability to package solutions across multiple media types: “The group delivers cross-platform solutions for us. We find this multi-platform provider to be the easiest and best to work with.

The media sales consultants category lists sales teams that do not own the media brands or have exclusive rights to the media brands they sell. Media sales consultants are effectively thirdparty sales agents. It is for reason that the companies listed in this category do not qualify for the Overall MOST Award for Media Owners.

The top three media owner rankings in this year’s Multimedia category were:

Third in the multimedia category was last year’s category winner, Primedia. As with the others, Primedia’s integrated multimedia offering was recognised. The explanations submitted by respondents included: “365 (sic) degree product offering”, “How they manage to integrate their products to work together” and, “They offer all elements in one package and suggest how to increase client exposure.”

This notwithstanding, the category this year was large, with 16 companies listed, all vying for the MOST award for the category winner. In this year’s survey, one media sales consultant qualified by achieving the minimum of 30 votes threshold, winning the category: Whisper Media. In addition to achieving a very high overall MOST Award score, the

We believe that they really think cross-platform – their solutions respond to our briefs comprehensively.”

Media SaleS ConSultantS Category

Rank Media OwneRs – MultiMedia CategORy 2022 VOtes MOst sCORe 1Media24 318.50 2Mediamark 448.33 3Primedia 348.22

by implementing 3D designs and interactive content. Reveel does an excellent job in keeping up with the times.”

The media owner ranked second in the category this year was RebelRebel, which operates in the digital category. The team particularly impressed with its ability to drive innovative solutions through technology.

Third in the category ranking was the sales team for The Home Channel, Business Day TV and IGNITION. This team has been around for some time; it’s relatively small but packs a sizeableCompetingpunch.in the audio-visual category, the team has had to ﬁnd ways to ﬁght for a fair share of the pie, one of which has been proactive selling. A respondent explained: “They have a great understanding of our clients’ brands, are always sending through proactive opportunities and go beyond their offering compared to some of the bigger media owners.”

The top three media owner rankings in this year’s Media Owner Lamb category were:

themediaonline.co.za20 I THE MED

Whisper Media team also collected 22 best-in-category votes, signiﬁcantly more than any other company in theOnecategory.ofthe comments motivating for Whisper Media was: “The team at Whisper Media has created great solutions for my clients and bent over backward to deliver at short notice and when time and resources were limited. Their after-sales service is also excellent, and they aim to collaborate with all my clients.” Another said: “Outstanding service and turnaround time. Professional approach that incorporates reach and frequency data as well as deadlines, material requirements, etc, so you don’t have to go back and forth to get the information.”

The Media Owner Lamb Award recognises a media owner listed in any category that just misses receiving the minimum number of 30 votes to qualify for a MOST Award. Specifically, any media owner that receives 25 to 29 votes is eligible for the award. In this year’s survey, five media owners qualified for the Media Owner Lamb Award, with the top spot going to OperatingReveel. in the large and competitive out-of-home category, the Reveel team has done well to make an impact. The team was described by one respondent as: “An experienced sales team that doesn’t push the hard-sell but builds the right relationships so it can offer expert opinion, and relevant reverts for the brands that we work on.” Another person was impressed with the team’s approach: “Reveel pays attention to detail regarding the quality delivered and looks to elevate in terms of innovative ways on how engaging and effective an OOH experience for consumers can be,

RANK MEDIA OWNER LAMB AWARD 2022 VOTES SMOSTCORE Category 1Reveel 288.33 32RebelRebel298.07DigitalHomeOut-of-TheHomeChannel,BusinessDayTV&IGNITION297.90Audio-Visual RANK MEDIA OWNERS – MEDIA SALES CONSULTANTS CATEGORY 2022 VOTES MOST SCORE 1Whisper Media 478.35 2No qualiﬁer 3No qualiﬁer

The Virtually Perfect Award was introduced in the 2021 MOST Awards survey to recognise the media owner that had best managed to adapt to the communication challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. The award was presented to DStv Media Sales, which was unanimously considered to have best taken

Congratulations to Whisper Media on an excellent achievement!

The PerfecVirTuallyTaward

Media Owner laMb award

The top ranking in this year’s media sales consultants category was:

As with previous MOST Awards surveys, these rating variables were ranked by respondents in order of importance and then applied as weighting variables to the ratings given to each media owner. The graph below shows the three new rating variables for the category, ranked in order of

a ﬁrm grip on business unusual through its innovative and effective use of virtual practices.Whileit appears and is sincerely hoped that the world has rid itself of the Covid-19 scourge, it is evident that the use of technology to aid and enhance communication in business will continue. It is for this reason that the Virtually Perfect Award has been retained in this year’s MOST Awards survey, albeit in a slightly different context.

An honourable mention for the Virtually Perfect Award goes to Mediamark, which was just pipped into second place by a relatively small number of votes. One respondent shared the following about the Mediamark team: “They are always ensuring that they are top of mind. They try to keep us engaged and ensure that they are still engaging with us despite not always meeting in person.”

The top two media owners for this year’s MOST Virtually Perfect Award were:

THE MEDIA I 21themediaonline.co.za RANK VIRTUALLY PERFECT AWARD 2022 VOTES 1DStv Media Sales 39 2Mediamark 34

this ranking is that people involved in the planning and buying of media space in South Africa value most highly the role of market intelligence in their decisionmaking. This rating variable is a measure of the application of market research data (through offerings such as presentations and marketing materials) to aid and inform media decisions.

Out of the 68 media owners that received nominations, the winner of the MOST Award for Trade Marketing this year was Mediamark, which achieved the top scores for each of the three criteria. The Mediamark trade marketing team was described as: “Client focused, innovative, service and delivery professionals” and as: “Consistent and proactive.” One respondent shared: “They always ensure that they are top of mind – be it with a bottle of juice or a cap. They go above and beyond with everything that they do.”

Evidentimportance.from

The winner of this year’s MOST Virtually Perfect Award was once again DStv Media Sales, showing that the team has found an optimal balance between using technology and personal interaction to engage effectively with its clients. One respondent had the following to say about the DStv Media Sales team: “Within the space that I work, DStv is the only media owner that has consistent conversations with the industry, updating us on product offerings, new programming etc.” Another said: “They have maintained regular presence and updates in spite of the challenges around decentralised working.”

Trade MarkeTing award

In this year’s survey, the award was conferred on a media owner that has most effectively used technology to enhance its sales service delivery without compromising its effectiveness in interacting on a face-to-face, in-person level.

A workshop meeting with experienced senior trade marketers at various media owner organisations was held early in 2022 to review the methodology for the trade marketing category of the MOST Awards. The outcome of the workshop was a comprehensive overhaul of the rating variables for the category. For this year’s MOST Awards survey, the previous rating variables for the category were replaced by three new variables the trade marketers agreed were more current and relevant for measuring trade marketing performance.

overall for media agencies this year was the 2017 overall winner, PHD. The PHD team is clearly a quality outﬁt, achieving good scores for every rating criterion. A respondent had this to say about them: “It is such a pleasure to work with PHD – they have a collaborative and strategic approach to media. They are progressive, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable. They value relationships with all partners, and put their clients’ needs and objectives at the heart of everything they do.”

408.33

strategists and client leads. Brilliant client knowledge and excellent relationships with clients and media

themediaonline.co.za22 I THE MED I A RESULTS

SCORE

While the media industry is large in the context of advertising revenue billed, the number of practitioners directly involved in the selling, planning, and buying of media space is relatively modest. This is one reason why relationships play such a signiﬁcant role in the business dynamics between buyers and sellers. It is also a reason why leaders and personalities in our industry become well known relatively quickly, with some even achieving ‘celebrity’ status.

The top rankings in this year’s trade marketing category were:

1Mediamark

From a MOST Awards perspective, we have found a consequence of this is that often it is the profile of the person or people inside a business entity that influence people’s perception of its sales and service performance. It is not coincidental that the movement of high profile personalities and leaders in our industry between organisations has almost always influenced their annual MOST Awards scores. While it would be naïve, indeed foolhardy, to start believing that individual personalities are ‘bigger’ than the media organisations they work for, astute media agencies and media owners have realised the value of having these personalities in their businesses. MOST

Third and fourth overall in the media agency rankings were perennial top performers in the MOST Awards, The MediaShop Johannesburg and The MediaShop Cape Town, respectively. Having won the overall award eight times in the past 11 years, there is no doubt that The MediaShop

One respondent summed up the reason for the big impact of the team in a relatively short space of time: “This is a fairly new agency; however, the staff are highly rated in my opinion, from having worked with them in the past. The MD is ﬁerce and with her leading the team, we are sure to do amazing campaigns together.” Another person echoed this sentiment: “They are seasoned, well-trained and are up and coming! A fresh perspective to media with a challenger mindset to achieve great things for themselves and their clients.” And another perhaps said it best: “New kids on the block but came out roaring!” With comments such as these, the Fame Media team is surely here to stay and destined for big things in Secondfuture.

RANK TRADE MARKETING AWARD 2022 VOTES

MOST Aw AgencieS

Media Sales 458.23

This year, the overall winner of the MOST Award for Media Agencies was a complete newcomer to the survey and a relative newcomer to the industry. However, the people within the agency were not newcomers at all, but rather highly experienced and regarded practitioners of the art and science of media planning. Well done to the team at Fame Media.

The DStv Media Sales team was ranked second in the category this year and deserves honourable mention. One respondent described the trade marketing team as: “DMS invests in innovative data systems, and regularly shares its own and industry-impact knowledge, which demonstrates thought leadership.” Another commented: “They are the only company that sends out regular communication about what’s new on their platform, potential offers and interesting information.”

performance excellence in the context of the MOST Awards. For a large full-service agency to top quality performance consistently year-on-year is truly a remarkable achievement. A respondent commented: “They are the only agency to constantly engage with us, regularly sending out both media-related and general information, arranging client engagements,

2DStv

The top-10 media agency rankings in this year’s MOST Awards Survey were:

RANK MEDIA AGENCIES –TOP 10 2022 VOTES SMOSTCORE CATEGORY 1 Fame Media 38 8.75Specialist 2PHD 918.24Full-service 3 The MediaShop –Johannesburg 738.13Full-service 4 The MediaShop –Cape Town 408.10Full-service 5 Omnicom Media Group (OMG) 758.08Full-service 6 Carat Johannesburg– 458.04Full-service 7Ogilvy Go Media328.03Specialist 8 Carat – Cape Town 10MediaCom447.91Full-service9Mindshare627.97Full-service308.00Full-service 25 YEARS OF BRINGING BRANDS AND PEOPLE TOGETHER. THAT’S HOW YOU CREATE LEGENDS. www.mediamark.co.za info@mediamark.co.za

setting up online engagements. Communication from TMS is always guaranteed and speedy. It is certainly a pleasure dealing with The MediaShop JHB.” The MediaShop Cape Town has also grown in stature in recent years, placing second overall in 2019 and winning the Lamb Award for Media Agencies in 2021. The Cape Town team was described as: “… innovators, professional and on top of their game at all times. They host industry events for all media owners, which is always welcome. Their team is very knowledgeable and always does the best for its clients. Both clients and media owners rate them highly.”

Rounding out the top-ﬁve ranking of media agencies this year was the Omnicom Media Group (OMG). The OMG team’s arguably ‘quieter’ proﬁle in the industry belies its top notch ability in media and service delivery. A respondent alluded to this: “They have built an effective presence in the media fraternity. Collaborative, organised, well-spoken and fully understand the business.” Another described the OMG team as: “The best buying division in the country.”

Full-Service Media agencieS category

The full-service media agencies category was, as usual, large and highly contested, with 28 companies in the listing. This year it was the PHD Media team that came out tops. The team achieved top scores across all six of the performance rating criteria, with its ability to evolve with the changing media landscape standing out.

There was no shortage of people singing this new agency’s praises: “Fame gets the job done. Their communication is 100% – this with media owners, partners and across clients. That is how you run a well-oiled machine.” Another said: “They are a small team of highly efﬁcient individuals; they have a hunger to run great campaigns. They communicate well and are setting new standards for this category. A small specialist agency that delivers like a big agency.” And another had this to say: “Watch this space... Small team, but dynamite! In all areas they are an out of the box, strategically strong, creativeSecondteam!”inthe specialist agencies category this year was last year’s category winner, Ogilvy Go Media. The Ogilvy team has clearly maintained its high standards, with one respondent saying: “I have worked with the GO team for six years. They are very professional, communicate well, understand their clients exceptionally well and understand the importance of Thirdrelationships.”intheranking was consistent top performer in the MOST Awards, Alphabet Soup. The team has proved its class by winning the category three times previously and placing in the top three seven times in the past 10 years. It is evident from the comments received that the Alphabet Soup team knows its stuff and how to “Alwaysdeliver.ontop of their game. Always available. Always shares insights and clear briefs. All proposals get evaluated and sent to client. They are a friendly, professional, and knowledgeable crowd.” The team impressed with its clientcentric approach and knowledge of brands: “I have had the pleasure of working with Alphabet Soup for many years. Their knowledge of brands, client needs, and the media landscape enables them to create great, streamlined campaigns.”

For the MOST Awards, a ‘specialist’ media agency is deﬁned as one that either provides its own in-house media planning or media buying (but not both) or provides its own in-house media planning and/or media buying across one predominant media category only (eg, digital or OOH). Winner of the category in 2022 was Fame Media. Out of the 38 people who rated and ranked Fame Media in this year’s survey 30 rated the agency as the best in its category, an outstanding achievement.

themediaonline.co.za24 I THE MED I A RESULTS

RANK

SpecialiSt Media agencieS category

“PHD has been so open and willing to adapt to the new era of media, digital integration, and open to hearing new media owners out. They communicate and let you know what is happening. Truly the shining example of media leaders.” Another respondent commented: “They have led the way the past couple years... they really appreciate their partnerships with media owners and are always keen to engage to ensure they offer the best options, service, and knowledge to their clients.” The PHD team was also highly regarded for its willingness to engage and collaborate with its media owner partners. One respondent explained: “They keep communication channels open. They do not mess around, so you always know where you stand. They are open to media partnerships resulting in innovative campaigns for their clients.”

The MediaShop Johannesburg ranked second in its category this year. The team has done it all: won the full-service agencies category eight times; won the overall MOST Award for Media Agencies eight times; rated the Media Agency of the Decade in 2018 and has not been out of the top two rankings in its category since

2022 VOTES MOST SCOR 1Fame Media 388.75 2Ogilvy Go Media 328.03 3Alphabet Soup 457.70

The top three media agency rankings in this year’s specialist media agencies category were: SPECIALIST AGENCIES

The team gives credence to the adage ‘class is permanent’. One respondent said: “We have always had great dealings with The MediaShop, going back 26 years. Great people to work with. Very knowledgeable, professional, and overall fair in their dealings. Working in the industry for 16 years myself I have noticed many planners, strategists and buyers move around to different agencies while the staff (as well as the brands) remain at The MediaShop. This shows

integrity, loyalty, and long-term commitment to understanding and growing some of the greatest brands in South Africa. As a company we have had only good dealings with them that we have maintained and grown over the years.” Enough said.

Rank Full-SeRvice agencieS 2022 voteS MoSt ScoRe 1PHD 918.24 2 The MediaShop –Johannesburg 738.13 3 The MediaShop – Cape Town 408.10

Four media agencies qualified for the Lamb Award this year, with the winner from the specialist media agency category, IntiMedia, pipping Meta Media Cape Town and Initiative Media Cape Town respectively into the minor rankings. ‘Knowledge of media’ was a stand-out performance criterion for the IntiMedia team. A respondent commented: “Their knowledge of the media industry is the best I have come across. They are very ethical and always put their clients’ interests first. They are open-minded and always prepared to learn more about new media platforms and technology.” Another said: “IntiMedia are the most exceptional team to work with. They are real partners,

Media agency LaMb award

Ranked third in the full-service agencies category this year was The MediaShop Cape Town. While this agency is relatively small in terms of personnel, it is evident that it punches well above its weight in ability, having effectively run one of the largest advertising accounts for many years. A respondent embellished this sentiment: “The MediaShop Cape Town has the biggest account in Africa, a testament to how important relationships are in this industry. I appreciate their efforts to keep media owners enlightened around the ever-changing media landscape. The team is professional, tenacious, hardworking and savvy. They are always willing to share ‘intel’ about their clients and brands. The people who work at The MediaShop are knowledgeable and always willing to give youThetime.”top three media agency rankings in this year’s full-service media agencies category were:

AWARDS 2022 The MOST Awards Full Monty includes: The MOST Awards Lite includes: 3 year trends cross-tabbed by region Sector comparison (your company vs.direct competitors) A comparison against overall winners Qualitative, spontaneous comments by Insightsparticipantsintostaff performance 2 year trends cross-tabbed by region Sector comparison (your company vs. direct Qualitative,competitors)spontaneous comments by participants Track and benchmark your team's performance over the years across criteria endorsed by agencies and owners. Gain valuable insights that are not available elsewhere. The anonymous survey provides honest qualitative feedback. Unlock ‘trends to watch’ in performance measurement. Receive a personalised presentation by Freshly Ground Insights (FGI). Interpretation of the results is provided to you for internal use. Sharing of the MOST Awards learnings, which reveal important components of service excellence, knowledge and innovation. For more information and to book your 2022 research, contact Jade Fleishman E: Fleishmanj@arena.africa | C: 072 7123 503 BOOK YOUR RESEARCHBOOK YOUR RESEARCH

ConClusion

Votes cast 4 477

MosT AwArds 2022 sTATisTiCs AT A glAnCe

driving collaboration and strategic approaches to media campaigns, both traditionally and in digital. They are incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and unbelievable at growing and maintaining relationships within the industry, both with clients, partners, and media owners. They have a hugely successful business because of this, and it is a privilege to work with them.” With comments like these, it surely will not be long before the IntiMedia team ﬁnds a place on the podium for a MOST Award

Sample 580 respondents

Number of media owners listed 103

Perhaps one respondent articulated this the best: “Very lekker people!”

RANK MEDIA AGENCY LAMB AWARD – TOP 3 2022 VOTES SMOSTCORE Category 321IntiMedia278.21SpecialistMetaMedia–CapeTown278.07Full-serviceInitiativeMedia–CapeTown287.83Full-service

The top three media agency rankings in this year’s media agency lamb category were:

themediaonline.co.za26 I THE MED I A RESULTS

As a ‘health gauge’, this year’s MOST Awards survey has shown that our media industry is alive and well, growing and adapting to new age dynamics. There is clearly unequivocal commitment to service excellence and collaboration between media owners and media agencies, which no doubt will take our industry to new levels in future.

Number of media agencies listed 44

The

THE MEDIASHOP CONGRATULATES THE MOST WINNERS! We are so proud to be a consistent promoter and partner of The MOST Awards. We believe in these awards because valuable relationships are crucial to our industry.

Great Minds Think on Diverse Culture. MediaShop has most

Different - We pride ourselves

our Cognitively

always enriched and nourished media owner and client relationships that have resulted in the

effective collaborations earning the best outcomes for all stakeholders. CONGRATULATIONS to all the MOST award winners for 2022! We can only celebrate such excellence. WELL DONE! GREAT MINDS THINK DIFFERENT. Connect with us at www.mediashop.co.za or on any of our social media channels.

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Choose a partner you can rely on for the MOST valuable advice to make your business a success. BDO’s Financial Services audit, advisory and technology team.

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THE MEDIA I 29themediaonline.co.za RESULTS Top 10 (2017)Top 10 (2018) Top 10 (2019) Top 10 (2021)Top 10 (2022) Massiv MediaAdColony AdColony AdColony Media24 Lifestyle Magazines Ads24 Alliance Media (OOH) Media24 LifestylePrimedia Outdoor ECR Radio Sales Cinemark Massiv Media Ads24 Relativ Media Digital Turbine, formerly AdColony Times Media Group Ad:Dynamo (Twitter)Ster-Kinekor Sales Mamela MediaAdspace24 Relativ MediaVicinity Media Relativ Media e.tv Primedia Outdoor Primedia OutdoorAd Outpost Primedia OutdoorArena HoldingsSpark Media Google Inc. Spark Media (Newspapers) Tiso Blackstar MediaJCDecaux YFM Cinevation PopcornMedia24 LifestyleCinevation PopcornAd:DynamoRelativ Media Ad Outpost Google WideOpen PlatformVicinity MediaTractor Outdoor Airport Ads Ads24 Google Primedia Ster-Kinekor Sales Top 10 (2017) Top 10 (2018)Top 10 (2019) Top 10 (2021) Top 10 (2022) PHD The MediaShop (Jhb) The MediaShop (Jhb) The MediaShop (Jhb) Fame Media Alphabet Soup PHD The MediaShop (CT)Carat (Jhb) PHD The MediaShop (Jhb)Alphabet Soup Meta Media (Jhb)Vizeum (Jhb) The MediaShop - Johannesburg Mediology Vizeum (Jhb)Alphabet Soup Ogilvy Go MediaThe MediaShop - Cape Town OMD Hitch Digital MediaPosterscope PHD Omnicom Media Group (OMD) Vizeum (Jhb) Posterscope MediaCom Alphabet SoupCarat - Johannesburg Carat (Jhb) TMI Media PHD Wavemaker Ogilvy Go Media Initiative Media (Jhb)Vizeum (CT) Wavemaker Meta Media (Jhb)Carat - Cape Town Mindshare (Jhb)Carat (Jhb) Vizeum (Jhb) Zenith Mindshare MEC (Jhb) OMD Carat (Jhb) MediaCom MediaCom Top 10 Media oWNeRS 2017-2022: Top 10 Media aGeNCieS 2017-2022: And the personalities that keep you connected Weekdays The weeklyJacarandaFMlineup. SundaySaturday Xola Ntshinga Sport withBester from 06:00 - 09:00 withtheAlex Jay Monday to Friday from 12:00 - 16:00 with Danny Painter SongsLove Monday to Thursday from 19:00 - 22:00 the with Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp Monday to Friday from 09:00 - 12:00 with DJ Jazzy D House the Par ty Friday from 19:00 - 22:00 BreakfastWeekendWeekendBreakfast Alex Jaywith Saturday from 07:00 - 10:00 Sunday from 07:00 - 10:00 Sunday from 10:00 - 14:00 BEST OF BesterMartin Monday to Friday from 16:00 - 19:00 Drive the Robwith Roz& Joe Mann Sport Monday to Friday from 12:00 - 16:00 with Barney Simon & Sascha van GelderRegional Monday to Friday from 04:00 - 06:00 Sunday from 14:00 - 18:00 with DJ Jazzy D SSundayessions Saturday from 10:00 - 14:00 withPainterDanny with DJ Jazzy D ye Saturday from 18:00 - 22:00 Saturday from 14:00 - 18:00 withKhambuleThabiso Saturday from 10:00 - 14:00 Sunday from 18:00 - 22:00 MUSICSHOWSA with Thabiso Khambule

themediaonline.co.za30 i THE MED i A

“He has worked across multiple media platforms, with solid experience in broadcast, print and digital, but also as an ex-media director in a media

The passionate media man with the booming laugh

MEDIA OWNER LEGEND

Janine Bywater, regional manager of Arena’s sales division in Cape Town, calls him “pretty unique” in the

ead of advertising sales at Arena Holdings, Eben Gewers is a self-confessed tech geek with vast knowledge

If the respect of his sales team is anything to go by, Gewers has been a legend in their minds long before the MOST Awards officially conferred this

EbEn GEwErs is the 2022 MOST Awards Media Owner Legend. His staff couldn’t be more proud of him.

Eben Gewers

“He is a wonderfulHonours e classics but is keenly geared for

THE MEDIA I 31themediaonline.co.za shunsplIMAGE:A

also conversationally as in: ‘He’s a legend.’“When I consider Eben, he absolutely deserves this industry accolade because of his application of deep experience within the industry and generous sharing of skills. However, it’s my belief that when most friends and colleagues think of Eben, it’s much more about that conversational ‘He’s a legend’ because of his openness to people and experiences. Eben is always up for anything with anyone,” she“Thisexplains.speaks to the fondness and warmth that Eben evokes within all of us… always even-tempered and a keen storyteller who delivers a point or encourages a laugh, delivered in his well-known baritone with empathy and, more often than not, a cheeky twinkle,” shePhiriadds.believes the accolade of being awarded the Media Owner Legend and Eben’s legacy should be written in print and digital. “He is a wonderful human who honours the classics but is keenly geared for the new – all the while holding on to values that have resulted in great friendships being forged in the industry that last beyond being just“Whatcolleagues.aLegend.”

eben – you legend!

legends 2021Wayne Bischoff 2019 Fahmeeda Cassim-Surtee 2017 Noel Coburn and Terry Moolman 2016Barry Sayer 2015Chris 2009201020112012Linda2013Gill2014AdelaideHitchingsMcKelveyRandallGibsonPeterMckenzieTrevorOrmerodKenVarejes

We are proud to have him in the Arena.

as creatively as possible”. And she adds, “He is also a complete tech geek, so any new innovation is quickly interrogated and discussed. This means that he keeps up with new technology and changes in the media landscape, using this knowledge to empower his teams and encourage broader thinking.”

Phiri ponders the term ‘legend’ and how it’s bandied about the office in reference to Gewers as an accolade for achievement at work, but

Colleague Mandy Phiri, general manager of marketing and Arena Creative Studio at Arena Holdings, agrees. “Eben doesn’t model himself as the last word on everything as he is always keen to learn and is the epitome of an ‘early adopter’. He is a leader who is humble but has the unicorn trait of having confidence as well, and leads his team by example,” she says.

previous media owner

“His teams know that he is a good listener who often has sound advice, even if it’s not work-related. His booming laugh is a comfort in the office environment when times are tough and deadlines are looming!” she enthuses.

experience is invaluable to his teams. As Bywater says, he shares his knowledge with colleagues and his staff so that, “everyone is better equipped to fulfil client’s requirements

Eben is a living legend. He is highly regarded for his in-depth knowledge of the industry but over and above this, he is appreciated for his never-saydie attitude, his jovial disposition, his penchant to keep on learning, his client interaction, and his desire to implement new ideas. The conflation of all these attributes in one special person simply puts him apart in the industry.

“His booming laugH is a comfort in tHe office environment wHen times are tougH and deadlines are looming!”

A graduate of the AAA School of Advertising, Gewers has earned his stripes in the advertising sales arena. He joined Arena (then Tiso Blackstar) in 2017 as deputy general manager of sales and marketing. This, after working at Vizeum as media director – and that position was one he’d pursued after leaving his role as chief sales officer at Gewers’BDFM.

Phiri agrees Gewers is “passionate” about his work but says he is “well rounded in that he has an unnatural interest in anything to do with wheels, tech or business (don’t get him started)” but, she adds, “he is above all an excellent Dad who constantly tries to be and do the best for his son Aaron to shrink geographical distance with love and guidance… and very expensive Lego”.

~ Lyndon Barends, managing director: group commercial and strategy at Arena Holdings

“This has enabled him to understand different perspectives and look at problems – and find solutions – from both sides of the desk.”

“He is also a complete tecH geek, so any new innovation is quickly interrogated and discussed.”

Bywater adds that while Gewers is a passionate media man, he is “first and foremost, an empathetic human being”.

themediaonline.co.za32 I THE MED I A

“Somehow Tannie Gwen juST knowS how To creaTe The perfecT connecTion beTween a media TouchpoinT and The conSumer’S STaTe of mind.”

Media Agency Legend winner GWEN BEZUIDENHOUT joined FCB in 1985 as a junior media planner. Back then, she had to wear stockings and dresses to client meetings. Thirty-six years later the dress code might have changed… but truly inspired media planning never goes out of fashion.

Skwambane, group CEO of the Nahana Communications Group, is clear on Bezuidenhout’s value to the company and her clients. “After more than 35 years at FCB, with her dedication to the media industry and in particular Toyota, the sheer love she has for the entire media industry, her clients and her colleagues is unrivalled anywhere in the media world! She would literally die for her clients, colleagues and media owners,” he enthuses.

She’s all heart

Gwen Bezuidenhout

annie Gwen, says Thabang Skwambane, is “all heart”. There is no other way to describe her.

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When

~ Franette Klerck, general manager of the Pendoring Awards and good friend

has also built some of the strongest and most enviable relationships the industry has ever seen – both within the agency and clients, as well as with media owners,” says Brett Morris, executive creative chair at the Nahana Communications Group.

Morris says despite her many years in the job and at FCB, Bezuidenhout’s

Morris sees Bezuidenhout as a rare, unique individual. “Not only because she is one of the most highly regarded and respected media practitioners in the country, but also because she has dedicated the majority of her career to a single agency and client,” he explains.

passion and dedication to the craft has never waned.

“In fact I’d say, despite some monumental challenges along the way, her commitment and desire to give her agency and client the best possible outcome has only grown stronger by the day. If ever there was a person deserving of recognition by her media colleagues, it has to be Gwen Bezuidenhout. I couldn’t think of anyone has who given more to our industry over the years and continues to do so to this day.”

‘a truE lEGEnd’

Much has changed in the media-planning world since Bezuidenhout began her career in 1985. Not least the massive disruption caused by mass digital transformation.

“dEspItE somE monumEntal cHallEnGEs alonG tHE Way, HEr commItmEnt and dEsIrE to GIvE HEr aGEncy and clIEnt tHE BEst possIBlE outcomE Has only GroWn stronGEr By tHE day.”

Toyota, of course, is the FCB group media account director’s long-term client. In a story published in an FCB Africa publication back in 2016, Bezuidenhout said of the brand: “We have become very good friends – a perfect relationship of professionalism, trust and great friendships.” Her proudest moments, she said, were in 1995 when Toyota was the vehicle sponsor for the Rugby World Cup, and again in 2010 during the Soccer World Cup, when FCB ﬂew the Keep Flying The Flag “Gwencampaign.hasbeen working at FCB on the Toyota business for more than 30 years. In that time she has often set the benchmark for hard-earned media value and authentic media negotiations. Gwen

SUPPLIEDIMAGE: prEvIous mEdIa aGEncy lEGEnds 2021Merissa Himraj 2019 Dawn Rowlands 2018 Celia Collins 2017 Bryan Gibson 2016Josh Dovey 2015Rob 201020112012Gordon2013Michelle2014HarrySmutsHerberMeyjesMullerVirginiaHollisGordonPatterson

themediaonline.co.za34 I THE MED I A MEDIA AGENCY LEGEND

“In an Industry WHErE… loyalty Is Hard to comE By, GWEn sEt tHE standard for tEamWork, consummatE profEssIonalIsm and carEEr-lonG dEdIcatIon.”

“In an industry where the emphasis is generally placed on the individual and loyalty is hard to come by, Gwen set the standard for teamwork, consummate professionalism and career-long dedication.”

Yet Bezuidenhout remained unperturbed. “The world has shifted into the science of data and a great ‘media’ person like Tannie Gwen will always know the science as an art form and a natural skill that is impossible to replicate,” says Skwambane. “Somehow Tannie Gwen just knows how to create the perfect connection between a media touchpoint and the consumer’s state of mind. That is why she stands out head and shoulders above the rest.”

I f ever there was a legend in the media industry, it’s Gwen Bezuidenhout. I met Gwen in 1999 just after I joined Rapport’s media team, but I knew the name even before then… I mean who doesn’t know THE Gwen Bezuidenhout? What an honour to call Gwen a special friend for over 20 years. Her infectious laugh and ability to always f nd humour in even the most stressful situations are qualities that are so inherent to her… and [those qualities] turn any get-together into a much later than planned social, with memories to last a lifetime. Gwen is an icon to many in the media industry and highly respected by all and sundry. Her love and passion for the industry, together with her knowledge, her loyalty and impeccable integrity, makes her a true legend!”

“She is an outstanding employee at DStv Media Sales,” says Cassim-Surtee. “Reﬁloe works hard to meet her client’s expectations and always has the best interests of clients at heart.” And, she adds: “Ref is resilient and always open to new learning. Her work ethic is second to none – she works really hard and spends a lot of time understanding the business. She is professional and always reverts timeously. She is solution-focused.”Ntesoattended the University of Pretoria between 2007 and 2009, studying for a BCom in tourism management, business and marketing management. She furthered her tertiary education at the Vega School, gaining a B.A (Honours) in brand leadership. Despite entering the working world, she has continued to update her skills, studying digital marketing at the Red & Yellow School of Creative leadership, before going

Refloe Nteso

REFILOE NTESO, senior manager of digital operations at DStv Media Sales, is the 2022 MOST Awards Media Owner Rising Star.

A real gem of a human

in the competitive advertising sales environment where understanding client’s perspectives and thinking builds trust and fosters healthy relationships.

THE MEDIA I 35themediaonline.co.za MEDIA OWNER RISING STAR

Reﬁloe Nteso, senior manager of digital operations at DStv Media Sales, is being honoured as the Media Owner Rising Star, something her boss, the formidable Fahmeeda Cassim-Surtee (herself a previous Media Owner Legend and Shepherd Award recipient) reckons is a stepping-stone en route to future leadership positions.

on to get professional certiﬁcation (cum laude) in the discipline… also at Red & Yellow.InherLinkedIn proﬁle, Nteso describes herself as a strong brand specialist and an experienced media professional with a demonstrated history of working in the broadcast industry. She is skilled in advertising, sponsorships, channel integration, negotiation, budgeting and business development. This is a clear testament to her hard work and learning.

Nteso spent four years at Mediamark, starting in 2013 in sponsorship and promotions as a brand implementation specialist before becoming an

uch is being written right now about the value of particularlyleadership.empathicItisimportant

PREVIOUS mEdIa OwnER RISIng STaRS 2021Skhumbuzo Mokoena 2019 Kerri Prissman 2018 Mike van Tonder 2017 Darren 201020112012Jacques2013Jacques201420152016WaneleMcKinnonMongomezuluBrettTuckerNotAwardedDuPreezDuPreezJacquesDuPreezJacquesDuPreez

~ DStv Media Sales

account manager. In 2017, she started at DStv Media Sales as a principal specialist in key accounts before being promoted in 2022 to her current position as senior manager of digital operations.

‘A true legend’

“Refiloe is an amazing human being. Her nurturing style and caring attitude will hold her in good stead for future leadership positions,” she says. “Her work at a local orphanage is testament to the type of person Ref is – she dedicates a lot of her time to a home for abandoned babies in Randburg. She is kind, considerate, thoughtful… a real gem of a human.”

“ref iS reSilient And AlwAyS open to new leArning. her work ethic iS Second to none – She workS reAlly hArd And SpendS A lot of time underStAnding the buSineSS.”

MEDIA OWNER RISING STAR

“She iS Solution-bASed And hAS no problem iS going Above And beyond the cAll of duty to Achieve the required outcomeS.”

In 2021, her employer honoured Nteso as DStv Media Sales’ Business Unit Employee of The Year, something Nteso describes as a “massive honour and privilege.” She wrote: “During a period of so much uncertainty, the MultiChoice Group continued to prove its resilience, strength and care for its people. I am honoured to work for an organisation that recognises its staff in this magnitude. My contribution is a reflection of the amazing teams and stakeholders that I work with.”

On a personal level, Cassim-Surtee has nothing but praise for Nteso.

“Refiloe is always enthusiastic and engaged with any business request, project or client business she is assigned. She is innovative in how she deals with tasks and exhibits solid commitment, creativity and consistency. She is open minded, agile and has a good impact on her peers. Refiloe is a great team player and strives towards being collaborative in order to achieve the end goal. “She is solution-based and has no problem is going above and beyond the call of duty to achieve the required outcomes. She is aligned to the company vision and is helping pioneer our digital transformation journey. Some of her notable achievements include growing her portfolio by 15% and being top of the class for the company’s digital ad sales programme.”

Lorraine Landon, specialist lead SSA at Google is another former client who could not help but sing Trafankowska’s praises on LinkedIn: “From the beginning of Clare’s journey

Clare Trafankowska

Another former client, Audrey Naidoo – head brand council at the Interctive Advertising Bureau of SA, digital marketer, activist and founder of Let’s Talk Digital podcast – also commented on LinkedIn: “I have had the privilege of working with Clare in the last two years on the Absa business. She is a thought leader on all things digital and highly strategic in her approach.

into the digital realm, I have been so impressed with how she has committed herself to acquiring relevant knowledge and skills in order to service us as an agency. She is passionate about her work and gives great thought to her output, creating a sense of trust about the quality of her recommendations.”

ofremarkableResoundinglyagentchange

Innovative, solutions-driven, empowering: CLARE TRAFANKOWSKA embodies all the characteristics of a leader in the making –and all the qualities inherent in a media agency rising star.

lare colleagues,Trafankowska’sclients, peers and counterparts all speak of her in only accolades. “Oh, wow! Where do I even start with the lovely Clare!” exclaims Lana Marais, regional new business director for dentsu Africa. “Clare has made an immeasurable impact over the past 15 years, not only in the industry but in the lives of her peers as a passionate industry expert on both media owner and agency Independentside.”digital media strategist, trainer and consultant Joanne Scholtz, a former client, is one of many to voice their appreciation on LinkedIn: “There are certain people in this world who stand out as professional, thorough and creative, with integrity – and Clare is such a person. Clare adds value to an organisation through her eagerness to assist, learn and give.”

“Clare adds value to an organisation through her eagerness to assist, learn and give.”

themediaonline.co.za MEDIA AGENCY RISING STAR

the mediaonline.co.za37 I THE MEDIA

a partiCipative leader

previouS media agency riSing StarS Norgarb Rodrigues Ricardo

– Lana Marais, regional new business director, dentsu Africa

2019 Julio

an active contributor in futuredevelopingleaderS

2018

“i have never Seen a young perSon So prepared to immediately take on a leaderShip role and deliver great SucceSS for the buSineSS through determination and truSt...”

“She iS reSilient, a challenger, confident, a go-getter and a perSon i can place my truSt in.”

Clare has made an immeasurable impact over the past 15 years, not only in the industry, but in the lives of her peers, as a passionate industry expert on both media owner and agency side.

love working with Clare, she is just an amazing human who is extremely caring, an excellent collaborator and teamDawnplayer.”Rowlands, chief executive ofﬁcer for dentsu Africa, sums it up best: “Clare is a respectful, considered and innovative leader. Her ability to lead people and manage tricky situations with professionalism and humour is her biggest asset. Clare does not shy away from a challenge and is always there to support her

2021Jamie

“Clare Trafankowska is a fantastic candidate for the MOST Awards Media Agency Rising Star,” acknowledges Astrid Staegemann, integrated client lead for dentsu SSA. “Clare is driven to deliver growth, for clients, business and staff alike. What makes Clare remarkable is that she embraces the characteristics of a true leader. She is focused on staff development, she is an advocate for the media industry, she is a true playmaker, and a wonderful colleague. Clare – you deserve thisKoowin!”Govender, CEO of dentsu South Africa, absolutely agrees: “Clare has grown from strength to strength and has grown phenomenally into an amazing leader. Always willing to assist and go the extra mile, Clare is authentic, value oriented and a people’s person who loves to empower her team and to see them grow. Our dentsu clients love working with her as she thrives on ﬁnding innovative solutions to unique challenges whilst maintaining excellent and authentic working relationships throughout. On a personal level, I

Clare invests back into the industry through lecturing and facilitating female empowerment programmes such as Female Foundry and #Iamremarklable, as she believes that active contribution in developing our future leaders of the industry is the only way we can growClaretogether.hasgrown so much herself over the last decade, an I’m so grateful to have been part of this journey with her; I have never seen a young person so prepared to immediately take on a leadership role and deliver great success for the business through determination and trust, from the business and clients as such. Her selfessness inspires me daily and I am merely one of the many lives that she has infuenced throughout her daily life.

colleagues. I have a great admiration for Clare’s current achievements and look forward to seeing her rise further… of which I have absolutely no doubt at all.”

Lopes 2017 Kelvin Storie 2016lsa Gräbe 2015 Ilan 201020112012Tanya2013Chris2014WayneLazarusBishopBothaSchreuderRyanWilliamsChrisBotha

themediaonline.co.za38 I THE MED I A MEDIA AGENCY RISING STAR

It is achievements and effects of this kind and scale that deserves an honour, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this than Clare.

“We worked on the launch of the Absa rebrand campaign in 2018 where she led the media strategy to drive innovation and media consolidation using GMP, resulting in a successful case study with Google. She is resilient, a challenger, conﬁdent, a go-getter and a person I can place my trust Trafankowska’sin.”track record is certainly impressive: a mere four months after joining Carat as a digital account director in 2018, she was promoted to head of digital for Absa and then head of digital for Carat and Dentsu X in 2019. In 2020, she was again promoted to managing director for iProspect SA – and in July this year, was appointed to lead both the iP and Vizeum SA teams into the newly integrated iProspect.

SUPPLIEDIMAGE:

www.jcdecauxafrica.com DATA SOLUT ONS Creating Value through insights Mixing local and global data unlocks the potential of both OOH and DOOH campaigns. JCDecaux Data Solutions’ purpose is to ooer ever more eoective solutions to our stakeholders so that you can leverage data to optimise your campaigns in all countries across the world. Whether pre, during or post-campaign, the consistent approach to OOH is "data by design", in order to deliver improved results for advertisers. Audience Insights & Outcomes Reach Socio-demoFrequencybehavioursGRPCostpercontact Brand Outcomes FavourabilityPerceptionActionintent Conversions Outcomes Online and physical traac OOH + SEM + social media ROAS Cost per visit / sales Sales uplift

Chris Botha

“EvEn thEn, watching from a distancE, it was clEar that hE was a rising star with ExcEptional lEadErship qualitiEs.”

Leading from the front

SHEPHERD AWARD

themediaonline.co.za40 i THE MED i A

ChrisagencywasTheservicesmarketingmanager.MediaShopourmediasoand

I can’t remember which accounts he specifically worked on, but we interacted quite often, as he would brief me from time to time on his respective clients. We were a similar age and, with his approachable demeanour, he made it easy for us to engage him on various opportunities on our radio platforms.

This marked the beginning of a relationship that would stretch over 20Weyears.didn’t interact much after I left the SABC, but our paths would cross again when I joined Peermont Global in 2007 as group

At the time, it was quite daunting to sell vernacular radio stations to a predominantly white, middle-aged media community who had little to no interaction with black people and black consumers. So, as a young man in the industry, I had to build strong relationships, deliver creative solutions and execute all client campaigns to ensure ongoing revenue.

y career within the media industry started in 1999 at SABC’s Radio Active, which was the radio commercial sales and trade marketing division. I was an account executive responsible for the nine African language stations, servicing a portfolio of agencies.

In 2003, I had to service the mighty The MediaShop as part of my agency portfolio. It was already one of the biggest media agencies, with a large staff complement. As such, one had to navigate around the two wings of their building to get to meet everyone. In the process I met the young, energetic, passionate and knowledgeable media strategist, Chris Botha.

KGAUGELO MAPHAI writes a personal tribute to his former colleague, CHrIs BOtHA, winner of this year’s Shepherd Award. This honour is bestowed on someone who not only has a significant presence in the media industry, but also selflessly gives back to it.

I was humbled by the opportunity to be part of his leadership team at this legendary agency. Its legacy is embedded in media history as South Africa’s first independent media agency. I worked directly with Chris in what felt like coming full circle.

Having started at the ‘bottom’ as juniors and, through hard work, dedication and passion, we both got to work together in leadership roles guiding arguably South Africa’s mostawarded and recognised media agency.

THE MEDIA I 41themediaonline.co.za SUPPLIEDIMAGE:

2016 Not 2015GordonAwardedPatterson

~ Gordon Muller, GMM Media Group and former MOST Shepherd Award winner.

I had an opportunity to reconnect and engage from time to time. He had also grown within the agency ranks and was making waves within the industry as a leading media strategist.

he is a trailblazer, a ConsCientious, reliable, and hard-working thought-leader who is Committed to the betterment of this industry we all love.

While we did not always agree on some issues, there was always mutual respect and we could ‘agree to disagree’. Our journey has been an interesting one with the various inflection points we have encountered over the past two decades. Who knows what the future still holds?

I truly believe that Chris has been an asset to the agency and industry as a whole. He is a trailblazer, a conscientious, reliable, and hard-working thought leader who is committed to the betterment of this industry we all love.

I appreciated the trust he had in me. Understanding that my appointment was in line with the company’s transformation strategy, we both worked well in ensuring we delivered effectively on this mandate and that it was done in an authentic and sustainable way.

A man who will say what he thinks. And a man who will do what he says.

Even then, watching from a distance, it was clear that he was a rising star with exceptional leadership qualities. Along the way, his efforts were rewarded when he was recognised as media innovator of the year in 2010 and, in 2013, was listed as one of the Mail & Guardian’s top 200 young SouthChrisAfricans.wenton to reach the apex of the organisation he has been with for over two decades when he took the helm from the legendary Harry Herber upon his retirement, and assumed the role of Group MD at The MediaShop. At this juncture, our paths crossed again when I was appointed managing director of the Johannesburg office in 2017, a role he had previously occupied.

Park Advertising, to diversify revenue opportunities. With other long-standing executives who have worked with Chris over the last two decades, Bonita Bachmann and Sean Clarke, the team remains solid to take the group to the next level under his leadership.

He gave me the latitude to get on with the job at hand and also to contribute towards the agency’s evolution, transition and continued

success in industry awards, winning new business and retaining current clients. The culture of the organisation was positive and became our greatest asset.

Chris has always been a team player and the fruit of that is evinced by the consistent performance of Park Advertising in MOST Awards over many years. His contribution to various industry bodies is well documented but it is often the contribution at an individual level that is most significant.

In conclusion, Chris, I am proud of all your achievements to date and keep following your purpose. With faith, anything is possible.

previous shepherd award winners Cassim-Surtee Brenda Wortley Rina Broomberg Muller

2021Fahmeeda

2019

One of the biggest projects we embarked on while I was at The MediaShop was the formation of the media holding company, Park Advertising. This also led to the formation of sister company, MetaTodayMedia.heis the group MD and has gone on to set up other verticals with

2018

2017 Gordon

a man who says what he thinks and does what he says

Chris continues to support various industry initiatives and also leads from the front. He has availed himself to serve on different industry boards over the years and continues to sit on the Advertising Media Forum board. He has always made time to meet media owners and various industry stakeholders in the interest of sharing information and assisting others to make informed business decisions.

“Chris Continues to support various industry initiatives and also leads from the front.”

In an industry too often characterised by turbulent waters, it’s reassuring to find industry leaders like Chris Botha who epitomise the counter narrative: still waters run deep.

Kgaugelo Maphai is the chairman of the Matrix Group.

Reading delivers recall

Sandra

The Bell Award honours an individual who, though not working for a media owner or agency, has made an exceptional contribution to the betterment of the media sector. PETER LANGSCHMIDT is the 2022 winner.

He has also served on the IAB measurement council, responsible for weighting the IAB surveys back to the online universe derived from other surveys. In addition, he consults to blue chip companies on changes within the local landscape, research, brand strategy and positioning, as well as advertising ROI.

He’s also renowned for how he shares those insights, reeling in audiences with a delivery of stark insights punctuated with dry wit and unpretentious humour.

“Peterhard”.is an iconoclast by nature and he has always championed the cause of ensuring that the reliability of media research in South Africa remains on par with global best practice,” he adds.

Says Gordon: “Peter is well known for his presentation style. Agency leaders who attended media owner research presentations enjoyed his thatcocktailhishumourandwisecracksself-effacing–andanticsatthesessionsfollowed!”

eter ‘Please, call me Pete’ Langschmidt is a legend in an industry boasting a number of mavericks, asserts MOST Awards founder

of the major newspaper, magazine and website publishing groups in South Africa, as well as the smaller independent publishers.

BELL AWARD

A research consultant who specialises in assisting media owners with maximising shareholder value and making the transition from print to digital, Langschmidt has spent over 30 years in research and advertising. He is the lead consultant to the Publisher Research Council, which conducts audience and efficacy research for all

“UnderGordon.thisfaçade though, lurks an incredibly smart mind with an unusual approach to marketing strategy and research,” adds Gordon. “I say unusual because he is not a slave to fashionable research trends: he drives his own well thought out media research breakthroughs – data fusion is a good example – and insists on facts and figures to support the projects he works on for clients. He is also a pragmatist who sees the bigger picture and digs deep into data for insights.”

“Pete’s contribution to the media industry over the past four decades cannot be exaggerated,” notes Gordon Muller of GSM Quadrant. “His oeuvre of work represents a fusion of the scientific attention to detail of a true researcher, with the passion and agile reasoning and application of anMuller,entrepreneur.”hostofDoc and Guru podcast and himself a former winner of the Media Agency Legend and the Shepherd Award, reckons Langschmidt has achieved a black belt in “work hard – play

themediaonline.co.za42 i THE MED i PeteALangschmidt

Hardly surprising then, that Langschmidt is recognised as the guru’s guru.

SUPPLIEDIMAGE:

2021Beatrice

belief in data fusion – the combining of surveys into one aggregated single view of the customer – will forever remain part of the Pete legacy.”

2018 Neil

The Publisher Research Council launched its new READ currency in 2021. It has brought major changes to current research methodology, moving away from a single survey to aggregated and fused data.

The guru’s guru

“Everything about the READING currency calculation may be new but reading still traditionally delivers the most memorable recall in advertising messages in terms of products, prices and places to buy them.” ~ Peter Langschmidt

PreVIous beLL AwArD wINNers Kubheka Jennifer Daniel and Clare O’Neil Higgs Jonathan Shapiro (Zapiro) Kuper Not Awarded

THE MEDIA I 43themediaonline.co.za

2019

reADINg DeLIVers reCALL

2015

So, as Muller states: “This bell can be rung loud and proud for welldeserved recognition.”

Langschmidt’s contribution to research in the country is generational, reveals Gordon: “His father, Wally Langschmidt, was an icon in the research sector and both sons, Teddy (resident in Canada) and Peter, have carved career paths as researchers, strategists and presenters.”

– Gordon Muller, GSM Quadrant

“As an industry leader and driving force in South African media research for so many years it has become common practice to call on him for advice –which he generously provides expecting only a cold beer or martini in return,” notes Gordon, before concluding: “His

“hIs oeuVre of work rePreseNTs A fusIoN of The sCIeNTIfIC ATTeNTIoN To DeTAIL of A True reseArCher, wITh The PAssIoN AND AgILe reAsoNINg AND APPLICATIoN of AN eNTrePreNeur.”

2016Jos

2017

“It’s not quite true I had nothing on; I had the radio on.” ~ Marilyn Monroe With the Radio Awards set for 26 November, what better time to get your radio on? The Media is celebrating excellence in all things audio. Make sure your voice is heard. Out in NovembeR 2022 TARiN-Lee WATTs Telephone: +27(0) 79 504 7729 email: twatts@themediaonline.co.za

Media24 Lifestyle is the leading role player in the South African magazine industry. We publish 77% of the magazines sold nationally at magazine stands, and eight of our brands are among the top 10. Our interests extend to multiple platforms including digital media, television, video, eventing and ecommerce, as well as other diversification. We use the power of 360-degree brands and our culture of entrepreneurship to create experiences that can be accessed anytime, anywhere. Our Lifestyle content includes education, travel, food, fashion, beauty, agriculture, health and wellness, home and décor, and DIY.