Opinion BY Armin

And Partners Make Seven

Established in 1968, Sterling Cooper & Partners (SC&P) is one of the leading advertising agencies in New York, NY and is the result of a merger between Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce (est. 1963) and previous competitor Cutler Gleason and Chaough. SC&P’s current list of clients includes Chevrolet, Mohawk Airlines, Manischevitz Wines, and Ocean Spray and Sunkist (which is a conflict of interests). When first merged, the agency attempted to adopt Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce Cutler Gleason and Chaough as a name and SCDPPCG as an acronym but soon after settled on the name Sterling Cooper & Partners honoring the original partners, Bertram Cooper and Roger Sterling Sr. (current Roger Sterling’s daddy), who had founded the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency in 1923. Yesterday, the agency introduced its new logo through a press release issued for immediate release. No design credit was given.

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Opinion BY Armin

Shaw and Awe

Established in 1971, Shaw Communications is a Canadian communications and media company that provides broadband cable television, Internet, home phone, telecommunications services, and satellite direct-to-home services to over 3.4 million customers combined. They also operate 18 specialty networks, including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY and Showcase. As I think I understand it, Shaw ranks fourth in the telecom business in Canada behind giants Bell, Rogers, and Telus, all of whom have very strong presence so Shaw needs any help it can get to get chosen by customers. Yesterday, they introduced a refreshed logo, a new tagline — “You won’t miss a thing.” — new national TV commercial by Vancouver-based Rethink, and a couple of new mascots, Bit and Bud.

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Opinion BY Armin

Optimum has the Last Word

Owned by Cablevision, Optimum offers cable, Internet, and voice service throughout the New York and New Jersey area, with another area of service throughout Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah. Optimum has had a case of logo-itis, with far too many logos (see one of the first images below) mostly due because they separated their offerings as Optimum Online, Optimum Interactive, Optimum Voice, plus the main Optimum logo. Last week Optimum introduced a new logo designed by New York, NY-based COLLINS:, and new advertising by Mother NY.

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Opinion BY Armin

M Opposite W

Established in 1997 McCann Worldgroup is the parent company of eight businesses, including the well-known, global advertising agency McCann Erickson — in turn well known for acquiring Sterling Cooper in 1963 — and brand agency Futurebrand. McCann Worldgroup is owned by giant Interpublic Group. At the beginning of the year McCann Worldgroup announced the launch of a new identity, designed by Futurebrand, and it has been gradually rolling out this year.

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Opinion BY Armin

A River Runs Through It

Operating 20 television networks, 82 radio stations, and 8,000 outdoor advertising spaces, Astral Media is one of Canada’s largest media corporations, employing 2,800 employees across the country. Originally started in 1961 as a photo concession service within a store, it dabbled in various fields, from film and TV production to videocassette duplication, before growing into the conglomerate it is today that “plays a central role in community life across the country by offering diverse, rich and vibrant programming that meets the tastes and needs of consumers and advertisers.” Last week, Astral Media announced it would change its public name to, simply, Astral and introduced a new identity and advertising campaign by Toronto-based Juniper Park.

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