Execs & Accounts for September 7, 2004

Aegis Group has consolidated all its digital media holdings into a single network, dubbed Isobar. The new interactive media behemoth launches with total billings of $500 million and a presence in 19 countries. The move occurred in July but wasn’t made public until this week, when Aegis announced its results for the first half of 2004.

“With large marketers fueling demand for interactive services the market is seeing growth in excess of 20 percent per annum and it is anticipated that Isobar will grow to become a significant part of the group’s media operation over the next three years,” the company said in its earnings report.

Rubin Postaer and Associates (RPA) developed an online and outdoor promotion for client Honda. The campaign, promoting the new 2005 Odyssey Minivan, includes a 24-hour takeover of Reuters.com and outdoor media placements, including one on the Reuters sign in Times Square. On September 22, the date of the new car’s launch, Honda will be the exclusive advertiser on Reuters.com.

“Because our last Honda Odyssey campaign with Reuters was so successful, RPA was very interested in partnering with them for the second year,” said Meridee Alter, RPA’s media director.

PlanetOut, a gay and lesbian online media company, will use Tacoda’s Audience Management System to package audience segments it can then sell to advertisers. PlanetOut’s properties include Gay.com, PlanetOut.com, Kleptomaniac.com and OutandAbout.com.

“Tacoda’s… program impressed us with its significant track record and we’re looking forward to bringing enhanced advertising options to the market with this behavioral targeting tool,” said PlanetOut President Mark Elderkin.