SPORTSNET HIRES ROBERT COLE MEDIA, ROLLS OUT NEW LOOK
By Adnews Staff
Toronto-based 24-hour sports network Sportsnet has appointed Montreal-based Robert Cole Media its national/regional advertising sales representative for the Montreal and Ottawa markets. The appointment is effective July 1. Robert Cole Media, which represents a number of television stations for advertising sales in the two markets, was appointed based on a referral. Sportsnet also began rolling out a new on-air look on Friday. New graphics will appear on the network's on-air promotions, channel I.D.'s and billboards, external advertising and on its Web site at <http://www.sportsnet.ca>. David Ballingall, vice-president of marketing for Sportsnet, said the new look is "clean and contemporary" and gives a "family look" to the network's regional channels Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet West, Sportsnet Ontario and Sportsnet East. Created in-house, the look uses white space and bright colours. "Part of the Sportsnet personality is unpredictability, which gives us permission to change the colors around," said Dean Bender, Sportsnet's creative director. A two-week teaser campaign consisting of five-second spots began running earlier this month leading up to the debut of the new look. Thirty-second regional image spots and five- and 15-second channel I.D. spots began running on Friday to support changes. A campaign involving the network's on-air personalities is also planned.