Disvoery Launches New Solutions to 10th Anniverssay ( Asia )

Television Asia: "... Discovery�s new solutions launch on eve of 10th anniversary celebrations
Discovery Networks Asia has introduced the Discovery Solutions group concept from the US as part of the drive to boost commercial revenue. The move comes as the Singapore-based regional service celebrates its 10th anniversary in Asia. A new look for the flagship Discovery Channel will be unveiled as part of the official celebrations at the end of March. The global solutions group was formed in the US in 2002, and now spans the company�s operations in Asia, India, Europe and Latin America. Discovery says the group will �cater to the special needs of global and multi-regional advertisers who are looking for integrated campaigns that move beyond traditional spot advertising�. Major Discovery clients are Samsung and Tourism New Zealand. The idea is to �deliver customised, integrated marketing partnerships to clients in Europe, Asia, Latin America and India,� says Dawn McCall, president of Discovery Networks International. Simeon Dawes (above) has moved to Singapore to head up the Discovery Asia Solutions team. Discovery Networks Asia�s managing director, Neville Meijers, says the team will comprise members of marketing, programming, on-air and advertising sales. �Their responsibility is to make sure that ad sales is supported in whatever they need to deliver the deal, whether it�s spots, vignettes or a more complicated solutions deal that involves programming,� he says. Meijers says to date no one has �actually sat down with clients to try to understand where they are going in the next three years and try to build a media strategy with them to satisfy their needs�. The new approach, he adds, allows clients to become involved in programming �so that in a year�s time or 18 months time, when that programming comes to fruition, they know they have "