The Media: MOST Awards issue 2023

Winners adapt to change

M edia agenc Y o F the Y ear

c arat Johannesburg

M edia o W ner o F the Y ear

d igital t urbine, no W kno W n as heed

M edia agenc Y legend

b onita b ach M ann

M edia o W ner legend

g iven Mkhari

M edia agenc Y rising star

a drian n aidoo

M edia o W ner rising star

Michelle r andall s harnock

M ost ad M ired M arketing and

M edia pro F essional

a vtaar M ohanlall

bell a W ard

Mike l eah Y

shepherd a W ard

c elia c ollins

All the other winners inside

On the record…

As the 2023 MOST Awards magazine goes live, we are at the event, once more back at The Wanderers… The place is buzzing, networkers are at it, and the media industry is having a party.

It seems like nothing has changed. But it has.

Now in its 13th year, having launched in 2009 (and having missed 2020 due to you-know-what), the mission of the MOST Awards remains the same: to recognise and rate the service media owner sales teams and their agency partners provide each other, with the goal of motivating and inspiring the sector to strive for excellence.

A new advisory board stepped into the arena this year. Its purpose, says founder of the MOST Awards, Sandra Gordon, is to ensure the awards retain their relevance in a changing media world. “…We need to interrogate the reason for its existence or purpose, and the value to the sector as a whole,” she says.

And while sweeping changes have not been actioned in 2023, the MOST Awards advisory panel faces an exciting challenge going into 2024. At the panel’s inaugural meeting, members reminded themselves why the MOST Awards were created.

Gordon puts it succinctly: “The end goal is to create understanding, appreciation and collaboration between media agencies and media owners, and hence to the benefit of marketers. To do this, the MOST Awards has to be seen as being ‘by the industry, for the industry’, with platforms, categories, and the overall research questionnaires constantly reviewed and agreed upon.”

The fact that this year’s responses to the MOST survey were the highest ever would appear to indicate interest in the awards has never been stronger. As researcher Brad Aigner from FGI points out, the mix of winners includes perennial favourites as well as new contenders.

Congratulations to all the media owners and media agencies whose scores took them to the top of the list. And to our Legends, Rising Stars, Bell and Shepherd winners: you are the people who oil the wheels of our industry, making it better in so many ways.

In terms of the individual awards, a new one was introduced this year: The MOST Admired Marketing and Media Manager of the Year, a nod of recognition to the role brands play in the lives of media owners and media agencies.

The last three years have been far from easy, not just because of the pandemic, but also because technology and innovation are forging full speed ahead. Last year we were annoyed by irritating chatbots and didn’t even know what ChatGPT was. Now we have to learn how to prompt AI creations to better engage with them, and to find the answers we’re looking for, or the services we need them to undertake.

Beam me up, Scottie!

The Media.

Got to love it.

Glenda

www.themediaonline.co.za

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Copyright: The Media 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 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.

Resilience, RewaRded!

The sheer determination to get things done has driven us to explore new horizons.

The notion of teamwork has evolved dramatically. We marvel at the inclusion of clients and agencies as integral parts of a team. The barriers between clients, media agencies, and media owners have blurred, resulting in remarkable outcomes from shared empathy, aligned goals, and enhanced collaboration.

They say time flies when you’re having fun – and 2023 certainly is flying by!

it hasn’t been a year without hiccups, but the optimism the media industry continues to show is amazing, and worthy of a celebration.

The MOST Awards is the occasion that marks a pivotal moment in celebrating excellence within South Africa’s dynamic media landscape. We find ourselves at the crossroads of an industry that has not only persevered, but thrived, amidst a backdrop of unprecedented challenges.

The past few years have been a testament to the remarkable resilience and adaptability of our industry.

Our media landscape has undergone profound changes that have reshaped the way we work, and engage with our audiences. The industry continues to evolve, driven by technology advances, changing consumer behaviours, and the ever-shifting demands of our clients.

In this dynamic environment, the pursuit of excellence has been our guiding star. We have seen media professionals rise to the occasion, pushing the boundaries of creativity, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Excellence, in this context, isn’t merely about delivering results; it’s about innovation, integrity, and a relentless dedication to achieving the best outcomes for our clients and partners.

In 2023, we’ve seen media agencies and sales teams embrace data-driven strategies, harnessing the power of AI and analytics to deliver more personalised and impactful campaigns. This commitment to excellence has not only driven business growth, it has also enriched the media landscape with content that informs, entertains, and inspires.

The strength of the industry has been forged through transformation and collaboration, leading to more symbiotic relationships with clients. Silos have crumbled, giving rise to a new era of teamwork and partnership.

We’ve witnessed the power of innovation and technology in action.

Teamwork and relationship building have taken on renewed significance. The resulting synergy has led to ground-breaking campaigns that resonate with audiences on a profound level. This shift towards closer collaboration has not only enhanced the efficacy of the work, but has also fortified the bonds within our industry.

Behind the scenes of the MOST Awards 2023 lies an intricate web of partnerships and collaborations that deserve our utmost gratitude.

We extend our sincere thanks to FGI Research, who has diligently conducted the industry-wide survey that underpins the MOST Awards, and BDO for once again reviewing the results, to maintain credibility.

Our award sponsors and partners have been the pillars of support that enable us to recognise and celebrate excellence within our industry.

We extend our sincere thanks to Jacaranda FM, Primedia Broadcasting, DStv Media Sales, Yfm, The MediaShop, Paramount, Mediamark, Spark Media, Nalesa Media, GH Media, Ebony & Ivory, Torque Media, Campus Media, IMM, Digital Turbine (now officially known as heed), Entravision, The Media Online, Financial Mail Redzone, 947, 702, EWN and CapeTalk.

And last but certainly not least, a heartfelt thanks to all media sales professionals. You are the heartbeat of the MOST Awards.

The MOST Awards project manager, Jade Searle says the awards reflect a new spirit of teamwork and collaboration.

08 THE WINNERS

Freshly Ground Insights’ researcher Brad Aigner reveals how the 2023 MOST Awards winners fared, and explores results that feature some perennial favourites, as well as newcomers challenging the status quo.

34 A REAL MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR

The Media Owner Legend 2023 is Given Mkhari, founder and chairperson of the MSG Afrika Group, which includes POWER FM and Capricor n FM among its assets.

36 A TOUGH NEGOTIATOR

Lauded for her long-term commitment to her clients, and her people, Bonita Bachmann, managing director of The MediaShop Cape Town, takes the title of Media Agency Legend 2023.

39 UNFLAPPABLE AND FOCUSED

Media Owner Rising Star, Digital Turbine’s Michelle Randall Sharnock, is much admired by her employers and her clients alike.

40 CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO

A visionary leader with an uncanny grasp of human behaviour: meet Media Agency Rising Star, Mindshare South Africa’s Adrian Naidoo.

41 AVTAAR, THE WAY OF THE MEDIA

Avtaar Mohanlall, senior media manager at Heineken, is the inaugural winner of a new MOST award: the MOST Admired Media and Marketing Professional.

42 A WEALTH OF INFORMATION IN HIS HANDS

The Bell Award for 2023 goes to Mike Leahy, founder of Media Manager Africa, in recognition of its unparalleled service to the industry

43 STICK YOUR NECK OUT

Celia Collins, vice president of Publicis Media, is the 2023 winner of the Shepherd Award, in honour of her honest, unstinting and generous service to media.

THANK YOU! MEET THE MOST AWARDS’ 2023 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.

‘Form is temporary. Class is permanent’

Change may be constant: Brad aigner reveals all the winners, unpacks all the categories and analyses the results – to share some surprising twists and turns.

most a wards for m edia o wners

This year’s MOST Awards Survey, which garnered 654 record-breaking responses, reveals a mix of winners that include perennial top-performers as well as newcomers to the top rankings. And, given the feedback shared by many respondents, these teams have delivered top-class service, and performance excellence, in a highly competitive and demanding industry.

Along with the winners by category, below are some of the comments on them, by voters.

r adio Category

The radio category in the MOST Awards has traditionally been fiercely competitive, with the top performers often being separated by very small margins. This year’s results show a slightly different picture, however, with winner Mediamark achieving a significantly higher score than its rivals.

only do they keep their promise to deliver results; you can expect added value, too. I would recommend them to any brand considering breaking through digital noise and being able to create compelling messages for your audiences in the most innovative way.”

Considering that Mediamark has been ranked first in the MOST Awards survey no less than eight previous years, there should be no doubt that the team takes its service delivery and reputation v ery seriously.

Y (previously YFM) and Primedia Broadcasting fill the second and third positions in the rankings respectively. Y, which was also ranked second in the category in last year’s MOST Awards, will surely be inspired to snatch the coveted top spot in next year’s survey.

Judging by what many of the respondents had to say about the Y team, this is not beyond its reach. One said: “They always show up when needed and aren’t afraid to push their own boundaries to find the best solution in the spirit of collaboration and shared value.”

The Mediamark team, ranked third in last year’s survey, has clearly taken its sales service to the next level and should be justifiably pleased with and proud of this year’s result. Significantly, 73 of the respondents who rated the Mediamark team’s sales service efficacy also said it was the best overall performer in the category.

One voter said: “Mediamark tends to have the most accessible reps in the category; the team responds to queries efficiently. What I particularly enjoy about Mediamark above any of the other radio partners is that they don’t purely push product. When they come up with proactive ideas to cross sell radio, these tend to be very strongly aligned to brand principles and direction, whereas I often find that many of the other radio partners try to retrofit the rationale of a brand partnership to a pre-existing station asset.”

Another commented: “Mediamark is represented by some of the most skilled people I know. They are passionate about their work and it shows. Mediamark’s offering is way above average; they provide the most innovative solutions and are able to concisely explain what these solutions entail. Not

Another shared: “Administration is wonderful: returning calls; delivering what was promised before deadline... You feel they are there to help you and your client and not just to make their commission.”

Primedia Broadcasting has also tasted significant success with the MOST Awards, having ranked first in its category in 2014 and from 2018-2021, so is likely to be determined to get to the top again.

The Primedia Broadcasting team, which collected 58 ‘best in category’ votes, was described as being the best because: “They offer innovative solutions to our briefs. They always keep us updated on what is happening at their stations and they are always trying to find new and exciting ways to reach campaign objectives.

“They are very inclusive when it comes to developing a strategy for a campaign and they give us, as a client, freedom to also pass around suggestions of what we think could work. They are very effective in their communication. It also helps that their team is patient and kind. Our sales account executive is an absolute pleasure to work with.”

t elevision Category

In the 2021 and 2022 surveys, television and cinema media owners were combined into one ‘audiovisual’ category; in 2023, these were once again split into separate categories. The winner of the MOST Awards for television media owners in 2023 is e.tv, which achieved an impressive 8.02 MOST Awards score. The sales teams at eNCA and DStv Media Sales ranked second and third in the television category, respectively.

DStv Media Sales continued its peculiar (and probably frustrating) trend of collecting more ‘best in category’ votes than any other media owner in the category… without achieving the top ranking.

Of these 63 respondents, one had the following to say about the DStv Media Sales team: “Their understanding and in-depth knowledge of the media industry is exceptional; they have a very firm grip on the technical intricacies and challenges of television, the methodology and minutiae of the medium... They’re consummate professionals: visible, attentive, and add value to engagements.”

Cinema Category

Judging from previous years’ results, and comments from respondents, the e.tv advertising sales team goes about its business quietly and efficiently, providing a most professional service.

This sentiment was supported in some of this year’s comments, including: “They are a pleasure to work with, and very friendly. They make you feel important and give you a sense that they really value the business you are offering. They assist you promptly, come with solutions, are always reachable, and their contracts are always correct.”

Another said: “e.tv’s service delivery is exceptional, including from both sales and administrative points of view. They understand our client challenges and their appreciation of urgency is a step ahead in the TV category.”

The e.tv team has evidently developed something beyond functional sales service delivery, which is difficult to achieve. One respondent shared their view: “Their competitive nature pushes them to do whatever it takes to prove they are the best. That energy comes through in their team and it inspires you too!”

While there are only two players in the cinema category, the rivalry between the two teams has traditionally been no less fierce than within any other category. This year is no exception, with both teams achieving excellent service criteria scores – and a miniscule margin between them. The winner of the cinema category in this year’s survey is the Ster-Kinekor sales team, which just pipped the team from Cinevation Popcorn into the top spot.

Notably, this is the sixth consecutive year that Ster-Kinekor Sales has won its MOST Awards category, a remarkable achievement.

Here is what one person had to say about them: “The team is excellent. Considering the Covid-19 impact, they have come through and the team has really come out with a great attitude to get cinema back to where it should be. Fun to deal with, and all-round great people with great knowledge.”

Another said, “They have really good CSR initiatives and drive a holistic and inclusive approach to their media.”

There was very little in the scores separating Ster-Kinekor from its rival in the rankings this year, a sentiment shared by a respondent about the Cinevation Popcorn team: “At the helm of sales is a very experienced person. They haven’t got as much inventory as Ster-Kinekor, but they work hard and try very hard to give their very best. The two companies are not very far apart in performance – if I could, I would give them the same rating!”

Out-of-Home Category

With 37 companies listed in this category, there is little doubt out-of-home media is one of the most competitive channels in our market. The winner of the out-of-home category this year is the team from Relativ Media, a feat which it previously achieved in 2019. Ranking second this year is newcomer to the podium, Epic Outdoor, followed by last year’s category winner, Primedia Outdoor, in third position.

d igital Category

Digital is another category that has always been keenly contested in the MOST Awards. As it is experiencing rapid growth, with numerous entrants bringing in various innovations in recent years, there is little doubt that all players in the category would have had to be at the top of their game. Evidence of this is the outstanding achievement by digital player AdColony, which won the MOST Award for the overall best media owner for three years running (2018-2021). While it possibly might have slipped below its own high expectations in 2022, it should come as little surprise that the team, now branded as Digital Turbine, is back at the top spot in 2023!

The Relativ Media MOST score was impressive, with the media owner also receiving 20 ‘best in category’ votes.

According to one respondent, this is what set the Relativ Media apart from its competitors. “Relativ Media always looks for the best sites. Their prices are very competitive. Their delivery service is quick, and answering emails or texts is done within a couple of hours. Should a specific creative piece not be working somewhere, they will suggest an alternative site. They always resolve issues timeously and their staff are well trained at all levels.”

Another said, “Their inventory is top class, especially their digital boards. Our account manager is hands down the best I’ve ever dealt with. Their overall approach is one of partnership, which goes a long way to achieving successful campaigns for the client.”

Considering the small margin between the top two in the category, Epic Outdoor is undoubtedly one to watch.

This is what someone had to say about the team: “Epic is a perfect mix of getting OOH right, introducing innovative digital solutions (eg: the largest solar board), investing in their business and people and ensuring that theirs is a great product that clients want. They are easy to work with, and always deliver on promises.”

The team has also evidently been able to push the boundaries of innovation in the category. A respondent commented, “Epic Outdoor are very collaborative, and having come out with the solar-panelled digital screen is a game changer. Looking forward to seeing what other innovative ideas comes from them.”

With a MOST score of 8.44 and 22 ‘best in category’ votes, the Digital Turbine team is a force to be reckoned with.

Here is what one voter had to say about the team: “Solutions. Solutions. Solutions. They are able to provide great solutions for our clients and deliver a great product. Their sales teams are knowledgeable, proactive and always looking to drive innovation. They are constantly trying to ensure that their measurement is of the highest level, which aids in delivering great reach for our clients. A pleasure to work with,”

Another explained: “Risen steadily to the top of the game over the past number of years. They are not just a service provider, but also a pioneer and thought leader, driving hard conversations about topical issues affecting the industry – and coming up with the solutions, too.”

Taking up second and third place in the category this year were Mediamark Digital and Adspace24, respectively. These are good achievements for both teams, considering that Mediamark was last placed in the top three in the category in 2018, and that Adspace24

(the amalgamation between Ads24 and The SpaceStation) was the first ever winner of the digital category, when it traded as 24.com.

One respondent had this to say about the Mediamark Digital team: “Mediamark is my go-to partner for all things digital. Their execution of campaigns is normally flawless.”

And here’s why the Adspace24 team was rated highly: “Very knowledgeable, dynamic team that strives for excellence in delivering the best media campaigns, with strategic plans for optimal performance and ROI.”

n ewspapers Category

This category was previously (2021-2022) combined with the magazines category to create a print media category but was readjusted in 2023. This year’s winner is the team from Spark Media, repeating its achievement in the 2018 MOST Awards rankings.

Spark Media can be proud of its sales service this year, which prompted one respondent to share the following: “The team at Spark Media is extremely helpful and friendly. They make the time and effort to listen to your wants and needs, however strange, and try their best to provide the most efficient and reliable service. They go above and beyond to assist with all requests and queries, even if the publications are not part of their group.”

Another commented: “A company is as good as its staff... so that explains some of the good stuff, and they always give back to the industry with their own research and information sharing, too.”

m agazines Category

The magazines category has no doubt suffered from the demise of two leading publishers in recent years, so the challenge for brands in this category was not only to stay relevant to their markets, but also to maintain the highest levels of advertising sales service excellence. One team has managed to do this: Media24 Lifestyle Magazines, this year’s winner. The Media24 Lifestyle team is strong, to the extent that it has been able to compete with the best of the best, despite the undoubted change and resulting pressure in its category. Testament to this was the team’s achievement of being recognised and ranked as the top overall best media owner in the 2022 MOST Awards. With 26 ‘best in category’ votes, a respondent said of the Media24 team: “They go above and beyond the call of duty to provide excellent service, deals and innovative ideas. They also include other media types in their offering, which gives legs to communication strategies. Of all the media types, magazines have had to reinvent themselves totally to adapt to the changing landscape and Media24 have done well.”

Another commented: “Their magazines cover all categories of readers and have great readership. We had achieved excellent results from advertising.”

Both Adspace24 and Arena Holdings might be scratching their heads over missing the top spot by such a small margin. The MOST scores suggest there really was little separating the three companies.

One respondent shared the following sentiment about the Adspace24 team: “They are innovative and adjust to the changing media landscape. Invest in research of their brands and share with the industry. Service is great.”

And another person said of Arena Holdings: “Arena have been a fantastic media partner over the years, driving bespoke campaigns for clients, tailored to their objectives and business goals. Quality of their audiences is also often unmatched by other media owners.”

Regrettably, none of the other brands listed in the category received enough votes to qualify for a ranking.

Multimedia Category

The multimedia category is a ‘group’ type category in the MOST Awards that lists organisations or brands selling media space in two or more media categories. In this year’s survey, 14 entities were listed in the category, with last year’s runner-up, Mediamark, achieving the coveted top spot.

Media s ales Consultants

It is evident from the MOST Awards research data that the Mediamark team has been striving to entrench its 360-degree, multimedia offering and positioning. Twenty-one of the respondents who rated Mediamark’s performance also rated it as the top performer in the category.

One commented: “Mediamark is technically ahead of the curve in being able to integrate campaigns in multimedia.” Another said: “Mediamark’s offering is one of the most integrated across radio, digital audio and digital. Their 360-degree campaign deployment has been effortless and inspiring.”

While Mediamark’ scored significantly higher than its two closest competitors, it is expected that both Primedia and DStv Media Sales will strongly compete for the mantel of top multimedia owner in future years. Both evidently have the resources to do so.

One person shared the following opinion of Primedia Broadcasting: “I feel that Primedia’s new approach into multimedia is innovative and will grow the category and benefit the industry. They need to ensure that staff are set up to crosssell efficiently and not only on radio, however.”

A similar sentiment was shared about the DStv Media Sales team: “They do offer fantastic offers and have the most innovative ideas and sponsorship opportunities, integrating digital as well as above the line.

For the purposes of the MOST Awards, a media sales consultant is defined as an entity selling advertising space it does not own itself and/or that it does not have exclusive rights to sell on behalf of the media owner concerned. While there were 15 media sales consultants listed in the 2023 survey, only one was able to collect the minimum 30 votes required to qualify for the award.

The Whisper Media team’s achievement is commendable, given its impressive MOST score, and the fact that this is the second consecutive year that it is the only qualifier and winner of the category.

Whisper Media received 18 ‘best in category’ votes, with one respondent saying: “They go an extra mile by producing material when they have key visuals to make sure the campaign is executed when there is a delay with the creative material. Their rates are reasonable and mostly able to accommodate last minutes bookings.”

While the likes of Ultimate Media, Torque Media and MediaHeads360 did not collect enough votes to qualify in this category this year, their future prospects look good, judging from many of the positive sentiments shared about the quality of service from these consultants.

saLes

LAMB Award for Media Owners

The Media Owner Lamb is awarded to the media owner in any category that just missed qualifying for a MOST Award due to receiving between 25-29 votes (the required minimum is 30 votes) and which achieved the highest MOST score compared to all other media owners qualifying for this award.

This year’s winner is Tractor Outdoor, which operates in the out-of-home category. Second and third rankings are Future Tech and Primedia Malls, which operate in the digital and out-of-home categories, respectively.

Tractor Outdoor is a strong achiever in the MOST Awards, having previously won the Lamb Award in 2013 and more recently, being ranked third in the out-ofhome category in 2022. One respondent had the following to say about the Tractor Outdoor team: “They are team players, collaborate in the industry and are willing to go the extra mile. They are investing in growing the DOOH landscape and have a team of professionals.”

Another said: “They have invested in people, data and tech, to be more than a media owner and sit in the media owner/ partner/agency space.”

MOST Award for the Best Overall Media Owner

The overall winner of this year’s MOST Awards for Media Owners, Digital Turbine, confirm the adage that “form might be temporary, but class is permanent”, having achieved the same accolade in 2018, 2019 and 2021, while trading as AdColony. A brilliant achievement from a class act.

In addition to the 22 ‘best in category’ votes the Digital Turbine team collected this year, it also collected 10 ‘best-of-the-best’ votes.

A respondent shared these sentiments about the team: “They are excellent thought-leaders in the industry, going beyond the selling of media space to offer agencies and clients the latest knowledge and innovation and push the boundaries of what it is that media owners deliver.”

Another said: “They have a strong team, a mix of senior experienced individuals and young, energetic and hungry-to-learn individuals. Together with their global network, they have the people to rival any media owner. Beyond the people, as a business they challenge the status quo and lead many pertinent conversations. But it’s not just about provoking discussion, they also show up with real solutions.” Enough said.

Second overall is Relativ Media. One of the 13 ‘best-of-the-best’ votes for the Relativ Media team succinctly stated: “It’s the best experience that I’ve had with a team and ROI in 10 years.”

Third overall (by a 0.001 margin) is newcomer to the top overall rankings, Epic Outdoor, which should feel justifiably proud of its fantastic achievement. A respondent described Epic Outdoor as a, “Dynamic, forward thinking, service orientated company.”

Fourth and fifth overall best media owner rankings are claimed by Mediamark in the radio category and Mediamark Digital, respectively. Collectively, Mediamark and Mediamark Digital collected 39 ‘best-of-the-best’ votes.

According to one respondent: “Mediamark holds a large amount of relevance within the market due to the nature of their radio coverage. They have expanded successfully into an omni offering for brands, encompassing the full suite across audio, display and social. This allows them to drive a full funnel marketing approach for agencies and clients.”

MOST Award for Media Owner Trade Marketing Services

This award aims to rate, rank and recognise media owner trade marketing services teams that provide critically important support to the sales function. This year, the rating criteria were reviewed by industry experts and amended to the following four criteria:

1. Trade Marketing

• Brand awareness building

• Collateral (custom presentations, trade branding, mailer, website, social media, etc)

• Activations and events

• Client relationship management/building

2. Market Intelligence

• Insightful use of market research data

• Meaningful collateral (eg: presentations) with relevant insights

• Service delivery and turnaround

• Accuracy and relevance

3. Communications Management

• Thought leadership

• PR and reputation management

• Consistency and relevance

• Industry contribution

4. The X Factor

• Impact

• Value add

• Innovation/creativity

A total of 60 media owners were nominated and rated for the MOST Award for Media Owner Trade Marketing Services category this year, two of which received the minimum of 25 votes to quality. The winner is Mediamark, followed by DStv Media Sales, a repeat of last year’s result.

RANK TRADE MARKETING AWARD 2023

Significantly, neither Mediamark nor DStv Media Sales has been outside of the top three rankings in the trade marketing services category since its inception in 2019, a laudable achievement. Here is what some respondents had to say about the Mediamark trade marketing services team:

• They are always engaging and looking for the best way to collaborate

• Information empowerment and bringing their brands to life among media strategists and planners

• They deliver with class. Never doing marketing only for the sake of it, but really delivering experiences while driving their message. I know their sales and marketing teams work hand in hand. That is special and we can feel it by just observing.

• Always engaging

• Events are fun

• Events are educational

• Always convert any brief to gold

And this is what some people had to say about the DStv Media Sales trade marketing team:

• They are constantly in the face of the media strategists and planners with their trade efforts

• DStv always keeps us updated in an interesting and fun way

• They invest in their brand with market intelligence

• The put the ‘wow’ factor and they go all out when it comes to industry events and comms

• They are consistently sharing information. Good with their email marketing!

• Such a solid operation

• Thorough market knowledge and intricate knowledge across all platforms

• Consistent, relevant communication

• Industry update decks are thorough, insightful and always valuable

• Development of the portal is ground-breaking

MOST media owners will only do what is necessary. We are not MOST media owners. We are Mediamark. Bringing people and media together.

Proud sponsor of the 2023 Media Legend Award

‘Winners Adapt to Change’ MOST Awards for Media Agencies

It is no secret that the global media landscape has experienced change at an unprecedented rate in recent years. New technologies have emerged and/or existing technologies have been repurposed to optimise efficiencies and provide new, innovative and impactful channels to consumers. The world of media as it was last century will never be again.

The winners in any environment experiencing rapid change driven by technology are the individuals and organisations best able to adapt. Here are the media agencies which have evidently been able to successfully adapt to the changing art and science of media planning and buying in South Africa.

Specialist Media Agencies Category

There were 11 specialist media agencies listed in this year’s survey, which, given their modest sizes in terms of manpower, evidently punch well above their weight. However, true to the old adage, of “class versus form”, a well-established player earned the top spot: Alphabet Soup.

To successfully compete for many years in an industry where global media giants roam takes unquestionable tenacity and underscores the ability of the Alphabet Soup team, which this year notched its fourth top ranking in the category.

An admirable achievement.

Media owner respondents had plenty to say about the dynamic Alphabet Soup team, which also collected 31 ‘best in category’ votes, such as: “The team, though small, is dedicated to fostering strong business relationships and showcases genuine commitment toward agency partners.

They demonstrate a true passion for media and enthusiastically represent their client brands. Creating a positive and welcoming atmosphere, they consistently radiate an amazing energy. By actively collaborating and engaging, they are able to extract the best value for client and media owner.”

Another commented: “The team at Alphabet Soup has mastered the art of creating an agency that speaks to both client and media owners. Key to this is their ability to understand the marketing, and to drive innovation and strategic thinking.”

And perhaps the following media owner described Alphabet Soup most aptly: “With a strong and grounded basis, the initiative to know each media owner, and always doing what’s best for the client – not the latest fad. The team is the dead straight arrow example of leaders in media – no rubbish, pure ethics, and a hunger to always understand the lay of the land.”

RAnk SpeCiAliST AgenCieS 2023 (WeighTed)

Second spot went to last year’s category and Overall Best Media Agency winner, Fame Media, proving the team is by no means a one-hit wonder. This dynamic outfit was described by one respondent as, “The ultimate specialist media agency; they are always passionate about their clients and campaigns, and go the extra mile to ensure that they DELIVER. Relationships are very important to them. They communicate well and timeously. This team ALWAYS goes the extra mile. They are humble and they make working with them so much fun!”

Another said: “Dynamite comes in small packages –amazing to work with – always open to collaboration and excellent execution :).”

Ranked third is Kintaro. Previously branded TMI Media, the Kintaro team has consistently featured in the top rankings of its category since 2018, so its achievement this year should not surprise.

Collecting an impressive 25 ‘best in category votes’, one media owner respondent said of Kintaro: “What Kintaro has been able to deliver and turnaround over a few years is nothing short of phenomenal and a testament to the team and its leadership. They have delivered strong campaigns, won new business and stood out, in what could still be considered a fledgling in its life stages, against other long-standing agencies. There is still greater growth to come from them but most certainly my agency of choice in this category.”

Full-Service Media Agencies Category

Now for the big guns. No less than 36 companies were listed in the category this year. With so many fighting for a piece of the South Africa media pie, there is little doubt each one would need to be on their best game to win. This year the prestigious accolade goes to Carat Johannesburg. The second and third rankings go to PHD Johannesburg and PHD Cape Town, respectively.

Whether or not there is any truth in this does not undermine the fact that the Carat Johannesburg team has lifted its performance from a MOST Awards perspective to a new level.

This is what a respondent had to say: “Carat have an exceptional team who are not only dynamic and willing to push the envelope on coming up with new ways of doing media, but are also very much aware of balance and always willing to learn and re-learn.”

Another said: “They are such an amazing team to work with! They are passionate about their brands and take the time to understand my business and how it can benefit their brands. They have an open-door policy and make themselves available for meetings. They are brilliant communicators and always take the time to return calls or respond to emails.”

While not quite getting the top spot as it did in 2017 and 2022, the Carat South Africa network can be justifiably proud of its achievement in this year’s MOST Awards.

While certainly not a newcomer to the MOST Awards top rankings – Carat Johannesburg has been ranked in the top five in its category three times in the past four years – the Carat Johannesburg team is considered by some as one that “quietly goes about its business delivering an excellent product and service” to its clients and media owner partners.

Second in the rankings this year, PHD Johannesburg clearly impressed many media owner respondents, as one explains: “PHD continue to be innovative and strategic when it comes to media planning, and are always striving to ensure they provide tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of their clients.

“They have a core focus on data-driven insights and use advanced analytics and research to understand their client’s target audience and their behaviour, which helps them develop effective media strategies that drive business results.

“PHD have a team of experienced staff who have years of experience in media buying, creative, and digital. They work closely with their media owner partners to deliver solutions for their clients.”

Another said: “By a mile! PHD have changed the game in terms of strategic collaboration,with their talented staff and their open communication and briefs with their media owners.” Not to be outdone, PHD Cape Town, which ranks third in the category this year, received seven ‘best in category’ votes. A respondent said, “PHD are the epitome of partnership, and an example to other agencies as to how to treat media partners in this market. Feedback is rapid, communication is constant and they truly do focus on doing what is best for their clients.”

l amb Award for Media Agencies

This year all three of the top Lamb Award rankings were occupied by agencies in the full-service category. The winner of this year’s Lamb Award for Media Agencies is The MediaShop Cape Town, which pipped Carat Cape Town and Initiative Media Johannesburg to second and third spots respectively.

The MediaShop Cape Town is a class act; a previous Lamb Award winner, ranked in the top three of the full-service media agencies category on two previous occasions. The MediaShop Cape Town team, which received eight ‘best in category’ votes, was lauded by a media owner respondent: “The MediaShop is more than just a planning and buying agency. They continually invest in their relationships and are always available to us. They collaborate and are always thinking out of the box to enhance client experience. They are passionate about their brand, their clients and staff. They are the only media agency that will present their findings to the industry/clients and host events to connect with their partners. A very progressive agency that is constantly evolving.”

Another shared the following sentiment: “This team is on the ball with everything they do. It is exceptional to work with such a passionate team. They work hard and they are always willing to engage with media owners. It is not often that the MD makes time to actually get to know media owners, but she is definitely leading the way in building and establishing relationships across the board. I love working with this team.”

Carat Cape Town, which ranked third in the ‘Lamb’ category in the past, should be pleased with moving up one spot, and also pleased with rounding off an excellent MOST Awards year for the Carat Group.

A respondent had the following to say about the Cape Town team: “They are dynamite! An excellent team who are responsive, hands on and clearly love what they do. They manage their clients well and communicate the brief and expectation clearly.”

Another said: “Carat Cape Town stands out as the best full-service media agency due to their progressive approach to media, unwavering commitment to clients and brands, empirical evidence-driven strategies, and a collaborative partnership mindset. Their expertise, dedication and focus on driving real business impact make them a trusted choice for brands seeking outstanding media solutions.”

Third in the Lamb category this year goes to Initiative Media Johannesburg, which has frequently ranked in the top five of the full-service media agencies category. The team was described as being great to work with. “They foster open communication to provide the best customer and account solutions. They are risk takers, willing to try to do things differently, which promotes innovative and customer solutions for their customers. Their business approach is inclusive and open. Their understanding of the media landscape and media channels is unbiased, enabling best in class multi-channel media campaigns and strategies.”

MOST Award for the b est Overall Media Agency

The MOST Award for the Best Overall Media Agency this year goes to Carat Johannesburg. Having received eight impressive ‘best-of-the-best’ votes, this is a massive achievement for the agency.

In describing the team, many respondents used the word “professional”. One said: “They stand out. The epitome of professionalism. They evolve with the industry, keep up to date with change.”

Another said, “Carat JHB are professional and great to work with. They communicate well and have a great understanding of the industry landscape. They push the boundaries and are not afraid to try new things. The Carat team are knowledgeable and down to earth. They manage expectations well and are transparent with their feedback from clients.”

And a third added: “The Carat team often knows exactly what their clients want, which makes it easier when getting a brief from them. They are open to suggestions and often work with you on the best way to pitch concepts to their clients. Very professional.”

Second overall in the ‘best-of-the-best’ media agency rankings this year is the specialist media agencies category winner, Alphabet Soup. The dynamic team received three ‘best-of-the-best’ votes, and the following comment from a respondent: “The team has an open-door policy and encourage agency visits. They think outside the box and push the boundaries. They are always keen to learn about new opportunities. They are professional and have a great understanding of their clients’ brands and the industry landscape.”

Another summed up the Alphabet Soup team most succinctly: “They’ve exhibited all the qualities that define an outstanding specialist agency.”

Third in the overall rankings this year was PHD Johannesburg, which just pipped its Cape Town relative into fourth spot. Together, the PHD Group received an impressive combined 28 ‘best-of-the-best votes’.

A respondent said of the Johannesburg based team: “It’s tough to be an agency in today’s media landscape. PHD continues to behave ethically while driving real media change. They really are incredible to work with –always affording us time, insights and solutions.”

Brad Aigner founded the Freshly Ground Insights (FGI) business in 2007 when he saw an opportunity in the South African market to use mobile technology to collect and manage market research data. FGI developed an application for android devices which allowed interviewers to download surveys, record responses, and send the data back to a central server, all electronically. The FGI business is a full-service market research company, offering turn-key services in quantitative and qualitative research methods. The company has worked with many leading national and international brands including KFC, Tiger Brands, Unilever, SAB Miller, Nando’s, Vodacom. MTN, Ster-Kinekor cinemas, First National Bank, Nike, and Mr Price as well as global market research houses such as Ipsos, Nielsen, Kantar and Ask Africa.

Category deFinitionS

Media owner CategorieS

1. radio

Sells adverting space for radio stations with ICASA licences

2. newspapers

Sells advertising space for brands published in printed and/or digital newspaper format

3. Magazines

Sells advertising space for brands published in printed and/or digital magazine format

4. out-of-Home

Sells advertising space on traditional and non-traditional static, as well as digital formats

5. digital

Sells advertising space on any digital type format that is accessible via the internet

6. television

Sells advertising space for television brands that broadcast via analogue and/or satellite signals

7. Cinema

Sells advertising space for cinema brands that broadcast via analogue and/or satellite signals

8. Multimedia

Sells advertising space on behalf of media owners that own two or more different media formats, eg: print and digital

9. Media Sales Consultants

Sells advertising space it does NOT own and/or it does NOT have exclusive rights to, on behalf of behalf of the owner

Media agenCy CategorieS

1. Full-service Media agency

Provides its own in-house media planning and media buying service across more than one category

2. Specialist Media agency

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 only)

Performance criteria

media owner

Performance criteria

Knowledge of own brands and the media landscaPe

• Has in-depth knowledge of its media brands

• Holds meaningful and knowledgeable conversations about its media brands

• Understands how its media brands measure up against competitor brands

• Understands how its media brands measure up in the broader media landscape

• Frequently shares new and relevant information about its media brands

sales service delivery

• Accessible and prompt in replying to calls/messages

• On time for meetings (face-to-face and online)

• Suitably prepared for meetings

• Interprets briefs correctly

• Develops proposals that are on brief

• Delivers well-constructed and relevant proposals

• Delivers proposals on time

• Gives useful and frequent feedback on the status of campaigns

• Prompt in resolving client issues or queries

• Gets things done properly and promptly

Knowledge of client brands and the marKet landscaPe

• Holds meaningful and knowledgeable conversations about client brands

• Shares new and relevant information about client brands

• Understands the broader market landscape in which client brands compete

administration service delivery

• Processes media bookings efficiently and accurately

• Executes campaigns as they have been booked

• Is efficient in its handling of late bookings

• Is firm but fair in its handling of queries and disputes

innovative solutions

• Presents innovative opportunities that are relevant

• Presents proactive innovative opportunities to its partners

• Presents innovative opportunities that offer ‘real’ tangible value

collaboration and strategic PartnershiPs

• Committed to building strong business relationships

• Tries to go the extra mile

• Genuinely committed to adding real value

• Open and genuinely committed to new ideas

• Genuinely committed to finding fair solutions to problems and disputes

• Senior management takes an active interest in its partners

• Senior management is easily contactable and accessible

media agency Performance criteria

Knowledge of own brands and the media landscaPe

• Shares (where applicable) with its media owner partners its in-depth knowledge across multiple media categories and the individual media brands within them

• Always makes informed and well-reasoned decisions on behalf of the brands it represents

• Is genuinely committed and actively involved in keeping up to date with the latest media thinking, trends and developments, locally and globally

• Always attends discussion forums, seminars and presentations on the latest media trends, ideas and developments, locally and globally (attendance via digital meeting/ forum platforms to be considered

Knowledge of client brands and the marKet landscape

• Is able and always willing to hold insightful, knowledgeable and meaningful conversations with its media owner partners about the brands and categories that it represents

• Always shares (where applicable) with its media owner partners new and relevant information about the brands and categories that it represents

communication and accessibility

• Always clearly explains to its media owner partners what its service expectations are and what is most important with respect to their business relationship

• Always clearly articulates its requirements via verbal or written briefs

• Always gives prompt honest and constructive feedback on media proposals

• Always genuinely and actively listens to media proposals and presentations from its media owner partners

• Is always open to new ideas and genuinely committed to trying to make them happen

• Always passes on to its clients any information from its media owner partners that it considers to be relevant and useful for the brands it represents

• Is genuinely open to facilitating media owner meetings with its clients for the purpose of fostering open communication and collaboration

professionalism

• Is always easily available and prompt in replying to calls/messages

• Always keeps appointments and is always on time for meetings (both face-to-face and via online meeting platforms) with its media owner partners and always communicates with as much notice as possible its inability to attend media owner meetings or presentations

• Is always appropriately prepared for meetings with its media owner partners

• Never substitutes its senior staff for junior staff at media owner partner presentations and meetings

• Is always honest and reliable with respect to its attendance at media owner presentations and meetings

administration and buying

• Always books its media on time and takes responsibility for the efficient and accurate administration of media bookings (the delivery of accurate CIs, etc.)

• Is genuinely committed to finding fair solutions to problems and disputes that arise with its partners

collaboration and strategic partnerships

• Is genuinely committed to building strong business relationships with its

• Always treats its media owner partners with mutual respect

• Is genuinely passionate about media and energised about the client brands that it represents

• Consistently exudes a positive energy and welcoming atmosphere for its media owner partners

• Is genuinely committed to adding real value to its clients through its frequent collaboration and engagement with media owner partners

• Senior management is easily contactable and accessible to its media owner partners and takes an active interest in its media owner partners’ businesses

Top 10 pasT Three Years (2021-2023)

Media owners

Relativ

e.tv

Arena

JCDecaux

Ad:Dynamo Relativ Media

Media agencies

(digital)

THE SCIENCE BEHIND TV’S SUPERIORITY

Byron John, head of media intelligence at DStv Media Sales, discusses the many benefits of TV advertising in an evolving landscape.

Having worked in the media agency world for the better part of a decade, I have come to appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of different media channels and platforms. My primary role was to give my clients an objective understanding of the most efficient way to spend their media budgets. Admittedly, in many of those conversations, their minds were already made up. In some extreme cases, there were even ‘digital targets’ on how much share of spend ‘needed’ to be allocated to certain digital platforms.

I’ve tried to build my reputation on being able to offer, as objectively as possible, an evidence-based view when

it comes to media strategy and planning. But for the most part, I’ve struggled to ‘convince’ clients of the importance of ‘doing TV properly’ when it comes to their media mix.

PROOF POINTS, WATCH-OUTS AND TACTICS FOR TV

Here are some ‘proof points’ for TV, some ‘watch-outs’ for digital, and some ‘load-shedding-proof’ tactics to make your next TV campaign a success:

• Reach is critical to campaign success, and all research proves this. TV is still the dominant or primary driver of reach when it comes to media platforms.

• Granted, not all reach is equal. Some reach is worse than others because:

Byron John

DStv has become the home of entertainment across the African continent with over 100 million viewers in over 50 countries. An integrated platforms ecosystem gives access to both linear and non-linear audiences

1. The creative didn’t work. But it accounts for more than 50% of ad effectiveness.

2. Your brand wasn’t recognisable, that is, too small or too late in the ad sequence.

3. Ads weren’t viewable. Conservative estimates reveal an average of 30% of ads you buy won’t be viewable.

4. It was fraudulent inventory. Conservative estimates reveal about 20% of your online inventory will be fraudulent.

5. Eye-tracking studies from Lumen estimate that only 9% of your display ads will be viewed by a real person. So, based on the above, DStv reach is, by far, better-quality reach.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

The number one media touchpoint in terms of ‘average impact on brand strength’ is TV.

According to a 2022 study, consumers are far more accepting of ads on tv. Across three generations – Gen Z, Gen X and Gen Y – people are significantly less accepting of digital advertising. In fact, South Africa ranks number four in the world for ad-blocking penetration rate. This equates to more than 40% of all online users. If this is the case, then ad-blocking in digital is worse than load shedding on TV.

Multimedia-mix and integrated campaigns have proven time and time again to provide better return on investment (ROI) results.

In 2019, GroupM conducted an econometric study called ‘Demand Generation’ , the largest of its kind ever conducted. The study aimed to determine the ‘optimal’ media mix when delivering the best ROI for advertisers. The study is publicly available, but the evidence is clear: TV measured the strongest when it came to some vital campaign success metrics, including:

1. Share of short-term and long-term media-driven sales.

2. The variability of returns was most stable for broadcast video on demand and generic TV advertising.

3. TV boosted the efficiency of other media channels in terms of scale and consistency over time. In other words, TV gave all other media channels the biggest ‘boost’ in advertising effect.

4. Across all categories included in the study, the model optimised the media mix to give the best ROI for each campaign, and TV was given the largest share of media spend.

HOW TO ‘OUTSMART’ LOAD SHEDDING FOR YOUR NEXT TV CAMPAIGN

Keep in mind some of the elements for good TV planning are ‘hygiene’, but there’s no harm in reminding ourselves of what ‘good’ looks like:

• The most important element, based on many research studies, is to double-check your creative. If you get that wrong, everything else in your media plan will not work, ever.

• Every campaign has a reach curve. The higher the curve, the more sales you’ll earn. For the most part, campaigns don’t attain good reach because

• They stop too soon

• All spots are invested in a short duration of time in the same time bands

• There isn’t enough investment to make the reach curve reach close to its peak i.e. [(reach x frequency) x length of campaign]

• Because load shedding ‘robs’ viewers of (on average) two hours per day of TV viewing, you have to extend your campaigns to run for longer because load shedding shifts and changes in terms of the areas that are ‘shed’ and the times the load-shedding occurs.

• You have to mix up where you put your spots and when you put your spots over a four-week period. You have to extend campaigns to build the reach you need in a ‘delayed’ viewing environment, thanks to load shedding.

• Watching ‘average time spent’ decline during load shedding doesn’t mean much. It’s like saying, ‘traffic takes much longer because the traffic lights are out’ – of course, that is the case, but it doesn’t mean there’s less traffic!

• Don’t sacrifice incremental reach for excessive frequency.

• Calibrate your target audience so that it’s right-sized to the category.

• Treat your TV plan as the ‘demand generating media’ element and your digital as the ‘fulfilment media’. They are not necessarily the same thing nor should they come from the same budget. Dr Grace Kite, a UK researcher, has argued that some forms of performance marketing (similar to search) can be seen as the digital equivalent of storefronts, in other words, they are there to guide people to a product they may already want to buy. Is it any wonder that strong brands drive more efficient performance campaigns?

• Don’t only look at your short-term revenue curves. If you don’t understand diminishing returns, then ‘conversion metrics’ quickly become ‘the tail wagging the dog,’ and you’re missing out on building bigger revenues over longer periods.

• A 15” or 20” ad, if done properly, is better than a 30” ad. There’s enough research to prove this point. But challenge your creative agency to stick to 20” so you can be more efficient with your spots and your money.

This is sponsored content.

REACH IS CRITICAL TO CAMPAIGN SUCCESS, AND ALL RESEARCH PROVES THIS. TV IS STILL THE DOMINANT OR PRIMARY DRIVER OF REACH WHEN IT COMES TO MEDIA PLATFORMS

THE NUMBER ONE MEDIA TOUCHPOINT IN TERMS OF ‘AVERAGE IMPACT ON BRAND STRENGTH’ IS TV

‘He’s in iT To win iT’

The entrepreneurial founder of Capricorn FM and Power FM is a University of Limpopo graduate, where he was involved with starting campus station, Radio Turf.

“All I ever wanted to do was radio. I had anticipated that I will be on air for a while to save up to buy or start my own radio station,” he once told the Sowetan

He attained his mission, and more: in 2002, Mkhari launched MSG Afrika Group. And in 2007, he floated his first station, Capricorn FM in Limpopo.

POWER 98.7 FM, the first talk station in Gauteng to tackle the well-entrenched 702, followed in June 2013.

His company has interests in Quizzical Pictures and The Communications Firm, as well as operating MSG Afrika Sales, the group’s commercial arm, headed by Tshifhiwa Mulaudzi, chief commercial officer of MSG Afrika Broadcasting.

Mulaudzi charts Mkhari’s entrepreneurial journey. “Given was at the forefront of establishing Capricorn FM, the first commercial radio station in Limpopo. After Capricorn he spearheaded the establishment of POWER 987, which introduced a new breed of talk radio listeners to the market. Talk radio formats are difficult to introduce, let alone to sustain over a decade,” he says.

CEO of MSG Afrika Group, GivEn MkhAri, is the MOST Awards Media Owner Legend 2023.

Given Mkhari

“POWER FM 98.7 and Capricorn FM are household names today. These platforms have enriched our media industry. POWER FM 98.7 turned 10 in June; Capricorn FM will celebrate its 16th anniversary in November.”

Less than three months after its launch, in late August, Media Tenor found that P OWER FM was among the most quoted business media – more than legacy paper, Business Day.

Chris Botha, group managing director of Park Advertising, and winner of MOST Media Agency Rising Star in 2013 and Shepherd Award in 2022, believes Mkhari is a true media entrepreneur.

“There are so many pieces of the media industry that he has impacted that most people won’t even know about. He was involved with The Jupiter Drawing Room in their heydays in the early 2000s, and invested in and played an important role in the out of home media industry,” Botha notes.

“Then there is, of course, his journey with his real love of his life: radio. Not only was Given a DJ, who worked for Metro FM among other stations, he also travelled the world working with and for other radio stations.

“His two big babies – POWER FM and Capricorn FM – are two important voices in South Africa’s media landscape. POWER FM, specifically, does exactly what it says, ‘speaking truth to power’.

“He challenges the political ecosystem all the time and is an important behind-the-scenes driver of political initiative and change.”

Mkhari turned talk radio on its head when he conducted a two-hour interview with former president Thabo Mbeki in 2017. Titled the Chairman’s Conversation, the event was staged before a live audience at the Inanda Club in Johannesburg.

The strategy paid off, big time.

As The Media Online reported at the time: “According to the hashtag tracking tool Keyhole … the dedicated hashtag for the event #MbekiOnPower garnered a reach of 3 386 056 and 6 315 008 impressions. POWER FM also received exposure through eNCA, as a deal was done to broadcast the conversation live on the television station. This brand exposure for the station was the payoff to hosting an event, rather than simply interviewing the former President.”

Mkhari is a true believer in the power of talk radio. In an interview with The Media Online in September 2020, he said: “South Africa was ultimately delivered to us through an open democracy, through dialogue. After sanctions, wars, suppression, the only time we managed to pass through a segregated past was when people came together, sat around the table and negotiated… So I believe in the power of talk in resolving differences, achieving consensus and also to expose any form of injustice and to negotiate rights for those who are disenfranchised.”

As Mulaudzi says, “The platform was always designed to be listener-centric. In designing the format, talent and content strategy of the station, Given and his partners were deliberate in making sure that the listener takes centre stage. In POWER FM 98.7, South Africans have a platform `they call their own. Our listeners guard this platform jealously. They are highly engaged and are mainly decision makers in their respective environments. This is one of the most important qualities that clients love about the brand.”

Asked what he thinks makes a media legend, and underlining the Chairman’s Conversation strategy, Mulaudzi says:

“In my view, it is about the impact they have made in shaping the media landscape over a sustained period. The media owner legend should be someone who has brought innovations or groundbreaking ideas that have altered the course of the industry.”

A legend is also someone who knows how to leverage commercial opportunities. Says Botha: “Given is also an excellent salesperson. I have sat in numerous meetings with him, and he has an uncanny way of walking away having gotten exactly what he wanted.”

Mulaudzi says Mkhari is a resourceful and resilient leader. “He has extensive experience spanning over 25 years in the media space. He is a visionary, and a nurturer. He can identify new talent and support them to the next level. Many young men and women who are in leadership positions within the group started in junior roles and have been supported to management roles,” he says.

“He is consultative in his approach. He prefers to allow his management team to lead. Even when it comes to disagreements, he would find a way of offering an alternative view on a matter. He likes to be assured that all best possible avenues have been explored. He likes to stretch us through debate before taking a direction. Of course, there are times where he gives a direction that must be followed. He truly believes in giving his immediate management team the space to be fully in charge.”

Asked where to next for this successful media entrepreneur, Mulaudzi says, “I see him continuing as a multimedia entrepreneur. Radio remains his first love. I believe he will continue to grow the portfolio both organically and through collaborations with other like-minded partners.

“He is in it, to win it. An absolute team player. He enjoys sport, especially soccer. He’s BIG Chelsea FC Supporter. And he loves F1 motor racing. We reflect a lot on F1 strategies post the weekend race.”

He CHallenges THe PoliTiCal eCosysTeM all THe TiMe and is an iMPoRTanT beHind-THe-sCenes dRiveR oF PoliTiCal iniTiaTive and CHange.

The ‘Queen B’ of Cape Town

her secret, says Park Advertising’s Chris Botha, is that she is always evolving.

“Bonita is a legend, for many reasons – but mainly because she is always evolving. The Bonita Bachmann I met 20 years ago and the Bonita Bachmann I know today are two very different people,” he says.

“Despite having worked on one client (Shoprite) for 30 years, she keeps growing, changing, evolving, learning and transforming. She is always on a journey of fierce self-improvement. No two days are the same with Bonita around. And that has brought her immense success in this industry.”

Botha, who remains the group managing director of The MediaShop, says Bachmann began as a media buyer on the Shoprite account and grew to be the managing director of arguably one of the biggest and most successful media agencies in the Western Cape.

Bonita Bachmann, managing director of the mediaShop town, is the moSt awards 2023 media agency Legend.

Bonita Bachmann

DespiTe having workeD on one ClienT (shopriTe) for 30 years, she keeps growing, Changing, evolving, learning anD Transforming.

“Bonita leads The MediaShop Cape Town with such commitment and dedication, her care for the people she works with is unmatched, and her passion for her clients is something I have never seen before in another person. So, she leads the agency, but she also plays a critical part in fighting, and leading the role for, younger black women who want to grow and lead in the media industry,” he says.

Kgaugelo Maphai, former managing director of The MediaShop Johannesburg and current chairperson of the Matrix Group, says Bachmann plays a major role in Cape Town’s media agency space.

“It’s commendable that one of the biggest media clients in South Africa (Shoprite) has had a longstanding working relationship with the agency, and this can directly be attributable to Bonita’s commitment, tenacity and high standards in delivering excellence,” says Maphai.

“As such, the Cape Town industry, which is much smaller than Johannesburg, continues to benefit by having strong, fearless and caring leaders like her. She’s always attracted and developed top talent, and their performance over the years speaks to that. You need to be really special to work in that office; there’s no room for mediocrity,” he adds.

Botha agrees. “Bonita is the sharp end of the spear on the Shoprite account. At the same time, she has worked hard at expanding our footprint in the Western Cape with more clients and a stronger team. She is part of the group exco and sits on The MediaShop board. So, her role is far bigger than just the Cape Town office. Her touch is

important for all our offices,” he says. Asked what kind of media professional Bachmann is, Botha responds: “Bonita is very smart, which leads to many people believing she doesn’t tolerate fools very easily, and can comes across as brash and hard. But anyone who gets to know her over time will tell you she is smart, but couples it with a deep care for her clients, partners, media owners, printers and staff.

“Bonita always knows what’s happening in the media world and goes out of her way to fight for her share. She is the toughest negotiator you will ever encounter. But it all stems from a place of deep passion, which is so rare today,” he says.

Maphai adds another dimension to Bachmann’s story. “Cape Town’s media industry has generally been lily white over the years and I think people like Bonita have shown that against all odds, change does come.

“If one considers the relationship between the agency and their biggest client, Shoprite, it’s probably one of the longest-standing media relationships in the country, and can be attributed to her fastidious leadership and commitment over the decades.”

Maphai says Bachmann leads The MediaShop Cape Town with “aplomb” and that she has developed a strong, competent and hardworking team that, in turn, reflects her role as a strong leader who leads from the front.

“While I was at The MediaShop, the massive contribution the Cape Town office made to the overall group went without saying. Handling the biggest account in South Africa requires a big, competent team that puts in an

inordinate amount of hours every day to ensure that they (over) deliver for their clients. Under Bonita’s stewardship, they performed consistently year on year,” he says.

“Being in a position of leadership, and also being a woman, can be a challenge in our industry. You often need to deal with male egos, which can be unpleasant. I think she has done well to stand her ground and fight for what is right and ensure that she gives other women in a similar position the courage to keep going, and also to inspire the younger ladies in the industry to believe that they have a voice and a key role to play in the industry.

“Bonita likes to inspire other women to step up to the plate and make the best of their opportunities,” Maphai says.

And adds: “She is a firm leader with very clear business principles. I found her to be fair and willing to give everyone a chance. Relationships are a key ingredient with her; just make sure you don’t step on her toes, and that you deliver.

“She’s a good negotiator who wants the best value for her clients and always works towards a win-win outcome. She is well respected by many and while some can find her intimidating, she is a genuine person. The key thing is you must know your story and you’ll be in good company.

“She’s is the Queen B of Cape Town and would be very deserving of this award, without a doubt.

Botha shares his favourite (and funny) story about Bachmann. “Bonita and I have been friends for very many years and have way too many trade secrets to share. My favourite, was that she once negotiated a double-page spread in the Cape Argus for her then boss – to publicly declare to his wife that he wants a divorce! The ad was of course for free – and made the impact it intended.”

She alSo playS a critical part in fighting, and leading the role for, younger black women who want to grow and lead in the media induStry

paSSion – and poetry – perSonified

She describes herself as an “unashamedly passionate media and marketing enthusiast,” with15 years in the business.

Currently the director of marketing and strategy at Digital Turbine, her boss Mike van Tonder (himself a former MOST rising star) says of Sharnock, “She is a great leader who possesses excellent communication skills, empathy, integrity and a clear vision for the future. She inspires and motivates her team to achieve their goals by setting clear objectives and providing support and guidance along the way.

“Michy is also able to adapt to different situations and lead with flexibility, while maintaining a steadfast commitment to both her, as well as our, businesses core values. She is approachable, compassionate, and has a genuine interest in the personal and professional development of her team members. Ultimately, Michy is someone who creates an inclusive and positive work environment where everyone feels valued and empowered.”

Van Tonder says Sharnock has been instrumental in developing the attention economy across the digital landscape, and leads these conversations both locally and globally.

Admiration for Sharnock’s skills aren’t limited to those she works with. Chairperson of the Matrix Group, Kgaugelo Maphai, says she is a dedicated media professional. “She has impeccable client service and relationship building attributes, and takes pride in the work she does. Highly dependable and delivers quality work as and when briefed. She will go far in the industry because her peers have recognised her ongoing contribution. A very pleasant person who takes great pride in the organisation she represents.”

The phrase that comes to mind, says media veteran Gordon Muller, is: “sailing on an even keel.”

He says, “Michelle seems always to be unflappable and focused on getting the job done – however tough the conditions may be. The consummate media professional who always plays the ball – never the person. And all that with a

And Gary Stroebel, CEO of Future

Michelle when she was at United Stations. She is an outstanding example of a true media sales professional. She works very hard to developing genuine relationships with clients and stakeholders alike,

and is passionately involved in ongoing skills development – she is involved in bodies like AMASA (if they are still around) and others – and is a real team player on these bodies,” he says.

“I have enormous respect for her work ethic, her genuine and unrestrained empathy and her amazing ability to genuinely like almost everyone she meets!! She really is an amazing human, and I (as a grumpy critical cynic) would see her as someone who will stay play a big role in leading our industry into the future.”

E IG h T TRAITS T h AT S u M up Sh ARNO ck

1. Creativity: She has a creative mind and comes up with innovative marketing ideas

2. Communication skills: She is an effective communicator, both verbally and in writing - which she often does in poetry

3. Strategic thinking: She can analyse data, recognise trends, and make well-informed decisions for the business

4. Adaptability: She adapts to change and stays ahead of the curve

5. Collaborative mindset: She works well with others and collaborates effectively

6. Enthusiastic: She is passionate about our business, which ensures we are always one step ahead of the competitors

7. Attention to detail: She is meticulous in her work

8. Analytical skills: She is exceptional at analysing data and trends, as seen in her early adoption of new digital metrics such as the attention economy

Michelle Randall ShaRnock is the MoST awards 2023 Media owner Rising Star.

She will go far in the indu becauS have recogni her ongoing contribution.

Michelle Randall Sharnock

Legend in the making a

drian Naidoo is a busy man. Apart from his challenging day job at Mindshare South Africa, he’s also a dedicated and hardworking member of the Democratic Alliance in Johannesburg, and a volunteer for Animal Welfare.

CEO of Mindshare South Africa, Kate Kitz, says Naidoo’s journey in the media industry has been “nothing short of inspirational”. He is, she says: “a remarkable figure who is making an indelible mark on the industry and earning widespread recognition for his unwavering dedication to both the field and its people”.

“In the ever-evolving landscape of the media industry, individuals who possess a unique blend of commitment, passion, technical acumen, and a profound understanding of human behaviour are a rare find,” Kitz adds.

Celia Collins, vice president of Publicis Media, admires Naidoo’s creative thinking. “Adrian has a strong background in storytelling and is able to manage the narrative on media strategy, which makes client feel comfortable and confident in his approach. He is extremely approachable and forwardthinking. Adrian always manages to come up with innovative solutions with creative thinking,” she says.

Chief operations officer of GroupM, Dustine Tobler, outlines his qualities. “Adrian is smart, hardworking, and ambitious. He is also humble, committed to his career and very serious about delivering a quality product to his clients,” she says.

While his storytelling prowess is admired, Naidoo’s technical knowledge is much respected by his employer.

“One of Adrian’s many standout qualities is his strong technical

understanding of digital and data. In a digital age where data drives decisions, his expertise and ability to unpack and solve for complex business problems is invaluable,” says Kitz.

“He possesses an innate ability to extract meaningful insights that fuel strategic decision-making and produce award winning work. This technical proficiency has not only propelled his career, it has also empowered the teams he leads to stay ahead in the fast-paced digital media world.”

Kitz says from the early stages of his career, Naidoo exhibited an unwavering commitment to challenging the status quo and pushing the boundaries of possibility. “His tireless efforts to elevate the media landscape and provide opportunities for budding talents have been nothing short of commendable,” she explains.

“What truly sets Adrian apart is his undeniable passion. It’s not just a job for him; it’s a way of life. He breathes, eats and sleeps media with a passion that is truly infectious. Adrian’s enthusiasm is not limited to his work; he actively engages with industry events, discussions, education drives and trends, constantly seeking ways to upskill, innovate and redefine the media landscape.”

That he is recognised as a media agency rising star comes as no surprise to Kitz.

“Adrian’s commitment to the media industry and its people, coupled with his technical knowledge and an uncanny grasp of human behaviour, make him a visionary leader who continues to shape the industry’s future,” she says.

“His journey is not just one of personal success but also of inspiring others to excel and innovate. I have no doubt that Adrian will continue to shine brightly in the media industry for many years to come, leaving an enduring legacy of excellence and inspiration.”

AdriAn nAidoo, managing partner: product and growth at Mindshare South Africa, is the winner of the MoST Awards 2023 Media Agency rising Star award.

Adrian Naidoo

he breathes, eats and sLeeps media with a passion that is truLy infectious.

A genuinely good guy

Heineken senior media manager, AvtAAr MoHAnlAll, is the inaugural winner of a new MoSt award, the MoSt Admired Marketing and Media Manager of the Year.

Collaborative and down to earth, Avtaar Mohanlall’s easygoing nature and team focused approach has won him the admiration and loyalty of his colleagues.

“Av showcases his skillset with an in-depth understanding of media fundamentals and mediums, and how best to incorporate marketing objectives to achieve the best results and return on investment,” says Marcel Swain, marketing manager of premium beer.

“His realness and fairness in understanding both, or all sides, is really refreshing when we have agency partner engagements,” Swain adds. “Make no mistake, even with his tall stature, he is down to earth, and very collaborative with all stakeholders –irrespective of their designation or background. Forget Avatar the Way of the Water; we have Avtaar The Way of Media!”

Matt Arnold, a former colleague at advertising agency VMLY&R, says, “Avtaar has been a constant in the industry, and someone I have had the pleasure of working with numerous times. His commitment to producing excellent work has always been a stand out feature, along with his easygoing nature and team-focused approach.”

Mohanlall “really and truly embodies what it means when passion and functional expertise collide,” notes Warrick Wyngaard, brand manager for SOL.

“What really sets Av apart, which has been demonstrated time and again, is his ability to extrapolate not only where, but also how, you deliver your brand message in a manner that is clear and understood by all stakeholders,” Wyngaard adds.

“Av is an invested brand partner and any brand or team that has the honour of working with him knows that. The value he delivers goes far beyond any KPI or media metric and ensures we deliver on what’s best for our brands, our consumers, and our business. Keep flying the flag.”

Mohanlall challenges norms and uses creativity to drive solutions in the media space, says Bhavna Mistry, Heineken brand senior brand manager.

“Avtaar has extensive knowledge in the media industry and how best for our brands to use their funds in the most effective way. He has a holistic understanding of brands and media, and how to best leverage great creativity to build brand power,” Mistry explains.

A vital talent, Mistry adds, is Mohanlall’s inherent skill of having his “finger on the pulse of what’s new within the media space and has a test-and-learn mindset to determine how best to optimise creative and spending.

“Something that I admire about Av is his ability to manage multiple brands, with different requirements and lead the media agenda within Heineken Beverages. I really hope he wins this award as he is extremely diligent, has great attention to detail, is solution-orientated, and is genuinely a good guy.”

Avtaar Mohanlall

AvtAAr is An invested brAnd pArtner And Any brAnd or teAm thAt hAs the honour of working with him knows thAt.

the lone ranger dedicated to the needs of the Media

Mike Leahy, managing director of Media Manager africa, is the winner of the MOST awards 2023 Bell award. it 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.

Mike Leahy was at the forefront of moving the media industry “from the dusty paper-based data library it had become, into the digital age of data capture”. That’s the opinion of agency veteran, Gordon Muller, who has nothing but praise for Leahy’s Media Manager service.

Media Manager is described as: “an online service containing full information on South African print media titles, radio stations, online sites and digital newsletters plus the tools to access, sort, process and export to your own requirements.”

Media Manager Africa’s subscribers encompass mainstream advertising and media agencies, media independents and a large number of public relations consultants and direct clients. The Media Manager research team contacts media owners and personnel to input and update information held in Media Manager Online. Information is edited, and updated, daily.

Its usefulness is not in doubt.

“I would be lost without this valuable resource for the media industries. I work in both PR and media planning.”

“Fantastic! Impressive service, as always.”

“What a wealth of information on our media world.”

“Glad to use Media Manager again. It’s the most user-friendly of all systems.”

“Mike was most helpful yesterday. I think I may have told him I love him.”

“You have no idea how wonderful and useful I find Media Manager. It eases my frustrations greatly as it seems people simply don’t manage rate card libraries these days – a big gripe of mine. I am a stickler for having information on hand and filing to our company rate card library so that everyone can have access to it.”

“We successfully distributed our first press release this afternoon. Everything ran smoothly, I’m happy to report. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: we’re loving Media Manager!”

“Mike is an unbiased third-party source of truth,” says Celia Collins, vice president of Publicis Media and a member of the MOST Awards’ advisory board. “He has no agenda and can transparently give a view on the industry from an above the line perspective, and the costings between above the line and digital.”

A former heavyweight media director at McCann Erickson and CDP in the 1980s, Leahy launched Media Manager Africa in 1994. The business is just shy of 30 years old.

One of Media Manager Africa’s popular products is Leahy’s Media Inflation Watch (MIW).

“Mike has continuously monitored above the line media inflation over a number of years, which allows media agencies to monitor what media owners are doing as a whole, along with giving agencies the opportunity to manage procurement departments and analyse

return of investment. Without such data, we would not be able to manager media owners effectively from a platform perspective,” Collins adds, saying MIW is “extremely important to monitor and benchmark for our clients’ efficiencies, and how we as agencies perform”.

Muller says that as one of the core product offerings in Media Manager, “the Media Inflation Watch report has significantly streamlined industry reporting, and the MIW Weighted Inflation Index is widely utilised and accepted as the benchmark for media inflation measurement – not just in South Africa but globally.”

Dustine Tobler, group head of operations at Group M, calls Leahy: “the lone ranger who has dedicated his life to creating these important benchmarks that we all need.”

Mike Leahy

Mike was Most helpful yesterday. i think i May have told hiM i love hiM.

a true media maverick Who leads by example

Celia Collins, vice president of Publicis Media, is the MosT awards 2023 winner of the shepherd award. This award honours selfless contribution to the media and marketing industry.

already a 2018 Media Agency Legend winner, Celia Collins now has another well-deserved MOST Award to her name: The Shepherd Award.

Currently the vice president of Publicis Media, Collins’ career has encompassed stints at the Omnicom Media Group, Amplifi and Carat, among others. No matter what her position, or the demands made on her time, Collins has made it a priority to contribute to media bodies dedicated to the industry. (She also sits on the MOST Awards’ advisory board, just another of her contributions to media in South Africa.)

“The Shepherd Award recognises individuals across the media owner agency sector, who have consistently and generously displayed a natural inclination to lead with empathy,” Sandra Gordon, founder of the MOST Awards. “Celia showed early signs innate talent, and counts the late Patterson (the first Shepherd Award recipient) as a mentor.”

And adds: “What floors many media executives is her willingness so without fanfare, and despite holding down important and challenging the highest levels within media agencies.”

Kgaugelo Maphai, chairperson the Matrix Group, describes Collins as, “a true media maverick who grown in the industry over the years. consummate professional with a for media, and developing others. our industry is in good hands with people like her at the helm”.

Gordon Muller, himself a former Shepherd Award winner, says many people in media aspire to lead, but few are capable of leading by example. “Celia has a well-rounded capability that

enables her to engage constructively at every level of the industry – from media research and strategy to hardcore finance and procurement. She is, quite simply: the full package.”

Last word to Collins herself (with apologies, Celia, for asking you to write on industry contributions; we will be running the full interview on The Media Online!)

“If senior leadership do not give time

and direction, otherwise the industry will become ‘unhinged’ and everyone will be running in different directions. Be a part of the change

do not be a bystander who moans about the industry problems,” she says. “It may be uncomfortable, you have to stick your neck out and be a lonely voice sometimes, but it is really about building our industry for the betterment of all. It is our legacy to ensure we mentor individuals to take from us.”

Stand-out rea S on S for her achievement

• A deep belief in the value

of people

• Mentoring and coaching

come naturally to her

• She is open-minded, willing

to listen and contribute

• She is approachable and

willing to share advice on

day-to-day work issues and

career guidance due to

her experience and

razor-sharp mind

• She is prepared and willing

to share her experience and

insights across traditional

and digital

• She is thoughtful and warm

hearted and a blessing

to those around her. ~

Sandra Gordon

We need guard rails, benchmarks and direction, otherWise the industry Will become ‘unhinged’.

Celia Collins