Agency of the Year: MPG
Not long ago, I had the opportunity to sit in on a secret, high-level meeting of some big agency and TV network executives in the basement of Donovan Data Systems, the company that processes much of Madison Avenue’s media buys. And as I sat there listening, fly-on-the-wall style, to these important industry stakeholders discussing how they hoped to reshape some key aspects of the TV advertising business, I could almost hear the whirring through the walls where Donovan’s computers were housed, processing billions of dollars of media buys. The meeting was completely unofficial, and technically didn’t even have a host. But everyone in the room knew who organized it: Mitch Oscar, whose official title is executive vice president of televisual applications at Havas media shop MPG, but whose actual role inside MPG — and the industry-at-large — could better be described as “agent of change.”
Media Insights Q&A With Donovan MediaOcean's Harvey Kent
Harvey Kent, Chief Media Strategist for Donovan Systems, was one of the early pioneers in standardizing media pre-buying and Buy / Sell IT systems. And he has helped the industry adapt to the changing landscape in processing media data from its many sources to its many users. In this interview, Harvey talks about Donovan and MediaOcean, the introduction of Set Top Box Data into Donovan, media measurement and upcoming trends in the media landscape.
TVOT in NYC 2011
Canoe Ventures publishes an in-depth report on TVOT NYC Intensive 2011.
The Year in Ad Ops 2011 – MediaBank & Donovan Data Systems Merger
If you’ve ever used Google’s AdWords product, you know how blissfully simple it is to plan, budget, buy, track, and pay for your campaigns from a single interface. It’s intuitive enough for virtually any small business to figure out on their own, but flexible enough to scale up to the world’s largest marketers. Compare that now to the way most agencies buy digital media from online publishers, hacking their way through Excel templates, a pile of system interfaces, gobs of email threads, and fax machine printouts with an army of entry-level communications graduates. To get a display media campaign live, it’s downright prehistoric, and certainly one of the biggest growth liabilities to the industry.
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That’s why the MediaBank / Donavan Data Systems merger, assuming it gets approved by the Department of Justice, is so significant, because it has the potential to link all the systems an agency needs to execute a media buy from start to finish, thereby dramatically simplifying the process, and making it more efficient to spend money in digital.
This Guy Explains Where The Ad Tech World Is Heading
The ad tech space is one of the most confusing industries around. To get some insight, we recently spoke with Traffiq CEO Nick Pahade.
MediaOcean, the vision
MediaOcean will not be a bigger or better DDS or MediaBank but will instead be a brand new entity, according to Greg Koerner, CMO, MediaBank.
The Gestalt Of MediaOcean
Assuming the merger of Donovan Data Systems and MediaBank into MediaOcean passes regulatory muster, it's worth asking whether the combination will accelerate the adoption of online media buying methods to the TV space or if it will complicate those efforts.
Thoughts On MediaOcean, The Proposed Merger of Donovan and MediaBank
Ad stewardships companies Donovan Data Systems and MediaBank recently announced plans to merge into a combined company to be called MediaOcean. How should we think about it? I will start with this premise: the advertising and media industry needs better and truly open and neutral multiplatform advertising management, stewardship and billing.
Rival Ad-Tech Firms to Become One
Rival ad-technology companies Donovan Data Systems Inc. and MediaBank LLC are merging to create a new company called MediaOcean, in a bid to head off competition from Google Inc. and bolster their efforts to transition into the digital age.
A Billion Dollar Threat To Google Is Born: MediaBank Merges With Donovan Data Systems
Over the weekend, MediaBank and Donovan Data Systems merged to – pending regulatory approval – form a new, billion dollar company to be called MediaOcean.
MediaBank-DDS Merger Industry Reaction: Questions Remain About MediaOcean
On Sunday, Donovan Data Systems and MediaBank announced their intention to combine their efforts as providers of back office systems that manage transactions across digital and traditional media buying channels.
Merger Talk: Wise And Batson Talk MediaOcean, Google And The Agency OS Concept
MediaBank CEO Bill Wise and DDS Digital President JT Batson discussed the deal and its implications with AdExchanger.com.
Merger! Mediabank And Donovan Data Systems Become MediaOcean
In a back office blockbuster, agency back office systems providers Mediabank and Donovan Data Systems (DDS) have put down their boxing gloves and become best buds.
Rivals Donovan And MediaBank Merge To Form 'MediaOcean,' Will Develop New 'OS' For Madison Avenue
Donovan Data Systems and MediaBank, the two dominant and fiercely competitive suppliers of advertising and media-buying processing systems to Madison Avenue, have agreed to merge into a new company called MediaOcean, which will be led by Donovan founder Michael Donovan and MediaBank CEO Bill Wise, who will serve as executive chairman and CEO of the new company, respectively.
Mediabank Merges With Donovan; Combined Company Called ‘MediaOcean’
Both Donovan Data Systems and MediaBank have been working to expand the methods of online media buying and selling to traditional media through their mutual software offerings—now, they’ll do it together.
DDS and Mediabank merge to create single agency system
Agency booking and measurement services Donovan Data Systems (DDS) and its main rival MediaBank, are to combine to form MediaOcean in a $1.5bn (£966m) merger to create a "single, neutral and universal operating system (OS) for advertising technology."
DDS and Mediabank merge to create single agency system
Agency booking and measurement services Donovan Data Systems (DDS) and its main rival MediaBank, are to combine to form MediaOcean in a $1.5bn (£966m) merger to create a "single, neutral and universal operating system (OS) for advertising technology."
Ad-Technology Rivals DDS and MediaBank Plan Merger, New Open Operating System
Advertising-technology rivals Donovan Data Systems and MediaBank have announced plans to merge into a company called MediaOcean, pending approval by the Department of Justice, amid encroachments from other tech companies such as Microsoft, Google and Yahoo.
Donovan Retains Havas' MPG, Marks 10 Years Servicing Shop
Havas' MPG unit has renewed a multi-year contract for media systems and software with Donovan Data Systems.
Mullen Signs With Donovan: Interpublic Agency Deal Covers Traditional, Digital Media
Chalk one up for Donovan Data Systems. The Madison Avenue media and advertising data-processing giant this morning announced a new multi-year contract with Interpublic's Mullen unit.
OnDemand Summit: Panel: Transparency, navigation will drive VOD ads
Greater data transparency and easier to use navigation are among the factors that could unlock the true value of On Demand advertising, according to a panel of industry experts.
Invision's ad sales system gets Canoe-ready
Partnership follows Venture's deal to integrate with Donovan
Advanced TV advertising stall points and solutions
After years of promise, it is evident that advanced advertising initiatives on TV platforms--across linear and VoD services--have not yet delivered. True, there have been some trials and deployments of dynamic on-demand ad insertion (DAI), and interactive requests for information (RFI) capabilities which have been publicly announced--and more that remain "under wraps." However, the overall momentum has been beneath the expectations of most industry players.
Documentary Channel selects Rentrak for audience measurement
Rentrak Corporation (Nasdaq: RENT), the leader in multi-screen media measurement serving the advertising, television and entertainment industries, today announced a TV Essentials contract with Documentary Channel, the leading network dedicated exclusively to airing the works of independent documentary filmmakers.
Donovan Data Systems and Canoe Ventures partner for interactive TV
According to a release, Canoe Ventures and Donovan Data Systems (DDS) announced yesterday "that DDS is developing technology within its cable TV buying systems to support Canoe Ventures’ advanced advertising solutions." <br /> <br />JT Batson, President of DDS Digital at Donovan Data Systems, a supplier of back office systems to the agency market, discussed the deal and its implications.
Canoe to integrate iTV data with Donovan media buying system
Canoe Ventures has agreed a deal with Donovan Data Systems to integrate response data from its interactive TV advertising platform with Donovan’s media buying software.
Rubicon Project and Donovan Data Systems partner to target non-RTB display inventory
Today, Donovan Data Systems and the Rubicon Project announced a new partnership which will target agency media buyers and "automate the display advertising transactions that are not executed through real time bidding (RTB)."
Donovan crosses the Rubicon, deal gives agencies direct access to online publishers' inventory
In a deal that could dramatically change the way big ad agencies buy online display advertising, Donovan Data Systems this morning unveiled a new platform that will give media planners and buyers access to some of the best inventory from top online publishers directly from their desk-top and laptop computers. Donovan says the main benefits of the new system, dubbed the Direct Publisher Gateway (DPG), will be to improve the time, energy and workflow involved in agencies processing online display advertising buys, but those shifts likely will affect the entire ecosystem of technology providers and third-party intermediaries that have emerged in an increasingly complicated and convoluted marketplace, including ad networks, demand-side platforms, data aggregators, and even home grown agency trading desks.
Donovan and Rubicon team up on display buying platform
Along with the lack of a standard audience metric, one of the main things holding back display ad sales at major ad agencies is the fact that most of the transactions are still done manually, sometimes still by fax. The Rubicon Project and Donovan Data Systems have been working on a platform that will serve as a direct, automated pipeline that will allow agencies to access publishers’ inventory with a few clicks—and, they hope, unlock the 90 percent of display advertising that is not transacted through real-time bidding.
Partners to integrate STB data into ad agency systems
In the US, multi-screen measurement specialist Rentrak is to integrate the data from more than 80 million set-top devices for video-on-demand (VOD), into ad industry software firm Donovan Data Systems’ (DDS) media planning and buying systems.
Rentrak cracks Donovan: deal is first to bring TV set-tops to agency desk-tops
In a move that could make planning and buying via digital TV set-top data a reality for many big agencies and their clients, Rentrak has cut a deal to integrate its set-top-based audience estimates into Donovan Data Systems, the company that provides the back office systems and software that power much of what Madison Avenue does, including planning, buying, posting and even paying the media. The deal, which is being announced this morning, is believed to be the first to integrate set-top data directly into the "enterprise" systems that agencies use to conduct business, and could have a profound effect on the way agencies treat the data, especially for highly-targeted niche TV networks that are not currently measured by the Nielsen Co.
Accounts and people of note in the ad industry
Ken Breen and Fraser Woollard were promoted to new posts at Donovan Data Systems, New York. Mr. Breen, director for marketing, becomes director for client relations, and Mr. Woollard, United States account director for two clients, the Interpublic Group of Companies and the Omnicom Group, becomes client relationship director.
Industry reaction to OpenRTB standard
AdExchanger.com asked several executives from advertising technology companies about their reaction to the OpenRTB standard ...
Telling stories of coming to the US
In 1963, Michael Donovan came to the US from England to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. More than 40 years later, the data processing company CEO says he has fulfilled the "can-do American dream" and wants to tell the story of his—and millions of others'—experiences of coming to the US.
Donovan Data Systems prez Batson looks at the digital back office and agency DNA
JT Batson is president, DDS Digital at Donovan Data Systems, a supplier of back office systems to the agency market.
Donovan taps Rubicon’s JT Batson to head digital division
It’s hard to believe, but some media buying transactions still require a fax number to get things done. For the past few years, company’s like Mediabank and Donovan Data Systems have been trying to drag media agencies and sellers into the 21st century with software that allows for online transactions of ad buys. Still, the industry has a long way to go. Donovan is hoping that new hire JT Batson, who left online ad firm Rubicon Project earlier this month, will be able to get agencies to embrace digital methods once and for all.
4A's aims for diverse agenda
At Transformation 2010, its combined Leadership and Media Conference, which starts on Sunday, the American Association of Advertising Agencies is aiming for as diverse an agenda as possible.
To prevent digital ad fraud, start with secure insertion orders
Recent stories in Online Media Daily and The New York Times about fraudulent insertion orders for Web site advertising remind us that as long as there are dishonest people in the world, we need to harness technology to counter technology.
Omnicom Media Group and DDS extend data relationship
Omnicom Media Group has renewed a multiyear contract with Donovan Data Systems, the two organizations announced September 28. DDS will provide the advertising, marketing and communications holding company with management systems and services as part of the deal, for which financial terms were not disclosed.
Omnicom renews with Donovan, multi-year deal includes iDesk
Donovan Data Systems, the dominant provider of back-office media buying systems for advertising agencies, this morning announced it has signed a new, multi-year agreement with Omnicom Media Group. The deal, which includes Donovan's new iDesk digital ad campaign management, and BrandOcean workflow systems, is the second major agency holding company renewal struck by Donovan this year.
Marketron, Donovan collaborate for electronic orders
Donovan Data Systems and Marketron Broadcast Solutions are working together to offer completely electronic transaction between spot buyers and radio stations.
Networks, agencies up electronic transaction delivery via eBusiness
More than 3,000 transactions for national cable TV inventory have been sent electronically between cable networks and agencies since the inception of an eBusiness initiative in June.
Media buys: DDS, cablevision report big e-business increases
There is continued growth for electronic transactions in the TV industry with cable TV networks. A system from Donovan Data Systems and Cablevision Advertising Bureau -- eBusiness -- has seen a sevenfold increase since its launch in June.
MSA and Donovan Data Systems partner using EDI Coordinator™ software to automate transmission of advertising deals
Management Science Associates, Inc. (MSA) has announced that a successful automated transmission of electronic cable deals and changes can now be sent via its @media® EDI Coordinator™ software to Donovan Data Systems' (DDS) electronic hub. This allows national cable networks to send deals on a regularly scheduled basis to their agency trading partners that use DDS' national media buying system. Agencies can track all changes made to the deals.
Donovan clicks with DoubleClick, iDesk first to hit DART's bullseye
Score one for Madison Avenue data processing giant Donovan Data Systems (DDS) in the race to develop a state-of-the-art system for managing the workflow of digital campaigns and media buys. DDS last week announced its new iDesk system is now fully integrated with the latest version of DoubleClick's DART for Advertisers in the U.K., and will implement it in the U.S. soon.
MPG Canada digitizes up into DDS eAvails
A new tool is making life a lot easier for media agencies these days. Buyers can view program schedules, ratings and costs for evaluation and eventual booking through Toronto-based Donovan Data System's eAvails platform.
Donovan Data Systems enhances digital media buying at OPera agencies in the Omnicom Group with iDesk
Donovan Data Systems (DDS) today announced that UK agencies in Omnicom's OPera media buying division, including OMD, PHD, Manning Gottlieb OMD and M2M, have added to their online capability by installing iDesk, the digital campaign management application
IPG, DDS renew huge media deal
After months of negotiations, Donovan Data Systems has succeeded in renewing its contract to process some $25 billion in annual ad buys for Interpublic Group media shops.