Pigs barred from New Year ads

BEIJING--China's ruling Communist party has decreed that no images or references to pigs can appear on TV in the lead-up to this year's Chinese New Year festivities, even though 2007 is the Year of the Pig in the Chinese calendar. The new year begins on Feb. 18. The ban even includes animated or cartoon depictions of pigs in print and TV ads, as well as references to swine in slogans ringing in the new year, such as "Wishing you a happy pig year." The government wants to avoid offending the country's millions of Muslims, who view pigs as unclean animals, even though they represent a small minority of the overall population. There are just 18 million Muslims in a population of 1.3 billion, according to government statistics. The decision has sent marketers scrambling to remove any references to the lowly farm animal ahead of the annual advertising blitz. Huiyuan partners with MTV to attract young consumersBEIJING--China's biggest fruit juice marketer, Beijing-based Huiyuan Juice & Beverage Group, has formed an on-air and on-the-ground branding alliance with MTV Networks to make its drink products seem hipper among young consumers. The deal includes multi-platform sponsorship of the music broadcaster's 2007 MTV Style Gala, a fashion and style show in Shanghai, and sponsorship of "First Listen," a new five-minute segment featured daily in MTV China's most popular syndicated show, "Tian Lai Cun." Huiyuan has also become the exclusive fruit juice supplier for MTV in China throughout 2007. Huiyuan, which is partly owned by Danone Group and Warburg Pincus, is already popular with Chinese mothers nationwide. It controls about 47% of China's market for pure juice products, and net profits grew 106% last year, to $28.5 million. But it hopes the MTV deal will make it more popular among young Chinese consumers as well. Qizheng Tibetan Medicine appoints Zenith MediaBEIJING--Qizheng Tibetan Medicine Group has appointed the independent creative agency, Apartment 8, and Publicis Groupe's Zenith Media in Beijing, to handle creative and media, respectively, in China. The win follows an eight-way pitch that included JWT and MindShare as well as several local agencies. Currently, Qizheng's flagship product is an analgesic paste marketed under the brand name Xiaotongtie, but the company "has a very aggressive growth plan for the next three years," said Malcolm Hanlon, Zenith's CEO, China based in Shanghai. The company will not disclose its media budget, but spending on traditional health remedies have long been one of the largest advertising categories in China. Compared to other types of traditional medicine, however, Tibetan pharmeceuticals are based on that Asian region's ancient culture, incorporating local theories about heaven, earth and life science. Qizheng was established in 1993 by General Manager Lei Jufang, one of the richest women in China, according to a local economic magazine, Science Investment. The group owns ten subsidiaries, including pharmacies and a research institute. Fans of the company's products include the gymnast Li Xiaoshuang and diving champion Fu Mingxia. Li Ning allies with Swedish Olympic CommitteeBEIJING-- Li Ning Co. has made another move in its quest to build a global brand. China's largest domestic sportswear company has signed a four-year deal with the Swedish Olympic Committee. It will provide specially designed clothes for the Swedish Olympic Delegation to wear on the competition grounds and at award ceremonies during the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. In addition, Li Ning is authorized to sell Olympics-related products in Sweden. The deal helps the Chinese company "further promote the image of the Li-Ning brand while establishing a solid foundation for tapping into the Swedish and European markets," said Li Ning's CEO, Zhang Zhiyong, in Beijing. Agency.com opens first outpost in AsiaSHANGHAI-- TBWA Worldwide's interactive agency, Agency.com, has opened its first office in Asia in Shanghai. The New York-based network creates interactive experiences for brands like British Airways, Ikea, Energizer and Visa. The Shanghai office, Agency.com's 11th worldwide, will be led by Managing Director Jason Kuperman. Previously, he was director of interactive and content practice at the agency's sibling, TBWA's Tequila division, based in Los Angeles. In his new role, Mr. Kuperman will expand the digital offering for TBWA and Tequila in China, home to over 140 million internet surfers and 426 million mobile phone users.