Has Ngage Media Died Down Under?
Adrian J Cotterill, Editor-in-Chief
Times are good in the COOH and DOOH world it would seem and it has been a while since we’ve had to report the demise of a media owner or network but news reaches us from down under that four year old NGAGE Media has likely died.
Ngage Media described themselves as dedicated to crafting digital signage campaigns that provide exceptional levels of market cut-through and customer engagement AND offering clients the opportunity to reach targeted audiences through their extensive nationwide media network .
Ngage Media managed many of New Zealand’s larger networks – including networks for all the major gas / petrol stations (BP, Z Energy, Caltex etc.) as well as managing or owning networks for major liquor suppliers and others. They were also the only distributors for Aerva in Australia and New Zealand (Aerva were only recently acquired by Watchfire Signs of course).
Alan Nicholas who described himself as both owner and Business Development Director of Ngage Media on his LinkedIn profile was removed as a director of the business and had his shareholding cancelled on July 7, according to New Zealand Companies Office records.
This is not the first time an OOH network put together by Alan has failed – he built, what was a few years ago, New Zealand’s largest in store OOH network for The Warehouse, with some 500 screens that were removed just over a year ago.
Also involved in what appears to be this joint venture debacle is the Image Centre Group, a major media house that is a full service ad agency, publishes magazines and develops web sites. It is rumoured that they may have invested as much as $750,000 in the business.
We understand that the Image Centre management are looking to try and sell parts of the networks as an ongoing businesses or close them if no buyers are found.
July 24th, 2015 at 05:42 @279
It was a little shocking and disappointing to read your article about one of our businesses without any of our team being contacted for comment. So I’d like to provide your readers with a few facts.
ICG has purchased Alan Nicholas’s minority shareholding in Ngage Media Limited and will operate the business as a 100% owned subsidiary alongside its eight other market services specialist divisions.
ICG set up Ngage Media (with Alan) in 2011 as we recognised the growing demand for digital signage solutions as part of the marketing communications and retail environment mix. In this time Ngage, with the support from many partners and especially Aerva Inc, has built a nationwide petrol media network and sells this digital out of home channel to both national and regional advertisers. We have also built a number of other networks for clients and continue to support those networks today.
We have appointed Scott MacDonnell to lead Ngage as Scott has led media sales for us for over a year and done a great job. He came to us with years of marketing experience and has developed an excellent understanding of digital place based media as a marketing channel.
We have a client base as diverse as pharmacies, petrol stations and outdoor media companies who we are helping with not only the technology but more importantly the content on the screens.
Ngage’s point of difference in the market is being part of NZ’s largest Kiwi owned marketing services business (ICG). This gives Ngage (and its clients) access to media strategists, creatives, design and video producers, as well as retail environment experts.
It is far from “… likely died”. In fact we see its importance to our group offering growing because, as you say, DOOH is growing world wide.
I hope this informs your readers that Ngage Media is far from a “debacle” and is not being closed.
Regards,
Steve
ICG CFO