PIC PAUL NICHOLLS
Independent Star Ltd has rebranded as ISL Audience Solutions.
This move will a see a full integration of the Irish Daily Star, Star Chic Saturday magazine and Buzz.ie with its new event management company, Red Square Events, as well as its below the line, creative and production facilities.
Last October, ISL launched its stand-alone news and entertainment offering Buzz.ie which has reached almost one million unique users per month. This brings the group’s unique monthly audience to almost two million and this re-brand will help offer total solutions across all platforms to reach those users.
COO Gavin O’Leary says: “We have the strongest print offering in our market in Ireland as well as a brilliant pedigree in event management, brand to hand, content, creative solutions and design. Buzz.ie was the natural progression for us within the digital space as we make use of one of the most talented newsrooms in Ireland, whether it’s news, sports, female facing content or simply viral, fun digital and social content. We now have a growing reach of almost two million Irish adults per month and ISL Audience Solutions will help integrate that audience under one brand.”
According to head of sales Glen Brereton: “ISL Audience Solutions means we are in a better position to segment our audience and offer tailored, targeted, content-driven campaigns, underpinned by our reputation for a strong commitment to creativity, value, customer service, insight and transparency. Picking up both gold and silver in the print collaboration category at this year’s Media Awards was a testament to how far we can go in our collaborative approach to briefs. Our new internalised handling of our varying functions will ensure we continue to offer best-in-class service to our clients.”
According to business development manager Catriona Byrne: “We have always been able to offer outside traditional media. Events, below the line and PR are an integral part of media owners’ response to briefs. We have built up exceptional experience in event management, for instance The Irish Daily Star is the only paper to run its own GAA awards for the last 20 years alongside other corporate and public events. Under Red Square we have established a dedicated internal team to handle that part of ISL’s business. In the coming months we will also look at a dedicated PR and BTL brand to add to our full-service offering, giving our customers the full 360 degree package.”
As part of the new structure, the digital sales house Electric Media will be handling all digital-only sales for ISL’s Buzz.ie site.
“Homegrown Irish websites are extremely influential in creating brand awareness and engagement for advertisers. By collaborating with Buzz.ie, we will offer multi-dimensional campaign solutions to brands. Through high-reach and high-quality Irish content, data-led display and offline moments – we plan on putting Buzz.ie on the digital map,” says Megan O’Riordan, managing director of Electric Media.
