Previously a consultant on digital video, connected TV and broadcast projects for the British Film Institute, Universal Music, GlaxoSmithKline and AOL, Jon was formerly Head of Video and Internet TV at TalkTalk and brings more than 12 years’ experience across web and broadcast video to Seven.
With a rich heritage in video production, Seven has already been commissioned to create more than 100 videos this year for clients including Sainsbury’s, Grant Thornton, The Guardian (Kodak, Christian Aid, Honda) and Showtime Networks. More recently, Seven has produced popular video campaigns for Sainsbury’s starring the likes of David Beckham for the retailer’s Paralympics sponsorship and Gok Wan to promote its TU clothing range. A special video entry was also produced for Stroke My Genius, after the promotional app created for Showtime’s House of Lies TV series was entered in the recent Emmy Awards Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media – Enhancement to a Television Program or Series category.
Announcing the new appointment at MIPCOM in Cannes today, Dave Castell, Digital Director at Seven, said: “We are thrilled to announce Jon’s appointment and Seven’s video offering here at MIPCOM, the international broadcasting and entertainment content industry’s key event. Jon joins Seven with some amazing broadcast and digital experience and will lead a unique and talented wider video team into this new era for the company, creating cross-platform video content with Seven’s high production and editorial values.”
Sean King, CEO at Seven, said: “We’re really excited about having Jon on board. Video has evolved into various guises, but the key principles of what makes a successful video campaign remain the same, namely quality content creation, good distribution, interactivity and, of course, measurability. With rapidly growing demand from our clients for original branded video content and social, smart and mobile TV expertise, we are at MIPCOM this year continuing client conversations around multi-channel video content, taking part in seminars and meeting interested brands.”
Jon Salmon, Head of Video at Seven, said: “There are so many great video production companies out there, but what attracted me to Seven as a content agency is the ability to use video to engage people throughout the whole customer journey and see video commissioned as part of a single content strategy.”
With recent reports suggesting that YouTube has 800 million unique users in 43 countries per month (Sharethrough), marketers are fast discovering that own-branded TV channels are a great way to boost consumer engagement, reach new audiences and convert website visits into purchases. In fact, global online ad spend is set to reach $110 billion by 2014 and online video ad spend is predicted to be the fastest-growing category (eMarketeer).
As a result, a recent report from Cisco forecasts that by 2014, 90% of web traffic will be video. With Google making no secret of its plans to list video content in search results, marketers are increasingly adding another layer to their digital marketing strategies by teaming up with video content and video SEO experts to create high-quality content, that not only enables brands to share engaging, informative content, but complements their brand messages.
Seven’s talented new video team also includes Kelly Sweeney (ex-Head of Video, AOL, Bebo), Neil Mossey (BBC, ITV) and Laura Bullen (Disney), and with creative directorial expertise from the likes of John Palmer (MTV, BBC, Endemol, C4).