An exclusive cross-platform advertising campaign around CNN’s ‘Marketplace Africa’ launched in March.  The new advertising campaign – built around the network’s flagship Africa focused business programme ‘CNN Marketplace Africa’, focuses on business at the crossroads of where Africa and the global marketplace converge, offers MTN a high profile platform to showcase its support of African and emerging market commerce. This multimedia campaign enables the brand to communicate with CNN’s audience of global investors, business decision makers and c-Suite executives.  This is done through on-air advertising around the show, the exclusive sponsorship of Marketplace Africa Face Time vignettes and exclusive brand presence within the show’s web section, www.cnn.com/marketplaceafrica>  or   <http://www.cnn.com/marketplaceafrica>. “International business decision makers are increasingly looking to regions like Africa for economic inspiration and resource. The telecommunications sector is recognised as one of the most innovative business hotspots on the continent”, says Rani R Raad, Senior VP and MD, Ad Sales and Business Development, CNN International. The campaign will play out in front of CNN’s upscale audiences across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Recent benchmark surveys such as Ipsos Business Elite and EMS have confirmed CNN’s industry leadership in delivering business content to international audiences who consume news voraciously via TV, online, through mobile apps and tablets. Africa is a patchwork of exciting economies, with half its population under 35 of age. Its young and aspirational middle class is hungry for world-class goods and services, which translates into a huge market for local and global brands with ambitious growth aspirations.
MTN was ranked as Africa’s most valuable brand in the independent 2011 Brand Finance Global 500.   “The ranking bears testament to MTN’s emerging market and marketing know-how. It also demonstrates what we have long known to be true – that the developing markets are poised to compete on the world stage,” adds MTN Group Marketing Executive, Jennifer Roberti.