Tag: Taiwan

Hong Kong – Teads has expanded its attention measurement capabilities to Hong Kong and Taiwan through its Teads Ad Manager (TAM) platform, allowing advertisers in both markets to measure audience engagement across premium publisher environments.

The feature, powered by Lumen Research, enables advertisers to track how users interact with creative assets in real time. By activating the “Attention” function, campaigns are automatically tagged with Lumen’s proprietary technology, offering a cookieless and privacy-first way to gauge ad effectiveness — particularly for upper- and mid-funnel branding campaigns.

Since its global rollout, the tool has seen strong adoption as brands seek more accurate metrics beyond standard viewability. It is available at no additional cost within TAM and is designed to integrate easily into campaign setup.

Caroline Hugonenc, SVP research and insights at Teads, shared, “We’re proud to bring Lumen’s attention measurement capabilities to our clients in Hong Kong and Taiwan through Teads Ad Manager. These two markets are vibrant, fast-evolving, and rich with innovation — and now, advertisers here can measure attention seamlessly and at no additional cost. This is a meaningful step in expanding our global attention programme, and we’re looking forward to uncovering actionable insights and building regional best practices in attention-driven advertising. ”

Christopher Maksymuk, managing director for North Asia at Teads, added, “Attention metrics are now a key must-have for brands seeking a transparent picture on which to base their media investment strategy. The introduction of the Teads attention offering in traditional Chinese brings unparalleled ease in gaining deeper insights into local audiences’ behaviours.

He continued, “The Lumen/Teads partnership has proven success over 10,000 campaigns across 30 markets, so I’m extremely excited that this is now available in traditional Chinese and the full power of this product can be leveraged by our local agencies & clients.”

To assess its effectiveness locally, Teads and Lumen tested two ad formats — vertical video and square display — across traditional Chinese publisher sites. Both formats outperformed global norms in Attention Per Mille (APM) and %Viewed metrics. Vertical Video achieved a 48% viewed rate, 50% above the Lumen global norm, and an APM score of 1,682 — 121% above the global average. Static Display also exceeded benchmarks, with a 31% viewed rate and an 11% higher APM than global video norms.

Teads said the findings support the use of vertical formats for greater impact in visually dense environments. The company’s local teams in Hong Kong and Taiwan are working with advertisers on implementation, testing, and optimisation. The attention measurement feature is currently available for branding campaigns only.

Mike Follett, CEO and co-founder of Lumen Research, said, “Vertical video is taking over the internet – it’s everywhere, and it’s great to see Teads’ vertical video solutions perform as strongly in the Chinese market as they do the world over. This study proves that Teads vertical video formats get noticed by more people and for a longer time than equivalent media inventory.”

Singapore – Omnicom Media Group agency Hearts & Science has secured two new pharmaceutical clients in Asia, further expanding its presence in the region’s healthcare marketing sector.

The agency has been appointed to handle media duties for Hyphens Pharma in Singapore and Allergan in Taiwan, following competitive pitches in both markets. These wins add to Hearts & Science’s growing momentum in Asia Pacific, where it recently picked up accounts including Warner Bros. Discovery and AS Watson.

In Singapore, Hearts & Science will oversee integrated media planning for Hyphens Pharma. The agency was selected for its ability to align media strategies with brand goals, analyse audience behaviours, and provide data-driven insights that support omnichannel planning.

Meanwhile, in Taiwan, the agency secured the Allergan business by developing a media strategy that reinforced the company’s leadership in aesthetic medicine.

Rochelle Chhaya, CEO of Hearts & Science APAC, said the latest client additions are a testament to the agency’s growing pharmaceutical capabilities.

“These new business wins deepen our pharmaceutical expertise and reflect the innovative talent that forms a crucial foundation for Hearts & Science,” Chhaya said. “We are constantly seeking new ways to help brands build connections that matter and be where their consumers are,” she said.

She added that the partnerships signal growing trust in the agency’s regional capabilities and position it for continued expansion in the healthcare sector.

Singapore – With the second season of the HBO Original series ‘The Last of Us’ recently premiering on Max and HBO on April 14, Max launched a hyper-local campaign that engaged fans in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. Through pop-ups at local festivals and shopping malls, high-energy sports event takeovers and viewing parties, Max transformed everyday spaces and activities into immersive experiences across the region. 

Pop-up experiences brought the show to life, allowing fans to step into an inspired post-apocalyptic world of The Last of Us. From April 13-15, Max leveraged Thailand’s biggest water festival, incorporating themed pop-ups at the festival’s hotspots in Bangkok, attracting fans and the public through interactive activities and social media contests across three locations. 

Meanwhile, fans in the Philippines also had the opportunity to pose for photos at on-ground activations at BGC in Manila with a replica of a wrecked car from the show’s setting and a sari-sari store at the PBA Provincial Games, adding a local twist. From April 14–20, a themed setup was also constructed in popular mall, VivoCity in Singapore, where fans eagerly took part in themed quizzes and shared social moments.

Moreover, takeovers at sports events were also held in the Philippines and Taiwan. This comprised the Premier Volleyball League Finals on April 10, the PBA Provincial Games on April 26 in the Philippines and the final takeover set to take place on May 14 at the UAAP Volleyball Finals. In Taiwan, the takeover took place at Fubon Gradian Baseball Games from April 26–27. In addition, Max held premiere viewing parties for invited guests in Indonesia, Malaysia and Taiwan.

As part of the activation rollout, a striking out-of-home campaign across Southeast Asia and Taiwan included 3D billboards in Metro Manila’s BGC district, wrapped sky trains in Bangkok, an immersive mural art in Kuala Lumpur, and digital placements in the busiest districts in the region.

To fuel the campaign’s digital momentum, Max held social media contests, including one in Indonesia that invited fans to share their heartfelt responses on what they would do if the person closest to them was infected, inspiring user-generated content. 

Taiwan – Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) has banned the use of DeepSeek’s newly launched AI service from China in the public sector, citing concerns over data privacy and security risks.

According to a report by the Taipei Times, MODA has advised government agencies and critical infrastructure to avoid using DeepSeek, stating that it “endangers national information security.”

MODA’s ban covers employees of government agencies, public schools, state-owned enterprises, semi-official organisations, critical infrastructure projects, and government-endowed foundations. However, it did not provide details on enforcement. 

The ministry also referenced the ‘Principles on Restricting the Use of Products That Endanger National Cyber Security,’ a 2019 Executive Yuan regulation that bans government agencies from using IT and communication technology products or services deemed a national security risk.

“DeepSeek AI service is a Chinese product. Its operation involves cross-border transmission and information leakage and other information security concerns,” the Taipei Times reported, quoting the ministry.

Taiwan’s ban on DeepSeek comes amid growing global concerns about how the service collects and handles personal data.

South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission plans to send a written request to DeepSeek seeking clarification on how user data is managed, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, authorities in France, Italy, Ireland, and other countries are also investigating DeepSeek’s handling of personal data.

DeepSeek has recently gained attention in the AI industry, with its free AI assistant model surpassing U.S. rival ChatGPT in app store downloads. The company’s claim that it matches the capabilities of leading U.S. AI models for a fraction of the investment have also stirred interest among global investors.

Taiwan – The country’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has announced its decision to block the proposed merger between Uber Eats and foodpanda, citing concerns that it would significantly harm competition. 

The government agency had argued that since foodpanda is Uber Eats’ primary competitor, the merger would give Uber Eats unchecked market dominance, potentially leading to higher costs for both consumers and restaurants.

The FTC also emphasised that Uber Eats relies heavily on individual customers and small to medium-sized restaurants for its business. If the merger went through, these groups would have limited alternatives outside the platform, leaving them vulnerable to the company’s increased influence in the food delivery sector.

Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) vice chairman Chen Chi-ming, said, “Post-merger, UberEats would be less constrained by competition, giving it more incentive to raise prices for consumers and even increase commissions for restaurant operators.”

He added, “The disadvantages to market competition from this merger far outweigh its economic benefits,” noting that the merged companies’ market share would exceed 90%.

While the merger promised some advantages, such as improved operational efficiency and cost benefits tied to denser networks, the FTC concluded that these potential gains were far outweighed by the harmful impacts on market competition.

Uber Eats had proposed measures to address the regulator’s concerns, but the FTC dismissed these as short-term fixes that would fail to sustain the existing level of competition in the industry.

It should be recalled that Uber Technologies and Delivery Hero SE have reached an agreement for Uber to acquire Delivery Hero’s foodpanda delivery business in Taiwan for US$950m in cash back in May this year. Delivery Hero SE had also previously confirmed the sale of select foodpanda businesses, albeit the only confirmation they had was for their SEA businesses.

Singapore – Max made its debut across Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong with regional activations across seven markets – Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, as well as Taiwan and Hong Kong. 

The series of creative and immersive outdoor marketing efforts showcased the streaming service’s rich collection of blockbuster movies, groundbreaking series, iconic hits, best-in-class real-life stories, and family favourites, inviting fans to feel, experience, and become part of the stories, connecting with local audiences through dynamic and culturally relevant campaigns. 

On November 19, Max celebrated its arrival with a spectacular regional light-up moment across all seven markets. Scenes from Warner Bros. Discovery’s beloved brands and franchises, including ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘House of the Dragon,’ ‘The Last of Us,’ ‘Dune: Part Two,’ ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,’ ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,’ and ‘Barbie’ were projected on prominent buildings and landmarks. 

Moreover, audiences were invited to join in local launch celebrations, where fans in the Philippines explored ‘The Last of Us’ and ‘House of the Dragon’ themed Christmas trees and were treated to a magical Harry Potter Christmas tree light-up countdown by James and Oliver Phelps, followed by an amazing fireworks display. In Thailand, audiences were captivated by a life-size “Krathong” installation during the Loi Krathong Festival, as well as on-ground pop-ups inspired by ‘Barbie,’ ‘Dune: Part Two,’ ‘Friends’ and ‘Harry Potter.’

In Taiwan, pop-ups of iconic Warner Bros. Discovery brands including Game of Thrones and Harry Potter allowed guests to step into the world of their favorite shows. 

Upping the ante, Max also took over prominent train stations, transportation, billboards and building projections across Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong, transforming daily commutes into Warner Bros. Discovery-inspired journeys.

To connect viewers in Asia with Max, a series of creative social content brought iconic characters from Max’s loved shows into the heart of each market, incorporating characters into Asia’s vibrant culture, where characters ‘react’ to hyperlocal landmarks, dishes and cultural experiences. 

“The extensive launch campaign generated significant excitement, fostered emotional connections, and positioned Max as the region’s newest streaming experience. The campaign has successfully launched Max on an upwards trajectory in Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong, deeply connecting with local audiences in the region,” the streaming service said in a press statement.

Singapore – Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that its streaming service Max will launch on November 19 in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and  Thailand, as well as Taiwan and Hong Kong. Max will be a brand new streaming experience in the region bringing fans blockbuster movies, groundbreaking series, iconic titles, real-life content and other family favourites through a strong product experience. 

Max brings together entertainment titles from brands like HBO, Harry Potter, the DC Universe, Cartoon Network, Max Originals, and the best of Hollywood movies, as well as programming from Discovery, TLC, AFN, Food Network, ID and HGTV all in one place. 

From November 19, subscribers can enjoy an elevated streaming experience on multiple devices with  an easy to navigate interface including personalised recommendations, seamless search, genre rails and brand hubs. 

Moreover, by providing a more intuitive way of exploring Max, subscribers can create up to five unique profiles, each customisable with favorite characters as avatars, receive content picks based on viewing habits and customise profiles for kids, curated with age-appropriate content and parental controls.

JB Perette, CEO and president of global streaming & games at Warner Bros. Discovery said, “We are thrilled to bring Max to more consumers in Asia. Max brings together unparalleled quality content  from iconic brands like HBO, Discovery, the DC Universe, Harry Potter, AFN, and Cartoon Network, as well as Hollywood blockbusters all in one place. Building on successful launches in the U.S., Latin  America and Europe, Asia Pacific represents the next phase of Max’s globalization, making Max available now in over 72 markets with more to come in 2025.”

Meanwhile, James Gibbons, president at Warner Bros. Discovery, APAC commented, “Warner Bros. Discovery has long entertained fans across Asia Pacific with culture-defining content from powerhouse brands. For the first time, this programming will be available in a brand new streaming app for regional audiences, with Max combining incredible breadth and depth and a best in class viewing experience.” 

Taiwan – Vistar Media, a global provider of out-of-home (OOH) media technology solutions, has forged new strategic partnerships with two major Taiwanese media owners, KanBan Culture and PilotTV Holdings, significantly expanding its footprint in the region.

This strategic move aligns with Vistar’s goal to bolster its OOH marketplace across the APAC region, bringing its advanced programmatic digital out-of-home (DOOH) solutions to Taiwan’s expanding outdoor advertising sector. Integrating KanBan Culture and PilotTV Holdings’ inventory into Vistar’s global marketplace represents a crucial milestone in the company’s continued regional growth across Asia-Pacific. 

Speaking on the partnership, David Mou, chief visionary officer and chief business development officer at KanBan Culture, said, “KanBan seeks to onboard the most iconic, impactful, and contextually significant DOOH inventories in Taiwan onto the global pDOOH ecosystem. Vistar Media’s technical prowess, brand stature, and most significantly, its well-rounded support, enable KanBan to credibly and confidently deliver pDOOH executions to brand clients’ and media owners’ simultaneous satisfactions. Vistar is therefore instrumental in enabling KanBan to convert the minds of successful but otherwise traditional IO media owners towards pDOOH acceptance.” 

YF Juan, international operations at PilotTV Holdings, added, “As Taiwan’s programmatic DOOH leader for retail, transportation, and healthcare channels, PTV-i welcomes programmatic buyers through our collaboration with Vistar Media. This partnership is set to enhance the reach and effectiveness of DOOH campaigns across our extensive network, and we look forward to opening up our premium inventory to buyers both local to Taiwan and around the world.” 

These new partnerships further strengthen Vistar’s global DSP, allowing buyers worldwide to easily purchase DOOH ad space from a single account. Following recent successes like launching programmatic capabilities in China, opening a Melbourne office, and achieving 182% YoY growth in Southeast Asia, Vistar reaffirms its commitment to expanding its OOH marketplace across the region.

Ben Baker, managing director of APAC at Vistar Media, said, “Taiwan represents a significant growth opportunity for Vistar Media, and we are thrilled to officially enter this vibrant market thanks to partnerships with media owners in the region. Our presence in Taiwan will allow us to provide advertisers with the tools they need to create impactful, data-driven digital out-of-home advertising campaigns.”

He continued, “Through our partnerships with KanBan Culture and PilotTV Holdings, our global and omnichannel demand-side platform (DSP) buyers across APAC can access a wider range of inventory that was previously difficult to reach. Taiwan’s bustling urban areas and high-foot traffic locations are ideal environments for programmatic DOOH, and we look forward to helping brands capture the attention of this important market and achieve measurable results.”

Beyond its new inventory in Taiwan, Vistar Media maintains a strong presence across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, mainland China, and Hong Kong.

Taipei, Taiwan – Uber Technologies and Delivery Hero SE have reached an agreement for Uber to acquire Delivery Hero’s foodpanda delivery business in Taiwan for US$950m in cash. The acquisition of foodpanda Taiwan is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions and is targeted to close in the first half of 2025. 

Separately, the companies have also entered into an agreement for Uber to purchase US$300m in newly issued ordinary shares of Delivery Hero.

Until closing, Delivery Hero is dedicated to continue operating foodpanda Taiwan as before, offering the best possible service for its customers and vendors. In the period following closing, foodpanda’s local consumers, merchants, and delivery partners will be transitioned to Uber Eats.

The deal will combine Uber’s global expertise in operating a high-efficiency marketplace with foodpanda’s extensive coverage across Taiwan and its relationships with beloved local brands. The deal will also give consumers greater choice across food types and price points by bringing the complementary groups of merchants on Uber Eats and foodpanda onto a combined platform.

Moreover, due to its existing presence in Taiwan, Uber is best placed to build upon the significant local operations developed by Delivery Hero and foodpanda over the past years, and invest further into an improved experience for consumers, merchants, and delivery partners.

Niklas Östberg, CEO and co-founder of Delivery Hero, said, “The strength of our Taiwanese business is a testament to the hard work of many teams over the last eight years. In order to build a world-leading service, we have come to the conclusion that we need to focus our resources on other parts of our global footprint, where we feel we can have the largest impact for customers, vendors and riders. This deal gives foodpanda an exciting runway in Taiwan and we wish them all the best in their next chapter.”

Meanwhile, Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, senior vice president of delivery at Uber, commented, “Bringing together our distinct customer bases, merchant selections, and geographic footprints will allow us to deliver more choices and the best prices for consumers, stronger demand for restaurants, and more earnings opportunities for delivery partners. Taiwan is a fiercely competitive market, where online food delivery platforms today still represent just a small part of the food delivery landscape. We’re so excited about the opportunity to deliver even greater convenience and value that this transaction would unlock in the years ahead.”

Once completed, this deal would be one of the largest ever international acquisitions in Taiwan, outside of the semiconductor industry. It is worth noting that Delivery Hero SE previously confirmed the sale of select foodpanda businesses, albeit the only confirmation they had was for their SEA businesses.

Taiwan – OMD Taiwan, a subsidiary of the Omnicom Media Group, has named Jason Chen as its new general manager to support business growth. 

In his new role as general manager, Chen will focus on the continuous development and growth of OMD’s client partnerships, commercial operations, product, talent, and culture. 

Chen emphasised his commitment to using his extensive experience to address the challenges and opportunities brought about by the rapid development of marketing technology. The agency network will leverage Chen’s invaluable wealth of experience and insights in combining media, data, and marketing technology to create win-win marketing campaigns for brands and consumers. 

He will lead the team in utilising global resources, technology, and data insights tools to enhance OMD’s competitiveness and talent development and deepen the agile thinking within the agency brand. Chen’s main aim is to assist brands in creating better consumer experiences, continuously strengthen the leading position of client brands, and drive business growth, making OMD the most trusted business partner for clients.

Chen previously spent nearly a decade at OMG and OMD in Taiwan, leading its digital transformation for clients. Now, with over 18 years of experience in digital and media, Chen returns to the OMG network with extensive expertise in marketing, data-driven marketing technology, media integration, and client service. 

Prior to his appointment at OMD Taiwan, he worked at GroupM and has also worked at d.vibe Digital, dentsu Solution Center, and tech start-up Ainotam, making significant industry contributions in the areas of media, data, and marketing technology. 

Overall, his remarkable leadership earned him several accolades and numerous successful pitch wins, resulting in internationally acclaimed case studies for various brands. 

Charlotte Lee, CEO at OMD Asia Pacific, said, “Jason’s demonstrated expertise in client management, business operations, and digital strategy presents a significant advantage for OMD in Taiwan, especially as we capitalise on emerging opportunities to explore new possibilities for our clients. His recruitment aligns with our ambition to accelerate growth through digital leadership, business transformation, and a connected culture.” 

Also speaking on the appointment, Kelly Huang, CEO of Omnicom Media Group Taiwan, shared, “Jason’s leadership in digital transformation at OMG and OMD makes him one of the most influential figures in our industry. In recent years, OMD has been actively transforming and expanding, keeping pace with the rapid changes in the market. In this rapidly changing market environment, talent, data, and client servicing have always been core values of our group. Faced with the current changes in the environment, we need an agile-thinking team. We are very pleased that Jason has returned and accepted this new challenge. We believe that under his leadership, OMD will once again reach new heights and create new milestones.”