Digital Consultancy Ferry Embarks From Scotland
Night Train Digital boss Caitlin Meek O’Connor and social content expert Mark MacDonald are relocating to Scotland to launch Ferry, a YouTube-focused consultancy. The married couple will work with companies to put in place strategies, staffing and structure for their YouTube and social media operations. Meek O’Connor has been Head of Night Train Digital, which is part of the London-based Night Train Media, for the past two years. Previously, she had worked at All3Media-owned Little Dot Studios for six years as Programmes and Acquisitions chief, and has held senior roles at Beyond Rights, DRG, Mercury Media and the BBC. MacDonald had also worked at Little Dot in several senior roles, and was most recently Global Head of Social Media at Banijay Entertainment. He has been consulting since March, when he exited the France-based giant. “After two fantastic years at Night Train Digital, I’m excited to start a new chapter with the launch of Ferry, the consultancy Mark and I have founded to help companies unlock the full potential of their YouTube strategies and to work closely with Scottish businesses to elevate their digital output and reach new audiences,” Meek O’Connor told Deadline. “It’s an exciting time to be helping content travel further.” Night Train Digital has not yet replaced her directly, with Lara Sword, Head of Factual Network, leading the unit as of now.
Ormax To Track Indian Sports Viewing
Ormax Media, the Indian insights consultancy, is launching Ormax Sports Track. The syndicated audience research tool is an attempt to track the engagement and marketing impact of sports on streaming services in the country. Given the huge numbers following cricket on digital services in the country – and widening interest in soccer, tennis, kabbadi and wrestling – platforms, sports leagues and advertisers will have been searching for such a tool. Ormax will will evaluate tournaments on four parameters – buzz, reach, appeal and potency. “With Ormax Sports Track, OTT platforms now have a powerful, subscription-based tool to benchmark the impact of their sports campaigns against industry-wide trends,” said Keerat Grewal, Head of Business Development (Streaming, Television & Brands). “This tool integrates rigorous audience tracking with strategic insights, helping clients drive subscriptions, optimise marketing spend, and stand out in a crowded sports landscape.”
Adelaide Film Festival Selects ‘Jimpa’ For Opening Night
The Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) has selected Sophie Hyde’s Jimpa as its opening night film. The feature is a multi-generational story in which filmmaker Hannah (Olivia Colman) takes her trans non-binary teenager Frances (Aud Mason-Hyde) to Amsterdam to meet their gay grandfather, Jimpa (John Lithgow). It’s inspired by the death of Sophie Hyde’s own father, and the queer family she was raised in. Jimpa premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year and is now getting its debut in Australia, where it will be released by Kismet. Other features selected for AFF are Journey Home, David Gulpilil, by directors Maggie Miles and Trisha Morton-Thomas; The Colleano Heart from Pauline Clague; Lynette Wallworth’s Edge of Life; South Australian horror thriller Penny Lane is Dead from writer/director Mia’Kate Russell; Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner It Was Just An Accident by from Iranian director Jafar Panahi; and Fwends, from first-time director Sophie Somerville. Jimpa, My Colleano Heart, Edge of Life and Penny Lane is Dead were supported into production by the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund. A full AFF program will be announced on September 9.
