Sky NZ’s Viacom-owned 24-hour comedy channel Comedy Central is calling out to local comedians, producers, YouTubers and animators to submit pitches for the brand’s first local New Zealand series, as the channel increases investment in local production.

Freemans Bay PR outfit Beat Communications has dissolved its business, cutting loose most of its clients – including the big one, Frucor.

M+AD ed David Gapes’ late nights helping to judge the Epica Awards have come to nowt. Sadly, so has the efforts put in by Campaign Brief Australia ed Michael Lynch.

Sugar & Partners and Phantom Billstickers have launched an integrated digital, outdoor and print campaign to force Auckland Council to halt development on a contentious piece of Auckland land that is a historic and sacred site to Maori.

Freemans Bay indie creative shop Contagion, with Film Construction’s Georgie Taylor at the helm, has shot a new campaign for financier Harmoney.

Talent & voice agency Auckland Actors has linked with emerging music industry player The Platform to provide a one-stop shop for music and talent. Auckland Actors retains its identity and name, as does The Platform. (Just sleeping together, you might say.)

Tip Top has enlisted the help of Mango Communications to kick off their 80th birthday celebrations before the above-the-line campaign begins. The brief was to create a fun, unique staff engagement activity that could be leveraged through PR and social media. “The answer?,” says Mango GM Sean Brown. “A staff photo with a difference.”

Yahoo! New Zealand is to rebrand as Yahoo Platforms NZ, reflecting its offering in native and programmatic advertising.