Thursday, July 03, 2008

Thursday Morning Updates

Been busy getting ready for the weekend, so here are some clickable headlines you can explore:

by Wayne Friedman
Looking to more deeply examine what drives women in the marketplace, the Omnicom Group has started up an in-house consultancy called G23. Core data for the group will initially come from an ambitious worldwide study using the theme of "women's tribes" to study female purchasing behaviors and beliefs in 16 countries. ... Read the whole story

by Erik Sass
The grim flurry of activity continued at Tribune Co. Wednesday, with the announcement that the Los Angeles Times will cut 250 positions--or about 8% of the total workforce--including 150 editorial jobs, equaling about 17% of the newsroom staff. The editorial cuts will affect both print and online staff, which are also being consolidated into a single editorial department, according to Publisher David Hiller, who said the cuts will take place by Labor Day. ... Read the whole story
by David Goetzl
Dish Network said it now offers local HD channels in 61 markets, accounting for 68% of the country. ... Read the whole story
by Erik Sass
Automobile sales are plummeting, and it's no surprise that auto magazines are close behind. The collapse of print automobile advertising points to two related trends: First, the migration of auto ad dollars to the Internet, and second, the general economic slowdown, which is accelerating that migration. ... Read the whole story
by Wayne Friedman
The TV broadcast summer has evolved into a neck-and-neck race among some moderately viewed reality shows, three of which air on Tuesday night. "Wipeout," "Hell's Kitchen" and "America's Got Talent" are keeping the nets big fans of the genre. ... Read the whole story

MasterCard Promo Rocks With Likes Of Clapton, Bon Jovi
by Aaron Baar
[Financial Services] The television spot continues MasterCard's well-known "Priceless" theme, wherein eating lunch where Clapton got his start, going to the club where Bon Jovi played his first show and sitting on Chesney's bus all cost "$0", while "seeing where it all began" is priceless. - Read the whole story...

Tough Economy Accelerating Sustainable Food Trends
by Karlene Lukovitz
[Food] While consumption of organics and fresh produce has been on a strong upward curve for years now, cost factors are motivating consumers who might not otherwise have been so quick to jump on the sustainability bandwagon to seek out regional food sources and private-label organics, and even try their hands at kitchen gardens. - Read the whole story...

Under Armour Turns Up The Heat, Hires New President
by Sarah Mahoney
[Retail] "Nike started out selling one shoe out of the back of a car," says an analyst. "And Under Armour has grown faster than Nike ever did. The U.S. market needs a No. 2 player, in terms of both consumer and wholesaler demand. While Reebok was that, it's been having issues after being acquired by Adidas." - Read the whole story...

Ford Takes Czubay From Toyota To Lead U.S. Marketing
by Karl Greenberg
[Automotive] The company says that Ken Czubay's focus on domestic marketing operations will free up Jim Farley to work on the "One Ford" global product and marketing strategy. On the product side, Farley will spend more time with Derrick Kuzak, Ford group VP/global product development, per the company. Farley will also concentrate on Ford's global corporate brand image. - Read the whole story...

Before Senate Hearing, Center To Debate Behavior Targeting
by Laurie Sullivan
[Behavioral Targeting] The technology maps search and browsing activity of Web surfers through an ISP's network, rather than specific Web sites. The data is filtered and given to advertising networks to target consumers with ads. Some hope the Senate Commerce Committee will begin to pay more attention to this technology from NebuAd, Phorm, Adzilla and others. - Read the whole story...

Frankly, The Hot Dog Council Is No Weenie This Summer
by Karl Greenberg
[Food] This is not the first time the council, a division of the American Meat Institute, has done seasonal campaigns, but it is the most digitized. "We have celebrated National Hot Dog month since 1957, " says its Queen of Wien. "But this year, we have a new Web site and video channel." - Read the whole story...

Newspapers Get Animated Comics
Editor & Publisher
Universal Press Syndicate announced a partnership with Deviant Films to offer daily animated comics to newspaper Web sites. "Newspapers have been asking for more dynamic content for their Web sites, and this is the natural evolution for our comic properties," says Universal executive John Glynn.

The animations provide newspaper sites with "an advertising opportunity to reach younger readers and provide a great source of traffic," he says. Animated Universal strips and panels include "The Argyle Sweater" by Scott Hilburn, "Lio" by Mark Tatulli and "Ink Pen" by Phil Dunlap. - Read the whole story...

In-Flight Video Sales Could Soar
Wired
Even as airlines are taking a bath with surging gas prices, in-flight video could provide a little financial relief. Revenue from in-flight video broadcasts is expected to grow from just $87 million in 2007 to $913 million in 2012, according to MultiMedia Intelligence. The research firm also expects in-flight broadband services--which haven't gotten off the ground yet--to generate $936 million in revenue by 2012.

The numbers are based on the fact that air travelers tend to be a captive audience, although some observes say more travelers will bring their own in-flight entertainment: iPods or portable DVD players. - Read the whole story...

within the DVD set for AMC hit "Mad Men." ... Read the whole story

by David Goetzl
Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo said it has joined with Ford, even as automakers are cutting budgets, to launch a multi-platform miniseries, "Amores de Luna," that will double as an ad vehicle. ... Read the whole story
by Wayne Friedman
USA Network grabbed another overall ratings win for the second quarter, while TNT scored big with individual program ratings coming from the NBA playoffs. The big win for USA is the new summer series "In Plain Sight." ... Read the whole story

by Erik Sass
Quick & Simple magazine is no more after this July, according to Hearst Magazines, which said it will close the women's lifestyle, cooking, shelter and crafts title after its July 29 issue. As with other recent print magazine closures, the brand will survive online, with the Web site continuing to post new content. ... Read the whole story
by Joe Mandese
With Madison Avenue focused on how to deal with the transition from traditional forms of television to online video, a new study indicates that traditional forms of video - especially the ubiquitous DVD player - continue to dominate the video rental marketplace. ... Read the whole story

Party's Over For The Truck And SUV Crowd, Folks
by Karl Greenberg
[Automotive] Trucks and SUVs, which not long ago were rocket fuel to U.S. sales, have become a ball and chain around the ankles of automakers like GM, Ford, and Toyota. June was a month in which the three automakers saw truck declines--big ones for Toyota and Ford. - Read the whole story...

Moms Open to Parent-Focused Approaches To Reaching Children
by Karlene Lukovitz
[Research] Moms take a practical attitude. By and large, they do object to marketing/advertising programs that directly target children and teens within the school environment, but support programs that focus communication on parents--particularly when the programs offer financial support for schools and educational programs. - Read the whole story...

Mmm-Mmm Gourmet: Campbell Scores Wolfgang Puck Soup Line
by Sarah Mahoney
[Food] For now, the agreement covers soup, stock and broth products in North American stores, but it also includes an option to extend the Puck brand into new categories and channels. The high-end acquisition comes at a time when Campbell's soup sales, frankly, aren't so hot. - Read the whole story...

AT&T Taps Into Apple's Lower-Case 'I' For 3G Campaign
by Laurie Sullivan
[Telecom] While the Web site's tag reads "Twice the speed, half the price," Brad Mays, AT&T spokesman, says the carrier will focus marketing efforts on the speed of the 3G network, rather than the price. The faster network is available in 280 major cities across the United States, reaching 350 by year's end. - Read the whole story...

P&G's Gillette Adds Yankee Derek Jeter To Its Stable
by Karl Greenberg
[Packaged Goods] Jeter, who has never pitched Gillette before, will appear in print and broadcast ads, promotions, point-of-purchase materials, interactive Web programs, and PR efforts. A new TV ad ends with three athletes chatting. "You see, five's better than three," says one. "Not in golf," says Tiger Woods. "Yeah, but in real sports," says Jeter. - Read the whole story...

by David Goetzl
Cable operators have tried to gain a leg up by claiming they offer a robust video-on-demand product, while their satellite competition was a non-factor. But after promising it would launch VOD some time ago, DirecTV has finally done so. ... Read the whole story






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