Happy New Year- Blogger will be away on vacation until 1/14/08. See you then ! December 30, 2008
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Adweek.com's Most-Read Stories of 2008 December 26, 2008
Posted by Mark Blei in : Uncategorized , add a commentIn a year that witnessed an epic meltdown in the media and advertising world, it’s perhaps no surprise that coverage of Time Inc. calling for buyouts in the face of tumbling revenue topped the list of Adweek.com’s most-read stories. A controversy surrounding Big Brother, a Bud Light spot from Will Ferrell and Saturday Night Live’s roasting of Sarah Palin also proved popular.
1. Time Inc. Calls for Buyouts
Nov. 11: “With a handful of higher-ups already out the door, Time Inc. is moving to the rank and file as it, like other publishers, seeks to reduce its workforce in the face of dropping ad revenue.”
2. Lowe’s Pulls Ads From ‘Big Brother’
Feb. 22: “CBS got a little taste of its own reality. Lowe’s has vowed not to advertise on future episodes of the reality show Big Brother 9 because of a defamatory comment a contestant made about people with autism.”
3. Ferrell’s Bud Light Spot Hits Big Time
Feb. 5: “Get ready for more Jackie Moon pitches for Bud Light. The improvisational endorsement from Will Ferrell’s character in New Line Cinema’s release of Semi Pro initially was intended to be an online short. But Anheuser-Busch executives decided to put the ad from DDB, New York and Chicago, on Fox’s Super Bowl telecast during the fourth quarter.”
4. Lippert’s Critique: Fey Chic
Oct. 13: “Saturday Night Live parodies GOP veep candidate Sarah Palin, but not everybody’s laughing.”
5. Campaign ‘08: Power Play
Aug. 25: Agency creative directors put their spin on the presidential campaign season.
6. Victoria’s Secret Tops Nielsen Bowl Ratings
Feb. 7: “The highest rated commercial in Sunday’s down-to-the-wire Super Bowl battle was an ad for Victoria’s Secret, according to Nielsen analysis released today. The spot was seen by 103.7 million people at 9:44 p.m., near the dramatic conclusion to the game, which aired on Fox.”
7. DDB Chicago ECD Tilley Dead at 40
Feb. 24: “Paul Tilley, the 40-year-old creative chief of DDB in Chicago, died Friday, an apparent suicide. An ambulance was called to that city’s Fairmont Hotel around 6:25 p.m. Friday following reports that someone had fallen from the building.”
8. Microsoft Unwraps 2nd Seinfeld Salvo
Sept. 12: “The second salvo in Microsoft’s Jerry Seinfeld-Bill Gates campaign has appeared in the form of a four-minute-plus video available on YouTube and elsewhere. The iconic comedian and Microsoft chairman this time venture to suburbia, where they try to act like regular guys despite being surrounded by a highly irregular family.”
9. Obama Tops McCain on Search Ad Front, per Survey
Oct 1: “SendTec found Obama’s campaign was more aggressive in purchasing ads tied to debate-related search terms.”
10. United to Shut Down Ted Airlines
June 5: “What remained of the airline-within-an-airline strategy for battling low-fare carriers was grounded this week when United Airlines said it would discontinue Ted Airlines. United plans to reconfigure Ted’s fleet of 56 Airbus 320s with first-class seats and rebrand them as United planes starting in spring 2009.”
Read The Rest—>Adweek.com’s Most-Read Stories of 2008
Two-Thirds of Small Businesses Go it Alone for Marketing December 26, 2008
Posted by Mark Blei in : Uncategorized , add a commentOver half of small business owners say generating new customers is a challenge, yet nearly two-thirds do not use outside support for marketing assistance, according to a survey of US small businesses from the Yellow Pages Association (YPA).
The recently released “Small Business Marketing Poll,” was conducted by research firm Issues and Answers and undertaken to better understand the marketing preferences of small business owners, MarketingCharts reports.
Read The Rest—>Two-Thirds of Small Businesses Go it Alone for Marketing
Brand Republic's top stories of 2008 December 26, 2008
Posted by Mark Blei in : Uncategorized , add a commentLONDON – As Brand Republic takes a break for Christmas and the New Year, we leave you with a round-up of the big stories from 2008.
Are you dreading 2009 or feeling optimistic? **Vote** and have your say in our poll.
We’re sure you can’t face another list so here’s a wander through this year in the shape of some of the most-read stories from Brand Republic, Campaign, Marketing, Media Week and Revolution.
Accounts On The Move 12/22/08 December 23, 2008
Posted by Mark Blei in : Uncategorized , add a commentFor more great MediaPost content and Newsletters CLICK HERE
| Office Depot |
| NSA Media |
| Office Depot named NSA Media, part of Interpublic Group’s Mediabrands, as its North American print agency of record. The agency was awarded full stewardship of the brand’s print marketing including research, planning, activation and auditing. |
| Noxzema |
| Wieden + Kennedy |
| Wieden + Kennedy picked up creative duties on Alberto-Culver Co.’s Noxema brand. The agency bested GSD&M Idea City and The Martin Agency for the win. |
| Nationwide Insurance |
| In Review |
| Nationwide Insurance placed its creative and media accounts, valued at $185 million, in review. TM Advertising handles creative and Universal McCann handles media chores. |
| PepsiCo |
| Tribal DDB Shanghai |
| Tribal DDB Shanghai has been awarded all digital work for PepsiCo’s beverage brands in China. The work spans seven brands including Pepsi, 7Up, Miranda, Mountain Dew, Tropicana and Gatorade. Tribal DDB will start working on the brands in January and bested three other agencies for the win. |
| USAA |
| Campbell-Ewald |
| USAA, a diversified financial services company, has named Campbell-Ewald Detroit as its agency of record. The agency will handle USAA’s creative strategy and execution, as well as integrated media planning and buying. The account is valued at $15 million. |
| Discovery Networks |
| In Review |
| Discovery Networks placed its $65 million media planning and buying account in review. Incumbent PHD will defend. |
| Kentucky Derby |
| Cramer-Krasselt |
| Churchill Downs Incorporated hired Cramer-Krasselt to promote the Kentucky Derby and its companion event, the Kentucky Oaks. The agency’s New York office will handle the assignment, which will include public relations, integrated marketing and promotions. |
| Time Warner Cable |
| OMD |
| Time Warner Cable tapped OMD to handle its media planning and buying duties, valued at $135 million. |
| Leapfrog Enterprises |
| TBWA/Chiat/Day |
| TBWA/Chiat/Day has parted ways with Leapfrog Enterprises. |
| Product Partners |
| Dailey and Associates |
| Product Partners, developer of infomercials, tapped Dailey and Associates to handle creative and online work on its estimated $100 million account. |
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Pirates Rejoice: RIAA Drops Lawsuits, Makes Deal with ISPs December 19, 2008
Posted by Mark Blei in : Uncategorized , add a commentAccording to a report in the Wall Street Journal this morning, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has finally realized the folly of its anti-piracy strategy and decided to abandon its mass lawsuits against those who share files over P2P networks. This strategy will now be replaces by a three-strikes rule, where ISPs will be notified of infringements by the RIAA. A number of ISPs have agreed to “reduce the service” of these file sharers if they continue to distribute files after receiving a first warning. After a third or fourth warning, the Internet service might be cut off completely. It is not clear which specific ISPs have entered into this arrangement with the RIAA.
One good aspect of this deal is that the ISPs will not have to report the identity of the alleged copyright infringers to the RIAA. This doesn’t mean that the RIAA is planning to completely stop its lawsuits, however. According a report by CNET, the RIAA will still sue those who download “5,000 or 6,000 songs a month” (of course, it is important to point out that nobody has ever been sued for downloading files, only for sharing them).
This arrangement was brokered by New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and, at its core, resembles the RIAA’s deal with a number of colleges.
Read The rest–>Pirates Rejoice: RIAA Drops Lawsuits, Makes Deal with ISPs
Jeremy Piven Leaves Speed-The-Plow: MediaBytes with Shelly Palmer December 19, 2008 December 19, 2008
Posted by Mark Blei in : Uncategorized , add a commentIf you are having trouble viewing our video player, check out MediaBytes on YouTube.
Jeremy Piven left David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow this week, claiming mercury poisoning. Piven, who eats sushi twice a day, received a doctor’s note after tests showed elevated levels of Mercury. Piven’s role will be taken over by Norbert Leo Butz, who will be followed by William H Macy.
GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt expects NBCU to post a profit of $3 billion for 2008. An upbeat Immelt told investors that profits at NBCU could be flat in 2009, or even slightly down. Immelt noted that the new Jay Leno variety show is one of the ways NBCU plans to cut costs and hopefully increase profit in 2009.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the RIAA plans to stop the legal pursuit of illegal downloaders and enact more effective ways to combat digital piracy. Since 2003, the RIAA has brought lawsuits against approximately 35,000 people, including “single mothers, a dead person and a 13-year old girl.” The RIAA now hopes to partner with ISP’s in order to combat piracy from the ground up.
Macrovision has sold the TV Guide Network to Alan Shapiro and One Equity Partners for $255 million dollars, with an additional $45 million to be paid by 2012. The deal also includes the TVGuide.com network, a network of TV related sites, which only recently became bundled in the deal. Macrovision gained a considerable amount for for the network than it did TV Guide magazine, which it sold in October for $1 and liabilities.
Plus, today’s consulting question, “Is linking to a site that features pirated material actionable?” Shelly has the answer on today’s MediaBytes.
Ailing Economy Could Fuel Online Growth In '09 December 19, 2008
Posted by Mark Blei in : Uncategorized , add a commentThe continued growth of new media coupled with the ailing economy spells both opportunity and adversity for the coming year, according to IPG Emerging Media Lab’s team of digital experts.
“We look at this next year as difficult, but filled with opportunities,” said Lori Schwartz, director of the Media Lab, during a press call on Thursday. “Online advertising is expected to grow, because marketers are looking for more accountability.”
That growth, however, also creates new challenges for agencies, as new media and technology companies like Microsoft and Google seek a larger share of online advertising and consumer attention. IPG, for one, plans to work as closely as possible with these potential competitors.
“Rather than approaching it from a fear point of view, we plan to keep our hands in the pie with them,” Schwartz said.
Read The Rest—>Ailing Economy Could Fuel Online Growth In ‘09
Denuo Tool Sheds Light On Moment Of 'Recommendation,' Just One Part Of New VivaKi Social Kit December 19, 2008
Posted by Mark Blei in : Uncategorized , add a commentAmong the suite of tools VivaKi has assembled in the new social media “toolkit” it is providing to Publicis agencies and clients are some powerful new planning, buying and campaign management applications that reveal how quickly big agencies are adapting to the new world of Web 3.0 marketing. Among them, is SocialLight, a new tool developed by Publicis’ Denuo unit that enables agencies and advertisers to understand how, when and why someone makes a recommendation about a brand to someone else via online social media. “Not a lot of information exists on the actual moment of recommendation. The actual moment of advocacy for a given brand in a category,” Dan Buczaczer, senior vice president-director of Denuo told a group of Publicis executives crammed into the New York offices of MediaVest Wednesday for an internal debriefing of the new social media tools being collected by the VivaKi Nerve Center.
Media Post Accounts On The Move 12/15/2008 December 19, 2008
Posted by Mark Blei in : Uncategorized , add a commentFor more great MediaPost content and Newsletters CLICK HERE
| Home Depot |
| The Richards Group |
| The Richards Group retained creative chores on Home Depot’s $580 million advertising account. |
| Burt’s Bees Canada |
| zig |
| Burt’s Bees Canada tapped zig as its agency of record. |
| Levi Strauss |
| Wieden + Kennedy |
| Wieden + Kennedy was awarded creative chores on the $80 million Levi Strauss advertising account. Bartle Bogle Hegarty previously handled the work. |
| John Deere |
| Mindshare |
| Mindshare was awarded John Deere’s national media planning and buying duties. GSD&M Idea City previously handled the account. |
| Knorr |
| Lowe |
| Knorr tapped Lowe to handle creative chores in Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific areas. JWT previously handled the work. |
| NBC Entertainment |
| Naked Communications |
| NBC Entertainment awarded Naked Communications a media assignment. |
| MillerCoors |
| Draftfcb |
| Draftfcb was awarded additional work by MillerCoors, this time picking up work for its Molson and Killian’s Irish Red brands. |
| Del Monte |
| DraftFCB |
| DraftFCB was awarded creative and media planning chores on Del Monte’s pet food brands, estimated at $30 million. |
| University of Phoenix |
| Pereira & O’Dell |
| Pereira & O’Dell was named lead creative agency on the University of Phoenix’s $200 million advertising account. |
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