Frohlinger's Marketing Report articles from February 1999

Frohlinger's Marketing Report archives from February 1999

INTERNET MARKETING SHIFTS INTO MEGA-GEARS.
February 8, 1999... Two explosive developments last week sent out seismic waves in the Internet and advertising/marketing worlds. The remarkable 100 million hits gleaned by Victoria's Secrets with a combo Super Bowl splash and fashion show on the Internet was a...

RECKITT & COLMAN SHAKE-UP.
February 8, 1999... Reckitt & Colman, the British-based household products giant, has undergone a management shake-up as the company has parted ways with CEO Vernon Sankey. The company is looking for a new CEO to replace the 49-year old Sankey. Sankey exited...

PRIMETIME FOR PRIMEDIA?
February 8, 1999... Speculation continues over a possible sale of Primedia (brands include Seventeen, New York, IntelliChoice, Channel One Network and Weekly Reader). Speculation comes despite growth from acquisitions and operating increases. "The talk is really...

OMNICOM WAITS FOR P&G WINDFALL.
February 8, 1999... Omnicom, the holding company of BBDO, DDB Needham and TBWA Advertising, is expected by many industry observers to be the beneficiary of assignments from Procter & Gamble in the next twelve months. "Omnicom is in perfect shape. They have...

PARADE DRILLS NEW SUNDAY MAGAZINE THEME.
February 8, 1999... Parade Magazine in high gear as Sunday magazine at all-time high circulation (37.3 million) and via ad industry's new-found interest in "recency" theme. Executive Vice President Jack Kliger said the magazine is drawing attention via recency...

NBC STRUTS AROUND LYCOS.
February 8, 1999... Will Lycos be acquired by NBC? Sources indicate a deal is imminent that would give NBC a substantial equity stake in Lycos-probably 35 percent-in exchange for cash and promotional time on the NBC network. The NBC-Lycos alliance would likely...

FOX SCORES BIG.
February 8, 1999... One of the weakest Super Bowls ever has not prevented the Fox network from climbing in the ratings war to gain a portion of the prime-time Nielsen season lead in the key adults 18-49 demo. The Super Bowl's measly performance (a 40.2 rating)...

DUREX LOOKS FOR A BEAU.
February 8, 1999... Durex condoms maker London International Group is front and center of a match- making merger scenario. The condoms and medical gloves company said it had been approached by an unnamed suitor. Speculation centered on Safeskin, a San Diego-...

A-B POURS IT ON.
February 8, 1999... The Anheuser-Busch Company posted 3.1% domestic volume growth to 92.7 million barrels of beer in 1998. Its share of the domestic beer market grew by 0.8 of a percentage point to 46.4%. The world's largest brewer earned $1.2 billion in net...

U.S. NEWS SHARPENS CORE BUSINESS.
February 8, 1999... US News & World Report Publisher Patrick Hagerty keeps focus on newsweekly's core categories to sharpen and sustain magazine's growth in 1999. Traditional strength in auto category, financial and tech area the main drivers of the magazine's...

SAATCHI STRIKES.
February 8, 1999... Domestic unit of Saatchi & Saatchi grew an impressive $300 million on the strength of 20 new assignments last year, half of which were new accounts. Growth principally driven by New York office under CEO Jennifer Laing and Vice Chairman Tony...

MERCEDES WATCH.
February 8, 1999... With Bates adding the $10 million assignment for Mercedes in South America, the spotlight remains on Mercedes in its pivotal market Europe and its alignment choice. "Mercedes made the decision for South America which shows they are ready to...

STICKY SWEET TOOTH.
February 8, 1999... Hershey has run into problems with products returned following a marketing holiday event. Since the packaging of the item dates the product, the product has the dual problem of "code dating" as well as "product dating." Returns for out of...

Note to Subscribers:.
February 8, 1999... The next edition of FMR (Vol. 12, No 4) will in three weeks, dated March 1st.

Ad Libs:.
February 8, 1999... Young & Rubicam resigns $20 million in Miller businesses. "There was too much bad blood between both sides. It wasn't going to work," said a source familiar with both camps. Multiple shootouts in works& Global shoot-out in works...