Advertising Age articles from December 2003

Advertising Age archives from December 2003

Spotlight: Nokia.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(Bates Advertising's Nokia campaign)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Normandy Madden Client: Nokia Agency: Bates Advertising, Singapore Nokia challenges consumers to imagine how far mobility can go. Nokia's new Asian campaign highlights the ways mobile technology can enhance lifestyles...

Sponsors cry foul on college sports.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: RICH THOMASELLI Prodded by frustrated marketers, a watchdog group gathered last week in Washington, D.C., to come up with a plan to repair college athletics' image following high-profile scandals ranging from academic cheating to...

Adages: Only 6 out of 10 men wash up, and other lessons from the john.(News)(briefs)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Richard Linnett "I always thought of the women's room as a gathering place and the men's room as a place to do business,'' says Peter Villuci, creative director at Philadelphia ad shop The Hal Lewis Group, who participated in...

Ogilvy cut off from anti-drug account; White House looks to improve transparency.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: IRA TEINOWITZ The White House drug office said it was not congressional opposition, but rather a desire for a performance-based agreement that drove its decision last week against renewing its $150 million-a-year youth anti-drug...

Exclusive: Drug giant puts $235 mil into play; Sanofi eyes WPP, Havas, Publicis.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: RICH THOMASELLI and CLAIRE ATKINSON The maker of the popular Ambien sleeping pill is looking to settle $235 million in global advertising accounts at one holding company and has narrowed its choices to three. WPP Group,...

Late News; Deutsch, New York, wins $100 mil Tylenol account.(multiple briefs)
December 1, 2003... [New York] Johnson & Johnson's McNeil Consumer and Specialty Pharmaceutical Division has awarded the $100 million Tylenol business to Interpublic Group of Cos.' Deutsch, New York, the marketer said. Deutsch was also given the $20.5 million St....

CBS only net to gain audience in sweeps; NBC still No. 1; makegoods become an issue.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: RICHARD LINNETT While the four major broadcast networks crowed publicly about various sweeps victories last week, advertisers moaned privately about makegoods. ABC, NBC, Fox, WB and UPN were all down in advertiser coveted...

Golden becomes publisher of `IHT'.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(Michael Golden, International Herald Tribune)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Normandy Madden [Hong Kong/Paris] New York Times Co. executive Michael Golden will move to Paris to fill the vacant role of publisher at the International Herald Tribune, following the Times' acquisition at the end of last year of...

Law buys time for e-mail ads.(Viewpoint)(Editorial)
December 1, 2003... Marketers caught a big break in the "spam'' law Congress passed last week. The lawmakers bought the moderate approach advocated by business and granted marketers (and Internet service providers) more time to try and bring the spam plague under...

Chile peppers: Exec creates guide to NYC Mexican food.(Multicultural)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Laurel Wentz Other publishers rarely stray from their tables at Michael's and the Four Seasons, but Lisa Quiroz zips from one Mexican restaurant to another. The Mexican-American publisher of Time Warner's People en Espa[+ or -]ol...

The Buzz; What we're talking about.(Media Works)(campaine for Airborne cold remedy)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Byline: T.L. Stanley A West Coast cold-remedy company has tapped some of yesterday's stars (putting it politely) to hawk one of today's fastest-growing herbal concoctions in its first national ad campaign. Greg Brady, aka Barry...

Coke goes native with new soft drink; Argentine brand takes twist with local ingredient.(News)(McCann-Erickson Argentina's campaign for the launch of Nativa)
December 1, 2003... Byline: CHARLES NEWBERY [Buenos Aires, Argentina] Coca-Cola Co. is launching Nativa, a soft drink in Argentina flavored with the country's traditional yerba mate herbal tea, as part of a strategy to broaden its portfolio with products made...

Audiences shift at a glacial pace; `Lost' demos laid to Nielsen issues, not abrupt viewer exodus.(Viewpoint)(Column)
December 1, 2003... Byline: GALE METZGER The recent "disappearance'' of younger TV viewers is nothing new; TV audience fluctuations have occurred before, and I have been an up-close witness to more than a few. When ratings fluctuate unexpectedly, the...

Work 12.1.03.(Work)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Images of the week Hewlett-Packard, introducing more than 100 consumer products this holiday season in a 24-page magazine insert, shows consumers how to get more from photography. The agency is Omnicom Group's Goodby, Silverstein &...

Nissan boosts Hispanic efforts; Carmaker among marketers upping number of products targeted at hot demographic.(Multicultural)
December 1, 2003... Byline: LAUREL WENTZ When Jon Cropper joined Nissan North America two years ago, the company was marketing only its two lowest-priced vehicles to Hispanics. "Between 10% and 12% of our business comes from the Latino market, 9% from...

People.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(agency appointments and promotions)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Aaron Lau to regional director, Asia/Pacific, Omnicom Group's DDB Worldwide, a new position, from president-CEO, greater China. He will remain in Hong Kong. Graham Allan, 48, to president of Yum Restaurants International, responsible for...

People.(People & Players)(agency appointments and promotions)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Michael Strip, 37, to VP-group creative director, Publicis Groupe's Frankel, Chicago, from creative director. Diane Jackson, 38, to senior VP-director of broadcast production, Omnicom Group's BBDO Worldwide, Chicago, from executive...

Nissan delves into truck owner psyche; Immersive research program backs launch of Titan.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: JEAN HALLIDAY Nissan North America wasn't kidding when it decided to immerse its agency team in research to introduce its first full-size truck. It sent Rich Rivera, group director of strategy on Nissan at TBWA/Chiat/Day, Playa del...

The Week; Nielsen report defends methods.(Briefs)
December 1, 2003... Nielsen Media Research's "white paper,'' a study of the drop in male viewers that was released last week, confirmed its controversial findings from earlier this year: "Men 18-34 are watching substantially less prime-time television this year as...

Work: Havaianas.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(Almap/BBDO campaign for flip-flops)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Brightly colored rubber flip-flops are favorite daytime footwear in Brazil with everything from a bathing suit at the beach to shopping in jeans. Although it's hard to imagine formal flip-flops, Havaianas' new Flash range is aiming at more...

Gillette, Schick fight with free razors.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: JACK NEFF Fierce competition between Gillette Co.'s Mach 3 Turbo and Schick's four-bladed Quattro is taking a costly promotional turn as both give away razors that normally retail for as much as $10 and drop coupons for as much as...

Work.(Multicultural)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Asian-American advertising is rarely confrontational, but in a bold campaign in Asian-language newspapers in the San Francisco area, Comcast proclaims the death of rival high-speed Internet service providers. Comcast claims its cable connection...

Affluent shoppers like their luxe goods cheap; Study finds the rich look for discounts, too.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: MERCEDES M. CARDONA On the day after Thanksgiving, the parking lot at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets begins filling up even before the 7 a.m. opening time for most of its stores. Shoppers tailgate as early as 5 a.m. at the...

Ohio anti-tobacco group forges on; Sustains stop-smoking marketing efforts despite withering coffers.(News )(Ohio Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation )
December 1, 2003... Byline: JACK NEFF Ohio's anti-tobacco program would rather fight than switch strategies due to state budget cuts, so it's dipping into its endowment to maintain marketing efforts. The Ohio Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation...

The Biz: 'WSJ' biding time for ad boomerang.(Media Works)('Wall Street Journal' ad revenues)
December 1, 2003... Byline: JON FINE Any story about the beginnings of an ad recovery creaking into action at The Wall Street Journal cannot come without a decent dose of caveats. So here are a few. Despite some serious jumps in ad linage in September...

Independent focus: Vanguarde latest recession casualty.(News)(Vanguarde Media )
December 1, 2003... Byline: JON FINE The magazine ad downturn, 3 years old and counting, claimed another independent player last week as Vanguarde Media abruptly told its 70 employees it would immediately cease publishing its three magazines Nov. 24. The...

Madison+Vine: AmEx turns 'Wheel' payoff from green to blue in promo; Blue Cash brand saturates set in deal with Sony.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: T.L. STANLEY Hoping for a blue Christmas, American Express Co. will saturate "Wheel of Fortune'' with the color in an unusually extensive deal with the syndicated game show. The effort splashes AmEx's Blue Cash brand on nearly...

Coke consolidation in line with strategy.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: KATE MACARTHUR With the consolidation of its $350 million U.S. media planning and buying account with Starcom MediaVest Group, Coca-Cola Co. last week took another step toward enabling its plan to create the "experience-based,...

Wal-Mart weans suppliers; Retail behemoth doesn't want to be 'sole source of survival' for vendors.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: JACK NEFF Stung by recent publicity about how it wields its clout and indirectly forces vendors to ship jobs overseas, Wal-Mart Stores plans to intensify efforts to wean suppliers it feels are too dependent, according to executives...

U of I wrestling over future course for a famed ad school.(Viewpoint)(University of Illinois' College of Communications)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Rance Crain One of the chief conflicts at university advertising schools is whether the curriculum should study advertising's impact on consumers and society in general or instead concentrate on the practical side of creating ads...

Toy story: Nostalgia sells big; My Little Pony, Care Bears top holiday wish lists.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: MERCEDES M. CARDONA The `80s are back, and not just on the fashion runways-at the toy stores, too. Some of the toys kids are asking for this holiday season are Reagan-era retreads: My Little Pony, Care Bears, Cabbage Patch Kids...

Silly spin patronizes public, undermines accountability.(Viewpoint)(news reporting fails to speak bluntly about issues)(Column)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Scott Donaton Here's something I'm tired of: people talking around the issues-the polite words and empty phrases that have cropped up in the world of business, and which journalists often have to swallow and reproduce, if only to...

Media circus: Philips under the big top; Electronics giant embarks on 12-city tour in South America to demonstrate products.(News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Byline: CHARLES NEWBERY [Buenos Aires, Argentina] Philips hits the road this month on a 12-city tour of its very own circus, fully equipped with its state-of-the-art technology products, in an effort to dazzle consumers and boost sales in...

McDonald's turns to OMD for global media; No review held for next step in standardization.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: CLAIRE ATKINSON McDonald's move to consolidate its $1.2 billion global media assignment at Omnicom Group's OMD without a review is a blow to Publicis Groupe's media agencies, Starcom and Zenith Optimedia, which appear to be the...

White Cloud seen expanding further; Execs expect paper towel launch in 2004.(News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Byline: JACK NEFF Package-goods executives expect White Cloud-the renegade Procter & Gamble Co. brand turned premium private-label powerhouse for Wal-Mart Stores-to follow its recent expansion into facial tissue with a paper-towel launch...

Two partner with OMD: California Lottery bid raises Omnicom issue.(News )(TBWA/Chiat/Day and DDB Worldwide )
December 1, 2003... Byline: ALICE Z. CUNEO Omnicom Group's TBWA/Chiat/Day and DDB Worldwide have asked the California Lottery Commission whether they can both pitch with Omnicom media agency OMD. The question, which is an interesting one for Omnicom given...

Marketers blast charges in alcohol suit; Diageo, others refute idea they go after teens.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: IRA TEINOWITZ Marketing groups and some alcohol companies are reacting with anger to a class-action suit that claims they targeted underage kids and seeks return of "billions of dollars of ill-gotten profits.'' The lawsuit,...

20-year incumbent: Universal McCann loses in consolidation.(News)(Coca-Cola media buying account)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Claire Atkinson and Normandy Madden Universal McCann is playing down the loss of Coca-Cola Co.'s media buying business in the U.S., with company executives claiming it was not a high-earning account and insisting the company still...

Levi's struggles to peddle Signature to men; Line is a hit with kids and teens at Wal-Mart, but overall sales slip.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: ALICE Z. CUNEO Levi Strauss & Co. has scored with sales of teen-targeted and kids' clothing at Wal-Mart under its new discount Levi Strauss Signature label. But men's apparel sales are sluggish, according to a memo CEO Phil...

Garfield's AdReview: Pepsi finally acknowledges real point of cola in new ads.(News)(Column)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Bob Garfield We have said this before, and we'll say this again: There is no joy of Pepsi. Nor, despite hundreds of millions of dollars worth of protests to the contrary, was there ever such thing as the joy of cola. Babies and...

The Player: Ogilvy's Pandey puts Asia in international ad spotlight.(People & Players)(Piyush Pandey, president and national creative director for Ogilvy and Mather India)
December 1, 2003... Byline: NORMANDY MADDEN [Mumbai, India] Piyush Pandey did not grow up in Jaipur, India, dreaming of becoming a leader in the Indian advertising community. He started out as a professional cricket player and later became a tea taster for a...

Brady's Bunch.(People & Players)(multiple briefs)
December 1, 2003... Byline: James Brady Kurt Vonnegut embraced me in a great bear hug Nov. 11 on East 48th Street. Is this love? I inquired. "No,'' said Kurt, "it's my birthday. I'm 81.'' He had just come from the Veterans Day parade and was quite cheered to...

Scrabble gets global campaign.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Laurel Wentz [El Segundo, Calif.] Positioning Mattel's Scrabble as a clever and convivial word game in up to 10 languages was a creative challenge, especially when some countries were established Scrabble markets and others new to...

Canadian mag modeled on `Lucky'.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(Editions Rogers Media to launch new shopping magazine)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Gail Chiasson [Montreal] Editions Rogers Media will launch a Canadian shopping magazine modeled on Conde Nast Publications' Lucky next August in French and English. In the U.S., three-year-old Lucky invented a new genre by...

Turner launches Indian kid network.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(Pogo)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Normandy Madden [New Delhi]Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting will launch Pogo, an English-language channel for children in India, on Jan. 1. Like Turner's other children's channel, Cartoon Network, Pogo will reach about 18 million...

OMD wins $35 mil GM Nordic acc't.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(General Motors Nordic awards OMD its media planning and buying account)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Pia Grahn-Brikell and Ivan Castano [Stockholm/Madrid] General Motors Nordic chose Omnicom Group's OMD to handle its $35 million media planning and buying account, comprising Saab, Opel and Daewoo, in the four Nordic countries...

The Ad Market.(News)(briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Mercedes M. Cardona Turn Signals The day after Thanksgiving marked the start of what could be a strong holiday season for retailers. After years of declines, polls find consumers plan to increase their average spending on...

Ad Age/IAG's Top Spots; #1: Old Navy.(News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Old Navy's Holiday campaign-with several spots featuring celebs Fran Drescher and Lil' Kim-claimed three of the Top spots this week, including the No. 1 position. Other ads making the top ten include a spot from Dodge Durango's effort and...

Voted & Quoted.(Viewpoint)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... 56% of AdAge.com voters believe Britney Spears' sexy music video is an appropriate product placement venue for a mainstream marketer like Mazda. Of the 44% who said it isn't, many feared an advertiser's image would be damaged by association...

People & Players.(briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... New York Fairchild Publications holds its WWD CEO Summit. (From l.) Burton Tansky, president-CEO, Neiman Marcus Group; Mary Berner, president-CEO, Fairchild Publications; keynote speaker Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO, Amazon.com Beverly...

Heat Index; Weekly Rating (0-10) of Sizzle & Fizzle.(Media Works)(briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... 7 "Idol Christmas" Do we smell a holiday annual TV event in the making? Or is that just one of the American Idol Juniors getting all nervous? Fox serves up, pre-Thanksgiving, some Yuletide cheer. 5 Sean Penn Oscar talk buzzes around him for...

$20M backing: K-C's Huggies plans baby wipe, wash line.(News)(Kimberly-Clark Corp.)
December 8, 2003... Byline: JACK NEFF Kimberly-Clark Corp.'s Huggies is going after a new category and new competitor with the January launch of a three-item line of Huggies Disposable Washcloths and Huggies Baby Wipes. The launch is the diaper brand's...

Newspaper giants buy into Tribe; Washington Post, Knight Ridder want new-wave classified ads.(Interactive)(Tribe.net)
December 8, 2003... Byline: TOBI ELKIN Searching for the best house music in Pittsburgh, the most affordable neighborhoods in Denver or for a reliable house painter in San Francisco is now easier than ever, thanks to online social networks such as Craig's...

Late News; Black & Decker shops its power tools business.(briefs)
December 8, 2003... [Towson, Md.] Black & Decker Corp. is approaching agencies about handling its $10 million to $15 million power tools account, now at Interpublic's McCann-Erickson Worldwide, New York, said people familiar with the situation. Black & Decker did...

Hotshop regroups: Chrysler loss spurs cutbacks at Fusion 5.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: HILLARY CHURA After years of flying high, WPP Group's Fusion 5 is regrouping amid the departure of its founders and other top executives, the defection of its largest client and a massive staff reduction. DaimlerChrysler,...

Exclusive: Chrysler exits Arnell, haggles over BBDO pact; Architect of Celine deal out after chanteuse spots fall flat.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: JEAN HALLIDAY Still reeling from a $1 billion loss in the second quarter, Chrysler Group is parting with Arnell Group, the shop behind its much-criticized deal with Celine Dion, and renegotiating its contract with its main agency...

Digital Player: Peter Weedfald.(Interactive)(Samsung Electronics America)(Brief Article)(Interview)
December 8, 2003... Name: Peter Weedfald Title: Senior VP-strategic marketing, Samsung Electronics America Biggest challenge? "Ensuring that the supply chain of advertising, marketing and communications is moving at the same pace or faster than the...

Robust ad spending growth forecast for U.S. next year; Merrill, Zenith predict strongest rise since 2000.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: LAUREL WENTZ and MERCEDES M. CARDONA Next year ad spending will post the strongest growth in four years, with ZenithOptimedia forecasting a 5% rise in U.S. ad expenditures and Merrill Lynch & Co. analysts looking for an even more...

American Media readies its pitch for 'Star' TV show; Looks to take on 'Extra' and 'ET'.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: RICHARD LINNETT American Media is eager to make a TV star out of its celebrity weekly The Star. "It would work out so perfectly for us,'' David Pecker, chairman-CEO of American Media said. "That's exactly what we'd like to do....

Rating TV's future.(CRACKS in the Foundation)(measuring audience data)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Bradley Johnson and Richard Linnett TV's digital revolution signals the sharpest redefinition of the medium since Nielsen Media Research began tallying TV ratings in 1950. If Nielsen can't quell buyer and seller frustration over its...

Brady's Bunch.(People & Players)
December 8, 2003... Byline: James Brady Ten years ago clever-in-chief John Mack Carter cut a deal with the French and brought Marie Claire to America. Now, over lunch with Editor Lesley Jane Seymour and Publisher Katherine Rizzuto (yes, she's a cousin of the...

The Player: Steinlauf primes Scripps nets to face off with media giants.(People & Players)(Jon Steinlauf)
December 8, 2003... Byline: T.L. STANLEY As a student and practitioner of the ad sales business, Jon Steinlauf knows that brand integration is one of the current catchphrases in TV. That doesn't mean he has any intention of casting brands as principal players...

People.(People & Players)(appointments, various companies)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Paul Caine, 39, to publisher, Time Inc.'s Entertainment Weekly. He succeeds Dave Morris, 43, who will become publisher of Time Inc.'s Sports Illustrated. Lisa Jillson, 36, to senior partner-director of creative services, WPP Group's Ogilvy...

Work 12.8.03.(Work)
December 8, 2003... Images of the week "A closer look'' underscores big differences in Volkswagen of America's new Jetta. Havas' Arnold Worldwide, Boston, handles. Creative director: Dave Weist. Art director: Julian Newman. Copywriter: Rob Thompson. ...

Exclusive: Print fuels growth in '03 ad spending.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: MERCEDES M. CARDONA Advertising spending has grown steadily during the year, with unexpected pockets of strength in print and in spite of difficult comparisons among the TV media, according to totals from TNS Media...

CRACKS in the Foundation; Why the very currencies the industry depends on are dated and inadequate.
December 8, 2003... Byline: BRADLEY JOHNSON The business of advertising is under extraordinary pressure. Digital technologies, shifting consumer behavior and demands for accountability threaten--in some cases already have damaged--decades-old business models....

To attract today's consumer, more honest approach wins.(Viewpoint)(Column)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Stefano Hatfield In the fall, I was lucky enough to attend a Nascar race, the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 in Richmond, Va. A fantastic cultural experience was marred by a typical hapless-Brit-abroad's mistake: dissing the available beers...

Garfield's AdReview: Four campaigns demonstrate the true meaning of creative.(News)(Column)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Bob Garfield Well, the holidays are just around the corner. This we know from all the Christmas cards we receive from our dear friends we've never met who annually fire-brigade signatures to reach out with best wishes and...

Time for circ remedy.(CRACKS in the Foundation)(Magazine circulation)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Bradley Johnson and Jon Fine Magazines face one slight problem in fixing circulation issues-publishers and advertisers often aren't on the same page. Magazine circulation debates often come down to points of contention about...

Reinvention: Federated focuses campaign on Macy's.(News)(Federated Department Stores)
December 8, 2003... Byline: MERCEDES M. CARDONA Federated Department Stores is aiming to find out what's in a name, at least the Macy's name. The retail conglomerate, whose chains include Bloomingdale's and a stable of regional department stores, is...

The Week; J&J hands five to Universal McCann.(Briefs)(Johnson & Johnson)
December 8, 2003... Universal McCann, New York, picked up media planning duties on five key Johnson & Johnson brands in a further fallout from the Tylenol creative review. Media planning and creative duties on the brands-Tylenol, St. Joseph Aspirin, Pepcid,...

The Dean team brings integration to politics; Trippi, McMahon Squier drop other clients to push candidate.(News)(Howard Dean)
December 8, 2003... Byline: IRA TEINOWITZ Trippi, McMahon Squier is defining a new integrated marketing approach to Presidential campaigns. Instead of simply creating ads for former Vermont governor Howard Dean, the Alexandria, Va., shop also provides...

The Biz: ABC, MindShare looking for scripts.(Media Works)
December 8, 2003... Byline: RICHARD LINNETT The programming agreement inked last week between Walt Disney Co.'s ABC and WPP Group's MindShare has nothing to do with reality. Instead, MindShare advertisers will pony up funds to develop sitcoms and dramas for...

The Buzz; What we're talking about.(Media Works)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Byline: T.L. Stanley As far as public spats go, the Roy Disney and Michael Eisner one last week was particularly venomous. The repercussions have been nearly nonexistent on the business side-a tiny drop in stock price, and Eisner seemingly...

People.(appointments)
December 8, 2003... Hamish Banks to managing director, Publicis Groupe's Leo Burnett Worldwide, Seoul, South Korea, from partner, Caledonian Consulting, Wilton, Conn. He replaces Pat Goggin, who moves to an unidentified senior VP position at Leo Burnett. Mark...

Lampert backs Kmart, Sears; should he broker a marriage?(Viewpoint)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Bradley Johnson Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Kmart Holding Corp. have two things in common: They've been beaten by Wal-Mart, and they have the same top shareholder. Financier Edward S. "Eddie'' Lampert owns 45% of Kmart and 12% of...

Garfield's Political AdReview: Clark looks to leverage silver stars.(News)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Bob Garfield The primaries are still months away. These are the good times. Enjoy them while you can. Case in point: Wesley Clark's introductory ad. Soon enough, most campaign advertising will be accusing opponents of voting...

Work: Piper Heidsieck.(advertising by Havas' BETC Euro RSCG, Paris)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Instead of champagne bottles and flutes, Piper Heidsieck's international outdoor and print campaign features four close-ups of people of different ages, each with a single tear of joy in the corner of their eyes. The tagline "Let life flow'' is...

Editorial: Ratings broken? Demand better.(Viewpoint)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
December 8, 2003... The ratings system must be retooled for the next generation of TV. It will require support from networks, which pay much of the cost for ratings research, and from media agencies, which get paid to work the ratings numbers for clients. But the...

Digital lifestyle title: Primedia relaunches A/V magazine.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: TOBI ELKIN Primedia will relaunch Audio Video Interiors as Connected as it repositions the title to reach affluent consumers living a digital lifestyle. The debut March/April issue hits newsstands March 23. While AVI, a...

Lexus readies launch of $50M brand effort; Campaign is biggest to date; 4 spots planned.(TV commercials created by Publicis Groupe's Team One)
December 8, 2003... Byline: JEAN HALLIDAY Luxury leader Lexus is preparing a $50 million brand blitz for January, the nameplate's largest-ever, seven-month effort. Past brand ads for the Toyota Motor Sales USA division had been limited to a sole TV...

Adages - Twin Jackos entice the young ones: Happy meals on the house!(News; advertising)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Richard Linnett The CBS network is not the only outfit backing out of a Michael Jackson special following the Gloved One's recent arrest. Brixx, a chain of brick-oven pizza parlors in North Carolina, just pulled down a Jacko...

Lieberman on attack against fast-food ads; Industry defends against charge.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: IRA TEINOWITZ Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, on the attack against the marketing of fast-food and package-food to kids, is dismissing the industry's response that his fire is misdirected. "There is...

Apple concocts homage to '1984'; Famed ad turns 20 at Super Bowl.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: ALICE Z. CUNEO Apple Computer wants to pay tribute to its most famous ad, "1984,'' during the 2004 Super Bowl, 20 years after the landmark spot ran on broadcast TV for the first and last time. The computer maker is in talks...