Advertising Age articles from January 2004

Advertising Age archives from January 2004

Spotlight: Skol Beer.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Claudia Penteado Client: Ambev's Skol Beer Agency: F/Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi, Sao Paulo. Brazil's Skol influences popular culture to become the leading beer brand Skol beer has reached the enviable and rare position of...

Time to see auto world as it is; GM exec gives mags a vote of confidence, lauds `bang for buck'.(Viewpoint; Robert Lutz)
January 5, 2004... Byline: ROBERT A. LUTZ I've always been partial to the printed page. Magazines, to me, have a real impact, offering a shelf life like no other medium. For marketers, magazine advertising delivers a precisely tailored and well-developed...

'Advertising Age' survey: Young men are bullish, difficult to locate.(News)
January 5, 2004... Byline: JUDANN POLLACK Marketers targeting hot consumer prospects in 2004 need look no further than men, particularly those under age 35-if they can find them. That elusive demographic is most confident about the economy and the most...

Mitsubishi chief reshapes creative, media stategy; O'Neill looks to cut incentives, highlight cars in ads; says 'marketing is biggest challenge'.(News; Finbarr O'Neill)
January 5, 2004... Byline: JEAN HALLIDAY Trying to wean the company off profit-draining buyer incentives, Finbarr O'Neill, the new co-chairman and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America, plans to make cars the stars of future ad campaigns. "Marketing is...

Adages - Diamond's dogs: AKC help for the Stray Whelp.(News; Wendy Diamond; )
January 5, 2004... Byline: Richard Linnett Canine advocate Wendy Diamond is pitching a mongrel reality show. She's the founder of Animal Fair, a magazine that chronicles the lifestyles of coddled pets and their coddled owners. Her TV project, on the other...

The Week; GSD&M nabs Frito-Lay's Tostitos.(Briefs)
January 5, 2004... Omnicom Group's GSD&M, Austin, Texas, has picked up Frito-Lay brand Tostitos. The tortilla-chip brand was previously with sibling agency BBDO, New York. The account is estimated to be worth $25 million with GSD&M rolling out new work around...

Low-carb craze blitzes food biz; Unilever Bestfoods rolls18-product Carb Options line.(News)
January 5, 2004... Byline: STEPHANIE THOMPSON In one of the first advertising-backed low-carbohydrate launches from a mainstream marketer, Unilever Bestfoods is set to unleash an 18-product portfolio under the Carb Options banner. The launch marks the...

People.(People & Players; advertising industry)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... David R. Drobis, senior partner and chairman, Omnicom Group's Ketchum, New York, retired Dec. 31. He will continue as a consultant to the agency and will hold the title of chairman emeritus. Lee Lodes to senior VP-group account planning...

Brady's Bunch.(People & Players; magazine advertising industry)
January 5, 2004... Byline: James Brady Better Homes & Gardens Publisher Dan Lagani admits the grand old (82 years) Meredith Corp. monthly doesn't make much fuss or generate tabloid headlines. So how does he explain their extraordinary 2003 (which he says is...

Weight-loss programs counter low-carb diets.(News)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Byline: STEPHANIE THOMPSON Weight-loss plans not pegged to cutting carbohydrates are taking the offensive this month. Jenny Craig this month plans to increase its media outlay roughly 15% over its January 2003 spending of $3.7 million...

2004's gift: Time to face the issues.(Viewpoint; advertising industry)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Stop waiting for the recovery. This is it. Many of the lost jobs are not coming back, but the ad market and the wider economy still should see growth in 2004. A decent outlook for business brings with it the opportunity, and imperative, to...

1.5% of U.S. shipments: Brewers get bellyful of low-carb contenders.(News)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Byline: HILLARY CHURA and KATE MACARTHUR The low-carbohydrate beer category is getting fatter. From a standing start in 2002, low-carb beers now account for about 1.5% of U.S. shipments, according to Beer Marketer's Insights....

'Budget Living': Welsh puts startup title on the block.(News; Don Welsh)
January 5, 2004... Byline: JON FINE The well-regarded startup Budget Living is being shopped by owner and Publisher Don Welsh. Mr. Welsh said the situation came up from other publishers' inquiries. "We've gotten approaches,'' he said. "We have given a...

Crestor inks $30 mil deal for PGA tour; Drug's ad theme: 'Breaking par'.(News)
January 5, 2004... Byline: RICH THOMASELLI AstraZeneca becomes the latest pharmaceutical company to use sports as a marketing platform, as its new cholesterol-lowering drug Crestor signs on as corporate sponsor of the Professional Golf Association Tour. ...

Work 1.5.04.(News)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Images of the week Chevrolet rocks in the New Year via a co-branded calendar with Wenner Media's Rolling Stone. The magazine's Music Consulting Group handled. Creative directors: Gary Armstrong and Thom Allcock. Tough cookies, Girl...

The Player: Stearns transforms Schick from a follower to a leader.(People & Players; Michelle Stearns; )(Interview)
January 5, 2004... Byline: JACK NEFF As Energizer holdings was taking over Schick in February, Michelle Stearns was taking over a project that would reshape the razor category. Energizer's move to pay $930 million to acquire the Schick-Wilkinson Sword...

The Buzz; What we're talking about.(Media Works)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Richard Linnett Remember NBC's ambitious 1MM's, aka one-minute movies? The Peacock network produced a series of 30-second films to much fanfare last August and then cleverly embedded the shorts in spot pods to try and keep viewers...

Prospects for Asia.(News; advertising)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Claire Atkinson Publicis Groupe President-CEO Maurice Levy said he wants to make acquisitions in Asia, and with good reason: the area's torrid growth potential. Third-quarter results show Publicis' organic growth in...

Pop culture: Belly dancing slinks into the mainstream; Copeland looks to link sexy trend and marketers.(News; Miles Copeland )
January 5, 2004... Byline: T.L. STANLEY Miles Copeland believes Americans are ready for belly dancing. Best known in marketing circles for putting Sting together with sleek carmaker Jaguar, Mr. Copeland is now building a multimedia franchise around two...

The Biz: 'Idol' sponsors plan to sing along loudly.(Media Works; American Idol sponsors)
January 5, 2004... Byline: T.L. STANLEY When "American Idol'' starts up again Jan. 19, all six sponsors from last season will be along every step of the way with the wannabe singing sensations. Fox has re-inked deals with AT&T Wireless, Coca-Cola Co.,...

Exclusive: Nissan seeks media audit for $1B acc't; Calls TV prices 'ridiculous'.(News; Nissan North America )
January 5, 2004... Byline: RICHARD LINNETT Nissan North America is shopping for a media-audit company to keep a close eye on its nearly $1 billion in media spending. A decision is expected this month. Steven Wilhite, VP-marketing at the automaker for...

$2 million: Olive oil isn't just from Italy anymore.(Multicultural)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Laurel Wentz Starting this month some Americans will learn that almost 85% of the world's olive oil comes from the exotic Andalucia region of southern Spain. Miami-based Hispanic agency Machado Garcia-Serra Publicidad kicks...

Newspapers turn to Hispanics; Publishers look to shore up revenue, readership with Spanish-language editions.(Multicultural)
January 5, 2004... Byline: LAUREL WENTZ and MERCEDES M. CARDONA U.S. newspaper publishers faced with declining newspaper readership among the general market are turning to Hispanics to boost revenue. "We're seeing the emergence of the typical...

People.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... David Jones, 37, to the new post of exec VP-managing director, global business at Havas' Euro RSCG Worldwide, from London-based global brand director on the agency's Reckitt Benckiser business. Michael Grosche, 41, to chairman of...

Hitting the sauce.(News)(Ragu and Prego campaigns)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Stephanie Thompson The carb-aware era is leading brands such as Ragu and Prego to maintain they're more than just a topping for pasta. New ad campaigns for Unilever Bestfoods' Ragu and Campbell Soup Co.'s Prego subtly...

Work: C-Bon.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(C-Bon Cosmetics markets hair gel in China)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... In an unusual but visually stunning approach to selling hair-care products in Asia, Havas-owned euro RSCG Partnership constructed a very realistic-looking Eiffel Tower from a coil of braided black hair in this print ad for C-Bon Cosmetics'...

Canada seeks media agency.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Gail Chiasson [Toronto] The Canadian government is seeking an agency for its $75 million media-buying contract, after the ad industry boycotted an earlier search in July. On behalf of the agencies, Canada's Institute of...

Here's a glance at the gift list for this column's favored few.(Viewpoint)(Column)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Randall Rothenberg What with the continuing disintegration of mass markets and mass media, Wall Street scandals, the erosion of venerable brands, broadband's great leap forward-well, the holidays were very active in our household....

Late News; GM kicks off 2004 with 1,000-car giveaway.(briefs)
January 5, 2004... [Detroit] General Motors Corp. said it will give away 1,000 of its 2004 models in what it calls the biggest auto promotion ever, backed by a $50 million, 56-day "Hot Button'' blitz breaking today on CBS. Consumers will be told they can go to a...

Duracell market share sags in spite of turnaround effort; Rivals Rayovac, Energizer make gains on leader.(News)
January 5, 2004... Byline: JACK NEFF Gillette Co. resolved to do right by Duracell in early 2003, slashing promotions and ramping up spending behind its "Trusted Everywhere'' ad campaign. But there's a problem with the classic two-step plan for brand...

Obituary: Durgin, former NBC TV president, dies.(News)(Don Durgin)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Jon Fine Don Durgin, a veteran media and advertising executive, died in New York on Dec. 26 at the age of 79. Mr. Durgin was president of NBC Television from 1965 until 1973, and was named exec VP of NBC in 1973. He left NBC in...

P&G tests revival of Eagle Snacks brand; Chips available in 3 stores; may pave way for war with Frito-Lay.(News)
January 5, 2004... Byline: JACK NEFF Procter & Gamble Co. is testing whether it can revive a dead brand with a three-store test of Eagle Snacks, potentially opening a new front in its battle with PepsiCo's Frito-Lay. The plan, should the West Coast test...

Spots: Angel Soft.(News)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Georgia-Pacific Corp. breaks a "Bathroom Angels'' campaign for Angel Soft bath tissue today from Omnicom Group's DDB Worldwide, New York, featuring angels David and Larry who solve "bathroom emergencies.'' Creative director/copywriter: Scott...

Stocks end 2003 with a bang: Major indexes peaked Dec. 31; Marketers rise, but bears still dog big agencies.(News)
January 5, 2004... Byline: BRADLEY JOHNSON Stocks in 2003 scored their first up year since 1999 as multiple indexes-including the Advertising Age and Bloomberg AdMarket index; Wilshire 5000; Standard & Poor's 500; Dow Jones Industrial Average; and Nasdaq...

High Life, Timberland give lessons on cultivating 'cool'.(Viewpoint)(core consumer behaviour)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Jonah Bloom Until recently, my drinking crony Dan--a just-hip-enough Brooklynite who knew trucker caps were trendy before anyone else (but had the decency never to wear one)-was a Pabst Blue Ribbon drinker. When I last saw him he...

Study: Chinese youth aren't patriotic purchasers; Most favor global brands such as Coke and Nike over local rivals.(News)
January 5, 2004... Byline: NORMANDY MADDEN [Guangzhou, China] While Chinese youths are patriotic, they show little partisan behavior when it comes to international marketers, at least in southern cities such as Guangzhou. Rather than rooting for...

Two launches: Rice races to beat 90-sec prep time.(News)(ultra-convenience for the consumer with the simultaneous launch of two ready-to-serve lines from Uncle Ben's and Zatarain's )
January 5, 2004... Byline: STEPHANIE THOMPSON The billion-dollar rice category heats up this month with the simultaneous launch of two ready-to-serve lines from Uncle Ben's and Zatarain's that are ready in less than 90 seconds. The rice-brand leaders are...

P&G rolls out kids' toilet paper.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(Procter & Gamble Co.)(Kandoo moistened toilet paper for kids )(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Dagmar Mussey [Schwalbach, Germany] Procter & Gamble Co. is rolling out Kandoo moistened toilet paper for kids in Germany, Austria and Switzerland this month. The company claimed Kandoo is selling well in the U.K. and France, where...

Coke to launch Dasani in France.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Kate MacArthur [Paris] Coca-Cola Co. said it will launch its Dasani water brand this spring in France, one of the most competitive water markets in the world. The company is altering Dasani's mineral content to appeal specifically...

Argentina bans ads on pay TV.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Charles Newbery [Buenos Aires, Argentina] Due to viewer complaints, Argentina's broadcasting regulator is banning commercial breaks during movies on pay TV starting April 1, cutting ad revenue 30% to 40% for channels such as...

Colgate to buy Gaba Holding.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(Colgate-Palmolive Co.)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Dagmar Mussey and Jack Neff [Basel, Switzerland] Colgate-Palmolive is buying Gaba Holding, a family-owned toothpaste manufacturer that makes premium-priced Elmex, Aronal, and Meridol toothpaste brands as well as toothbrushes, dental...

FYI.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(Telefonica de Argentina S.A. to move to Interpublic Group of Cos.)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Telefonica de Argentina, a unit of Spain's Telefonica, is moving its media buying and planning business this month to Interpublic Group of Cos.' Universal McCann, Buenos Aires, from Havas' Media Planning Group, Buenos Aires. The budget was not...

The Ad Market.(News)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Bradley Johnson AdMarket 50 High time: The Advertising Age and Bloomberg AdMarket 50 index of marketer, media and agency stocks rose 20.9% in 2003, hitting its year's peak Dec. 31. For the year, 48 stocks were up; two (AT&T...

AdCritic.com's PlayList; A monthly guide to the songs behind the spots.(News)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Jim Hanas Hummer: Illumination Night Brit combo provides soundscape for a desert landscape. Agency: Modernista, Boston Song: "Bluebird of Happiness" Artist: Mojave 3 Hewlett-Packard: The Next Shift ...

Voted & Quoted.(Viewpoint)(The Watertable)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... 65%...of AdAge.com voters think men's shopping magazines can do as well as Lucky. The remaining 35% of our nearly 300 respondents think it will be a difficult act to follow when the audience consists of men. "With the advent of the term...

People & Players.(Los Angeles Parade)(New York Account Planners)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Los Angeles Parade sponsors the 56th annual Toys for Tots luncheon. The event is presented each year by the Advertising Club of Los Angeles in conjunction with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. (From l.) Jim Hackett Sr., VP-advertising, Parade;...

Heat Index; Weekly Rating (0-10) of Sizzle & Fizzle.(Media Works)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... 8 Elisabeth Murdoch Dad Rupert tells New York Times that his 35-year-old daughter might one day come back into the family business, News Corp., giving her brothers Lachlan and James something to think about. 6 'EmBedded' The phrase used to...

Hitting the sauce.(News)(Unilever Bestfoods, Campbell Soup Co.,advertising contracts)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Stephanie Thompson ***** Correction: In "Hitting the sauce'' (Jan. 5, P. 22), WPP Group's Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, New York, was incorrectly identified as the Ragu agency. WPP's J. Walter Thompson, New York, is the agency....

Berlin Cameron stands on its own; Top-level hires, Pfizer win prove it succeeds beyond big personality of founders.(Special Report: Agency of the Year; Berlin Cameron/Red Cell)
January 12, 2004... Byline: LISA SANDERS When andy berlin and Ewen Cameron first partnered in business, Mr. Berlin recalls "we realized the amount of work done for a small brand... is the same amount required for a big brand. We pretty deliberately thought,...

People.(People & Players)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Greg O'Neill to chief operating officer, Teletech Holdings' Newgen Results Corp., San Diego, from president-chief operating officer, Mistubishi Motors North America's sales division. Michael E. Schneider, 38, to national financial...

Publicis USA.(Special Report: Agency of the Year)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... 2003 Rating: 2.5 stars 2002 Rating: 2.5 stars December was a wake-up month for Publicis USA. Till then, with the exception of Dave Droga's arrival midyear as global executive creative director, the Publicis Groupe agency was almost...

Goodby, Silverstein & Partners.(Special Report: Agency of the Year)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... 2003 Rating: 4 stars 2002 Rating: 4 stars Goodby, Silverstein & Partners' "+HP'' campaign colorfully portrays achievements of Hewlett-Packard Co.'s business partners, but perhaps the biggest "plus'' is for the tech company and its...

Dieste Harmel on top of game; Multicultural Agency: Rapid growth, smart strategy extend shop's role during 2003.(Special Report: Agency of the Year)
January 12, 2004... Byline: LAUREL WENTZ Pepsico's Frito-Lay discovered in 2003 that guacamole, like salsa before it, has migrated from a Latino taste to the mainstream palate. One of the year's highlights for Dallas-based Hispanic agency Dieste Harmel &...

Mitsubishi eyes media shift to PHD; Explores move to Daimler shop to gain efficiency.(News; PHD North America)
January 12, 2004... Byline: JEAN HALLIDAY In a bid to make its media buys more efficient, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. could combine its U.S. buying business with that of DaimlerChrysler at Omnicom Group's PHD North America. DaimlerChrysler owns a controlling...

O&M case shakes confidence; Marketers to scrutinize agencies in wake of timesheet accusation.(News; Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide )
January 12, 2004... Byline: HILLARY CHURA The government accusation that Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide executives padded timesheets on the national anti-drug ad campaign look certain to fuel greater marketer scrutiny of their shops and lead to more agency audits....

McCann-Erickson Worldwide.(Special Report: Agency of the Year)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... 2003 Rating: 2 stars 2002 Rating: 2 stars Internal turmoil rocked McCann-Erickson Worldwide in 2003. In February, Jim Heekin was ousted as McCann-Erickson WorldGroup CEO and replaced by John Dooner, former CEO at parent Interpublic...

The Biz: Fox's Grushow to become producer.(Media Works)
January 12, 2004... Byline: T. L. STANLEY It was just the kind of twisted, off-kilter show that helped Fox build its quirky brand personality, and Sandy Grushow absolutely loved it. Grushow, who surprised Hollywood last week by resigning as chairman of...

Doner.(Special Report: Agency of the Year)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... 2003 Rating: 3 stars 2002 Rating: 2.5 stars In 2003, Doner made a compelling case that being independent in an industry obsessed with global heft can make a powerful difference. While 2003 wasn't the agency's best new-business year, it...

GSD&M.(Special Report: Agency of the Year)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... 2003 Rating: 3 stars 2002 Rating: NR GSD&M had no blockbuster wins in 2003 but continued with a solid new-business showing for new and existing clients. It picked up CBS Sports without a review in January and SBC Communications...

J. Walter Thompson USA.(Special Report: Agency of the Year)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... 2003 Rating: 2.5 stars 2002 Rating: 2.5 stars The year 2003 unfolded into 12 months of dousing brushfires on smoldering accounts and management matters for J. Walter Thompson Co. in North America. JWT announced a new management team...

Super Bowl XXXVIII advertisers.(News)
January 12, 2004... American Legacy Foundation One :30 Likely to be a new execution in the "Connect-truth'' campaign. A :60 will appear in the MTV pregame show. Arnold Worldwide, Boston; Crispin Porter & Bogusky, Miami Anheuser-Busch Cos. ...

Frito-Lay goes on offensive for Lay's; Ups spending to fight local brands.(News)
January 12, 2004... Byline: STEPHANIE THOMPSON Lay's will be the focus of Frito-Lay's 2004 marketing efforts with significantly higher media spending, a product reformulation and new packaging as the snack giant redoubles its efforts to take on local...

Democrats find it's tough to stand out.(News)
January 12, 2004... Byline: IRA TEINOWITZ [New Hampshire] Gigi Brienza was among the 150 treated to Wesley Clark wearing an "Elect the cook'' apron at a pancake breakfast held at George F. Mayfield VFW hall Post 772 on Jan. 3. "I've seen Dean, Edwards and...

Eskandarian returns: Arnold sets course to rebuild; The task: scout out new biz, fortify NY office.(News; Ed Eskandarian; Arnold Worldwide)
January 12, 2004... Byline: HILLARY CHURA In the three years since Ed Eskandarian left day-to-day operations at Havas' Arnold Worldwide, the agency has defended business as never before, lost long-standing clients and fallen short in $900 million in reviews...

Adages - Campaign 2004 exclusive: Another democrat drops out of the race.(News)(briefs)(Column)
January 12, 2004... Byline: Richard Linnett Al Gore and Jack Tanner have this in common: They both pulled out of the 2004 run for president. Al Gore, of course, is a real politician (though some may argue that point) while Jack Tanner is a bogus Michigan...

Hummer markets shoes for offroad set.(News)
January 12, 2004... Byline: LISA SANDERS Consumers who love their Hummers, or covet someone else's, can now put their feet in a pair of Hummer-branded shoes. As General Motors' Hummer division this month unveils its newest models-the H3T and...

Grey Worldwide.(Special Report: Agency of the Year)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... 2003 Rating: 3 stars 2002 Rating: 3 stars Management, rather than account, matters dominated Grey news in 2003. Following reports of Interpublic Group of Cos. wooing Steve Blamer, head of Grey Global Group's largest individual...

Wieden & Kennedy.(Special Report: Agency of the Year)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... 2003 Rating: 3 stars 2002 Rating: 3 stars Independent Wieden & Kennedy is, as one executive puts it, "the last bastion of everything right about this industry.'' Wieden-headquartered in Portland, Ore., with branches in Amsterdam,...

Euro RSCG Worldwide.(Special Report: Agency of the Year)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... 2003 Rating: 2 stars 2002 Rating: 2 stars Euro RSCG Worldwide got off to a strong start in 2003, bagging Aventis Pharmaceuticals' Lantus diabetes drug, an account estimated at $100 million. From there, however, the New York agency...

Toyota says it won't pay big upfront hikes; Move follows Nissan criticism of expected rises.(News)
January 12, 2004... Byline: JEAN HALLIDAY Toyota Motor Corp. USA is the latest automaker to warn that it won't pay big increases in the TV upfront, putting broadcasters on notice that there is widespread discontent from their biggest-spending ad category. ...

Madison + Vine: High Life spots to spawn sitcom.(News)
January 12, 2004... Byline: RICHARD LINNETT As marketers grapple with ways to counter the diminishing effectiveness of the :30 spot, Miller Brewing Co. is exploring the possibility of turning its popular High Life ad campaign into a TV show. The brewer's...

Lowe.(Special Report: Agency of the Year)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... 2003 Rating: 1 star 2002 Rating: 1 star In the U.S., Lowe still has a pulse, but not a strong one. Last February, parent Interpublic Group of Cos. combined the New York-based agency with sibling Bozell-an anticipated move that resulted...

BBDO Worldwide.(Special Report: Agency of the Year)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... 2003 Rating: 2.5 stars 2002 Rating: 2.5 stars BBDO Worldwide fought to maintain its position in the agency food chain in 2003. Yum Brands' $200 million KFC account went to Interpublic Group of Cos.' Foote Cone & Belding Worldwide last...

DDB Worldwide.(Special Report: Agency of the Year)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... 2003 Rating: 3 stars 2002 Rating: 3 stars DDB Worldwide worked hard to persuade electronics giant Royal Philips Electronics to hand over the other half of its $600 million account in 2003; the agency also won a branding project from...

The Buzz; What we're talking about.(Media Works)(newest issue of The Star)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Byline: Jon Fine SO LONG THE HYPE . . . Slipped to The Buzz last week was, sure enough, an advance copy of the bona fide glossy version of American Media's The Star. On the front cover: One of the 453 "exclusive'' photos from Britney's...

Arena wins $83M VW biz in Spain.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(Volkswagen account)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Byline: Ivan Castano [Madrid, Spain] Volkswagen parked the $83 million media buying account in Spain for all its car brands-Volkwagen, Audi and Seat-at Arena Media Communications, Barcelona, a unit of Havas-owned Media Planning Group....

The Player: Adams looks to link sponsors with sports TV technology.(People & Players)(Hank Adams, CEO of Sportvision)
January 12, 2004... Byline: RICH THOMASELLI Sports fans today are spoiled. Thanks to TV technologies from Chicago-based Sportvision, such as the "1st-and-10'' yellow line on National Football League telecasts and the "virtual caddy'' on Professional Golf...

No more soft sell: TP titans sex it up; Charmin, G-P spend big, go glam to grab share from Kimberly-Clark.(News)(toilet paper)
January 12, 2004... Byline: JACK NEFF The unglamorous $6 billion-plus toilet paper business is getting flashy as marketers break campaigns-including a Super Bowl ad and Times Square promotional appearance-that forsake the old daytime TV landscape ruled by Mr....

The Week; Calif. Lottery hits another snag.(Briefs)
January 12, 2004... In a review now in its fourth year, nearly all of the eight agencies submitting bids for the California Lottery's $100 million four-year general marketing contract failed to meet ownership disclosure requirements, the Lottery announced last...

Low-carb bandwagon: Fast-feeders ditch buns to lure dieters.(News)
January 12, 2004... Byline: KATE MACARTHUR Restaurants hoping to gain at the expense of consumers' unwanted pounds are piling on diet-friendly marketing programs and menu items. With some estimates finding that roughly half the double-digit sales gains...

People.(The World: Ad Age Global News & Data)(appointments and promotions)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Daniel Krieg, 38, and Uwe Schlupp, 41, will open a Swiss office for European network Springer & Jacoby in April called Krieg, Schlupp, Springer & Jacoby Werbeagentur. The pair previously were creative directors at Publicis Groupe's Publicis,...

Richards Group.(Special Report: Agency of the Year)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... 2003 Rating: 1.5 stars 2002 Rating: 2.5 stars The Dallas independent saw its fortunes fade from 2002, when its wins included Hyundai Motor America and its dealer association. The creative portion on the national account is estimated at...

TBWA/Chiat/Day.(Special Report: Agency of the Year)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... 2003 Rating: 3 stars 2002 Rating: 2.5 stars TBWA/Chiat/Day sizzled in 2003 with new business from Nextel (its biggest catch of the year at $160 million), Pennzoil, Ask Jeeves and Shell Lubricants. Creatively, the agency's Playa del...

Fefe finds audience via Web; Island Def Jam, Alloy team up to create youth market for unknown.(Interactive)
January 12, 2004... Byline: TOBI ELKIN Eager to find innovative ways to showcase new artists, record labels have turned to the Web to create meaningful exposure and buzz among an artist's target audience. The Web, along with a host of offline marketing...