Advertising Age articles from May 2005

Advertising Age archives from May 2005

Pro-sports leagues pilot plays in $30 billion cellphone market; NFL, NBA, MLB each take unique approach to the third screen.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: ALICE Z. CUNEO The professional baseball, football and basketball leagues are cutting deals to tap the estimated $28 billion to $30 billion consumers will spend globally on cellphone entertainment in the next three years. But their...

Hyundai makes safety a primary selling point; Automaker will outfit all models with airbags and incorporate theme into corporate brand effort.(News)(Hyundai Corp.)
May 2, 2005... Byline: JEAN HALLIDAY Forget volvo. Hyundai wants to be the safe car. Hyundai Motor America will offer "safety for the masses'' by providing six front and back seat "side-curtain'' airbags-until a few years ago standard only on much...

Brady's Bunch; Lunch off for good reason.(People & Players)
May 2, 2005... Byline: James Brady Cindi Leive, the clever minx who just won a National Magazine Award with Glamour, broke our lunch date. But with good reason: her second child, a boy, arrived slightly ahead of schedule. Felicitations to all! Men's...

Audi toys with grand theft auto; Web pre-launch for A3 includes intricate viral blitz involving stolen car.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: JEAN HALLIDAY Audi of America is backing its A3 hatchback with its biggest-ever online blitz using everything from Internet films to iTunes downloads and a viral goose chase for a missing A3. Audi's target customers spend...

Ad industry scrambles for next-gen leadership; CEO and top creative slots vacant at holding companies and agencies.(News)(Industry Overview)
May 2, 2005... Byline: LISA SANDERS The industry is ready to anoint the next generation of leaders, but where to find them? (Other, of course, than the U.K.) It is not an idle question. With numerous chief executive and chief creative seats empty and...

People.(News)
May 2, 2005... Bobby Pearce, 37, to executive creative director, WestWayne, Atlanta, from creative director, Publicis Groupe's Fallon, Minneapolis. T.J. Mahony to managing director, Compete, Boston, from senior associate. Candace Graham, 34, to...

The Week; Arnold wins $250M RadioShack biz.(Briefs)(Havas' Arnold Worldwide)
May 2, 2005... Electronics retailer RadioShack Corp. picked Havas' Arnold Worldwide, Boston, to handle its $250 million global advertising account. Arnold takes over the business from RadioShack's in-house agency, the Circle R Group, Fort Worth, Texas. Also...

You have to live with the upfront, so at least try to be smart about it.(Viewpoint)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Jonah Bloom Challenges to the upfront come along, comet-like, about once every 15 years, blazing into the marketing world's consciousness, briefly threatening the TV trading ecosystem, then fizzling out-of view and mind. There...

Hitting the streets.(News)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Laurel Wentz The cool kids that marketers are hiring Project 2050 to help them reach may already have stickers and even tattoos of Creative Director Shepard Fairey's most famous and bizarre creation: a black-and-white drawing of a...

SOUPING UP A CLASSIC; Campbell makes progress by switching gears to 'meals' and putting focus on details.(News)(Campbell Soup Co)
May 2, 2005... Byline: STEPHANIE THOMPSON Thanks to Carl Johnson, Campbell Soup Co. doesn't sell soup anymore. The chief strategy officer's philosophy that it instead markets easy-to-carry and prepare hot meals has been a guiding insight that's...

Auto giants pass the pain to publishers; Broad-reach magazines see 40% drop in bread-and-butter category as Detroit ails.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: JEAN HALLIDAY and JON FINE Detroit's dire straits are trickling down to magazines, with publishers reporting sharp cuts of up to 40% through the first half in broad-reach titles and General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler...

THE DEATH OF BEER; As more young drinkers choose spirits over suds, brewers pay the price, losing share in a nearly $50B market.(News)(Industry Overview)
May 2, 2005... Byline: JAMES B. ARNDOFER When Christian Ryan, 26, started going out to bars he ordered cold beer, like generations of young men before him. But a few years ago, he began pounding back whiskey-based mixed drinks like Jack and Coke instead....

Garfield's AdReview.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Bob Garfield What do Snickers and Phils share? A stupid idea How often do you see it? An ad campaign based on exactly the same idea as a previous campaign. Rhetorical question. It happens a lot, because sometimes people...

Unilever gets snarled in its own untangling.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: JACK NEFF The dramatic reorganization designed to create a streamlined and agile "One Unilever'' is instead causing confusion and paralysis in the ranks of the $52 billion consumer-products giant. News of shifting assignments...

Visiting Wal-Mart? Let Omnicom buy you a cup of coffee.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: MYA FRAZIER Omnicom Group is looking for new clients in a surprising place--the shadows of Wal-Mart in Bentonville. The holding company is investing in an unusual venture. It will open a 5,000-square-foot office facility called...

Editorial: No shame in KFC's real name.(Viewpoint)(Kentucky Fried Chicken)
May 2, 2005... Finally, a colonel of truth: KFC sells fried chicken. Yum Brands' decision to restore the Kentucky Fried Chicken name is smart and honest. The chain's franchise is selling buckets of fatty food that tastes good. So be it. So say it. The...

Authenticity and truth are not mutually exclusive concepts.(Viewpoint)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Randall Rothenberg Miami beach, fla.-When is authenticity really, truly, honestly authentic? Before dismissing the query as the musings of a precocious child (or worse, of a Philosophy 101 student), consider that it's...

Tough negotiator steps up to take Starcom down nontraditional roads.(People & Players)
May 2, 2005... Byline: JAMES B. ARNDORFER John Muszynski is facing his toughest negotiation yet: a rapidly evolving media environment. It's the job of Mr. Muszynski, CEO of Publicis Groupe's Starcom USA, to not only lead his clients through the media...

Adages; Media agencies take it to the courts.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Ken Wheaton If you thought media-agency reviews got heated, try putting some of these guys together on a tennis court. The Tennis Channel did just that as part of its upfront presentation. (As usual, Adages applauds upfront...

Kids' upfront crawls along; 6% rise seen.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: ABBEY KLAASSEN The kids' upfront broke last week, if slowly. The market was up 13% to $850 million last year and wrapped up in five days. But amid toy-retail turmoil and pressure on food marketers, the going is more sluggish...

The next challenge: digital.(News)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Laurel Wentz General-market agencies control at least half the money spent on Hispanic online advertising, making digital departments and specialized agencies the next frontier for the Hispanic ad industry. One of the pioneers...

Our Online Survey; Food pyramid too confusing.(Viewpoint)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... An overwhelming 80% of AdAge.com voters find the FDA's new food pyramid a confusing Rubik's cube. The other 20% of nearly 500 respondents think the graphic is a major breakthrough in the promotion of healthy eating. "Kinda like fast food;...

People.(The World)(Appointments and Resignation)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Debbie Klein to chief executive of independent agency WCRS, London, from planning director of the agency. Ms. Klein is one of the six partners who participated in a management buyout of the agency from Havas in April 2004. Lachlan Murdoch,...

Old-school media folks stick up for the upfront; Execs from Fox, MTV, others say many don't know how to play game.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: ABBEY KLAASSEN And CLAIRE ATKINSON Old-guard media buyers and sellers leapt to the defense of the upfront system last week at Advertising Age/TelevisionWeek's Upfront Summit, claiming those who didn't like it "didn't understand...

Ad Age/IAGAEs Top Spots; #1 M&MAEs.(News)
May 2, 2005... An M&MAEs Dark Chocolate spot, featuring Red and Yellow in a sit-down with Darth Vader, ranked as the best-liked new ad of the past month. Spots from Veet and Skittles joined Sears Ty Pennington Style, Quiznos Subs and the U.S. Postal Service...

Hearst, others look to U.K. yet again, ponder potential of weeklies for men; But this model relies on newsstands, and there are more of those in Britain.(MediaWorks)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Jon Fine How many more ideas can magazine executives in the U.S. steal from their counterparts in the U.K.? The short answer: many. The latest, brewing at Hearst under the stewardship of former Maxim Editor Keith Blanchard, is...

Google breaks down and decides to advertise; Search giant's fight for local classifieds won't be won on word of mouth.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: MATTHEW CREAMER and KRIS OSER The fierce battle for the $32 billion local-classified market has forced Google to brandish the one marketing weapon it has so carefully avoided: advertising. The search giant, which has built its...

Work; Interflora: Fresh Flowers.(The World)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... The premise of Interflora's long-running "Power of Flowers'' print campaign by Robert/Boisen & Like-Minded, Copenhagen, Denmark, part of Grey Global Group, is that men buy flowers for women with the expectation of getting something wondrous in...

Your best marketing tool walks the sales floor; Empowered consumers, rising TV costs make good sales staffs essential to influence the buyer.(Viewpoint)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Constantin B. Ohanian Many years ago in the '60s at Procter & Gamble in Geneva, marketing novices believed that the little woman buying Tide was their paymaster. We followed her door to door across Central America, Asia, the...

Young and optimistic.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Laurel Wentz Young Latinos may speak less Spanish than older Hispanics, but they identify strongly with being Hispanic and are profoundly optimistic about their futures, according to a recent Latino Intelligence survey from Youth...

Work; Images of the week.
May 2, 2005... GO FAST SPORTS: TDA Advertising, Denver In this Bronx neighborhood, a Sox fan had better run fast. Print and poster. Art Directors: Jeremy Boland, Matt O'Malley. Copywriters: Jonathan Schoenberg, Jeremy Siebold. Photographer: Paul Stern....

The Buzz; Reality TV's paper chase.(MediaWorks)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Jon Fine As with Farrah, as with Anna Nicole Smith, as with Britney Spears, the news that Bravo will air a reality show based around The New York Daily News fills one with an instant sense of "Oh. Of course.'' There is a...

Cannes Lions Festival adds 12 judges.(The World)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Laurel Wentz [New York] The Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival has been so overwhelmed by double-digit growth in three media categories that for the first time the festival will add 12 judges so that judging can be...

Road to the Upfront: A&E Networks.(News)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Upfront host: The presentation has already taken place with A&E Networks' newly appointed president Abbe Raven hosting. Other side of the table: Mel Berning, A&E's exec VP-advertising sales Performance in 18-49s: Ratings at A&E are up...

Cable chieftains' effort to placate critics in Congress only fans flames; Lawmakers: Operators should offer packages of family friendly fare.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: IRA TEINOWITZ The cable TV industry's attempt to quell a rising tide of criticism from Capitol Hill's obscenity police has backfired. The National Cable & Telecommunications Association unveiled a major initiative April 27 to...

Late News; Lucas leaves NBC for Comedy Central.
May 2, 2005... [New York] Jeff Lucas, president-ad sales for NBC Universal's entertainment channels Bravo, USA Network and Sci-Fi Channel, is leaving to become ad-sales chief at MTV Network's Comedy Central, according to industry executives. Viacom...

Day in the life: How consumers divvy up all the time they have; Working and sleeping take up the most hours; the tube comes in third.(American Demographics)
May 2, 2005... Byline: BRADLEY JOHNSON Americans have plenty of time: 24 hours a day. How to spend it? The average American sleeps 8.6 hours. Workers spend a third of the day on the job. The No. 3 activity, after sleep and work, is watching TV. ...

Agency Report; Advertising and marketing services gain 8.6% to $17.59 billion; WPP, bolstered by Grey, mounts challenge for Omnicom's top spot.(Special Report: Agency Report)
May 2, 2005... Byline: R. CRAIG ENDICOTT and KENNETH WYLIE Advertising and marketing services in 2004 regained a vigor not seen since the dot-coms bellied up in 2000, and a rebound in interactive helped prove what goes around comes around. Revenue...

Spotlight.(The World)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Emma Hall Marketer: Citroen Agency: Euro RSCG, London Citroen brings technology alive by transforming a car into a dancing robot in how-did-they-do-that spot [London] To underpin French automaker Peugeot Citroen PSA's...

P&G kisses up to the boss: consumers; Looking for better ways to reach the masses, Lafley goes to the source.(News)(Procter & Gamble Co.)
May 2, 2005... Byline: JACK NEFF At procter & Gamble Co.'s Iams headquarters in downtown Dayton, a receptionist asks a yellow Labrador "What happens if you eat Purina?'' The dog plays dead. Be they two- or four-legged, consulting consumers is a top...

Kraft wakes up to need to push Maxwell House; After falling behind to P&G's Folgers, boosts spending to $60 million.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: STEPHANIE THOMPSON Coffee is one of the four global platforms that Kraft Foods' CEO Roger Deromedi has outlined as priorities in the struggling food behemoth's turnaround plan. But analysts are skeptical that new advertising and...

Hitachi goes to 'War' with Spielberg, Cruise; Madison + Vine: Inks rare deal to feature actor, director in $100M push.(News)(Steven Spielberg)(Tom Cruise)
May 2, 2005... Byline: T.L. STANLEY In a rare coup, Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg will appear in a four-month marketing campaign, valued at close to $100 million, that consumer-electronics giant Hitachi will launch around Paramount Pictures' big-budget...

Guthy-Renker gives the infomercial street cred; High production values, big stars lure viewers, marketers to the form.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: JAMES B. ARNDORFER During a TV interview that usually airs during the wee hours, a smiling Sean "P. Diddy'' Combs rhapsodizes about a momentous day in his life. He's not reminiscing about getting his first platinum album. He's...

Coke tries a Dew me-too, again; Beverage behemoth may spring new rival Vault on markets this summer.(News)(Coca-Cola Co. (Atlanta, Georgia))
May 2, 2005... Byline: KATE MACARTHUR Can Coca-Cola successfully do a Dew? The world's largest beverage company is briskly working to fill out its product pipeline with diet, non-carbonated and energy drinks, but one segment is giving Big Red the...

Cable, telecom battle for bundle supremacy.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: ALICE Z. CUNEO No one knows which company will emerge as service provider of choice to a bundled broadband nation, but it is clear that the contenders are going to spend billions of media dollars trying to win this marketing war....

Dump trucks: Next big thing in luxury rides? International hopes so; builds buzz for pickups with toys, events, clothes.(News)(transportation equipment industry advertising contracts)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Byline: JEAN HALLIDAY Ashton Kutcher drives one. So does hoops star Jalen Rose. It costs $125,000, gets less than 10 miles to the gallon, dwarfs minivans and promises to make onlookers "gawk and gasp.'' You guessed Hummer, right?...

Like Jason, horror flicks don't stay dead and buried, but keep on rising; Popular, cheap to make, classics and sequels hot sellers in DVD, theaters.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: T.L. STANLEY Hollywood is gushing horror movies, with dozens of thrillers, ghost stories and serial-killer flicks in the pipeline, more than at any time in recent memory. And while the films are drenched in red, studio executives...

Pop-culture phenom, Today Sponge is back.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: RICH THOMASELLI The female contraceptive that inspired an episode of "Seinfeld'' and launched the phrase "spongeworthy'' into the national lexicon is returning to store shelves after more than a decade. The Today Sponge,...

Soup Nazi changes tune: Soup for you! But is John Bello's food play too late to capitalize on 'Seinfeld' character?(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: STEPHANIE THOMPSON Al Yeganeh, a.k.a. The Soup Nazi, will lend his stern countenance to a line of national super-premium soups that SoBe founder John Bello is counting on to be the next big thing at retail. That is, as long as...

The Rodney Dangerfield of the C-suite; EXCLUSIVE: Job's clout rises, but execs still want to be CEO, not CMO.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: JACK NEFF Marketing executives aren't getting much respect in corporate America-thwarting their true ambition to move into general management. A survey of 500 marketing managers by executive recruiting firm Spencer Stuart found...

MULTICULTURAL? NO, MAINSTREAM; Project 2050, other Hispanic hotshops lead the revolution.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: LAUREL WENTZ Anyone who has to ask why Phil Colon's new urban-youth-marketing agency is called Project 2050 probably doesn't know a lot about where the multicultural market is heading. That's the year, according to Census...

Gatorade brings cooler off bench to fortify lead; Still the powerhouse but has seen share slip as Powerade aims younger.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: KATE MACARTHUR For the first time in its history, Gatorade is taking its emblematic beverage cooler off the sidelines, putting it front and center of a drive for consumer preference at retail, where rival Powerade is stealing its...

In-store advertising model gains ground by getting up from the floor; Chain tests TV network; analysts say such tactics may turn off shoppers.(News)
May 2, 2005... Byline: MYA FRAZIER In the science-fiction thriller "Minority Report,'' Tom Cruise's character charges into a futuristic Gap store and a computerized image of a bubbly saleswoman asks: "....Welcome back to the Gap, how did those assorted...

Asahi launches beers with gadget giveaway.(The World)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Normandy Madden [Tokyo] Asahi hopes to capture the attention of jaded Japanese consumers through their love of high-tech gadgets with a sweepstakes promotion to launch two beers, a sparkling malt drink called Asahi Hon Nama and...

GM drops Lowe from $100M Vectra pitch.(The World)(General Motors Corp)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Emma Hall [London] General Motors Corp. has dropped Interpublic Group of Cos.' Lowe Worldwide from a $100 million pan-European pitch for the Vectra model after seeing pitches from its three roster agencies-Lowe, London; Interpublic...

Nescafe builds buzz via viral e-mail effort.(The World)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Charles Newbery [Buenos Aires, Argentina] Despite a tight marketing budget for Nescafe Cafe con Leche, Nestle Argentina has generated buzz for the coffee-with-milk mix thanks to a viral marketing effort played out through e-mails....

The 'Ad Age' guide to mobile marketing; Most marketers are treating the third screen gingerly, but here are some of the most popular current strategies.(News)
May 2, 2005... Text messaging Mobile version of direct marketing can be used for sweepstakes, voting in contents, instant wins, offering consumer stats and other data. Cost: creative is from free to $3,000 or so, but messages cost marketers 3cents...

Corrections.(Viewpoint)(Correction Notice)
May 2, 2005... * "Estimated circulation" for Tribune Co. dailies reported in a chart in the Newspaper Special Report (April 18, P. S-4) is based on weekday circulation reported to the Audit Bureau of Circulations. In cases where newspapers did not report...

Heat Index; Weekly Rating (0-10) of Sizzle & Fizzle.(MediaWorks)
May 2, 2005... 8 'IDOL' vs. THE WORLD Rival nets' takedown documentary hasn't even aired and already Rupert's talking lawsuit; book proposal from former 'Idol' competitor allegedly claims Abdul-ian affair. As spectacle we still prefer William Hung, but give...

People & Players.
May 2, 2005... New York: Phone fashion Teen Vogue hosts a party to launch a Betsey Johnson-designed Samsung phone. (From l.) Jane Keltner, fashion news editor, Teen Vogue; Gloria Baume, fashion marketing director, Teen Vogue; Betsey Johnson; Nicole...

AdWatch.(News)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Bradley Johnson Turn Signals Slowing down: Measured U.S. ad spending rose a meager 2.3% in February, a sharp comedown from January's 7.2% gain and the 9.8% increase seen for calendar 2004. Seven of 16 media types dropped; eight...

WPP closes in on Omnicom.(News)
May 2, 2005... Agency Report: Advertising Age? 61st annual report finds Sir Martin and WPP Group nipping at the heels of the longtime revenue leader, John Wren? Omnicom Page S-1

Methodology.(Special Report: Agency Report)
May 2, 2005... The 61st Annual Advertising Age Agency Report includes five primary agency rankings: The world's top 25 marketing organizations; the leading U.S. and world ad agency "brands;" top media specialist companies, and the largest marketing services...

Ad Age/IAG's Top Spots; #1 M&M's.(News)(M and M Advertising Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... An M&M's Dark Chocolate spot, featuring Red and Yellow in a sit-down with Darth Vader, ranked as the best-liked new ad of the past month. Spots from Veet and Skittles joined Sears Ty Pennington Style, Quiznos Subs and the U.S. Postal Service on...

Times Sq. Ad(d)s up to $69 mil.(News)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... What does it cost to rent space in advertising? white-hot center? Up to $350,000 per month for some top slots. We do the math on Midtown page 18

Heat Index; Weekly Rating (0-10) of Sizzle & Fizzle.(MediaWorks)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... 10 'Everybody Loves Raymond' The big goodbye is coming up for the CBS sitcom, and this week in syndication you can watch the cast's favorite episodes. TV Land will go dark the night of the finale, and instead show 210 guys named Raymond. 5...

People & Players.(MediaWorks)( Advertising Club of New York )
May 9, 2005... Southampton, Bermuda: New kids The American Association of Advertising Agencies welcomes new officers at its 87th annual Management Conference. (From l.) Vice Chairman Anthony Hopp, president-CEO, Campbell Ewald; Secretary-Treasurer Sharon...

AdWatch.(News)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... Byline: Bradley Johnson Turn Signals The South and West will account for 88% of U.S. population growth from 2000 to 2030, according to new Census Bureau estimates. Three states-Florida, California, Texas-will account for 46% of...

'Lost' and found; ABC's recent successes strengthen competition among TV networks, whetting marketer interest going into what's certain to be a wide open upfront.(Special Report: TV's Upfront)(Panel Discussion)(Transcript)
May 9, 2005... Advertising Age brought together some of the front-line negotiators for a lively debate about the state of the business. This group of buyers and sellers included for the first time an online ad representative, Yahoo's Jerry Shereshewsky, who's...

The 2005 upfront dream team.(Special Report: TV's Upfront)
May 9, 2005... Chris Kager, Exec VP-media sales, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution Mike Shaw, President-sales and marketing, Walt Disney Co.'s ABC Television Tom McGarrity, Co-president of sales, Univision Network Jerry...

Nike taps Nitrosoul for European TV effort.(The World)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... Byline: Emma Hall [London] Nike has hired independent Nitrosoul to create a pan-European TV campaign after a pitch pitted the new London shop against one of Nike's main agencies, Wieden & Kennedy Amsterdam. The campaign, expected to be...

Ikea seeks efficiencies with global media pitch.(The World)(searching for advertising agencies)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... Byline: Dagmar Mussey and Emma Hall [London] Ikea appears to be conducting a long-anticipated pitch in search of cost efficiencies for its global media account, estimated at about $175 million and currently split among many media agencies...

Belgian indie agency opens New York outpost.(The World)(Duval Guillaume)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... Byline: Laurel Wentz [New York] As independent creative shops based in places like London, Amsterdam, Toronto and even Shanghai flock to open New York agencies, the latest contender is from the unlikelier country of Belgium. That country's...

Recipe for success: Pay attention to diet trends, but focus on taste.(People & Players)(Barilla America VP-Marketing Sergio Pereira )(Biography)
May 9, 2005... Byline: STEPHANIE THOMPSON Barilla America VP-Marketing Sergio Pereira has seen his share of health and diet trends come and go. A native of Colombia, Mr. Pereira, 43, first got into the food industry soon after college with Procter &...

Brady's Bunch; Kerry and the Prince?(People & Players)
May 9, 2005... Byline: James Brady Just think if Kerry had held hands with Crown Prince Abdullah. Marcia Clark, the dopey L.A. prosecutor who lost a slamdunk case against O.J., will write a column for Wal-Mart's new Justice magazine. There's a "must...

Q and A: Donato realigns Nielsen for VOD, DVR.(Special Report: TV's Upfront)(Paul Donato)(Interview)
May 9, 2005... For more than 50 years, Nielsen Media Research has been the yardstick of the TV business. Its viewership numbers influence billions in ad dollars. But the company has faced a barrage of criticism over its demographic representation and ability...

Infomercials get their day, night; 24/7 ad TV: Expo TV adds to options in growing field of multibillion-dollar direct TV.(Special Report: TV's Upfront)(Expo TV launch)
May 9, 2005... Byline: DAISY WHITNEY Wide awake at 2 a.m., cable viewers have proven they will land their surfing TV remotes serendipitously on infomercials and then buy the goods peddled. What's unproven is whether consumers will steer their remotes to...

Syndie to feel trickle-down effect; Syndication: Martha, Tyra Banks new, but as one buyer notes: 'Easy come, easy go'.(Special Report: TV's Upfront)
May 9, 2005... Byline: Daisy Whitney For advertisers there doesn't appear to be that one must-have show in syndication. "Oprah is great, but she isn't breaking new [ad] categories. The lifeblood of any market is new categories,'' says Jason...

Foes take Thursday battle to NBC; Critical night fight: ABC 'could be game changer'; CBS builds on gains; Fox hits niche.(Special Report: TV's Upfront)
May 9, 2005... Byline: T.L. STANLEY Executives at CBS call it a Rolaids moment. They decided, about five seasons ago, to put the young hit "Survivor'' on Thursday nights to go toe-to-toe with one of the most powerful shows on TV, NBC's smash sitcom...

You thought cross-media ad deals were history? Think again: Open-minded marketers such as Whirlpool strive for breadth, reach.(Special Report: TV's Upfront)(Whirlpool Corp.)
May 9, 2005... Byline: LARRY DOBROW Upon the first whispers that Viacom planned to cleave into two companies, pundits were quick to sound a death knell for the cross-media ad deal. If a colossus like Viacom couldn't make the concept work, they reasoned,...

A no-spin zone? Go behind the scenes for a Fox News upfront presentation; News network pushes high-end viewers, but buyers don't bite yet.(MediaWorks)(Fox News Network L.L.C.)
May 9, 2005... Byline: CLAIRE ATKINSON In a darkened conference room at Omnicom Group media agency PHD, four Fox News executives are setting up yet another upfront presentation, one of scores the team will make to buying groups and clients around the...

Where Christian Dior mingles with Nine West.(News)(Designer Shoe Warehouse)
May 9, 2005... Byline: MYA FRAZIER Her husband calls her America's Imelda Marcos. The owner of 200-plus pairs of shoes, Barbara Harris is adding yet another-a pair of gold-tinted Sesto Meucci slides. Price tag: $116.89. "These would retail for $170...

Heinz, Mars, Sara Lee AWOL from food fest; Absence of stalwarts lets 300 smaller players tout offerings at FMI.(News)(Food Marketing Institute)(H.J. Heinz Co.)
May 9, 2005... Byline: STEPHANIE THOMPSON [Chicago] Sara Lee Foods, H.J. Heinz Co. and Mars all were no-shows at this year's Food Marketing Institute show, the industry's largest conference. Their usually large booth spaces were filled by smaller...

CLOW'S VOW: IT'S A NEW DAY AT TBWA; Revamps Calif. offices: 'I want NY to kick ass, but not to kick our ass'.(News)(Lee Clow, California, New York)
May 9, 2005... Byline: ALICE Z. CUNEO Lee Clow is on the bandwagon. Don't believe it? Listen to this: "Don't start with TV,'' is one of the new rules put down by the worldwide chairman and chief creative officer of TBWA Worldwide and one of the most...