Response articles from December 2003

Response archives from December 2003

FTC takes off the gloves ... and, perhaps, it's about time: it seems the FTC is no longer willing to make settlement arrangements with DRTV advertisers it believes are harming consumers maliciously. This is long past due.(Editor's Note)
December 1, 2003... The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has spent the past two decades dealing with the direct response television (DRTV) industry as what I'd call a "friendly adversary." Though the commission has spent plenty of time and resources in bringing...

Concepts TV celebrates 20 years in DRTV industry; Liantonio's company notches 3 ERA awards as part of the celebration.(Field Reports)
December 1, 2003... I've seen thousands of products, and I have a pretty good idea how to put a winner together," says Collette Liantonio, founder and president of Concepts TV Productions Inc. in Boonton, N.J. "When we do a half-hour, we should never get in the...

Hall Dickler committee discussed merger before Manatt flight.(Report)
December 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Nationally known law and consulting firm Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP announces a group of 10 attorneys, led by Electronic Retailing Association (ERA) past chair Linda A. Goldstein, has left Hall Dickler Kent Goldstein & Wood LLP to...

The firm 2 takes infomercial of the year honors at ERA awards.(Field Reports)
December 1, 2003... The Electronic Retailing Association's (ERA) 2003 Awards were bestowed Sept. 17 during a spectacular gala at the 13th Annual ERA Annual Conference and Exposition at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. ERA would like to thank the judges and members for...

Jordan Whitney's program rankings.(Research)
December 1, 2003... TOP 10 INFOMERCIALS RANK LAST MONTH PROGRAM HOST 1 6 Showtime Rotisserie Ron Popeil 2 2 Carleton Sheets Carleton Sheets 3 2 Bowflex ...

The IMS top 20 DRTV national cable rankings.(Research)
December 1, 2003... LONG-FORM PROGRAMS RANK WEEKS ON CHART SHOW 1 562 Carleton Sheets 2 338 Bowflex 3 10 Supreme Greens 4 557 Attacking Anxiety 5 138 Gazelle...

From the Lab: making the right offer.(Research)
December 1, 2003... It's arguably the single most important element of a DRTV campaign--the offer. This month, TEST begins its "Offer Investigation," an in-depth look at the several offer categories, what makes them effective for different products and campaign...

REV Share search engine internet popularity report.(Research)
December 1, 2003... REVShare Search Engine Internet Popularity Report RANK TITLE DISTRIBUTOR 1 Bowflex Bowflex Inc. 2 Coral Calcium ITV Direct 3 Leptoprin ...

Third-quarter long-form media billings drop 1.8 percent from 2002; music and sports score with a 60.3-percent increase.(Research)
December 1, 2003... In third-quarter 2003, long-form media billings showed a slight dip--1.8 percent--from the same time period in 2002. This year's $219,426,297 showing, however, out-performed third-quarter figures from 2001. The total number of time slots...

Short-form DRTV media billings get an 8.8-percent boost; four categories increase by 93 percent or more.(Research)
December 1, 2003... Short-form DRTV spending improved by more than 8 percent to $92,301,871 in third-quarter 2003 from last year's third-quarter short-form billings. While Response's growing cross-section of short-form total media billings pale in comparison to...

The FTC takes a stand on DRTV; the Federal Trade Commission's Mary Engle says the group tracks marketers with checkered histories more closely, but does not keep a sharper focus on the DRTV industry than other advertisers. In the meantime, the commission is meeting industry associations' self-regulation programs with open arms.(Response Exclusive!)(Cover Story)
December 1, 2003... "Direct response television (DRTV) has not been targeted because of its history," contends Mary Engle, associate director of the Division of Advertising Practices (DAP) for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). "Rather, we look at how widely...

The DRTV-retail connection; a steady flow of national and online retailers welcome DRTV products to their shelves.
December 1, 2003... Bob Grossman was driving through the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles in October when he saw something he didn't expect: a free-standing retail store devoted to Bowflex products. The high-ticket exercise products, which got their start...

I M S top 50 infomercials and short-form spots of 2003.
December 1, 2003... Response magazine is proud to present, once again, one of its most popular annual features. And, for the second year in a row, Infomercial Monitoring Service Inc. (IMS) has provided its ranking of both the top 50 infomercials and short-form...

Riding the road to the Asia-Pacific market; as the second largest economy in the world, Japan maintains a strong foothold on the DRTV landscape, while countries like Australia and Korea slowly gain momentum. U.S. DR marketers should familiarize themselves with cultural differences, regulations and partnering opportunities before moving forward.(Pan-Pacific DRTV Marketplace Guide)
December 1, 2003... During the 19th century, Manifest Destiny was a doctrine postulating the extension of territory throughout the United States. Eventually, the expansion moved from the mainland to islands throughout the Pacific and the Caribbean. In any type of...

Media buyer beware of 'too good to be true' scenarios.(Media)
December 1, 2003... If you have been in the media business for a while, you have undoubtedly purchased media that didn't live up to your expectations. You have probably begged for no-charges, whined for rate reductions, or promised never to buy the station again....

Should you use a celebrity? There are 5 questions you should ask before deciding whether or not you should use a celebrity in your Infomercial.(Response Magazine's DRTV Best Practices Primer Part 11)
December 1, 2003... In October's Response, we explored the frequency of celebrity usage in advertising and noted that 43 percent of the top 50 infomercials used at least one type of the two categories of celebrities identified: famous celebrities, such as actors...

What regs are on the E-mail marketing horizon?(Legal Review)
December 1, 2003... As the amount of unsolicited commercial E-mail (UCE) increases, so do legislative and regulatory efforts to restrict it. In late October, the U.S. Senate passed the Can Spam Act of 2003, a bill that allows E-mail marketers to send UCE until a...

Access Unlimited: functions: Marketing, Sales, product development, manufacturing, executive infomercial production and advertisement, vendor relation management.(Corporate Profile)
December 1, 2003... Access Unlimited is a full-service Marketing and Sales firm dedicated in supporting corporations in identifying their target markets, isolate the unique selling points, position and brand accordingly, aim their target markets in the most...

Hit shows need big media and international distribution.(Corporate Profile)
December 1, 2003... Do you have a hit show in the making? We're the professionals behind the domestic media buying and international distribution of hit shows like Total Gym, Tony Little's Gazelle Elite, Bare Escentuals Cosmetics, Naomi Judd's Esteem Skin Care,...

Concepts TV.(Corporate Profile)
December 1, 2003... Best Short Form of the Year! The Better Pasta Pot is just one of a long line of winners for the Concepts TV Production team headed by writer/producer/director Collette Liantonio. Concepts' 2003 hits include The George Foreman Grill,...

Direct response media buying specialists - Cmedia.(Corporate Profile)
December 1, 2003... At Cmedia we live and breathe to make our clients money. That's probably why some of the industry's most successful direct marketers turn to us for complete media buying and management services. Utilizing our proprietary media management...

Can your media agency pass this test?(Corporate Profile)
December 1, 2003... 1 What was the principal of your media * Yes agency doing twenty-five years ago; was * Cannella it television direct response marketing? Response Television...

Direct Response Media Inc. measurably different!(Corporate Profile)
December 1, 2003... Measurably Different approach Direct Response Media Inc. is a direct marketing media agency, incorporated in 1990, with a proven track record in achieving clients' advertising goals. The management team is comprised of talented individuals...

National Fulfillment Inc.: where the client always comes first!(Corporate Profile)
December 1, 2003... National Fulfillment isn't just another fulfillment house. National CEO Rollie Froehlig is eager to explain that his company has made a conscious effort to develop a complete service package to better serve its clients. While handling more...

Frontline Processing Corporation: e-payment processing with the Frontline advantage ...(Corporate Profile)
December 1, 2003... Frontline has over 20 years experience in processing credit cards for electronic retailers of all kinds. Whether it's credit, debit, electronic checks, or the most comprehensive payment gateways in the industry, Frontline has the advantage for...

Direct response television and beyond ...(Corporate Profile)
December 1, 2003... hawthorne direct, the industry's premier direct response television advertising agency, has been creating and managing successful DRTV campaigns for the past 17 years. The company was founded by Tim Hawthorne, chairman of hawthorne direct and...

Icon Media Direct: your ultimate direct response resource!(Corporate Profile)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... Whether you are launching a new product, trying to move an existing retail product that is collecting dust instead of revenue, or perhaps selling a product of service that is better suited for lead generation marketing... for all these and...

Infomercials were then ... infomarketing is now ...: and InfoWorx is on the forefront of now!(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... Infomarketing Defined: The process of securing the largest possible share of a market, with the least amount of money, in the shortest amount of time, through an advanced information-based commercial. Give your infomercial the Worx!...

Interglobal International Ltd.(Corporate Profile)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... In 2003 Interglobal International Ltd sold in excess of 3 million units of US infomercials to every corner of the globe. Our core business is to provide a complete set of services around infomercial and spot products, not least sales...

You'll value our expertise! Optimize your media campaign with Koeppel Direct.(Corporate Profile)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... Koeppel Direct is a world-class direct response media buying agency. The firm is headed by Wharton MBA Peter Koeppel. The agency places an emphasis on managing all aspects of a direct response marketing campaign, because of Peter Koeppel's 20+...

Understanding the "TV-print synergy": "it's a crucial factor in direct response success," says Manhattan Media Services' Marianna Morello.(Manhattan Media Services Inc.)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... Rediscovering the Value of Print Over the last few years, the success of DRTV as a direct-response advertising medium has obscured an obvious but important fact: direct marketers were hugely successful in print long before TV ever came...

ISO 9000 and the fulfillment business--made for each other.(Corporate Profile)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... Ever wonder how certain universally accepted sizes, practices or specifications ever got to be universally accepted? How film speed codes got adopted worldwide, for example? Or symbols for automobile controls like headlights, hood latches and...

Mercury Media: taking care of all your direct response needs.(Corporate Profile)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... Mercury Media brings new meaning to "full-service agency." As a customer-oriented company, we work closely with our clients to maximize their potential, whether domestically, globally or on the Internet. Mercury Media has earned its reputation...

Layer by layer: the best in outsourced solutions.(Corporate Profile)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... With decades of experience in traditional fulfillment, customer care, and supply chain processes, NewRoads offers multi-layer solutions to your direct-to-customer, multi-channel requirements. All centered around your brand and your customers....

NorthStar Studios: delivers a great return on your television production investment budget!(NorthStar Studios, Inc.)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... NorthStar Studios is a 125,000 square foot digital state-of-the-art full service television production campus based in Nashville, providing DRTV and Infomercial clients the best in quality, service and convenience at a great price. No matter...

Production West, Inc.--Billings, MT.(Corporate Profile)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... To hear about the sleepy town of Billings, Montana, one conjures up images of cowboys, flyfishing, and sizzlin' steaks. DRTV production and duplication probably doesn't pop into your mind. But the ERA-award-winning Production West is...

Oak Lawn Marketing, Inc.(Oak Lawn Marketing/ Shop Japan)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... Established in 1993 by DR professional Robert Roche, Oak Lawn Marketing/ Shop Japan is the largest distributor of US infomercials in Japan. Shop Japan was one of the first companies to introduce television shopping to Japan selling...

Call centers don't close sales, people do.(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... In most sales campaigns, it often comes down to the quality of the agent as to whether or not the sale is made. If the sales team is highly experienced and properly trained, they'll close the sale; if not, they won't--it's as simple as that....

Why monkey around? ... PCA can save you a barrel of money on parcel shipping.(Parcel Corporation of America)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... PCA provides parcel shipping services to some of the most well-known names in the industry. Why? Because these companies have come to realize that there is simply no better way to get infomercial products delivered to their customers. We can...

Inside the box: finally, someone is thinking.(Corporate Profile)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... For everyone who thought direct response television required screaming pitchmen cramming products down the customer's throat, we are pleased to introduce Respond2. Respond2 is a full-service direct response agency, specializing in television...

Direct Thinking for Direct Response.(Corporate Profile)(Script to Screen Inc.)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... From the beginning, the purpose of Script to Screen has been as simple and direct as its slogan "Direct Thinking for Direct Response." This corporate philosophy is the basis of what it does as a company: produce quality direct response...

It's impossible to sum up what we do in a single page.(Corporate Profile)
December 1, 2003... It's impossible to sum up what we do in a single page. send a blank email to: tellme@ifactz.com

Torstar Media Group Television (TMG TV).(Corporate Profile)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... Based in Toronto, Torstar Media Group Television (TMG TV) consists of 2 divisions: ShopTV Canada, the country's largest 24-Hour English infomercial channel and TMGTV Productions, a full service production company specializing in DRTV. ...

TransFirst ePayment Services: provides in-depth transaction processing solutions for the direct response industry.(Corporate Profile)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... TransFirst ePayment Services, formerly DPI Merchant Services, is a leading provider of flexible and secure transaction processing solutions. With 13 years experience in the direct marketing industry, TransFirst ePayment Services has met...

Venable, LLP.(Corporate Profile)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... Few marketing technologies and strategies seem to emerge overnight. Competing products clamor for recognition, with performance claims that seem too good to be true. But one truth remains. In advertising and marketing--and in all areas of...

It all begins with the right strategy.(Corporate Profile)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... When it comes to DR media buying, our belief in the power of strategic thinking is so powerful that when it came time to name our agency, we could only think of one thing: Strategic Media. It's what we do, and do better than any other DR media...

Meet our advertisers.(list of companies)(Directory)
December 1, 2003... Access Unlimited Inc. CONTACT: Shannon Riley PHONE: 909-931-1796 FAX: 909-931-1947 E-MAIL: shannon@accessu.com URL: www.accessu.com We are a leading sales and marketing firm. Services include marketing research, product...

2003 consumer trends in DRTV; InPulse Response Group's sixth annual survey finds that in a tough year, the industry has met the challenge by achieving record levels of customer satisfaction.(Buyers' Guide 2004)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2003... It has been a hard year for the DRTV industry. A sluggish economy has cut back the disposable income of many shoppers. New government regulation has curtailed certain upsells. And some industry insiders worry that a growing number of highly...

Alphabetical listing.(Buyers' Guide 2004)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2003... A A B & C Group Inc. 8400 Westpark Drive, Ste. 100 McLean, VA 22102 PHONE: 703-827-8377, 888-222-1972 FAX: 703-827-8385 E-MAIL: sales@abcgroup.com URL: www.abcgroup.com Mike O'Hara, Chairman/CEO Steve...

Alphabetical listing.(Buyers' Guide 2004)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2003... H Hall Dickler Kent Goldstein & Wood LLC 909 Third Ave. New York, NY 10022 PHONE: 212-339-5400 FAX: 212-935-3121 URL: www.adlaw.com CATEGORIES: Legal Services Harte Hanks Direct Marketing 4545 Annapolis...

Alphabetical listing.(Buyers' Guide 2004)
December 1, 2003... S Sandcastle Interactive 1414 Dexter Ave. N., Ste. 306 Seattle, WA 98109 PHONE: 206-282-1478 FAX: 206-286-0812 E-MAIL: mike@sandcastle-i.com URL: www.sandcastle-i.com Mike Conkle, Partner/Marketing Director ...

Categorical listing.(Buyers' Guide 2004)
December 1, 2003... AFFILIATE NETWORKS Be Free Inc. Center for Direct Marketing Game Show Network Just Buying Time Media Management Inc. LinkShare Corp. Per Inquiry Productions Permission Interactive Inc. Purchase A Casino Inc....