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December 2, 2008

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News for the advertising, media, and marcom industries

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Cheil Worldwide expands with U.K. investment
South Korea's largest advertising firm acquired a 49% share in Beattie McGuinness Bungay, weeks after acquisition talks broke down between the London-based shop and Omnicom Group agency TBWA Worldwide. Cheil Worldwide didn't disclose the price of its investment. The Wall Street Journal (free content) (12/1)

Agency News

An alternative media one-stop-shop
DoMedia, based in Columbus, Ohio, offers marketers interested in accessing the dizzying array of alternative media -- from skywriting to building projections to ads on pizza boxes -- a one-stop solution. DoMedia doesn't create alternative advertising, but hopes to make money from ads on its searchable online marketplace. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (12/1)

Double Fusion's new in-game ad plays
Game publishers THQ, SEGA, Eidos and Midway have reached pacts with Double Fusion to supply in-game ads for various titles for the Sony PlayStation 3 console, according to this article. Mediaweek (12/1)

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Creative

Stove Top warms up Chicago bus shelters
Throughout December, heated air will warm 10 Chicago bus stops, courtesy of Kraft Foods brand Stove Top stuffing. The heated bus shelters will feature posters with the slogan, "Cold, provided by winter. Warmth, provided by Stove Top." NYTimes.com (12/1)

Media

National Geographic gleans insights from channel surfing data
National Geographic Channel is the first to sign up for Nielsen's new second-by-second measurement service, which uses digital cable box data to report viewers' moment-to-moment channel surfing. National Geographic found that viewers of "Locked Up Abroad" are switching channels 10 to 20 seconds before a commercial break, so adjustments to teasers and recaps were made to boost viewing of its ads. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (12/2)

Other News

CNN seeks to rival AP with newspaper wire service
NYTimes.com (11/30)

VC firm gives Huffington Post a $25M boost
Editor & Publisher (12/1)

Trends & Research

U.S. has been in recession for a year, economists say
The National Bureau of Economic Research confirmed that the U.S. economy officially slid into a recession some 12 months ago. The downturn has hit the ad world -- industry employment is down 52,000 since peaking in November 2007, per an Ad Age analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. International Herald Tribune (12/2), Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (12/1), Financial Times (free content) (12/1)

Report: Newspaper ad sales drop 18.1% in Q3
Newspaper ad sales in Q3 suffered a record 18.1% drop, falling by nearly $2 billion, the Newspaper Association of America is reporting. Newspapers' online ad revenue also declined by 3% -- the second consecutive quarter of lower sales for a segment thought to be key to newspapers' future, according to this article. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (12/1)

Marketer News

Axl Rose seeks makegood for Dr Pepper album promo
Dr Pepper famously offered to give away a free can of soda to every American in the event that rock band Guns N' Roses released its long-awaited album "Chinese Democracy." However, when the album came out, demand for the free sodas was so great that Web sites offering coupons crashed, making access difficult for many. Now, the band is upset and wants Dr Pepper to apologize in a series of full-page newspaper ads, and extend the period during which Americans can claim their free soda. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (12/1)

Technology

MySpace chief: Time right to get good deals on start-ups
Although News Corp unit MySpace isn't working on any specific deals, the social network does see opportunity to acquire Web 2.0 start-ups that are worth much less now than six months ago because of the economic downturn, MySpace co-founder and chief executive Chris DeWolfe said, via video conference, at the Reuters Summit. But microblog Twitter, which reportedly was in talks to become part of Facebook, is not on MySpace's wish list, DeWolfe said. Reuters (12/2)

Yahoo! reveals top searches for 2008
Britney Spears was the top search of 2008, according to Yahoo!'s annual Year in Review, followed by World Wrestling Entertainment and Barack Obama. Despite the prominence of the elections, "hurricanes" was the top news search term. BBC (12/1), Reuters (12/1)

Association News

2009 4A's Quantitative Research Workshop for Junior Planners
Ever wondered what superior quantitative research training at an affordable price can do for you?
The 4A's is pleased to present the 2009 Quantitative Research Workshop, Jan. 13, 2009, in Santa Monica, Calif. The workshop is limited to only 30 participants, and provides an intensive and fun training experience at the affordable price of $395 for the entire workshop, including lunch.
During the daylong workshop, participants will learn the basics that every account planner needs to know about quantitative research. Led by Hall & Partners' Shawna Friedman and Heather Griffiths, junior planners will sharpen their planning skills and learn to apply some general principles for effective research, including:
- Creativity with discipline
- Fresh, collaborative thinking
- Structured content intertwined with brainstorming
- Breakout session to give participants a real feel for the art and science of quantitative research
- Research at each stage of the development cycle-including the latest techniques/hot topics.
Space is limited to 30 participants. This workshop is open to 4A's members only. Visit the 4A's Web site to learn more about this great program and to sign up.

4A's Business Barometer for November Shows Confidence Uptick
Consumer confidence has increased by just over 3 points, this month's 4A's Business Barometer finds. The Barometer is based on the Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey (CIA) conducted monthly by BIGresearch. The CIA was conducted Nov. 5 to Nov. 11 and may reflect emotions stirred by the just-concluded election.
In addition, there is some bright news for electronics retailers. While other major purchase plans are down, purchase intentions for TVs are up almost two points from last year. With consumers spending more time at home, attention may be turning to items that help make staying home more enjoyable.
See the 4A's Web site for more information.

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