| December 3, 2008 | News for marketing professionals |
 |  |
- Automakers revise pitch to Congress amid steep sales decline
The Big Three automakers submitted plans to Congress for restructuring amid news of a 37% dive in U.S. auto sales in November to the lowest annual rate in 26 years. General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler are now seeking as much as $34 billion in U.S. government aid. GM's president and chief operating officer, Fritz Henderson, sad: "Absent support, the company can't fund its operations." While the business plans submitted by Ford and Chrysler reportedly were short on specifics where marketing expenditures were concerned, GM appears ready to shelve or scale back its Saab, Saturn and Pontiac nameplates and cut as much as $600 million in marketing spending by 2012. Los Angeles Times
(12/3), Advertising Age (tiered subscription model)
(12/2), Bloomberg
(12/2)       
| Company News |  | |
|
- Chinese shop now under Publicis' umbrella
W&K Communications, a full-service shop in China, has been acquired by Publicis Groupe. The 100-person agency, which will be called Leo Burnett Beijing Advertising and be part of Publicis' Chicago-based Burnett network, is the latest in a string of Asian acquisitions by the holding company, according to this article. The deal's terms were not revealed. Adweek
(12/2)
| Market Trends | | |
|
- TNS: Political ads tallied $2.5B to $2.7B
Between $2.5 billion and $2.7 billion was spent on political ads in the 2008 election cycle, with the bulk of the funds -- $2.2 billion -- used for TV, TNS Media Intelligence is reporting. The tally missed earlier projections of $3 billion, but was much higher than 2004's $1.7 billion spend. TNS also projects the political cycle beginning in 2009 will set another record, with as many as 36 governorships up for grabs in 2010. Broadcasting & Cable
(12/2)
- India, Thailand tourism marketers grapple with turbulent events
India, in the wake of terrorist attacks that left 179 dead, has put the brakes on its travel and tourism ad campaign. Its tourism board, working with Havas' Euro RSCG, Mumbai, is developing a "repair" initiative to bring back tourists scared away by the incidents. In Thailand, where a shutdown of the Bangkok airport by anti-government picketers left stranded about 100,000 passengers, travel ad campaigns are continuing, but PR efforts and events for product launches have been shelved for now, according to this article. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model)
(12/2)
- Web firms test data-driven graphics
A new breed of analytics methods gives marketers the ability to tailor the look of online ads -- the images, fonts, background colors and other details -- based on the responsiveness of particular demographic swaths. NYTimes.com
(12/2)
| Interactive | | |
|
- Google trims perks, unmonetized initiatives
Big-spending Google finally is paring back its budget to cope with the recession. The company is postponing some development projects and limiting resources devoted to others. It canceled SearchMash last month, announced an end to virtual world Lively and is looking to place ads on portions of the service that have not carried them in the past -- including Google Finance and Google News. The Wall Street Journal (free content)
(12/3)
| Best Practices | | |
|
| People & Personalities | | |
|
- Phelps's star power kick-starts PureSport
Olympian Michael Phelps endorsed PureSport, a protein mix made by little-known Human Performance Labs LLC, in exchange for a stake in the company, before he won his eight gold medals. The Phelps endorsement has opened doors to financing for the Texas firm, as well as given the obscure brand access to retail shelf space. The Wall Street Journal (free content)
(12/3)
| AAF Spotlight | | |
|
| SmartQuote | | |
|
 | Advertising promotes that divine discontent which makes people strive to improve their economic status."
|
| |
| Advertise |
|
Senior Account Director:
Dena Malouf (202) 407-7837
|
|
|
| |
|
Read more at SmartBrief.com |
|
A powerful website for SmartBrief readers including:
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| | Recent AAF SmartBrief Issues:
- Tuesday, December 02, 2008
- Monday, December 01, 2008
- Wednesday, November 26, 2008
- Tuesday, November 25, 2008
- Monday, November 24, 2008
| | | Lead Editor: Adam Mazmanian
Contributing Editor: Robert DiGiacomo
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 | |
| |
|
| © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information |
|
