Jackass Tests The Web With First Online Release

Jackass 2.5 will be released online this Wednesday, December 19th, in which many are calling a ground breaking venture. The movie will stream for free but will feature :15 and :30 commercials between various scenes. Jackass 2.5 will be used a barometer for web video but will also be used as a tool to drive traffic to www.jackassworld.com.

Click here to read the full article at the New York Times.

Tom Brokaw Book Tour

I just returned from listening to Tom Brokaw give a speech at the Westin Hotel this morning. He is on a tour promoting his new book titled, "Boom: Voices of the Sixties." It was very interesting to listen to a news anchor who reported through events that helped shape our country over the past 40 years.

Out of the hour that he spoke, I took away a few very interesting lines about media in today's culture. Someone asked the question about how media plays a role in how we interact and engage news. He responded by saying that over the past 40 or so years media has changed due to the fact that the news was printed and we read it and that was it. The news was read, we listened and that was it. It was always a one way interaction where we received the news in our homes and did not have a voice or a chance to engage that news.

Today of course is much different because we read the news, listen to the news, then we have the chance to interact, whether that is through a Blog, much like this one, or online message forums, etc. etc. Technology has changed the way we interact with the media and has helped to shape the voice we carry in everyday news. It provides the opportunity for media outlets to take our feedback whether they like it or not and understand our opinion and voice on a particular topic.

One other change that we have to note is the way in which we receive our news. No longer do we wait for the newspaper to be delivered or the 5pm news to come on. We now have access to news 24 hours a day. The last 40 years has provided several changes in the way our news is delivered and the next 40 will provide several more changes.

If Tom Brokaw is coming to your city on his book tour then I highly recommend taking the time to listen to his speech. I personally did not live through the Sixties, however it was still interesting to listen to his discussion on this time period.

Microsoft Begins Selling Ads For MSN Mobile

Microsoft announced today that they will begin selling advertisements on MSN Mobile. Users will find either a small graphic or a text link on their phones, dependant upon the quality and size of their phones.

Click here to read the full article at NewYorkTimes.com.

FOX Television Is Scripting A Hit With "Back To You"

FOX is getting a lot of press early for their new program starring Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton. The show, "Back to You" is about two news anchors in Pittsburgh. However the premise of the show is not what is catching many peoples attention, the real catch is the fact that FOX is historically known for shows that target A16-24, not programs that reach A25-54.

Click here to read the article from AdAge.com.

NBC Regroups To Offer Downloads

After discontinuing their contract with Apple a few weeks ago, NBC announced today that they will begin offering dowloads of their top programs.


Click here to read the article.

CBS Buys In-Store Media Company SignStorey

The owners of in-store digital networks should all be thrilled to hear this news today that CBS has purchased SignStorey for over $75 million. Click here to read the article.

Sex and Violence Increases In Prime Time Study Finds

Click here to read the article about the incresae of sex and violence in Prime Time. TGIF is gone and these days its all about what show can entertain you the best with guns and girls. Remember the good ol' days of Family Matters, Full House, Step by Step, and Family Ties? They are long gone!

Business 2.0 Shuts Down

A few weeks ago you may have noticed an article on my blog about Business 2.0 and how the magazine was struggling. Today it was announced that Business 2.0 will be shut down for good. Click here to read the article.

NBC Working A Deal With Amazon To Sell Content

NBC announced today that they are working with Amazon to sell content less than a week after they said they would not sell on iTunes. Downloads will be coming available on Unbox, Amazon's content site and will be sold for more than iTunes was willing to sell content for. This is apparently the reason NBC has decided to cancel their deal with iTunes is because they believe Apple is selling videos for too cheap.

Click here to read the article at NY Times.com.

CBS Striking Out With Advertisers Over Kid Nation

CBS is not having much luck with their new reality series, "Kid Nation." Over half of their top ten advertisers have already taken a pass on the show that is already beeing seen as controversial. Kid Nation is a program that features 40 kids between the ages of 8-15 who are stuck in a remote location where they are forced to build their own society. Does it sound like something you want your brand associated with?

Click here to read the article.

Clear Channel's "Blinks" Becoming Successful in Major Markets

The definition of a Blink is a 2-3 second advertisement that appears on the radio and is a combination of a quick sound followed by a tag line. Have you heard one?

Odds are yes if you live in a major market. Clear Channel began testing their "blinks" over a year ago and the testing period is about over and the success stories can begin to be written.

Most recently The Simpsons Movie utilized blinks. The ads went something like this: "D'oh, The Simpsons Movie Starts July 23rd."

These advertisements are quickly becoming known as mini radio ads and are highly cost effective because they are priced at 20% of the typical 30 or 60 second radio ad.

Click here to read the entire article at the LA Times.com.

NFL Creates Ad Campaign To Help Tarnished Image

The NFL has had a busy off-season. It began with the half year suspension of WR Chris Henry, then the year long suspension of Pacman Jones, and how could we forget about Michael Vick. There were several other incident this off-season which made Commissioner Roger Goodell cringe. However the NFL has decided to try and save their image by hiring ad agency BBDO Worldwide to create a campaign that shows the positive side of the NFL.

Click here to read the article and see the spots.

NBC Cancels iTunes Deal

NBC announced today that they have cancelled their deal with iTunes to sell content. NBC's content accounts for almost 40% of iTunes video revenue and the deal will be sure to sadden many iTunes customers.

We have to assume that this has something to do with NBC and NewsCorp's venture Hulu. Click here to read the article at Advertising Age.com.

NBC Extends The Today Show To 4 Hours

NBC announced last week that they will extend the Today Show to a total of 4 hours. NBC just extended the show less than two years ago to three hours after running two hours for several years. The move is obviously due to the fact that the show has been extremely successful for a number of years. Although lately Good Morning America has been riding closely on the heels of the Today Show, however many believe that they will never have the dominance of Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira.

Click here to read the entire article at MSNBC.com.

Wrap Your Car With An Advertisement

Are you interested in wrapping your car with an advertisement? If so, it could net you $800 per month. Click here to read the article.

TV Households Grow By 1.3%

Nielsen Media Research is reporting this week that the number of TV households has grown by 1.3% year to year. Click here to read the entire article.

Funny Advertisement in The Seattle Market

Anchorwoman Pulled After One Episode

So much for a second chance. Fox announced today that they have pulled "Anchorwoman" off the air after just one episode ran on Wednesday night. According to Nielsen Media Research, an estimated 2.7 million people tuned into watch. Not enough for Fox to continue.

Click here to read the full article at CNN.com.

Are networks really that impatient that they have to pull a new show after only one episode?

Julie Roehm's Lawsuit Dismissed By Michigan Judge; Unclear If Lawsuit Will Continue

A Michigan judge dismissed Julie Roehm's law suit this week and it is inclear whether the case will continue. The judge ruled that the case should be tried in an Arkansas court, closer to where the case took place. Of course for those of you who are a little behind in this story, I urge you to get ahead and Google Julie Roehm's name. The short story of it is, she was hired as the CMO, then fired shortly after for acting inappropriately according to Wal-Mart standards. Inappropriately means getting a little too close to vendors, and one of those just happened to be Howard Draft(Draft FCB); something about an Aston-Martin can do that to anyone. Does that make you want to read the full story?

Anyways, click here to read about Julie Roehm's latest drama.

Local TV Stations Using Mobile Applications To Reach YOU

Local TV stations are now beginning to use mobile applications to reach their audiences. The only question remains is how can it be monetized? Click here to read the full article at Mediaweek.com

Many of the stations are toying with the idea of using a subscription model for an average of $2.99 per month or using an advertising model to profit.

I applaud local tv stations for being innovative and looking at new revenue opportunities. I still have a hard time believing that this is going to be successful outside of the top 15 markets. I don't even know if it will be successful outside of the top 10 markets. Mobile applications are great for the consumer who spends a significant amount of time commuting via bus, ferry, and of course subway, but as we know it is only the major markets where the majority commute this way.

So if I wake up and watch the AM News, then get into my car and drive less than 20 minutes to work; why do I need a mobile application to watch the news or other local content? By the time I reach my desk I can just log onto the local tv stations web site.

So you can see why I'm skeptical of the idea of mobile applications.

Post your comments here and tell me your thoughts as to why mobile applications for local tv stations may be successful.

YouTube Gets Ad Makeover Courtesy Of Google

Google is looking for a return on their $1.65 Billion investment by placing advertisements on YouTube. There are over 130 Million registered users on YouTube and Google believes they have the model to generate revenue.

Investors stayed away last year when Google was hot on the trails of YouTube due to the fact that many believed the site couldn't be monetized. Videos are being shared and posted every day but there is no real revenue driver behind the site.

Click here to read the article from the LA Times.

Video Game Advertising Industry Fails To Live Up To the Hype

Video Game Advertising, which was supposed to be the next best thing since sliced bread has failed to live up the expecations set forth earlier this year. The term being thrown around is less than "dynamic" due to the fact that creative options are not available. Click here to read the full report from MediaWeek.

Simpson's Marketing Experiment Turns To Ebay

Fans came out in droves to see the 7-11's turned Kwik-E-Mart's but now the memorbilia can be found on Ebay after what I call the most successful "out-of-the-box" marketing experiment. Click here to read the article on New York Times and go to Ebay to see if you can win some Buzz Cola or a copy of Radioactive Man.

Commercials As Entertainment?

Marketers are seeing an odd change in viewing habits of their precious commercials; we actually want to watch them. At least that is what the New York Times is reporting. Oddly enough, it's true. These days we log onto YouTube to watch a spot that everyone is discussing at the water cooler. You may even have a funny commercial sitting in your inbox right now. The internet is giving marketers a growing medium to boadcast these commercials. And the best thing about it is, it doesn't cost them anything.

One commercial that you may have seen on this blog is the "Swear Jar" commercial that become a YouTube hit as well as one of the first success stories on Bud.tv. This spot never ran on television but the recall rate would probably be labeled higher than several of the spots Budweiser has run this year. The success can be attributed solely to the internet and viral marketing.

Click here to view the article at the New York Times.com.

Will Advertisers Come Back To Imus?

Don Imus reached a settlement with CBS Radio yesterday and it appears the shock jock may be on his way back to doing radio soon. The question remains, will advertisers come back to Imus? This is a rather large gamble that WABC radio appears to be interested in taking.

Click here to read the article.

My answer to this question is yes, advertisers will follow because they are as fickle as they come. If they believe that Imus can create a show with strong ratings again then there is no doube in my mind that the blue chips will be lining up at the sales door. This shows you that in this day and age, all that matters is ratings.

Happy Butts Not Allowed In Times Square

What sounds like something that should end up on Page Six in the New York Post, ended up on Advertising Age.com when Toto Washlet was slapped with an injunction. Last week, Toto Washlet had to do a quick change on their creative for their high-tech toilets campaign which is running in Times Square. The reason, well of course, someone had to complain that it was offensive. Rev. Neil Rhodes of the Times Square Church apparently found butts to be offensive since they were pointed at his church so all of a sudden a eye catching and original advertising campaign has to be changed. The campaign is in line with their home page, click here to see their web site.

To see the full article and the outdoor advertisement that caused a stir, click here.

Gap Brings Back Old Style Advertising Campaign In An Effort To Increase Revenue

Gap, which has struggled as of lately with quarterly profits has re-visited a marketing campaign in an effort to increase profits. Click here to read the article from the New York Times and be sure to watch out for the new spots.

Out-Of-Home Video Advertising Bureau Forms Advisory Board

Place based Out of home media was a $6.8 billion industry last year and one group of professionals is hoping to measure the industry further. OOH digital media, which still does not get the recognition it deserves, had the first steps taken last year when the OVAB was formed. I had the good fortune of attending this meeting and meeting several of the individuals who are behind the organization and I can't thank them enough. As I've mentioned before, I'm a huge believer in this industry and see it exploding in the next few years. As the media landscape changes, OOH opportunities are going to continue to open up and advertisers need to take note now.

Check out the article at Adage.com. Also see the OVAB's web site here.

New York Times Cuts Deal with NBC For '08 Presidential Coverage

The New York Times announced today that they have cut a deal with NBC for joint coverage on the 2008 Presidential campaign. Other newspaper companies should take notes from this and figure out how they can be first through the door with remaining parties including CNN, FOX, ABC, and CBS. The New York Times understands that they have the distribution but that NBC news will be where consumers will turn to each night for immediate updates.

Click here to read the article.

Some Of You May Remember This Wendy's Spot

This video was selected by WeShow

Survey Proves That Consumers Watch Videos Online

Click here to view the article at the LATimes.com.

CW Network Continues To Break The Mold

The CW Network will unveil their ten-second experiment called "cwickies" soon. CW is well known for breaking out of the norm and creating marketing opportunities for their advertisers. Of course when you are far behind the big 4 (NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX) you have to find a way to stand out.

Frankly I'm having troubles figuring out why CW would be getting so much publicity for ten-second commercials. Because we all know that whether an advertiser wants to show five-second spots or sixty-second spots, the network will figure a way to get them in for the right rate. I applaud the PR department for CW before I give the marketing/sales group any props.

Anyways, watch for the fifth-rated network to debut their "cwickies" real soon. Click here to view the article from Adage.com.

New York Times Company Reports An Operating Profit Loss

Click here to read the entire article.

Orbit "Lint Licker" Commercial Is The Best Of The Group

Podcasting Is Great, But How Do We Capitalize On It?

Podcasting has become the latest and greatest for radio shows and news television programs for all of us on the go. Just download the latest edition of the am news and head for the subway and you'll know all you need for the day. The only problem is, "How can we capitalize on this new media opportunity?"

Podcasters are now getting together to try and figured this out, and they appear to be close. Click here to read the article.

TBS Scores It's Third Hit With Bill Engvall Show

Cable networks are not typically known for their original programming, however TBS is trying to re-write that thought. Turner Broadcasting now has three original programs airing weekly, they include My Boys, House of Payne, and the Bill Engvall Show. My Boys debuted last year and the network ordered a full season for 2007-2008. House of Payne is written and directed by Tyler Perry and the Bill Engvall Show will be able to ride the coat tails of not only a successful comedian, but the blue collar comedy that he has been associated with for years.

Click here to read the article at Media Week.

Newspaper Ad Sales Continue To Decline

It's rare these days to hear that a newspaper posted a positive quarter, in fact, we haven't even read about a flat quarter. But today again we learned that more newspapers are taking hits, this time it's McClatchy Company and Media General Inc. Circulation continues to drop and print is slowly dying as the medium to turn to. Click here to read this article at the Los Angeles Times.

Google To Sell Ads For More Than 225 Newspapers

Google will begin utilizing their AdWords program in an entirely different way. Now their advertisers will have access to a circulation of more than 30 million, with papers such as the Washington Post, New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times. Click here to read the article.

Redstone Family Feuding At CBS and Viacom

The Redstone family is reportedly feuding about various issues these days and many close to Viacom say it has to do with Mr. Redstone's constant urge to remain in control. Click here to read the article about the state of one of the largest media companies.

Lack Of Advertising Dollars Threatens Business 2.0 Publication

A popular magazine amongst the media and technology industry, Business 2.0, might be looking at publishing their final issue in September. The magazine is owned by Time Inc. Click here to read the article.

I will personally be disappointed if this magazine stops circulation. I currently subscribe and have for over the past few years. Each month the magazine is filled with information about the latest startup, newest trend in advertising, and of course, a good article about the hottest gadgets.

I'm actually surprised to hear that their advertising dollars are down. Of course, print advertising as a whole is down, and several popular magazines have shut down over the past year but this is one that has a special following and targets a very specific audience.

Stay tuned to see what the future holds for Business 2.o.

Sonic Ads Continue To Draw Rave Reviews

Advertising Age's Bob Garfield recently posted an article about the fast food chain Sonic and their brilliantly funny commercials. The spots typically feature friends and a couple in the drive thru of one of their locations. They feature several different premises and are repeatedly fresh. Check out the article here and be sure to watch the spots posted in the article.

Just As We Thought We Understood The Internet, This Guy Invents Something New

Click here to read the article about new software that incorporates web video.

Meet Ben Silverman: The Man In Charge Of Turning Around NBC

Click here to read all about him and the tough task ahead.

Marketers Still Trying To Understand The Web

As we sit here in 2007, many people still have yet to understand or learn how to use the internet. The most alarming thought though is that marketers, agencies, and blue chip advertisers are still scratching their heads as how to exactly advertise online.

The internet brings a number of different options that marketers have not had in the past. Online advertising can include banners, pre-roll video, embedded video, roll-over video, etc. etc. The point is, we're still trying to figure out new and innovative ways to use that content and the most engaging ways to reach people without turning them away.

It's well known that the most annoying ads out there are pop-ups and transition ads, but pre-roll video is beginning to bother people as well, and marketers have to find a way to keep you tuned in before your video starts. Pre-roll video is a great way to reach someone because of the 1 to 1 impression that you are most likely guaranteed to receive.

In the past, pre-roll video was typically a :30 commercial that would run right before your news clip on sites such as CNN.com, ESPN.com, or MSNBC.com. Even your favorite broadcast websites are now utilizing pre-roll video. But :30 commercials online have now become a thing of the past because research is telling us that you won't tune in past the first :10. New standards are now being utilized online and many advertisers are now using :10 and :8 spots.

Amazingly enough though, we still have troubles tuning in for :08. We click the start button and then open a new page, listen for our ad to finish then go back to the page to watch the video we originally wanted. This goes to show you the habits of media users and why the media landscape is always changing.

These days though marketers are coming up with new and innovative ways to reach us online. It includes games, contests, and other unique applications that draw our attention and force us to log more minutes with their brand.

Click here to read the article from the Los Angeles Times regarding new ways marketers are trying to reach us.

Watch A Preview Of NBC's New Fall Program "Chuck"

Chuck happens to be an anticipated program in NBC's new fall lineup. Although the same can't be said about the Bionic Woman, Journeyman, and others. Chuck will debut on Tuesday, September 25th at 9pm.

Jack-in-The Box Will Continue To Air Ads Targeted At Rivals

A district judge ruled today that Jack-in-the Box can continue to air ads that poke fun at Carl's Jr. and other rivals. Their "Angus Beef" advertisements have created some controversy because they are specifically targeting competitors who are focusing on Angus Beef. Click here to read the article.

How Bad Is This Scion Commercial?

This :60 commercial is running at movie theatres across the country. Watch it first then you may agree with me that it is a failure. It's sixty seconds of nothing content, which fails miserably to reach the young Scion demographic.

Simpsons Movie Takes Out-of-Home Marketing To A Whole New Level

The Simpsons movie will be well anticipated this summer when it releases on July 27th, but the marketing team behind the Simpsons is doing an extroidinary job of promoting this film. Advertising Age is reporting today that 7-11 stores will re-design and essentially re-brand themselves for a few weeks to promote the movie. What will they brand themselves as? Kwik-E-Mart's of course. The picture seen at the left is a mock design.

I have one word for this idea; brilliant. Why nobody has taken advantage of this idea in the past is beyond me? All parties win in this situation. 7-11 is receiving, and going to receive weeks of publicity. The Simpsons movie, which already is well anticipated, is going to position themselves even better for an opening weekend. And marketers all around can now scramble to come up with ideas to top this one.

The only thing these stores will be missing is Apu, the lovable owner of Kwik-E-Mart's. Click here to read the article.

Hilarious Advertisement, Great Ad Campaign

The advertisement below is too funny for me to forget so I'm posting it here. In fact, the whole campaign is hilarious because with the slogan, "Don't judge too quickly," you can create some hilarious content. Enjoy.

Nielsen Adds To Their Portfolio By Acquiring Telephia

The New York Times is reporting that the Nielsen Company has acquired Telephia, a cell phone database tracking company for an undisclosed amount. Telephia is a private corporation which focuses in collecting data on cell phone calls, viewed videos, and advertising data.

This marks the first step for Nielsen into the mobile advertising industry. Click here to read the full article.

Video Games Are Quickly Becoming A Hotbed For Advertisers

According to Digital Market Research analysts Parks Associates, video game advertising is set to become a $2 billion market by 2012.

The market has grown over the past few years but recently due to online play via Xbox 360 and Playstation consoles, advertisers are now able to insert their ads on "dashboard" screens and even in game while two are playing online.

The market also consists of banner advertisements to reach those playing via the web such as Pogo.com.

Video game advertising was about a $370 million market last year but analysts predict that with the continuing rise in technology and increase in video gamers each year, the market will easily reach $2 billion by 2012.

Click here to read the article at Mediaweek.com.

Advertisers Love Greg Oden

What's not to love about a 7 foot, #1 draft pick who's face recently graced the cover of ESPN the Magazine, has been in the limelight since his debut in Sports Illustrated at 16, and is as non-controversial as they come. Advertisers are flocking to the big man who recently inked deals with Nike, Spalding, Take Two Interactive, Topps, and Raymond Weill.

Click here to read the article.

Banned Trojan Commercial

Trojan had the commercial below banned and it has stirred some serious debate. What do you think?

Readers Digest Makes Changes To Improve Revenue

Readers Digest will now sell the back cover and slash circulation by 20% in a move that proves once again that print is dying slowly. Click here to read the article.

Yahoo Seeks New Sales Chief

Click here to read the article.

Advertising Spending For 2007 Forecasted As Slim

Click here to read the predictions at the New York Times.

Interpublic Loses Two Major Accounts; GM, Johnson & Johnson

Interpublic Group announced a major setback yesterday as they lost almost $500 million in billings to other agencies. General Motors and Johnson & Johnson moved their accounts which came as a major blow to Interpublic who was in a rebuilding period.

Click here to read the article.

Bud.tv Finally Finds A Hit With "Swear Jar"

Bud.tv which has been a disaster since it's inception due to lack of page views and a stranglehold registration system is finally getting some buzz due to a discarded commercial. Earlier last week you may have seen on my "Advertisement of the Day" a spot about Budweiser. It features an office with a "Swear Jar" and each time someone swears they have to put money into it. The receptionist proclaims they will use the money to buy a case of Bud Light.

For those of you who missed it, you can scroll down the page and find it in an earlier post titled, "The Funniest Commercial You May Never See." Or you can click here.

Advertising Age.com who has frequently wrote about the struggling Bud.tv has written an article today about the spot. Click here to read it.

Partners? Rivals? How Do You Determine Who Wins And Loses?

Click here to read this story from the New York Times about media companies and the many partnerships they are involved in.

Who Said The :30 Commercial is Dead?

Ad sales from "UpFront" are almost finished and the word out of New York is the market is good. Click here to read the article at the Los Angeles Times.

Why Don't Lawyers Use Broadcast or Cable Television?

The New York Times published an article today that I've been waiting to read for a while. They asked the question that many television Account Executives ask each year. Why don't legal firms utulize television advertising? It can be so frustrating for a media company to open up the yellow pages for leads and notice 30 pages of full color ads from personal injury attorneys and medical malpractice firms. Yellowpage ads in top markets can cost up to $50,000 per month depending upon size, number of ads, etc. This is money that can be spent on television to achieve better results while branding to the masses.

Click here to read the article from the New York Times.

The problem is that many law firms are creatures of habit. Year after year they sign the contract with the yellow pages to renew because they are afraid to not appear with the others. The yellow pages have done such a good job of creating a one stop place for all legal companies that many firms feel that if they do not place an ad there then they will miss out on something. However if you were to take a sample of all legal firms who advertise in the yellow pages then I guarantee you that ten out of every ten will tell you that they are not satisfied with their results.

The other problem tends to come from ignorance. Many firms believe the perception that it takes several thousands of dollars to create a strong television campaign. They read articles like the one posted here and think they need $10,000 to create a strong commercial. As you may know, this is absoulely not the case. For a few thousand dollars they can create a commercial that will run on any television station. The first words out of every marketing directors mouth who works for a law group is, "television is too expensive." Ask them what they are spending in the yellow pages and I guarantee it's between $2,500-4,000 per month, minimum. That is a great start to a television campaign on several channels across the country.

Upfront Business Almost Finished for NBC, CBS, and Fox

Click here to read the article from MediaWeek.com.

The Funniest Ad You May Never See

NBA Finals Achieve Least Viewed Status

Click here to read the article at the New York Times.

Marketers Continue To Turn To Television While Online Advertising Increases

Click here to read the article from MediaPost.

Radio Stations Look To Grab The Internet Audience

Click here to read the article from the New York Times.

NBC Strikes First Deal Since Upfront

In a deal that is rumored to be worth between $800 million to $1 billion, NBC announced today that they have struck a deal with Group M. Click here to read the article.

The Web Brings Back Old-School Programs and Commercials

The internet has been applauded for many things since it's inception. We turn to the web for answers to questions, entertainment, news, etc. However it appears that we are now using the web to watch our favorite television programs that are no longer running and commercials we love. (i.e. "The Advertisement of the Day")

Click here to read the article at the LATimes.com

Mobile Marketing Still Lacking

Click here to read the article from Adage.com.

Buying Begins For Fall Lineup

Click here to read the article at Adage.com.

Billboards: The Ad Medium You Can't Fast Forward

Click here to read the article from the Los Angeles Times.

Startup Offers Low Budget Ad Options-In Low Traffic Areas

Click here to read the article. More on this later tonight.

NBC Hires Outsider For Entertainment Position

NBC announced today that Kevin Reilly will no longer be the President of the Entertainment Division. Today they hired Ben Silverman who has been behind many successful programs over the past few years including "The Office," "The Biggest Loser" and "Ugly Betty."

Click here to read the article.

Got An Idea On How To Improve This Blog?

If so, then email me here. I'm currently taking all ideas on what topics or issues you would like to see more on. Do you like the advertisement of the day? Got any suggestions on ads you've seen that we can post? Send me your comments any time on how I can improve this blog. You can also post your comments now without being a member of Blogger.

Carl's Jr. Angry With Jack-In-The-Box Advertising

The Los Angeles Times is reporting today that Carl's Jr. is not happy with Jack in the Box's new advertising campaign that rips "Angus Beef." Carl's Jr. of course advertises their burgers as 100% Angus Beef and being the edgy above the curve advertiser that Jack is, they have decided to attack this angle.

Click here to see one of the spots.

I happen to find the spots extremely successful for brand recall and they are extremely funny as well. I've always been impressed with any of the Jack in the Box spots and this campaign is not only funny, but also timely as well. Several other restaurants are advertising their 100% Angus Beef burgers and Jack has capitalized on a timely and relevant name.

It also doesn't hurt the fact that Carl's Jr. is making a wave about the spots; all press is good press.

NBC Looking To Remove Program Chief

The New York Times is reporting that NBC is negotiating to with Kevin Reilly to remove him from the title of President/Entertainment Division. Click here to read the article.

NBC has dropped to fourth overall in prime-time rankings behind the likes of ABC, CBS, and FOX for the past three years. NBC also just extended a three year contract to Mr. Reilly a few months ago but seems to have a change of heart at this point. The news of this move is quite timely though due to the fact that NBC came out of "Upfront" generating less than exciting news for advertisers. The new fall lineup won't excite anyone until the season starts. Look for NBC to ride on the heels of "The Office" and "Heroes" while they try to replace some programs before December.

Axe Reaches A New Low And Creates The Worst Commercial Series Ever

Axe Body Spray for men is towing the line between edgy and humorous with their commercial, targeting the Male between the ages of 16-24. Their new line, Lynx, is the target for these spots. I happen to find their new series of commercials absolutely torturing to watch and somewhat embarassing.

There's no doubt about it, marketers and agencies have a hard job of coming up with commercial spots that stand out and sell product. By my typical standards I would say these spots worked because I'm not only blogging about them but I can recall each of the spots. But marketers also have to walk a fine line between creating a positive memorable spot and a negative memorable spot. Many times you as a viewer might be offended but the person in the house next door might find it hilarious.

Will these advertisements work on you? Will it make you go out and buy more Lynx Body Spray? Click here to see the supermarket spot. Click here to see the dentist spot. Click here to see the in-laws spot. Click here to see the European spot. (Not shown in U.S.)

Post your feedback or send me your comments here.

User Created Ads Cost More Than You Think

When a brand asks you to create an advertisement for them, does it mean they are lazy? Cheap? Non-Creative? This is the perception it gives to many people. But the cost to that brand is more than you think. Click here to read the article at the New York Times.

Television Stations Look For Content Alternatives To Syndication

With the lack of syndication programs these days television stations are now looking to other options for programming. Click here to read the article.

Web Spending Rises To $16.9 Billion in 2006

The Interactive Advertising Bureau reported today that internet advertising spending rose 35% in 2006 to $16.9 billion. Click here to read the article.

The biggest surprise out of this article is that online advertisements only made up 5.9% of last years total ad spending. This reinforces that perception is reality. If you sampled a group of people then you would probably find that many believe that online ad spending makes up closer to 15-20%. Although many believe that online ad spending is growing at a rapid rate, 35% last year to be exact, it still has a lot of ground to gain on television.

Google Tests In-Stream Video Ads

Click here to read the article at AdWeek.com.

American Idol Sells $1.3 Million Spots For Finale

Advertising Age announced today that thirty-second spots in the American Idol finale tonight went for a reported $1.3 million. The show is already heavily sponsored by advertising heavyweights Coca-Cola and Ford, raked in about $1.2 million for last years spots.

The Super Bowl fetched an average of $2.4 million per spot in 2007, which means a reality show is creeping closer to becoming the nations biggest advertising event.

I fully believe this is still a bargain, even at the rate of $1.3 million. In fact, next year I would budget for three spots. There are not a whole lot of programs on tv that reach a wide demographic like this one, or have the viewers American Idol does.

Although Ford and Coca-Cola have spent a small fortune the past few years on product placement packages with AI, they are the first two advertisers that come to mind when I reference the show. Each time you see Simon, Paula, and Randy, you always see a Coca-Cola glass, with the words positioned perfectly so you can read them. Ford uses the time to show off new vehicles and plaster their name all over the program.

Would you advertise in American Idol? Post your comments here or email me and I'll post your feedback.

The CW Network Creating More Buzz With Advertising

Click here to read the article at the Los Angeles Times. More to come later on this and other ad topics.

Anheuser-Busch Canning BUD-TV?

Check out the full article here at Adage.com

Marketers Struggle To Keep Consumers Entertained During Ad Breaks

The New York Times published an article today about the struggles marketers face to keep you in your seat and watch their commercials. Click here to read the article.

Many networks are looking at the ideas of non-commercial programs that feature only in-content advertising and product placement. The CW Network announced last week during "Upfront" that they will be running a show without any commercial breaks. The program is titled "CW Now" and will air at 7pm. The show already has six advertisers who will sponsor segments and receive product placement segments as well.

The CW Network, which targets young adults, will be one of the first to test such a program. The program will also feature "Cwickies" which are five second or less advertisements. All in an attempt to keep you seated.

But will this new advertising concept really work or will you still flip the channel? I believe advertisers need to stop putting so much emphasis on the advertisements, and more emphasis on the content and programming. Top rated programs such as American Idol, 24, and Heroes probably tend to have a higher commerical viewer rating than others because the dedicated viewers don't want to miss a second of the program. This of course adds to the fact that these mentioned programs are already some of the most expensive on the market to advertise in.

I applaud the CW Network for taking the first step towards fresh content and keeping viewers entertained for 30 straight minutes. The x-factor out of all this is the content. Will "CW Now" be an entertaining enough program to keep viewers watching. If not, don't expect any blue chip advertisers to be signing up for these sponsorships again anytime soon. Post your comments below.

San Francisco Chronicle Cutting Staff By 25%

The Los Angeles Times is reporting today that the San Francisco Chronicle, one of the nations largest papers by circulation is cutting their staff by 25%. Click here to read the article.

Fantasy and Sci-Fi To Dominate New Fall Lineups

Click here to read the article from New York Times.

Many networks are turning to non-reality programming this season as the fall lineup features more sci-fi and fantasy shows than ever before. It can be seen as a desperate attempt to garner ratings or it's everyone riding off the success NBC had with Heroes this past year. NBC which will feature a few more programs that fall into the "fantasy" category obviously saw the connection they made with viewers and are going to ride that opportunity. It now appears that CW and FOX will be looking to steal those viewers for their sci-fi programs as well.

I feel we reached a point of too many cop dramas the past two years and those have killed themselves off. I have a feeling that the sci-fi programs won't make it as long as the cop dramas but I've been wrong in the past. Post your comments below or send me feedback by clicking here.

Advertising Age Presents Upfront Week Videos

Click here to see all of the videos from a week of sales hype and glitz.

Advertisers Boycotting XM Radio Show

Call it the reverse of the Don Imus situation. Advertisers are boycotting XM radio after they suspended shock jocks Opie & Anthony. The suspension came after a tirade filled with explicits and a discussion about rape. You can read the translation here from Jim Teacher's blog.

Advertisers "Nashville Coffee" and "adameve.com" have both pulled their advertising and are calling for other sponsors to do the same. Several XM Subscribers are cancelling their subscriptions because of the suspension.

Isn't satellite radio supposed to be non-censored? Don't people pay money to listen to their favorite shock jocks rant about anything and everything without worrying about what the FCC is going to regulate?

In my opinion, the Opie & Anthony show was wrong and they probably do deserve to be repromanded or suspended in some way. However, since they are on XM radio, I feel they should be given some reprieve here. I'm sure 99% of their audience that particular morning was Adults 18+ who know what they are getting in to when they listen to that program. This is the reason the advertisers are so angry. XM radio is supposed to be held to different standards. Just ask Howard Stern.

Microsoft Acquires Advertising Company aQuantive for $6 Billion

The Seattle Times today are reporting that Microsoft has acquired online advertising company aQuantive for $6 billion. Click here to read the article.

The CW Network Explores The Idea of Five-Second Ads

Click here to read the article at the New York Times.

McDonalds New Television Campaign Focuses On Employee Pride

McDonalds is taking new steps to spell the myth that working for the burget corporation will only earn you minimum wage and no future career path. Click here to read the article at AdvertisingAge.com.

Apparently it's McD's way of saying, "it's not just a McJob," as quoted years ago in a McDonalds training program. I believe this is a strong ad campaign. The creative is impressive and tells a great story about a young woman who began working at McDonalds years ago, and now is over seeing 5,000 restaurants. A success story without a doubt.

But will this campaign work with potential employees and consumers? I'm not sure what their goal is with this campaign either. Is it to attract young college graduates to get behind the counter in hopes that they can move up the corporate ladder? Is it to instill a positive stigma about McDonalds to consumers and increase sales? What it does speak to, is high quality branding that few companies have the money to spend on. I applaud McDonalds for this spot and look forward to seeing more.

AOL Takes Their First Step Towards Mobile Advertising

AOL announced this week that they have purchasaed Third Screen Media, a company that specializes in mobile advertising and maintains relationships with several mobile carriers. Click here to read the article.

The purchase gives AOL a direct line to mobile carriers and others in the mobile advertising industry. Mobile advertising is projected to become a hot issue for advertisers as soon as tomorrow, but the problem still lies in the ability to reach the masses. As quoted in this article, Third Screen Media still only delivers about 225 mobile impressions each month, not considered a large number in the mobile industry.

I applaud AOL for taking this step into the mobile industry. While I believe we are still years away from this being accepted by blue-chip advertisers, I think we are even further away from it being accepted by consumers. The cell phone is still a place that we are not getting hit with messages and many believe consumers want to keep it that way. Call to action advertisements are going to be tough as well, because I don't see people walking into grocery stores to redeem their 2-for-1 Coke ads by showing their cell phone to the clerk. I also don't see us spending the time to download the coupon and print it off.

We are in a time right now where consumers don't even want to give out their email because they don't like spam. Spam is nothing more than an email that pops up in your inbox; that you don't even have to click on, just simply delete. Will you continue to fill out your phone number on the registration card if you begin to receive SMS messages every hour? This is the question we will wait on and in the mean time we'll watch several companies spend millions of dollars.

The Most Brilliant Banner Ads Ever

Earlier this week while I was researching the new fall lineup on NBC's web site, I noticed some banner advertising on their home page. By now you may or may not know how I feel about banner advertising. I'm much higher on pre-roll video, etc. etc. Anyways, Apple happened to have some banner ads featuring their Mac and PC guys. It said "roll over to play video" and since I happen to like these ads, I decided to do so.

These aren't your typical banner ads so I feel a little stronger about these but I was highly impressed with the way they decided to use them. When the video began playing, the Mac introduced himself as did the PC. They were leaderboard banners so they were at the top of the page. All you could see was the two men from the shoulders up, however the PC was resting his arms on the bottom of the banner as to say he was creating space; like he was actually inside the banner.

They began to converse and then the PC, in typical fashion decided to end the conversation and walk out. But he couldn't get out, he was trapped inside the banner ad wall. He kept trying to ram his way out but he was not going anywhere.

I found these ads to be brilliant because for one, they got me to click, and for two, they created something outside the box. Instead of a boring flash or animated banner ad, they created an ad that actually did something. They created an ad specifically with these two characters and placed them inside the space creatively.

Hopefully you can get a chance to see these banners. Continually check NBC.com to see what you can find. If you find them somewhere else then send me an email or post a comment.

NBC Presents New Fall Lineup To Advertisers

Click here to see the post-report from New York Times reporter Bill Carter.

It appears advertisers were wowed by the new programs however no big revelations thus far. NBC might get lucky and have a major breakthrough like Heroes again this year, which would really help them get out of third place.

Media Buys Continue To Overlook Spanish Speaking Viewers

An article today on the Los Angeles Times web site explains that the largest ethnic group in the United States is being missed with broadcast television and other mediums. Click here to read the article.

NBC Announces New Fall Lineup

Click here to read the full article at Mediaweek.com.

NBC announced some changes for their fall programming today. Some of the major changes include the addition of 30 episodes of "The Office." NBC also dropped "Crossing Jordan" and "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip." Although this wasn't much of a shock to many, NBC also cancelled "The Black Donnelly's." Some new programs that you will see this year include "Lipstick Jungle", "Journeyman", and the return of the "Bionic Woman"as well as "Chuck" and "Life."

Although it would be too easy to say that a few of these programs won't make it until Christmas, I'm going to hold back my opinions until later in the year and remain optimistic that this is the year that NBC returns to must see tv.

Networks Broadcasting Your Favorite Shows Online

Networks are finally capitalizing on the programming that makes their channel famous. Click here to read the article at Adage.com.

For years the networks have struggled to increase web traffic to their sites. What would propel you to go to NBC.com, or ABC.com? Maybe to read the bio about your favorite soap star? Possibly to check out the new fall schedule? Whatever the reason is today, the networks have given us little reason in the past. However the media landscape that is always changing is now giving the networks good reason to visit their site.

In my opinion, this is going to be one of the many components to online advertising that will stand the length of time. While my feeling on banner ads is not as hot as pre-roll video and viral marketing sites, network content is the key to advertisers reaching their target market. With the growth of DVRs, it makes perfect sense for content to shift online. iTunes has already exhibited this model without the advertisers, but with advertisers the cost is paid for and the user gets the chance to enjoy content they might have missed on television.

While the viewers are shifting online though the chance is that over time more eyes will shift away from television. If I know I can catch my favorite program a few days later online, then why would I continue to pay the high cost of a TiVo subscription? Agencies though are going to have to have low expecations while this shift happens. And while I don't see it happening for another 5-7 years, it still is another change in the media landscape that is potential.

Geico Re-Writing The Rules Of Branding

If you asked ten Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) from Fortune 500 or larger companies what they would want you to think about their brand, the chance is they would want you to think consistency. While recalling a few major brands that are in our face each day; McDonalds, Jack-in-the-Box, Budweiser, Pepsi, Coke, Nike, Verizon, Apple, and any automotive company(GM, Ford). We remember a tagline or character from their commercial. We remember a message they always stress or push.

When you see creative from the brands mentioned above, you know you will see someting you've seen in the past. For example, McDonalds will show you the golden arches and maybe Ronald with a happy family. With Verizon, it's the network and their glasses wearing spokesman. Apple these days has the competition between the PC and Mac, or the iPod with colorful backgrounds and shadow dancing people. Which is different from the original days of Apple. And with Jack-in-the-Box, you're guaranteed to see Jack.

The point is that each of these brands have built up over time an image of one main character. They stick with that character and then go back to them from time to time, never straying from the main spokesman or spokeswoman. Even if that brand doesn't show the character in the commercial, they still refer to them somehow and you recall them once the spot is finished.

Geico has completely re-written these rules. If this were a psych test and I told you to give me one word when I showed you the word Geico, odds are you would say either "Gecko" or "Caveman." If I then asked you to recall your favorite commercial then you would have several options to work from, several of which have a different main character but all with the same message.

Over the last three years when Geico first started off as the insurance company with the little talking Gecko, their brand message remained the same. If you saw a billboard with a Gecko on it, then you thought Geico. Now that billboard could have several different messages and you might think the same message.

It appears though the Caveman might be taking over the Gecko's image. Which could cause problems for the insurance company. Geico has spent more money over the past year marketing the caveman, which I believe was an accident in the beginning. The first caveman commercial can be seen here. It featured the caveman as a part of the production crew being offended when the spokesman said, "so easy, a caveman could do it." Then slowly we started seeing more commercials that featured this same message. The reason I call it a potential accident is because I don't think they had any idea that the public would respond in such as positive way to a caveman.

The next Geico commercials were simple follow ups that featured the spokesman trying to make peace with the cavemen. Then this year we have seen more cavemen commercials than Gecko ones. In fact, it almost appears they are trying to quickly scramble Gecko ones to make up for the fact that the caveman has gained so much popularity. Earlier this week I introduced the Caveman's web site. Check it out here and try not to spend 25 minutes there like I did.

We're also seeing the Caveman walking through the airport, working with a therapist, and appearing on a national news program to debate the idea of a caveman.

The Gecko and Caveman though are only two examples of images or faces of Geico we've seen in the past. Late in 2006, Geico introduced a series of spots that featured celebrities, mostly B-list celebrities, interpreting real life Geico insurance stories. They featured Verne Troyer, Little Richard, Burt Bacharach, Don Lafontaine, and Charo.

We've also seen scattered commercials featuring the "Good News" campaign. Check out Tony Little and Dr. Parker.

No other brand goes out of its way to produce such a wide variety of spots. No other brand takes this much risk by using such a wide variety of commercials. No other brand can bring it all back to one cohesive message that we will recall. When we say Geico, you might think of a few different characters or spokesmen, but they have trained you to think, "saving 15% or more or more on car insurance by switching to Geico." This is the new rules of branding. Bringing it all back to one message that sells a product or brand. Geico has become successful not only in entertaining us, but also in building their brand.

MSNBC Provides Tips For Successful Advertising

Click here to read what MSNBC has to say about how to create a powerful advertising campaign.

Networks Face The Tough Decision To Renew Programs On The Bubble

MediaWeek's Mr. Television writes about the major networks tough decisions for renewing prime time programs that are currently on the bubble. Click here to read the article.

It appears all networks, including NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and CW will have to make the decision to renew or cancel several programs. Earlier this week we learned NBC will be ordering several dramas for the 2007-2008 television season. Will other networks head that way?

It appears CBS might be heading towards a comedy block which would play off Julia Louis-Dreyfus hit, "The New Adventures of Old Christine." NBC might decide to drop Scrubs, only to potentially lose it to ABC, who produces the show (ABCTV). ABC though might have the hardest decisions with long running programs "According to Jim" and "George Lopez." According to the article the two shows have enough episodes to run in syndication so it's possible a shift could be made to another channel, like TBS or CW.

Stay tuned for the next few weeks to find out what the networks decide upon.

Consumers Marketing To Themselves

Click here to read the article at the Los Angeles Times.

I couldn't agree more with the online marketing emphasis of this article. The user generated content gives consumers an opportunity to feel like they are a part of their favorite brand. The microsites that these brands have created are much stronger than any banner advertising campaign you will see on a news site.

Check out some of these sites here at Cadillac, Geico, and Burger King.

How much time do you spend on these sites?

Advertising Age Presents A Marketers Round Table

Click here to see the article and narrated video with the CMO's from top brands such as Clorox, Wells Fargo, JetBlue, and Home Depot.

NBC Orders Drama Programs For Next Season

NBC is taking the first steps to build back their brand as the leader in prime-time television. Click here to read the article at the New York Times site.

Will it be the dramas that will build the brand back to where it once was in the late '90s? I remember it being must see tv with comedies such as Seinfeld, Will & Grace, Friends, Frasier, etc. Although with the emergence of the drama "Heroes" maybe NBC believes this is the new route to take. Although I'm sure they have no intentions of cutting their current comedy hits such as "The Office", "My Name is Earl", and "Scrubs."

Stay tuned for next season to see what NBC brings to the table and if you return your viewing habits to "Must See TV."

General Motors Wants To Start Buying Newspaper Advertorials

Is this what it's come to GM? Newspaper advertorials? Click here to read the full article.

Today Advertising Age is reporting that General Motors, who has already significantly cut back on their newspaper adverising, is interested in buying newspaper advertorials. I can't decide if this is one more sign that the end is near for newspapers or if this is just a really stupid decision by General Motors.

I'm going to cut straight to the point. If full-page advertisements and ten-page pullouts don't get me to act upon a new car special, then tell me why I would decide to take ten minutes or more out of my day to read an advertorial that was paid for?

Advertorials are a paid advertisement in the form of an article. It is a mix of an advertisement and an editorial. They have been successful for companies facing PR scandals and problems as well as companies who are just trying to change their image while voicing their opinion to their consumers. Many large corporations used them in the past; before the power of the internet. As you could imagine, companies adapted to the web and found ways to reach their consumers, not via a dead medium.

Why would General Motors announce that they are interested in advertorials? I don't understand why they consider this news. Why not announce they are working on mobile content? Why not announce they are working on viral web sites for young consumers to groom them to become loyal GM drivers? What about five minute commercials to run in news across the top 10 markets?

These are not ground breaking media ideas but then again, Advertorials are old news.

Hopefully this helps GM with their sales a little better than display ads did. Look out for these new advertorials and you tell me if they urge you to buy a new car.

The Future of Mobile Television

Check out the article here at Businessweek.com.