News Hotline

• DataXu Opens Black Boxes, Launches Marketplace For Ad Algorithms
  by Joe Mandese 44 seconds ago

  In a push to demystify the black box world of programmatic trading, a major ad technology developer is creating a marketplace where advertisers, agencies and trading desks can shop for algorithms. The so-called Algorithm Marketplace, which is being launched today by demand-side platform DataXu, will start with a ...

• DPAA Taps Enhanced TV Ad Vet Frey As New Chief
  by Joe Mandese 40 minutes ago

  Barry Frey, a long-time cable and interactive television executive who helped pioneer the field of "enhanced television," has joined the Digital Place-Based Advertising Association as president-CEO. He is the fourth TV sales exec to helm the advertising trade bureau since it was founded six years ago as the ...

• Balance Bar Unveils 1st National TV Ads In 10+ Years
  by Karlene Lukovitz 2 hours ago

  NBTY CMO Katia Facchetti cites recent Nielsen and SymphonyIRI data that respectively confirm that the nutrition/energy bar category is growing at double-digit rates, and that more than a third of Americans often eat snacks instead of meals when on the go. ...

• Crowne Plaza Measures PGA Tour Sleep Habits
  by Tanya Irwin 9 hours ago

  Just in time for the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial tournament this week, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts has partnered with the PGA Tour on the first-ever Sleep Advantage survey. Fans can check out the Sleep Advantage Welcome Wall at the Colonial tournament entrance in Fort Worth, Te ...

• FTC's Ohlhausen Questions Privacy Recommendations
  by Wendy Davis Yesterday, 6:05 PM

  The Federal Trade Commission's 2012 privacy recommendations could unintentionally disadvantage smaller online ad companies, Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen suggested on Tuesday. "A policy that limits the ability of advertisers to access new information, to reach consumers, can have unintended effects in the marketplace," she said. ...

• How Social Is Transforming TV
  by Gavin O'Malley Yesterday, 5:46 PM

  Viacom Media Networks unveiled its findings from "When Networks Network: TV Gets Social" -- some new multicountry research on the interplay between TV and social media. Most of all, viewers want TV shows and networks to fulfill their "functional motivations." They expect air dates and times, episode recaps ...

• Dodge Goes Social With 'Defiance'
  by Karl Greenberg Yesterday, 4:44 PM

  Chrysler LLC's Dodge, which has category-exclusive sponsorship of the "Defiance" TV show and online game for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, is extending the Syfy and Trion Worlds bi-focal partnership with a new television commercial and social gaming sweepstakes. ...

• Chicago Awards O'Hare Digital Signage Biz To Clear Channel Airports
  by Erik Sass Yesterday, 4:30 PM

  The Chicago City Council has awarded Clear Channel Airports a five-year contract to implement indoor digital signage programs for O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport. In addition to improving the airport experience for travelers with interactive displays delivering information in real-time, the contracts are expected to yield ...

• NDTV Challenges WPP, Tries To Revive Lawsuit In NY
  by Steve McClellan Yesterday, 4:26 PM

  New Delhi Television is trying to revive its $1 billion lawsuit against Nielsen, WPP and a number of their subsidiaries for breach of contract and negligence in connection with a TV ratings service that the companies operate in India. ...

• Horizon Taps Gambelli As Chief Investment Officer
  by Wayne Friedman Yesterday, 4:18 PM

  Former NBC senior advertising sales executive Marianne Gambelli has landed at Horizon Media as its executive vice president/chief investment officer. She will replace Aaron Cohen, executive vice president and chief media negotiation officer, who will take on a senior advisory role in the media agency. ...

• Ad Council Raises Autism Awareness

  The Ad Council has partnered with Autism Speaks and two agencies, BBDONew York and LatinWorks, to expand Autism Speaks' "Learn the Signs" campaign with public service advertisements specifically tailored to African-American and Hispanic audiences. ...

• Remnant, Premium, Or Gourmet Inventory? Gourmet Ads Strikes Deal With AppNexus

  Programmatic ad serving platform AppNexus was this morning selected by food advertising network Gourmet Ads as ad server of record. Gourmet Ads hopes the partnership will allow their food, grocery, and packaged goods clients to be more engaged with their "household grocery buyers and home cooks online" on ...

• CBS Scores Big Victory In 18-49 Demo

  Just two days before the finish of the TV season, CBS claims a major victory among 18-49 viewers in the broader metric that TV networks now use to analyze and promote -- seven days of TV program viewing. This is CBS' first victory in the key ad-watching demographic ...

• TiVo Boosts Revs, Data Efforts

  TiVo made gains for its first-quarter revenue results with higher cable operator subscriptions. The time-shifting and technology company boosted multiple system cable operator revenue by nearly 100% -- adding nearly 280,000 subscriptions -- with overall revenue climbing $82.6 million from $67.8 million. ...

• Subway's Comedy Promotes Brand, Content Strategy

  Setting a new bar for brands and their programming aspirations, Subway's scripted comedy series, "The 4 to 9ers," appears to be performing better than anyone expected. The series is nearing 10 million views on Hulu. ...

• Microsoft Unveils Xbox One

  Via a live Webcast that featured Microsoft and gaming executives (with a cameo from Steven Spielberg), the company touted how the next-generation console will control not just gaming, but television programming, music, sports interaction and Skype calling. ...

• Telematics Ecosystem Booming, But Caution Advised

  Henry Bzeih, Kia Motors America's chief tech strategist, tells Marketing Daily that while the smartphone and app technology exists for marketers to make offers based on driver location, loyalty data and preferences -- the big challenge is distraction. ...

• Future of Social, Digital Shops In Doubt

  Amidst all the discussion of fully integrated marketing strategies, some are predicting the demise of stand-alone specialist shops, such as social media and digital agencies. According to a new study from European business school Mediaschool Group, 80% of marketing students polled across Europe believe that stand-alone social media ...

• Sony Touts Ultra High-Definition TVs

  "[Director Garth Davis] had a personal experience with the Sony 4K Ultra HD TV at the Sundance Film Festival, and a creative vision to bring the color and detail that 4K brings to life," a Sony rep tells Marketing Daily. "He truly was inspired by the mastery and ...

• Destination XL's Pixelated Privates Cause Controversy

  "Once again, it's showing how this bigger man is just not treated equally," CEO David Levin tells Marketing Daily. "So he's not a hunky guy, and he gets dismissed -- even though I see all kinds of pixelated private parts, even in prime time." ...

• Updated: Out-Of-Home Trading Platform Integrates With Mediaocean, Posterscope Backs Move

  While it's not quite the out-of-home equivalent of the online industry's real-time trading systems, outdoor media just took another step in that direction. In a move that's starting to look like a horse race between two automated media planning and buying systems, one of the world's biggest buyers ...

• Networks' Top Goal: Ad Dollars Trump Studio-Produced Shows

  With Netflix and Amazon writing hefty checks, it bears watching whether networks will increasingly pick up shows their affiliated studios produce. After all, that's the way for the parent company to monetize shows across the spectrum, starting with ad dollars and moving toward a growing back end: subscription ...

• Skyy Launches 'Be Part Of The Art'

  To support the debut of its new Skyy Infusions Moscato Grape variety, Skyy Vodka has launched a campaign that combines an art-gallery theme and a hip-hop sensibility. The "Be Part of the Art" campaign, developed with agency partner Lambesis (La Jolla, Calif.), launched May 20. ...

• Miller64 Partners With Former Pro Athletes

  Miller64 is launching "GO64," a summer-long initiative that will include local events, celebrity appearances, giveaways and social media. The program officially kicks off June 4, and consumers in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas and Tampa are invited to "GO64" celebrity-hosted events. ...

• Google+ Needs Android To Climb Out Of Experimental Phase

  Marketers continue to view Google+ as a fledgling network requiring experimentation, although the company released a revamped social application for Android that integrates with Google Play, along with features improving support for photos, location, and streams. ...

• Budweiser Bows New Campaign, Topped With Responsible-Drinking Blimp

  Summer is a time of concerts and festivals and beach-going, all of which carry the attendant risk of drinking and driving. To help people make the right decisions when imbibing, Budweiser is promoting responsible drinking with a new campaign that is hard to ignore, because the message is ...

• Clear Channel Outdoor Unveils Consumer Networks

  Clear Channel Outdoor is creating a new way for advertisers to buy out-of-home ad inventory with the unveiling of "consumer networks." They bundle out-of-home assets targeting specific audiences in order to streamline and simplify the media planning and purchasing process. The networks combine CCO ad inventory at national ...

• AOL, Support.Com Settle Scareware Lawsuit For $8.5 Million

  Web company AOL and software vendor Support.com will pay $8.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by consumers who say they were duped into purchasing software that promised to repair problems with their computers. ...

• Vespa Looks Back: 50 Years Of 50cc's

  The five-week effort -- a decade per week -- combines Vespa's own creative input around what was happening in the transportation, pop and cultural landscape over the decades with what Vespa owners have to contribute about their scooters and the brand's history. ...

• Digital TV Video Biz Is Booming

  As traditional TV platforms project small gains in their $70 billion business, new digital TV video businesses are looking at major hikes in the coming years to a smaller $4 billion business -- with cost per thousands seeing, at best, modest hikes. ...

• Industry Satisfaction Lagging, But Improving

  "Things are improving , but these are still industries that are not terribly satisfying to consumers, compared to other industries," ASCI managing director David VanAmburg tells "Marketing Daily." "These are still among the bottom of the industries." ...

• OMMA Social: Macy's Looks To Social For Connection

  The company also had success with its integrated "Bobbi Brown" content at eponymous retail spaces at Macy's stores. Jennifer Kasper, VP of digital media and multicultural marketing, says the videos are adjacent to the counter where consumer engagement with video took off. ...

• Gmail Hangouts Disable Google Voice

  Google's new version of Hangouts for Gmail eliminates Google Voice features. The move is frustrating heavy users, many of whom disconnected landline phones in exchange for Internet calling. The disconnect follows Google's recent rollout of Hangouts for mobile and Google+, although the change brings Google's video chat in ...

• Digital Boost: Ziff Davis Acquires NetShelter

  Ziff Davis on Monday announced the acquisition of content network NetShelter from ad platform inPowered. The NetShelter community includes more than 150 consumer and business tech sites, including AndroidCentral.com, MacRumors.com, Neoseeker.com, SlashGear.com and TechSpot.com. ...

• Initiative Wins Amazon's Global Media Account

  Interpublic Group's Initiative has won global media duties for e-Commerce giant Amazon.com after a review. The company's estimated global ad spending is close to $500 million. In the U.S., the online retailer spent nearly $300 million on ads in 2012, per Kantar. ...