• New Miller High Life Campaign On Tap
    Encouraged by data showing recent sales gains for Miller High Life beer, Miller Brewing Co. is rolling out a new round of ads that tout the long-moribund brand's blue-collar ties. Miller launched a "Take Back the High Life" campaign in November 2006 in core markets, including Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota and Michigan. "We're continuing to evolve the campaign," says Pete Marino, spokesman for Milwaukee-based Miller. The new ads, currently being shot, will launch in April and again be limited to the Midwest. There are no plans to take the campaign nationwide. A burly High Life delivery man will …
  • NBC Nears Deal With Victoria Beckham
    NBC is nearing a deal with former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham for a reality show, according to insiders. The program would key off her move to America with her husband, soccer star David Beckham, soon to be playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. The pending agreement was brokered by Simon Fuller, who managed the Spice Girls, handled David Beckham's new soccer contract, and is behind "American Idol," the hit show on Fox. "The Americans were falling over themselves to sign Victoria up for a TV show, but we had to choose the right …
  • Sirius/XM Merger Would Grab Solid Share
    If satellite radio companies Sirius and XM do merge, the combined entity would have almost 3.5% of all radio listening, according to an analysis of Arbitron fall 2006 survey data. The search is the first time the satellite radio audience has been quantified, compared to the total radio audience. About 5.6% of survey respondents mentioned listening to satellite and the highest audience share captured by a single channel was 0.2%. The average satellite channel had a .009 listening share. But in a bit of good news for terrestrial broadcasters, satellite radio listeners are heavy listeners of all …
  • New Ads For CIT Group
    Global finance firm CIT Group has launched a new ad effort taglined "Capital redefined." The campaign, which focuses on the power of relationships and customized solutions, rolled out with an ad in Barron's and a three-page spread in The Wall Street Journal. Print is also running in Fortune and Business 2.0. Radio and TV are also on the way, along with event marketing -- including a ball aboard the QE2 in May. In addition, CIT has formed what it calls "a unique partnership" with Conde Nast Publications called "Behind the Business." Beginning in April, it will include print …
  • AT&T Cable Back On Track
    AT&T's foray into cable TV is back on track after a resolution of technical glitches with the help of network software upgrades. Over the last few weeks, AT&T has resumed direct mailing and distribution of promotional "door hangers" for its new U-verse television service, the first marketing since efforts were suspended in October. AT&T is also introducing U-verse in parts of Milwaukee and Racine, Wis., immediately, followed by the Dallas-Fort Worth and Kansas City markets in March. The four launches will bringing the total to 15 markets and are the first since nine cities were added at …
  • NBC Wants To Reclaim Thursday Glory
    NBC is launching a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign to re-brand its Thursday prime-time lineup as "Comedy Night Done Right." The promotion is its first nightly branding effort since the 1990s "Must See TV." It comes at a time when broadcast networks have largely eschewed national mottos. "We still have campaigns for individual shows, like 'Save the Cheerleader, Save the World' for "Heroes," but this is the first one we've done for a whole night since 'Must See,'" says Vince Manze, president and creative director of The NBC Agency, the network's in-house marketing company. "It has all the …
  • Actress Hewitt Expands Role For Hanes
    Jennifer Love Hewitt, the actress who appeared in ads for Hanes Perfect Panty in 2006, will return to market the company's new All-Over Comfort Bra with ComfortSoft Straps. The effort comes as the underwear-maker tries to grow its share of the $10.5 billion women's intimates business. The category grew 10% in 2006 and is now seeing the arrival of brands like J.C. Penney's Ambrielle private-label intimates and VF Intimates' "The perfect 10" collection. "We're seeing the most growth in the women's area, which is the reason we want to invest in it," says Sidney Falken, a brand …
  • More Novartis Work For Deutsch
    Novartis is expanding the duties of Deutsch, New York, giving it responsibility for an over-the-counter version of heartburn pill Prevacid, according to insiders. Prevacid parent TAP Pharmaceutical Products has licensed rights to the popular drug to Novartis, which intends to roll out an over-the-counter version in 2009. Advertising will launch in late 2008 or early 2009. Novartis has not revealed how much it intends to spend behind the product, but Larry Allgaier, CEO of Novartis Consumer Health OTC, has said the company's goal is to make it one of the top five OTC products in …
  • Goodby Bolts From Volvo Review
    Goodby, Silverstein & Partners has exited Volvo's $150 million global creative review in order to pursue another car account, which insiders say is likely Hyundai Motor America. The Korean automaker split with lead incumbent The Richards Group last week and launched a review of its $600 million account. Hyundai says that COO Steve Wilhite and its new CMO Joel Ewanick would invite a select group of agencies to pitch. When Goodby entered the Volvo review four weeks ago, the shop became a partner to sister agency 180 in Amsterdam -- a move seen as bolstering …
  • New Marketing Approach For Killian's
    Killian's Irish Red has rolled out a new marketing campaign that features television, billboards and on- and off-premise promotions, a shift in the Molson Coors-owned brand's marketing strategy. The effort, tagged "Never Rushed," pushes the idea that crafting the beer takes time, so consumers should take their time to enjoy it. The TV spot, a 30-second ad created by Taxi Inc., will start airing nationwide next month and shows a "wired" man heading into a bar and breaking out of his corporate self by shedding his jacket, briefcase, PDA and Bluetooth headset. The bartender pours a Killian's, …
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