Read the whole story...

Read the whole story...

TNT has snagged exclusive cable rights to the Fox series "Bones," a show in its third year that stars a female forensic anthropologist. And while neither the cable net nor distributor Twentieth TV would talk about license fees, the range is thought to be between $400,000 and $450,000 an episode.

TNT will get access to multiple weekly runs of "Bones" in the fall of 2009, but starting next week, the cable channel will also run it as a weekly series. Ken Schwab, senior vice president of programming for TNT and TBS, says the program fits TNT's profile of scripted police dramas like "The Closer" and "Saving Grace," and reruns of procedurals like "Cold Case," "Without a Trace" and "Law & Order." Read the whole story...

Dell will air its first Super Bowl commercial this year, and the Texas-based computer maker will use the time to plug its altruistic side. Pushing a line of special-edition personal computers, the company is looking to raise money for AIDS treatment programs in Africa. The spot, set for the last commercial pod in the first quarter, features of crimson-red computers and a printer that Dell is now offering today in conjunction with Microsoft Corp.

All sales of the special-edition products will help benefit a charity co-founded by U2 lead singer Bono to fight AIDS among women and children in Africa. "The Super Bowl has a massive reach, but it's not just an American reach," says David Clifton, Dell's director of global marketing communications. "It's a global platform, and it's a platform where people actually stop, look and listen."

He declines to say how much Dell paid, but some estimates put the cost of a 30-second Super Bowl at $2.7 million. But "it's our first Super Bowl ad, so we want to make sure it plays during the Super Bowl first, not on YouTube." Read the whole story...

The Italian Trade Commission (ICE) is getting ready to roll a new "Made In Italy" advertising campaign in the U.S. next month. The effort, to include ads in publications including Harper's Bazaar, Esquire and Architectural Digest, features Italian-born actress and model. Isabella Rossellini. The aim is to tout the "high-quality sophistication and luxury of Italian fashion, accessories, jewelry and home products."

Theads will also appear online as well as local TV and radio. ICE picked Rossellini to represent an authentic "ambassador for Italian style." Says Italian trade commissioner and executive director for the U.S. Aniello Musella: "It is important that the American public understands the values and qualities to be discovered in Italian products available in the U.S." In the campaign, Rossellini urges Americans to "Let yourself be charmed by an Italian," while highlighting the handcrafted detail of Italian products. Read the whole story...

A class action suit filed in California accuses Dannon of false advertising in marketing their yogurt containing probiotic bacteria, charging that the alleged health benefits of same have never been proven. The suit contends that Dannon's own studies fail to support its ad claims that Activia, Activia Lite and DanActive are "clinically" and "scientifically" "proven" to have health benefits rival brands lack.

Further, plaintiffs say, all U.S. purchasers of those Dannon brands are entitled to compensation and the company needs to launch "a corrective advertising campaign." Dannon spokesman Michael Neuwirth says his firm is not yet familiar with the suit, but stands by "the claims of our products and the clinical studies which support them."

Activia, launched in the United States in 2006, says it contains a trademarked bacteria called "Bifidus regularis" to help "naturally regulate your digestive system." But the suit cites scientific research showing that there is no conclusive evidence that "Bifidus regularis" prevents illness or is beneficial to healthy adults -- and claims Dannon knew that. Read the whole story...

"Breaking Bad," AMC's second shot at an original scripted drama series, is off to a pretty good start. The show pulled 1.4 million viewers for its 10 p.m. Sunday premiere, according to Nielsen Media Research. That's in line with AMC's first scripted drama, "Mad Men," which debuted in July to an audience of 1.6 million and has since been picked up for a second season.

Further, "Bad" was up against especially strong competition in the form of the NFC championship game on Fox, which drew 54 million viewers. Still, it managed to average 796,000 adults 25-54 and 785,000 adults 18-49. And the show grew in its second half-hour -- after the game was over -- by 48% in 18-49 and a whopping 90% in men 18-34. Read the whole story...