• April 21, 2004

A lawyer representing the Association of National Advertisers affirmed Wednesday that it was ensuring that the upcoming meeting of the Network Upfront Discussion Group would allay concerns expressed by some--particularly the networks. "The ANA and other participants are sensitive to potential legal risks, and are taking steps to make sure the process stays within legal boundaries," said Debra H. Dermody, a partner at ReedSmith LLP in Pittsburgh, in an email to the MediaDailyNews. "The membership of the committee, the definition of work it will undertake, and the procedures for the committee meetings are all designed both to get the job done and to observe legal limits." At an executive roundtable sponsored Friday morning by MediaPost Communications, publisher of MediaDailyNews and MEDIA magazine, Fox Ad Sales Chief Jon Nesvig said he was concerned about the legality of the meeting. He said it raised antitrust issues. At least one network ad executive who had been invited to the meeting had asked for clarification from his legal department, which told him in turn to seek a letter from the ANA before proceeding.