A little more than 18 months after their introduction, neither of the high-definition DVD formats has a clear advantage, either in terms of technology, number of movies or, increasingly, the price of the equipment. According to data from Adams Media Research, 578,000 HD DVDs, developed by Toshiba, and 370,000 Blu-ray machines, from Sony, will be sold by the end of this year. The winner of the format wars could be determined by which company has the most content, in the same way the VHS-Betamax VCR war was decided. But both formats offer about 400 movies. The …

"The Hidden Persuaders" by Vance Packard--which exposed the secret world of advertising and brands--is now enjoying its 50th anniversary and a new edition from Ig Publishing. Packard tried to warn Americans of a new mutation in advertising: Powerful admen were working to tap the irrational in the consumer mind, using the applied psychology and sociology supported by the government during World War II. As more goods came to supermarket shelves, advertisers decided they were no longer selling just products, but malleable brand "personalities." The weaker parts of Packard's book are those that overemphasize the sinister power …

A federal court case filed in Seattle is challenging the three-tier distribution system requiring alcohol makers to sell to wholesalers, and wholesalers to sell to retailers as outdated and anticompetitive. Costco Wholesale won an antitrust lawsuit challenging its home state's three-level arrangement in 2006. The state appealed, arguing that the 21st Amendment ending Prohibition gave states the authority over alcohol regulation. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to rule on the case soon. The decision could have widespread ramifications for every group with a stake in the beer and wine industry. Brewers and wineries nationwide could eventually …

According to a recent survey of 3,500 U.S. mothers by BSM Media, 65% feel that they are "under-served" by advertisers either because the executions don't resonate with them or the ads do not address them. By some estimates, moms spend $2.1 trillion a year--about 15% of the entire U.S. economy. Magazines tend to be more effective at catching a mom's eye than newspapers. Moms read an average of 4.1 magazines a month, according to BSM. Radio works, too, because moms spend a lot of time in the car. Moms are also increasingly online--71% use the Internet to research …