• Fox, NBC Mull Midseason Moves
    With the summer hit "Dancing With the Stars" now set to cut in on Thursday nights starting in January, some of ABC's competitors are considering some fancy footwork of their own.
  • As Stern Splits, Big Markets Lose Rock Radio
    Infinity Broadcasting's preparations for the imminent departure of franchise morning host Howard Stern could leave rock music radio a collateral casualty. To soften the blow of Stern's December 16 exit from terrestrial radio, Infinity has changed the format of some of the 27 stations that carry him. Of the 12 rock stations that featured Stern in the morning, three are flipping to talk or the Jack format, which uses no DJs and a random, classic-rock-oriented playlist. Such flips in Sacramento, Calif., and Philadelphia mean one less new-rock station. But in New York, come January 3, Arbitron's top-rated market will not …
  • New Xbox Set For Slow Start
    Microsoft Corp.'s new Xbox 360 video game console may get off to a slower start than initially expected, but the software giant's plan to keep production steady and expectations low may help it win against rival Sony Corp., analysts said on Friday.
  • Infinity Broadcasting Trumpets Its Future After Stern, Heartily
    Infinity Broadcasting wants to blanket Madison Avenue today with the message that it really, really, really believes there is life after Howard Stern. To convey that ardor, all 24 full-page ads in the Oct. 31 issue of Advertising Age, the flagship magazine of the Ad Age Group, are being bought by Infinity to promote its new programming and the lineup of hosts who will succeed Mr. Stern on Jan. 3, after he signs off from Infinity radio stations and moves to Sirius Satellite Radio.
  • Nielsen: Ad Clutter Spikes; Buyers, Nets Build Sponsorships
    With prime-time TV ad clutter reaching an all-time high this year, advertisers and networks are holding talks to explore ways to improve TV's crowded ad schedule, which buyers say is partly to blame for declining viewership. Several ad agencies last week said they are in discussions with TV networks about exclusive sponsorship deals that will cut back the number of ads in a particular sponsored program.
  • 'Lost' Finds Deeper Reality Online
    The night before the "Lost" season finale last May, the show's writers and executives had a surprise planned. But the fans found it first.
  • Danone Awards Havas's MPG French Media-Buying Deal
    French food giant Danone has chosen Havas's Media Planning Group (MPG) unit to handle its media buying for France from 2006, Danone said on Friday. Financial details were not disclosed. The account was previously in the hands of Vizeum, a unit of Britain's Aegis, and OMD, a division of Omnicom.
  • Can Martha Tidy Up This Mess?
    Her TV shows are performing badly, and her company just posted a big loss for the quarter. But don't count the domestic diva out just yet.
  • Aegis Sets Deadline For WPP, H&F Offer
    Hours After WPP Group Chairman-CEO Martin Sorrell told analysts that WPP and private equity firm Hellman and Friedman are still "mulling" a bid to take over Aegis Group, the Aegis board issued an advisory saying Europe's Takeover Panel has agreed to impose a deadline of 12:00 noon (GMT) on Nov. 25 for WPP and H&F to "announce a firm intention to make an offer for Aegis."
  • Draft Cuts 7% of Its N.Y. Staff
    Interpublic Group's Draft has cut 40-50 employees - about 7 percent of its New York office staff - as it winds down its relationship with Bank of America, sources said. BofA in August awarded its $600 million marketing services account to Omnicom Group after a holding company pitch that included IPG and WPP Group. The Omnicom agencies involved in the competition included BBDO, OMD, Organic, Live Technology, Javelin, Cultura, Radiate Group and TPN.
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