The new worldwide CEO of Omnicom Group's PHD isn't so hot on global media agencies, saying, "I don't think anybody has done anything really, hugely exciting since unbundling." But Mike Cooper intends for PHD, as an "ideas-based agency," to prosper after he pulls its units into a global network. "[We are] well-poised to provide some leadership in media now," he says. He is particularly enthused by the shop's proprietary communications planning tool called ETNA, which stands for "Exploration, Thought-Leader, Neuro-planning and Action-planning" and puts cognitive psychology together with consumer research and media strategy. "ETNA takes a much …

There has, as yet, been no water-cooler like last year's "Heroes," although a pair of new shows -- "Pushing Daisies" and "Private Practice" -- hold out some promise even as network TV viewership is down as much 10% from last fall. "The networks haven't delivered the compelling new shows that viewers get excited about," says Shari Anne Brill of Carat USA, noting talked-about hits like "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost" from recent seasons past. The top nets deliver a combined 40 million weekly viewers to advertisers, keeping them a big draw for advertisers, but the medium is only as …

Domino's Pizza has signed up Crispin Porter + Bogusky for general-market media planning on its $170 million account, as the pizza chain tosses five-year incumbent MindShare. That WPP unit had been Domino's media-planning agency for five years, brought in at the time sibling JWT was given the creative part of the business. For the moment, MindShare will hang on to Domino's media buying and JWT keeps some field marketing work. "We were intrigued by Crispin's branding, strategic and execution ideas," says a Domino's spokesperson. "They brought to the table not only what to do, how, but also where." …

Damon Wayans is coming back to ABC, with the star of the comedy "My Wife & Kids" co-creating a new family sitcom for the network. The as-yet untitled show will be written and executive produced by Wayans and is reportedly edgier that "Wife." In it, Wayans stars as a widower who has to take in a 19-year-old stepson he never knew. The project drew some interest from several networks; ABC came up with a script commitment. The project is the second multicamera family comedy with a black star that ABC is working on for next year. It recently …

Spike TV plans to televise its "Scream 2007," its horror, sci-fi, fantasy and comic book event to 130 countries and territories, along with a two-hour U.S. premiere on Oct. 23 at 10 p.m. The cable net will tape the program on Oct. 19 in Los Angeles and has cut licensing deals with outlets, including Star Asia, TNT Latin America and VHI UK, to carry it. One highlight of the show will be when rocker Alice Cooper receives the Spike TV Scream "Rock Immortal" award. "Scream is all about the incredibly devoted fans of horror, sci-fi, fantasy and comic …

Don Imus, expected to be back on WABC Radio by the end of the year, is also talking about a return to the small screen, with a simulcast of his show on RFD TV, a satellite and cable net targeted to farming communities. Patrick Gottsch, founder and president of RFD TV, which can be seen in more than 30 million homes, declines to comment, but one insider on Imus' side of the negotiations confirms they are talking place. A move to RD would be a big change for Imus, whose show used to be simulcast on MSNBC before he …

The largest franchisee of Wendy's has filed suit against the burger chain, claiming that it inflated the cost of soda syrup and diverted the extra money garnered by its national ad campaigns. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court by Maryland-based DavCo Restaurants Inc., charges that Wendy's diverted the extra money without crediting it back. DavCo says that violates an agreement under which it contributes 3 of gross sales to the advertising fund. It also says that Wendy's is improperly keeping it from buying soda from the PepsiCo, saying that a "lucrative funding arrangement" with Coca-Cola is designed …

With 70% of the 18-to-34-year-olds watching Current TV fiddling with their laptops at the same time, the 2-year-old net has come up with a plan to draw viewers to its Web site, then back to the TV station in an attempt to convergence the online and broadcast worlds. At the site, viewers can get assignments from the network's producers with a crack at having their work shown on the tube. Current, founded by former Vice President Al Gore and attorney Joel Hyatt, is now available in 40 million homes. It sees a place for a new type of …

Movie ticket sales are on the rise -- up 8% year to date -- with the help of blockbusters like "Spider-Man" and "Shrek," but they aren't growing as fast as ad sales. The Cinema Ad Council reports that ad spending in theaters grew 15% last year to hit $455.6 million. Cliff Marks, the groups chairman and also president-chief managing officer of National CineMedia, says he has seen spending growth from a variety of ad categories, including telecommunications, broadcast and cable networks, video-games and consumer electronics. "Digital technology has allowed marketers to target specific movies and markets to use this …

American Airlines is imitating rival Southwest Airlines with a new ad effort that takes a humorous approach to examine why people travel. Similar to Southwest's "Wanna Get Away" effort, one new spot has an employee furtively calling to try to book an earlier flight to get out of a team-building exercise. In another, a young employee volunteers for a series of dull business trips for the frequent-flier miles. "We've lightened up the brand a bit," says Roger Frizzell, the airline's vice president for public relations, advertising and publishing. "Perhaps it's a chapter we've stolen from Southwest's book." …