• B Of A Goes With SRI For Media Review
    Bank of America has signed on Select Resources International to guide the review of its massive $250 million media account. The bank cited several factors for the choice, including SRI's experience at managing large complex assignments; aptitude in various media spaces; and its expertise with financial service companies. SRI will submit a list of shops to receive proposal requests sometime this month, while the account should be given out byMarch 31, when Omnicom Group's current contract with B of A ends. Incumbent Prometheus is invited "and encouraged" to defend, says a client rep. B of A …
  • High Recall For i-am TV
    About 70% of the audience in bars where i-am TV operates watch the network's extreme sports programming, while two-thirds recall seeing ads and one-third remember specific brands, according to Arbitron research commissioned by the channel. "We designed our programming specifically for young adult viewers in a bar environment," says Todd Martin, CEO of Denver-based i-am TV. "Three out of four viewers interviewed said our extreme sports programming was interesting to them. Nearly half said they would like to see more screens featuring i-am TV in the bar. "The net targets the 21-34 audience and delivers shows …
  • Deutsch Snares $150 Million PlayStation Biz
    Interpublic's Deutsch, Los Angeles, has snared the $150 million Sony PlayStation according to insiders, topping out Publicis, Venables Bell & Partners and RPA, while helping end the company's 13-year relationship with Omnicom's TBWA/Chiat/Day. That agency was eliminated from the review yesterday. The business includes work on PS3, PS2, PS1, and the PlayStation network as well as game titles. "TBWA/Chiat/Day is very proud of the contributions that we have made over the past 12 years to establish PlayStation as a legacy brand," the agency says."The current work in the marketplace has had tremendous impact and speaks for itself. We …
  • Adweek To Cut Frequency, Focus On Web
    As advertising dollars inexorably shift to the Web, industry trade magazine Adweek will cut its frequency from 49 to 36 annual issues starting next year, while expanding Adweek.com. "We've seen our audienc e move online in terms of where they get their information," says SabrinaCrow, a senior vice president for the media and marketing group at Adweek parent Nielsen Business Media. The move is actually an expansion, she adds, and one new element on the Web site will be exclusive Nielsen data. In 2006, Adweek had an average of 15 ad pages per issue, but that has dropped …
  • Gas Station Radio: Ad Opps For Small Biz
    Small businesses that can't afford traditional radio time -- or musicians looking to break through -- now have the opportunity to get cheap airplay in some Connecticut communities, thanks to Rit Petit and AMP Media partners. He figured out how to turn a buck pairing up rockers and roofers with gas station owners.Petit's company produces the AMP Radio Network, broadcast at 61 gas stations throughout the Nutmeg State. The genesis came several years ago when he was pumping gas and was thinking about a product to provide a diversion -- and take advantage of a captive audience. The gas …
  • T-Mobile Takes Aim At iPhone In New Ads
    T-Mobile has rolled out a new TV ad campaign for its Shadowbrand phones, which some liken to cheaper version of the iPhone. Tagged "The Official Phone of Fun," the Shadow is being touted as synonymous with easier communications. The first spot shows how quickly it can access the Internet and directs viewers to its Web site. The effort will air in top shows, including "Dancing With the Stars," "House" and "CSI." "We look at the Shadow as a phone-first device to provide fun, easy and rich communications,"says T-Mobile's Michelle Webb. Notes Ryan Reith, a senior research analyst …
  • Giuliani Ad Using Photo Without Permission
    Rudy Giuliani is in dutch with some workers at Hale House, a home for kids of jailed or drug-addicted mothers for using a photo of kids and caregivers in a new TV ad without their permission. And at least one of them wants out of the spot. Hale House child-care worker Marisol Molina and others from Hale House -- including children -- appear briefly in a photo montage aimed at highlighting Giuliani's career as a federal prosecutor and mayor. Giuliani often went to Hale House at Christmas to read stories to the tots, giving himp rime photo ops. …
  • Univision Likes PPM Delay
    Univision Communications' radio unit is among those radio outfits glad that Arbitron has decided to delay the rollout of its Portable People Meters in nine major markets. Univision says: "We look forward to working with Arbitron on the research and business issues related to the PPM service as they work to ensure their ratings are accurate." Philadelphia and Houston, markets where the PPM is already up and running, are not affected, but Univision insists that "Arbitron must also commit to making improvements [there] since the flawed PPM data is the only currency available in those markets." …
  • Storm Passing From CBS "Early Show"
    While Hannah Storm will be soon be gone from her job co-hosting CBS' "Early Show," the network says she is still in talks with CBS News chief Sean McManus about a "new role" at the unit. Her departure comes after some on the production side, and insiders say at a few of those defections were due to personality clashes with senior executive producer Shelly Ross, hired a few months back to help relaunch the perennially third-place morning news show. But Ross has nice things to say about Storm: "Hannah is a rare talent with an extraordinary range and …
  • Divided FCC Won''t Crack Down On Cable
    The divided Federal Communication Commission seems unlikely to approve the hammer chairman Kevin Martin wanted to drop on cable TV operators. Instead, it looks to go with more modest new cable rules. Under the new regulations, cable companies will have to lower the price they charge smaller programmers, like religious community broadcasters, to lease space on unused cable channels. The companies will also have to provide more data on how many subscribers they have. But Martin says consumers should not have to pay for channels they may find objectionable and has been pushing an al a carte system …
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