Hoping to see the same success of upscale city magazine publishers like Modern Luxury and Niche Media, the founders of Uptown are looking to expand their affluent black consumer-targeted franchise. Now published in four cities, including New York and Chicago, the mag hopes to launch in seven more, among them Los Angeles and Miami, in the next three years. The project is backed by Leo Hindery-led InterMedia Partners. The group has applied for Audit Bureau of Circulations membership with a 125,000 rate base -- a figure they hope to better than double to 300,000 by 2011. Their …

While it has been about 14 years since Domino's last promised to deliver a pizza in 30 minutes, the company's one-time pledge is still stuck in the public mind. And the chain is now hearkening back to the vow abandoned in 1993, when a St. Louis woman involved in an auto accident with a Domino's driver successfully settled a lawsuit for seven figures. After dropping the famous tag, Domino's has struggled to get across a distinctive marketing message. "I don't think there was a time in my nine years here ... where we didn't whine about how …

Universal McCann could take a big hit as Intel has put its media-buying account into review. While the Interpublic Group shop is the incumbent and plans to defend, it is unclear which agencies it will have to battle for the $98.2 million in spend. Universal McCann snared the business in a holding company review in 2005 when McCann World Group beat out rivals DDB Worldwide and then-incumbent Havas. But according to insiders, Intel is unhappy with Interpublic and a creative review could soon follow.

The Ski Channel has cut a deal with photographer Tony "Haro" Harrington for a new series, documentary film and coverage for the World Heli Challenge on video-on-demand. Steve Bellamy, CEO of Ski Channel, says the channel has ordered up the "Storm Hunter" series from Harrington's firm. That show features a dozen half-hour installments to be shot on film and follows such extreme skiers and snowboarders like the Crist Brothers and Chris Davenport disporting themselves in the Himalayas, Andes and Dolomites. Columbia Sportswear is lined up as one sponsor. Harrington "is one of the worlds' most …

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin's plan to have the commission vote on changes to media-ownership rules is still under fire. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) say they will urge the Senate Appropriations Committee to deny funding to implement the new rules. In a letter to Martin, Obama and Kerry say the "the intent of the Senate Commerce Committee was made clear" when it passed the Media Ownership Act, a rule that would require the FCC to establish an independent panel on female and minority ownership, while waiting for that panel's recommendations …

As network ratings continue their slide, more cash give-backs to advertisers may be on the way. With NBC shelling out some $10 million for under delivery, the focus may turn to rivals. The Peacock Network is down 19.4% in live viewing among 18- to 49-year-olds, according to Nielsen Media Research, but CBS, ABC and CW are all also down double-digit percentages, with CBS off 16.7%, ABC falling 10.5% and CW in a nearly 29% swoon. Fox alone is not facing a drop-off, with its 3.4% gain. NBC says the give-backs are "an extremely small portion" of its business, …

Beer is back -- big-time -- at Wieden + Kennedy with news that Heineken USA has tapped the Portland shop for its creative account. Taking over from Berlin Cameron United, WK will now have global agency responsibility in English ads for Heineken and Heineken Light. And it gives the agency its first major beer account since Miller Brewing waved it farewell two years ago. "It's great to be back in the beer business," said Global Chief Operating Officer David Luhr. "It's a category where advertising is very important." The nation's largest independent ad agency has been on a …

Bill Cella, a media buying pioneer who formed the first unit to pool big accounts to get better pricing, will be gone from Interpublic Group in a few short weeks. And while his future is uncertain, he says his departure may not bring an end to his work in the business. "At Magna Global, I believe my job is done," he says. "I am looking forward to the next chapter in media, which will include the opportunities that a combination of traditional and digital media represent for the future." Cella joined McCann Erickson Worldwide in 1994 as …

Jay Leno may have to sit idly on his couch and grit his teeth through a few "Top Ten" lists as writers for CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" could well be the first back on the job via an interim agreement Letterman's independent production company is working out with the union. The deal would allow the late-night show to air again and Worldwide Pants' talks with the WGA might signal a new negotiation strategy, as the guild has decided to approach individual companies. "Since the beginning of the strike, we have expressed our willingness to sign …

Hyundai/Kia has cut its U.S. media agency search on the two brands to three contenders, according to insiders. Still in the running are Interpublic Group's Initiative, Havas Media in Los Angeles and incumbent, Aegis Group's Carat. Publicis Groupe's Optimedia is out, and while final presentations have already taken place, Hyundai execs are now asking for more. Roth Associates, a consultancy overseeing the process, declines to say which shops are still in the hunt, but notes the client won't select an agency until next month at the earliest. Media spending for Hyundai and Kia was about $800 million …