The writer's strike has led to the cancellation of the TV Critics Association winter press tour -- a possible indication that management is ready for a long fight. The fate of the semiannual event -- treasured as a perk by critics and by the nets as a way to get cheap publicity -- has been unsure ever since NBC announced it would pull out last month. Now, with negotiations having broken down and logistical concerns looming, the plug has been pulled. "We just ran out of time," says TCA chief Dave Walker. "Even if there were a …

Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are the new target of an ad campaign from People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals, with the activist group tearing into the Hollywood twins over their love of fur. PETA, which calls them "Hairy-Kate" and "Trashley," notes the pair only routinely don animal skins, but also include fur in their branded line of clothes. The new effort, tagged "Fur is Worn by Beautiful Animals and Ugly People," is set to run in a variety of magazines and hopes to raise awareness among currently fur-clad men and women. "No one would argue that …

Discovery Communications Planet Green, set for a second-quarter launch, is now in production on "Wasted," a 10-episode series that pushes households to make their homes more environmentally sound -- and earn money. The half-hour prime-time series, featuring hosts Annabelle Gurwitch and handyman Holter Graham, is set for a second quarter 2008 debut. In it, households of people -- from families to friends to fraternities -- try to become more eco-friendly as the pair audit waste generation and energy, water and transportation consumption. After showing a household's "eco-horrors" and long-term effects, Gurwitch and Graham put its residents on …

Imagine a time when broadcast networks end up quietly hoping that sales figures for their own advertisers drop. It may sound like a far-fetched scenario, but it is one possible outcome if the writers' strike drags on much longer. Advertisers and networks are already weighing options if and when the strike cuts audience down to where ratings guarantees can't be met. That could lead to a mix of make-goods and refunds - -and a new litmus test for the premiums the nets can get in the future. After laying out $9 billion in the network upfront, advertisers found …

As they try to reach young male consumers, advertisers and their agencies are increasingly turning to a once-scorned medium: comic books. Automaker Honda was one early adopter, having been in them since 2005 when buyer Sharon Enright happened upon the idea and took a chance. Since then, Chrysler and GM have joined the party, while Honda has stayed in as well. Other big-budget marketers now pushing into the medium include Campbell Soup, the U.S. Army, AT&T and a host of movie studios and video-game makers. And the comic-book industry's paltry $32 million in annual ad sales is …

Beringer Vineyards is rolling out a TV and print ad campaign aimed at introducing the winery to a new generation. The vintner calls its effort "a bold move for a fairly conservative industry," and launched it with TV spots backing its new Third Century brand. Spending is described as being in the "multimillion dollar" range, but Beringer isn't giving any more detail. Ads were created by Publicis Groupe's Hal Riney unit and feature stop-motion animation and origami to stress the time-intensive wine creation process. They are running on cable nets, including A&E, the Food Network, Headline News and …

Early results from Arbitron's upcoming RADAR 95 network-radio report claim that radio can reaches 233 million listeners per week, including 82% of all people over the age of 12. The medium reaches 95% of adults 18-49 with college degrees and household income of $50,000 or more, while network-radio affiliates hit 86% of the same group and 85% of 25 to 54 year-olds with degrees and annual household income of $75,000 or more. "RADAR Network affiliates have consistent delivery with reaching the key young and adult demographics that advertisers target," the report says. "They reach 84% of adults 18-34 …

Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation are creating a 26-episode animated comedy series tentatively called "The Penguins of Madagascar" based on characters from the feature film and its upcoming sequel. The series will debut on the cable net in early 2009 and follow the exploits of four penguins who believe they lead an elite strike force from the Central Park Zoo headquarters. "This is a partnership that brings together two creative-driven companies who share a belief that great characters and stories are the essential ingredients to success, whether it's on the big or small screen," says Cyma Zarghami,president of Nickelodeon & …

Nike has broken its new ad campaign, its first from Crispin Porter + Bogusky after the shoemaker dumped longtime agency Wieden + Kennedy, once seen as among the tightest of agency-client relationships. The latest effort has garnered a lot of attention and is aimed at capturing serious runners. Spots push Nike's Plus line of shoes, which can help runners track mileage via a chip in the shoe that transmits to an iPod. On the market for more than a year, Plus got plenty of ad support in 2006, but Nike thinks there is some good sales potential …

The Tiffany Network is going into the restaurant business with the launch of CBS Scene, a new eatery concept set to roll next fall as a joint partnership venture between the media conglomerate and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. A 15,000-square-foot facility will feature about 130 high-definition TVs, including table-side flat-screens with CBS shows old and new, ranging from "Late Night with David Letterman" to "The Honeymooners." The restaurant will be at the entrance of Gillette Stadium, where the Patriots play. Kraft says he considered going with ESPN Zone for the site, but wanted a fresh …