Targeted-ad firm Invidi Technologies is creating a four-member advisory board that will provide guidance on advanced advertising initiatives. Named to the panel are: Rino Scanzoni, GroupM chief investment officer; Tracey Scheppach, Starcom USA senior vice president; and Burt Manning, chairman emeritus of J. Walter Thompson. Michael Kubin, Invidi executive vice president, will chair the board. "Addressable advertising is the Holy Grail of television advertising. This advisory group is essential in providing real-world insights and no-kidding feedback," Kubin says. ,br>,br> The board is charged with ensuring that all links of the media chain, including clients, media buyers and network …

The Wall Street Journal's top editor doesn't accept the conventional wisdom that big advertising budget cutbacks will devastate print newspaper and magazine publishers. After recoiling from the initial financial crisis earlier this fall, advertisers are slowly returning, says Robert Thomson. They seem to be seeking more conservative, comfortable outlets to make their case to buyers, he says. "People are looking for a safe harbor in times of turbulence." Thomson also believes that advertisers are starting to understand that consumers often ignore ads in other media because they are doing other things at the same time that sap their …

E.W. Scripps Co. is seeking a buyer for the Rocky Mountain News as well as for Scripps's half of the Denver Newspaper Agency, which manages the RMN and MediaNews Group's Denver Post. The Rocky Mountain News is Scripps' only unprofitable newspaper, say Scripps executives. The buyer is "likely to be somebody with enormous personal resources and a desire to make an impact, who really wants to commit themselves to Denver for a long period of time," says Mark Contreras, Scripps svp. Other options will be examined if no acceptable bids come in by mid-January. Scripps, also the …

Steven Van Zandt has been a busy guy. The rocker, actor and radio host just struck a new deal with IMG, the global sports and entertainment company. The exclusive worldwide marketing pact is expected to include everything from endorsements and integrated radio deals to philanthropy for his music education foundation. It will be Van Zandt's first experience as an ad pitchman. Among possible endorsement partners are sponsors of his radio show, which include Dunkin' Donuts, Pepsi, AT&T, Rolling Rock, Budweiser and Hard Rock Café. But first on Van Zandt's 2009 agenda is bringing rock 'n' roll back to …

Cablevision is going retail, selling the equipment to use its cable TV and broadband service. The company has revamped its site Optimum Store.com, to provide its cable customers with product information and sales of an array of consumer electronics. The site is designed to offer one-stop shopping with new products backed by customer ratings and online video tutorials. The goods, such as HD televisions, cordless phones, Bluetooth devices and home audio equipment are all related to Cablevision's digital television, voice and high-speed online services. Cable customers can also find product reviews and information on CNET TV, a free …

NBC's flagship station WNBC is undergoing a stem-to-stern transformation that aims to turn it from a local affiliate into a "content center" reaching web sites, taxis, grocery stores and hospitals. The $15 million project includes a physical renovation, a tech upgrade and a massive exodus of veteran staffers by the end of the year. Perhaps the most controversial change in the plan is the retraining of the remaining staff. Seasoned cameramen and writers are now out in the field reporting. Instead of a crew of people chasing breaking news in a satellite truck, a single "content producer" grabs …

Various newspaper groups are likely to default on their debt and go out of business next year -- leaving "several cities" with no daily newspaper at all, says a new report from Fitch Ratings. Fitch rates the debt of two newspaper companies, The McClatchy Co. and Tribune Co. as junk, with serious possibilities of default. The ratings report is generally pessimistic, assigning negative outlets to nearly all sectors, from Yellow Pages to radio and TV and theme parks. But newspapers are the most at risk of defaulting, Fitch says. On a macro basis, Fitch believes the world economy …