Yahoo and ABC News Tuesday kicked off expanded political coverage online leading up to the 2012 election starting with interviews of the Republican presidential candidates on the eve of the Michigan debate. Yahoo’s yearlong election program includes “Remake America,” an original Web show debuting in early 2012 that focusing on the real-life experiences of eight American families dealing with economic issues. Yahoo News will also feature increased opportunity for social interaction across election-related content, beefed-up original reporting from its team of political correspondents and expert analysis from other established writers across the political spectrum. Yahoo is also launching a …

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has updated its Rich Media Creative Guidelines for the first time since 2008. The guidelines follow nine months of work by a cross-industry group.

Just received a pitch from the PR team representing Boston-based Arnold Worldwide about a phygital (that's the contraction of digital and physical) media innovation that makes we wish I was spending more time in Bean Town, if no better reason, than to grab a cold one. Arnold has long operated "Barnold," the agencies in-house bar where employees socialize and share ideas. One of those ideas, apparently manifested into digital brew innovation, spawning the development of a beer vending machine stocked with agency brewed and themed beers that employees (21 and older) can access - 24 hours a day - with …

So, what's the Web really worth? Leave it to McKinsey to do the math. According to a new report by the U.S. consulting firm, The Internet -- an $8 trillion global economy made up of some 200 million consumers -- has accounted for 21% of GDP growth in the world's largest economies over the last 5 years.

Moving on to the Far East, Google is eying a "large and substantial" investment in South Korea's Internet space this week, The Next Web notes, citing a report The Korea Times.

Meanwhile in the UK (and all of Ireland), Netflix has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with MGM Studios to become the exclusive subscription streaming service for much of the studio's feature films.

Publicis and France Telecom-Orange are setting up venture capital fund to financial digital startups. The two companies said they would invest an initial $200 million and intend to invite undisclosed others to invest another $200 million.

Mediabrands' UM unit just announced it has wone the consolidated global media business for ExxonMobil. The consolidation covers all divisions including Corporate, Fuels, Lubricants & Specialties and Chemicals.

interclick, which was acquired earlier this week by Yahoo, just named Keith Kaplan to the new position of President and Chief Revenue Officer. Kaplan, who will oversee all revenue, sales and marketing, joins from Adconion Media Group, where he was president of North American operations.

With the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 just days away, retailers are looking to capitalize on the Call of Duty fan base in as many ways as possible. GameStop is kicking off its events at 8:00 pm on Monday, and is giving gamers a chance to play the new title in its stores, until the official release at midnight. And at two locations, Los Angeles (West Hollywood) and New York City (Union Square), it’s also hosting Midnight Warfare events, which will include members of the game’s development team.   The Grapevine, Tex.-based chain is also offering a …