Microsoft Wednesday said nearly 40 TV and entertainment providers, including AT&T, BBC, Comcast, HBO, Rogers, Telefónica, Televisa and Verizon will roll out entertainment services to Xbox LIVE this holiday season in more than 20 countries. The new features and providers integrating with Kinect and Xbox Live furthers Microsoft's vision to make the box an entertainment center, rather than game console. Using voice search with Bing on Xbox scans across a variety of branded services and plays the programming without touching a handheld device. Voice commands through Kinect let users maneuver through the options.

Over the past couple of weeks I've heard two anecdotes basically related to how closely Virgin Airlines listens to social media comments about itself--and how quickly they respond. The latest tale was told by New York Times columnist David Carr at an Advertising Week event he moderated Tuesday afternoon. He recalled a recent Virgin flight he was on where a young couple sat next to him and the guy half of the couple smelled like he had used an entire can of Axe Body Spray just before boarding. A little overwhelming to say the least. So Carr …

With communications transcending from analog to multiple digital platforms, where consumers have more control, marketing is no longer about the medium being the message as media guru Marshall McLuhan famously theorized. According to research and design expert Bill Buxton, principal researcher at Microsoft, marketing's new guiding principle should be "the experience is the message." Buxton made the case for his theory during an Advertising Week presentation Tuesday afternoon. He provided what he called a "made up example" to demonstrate his point. Nike, let's say, has an outdoor ad campaign on city bus shelters. Nike's ad makers, said …

If the new iPhone 4S has left the Apple faithful and others a bit underwhelmed, that doesn't mean its going to be a bust. In a post this afternoon, Christian Lindholm, chief innovation officer, at agency Fjord, said Apple has built a smart, if not sexy new iPhone. "The lack of must have and wow was missing today, but the intelligent updates that were unveiled; an 'emotional' Siri assistant, better camera, longer battery life, faster processor, better operating system, faster data, further build the credibility, trust and deep bond between user and brand," he wrote. He added Apple is smart …

At Tuesday morning's NBCU Power of the Purse event actress Sarah Jessica Parker was the star du jour who was interviewed by Andy Cohen I think his name is. She was introduced with almost exuberant adoration by one of the network's marketing execs, who apotheosized her as a woman who does it all: mom, marketer, philanthropist, actor, artist. "I don't know how she does it." I do. It's called the Help. To me the woman "who does it all" is a single mom has to raise kids on her job as a nurse's aid without completely losing her mind, …

Major magazine publishers have raced to create digital editions for tablets and other connected devices in the last couple of years. MPA - The Association of Magazine Media, is now catching up by publishing a guide to tablets, e-readers and smartphones for publishers and advertisers. The document covers a wide range of topics from differences among devices to app development options to distribution models and measurement. Each of the nine sections includes data from recognized industry sources along with original MPA research, graphics and insights. In addition, the MPA has released a digital glossary of more than 350 …

In a nod to consumer concerns about the economy, Toys R Us says it is offering an expanded layaway program, even for online shoppers, as well as additional flexible payment plans. The Wayne, N.J.-based retailer began offering layaway on big-ticket toys back in 2009, and has been adding new categories to its pay-over-time options. Starting Oct. 15, layaway will be available on all items in many of its stores. "Since we first introduced layaway in our stores two years ago, thousands of customers have taken advantage of the program for both its flexible payment terms and its ability to help …

When it comes to corporate responsibility, consumers aren't just paying closer to attention, they're ready to kick brands that don't behave to the curb: Some 93% are willing to boycott corporations that behave poorly, and 56% have already done so. And they're also willing to reward companies they perceive as responsible, reports the 2011 Cone/Echo Global CR Opportunity Study, with 94% saying they would buy a product that has an environmental benefit, and 76% saying they have already done so in the past 12 months. Cause-related products are just as popular, appealing to 93% of the more than 10,000 …

Just heard from ZenithOptimedia's spokesperson who said Peggy Green was not bumped from Zenith, but left the agency effective last Friday, as part of a planned, orderly three-year transition from the agency. As a result, there is not reorganization of ZenithOptimedia's team, and the spokesperson said it wasn't clear if Peggy's position, Vice Chairman of Zenith Media, would be filled. Earlier this morning, NBC Universal announced that the former Zenith Media vice chairman was joining its CMO in Residence Program, effectively with the fourth quarter of 2011.

Spending on mobile advertising will top $1 billion mark in the U.S. for the first time this year, according to new estimates just released by eMarketer. Advertisers will spend nearly $1.23 billion on mobile advertising this year in the U.S., up from $743 million last year, according to the new forecast. ?By 2015, the U.S. mobile advertising market is set to reach almost $4.4 billion," eMarketer says, noting, "This includes spending on display ads (such as banners, rich media and video), search and messaging-based advertising, and covers ads viewed on both mobile phones and tablets." eMarketer previously …