Consumer online spending reached nearly $20 billion through the first 34 days of the holiday season (Nov.1-Dec. 4), up 15% from the year-earlier period, according to new data from comScore. That growth rate is also consistent with the Web research firm’s projection of a 15% gain in retail e-commerce spending for the entire 2011 holiday season. In a departure from the last couple of years, comScore said the increase is being driven by growth in spending per buyer rather than in the number of buyers. The number of buyers overall has increased just 3% compared to a 12% increase …

Google today announced Android Market hit 10 billion app downloads, representing a growth rate of one billion downloads per month. To mark the milestone, the company for the next 10 days will offer a set of paid apps for 10 cents each. The effort starts with with titles including Asphalt 6 HD, Color & Draw for Kids, Endomondo Sports Tracker Pro, Fieldrunners HD, and Little War Game. Apple’s App Store, the Android Market’s chief rival, reached 10 billion downloads at the start of 2011 and hit 15 billion in July.

WPP's digital marketing technology firm, 24/7 Real Media, has agreed to acquire the assets of Panache, the Los Angeles-based provider of digital video advertising services. Founded in 2006, Panache focuses on the premium publisher market, helping clients grow their digital video advertising capabilities, a fast-growing segment of the business. Clients include CBS, Fox News, MTV Networks and the UK's Channel 4. Panache will be integrated into 24/7 Real Media's Open AdStream advertising management platform, per WPP. 24/7 Real Media now operates in 18 offices in 12 countries globally. Its technology platform powers its own media businesses and those of some …

Starting next year, Meredith said it plans to make Microsoft Tag the standard 2D barcode across its portfolio of magazines reach nearly 80 million readers a month. The publisher has already used Microsoft Tag in titles including Better Homes and Gardens, Family Circle, and Ladies’ Homes Journal to give smartphone-wielding readers access to how-to recipe videos, link to holiday gift ideas and connect with leading designers and decorators. The presence of 2D codes in magazines has grown dramatically this year. According to a recent survey of the top 100 magazines in the U.S. by circulation from Nellymoser the number …

Now Nielsen says TV viewing by kids 2-11 this fall has actually down 2.9% versus a year ago, in speaking to the Wall Street Journal. Previously, the company said viewership was up 1.7%. But it says there are no errors when it comes to how Nielsen has been reporting kids TV viewing as it concerns the big TV kids programming network Nickelodeon. Those numbers which have shown a drop of up to 20%, per Nielsen in some cases versus a year ago, are still accurate. Recently Viacom revealed to Wall Street analysts its concern over the sudden ratings decline. Speaking …

CBS Radio has appointed Neil Salvage as its head of digital sales effective January 2012, overseeing all sales efforts on a national and local level related to CBS Radio's Web sites, mobile assets, and online streaming initiatives. Salvage's previous experience includes leading sales efforts for Citysearch, Yellowpages.com and BellSouth. Most recently he was Executive Vice President, Advertising for CityGrid Media, having joined the company in 2006 when it was Citysearch.com. While at Yellowpages.com Salvage was vice-president of sales for the online business directory.  Prior to that, he held a variety of sales positions at Bellsouth Advertising and Publishing Corporation and Bellsouth Intelligent Media Ventures.

Gowalla founder Josh Williams confirmed the location-based service is being acquired by Facebook via a blog post today. He said Gowalla as a free-standing service would shut down by the end of January as the company integrates with Facebook and its employees move to the social networking giant’s Silicon Valley headquarters. He noted that Facebook isn’t acquiring Gowalla’s user data, and that the company plans to let users export their data and photos. CNN Money first reported Facebook was acquiring Gowalla Friday but neither company would confirm the deal. Launched in 2009, the Austin-based company wasn’t able to …

Digital revenues are a bright spot for newspaper publishers, but fail to keep up with the rest of the industry.

After 85 years at its 285 Madison address, Y&R, Wunderman and their network of companies have signed a deal to move to 3 Columbus Circle, at 57th Street and 8th Avenue. The move will take place in 2013. The agencies will occupy 10 floors at the new location.

Michael Roth, the Interpublic Group CEO said his group has not seen "major pullbacks" in ad spending by U.S. clients despite continuing worrying about the macroeconomnic picture. Roth, speaking at the UBS Media and Communications Conference in New York said that the amount of project work that has been pulled remains "under four percent," or a very minimal amount in his view. In Europe, however, clients have pulled back more, although Roth didn't indicate how much more. But, he stressed those pullbacks were anticipated and built into the company's assumptions about 2011 perfromance. "We weren't counting on a big recovery …