Adweek.com - Top News

Welch's Heads to the Vineyards

Alex Palmer — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:05:00 EST

Welch's is gearing up to promote its grapes and the vineyards they come from.

Beiersdorf in 'Pricing Exercise'

Steve McClellan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST

Beiersdorf, the marketer of Nivea and Eucerin skin products, is conducting a "pricing exercise" with its U.S. incumbent OMD.

Nikon Kick Starts Campaign via Tweet

Brian Morrissey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:22:00 EST

Ashton Kutcher launched the effort by tweeting his involvement in the Nikon Film Festival, a user-generated content contest.

YouTube Tests Ad-Skip Plan

Brian Morrissey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

The move finds parent company Google inching toward an engagement model for in-stream video spots.

BK Chief Marketer Russ Klein Departs

David Gianatasio — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:50:00 EST

Burger King said Russ Klein, president of global marketing strategy and innovation, would leave the company effective Dec. 15.

Women Clicking to Earn Virtual Dollars

Stacy Straczynski — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:05:00 EST

Women are jumping at the chance to earn online points and virtual dollars, according to a new report from online marketing firm Q Interactive. The survey, released at this week's Social Media World Forum, found that 78 percent of women who play social media games clicked on an ad or signed up for a promotion to earn virtual currency. This currency, also called "VC," allows players to advance in online games or purchase virtual gifts.

Y&R Adds More Biz From Mattel

Andrew McMains — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:10:00 EST

Y&R has expanded its relationship with Mattel, adding creative duties on the Just Like You line of American Girl dolls.

Visa's Olympic 'World' Goes Global

Eileen Wong — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:16:00 EST

Visa has taken its "Go world" Olympics campaign celebrating the Olympic spirit global this week, with spots running in the U.S., Canada, China, Russia and Japan. (Agencies TBWA\Chiat\Day, AKQA and GMR collaborated on the effort.) It's a continuation of last year's U.S.-only campaign -- which promoted the 2008 Beijing Olympics -- but this time around, Visa is taking a more ambitious approach.

Cisco Enlists Consumers to 'Flip' for Its Cameras

Brian Morrissey — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:52:00 EST

Cisco is rolling out the largest ad campaign to date for its recently acquired Flip Video camcorder.

Unilever Shifts Flora/Becel Line to DDB

Andrew McMains — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:13:00 EST

Unilever has shifted regional creative duties on its Flora/Becel line of food spreads to DDB after a review, the agency has confirmed.

Best Buy Spins 'Club Beats'

Alex Palmer — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:38:00 EST

Lady Gaga, Dr. Dre and other artists are set to promote chain's DJ-focused offerings.

DOOH Forecast Dims

Katy Bachman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:07:00 EST

Even digital out-of-home, one of the fastest-growing media, was not immune to the effects of the economy in 2009. Digital OOH will inch up 2 percent to $2.5 billion, according to an updated forecast from PQ Media, which chopped more than 4 percentage points off its August forecast. The research firm also lowered its 2010 forecast, calling for digital out-of-home to grow 6.2 percent to $2.62 billion.

Twitter Fave Heads to TV

Nellie Andreeva — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST

Twitter sensation Shit My Dad Says is headed to television. CBS has picked up a comedy project based on the Twitter account.

AppNexus Nets $5 Mil. Funding

Brian Morrissey — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Online ad exchange platform AppNexus has added an extra $5 million in funding to help the company build out its product.

BBDO to Shut Detroit Ops Once Chrysler Exits

Noreen O'Leary — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:58:00 EST

BBDO told staffers the agency would close its Detroit operations when the automaker's contract ends on Jan. 26, 2010.

Google to Acquire AdMob for $750 Mil.

Brian Morrissey — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:14:00 EST

The all-stock deal would bring Google one of the leading companies for selling mobile advertising on the iPhone and other platforms.

Havas Media Scores Hyundai/Kia Overseas

Steve McClellan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Hyundai/Kia has consolidated $350 million in non-U.S. media planning and buying assignments with Havas Media after a review.

Fox News Makes 'Room' for Web Video Strategy

Mike Shields — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:05:00 EST

Born as a wall-to-wall political channel about a year ago during the peak of the heated 2008 presidential race, Strategy Room was a short-term experiment -- that clicked. Now, it's at the forefront of an expanding amount of live news programming on the Internet. And it is also helping to elevate the digital reputation of Fox News -- a group that just a few years ago was an also-ran on the Web, despite utterly dominating news ratings on cable TV.

Shops Restructure Ways to Go Local

Steve McClellan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:04:00 EST

Media agency networks are taking steps to reinvent the $5.5 billion local buying process as they seek leverage and efficiencies.

There's Creative Work to Be Done

Andrew McMains — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:03:00 EST

Not ready to bulk up staffs to pre-recession levels, agencies turn, again, to freelancers. Shown: Gotham's Peter McGuinness.