Advertising

Super Bowl Advertisers Going the Sweepstakes Route, Giving Away Cars; Plus: Free Pizza If the Game Goes Into OT

More advertisers are launching sweepstakes offers in connection with their Super Bowl advertising buys as a way of engaging fans, reports The New York Times’ Media Decoder blog. BMW and Mercedes-Benz are planning giveaways, with BMW offering a two-year lease…

Super Bowl Locks In Beer Sponsor Through 2014

If you watch the Super Bowl and expect to be tantalized by the sight of bottles of Coors or Sam Adams, forget about it. The lone beer company that will be advertising during Super Bowl XLV will be Anheuser-Busch, reports…

Third Advertiser, Wrigley, Joins Taco Bell and GM in Pulling Ads from MTV’s ‘Skins’

A third advertiser, Wrigley, has joined Taco Bell and GM in pulling ads from MTV’s new scripted series "Skins," amid controversy over the edgy show’s use of teenage actors, reports the Los Angeles Times’ ShowTracker blog. Jennifer Jackson-Luth, senior manager…

Saying Show Isn’t a Fit for its Brand, Major Advertiser Pulls Ads from MTV’s ‘Skins’

Saying that the show isn’t the right fit for its brand, a major advertiser has pulled its ads from MTV’s scripted program "Skins," reports the Hollywood Reporter. The advertiser is Taco Bell. According to the story, "Spokesperson Rob Poetsch tells The Hollywood…

Upset About Helmet-to-Helmet Tackle in Toyota Ad, NFL Complains and Ad Gets Changed

The day after a Toyota ad aired on Monday Night Football that showed a helmet-to-helmet tackle, the National Football League called the automaker with a request that the part of the ad showing the tackle be changed, reports Reuters. Toyota…

Looks Like Somebody Really Pissed Off Somebody Else: Major Marketer Moves Its $700 Million Media Account Without a Review

A major marketer has unexpecttedly moved its $700 million media account to a new media agency, Advertising Age reports. The marketer, Home Depot, moved the account from Initiative Media to Carat, the report says, adding, "The sudden move, which some…

Ya Gotta Love This: Publisher Resurrecting Magazine Title That Died 50 Years Ago, Says He’s Targeting the 55- to 90-Year-Old Demo

For those of you who complain that advertisers need to target Baby Boomers–who many claim have the wealth–and not young people, here’s a story for you. John T. Elduff, the managing director of JTE Multimedia, a Philadelphia-based magazine company, has purchased…

Syfy Charting Innovative Approach to Social Media, Marketing and B-Movies

Syfy has big plans for its Saturday night lineup of B-movie fare, reports Brian Steinberg in Advertising Age. Syfy will pitch these movies, such as "Sharktopus" and "Mega Piranha," to marketers at this year’s upfront presentation, the story notes. The…

Can Anderson Cooper Replace Oprah? Oprah’s Answer Is Short and to the Point

Oprah Winfrey was asked at the TCA Press Tour whether Anderson Cooper, who is working on a daytime show to debut this fall, could replace her, and Winfrey responded with an emphatic "no," reports the Los Angeles Times’ Show Tracker…

Homeless Internet Sensation With Golden Voice Lands Cable Job

The homeless man with the golden radio voice who has become an Internet sensation has landed a television gig, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Ohio man, Ted Williams, was hired by MSNBC to do voiceovers for commercials, the story…