Gen-Y Focused WB Network Turns a Profit

WB was smart when it launched amid concerns that there was not room for a fifth network.

So WB created a world where young women with bare midriffs and pretty faces fight monsters, bewitch thieves or fall in love with attractive young men in music-videolike montages.

And with that, the WB had cashed in.

NYT: A Network That Serves Youth, and Sells It as Well
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Television Networks Re-Align Programming

In an effort to re-ignite the less then thrilling current television season, network executives are introducing new shows and re-aligning existing with the goal of getting some excitement (and media dollars) back into the medium.

MediaWeek:Networks Restack Program Blocks
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HD (Digital) Radio May be a Boon to Advertisers

Everything is digital today. Your cell phone. Your CD player. Television. Now, it is radio's turns. As mentioned here earlier, HD radio is on the way.

Among many other things, it will allow advertisers to insert text and perhaps graphical images along with their typical 60 second commercials as the new radios will have a display panel similar to those now on automotive satellite receivers. On the most basic level, the ability to display an 800 number in a radio screen for the entire length of the commercial would greatly increase the chance that listeners would actually remember the number.

MediaPost: Ad Boundaries Changing as Radio Goes HD

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Ads Ads Ads....Advertising is Everywhere

Advertising truly is everywhere. You simply can not escape it. It is in urinals, in golf holes, on ATMS, on shopping carts and baby strollers. On police cars and in taxis. The list never ends.

The advertising industry has gone beyond all rationale when it comes to unique ad placements. The problem though is that it is self perpetuating. As one who is in the business and knows, if you don't do it, your competitor will do it first. Is it right? Maybe. Maybe not. From a business perspective, it's hard not to engage in the ever intrusive forms of advertising that you see today. I'm in the biz and I hate it. I close pop ups before they pop, delete spam before I read it, hang up on telemarketers after the telltale delay, switch to another channel or station when a commercial comes on, throw direct mail away in bulk before I even look at it. Yet, the message still gets through to me. I am still bombarded by every new product launch and stupid "new and improved" commercial.

So what am I going to do? Hide? Of course not. I'm going to come up with the next best form of ever present intrusive advertising. Let me think...I've got it...toilet paper with my client's logos on it!

Tallahassee Democrat: There's no escape from advertising, even in the backseat

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Martha Stewart for the Masses

Just when we thought we were safe from the inanities of Martha Stewart, here she comes again with "Everyday Food" a food category book for the masses. And in a well conceived move, her name takes a small place in the tagline.

Ad Age: MARTHA STEWART LAUNCHES NEW MAGAZINE
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Third Annual Weblog Awards

Vote for the best weblogs of the year here:

Third Annual Weblog Awards
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Advertainment Advertising on Tivo

Another long-form advertainment has been launched. "Waiting for Woody", a 30 minute comedy that is a veiled commercial for Best Buy, can be downloaded by Tivo users in California. This is apparently the third Tivo advertising outing for Best Buy following a May Sheryl Crow video sneak preview, and a November promotion for it's James Bond collector edition DVD set.

The urge to merge programming with advertising continues to grow and is obviously in the best interest of Tivo to play along since broadcasters are wary of it's commercial skipping abilities. Even though it may seem like there will be no escape from advertising, perhaps this form will force an improvement in creativity.

IAR: Best Buy Sponsors Film on TiVo
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The Anti-Tivo Product Placement Game

With consumers finding ever increasing ways to avoid advertisements, in-program product placement is becoming more prevalent. Labatt USA takes over the bar on Fox Sports Net and Labatt will also have cameo appearances by the Labatt bear mascot. Home Depot follows next month with a set designed to look like a backyard deck.

The ad game is definitely changing. In fact, it"s a return to the soap opera days when in-show product placements were common. Is this a good thing? If done properly, yes. After all, people use real brand name products in real life situations. The trick will be how well advertisers integrate their placements so the desired commercial message is achieved yet without having it appear staged.

New York Times: Blurring Ads and TV Programs
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Bankrupt United Airlines to Spend $50M on Ad Campaign

You have to love (or hate) a country where a company with absolutely no money can go out and spend $50 million on an ad campaign. Screw the creditors. An advertising campaign is much more important.

Well, in the long run I suppose it is. No advertising...no increase in business. No increase in business....can't pay creditors. So I guess this is $50 M well spent.

Don't you just love advertising?

USA Today: USATODAY.com - Bankrupt United plans $50M ad campaign
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The Death of Telemarketing?

One could only hope. However, there are 140,000 people in Massachusetts that have said enough is enough and have placed their name on the new do not call list.

Boston Globe: Over 140,000 join list to block telemarketers
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