Happy Valentine's Day From Google

In the usual holiday tradition, here is Google's Valentine's Day logo:

Fox Over Promotes 'Joe Millionaire'

Just this past Monday night, I tuned into 'Joe Millionaire' for the first time. Not having bothered with the slow and boring initial episodes and after hearing promos that a lot would be revealed in this episode, I figured I could play catch up.

I was dead wrong. Nothing new happened. It was just a big tease-fest. In effect, an hour long promo for the final episode coming Monday.

Because of what Fox did, there are all sorts of complaints and calls for boycotts swirling around message boards and chat rooms.

"We got duped. We totally got duped," viewer Cynthia Wiggin of San Carlos said Wednesday. "Total filler. A whole filler night."

"I really don't know if I am going to watch the last show or not," one person wrote. "At this point I am soooo mad I don't care who wins. Anyone else feel this way?"

"No, I will not watch the finale," read a subsequent posting. "Fox has lied to us, and I feel that they should be punished for that. ... Bad move, guys. It will be a while before I put my trust back into Fox."

I have to say i agree with these people but no way will it make a dent in the final ratings. The tease will still work. If you've followed it this long, you won't be able to NOT watch. Such is the reality of reality television. I hate it but I am going to watch it. One episode and I was sucked in. I'm ashamed to admit it.

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Branding the Teenage Mind

"If no [one complained], we'd be selling sexy underwear to 8-year-olds and using nude kids to do it. "

That's the thinking of Alissa Quart, author of 'Branded: The Buying and Selling of Teenagers'. She claims that advertising has become so pervasive to teens that teenagers now judge each other on the brands they own rather than their looks or popularity.

"It's not about selling per se," Ms. Quart said in an interview. "It's about the extensive and invasive techniques being used."

I think it's simply because there are so many media outlets through which to reach the teen audience. Marketers will use them all because if they don't, their competition will. It's a viscous circle with no end in sight. [via Ad Age]

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Bank of America Makes Hasty Account Move

"I'm disappointed because I'm very confident in the potential and power of our agency and our ability to contribute to Bank of America. We never got the chance. It's a little disappointing to lose to someone you thought you had beat, or at least another part of the same holding company," said Jack Klues, CEO of Starcom MediaVest Group.

So said Jack Klues, CEO of Starcom MediaVest Group after Bank of America moved its $170 million media account to Interpublic Group's Deutsch after just 14 weeks at Publicis Groupe's Starcom MediaVest, IPG confirmed.

What has happened to client/agency loyalty?
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War Be Damned...Ad Revene Will Be Up

That's what Viacom and News Corp. told analysts on Wednesday. Both media companies said they expect ad revenue to be up "mid single digits" for 2003. Let's hopr they are right.
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Tennis Channel May See Light of Day

"We have not picked an exact date yet," says Bruce Rider, executive vice president of programming and marketing, "but it will be by the end of the first quarter."

More
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Advertising And The War

Medialife today has a good article discussing the likely effect war with Iraq will have on the advertising economy. The general consensus is a dramatic reduction in ad spending at the outset but a quick return. Unless of course the war is long and drawn out.

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House Approves National Do Not Call List

You could hear the cries of agony today as the House of Representatives voted 418-7 in favor of a national "do not call list". The Senate will need to approve as well. If approved, the list could be in effect this Summer.

Telemarketers reacted as expected saying the new law will devastate their business and will cause the loss of millions of jobs. Predictable reaction.

This is just another of the great changes that are beginning to happen in the world of marketing. The new world will be one in which the consumer will have more control over the commercial messages that reach them. We marketers will just have to keep up with these changes and develop new advertising methods that are both effective and acceptable to our audiences.
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Nikki Ziering Final Member of "I'm a Celebrity"

Nikki Schieler Ziering, former Playboy Playmate, former Price is Right model, and former wife of Beverly Hills 80210 star Ian Ziering is the 10th and final member of "I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here!"

Destined to be yet another reality series hit, the shows ten participants will be dropped in a remote part of Australia for 15 days. Idiocy and hilarity will ensue, no doubt.

Ziering is joined by other non-famous types: Robin Leach, Melissa Rivers, Bruce Jenner, Maria Conchita Alonso, Tyson Beckford, Alana Stewart, Cris Judd, "Stuttering" John Melendez and "Downtown" Julie Brown.

The show will air Feb. 19 and run for 15 consecutive nights. Don't miss it! [via zap2it]
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