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MindShare Entertainment’s“In the Motherhood” has already completed two successful seasons as a webisode for MSN and a branded-entertainment project for MindShare clients Suave and Sprint. Now the mini-sitcom is being developed as a possible mid-season replacement for ABC’s 2008-09 TV schedule, as announced by ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson at the network’s upfront presentation earlier this week.
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — At a time when marketers are increasingly curious about media venues other than broadcast TV, executives from Fox network said they intended to keep their focus on the traditional living-room screen, while launching new programs for the 2008-09 season in staggered fashion.
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — Since “Sex and the City” wrapped in 2004, the series’ star, Sarah Jessica Parker, has earned millions lending her name to a variety of products. She inked a deal with Coty to launch her first fragrance, Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker, in 2005. And in 2007 she launched a clothing line, Bitten, exclusively at Steve & Barry’s.
Online ad revenue climbed to $21.2 billion last year, marking a 26% increase from 2006, the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers reported today. Though that’s less than the 35% bump seen between 2005 and 2006, online is still growing at a rate far exceeding traditional advertising. “This achievement is a testament to the continued vitality of interactive. Explosive innovation in the industry is providing marketers with new and unique ways to reach consumers,” Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of the IAB, said in the report.
Lifetime Networks executive VP Debbie Richman has hired David DeSocio, her former colleague at media buyer OMD, as senior VP of Lifetime Partnerships.
At Lifetime, Mr. DeSocio, who had been chief strategy officer at OMD, will work with sponsors to create advertising opportunities for all of Lifetime’s assets and networks.
“Central to the rapid growth of Lifetime is our ability to leverage our powerful brand across multiple platforms,” Ms. Richman said in a statement. “As we take our business to the next level, David’s proven success and wide-ranging experience in creating innovative opportunities for clients make him a key player in forging new types of advertising partnerships.”
TNT said it will air episodes of a microseries sponsored by Dodge and AT&T during commercial breaks in its prime-time programming this summer.
The microseries, called “Lucky Chance,” was produced by Full Circle Entertainment and Espionage. Comprised of 20 two-minute episodes, the series follows an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent who drives a Dodge Challenger and uses AT&T mobile technology to complete his mission.
The series will launch July 22, with the first six episodes appearing with an episode of “Bones” that will feature no other national advertisements. Episodes 7 through 10 will appear during back-to-back episodes of “Law & Order” on July 23. The final 10 episodes will appear on July 29, through episodes of “Law & Order,” “Bones” and another episode of “Bones” with limited commercial breaks.
Spots urging viewers to tune in to see “Lucky Chance” will promote the involvement of AT&T and Dodge.
The episodes also will appear online after they appear on cable.
I’m not sure if there are still people who still don’t believe that Justice League: Mortal is dead, but here’s another nail in the much-hammered coffin for you: Adam Brody talked to Empire, and it may interest you to know that even those on board were no more informed than you or I. I find it more funny than interesting — scary, too, because directors and producers make way more money than I do, and should be much more organized.
CBS Corp., looking to further change its reputation as one of the most traditional television companies, has agreed to acquired CNET Networks Inc. for about $1.8 billion.
CBS says the acquisition will make it one of the 10 most popular Internet companies in the United State, with 54 million unique users per month and about 200 million users worldwide.
“CBS stands for premium content and unparalleled reach, and CNET Networks will add a tremendous platform to extend our complementary entertainment, news, sports, music and information content to a whole new global audience,” Les Moonves, president and CEO of CBS Corp. said today in a statement. “Together, CBS and CNET Networks will have significant additional exposure to the fastest-growing advertising sector and can accelerate our growth through a number of new content, promotion and advertising initiatives.”
Q-Ratio™: 0.6975 (Nissan Xterra) NBC’s “The Office” After Stanley snaps at Michael during a meeting, Toby tries to convince him that Stanley needs to be dealt with. Dwight buys Andy’s car. Pam’s forced to wear old glasses instead of her contacts.
