Archive for July 10th, 2008

With the FCC still investigating Comcast for its traffic shaping practices, the company has announced a deal to work with Voice over Internet Protocol provider Vonage to address network management practices. “Although we’re competitors with Comcast, this understanding helps our two companies work together to balance the needs of network management with consumers’ ability to freely access the services, applications and content of their choice,” Louis Mamakos, Vonage chief technology officer, said in a statement.

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Endemol USA is launching a new division focusing on branded entertainment for TV and digital media.

Both divisions will expand, with Joerg Bachmaier being elevated to vp business development, strategic planning, digital media.

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An analysis by independent media agency TargetCast shows the average cost per unit for a prime-time commercial on the broadcast television networks in the second quarter declined by slightly more than 11 percent to $139,728.

Fox averaged the highest 30-second commercial unit cost at $254,852, clearly bolstered by American Idol, and also declined by only 2.7 percent from its second quarter average last year.

ABC’s average commercial unit cost, according to TargetCast, was $142,194, down 5.1 percent from last year. CBS’ average commercial unit cost in prime time was $118,224, down a whopping 18 percent, while NBC’s average commercial unit cost was $103,693, down 11.1 percent.

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Air McFly

Walk a Mile in McFly’s Shoes

by Mike Krumboltz

July 9, 2008 12:16:00 PM

1989 was a big year. The Berlin Wall fell. The Exxon Valdez spilled its guts. And there were protests in China’s Tiananmen Square. But those were just side attractions to the year’s most memorable moment—the debut of Nike’s “Air McFly” sneakers in “Back to the Future 2.”

The film, which largely took place in the year 2015, introduced viewers to many a futuristic wonder, but none were so iconic as the light blue high-tops worn by Michael J. Fox. Ever since the film premiered, folks have been begging Nike to produce the shoes for the masses. Now, Nike has finally obliged… sort of.

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Pepsi is putting a familiar twist on its core brands. “Pepsi Lemon NFL Kickoff” colas will hit shelves on Aug. 11. The limited-time-only, lemon-flavored soda will be available in both diet and regular until November. A Pepsi rep confirmed the details of the pending launch.

Pepsi is no stranger to lemon-flavored cola. Its Pepsi Twist colas debuted in 2000 and were discontinued two years ago. PepsiCo, as well as Coca-Cola, have shied away from full-time line extensions in favor of a less risky in-and-out strategy.

Most recently, PepsiCo has introduced Sierra Mist Undercover Orange (in conjunction with the movie Get Smart). Last year, it trotted out Pepsi Summer Mix, Mountain Dew Game Fuel (tying in with Halo 3) and Sierra Mist Lemon Squeeze.

The new entry, which will be available nationally in 20-oz., two-liter and 12-pack cans, will be supported by TV, print and online ads. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (who has been linked to pop singer Jessica Simpson) will make his third appearance in a Pepsi spot. Marketing will tout the product as “Pepsi with a kick of lemon.” BBDO, New York, is Pepsi’s agency.

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By iTVX Staff

This Michael Jackson photo is making rounds this morning on the Internet. Apparently taken in Vegas, the King of Pop looks pretty frail outside a Starbucks. Not product placement per se but definitely worth noting or maybe not.

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Just hours after WPP Group’s hostile takeover bid today, market research giant Taylor Nelson Sofres has terminated its merger agreement with German research company GfK so that GfK can pursue a separate bid for the company.

GfK in turn confirmed today that it is negotiating with an undisclosed financial firm to mount an all-cash offer for TNS.

In a statement, GfK said negotiations with the third party are “at an early stage,” and reserved the right to make a mixed offer (such as cash and stock) for TNS depending on how talks progress with the prospective financial partner.

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Wipeout! (For scripted series, that is.) On the night that the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists approved its contract with the producers, network TV produced a night of non-actors in reality shows trouncing reruns of scripted series.  Reality series accounted for every show but one at 8 p.m. ET, with ABC’s “Wipeout” wiping out not just the competition, but its slight demographic dip of last week’s second episode. The 4.0/13 rating and share in the ad-centric adult 18-49 demographic was 21% higher than its strong starter episode, making it the one potential surviving series — if not, eventually, the breakout hit — of the season.

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PHD, Omnicom Group’s second-largest media agency, will be led by a quartet of executives as it searches for a replacement for Matt Seiler, who is leaving his role at North America CEO to run rival Universal McCann, part of Interpublic Group of Cos.

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Interactive TV, the technology that gives TV shows and commercials web-like functionality, is gaining some serious traction among networks and marketers. Witness MTV Networks’ tween-centric network, The N, which will debut its first ad-supported i-TV campaign this Friday during the premiere of its new reality series “Queen Bees,” exclusively in Dish Network households.

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