Archive for July 16th, 2008

Wendy Clark, a prime force behind the rebranding of AT&T, is stepping down as svp, marketing for the telecom giant.

A statement issued by the company stated that it is beginning a search for her replacement: “The AT&T brand is iconic in the communications industry globally and the company is one of nation’s largest advertisers. We plan to conduct an extensive search for candidates to lead AT&T’s advertising and brand management efforts as the company continues to expand, domestically and globally.”

Full Story

Share This

Comcast Entertainment Group has named David A. Palmer as its senior vice president of brand development and talent alliance.

Mr. Palmer will be responsible for maximizing exposure and revenue associated with brand extensions and business opportunities in partnership with network talent and key franchises for E! Entertainment Television, the Style Network and G4.

Full Story

Share This

Through the first 10 days of the Tour de France coverage on Versus, 20.8 million viewers have tuned in to some portion of the race, according to Nielsen Media Research data, making it the most-watched Tour telecast in the cable network’s history.

For the live morning race telecasts during the first 10 days, the network has averaged a household rating of 0.3, flat from last year.

Versus shows the competition live in the morning, televises an encore of the morning race in the afternoon, a fringe encore telecast at 5 p.m., a prime time encore at 8 p.m. And a late night encore at midnight.

Full Story

Share This

Share This

MGM/UA has begun restructuring its marketing department. Dennis Rice resigned his post as president of marketing and publicity at UA, and the studio has hired Michael Vollman to dual posts of MGM exec veep and president of marketing for United Artists.Vollman, a 10-year DreamWorks vet, became exec veep of integrated marketing and national publicity for Paramount Pictures, after the studio’s acquisition of DreamWorks. Vollman informed his Par bosses Tuesday night, and was freed up to take the new post, sources said.

The hire was spearheaded by Mary Parent, chairperson of MGM’s worldwide motion picture group, who has made a marketing overhaul a priority as she aggressively acquires material for a homegrown MGM slate. Vollman takes the top post at UA, but it is likely that Parent isn’t finished and will name a marketing topper for MGM.

Full Story

Share This

Samsung, in an effort to interest the male, 18-34 demographic in its new Instinct handset device, has partnered with Break.com to create a three-part series providing virtual tours of three Major League Baseball stadiums.

Keith Richman, CEO of Break.com parent Break Media, said the effort “provides the opportunity to integrate a core brand message, leveraging the actual product [the phone’s video capability], which we really haven’t been able to do before.”

Full Story

Share This

Sony Corp. began offering a video-downloading service Tuesday for its PlayStation 3 videogame console, part of its aim to broaden its audience and grab a piece of the growing content-downloading market.

The launch also reflects the fruits of a three-year push by Sony Chief Executive Howard Stringer to revitalize the company by getting its business units to work more closely with one another.

Full Story 

Share This

I’ve written extensively about Cultural Movements. They have the power in this digital world of ours to create huge new brands, rip down governments and break age-old traditions. I looked at Cultural Movements from the perspective of marketing, politics, technology and culture.

The two most important aspects of our world are clearly technology — its ability to make the world more efficient, sustainable, more humane — and culture — how we do what we do. It’s natural then to look upon the revolution happening in the traditional advertising world with understanding and clarity.

Full Story

Share This

Procter & Gamble global marketing officer Jim Stengel is leaving the packaged-goods giant after 25 years and will be succeeded by Marc Pritchard, P&G’s president of strategy, productivity and growth, the company said today.

Full Story

Share This

Bluefly, the leading online retailer for on-trend designer clothing at a great value, is pleased to announce the company will come back as the lead retail sponsor of the fifth season of Bravo’s three-time Emmy-nominated hit reality series “Project Runway,” premiering tonight at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. The renewed partnership between Bluefly and “Project Runway” will offer style-conscious consumers and fashionista fans of the show access to the glamour and excitement of the fashion design world, as well as the chance to replicate the winning look from each design challenge with the latest fashion and accessories on Bluefly.com. The winner of this season’s ”Project Runway” will once again be given the opportunity to sell his or her creations exclusively on Bluefly.com alongside over 350 of the most eminent fashion designers in the industry.

Full Story

Share This