New Publicis Digital Venture Rumored

Publicis Groupe Media has been recruiting high-level agency media execs and will soon announce a major new digital business venture having to do with that recruitment drive, chief innovation officer Rishad Tobaccowala said Tuesday, but would not provide details, MediaPost reports (via MarketingVox). The article points to the recent hiring of Nick Pahade, EVP and managing director of WPP Group’s Beyond Interactive unit, and says Scott Witt, group director-digital for Publicis’s Coca-Cola City unit will be involved in the new undertaking.

In-Car Navigation to Offer Real-Time Traffic Data from Clear Channel

Clear Channel’s Total Traffic Network, a division of Clear Channel Radio, announced that real-time traffic data is now available on the Kenwood KNA G510 navigation unit unveiled last week at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Total Traffic Network provides live, local traffic information in 125 metropolitan markets in the U.S., Mexico, and New Zealand.

ASA: Young’s Bitter Billboard Must Come Down

A Young’s Bitter billboard in the U.K. has been fingered by the Advertising Standards Authority as falling foul of the rules, put into effect last summer, that said advertising could not link alcohol with social and sexual success, Reuters reports. The ad showed a man with a ram’s head (the symbol of the brewery) by a swimming pool, surrounded by women in bikinis, along with the slogan, “This is a Ram’s world.”

The ASA said the advertisement, along with another from Young’s, should be withdrawn. A Young’s spokesperson denied that the ads linked beer with sexual success.

IPG Commits to PPMs for Radio Planning, Buying

When Arbitron deploys the Portable People Meter system, Interpublic Group will use it, having signed a contract with Arbitron to use the PPM-based radio audience estimates whenever it is rolled out, Arbitron announced today.

Year-to-Date Magazine Ad Revenue Rises 7.2 Percent

Magazine ad revenue increased 9.7 percent, to $2.2 billion, in Dec. compared with Dec. 2004, and ad pages rose 3.4 percent, according to a report released Tuesday by the Magazine Publishers of America, B to B reports. For the year, revenue rose 7.2 percent, and ad pages rose .5 percent. Ten ad categories increased revenue and ad pages in Dec., with double-digit increases in drugs & remedies (25 percent) and media & advertising (15 percent). Technology was up a respectable 7 percent.

‘Official Xbox Magazine’ Names New Ed-in-Chief

Official Xbox Magazine has named Francesca Reyes the publication’s new editor-in-chief, making Reyes the only woman to hold the top editorial position at any major-market videogame publication. Reyes most recently served as the magazine’s executive editor.

ABC Delivers Over $106 Million in Value-Added to BCS Sponsors

Tostitos, Federal Express, Nokia and Citi, scored more than $106 million of in-game signage and enhancements from ABC Sports during the four college football BCS telecasts, according to Image Impact research. Tostitos led the way with $30,376,683 in exposure. This included over $26 million during the Fiesta Bowl on 520 logo detections and another $4 million in exposure during the other three BCS games. Tostitos also had the highest quality logo presentation.

Consumers Choose Ads Over VOD

Sixty-two percent of consumers prefer free on-demand TV programs with commercials rather than VOD programs without commercials that cost $1.99, according to new research from Points North Group and Horowitz Associates. Seventeen percent would choose to pay $1.99 without commercials. Twenty-one percent are undecided.

For consumers aged 18-34, 68 percent want free, ad-supported versus 26 percent favoring pay, and only 5 percent undecided.

The research seems to contradict CBS surveys that showed average TV viewers would purchase about 100 hours of VOD programming per year.

NBC to Air Record Live Coverage of Winter Olympics

NBC Universal networks’ coverage of the Torino Winter Olympics will include the most live coverage ever for a Winter Olympics, Mediaweek writes. The networks - NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, USA, NBC HD, and Universal HD - will average about 24.5 hours of coverage per day over the 17 days.

Expect ‘American Idol’ to Stay Strong in Season Five

The fact that Tribune Entertainment will likely confirm a syndication deal for American Idol this week hasn’t diluted the appeal of the series for this season, Media Life writes. The series, which generated its best ratings last year - landing the most-watched program of the season and propelling Fox to its first full-season win in adults 18-49 - is returning for its fifth season next Tuesday, and many media buyers believe it will be as strong as ever.