Microsoft Makes Space for Ads on MSN Spaces Blogs

Any minute now, Microsoft is expected to launch a major upgrade of MSN Spaces, including its blogging features, to include a revenue-sharing advertising option and a new partnership with Kanoodle and Amazon.com, reports Publish (via MarketingVOX), citing Liveside.Net and other Microsoft watchers. Apparently, MSN is partnering with web advertising provider Kanoodle to allow MSN Spaces bloggers to opt into displaying ads and sharing in the revenues generated.

Google Tests Desktop AdWords Editor

Google this week began testing a desktop application - AdWords Editor - for managing multiple AdWords campaigns, in multiple accounts, and then bulk-uploading changes, reports ClickZ (via MarketingVOX). “The application is particularly useful for advertisers with large accounts containing multiple campaigns and long keyword lists,” according to a Google FAQ. AdWords Editor is available, initially, only to Windows 2000 or Windows XP users.

Busch Tops All-Time Super Bowl Spending

According to TNS Media Intelligence, Anheuser-Busch, a 20-year advertiser in the Super Bowl, is the biggest ever Super Bowl advertiser at $230.5 million, Mediaweek reports. Pepsi comes in second at $180 million, General Motors third at $55 million, and Time Warner fourth at $53.4 million.

Media Buyers & Planners Have Faith in FOX

Almost half of media buyers and planners polled by Media Life believe FOX can still win the season in 18-49 viewers, despite coming into the midseason further behind in the ratings and without the Super Bowl.

48.4 percent felt that FOX may be starting from farther back, but with 24 off to a great start, Prison Break poised to build on last fall, an even more powerful Idol and big boosts for House and Bones, Fox will be competing for No. 1 by May.

NYT Magazine Achieves 9 Percent Gain in Ad Pages

The New York Times Magazine announced today that its total advertising pages in 2005 increased by 316 pages – a 9 percent gain and nearly three times its increase in 2003-2004 new ad pages. According to The Publishers Information Bureau, this makes the magazine the second highest-ranked national magazine in advertising pages, just behind People Weekly.

Interest Groups Adopt Different Ad Strategies over Alito Nomination

Conservative and liberal interest groups fighting a battle over the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court have adopted starkly different media buying strategies, according to new data released today by the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law and the Justice at Stake Campaign. The data shows the groups combining to spend slightly over $2.5 million for and against Alito since his nomination on Oct. 31, 2005. While nearly double the amount spent for and against Chief Justice John Roberts, the figure is nonetheless much lower than many had predicted.

BellSouth Airs Spanish-Language Ad Campaign

BellSouth Corp. has launched a Spanish-language ad campaign designed to increase Hispanic subscribers to the company’s “BellSouth Answers” bundles, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reports. The campaign, designed by Bromley Communications, will run across radio, TV, and print in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, with other media running in BellSouth’s nine-state service area.

Boston Triathlon: Desperately Seeking Sponsor

The Boston Triathlon, formerly known as the Monster Challenge, needs a title sponsor for its 6th annual event in order to remain viable, the event’s organizer, DMSE Inc., has announced. The event, held Labor Day weekend in Boston’s waterfront district and throughout the city’s historic streets, attracts nearly 1,000 athletes annually, including elite athletes Simon Lessing, Victor Plata, Barb Lindquist, and Karen Smyers who compete at the Olympic Distance.

Without a title sponsor, however, organizers will be forced to cancel the 2006 event.

Future US Takes Over Publication of Six Atlanta-Based Mags

Future US Inc. has taken over the publication of six Atlanta-based magazines that were acquired last June as part of Future Networks USA’s purchase of 38 titles from Highbury House, the company announced today.

Study: 45 Percent of Christian Radio Listeners Avoid Secular Radio

Paragon Media Strategies, working with Goodratings Strategic Services, has conducted an online survey of Christian CHR radio listeners to discover why the group listens to Christian radio, whether they listen to secular radio, and what formats they like, Radio Ink reports. The study, conducted in Nov. 2005, found that 45 percent do not listen to secular radio at all.