Merrill Lynch: Only Internet to Have Real Ad Growth in 2006

The only medium to show real advertising growth is the internet, with cable TV also bucking the trend, according Merril Lynch’s 2006 ad expenditures forecast update two months into the year, writes Mediapost (via MarketingVox). Merrill reaffirmed its previous estimate of 4.6 percent total growth in U.S. ad expenditures from 2005 levels, a relatively conservative estimate; analyst Lauren Rich Fine wrote, however, that automotive industry advertising was an unstable factor that could undermine projections.

Sirius Satellite Radio To Launch ‘Court TV Morning Radio’

Sirius Satellite Radio and Court TV News have announced that Court TV Morning Radio - a weekday call-in radio news program hosted by Court TV News’s Vinnie Politan - is expected to debut March 20 on Court TV Radio.

U.S. Teens among Most Conservative, Brands Forced to Take Sides

U.S. teens appear to be more traditional and conservative than many of their global counterparts, including teenagers from India, China, Germany and France, according to the GenWorld Teen study from Energy BBDO. But not all teens fit this pattern and in fact an interesting “Blue Teen/Red Teen” phenomenon seems to be occurring: About half of U.S. teens qualify as Red Teens with strong conservative views, while the remaining half, Blue Teens, emphasize individuality and tend to reject tradition.

NBC Signs Up For Telenovelas

CEO Jeff Zucker announced that NBC Universal Television Group has signed Galan Entertainment in a two-year, first-look deal for the production of telenovelas and other English versions of Spanish-language formats across its networks, starting with NBC, Bravo, and USA, writes Broadcasting & Cable.

‘Financial Times’ Turns Profit, Sees Ad Revenue, Circ Growth

For the first time in four years, the Financial Times turned a profit in 2005, earning a total profit of $3.48 million, aided by a 9 percent increase in ad revenues over 2004, writes Editor & Publisher. So far this year, circulation has risen 4 percent, and revenues are up 12 percent.

‘Cooking Light’ Opens Restaurant Featuring Its Recipes

In a joint partnership with Chicago-based restaurant firm Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Cooking Light will open a kiosk restaurant called Cooking Light@foodlife, on Tuesday, that will prepare food exclusively from the recipes featured in the magazine, the New York Times writes.

News Corporation Creates Mobile Entertainment Store

The News Corporation launched its mobile entertainment store called Mobizzo on Monday and has created a production studio to focus solely on developing cellphone entertainment, writes the New York Times. The store is one of the first virtual mobile shopping malls produced by a major media company, selling directly to the consumers.

San Diego Alternative Forms Alliance with Spanish-Language Paper

The San Diego Weekly Reader will be the first alternative newspaper to form an alliance with a Spanish-language paper as it plans to publish two pages of news in Spanish from Diario San Diego, writes Editor & Publisher.

The agreement increases the reach of the paid, five-day Diario San Diego that has an estimated unaudited circulation of 6,800. The free Reader sends out 170,000 copies a week.

Clear Channel Radio Signs John Thompson For Life

Clear Channel Radio has signed Hall of Fame, former Georgetown University head basketball coach, John Thompson, to a lifetime contract with the SportsTalk station. The John Thompson Show airs weekdays and will feature interviews of sports coaches, players and writers.

New Lists Reach Private Golf Club Members

Marketers have a new way to reach the country club golf crowd - long an optimum but difficult to reach target - with a new list from KMC Marketing and list manager Names and Addresses. By using an in-house proprietary technology engine, KMC offers direct marketers a suite of direct mail lists that focus solely on actual, active private golf club members and private retirement golf community members.