Google Base Readies for Retail Push into Europe

Google intends to turn Google Base, still in beta, into an online retail platform and make a significant push into Europe’s retail market, giving traditional retailers a base from which to offer their goods online, reports the Financial Times (via MarketingVOX). Nikesh Arora, head of Google’s European arm, is quoted as saying that Google has asked retail and possibly real estate companies to submit details of their goods and prices for Google to index.

APX Logistics Files for Chapter 11

Third-party logistics provider APX Logistics filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection yesterday, DMNews reports. In the filing, APX said that it has 5,001-10,000 creditors, that its estimated assets are more than $100 million and that its estimated debts are more than $100 million. APX Logistics is the largest of the dozen or so Parcel Select consolidators that specialize in small-package delivery.

Air America Continues Flight

Despite rumors to the contrary and struggles to defend itself, Inner City Broadcasting’s WLIB New York will continue to be the flagship station for New York-based liberal talk network Air America Radio, Billboard Radio Monitor reports. The companies are in the process of finalizing a new agreement. “Inner City has always had faith in the mission of Air America,” ICBC vice chairman Skip Finley added.

Growth for Weekend Supplements Outpaces Traditional Mags

Ad pages and revenue for weekend supplements are up and newcomers are launching new publications to take advantage of an outlet that they view as having untapped potential to reach media-saturated consumers, MediaPost reports.

Companies are realizing that magazine supplements can deliver big numbers for national marketers. Media buyers say that major benefits include reach and the different mindset readers have on the weekend when more time is taken with the publications. People also tend to read supplements on the day the newspaper is printed, making supplements a popular vehicle for direct response ads.

NBC Dramas Get Pre-Upfront Push

NBC has given early orders to two new dramas, Kidnapped and The Black Donnellys, the network reported during its pre-upfront meeting, Mediaweek reports. Both series were given 13 episode orders.

NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly also reiterated that NBC was moving away from the traditional development cycle, ramping up a new slate of programs in June for on-air consideration in spring and summer 2007, Reuters reports. He talked up what he referred to as NBC’s most aggressive summer lineup yet, including the drama Windfall, which will start in the Thursday 10 p.m. slot inhabited by ER.

Microsoft Launches $500 Million Campaign

Microsoft has launched its $500 million campaign for its new People Ready business vision, which positions the brand as delivering tools and technology to help empower people, with eight-page color inserts in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, Brandweek reports. Two-page spreads for the new campaign will follow.

Cable Giants Battle Over Ads

Verizon says Comcast, Cablevision and Time Warner Cable have rejected its ads, which criticize the rising costs of cable service, Adweek reports.

CMP Media Launches Global Custom Events

CMP Media has announced the launch of a full-service global custom events group. Recent CMP acquisitions of industry event producers including Shorecliff Communications, Black Hat and MediaLive International’s Technology Media Group, make the launch possible. CMP Media said it is now the largest producer of hi-tech events in the world.

Marketers Dissatisfied with Measurement Tools

Executives and marketing professionals said that measuring marketing continues to be a top priority, yet 86 percent of respondents to a VisionEdge Marketing survey remain dissatisfied with their ability to measure and track marketing performance.

NBC Creates Web-Only Episodes of ‘The Office’

NBC will release 10, 2-minute webisodes of The Office on its website, NBC.com, this summer - the first time the network has created video programs exclusively for the web, according to Mediapost.

The Office has averaged a 4.5 rating in adults 18-49 since moving to Thursday nights at 9:30 in January, and has twice in recent weeks scored NBC’s top telecast of the week among adults 18-34.