ValueClick, Jumpstart Partner for Behavioral Targeting

Ad network ValueClick Media has agreed to retarget in-market car buyers who have previously visited Jumpstart Automotive Media’s network of car-related sites in what MediaPost terms an unusual behavioral targeting deal between two networks. Users who visit a Jumpstart in-market auto site or advertiser’s car site can be served ads if they appear on any of ValueClick media’s 13,500 sites. Jumpstart’s network includes Vehix, JD Power Autos, NADA Guides, and Consumer Guide Automotive.

Cinema Ad Revenue Up 20%

Cinema advertising revenue grew 20.6 percent to almost $528 million in 2005 from about $438 million in 2004, MediaPost reports. According to a report released by the Cinema Advertising Council, big brands using cinema advertising in 2005 included American Express, the Army National Guard, Hyundai, Nike, Toyota, Unilever, Verizon, Wal-Mart, and X-Box.

The growth seen in 2005 is down slightly from the 23 percent growth the industry enjoyed in 2004.

Off-screen advertising (lobby-based promotions) increased 17.6 percent to $75.2 million, Mediaweek reports.

‘TV’ Blimp Setting off Next Month

A blimp company, The Lightship Group, has recently received Federal Aviation Administration approval for an A-170 lightship, a giant blimp that flashes commercials, NFL highlights, movie trailers, or whatever else an advertiser wants to display on the 70-by-30 foot LED screen, AP reports.

Arbitron Boosts RADAR Sample Size by 25 Percent

Arbitron is increasing the sample size of its RADAR network radio ratings service by twenty-five percent from 100,000 diarykeepers to 125,000 diarykeepers. This will allow Arbitron to expand the Market by Market Reporting tool, which currently reports the top 25 DMAs, to the top 50 DMAs by September 2006.

Florida City Park Opts for Solar Scoreboards

Solar Night Industries, a manufacturer of solar products, has formed a partnership with Scoreboards-US to create, install, and market The Solar Sports Scoreboard to stadiums, parks, and other sporting venues throughout the United States, the companies announced today. The Solar Sports Scoreboard will be installed during the third week of June at the Miramar City Park in Miramar, Florida. The Miramar City Park Solar Sports Scoreboard will service teams on two cricket pitches, a football field, and four dual use soccer and baseball fields.

New List, Insert Firm Launched by Former Singer Direct VP

Former vp of insert management for Singer Direct, Laurie DeLuca, has launched a new full-service list and insert management company called SMD Media Services Inc., DM News writes. Prior to her stint at Singer Direct, she was vp of insert management at American List Counsel.

Canada’s ‘The Coast’ Claims Top Honors in Alternative Newsweekly Awards

Canadian paper The Coast was the big winner in the 2006 AltWeekly Awards - announced Friday by the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies - claiming first and second place in Editorial layout and first place in the illustration and website categories for small circulations. For large circulation column categories, OC Weekly won first place for Column with Gustavo Arellano’s “Ask a Mexican!” and first place for Political with Rebecca Schoenkopf’s “Commie Girl.”

ABC Price Hikes Highest in Upfront

The final prime time dollar tally for the upfront marketplace remains unknown, even as buyers and networks begin wrapping up their business this week and turn their attention to cable and then syndication, writes Mediaweek. Many media agency execs have said that they have held back money in expectation of new programming and digital opportunities that will arise after the season begins, which means that the total amount of upfront business written will likely be less than last year’s approximate $9 billion.

While last week, insiders estimated that about $5 billion in prime time advertising had been written, total take will depend on how each network calculates its upfront dollars. For example, NBC’s upfront take will vary greatly depending on whether it includes its four hours of Sunday Night Football sales in its tally.

CMO Tenure Dwindles to 23 months

The average tenure of a CMO has shrunk even further, according to a new survey from Spencer Stuart, down from a sobering 23.6 months in 2004 and 23.5 months last year to an even tighter 23.2 months this year, AdAge reports.

There’s no easy answer to why the window of opportunity slams so fast for the CMO. But marketing executives believe that while the pressure to perform is exacerbated by the short-term demands of Wall Street, they are also hindered by lack of access to CEOs.

A CMO Council study from last year found that top marketing executives admited that poor performance has led to a lack of influence within the corporate hierarchy. Only 10 percent of respondents to the CMO Council survey said their marketing groups are “highly influential and strategic” within the company. Less than half said their teams are “well regarded and respected,” even though two-thirds of CEOs polled in a separate survey by Chief Executive magazine said their marketing groups are “mission critical” for creating top-line growth.

African Americans Still Few and Far Between in Advertising

“There’s not a lot of desire by [general market] agencies to become more integrated,” says Don Richards, senior vp-agency diversity at the American Association of Advertising Agencies, in an AdAge article about racial diversity in the ad business. In fact, were it not for pressure on agencies by government authority to fuel diversity, most agencies would be unlikely to take action, according to the article.