CBS Television has negotiated an agreement with its affiliates that gives stations a portion of the revenue generated from the distribution of network content across new media platforms, including the Internet, VOD or other offerings, Mediaweek reports.
Yahoo has agreed to a process for refunding money to thousands of advertisers dating back to January 2004 and will pay $4.95 million in attorney fees to settle a click fraud class-action lawsuit, reports the Associated Press (via MarketingVOX). Yahoo also committed to working with others in the industry to define what constitutes click fraud. The agreement, which does not place a cap on Yahoo’s liability, received preliminary approval by U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder in Los Angeles.
Universal McCann’s forecaster, Bob Coen, has revised his overall U.S. ad spend estimates downward, except he’s bullish on internet ad spending and has revised his estimates upward, reports MediaPost (via MarketingVOX). Coen now forecasts that internet ad spend excluding search - will amount to $9.705 billion this year, or a 25 percent increase from 2005.
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Clear Channel Outdoor has formed a business relationship with Mitsui & Co. to explore business opportunities in Japan, writes the San Antonio Business Journal. According to Clear Channel Outdoor global president Paul Meyer, “The establishment of this relationship with one of Japan’s most respected corporate enterprises is a major step in solidifying Clear Channel Outdoor as the world’s leading outdoor advertising company.”
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Agency holding company Interpublic Group has finalized a multifaceted agreement with social-networking site Facebook.com, with IPG clients as a result receiving prime advertising space as well as consumer research from the site, reports AdWeek (via MarketingVox). As earlier reported, IPG will acquire less than .05 percent of Facebook as part of the deal.
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XM Satellite Radio announced today that country music legend Willie Nelson will join XM to launch Willie’s Place on XM’s traditional country music channel, formerly known as Hank’s Place. In his new role as “proprietor” of Willie’s Place, Nelson will provide creative direction for the channel, as well as contribute exclusive programming to Willie’s Place and other XM music channels.
An agreement between the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and the United Parcel Service (UPS) has expanded the relationship between the two, increasing the number of cities to which UPS delivers First Class and Priority mail on behalf of the USPS. Previously, UPS delivered First Class and Priority mail to 16 cities, but the new contract, which begins July 1 and lasts three years, with a possible two-year extension, calls for delivery to 98 cities, writes Multichannel Merchant.
Univision and Telemundo are expected to see substantial gains in this year’s upfront over last year, with Merrill Lynch analyst Jessica Reif Cohen predicting that Univision will do some $1.11 billion in ad sales for an increase of 10 percent and that Telemundo will pull in $330 million for an increase of 25 percent, Media Life reports. Overall, the upfront should see a 12.5 percent increase in the Spanish-language upfront, to just under $1.45 billion, according to Cohen.
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World Wrestling Entertainment, formerly known as the WWF, launched an new lad mag named WWE Magazine today. WWE is folding its two preexisting magazines, RAW and SmackDown into the new title, which will focus on the lifestyles of WWE wrestlers, their activities outside the ring, and what they like in movies, music, gadgets, and fashion.
Poor choice for UPN Ratings for both the WB and UPN - merging in a matter of weeks into the CW - are sinking, with UPN’s average rating down among adults 18-34 by 27 percent compared with last year and the WB’s average rating down 22 percent among the same demo, Media Life writes. Neither network aired much original programming this summer, which is a large cause of the problem, but Media Life points out that much of the programming from the two networks has not connected with viewers.
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Inc.com broke a new outdoor branding campaign earlier this week in New York City that will run through August 20th. The campaign targets business owners and C-level executives at privately held companies. The outdoor ads will appear on 20 public telephone kiosks located throughout the midtown Manhattan business district and will feature copy and artwork touting the key features available on Inc.com.
The campaign is meant to reflect Inc.com’s growth: nominated for 2006 Eppy and Webby awards, the site now attracts more than 600,000 unique visitors each month.
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