Ad Spending Up 5.6% in 1Q

Advertising spending through the first quarter of 2006 rose 5.6 percent over the same period last year, due to gains across major media, according to Nielsen Monitor-Plus research.

Advertising spending increased in almost all reported media, led by Internet, Spanish-Language TV and Outdoor. The 2006 Winter Olympics in the first quarter contributed to the increase in Network TV spending, as nearly 1.1 billion dollars was spent during the games. A number of media showed healthy increases, while Coupon, Local Newspaper and Network Radio experienced slight declines. Business-to-Business magazine and Cable TV growth was almost flat.

Advertising through the first quarter for the top 10 companies reached $4.6 billion, up 11.4 percent compared to the same time last year. AT&T, Verizon Communications and General Electric had significant increases in year over year spending, up 76.5 percent, 46.1 percent and 54.4 percent, respectively. Most of AT&T’s spending was attributed to Internet Service and General Image campaigning, while Verizon increased dollars to its V-Cast Wireless Services and Business Services. General Electric increased spending for Universal Pictures and Universal Studios, as well as GE Healthcare.

Arbitron Changes Schedule for Winter and Spring 2007 Surveys

Arbitron is changing the previously published start dates for the Winter 2007 and Spring 2007 radio rating surveys in all markets in order to “harmonize” quarterly ratings surveys with Portable People Meter reporting schedule, the company announced.

Outdoor Industry Closer to Electronic Transactions

In a move to allow the outdoor industry to allow for electronic transactions, the Outdoor Advertising Association of America has selected Spot Buy Spot to build the XML schema for the outdoor component of the American Association of Advertising Agencies’ ebiz for Media .

Home Depot Sells Ads On Website

Leading home improvement retailer The Home Depot announced it has begun selling advertising on its website, homedepot.com, which reaches some 4 million home improvement consumers each week, MarketingVOX reports. “Our goal is to allow a few key vendor partners the opportunity to educate millions of home improvement consumers about their distinctive and innovative products,” said Harvey Seegers, president of Home Depot Direct, in a statement.

NY Times to Reduce Page Size

The New York Times reports that it plans to reduce the size of the newspaper effective April 2008, making it narrower by one and a half inches. It will also close its printing operation in Edison, N.J. The resizing will be accompanied by a phased-in redesign of the paper and will mean the loss of 250 production-related jobs.

The reduction in the size of The Times will mean a loss of five percent of the space the paper devotes to news. If the paper only reduced the size of its pages, it would lose 11 percent of that space, but the paper will add pages to make up for some of the loss.

Opie & Anthony Ink Citadel Deal

Opie & Anthony is being picked up by eight Citadel Broadcasting markets, bringing the show’s total up to 19 markets across the U.S., RadioInk reports.

Dualstar Publishes New Tween Magazine

A new magazine for boys, Sprouse Bros. Code, will be launched by 13 year-old twin idols, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, reports Media Week.

CW Announces Fall Line Up

CW’s fall line up will include two new shows and will also rely on shows that are already established, Mediaweek reports. The new shows will include the drama Runway, and comedy, The Game. Established shows include 7th Heaven, Everybody Hates Chris, and Gilmore Girls.

Targeting College Students Through Cell Phones

Campus Media Group is targeting college students with ads and special offers via mobile phones, Media Life reports. To date, 3 million students have opted to receive the ads on their cell phones. “It’s an effective way to reach students in a time-sensitive way,” said Joel Eisfelder, media director. “It makes it easier to get in front of students on the go, using a medium they like to use.”

Biz Mags Look to Make Up Print Losses Online

With business magazines trying to turn the tide of dropping ad revenue, publishers are looking to the internet to make up for their losses, reports Media Life. For major business magazines, that means an increase in revenue from their online sites.