Anheuser-Busch to Produce Own Content for Web, Mobile

The concept of user-generated content is apparently expanding… to include major brands, which are beginning to produce their own online content.

YouTube Launches Brand Channels; Paris Hilton’s Is First

YouTube today launched yet another attempt to generate ad revenue, allowing advertisers to promote their brands via customized channels on the site.

State Stuck with Sex Billboards

Back on the road

A federal appeals court struck down the recent Missouri law banning adult-oriented signs near state roads. The court ruled the law, modeled on a similar one passed in New Jersey, was unconstitutional on grounds that it wasn’t narrowly tailored. Some businesses, such as gas stations and truck stops, also were at risk of the ad ban if they dedicated more than 10 percent of their floor space to items such as adult DVDs or other sexually oriented items.

Newsstand Circ Drops

Magazine sales to...

Web competition - apparent now for both readers and advertising - and a continued growth in the cacaphony of magazine titles took their toll in 2006, with the first half of the year showing almost 50 million fewer magazines sold from newsstands. Time showed an enormous shortfall of 24 percent. Time said it would shift publication days to Friday in hopes of mitigating the decline by appealing to weekend readers, according to Reuters.

The decline of 48.7 million magazine copies - or about 4 percent of the total newsstand sales - comes at a time of increased circulation scrutiny by advertisers and auditors. The past two years have seen several high-profile print scandals and circulation hubbubs involving exaggerated claims of paid circulation.

NBC to Stop Telling People What to Watch?

Noting that NBC filed for a “TV For Me” trademark, Mediapost speculates that the major network is contemplating a customized programming effort. That the network hasn’t sown up the domain name rights for the mark isn’t surprising, given past precedent. (That domain currently belongs to a lucky Muscovite.)

TV Viewers Purchase HSN Products via Remote Control

In a first-of-its-kind for U.S. television viewers, Home Shopping Network is allowing shoppers to purchase the goods they see on the network using their television remote controls.

UPS: Chinese Consumers Covet American DVDs, Books, Shoes

Chinese consumers most desire American products such as blue jeans, moisturizer, DVDs and athletic sneakers, according to a UPS survey of 1,200 middle-class consumers in six Chinese cities, writes DM News.

Citadel Desires to Renegotiate Disney Deal

Unhappy with ABC
Radio's performance

Citadel Broadcasting wants to renegotiate some of the terms of its $2.7 billion deal to buy most of Disney’s ABC Radio stations.

‘Heroes’ Most Buzzed-About Show Online

NBC can look forward to redeeming itself a bit in the ratings war come this fall, if online buzz about its fall season shows is anything to go by.

New Tabloid Hits the OC

During a time when many newspapers are struggling with declining circulations and reduced advertising revenue, a new tabloid from The Orange County Register parent company, Freedom Orange County Information, has hit the streets.