Yahoo Benches Semel, Fields Co-Founder Yang

Back in Charge

Yahoo announced today (via MarketingVOX) that CEO Terry Semel will step down as CEO, handing the top spot to co-founder Jerry Yang. The move remains in keeping with a dozen-year trend of very large interactive firms first turning to Hollywood executives for mainstreaming, and (where companies hadn’t completely cratered) later washing themselves of the L.A. ethos. Early moves by Semel to push technology applications involving video and studio content faded in the face of relatively little user interest.

In the intervening six years of his tenure, Yahoo went from the internet’s number one growth story to a relatively stagnant second fiddle to Google. That transition was pointed to very starkly at the most recent shareholder meeting - which might explain why rumors of his resignation jumped up Yahoo’s stock three percent at the end of today’s trading session, according to MarketWatch.

Media Audit: Public Radio Listeners Are Empty Nesters

People who listen to public radio are 59 percent more likely than the average to be “affluent empty nesters,” according to a recently released Radio Format Report from the Media Audit (via Radio Ink).

Sony to Focus on Creating Broadband Channel

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Sony hopes a new internet strategy will keep it from repeating mistakes it made in the past, reports The Wall Street Journal (via MarketingVOX).

Crawford Signs for PPM

Crawford Broadcasting has entered into a multi-year agreement for the Arbitron Portable People Meter audience measurement service when the PPM system is deployed in Chicago, starting in January 2008.

‘WSJ,’ ‘USA’ Today Plan Glossy Magazine Releases

The Wall Street Journal is envisioning a glossy magazine for distribution within its Weekend Edition on Saturdays in order to offer more lifestyle editorial and bring in advertisers eager to advertise on glossy pages.

Jon Stewart Being Courted by NBC

Jon Stewart is reportedly being courted by NBC. According to a network source, NBCU’s president/chief executive Jeff Zucker and NBC Entertainment’s new co-chair, Marc Graboff, recently wined and dined the Comedy Central star and his agent, writes Broadcasting & Cable.

Richer Rich Media and Video Boost Online Ad Performance

User engagement and interaction are significantly improved in ads that leverage video and “richer” rich media compared with GIF and simple Flash rich media advertisements, according to a rich media study conducted by InsightExpress and commissioned by Viewpoint Corporation, reports MarketingCharts.

GE, Pearson Considering Dow Jones Bid

General Electric is in talks with Financial Times-owner Pearson to decide whether it will team with the company to bid for Dow Jones.

FamilyFun, Wondertime Team for Discover Puerto Rico Day

FamilyFun and Wondertime magazines are partnering with the Puerto Rico Tourism Company to host an event at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. The “Discover the Sights and Sounds of Puerto Rico” event, being held June 23, will include activities for children along with a sweepstakes for a chance to win a family trip to Puerto Rico.

U.S. Ad Spending Down 0.6 Percent in Q1

Advertising spending for the first quarter of 2007 in the U.S. was down just 0.6 percent compared with the first quarter of 2006, with gains in some media categories and declines in others, according to preliminary figures released last week by Nielsen Monitor-Plus, reports MarketingCharts.