Adverganza's Tuesday morning picks, 11.04.08

Wherein I scan the Election Day headlines so you have time to vote. (Don't worry ... I'll get to it too.)

From Advertising Age:

--Interpublic and WPP win lots of biz from Johnson & Johnson.
--Guess which carmaker's sales were down 45 percent last month? 32 percent? 23 percent?
--Guess which media company's revenue was down 37 percent in the third quarter?
--Party down! OMD wins $1 billion Renault-Nissan media biz.
--Ah, it all comes clear now. Former Heavy and Microsoft exec Eric Hadley moves to Yahoo as vp/U.S. field marketing where he'll no doubt work closely with former Microsoft exec Joanne Bradford. Also, Yahoo media honcho Scott Moore has left for parts unknown.
--3 Minute Ad Age: About the Hanger Network, which creeps me out. Do you really want ads hanging in your closet?

From Adweek:

--NBC Universal digital honcho George Kliavkoff says he's leaving at year's end. No word on where he's going.
--Hill, Holliday gets more Dunkin' Donuts business. Pass the java.
--In case we need one, a social network just for artists, called SohoMuse. Blah.
--McCann-Erickson wins Sirius XM business, where it will "to promote the use of Sirius XM Radio to owners of new and certified used GM vehicles." If there are any, that is.

From Mediapost:

--Automakers hope the worst is over. Hope springs eternal, I guess.
--Are you ready for "The Meow Mix Think Like A Cat Game Show"? Neither am I.
--CEO of Corebrand thinks the Dow will get back to 13,000 by the end of 2009.
--Hyatt really wants you to stay there.
--True, you can get free coffee at Starbucks today, but it's now also possible to follow Dunkin' Donuts on Twitter. Here's where you can sign yourself up.
--Still trying to stir up some excitement about this white spaces issue. Anyway, if you've been able to the FCC is probably going to vote on it today, because there's not enough voting to do today.
--More allegedly seamless digital ad planning and buying integration, this time courtesy of Comcast-owned Strata Marketing and Microsoft's Atlas.
--Full-length movies now available on Break.
--Wink and Reunion merge to create some kinda search/social networking mashup.
--Toby Gabriner moves to Tribal Fusion as CEO.
--Young viewers watching more commercials, even though they have DVRs!
--All those new measurement techniques in traditional media aren't all they were cracked up to be.
--Guess which radio company laid off 4 percent of its staff?
--Guess which aquatically-themed digital ad agency let go 40 employees?


From Mediaweek:

--Guess which Pennsylvania-based publishing company is laying off 10 percent of staff?
--Cox president Andy Fisher to retire.
--The Fockers meet primetime.
--Oh great, another reality show, this time pitting neighbors against neighbors.
--Fuse wins right to air Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame telecast, ensuring no one will watch it.
--Guess which Chicago-based newspaper company is planning drastic cutbacks in its Washington bureau?
--Guess which Pacific Northwestern newspaper is cutting 10 percent of its workforce?
--Marc Berman's Programming Insider: So far in November, everyone's in the game.

From The New York Post:

--Guess which major electronics retailer plans to close 155 stores?
--American Media's president and COO, John Miller, leaves the company.

From The New York Times:

--Everyone's favorite quadrennial controversy is back! Some networks may call the election before all the votes are in.
--Negative campaigning comes to brands.


From The Wall Street Journal:

--Those "people familiar with the matter" says Google and Yahoo sent a letter to the DOJ revising their proposed search deal, so that Yahoo can have no more than 25 percent of its search revenue come from Google. The deal would also only last for two years rather than as many as ten. Subscription required, but that's the skinny.
--Advertisers go for the warm and fuzzy in hard times. Subscription required, but if you don't have one, you can still watch this Pillsbury commercial with apologies to Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz."




Go vote, people.