Advertising, ad campaigns, ad agencies, and the people that make it happen

So the big media news of the week is that if you're crazy enough to think that buying a TV spot on the Super Bowl is a good idea, it'll cost you $3 million for one thirty second spot in 2009! That's right, $100,000 a second. That's a ten percent increase over this years version. Now, I know it's one of the highest rated broadcasts year in and year out, but I honestly believe there has to be a better way to spend $3 million, or if you're Budweiser something like $20 million. Besides which, there's going to be a small fortune blown on the up coming Olympics in China. There might not be anything left in the kitty!

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We need all the help we can get!

There's been several reports over the last week or so that lucky iPhone users would be offered free Wi-Fi service at hotspots run by AT&T inside Starbucks and Barnes & Noble. A few days later, the free access was cut off. Then yesterday, AT&T’s own Web site said that its iPhone data plans included free Wi-Fi at the company’s 17,000 hotspots. A few hours later, that info was removed. Seems like according to an AT&T spokeshack The posting of the offer of free Wi-Fi on the company’s site was “a human error!” The mouthpiece than went on to claim... “Our Wi-Fi network is a great way of differentiating the AT&T network and giving customers another reason to choose us over a competitor.” Yeah... When it's available, and you don't have to pay through the nose to get it!

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The food will kill you... But the Wi-Fi is free!

There's a really interesting story in Business Week questioning whether or not Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google can remain on the board of Apple. The major reason being that while Google has been a great supporter of Apple and Apple products, providing lots of software for Apple's music-playing iPhone, notably a tool that lets users watch video from Google's YouTube site, Google is in fact, rapidly moving into areas where they will be in direct conflict with Apple. The biggest impact will be when Google will soon becomes a big backer of a company that could go head-to-head with Apple's U.S. iPhone partner in providing mobile Web access. Google is set to provide $500 million in funding for a joint venture between Sprint Nextel and Clearwire that will provide wireless Internet access at speeds faster than those available over the network run by AT&T, the only authorized U.S. iPhone carrier. And this, in spite of what the Apple Freaks want you to believe has always been the Achilles heel of the iPhone. Look for Schmidt to bale soon.

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It's been a blast, Eric!

Software publisher Take-Two Interactive Software Inc on Wednesday said it sold some 6 million units of its criminal action game "Grand Theft Auto 4" in its first week, with estimated retail sales exceeding $500 million. Reviews have labeled GTA (as fans refer to it) as featuring bucket loads of violence and sex, with segments featuring guys running over hookers after they have had sex with them... And that's just the mild stuff! The company, which is facing a takeover offer from rival Electronic Arts Inc said it sold about 3.6 million units globally at its debut on April 29. Retail chains such as GameStop Corp and Best Buy Co Inc took advance orders for the game weeks before the game was officially released.

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Wanna play?

When it comes to having a well known brand image, you can't deny that Victoria's Secret is definitely not lacking awareness in being known as "Sexy." Yet CEO Sharen Jester Turney seems to think that it now has become too sexy. The chief executive of the brand known for its provocative televised fashion shows and alluring stores recently made an admission that in her mind, the brand has become "too sexy" -- or at least the wrong kind of sexy. With a 50% share of the $10-billion-plus U.S. lingerie industry, you have to wonder just what the heck she's driving at? Turney said Victoria's Secret needs to win customers back to its core lingerie business by producing more sophisticated merchandise. It plans to improve the quality of its sleepwear, and has hired executives, including a new head of its beauty division, to bolster its product and store design. Makes you wonder what kind of TV campaign they'll start running next.

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Doesn't look too sexy to me!

When it comes to advertising, I've always' had a great suspicion about the value of celebrity endorsements... After all, you know that the company receiving the endorsement shelled out big bucks to get it. On the other hand, when stars of stage, screen and sports endorse a politico, you have to think there's something other than a big fat contract involved. That's why I was intrigued to read today that Tom Hanks has just endorsed Barack Obama... Which closely follows on the endorsements of Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Springsteen and Scarlett Johansson. Best of all was this statement from Hanks... "As an official celebrity, I know my endorsement has just made your mind up for you," the 51-year-old actor says in a short video titled, "Beware: Celebrity Endorsement." Hanks, who won Oscars for his roles in "Forrest Gump" and "Philadelphia," explains his decision: "It's because of his character and vision, and the high road he has taken during this campaign. He has the integrity and the inspiration to unify us, as did FDR and Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy and even Ronald Reagan when they ran for the job." Amen to that!

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DaBama Code!!!

Did anyone see the follow up hoo-ha to that whole Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair photo shoot? I'm talking about the disclosure that a Disney licensee ad in China, (don't forget, Miley's dad sold her soul to Disney when she was about one year old,) was  something that by American laws and standards, would most certainly get you a few years in jail in the US. Maybe in China, showing a ten year old in her underwear on a big billboard is no big deal, even for Disney. Apparently once Disney found out about it, the full moralistic force of Mickey, Pluto, Donald Duck and the rest of the gang was applied and the offending billboard was taken down.

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That's "Goofy!"

As analysts had expected, Wall Street pummeled Yahoo today after Microsoft's decision Saturday to throw in the towel in its bid to acquire the Sunnyvale Internet company. Yahoo's  stock price ended today down 15 percent at $24.37 a share, but still up from the $19.18 it closed at the day before Microsoft made its offer public Feb 1. Microsoft closed the day down 0.55 percent at $29.08. Pundits (and what the hell do they know?) said Yahoo's failure to drop back to its pre-offer level may reflect expectations that a deal with Microsoft isn't totally dead, and could be revived if Yahoo changes its mind. But for what it's worth, I think the long-term prospects for Yahoo are worse than ever. As a well known Silicon Valley lawyer put it today... "They are done for. They rolled the dice and lost. They are just going to languish out there. Couldn't have put it any better myself.

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Say hello to Yahoo!

As a blogger, I know something about what drives people to do it, and how few actually make any money at it. That's why I was interested to read about the success of Vera Sweeney, a stay-at-home mom with two babies,who needed an outlet, a place to pour her creative energy, and somewhere to indulge her obsession with celebrity gossip. So instead of reading other bloggers, she created her own. "I'm Not Obsessed" A place where those hungry for chat, photos and matters of the fashionistas will find the usual suspects at "Obsessed." Milla Jovovich out shopping was a recent lead story, and Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton were on hand, of course. She now maintains a stable of 12 writers who get paid according to the number of hits their pieces generate. Her ad base has grown — American Express and Revlon are among those companies onboard, and she says the site now receives more than 6 million page views a month. Not bad for someone who started the thing as a part time relief from her celebrity obsession.

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You wouldn't happen to have a straw, would you!

The much-hyped movie, "Iron Man," opens in theaters worldwide today this week, but the real "iron man" is already under construction at the Raytheon Company in Salt Lake City, Utah. Raytheon's Exoskeleton project is the brainchild of project leader Stephen Jacobsen and is being funded by the U.S. Army. The project, according to the company, permits soldiers to don an Exoskeleton suit that amplifies their strength enabling them to lift 200-pound payloads without tiring. In addition to amplifying strength and endurance, Raytheon also claims its Exoskeleton increases a soldier's agility--enabling feats similar to those demonstrated--through the wonders of CGI by the "Iron Man" in the film. Raytheon's Sarcos team, which has been developing the Exoskeleton since 2000, has demonstrated its wearer performing feats of strength as well as agility, including kicking a soccer ball, working out on a punching bag, climbing up stairs and navigating rough terrain.

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The client meeting is in two minutes... In Afghanistan!!!