Boost Mobile Preps Super Bowl Ad

By: Todd Wasserman

• Boost Mobile will run its first Super Bowl ad this year, a rep has confirmed

(www.adweek.com)

AT&T Cuts Off Tiger Woods

By: David Gianatasio

• AT&T on Thursday said it was ending its sponsorship deal with Tiger Woods.
• The telecommunications titan issued a brief statement saying it was splitting with Woods and wished him well but offered no elaboration

(www.adweek.com)

Michael Phelps in Subway Return

By: Elena Malykhina

• Despite controversy over Michael Phelps’ marijuana use earlier this year, Subway continues to stand by the Olympic swimmer. The sandwich chain this week is debuting a new TV spot featuring Phelps, who promotes Subway’s $5 foot-long offerings.

(www.adweek.com)

BrandShield Tool to Debut

By: Mike Shields

• As the Web becomes more fragmented, and as more online advertising is sold through third and fourth parties via networks and exchanges, major brands are taking extra steps to ensure that their campaigns run exactly as planned.
• As a result, a slew of companies have emerged that specialize in online ad verification services, enabling brands to monitor their campaigns in real time and make adjustments as needed.

(www.adweek.com)

Condé Nast Makes Ad Concessions for 2010

By: Lucia Moses

• Condé Nast, which has been facing pressure from advertisers to be more flexible on rates, is seeking a 2.5 percent CPM hike in 2010, half its customary 5 percent.

(www.adweek.com)

Hulu, Warner Music Ink Deal

By: Anthony Bruno

• Warner Music Group has become the second major label to strike a content licensing deal with online video hub Hulu. The agreement brings music videos, concert performances, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage to artist-branded pages within the Hulu site.

(www.adweek.com)

VeriFone to Acquire CC Taxi Media

By: Katy Bachman

• VeriFone, a provider of technology for electronic payment transactions, has inked a deal to acquire the Clear Channel Taxi Media business from Clear Channel Outdoor. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed

(www.adweek.com)

Ford Plays Tag With iTunes

By: Katy Bachman

• Ford, the first U.S. automaker to offer factory-installed HD Radio receivers, is adding iTunes song tagging to its growing list of high-tech options. In 2010, Ford vehicles will offer the two new features alongside terrestrial radio, Sirius satellite radio and Internet radio.

(www.adweek.com)

Updated: Mcgarry Scores Maxwell House

By: Andrew McMains

• Mcgarrybowen has added yet another Kraft Foods brand: Maxwell House, which comes at the expense of Ogilvy & Mather in New York, the client has confirmed

(www.adweek.com)

Shawn Johnson Flips Over New Nestle Crunch

By: Elaine Wong

• Nestle is promoting its revamped Nestle Crunch Bar via a YouTube and social media push, featuring Olympic speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno and gymnast Shawn Johnson

(www.brandweek.com)

Gatorade’s G2 Channels Ali to Punch Up Its Messaging

By: Noreen O’Leary

• Gatorade offshoot G2 is attempting to broaden its appeal by featuring a wider array of athletes in new ads, which aim to underscore the fact that the drink is also low-calorie.

(www.brandweek.com)

Panasonic Unwraps ‘Beard Busting’ App

By: Elaine Wong

• Panasonic is promoting the launch of new high-end razors with an iPhone application that lets consumers draw and “bust a beard.”

(www.brandweek.com)

Puck Up: Geico, NHL Form New Partnership

By David Goetzl

• The big-spending Geico is now the official insurance partner of the NHL, an agreement that comes with some exclusivity for advertising on several league-controlled platforms.
• Separately, the deal includes TV inventory on NHL games on NBC, including the Stanley Cup playoffs, and real estate on national cable outlets and NHL digital platforms.
• Geico spent more than any other insurance advertiser in 2008 ($620 million), heavily in sports, according to TNS Media Intelligence.
• Horizon Media is the company’s media agency. The deal is its first on a national level with the NHL, which Horizon executive Charlie Legg stated was prompted partly by some higher ratings for hockey and emerging NHL stars.

(www.mediapost.com)

Versus To Run NBA’s D-League Games

By David Goetzl

• The network will carry 16 contests (including six playoff games) from the NBA Development League — with regular-season broadcasts outside of prime time at 11 p.m. EST Saturdays.
• Teams in the 9-year-old league play in small markets, from Fort Wayne to Reno to Sioux Falls, but do have players with intriguing story lines trying to make comebacks and return to the NBA.
• Looking to jazz up the D-League broadcasts, Versus has rights to place microphones on players and coaches during the games, as well as conduct in-game interviews.

(www.mediapost.com)

Survey: Mobile Execs See Big Ad Gains In 2010

By Mark Walsh

• Nearly half of mobile industry executives and analysts in a new survey expect mobile ad spending to double this year, while almost one-third expect it to grow by 200%.
• The survey by mobile consulting and research firm Chetan Sharma on 2010 predictions also covered topics including app stores, tiered pricing and mobile payments.
• The continued growth of mobile data worldwide is expected to be the top mobile story in 2010, followed closely by the new Google phone and Android, with the rumored Apple tablet computer rounding out the top three.

(www.mediapost.com)

ESPN 3D to show soccer, football, more

• Sports broadcasting will enter a new dimension in 2010…the third dimension, as ESPN will unveil the industry’s first 3-D network.
• ESPN 3D will showcase a minimum of 85 live sporting events during its first year beginning June 11 with the first 2010 FIFA World Cup match, featuring South Africa vs. Mexico, ESPN and ABC Sports president George Bodenheimer announced.

(www.espn.com)