Industry News 2008-07-14

By one measure, marketers' Web spends top TV, radio

Marketers in 2008 will allocate more of their ad budgets online ($105.3 billion), including spending on their own Web sites, than on TV, radio and movie spots ($98.5 billion), according to a new report by Outsell Inc. The survey of 1,088 U.S.-headquartered firms also found that marketers plan to increase their Net spending by 12.3% this year, and that 61.8%, or $61.5 billion, of their online budgets would be used for their own Web sites. Los Angeles Times»

Industry News 2008-07-08

ISPs backtrack on targeting

Last week, cabler Wide Open West became the third ISP to reverse plans to deploy ad-tracking software by NebuAd that tracks online activity at the Internet service provider level. This technique allows marketers to target ads based on the sum of a user's online activity, including e-mail and instant messaging as well as Web site visits and searches. While the technology encrypts data so that it is not traceable to individual users, privacy advocates and some critics in Congress have expressed concern that this type of tracking is invasive. The Wall Street Journal» 

Industry News 2008-05-06

Marketers still want a rival for Google

While the Microsoft-Yahoo! deal didn't work out, many marketers are hopeful that a competitor to Google in the search engine space will emerge. WPP Group CEO Martin Sorrell said, "If you had a stronger No.2, you'd have a more competitive choice against Google.! Forbes»

Industry News 2008-05-05

MIcrosoft's Failed Yahoo Bid Risks Online Growth

Steven Ballmer, Microsoft's chief executive, walked away from a Yahoo deal on Saturday still looking for an answer to his company’s fundamental problem: its time-tested recipe for success isn’t working against Google, the leader in the current wave of Internet computing. The New York Times»

Industry News 2008-05-02

Ballmer speaks about Yahoo options

Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer discussed his proposed acquisition of Yahoo with his employees saying, "I will go to what I think it's wirth if that gets a deal done." He added that a decision about whether Microsoft will pursue a hostile takeover of the Web portal would be announced "in relatively short order." The Wall Street Journal»

Press Release 2008-02-19

Nordic search marketing is expanding - Keybroker accelerates with Investor Growth Capital

Investor Growth Capital (IGC), the wholly owned venture capital arm of Investor AB, invests € 5 M in leading Nordic search specialist Keybroker AB. The capital injection will be used to continue development of Keybroker’s search advertising system CampaignControl™, to reinforce Keybroker’s Nordic market position and drive Keybroker’s further expansion in to the UK, France and Germany. Read the Press Release»

Industry News 2008-02-12

Online ad sector likely to withstand slowdown

An ongoing economic slowdown is likely to prompt marketers to cut back on their ad spending in most areas except för the online segment. This segment grew by 27% last year, according to IDC analyst Karsten Weide. ClickZ»

Industry News 2008-02-01

Microsoft Offers $44.6 Billion for Yahoo

Microsoft's unsolicited offer comes as it tries to catch Google in the race for online ad dollars. Yahoo shares jumped 54% in premarket trading. BusinessWeek»

Industry News 2008-01-08

Microsoft Buys Fast, Plays Catch-Up

Can Microsoft's acquisition of a company that sells specialized search engines help it close the overall Web search gap with Google? BusinessWeek»

Industry News 2007-12-20

FTC Approves Google's acquisition of DoubleClick

Despite opposition from rival Microsoft and privacy watchdog groups, the FTC today approved Google's $3.1 billion acquisition of ad-serving firm DoubleClick. The vote was four to one. Google/Associated Press»

Industry News 2007-12-05

Net to drive ad growth in 2008

Worldwide online ad spending, which is projected to grow from $36 billion this year to $44.6 billion in 2008, offers a bright note in an otherwise mixed report from ZenithOptimedia. North American ad spending is projected to rise 4.1%, while spending worldwide is likely to rise by 6.7% in 2008, despite a "quadrennial kick" from the Olympics, the U.S. presidential election and a European soccer championship. Advertising Age»

Industry News 2007-11-14

Ad agencies to take biggest hit from digital shift

According to a survey done by Accenture of 70 industry leaders, ad agencies are likely to feel a greater impact from the digital shift than broadcasters and cable operators. Half of the industry leaders predict that digital will be the leading content and advertising medium within the next five years. Adweek»

Industry News 2007-11-12

U.S. Net ad sales up to 25% in Q3

U.S. Web ad revenue continued to grow in the third quarter. According to the report from IAB and PricewaterhouseCoopers the web ad revenue has increased with 25% over the same period last year. CNET/Reuters»

Industry News 2007-11-08

Ad dollars in flux

Advertising industry executives are expecting changes in the flow of advertsing dollars in the next five years, with a major shift of funds away from traditional media companies and into ad exchanges such as those operated by Yahoo! and Google. Adweek»

Industry News 2007-11-02

MySpace, Bebo sign on to OpenSocial

MySpace, the world's largest social network, announced it would join the Google-led OpenSocial alliance to create common application standards for third-party developers. MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe said, "OpenSocial is going to be become the de facto standard for developers right out of the gate." Bebo, a Britain-based social network with 39 million users, also has joined up with the alliance. The New York Times »

Industry News 2007-11-01

FTC looks at online privacy

The Federal Trade Commission is hosting two days of meetings that will bring together industry leaders, privacy advocates and academics to discuss online privacy. As behavioral targeting techniques become more sophisticated, some privacy advocates are concerned that marketers can access too much personal information about Web users. Many large Web companies are mindful of these concerns and are mulling different strategies to allow users to opt out of targeting. The New York Times »

Industry News 2007-10-31

Judge: American Airlines can pursue Google lawsuit

American Airlines is allowed to proceed with a federal lawsuit against Google that alleges the search giant infringed on its trademark by selling keywords with its trademarked names to competitors. A Google spokesman questioned the merit of the suit, saying the company's trademark policy "strikes a proper balance between trademark owners' interests and consumer choice" and has been backed by other courts. Forbes/Associated Press »

Industry News 2007-10-31

Microsoft raises search, ad investments

Microsoft closed its first fiscal quarter, a quarter in which it completed its acquisition of digital marketing shop aQuantive, with $13.76 billion in revenue, a 27% increase over the same period in 2006. "We are investing in the organic aspects of the business. A lot of investment has gone into the search product itself, and we're extremely happy with the improvements on aspects like relevance, which is critical going forward," Microsoft CFO Chris Liddell said. ClickZ »