WGA strike conceives
online network

Ad Networks and Analytics:

• Social advertising intelligence firm Xtract raised 7.5 million euros, the equivalent of $11.74 million dollars, in a series B round of funding. Its clients include Nokia, T-Mobile, BLYK and Vodafone.

Agencies and Execs:

• AOL poached Kate Burns, the managing director of Google UK. Burns is now VP and Managing Director of Bebo Europe, charged with expanding Bebo's services into Italy, Spain, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
• Adap.tv hired Dakota Sullivan as VP, Marketing & Product. Sullivan will assist in "advertising optimization for online video publishers," said CEO Amir Ashkenazi.
• Marcus Brauchli, formerly of The Wall Street Journal, replaces Len Downie as executive editor of The Washington Post. One reason for his hiring is his ability to change the paper's structure — or employees — "without overly demoralizing the staff or hurting the product that we put out in print or online," said Publisher Katharine Weymouth.

Biz Buzz:

• Gannett has acquired ShopLocal, a potentially useful mate to PointRoll, which Gannet purchased in 2005.
• The Kerry Group acquired RJ/RG, LLC, a web-based marketing intelligence firm based in St. Louis.
• Unilever's United Kingdom arm extended a long-term agreement with new media firm Kaboose.
• P&G set ThermaCare, its brand of heat wraps, on the auction block.

Mobile:

• The TV screen remains the most-seen platform, but mobile is fast catching up.

Online Content:

• Google might add walking directions to select locations on its Google Maps service.
• Strike.TV, which was born during the Writers Guild of America strike, launched an online network. View a teaser. The first three months of ad revenue will be donated to the Entertainment Assistance Program of the Actors fund.

Publishing:

• Halogen launched an ad network targeted to households that earn over $1 million per year.

Search:

• Yahoo has notified the European Commission of its ad deal with Google. Given that the EU Commission passed the Google/DoubleClick merger, they will likely grant Google and Yahoo the right to liaise.
• Microsoft said it would be willing to buy Yahoo if the latter changes its board of directors. Yahoo snaps back: "If Microsoft and Mr. Ballmer really want to purchase Yahoo, we again invite them to make a proposal immediately." And the beat goes on.

Social Networks:

• Reacting to the success of MySpace's redesign, Facebook shall launch a new profile design next week.
• Building on its cause-empowering cachet, Twitter is hosting a national blood drive "Tweet-up".

User Experience:

• A survey finds over 80 percent of heads of households will be over 55 in the next five years.
• Ad optimism is beginning to wane: fewer media buyers plan to increase budgets in TV, newspapers, radio and outdoor.