Will Jonas Brothers
take Bebo platinum?

Ad Networks and Analytics:

• AOL's behavioral targeting unit Tacoda is cutting all contracts with publishers. President Lynda Clarizio of Platform-A attributed the change to the consolidation of Platform-A, Tacoda and Advertising.com. Since Platform-A already has contracts with many of the same sites, it doesn't make sense to have two sets, Clarizio said.
• After drawn-out battles with privacy advocates and the loss of a lucrative relationship with Charter Comm., behavioral ad platform NebuAd has begun cutting staff.
• Russian online ad spend was up 73 percent, totaling $260 million, in the first half of 2008. MindShare Interaction estimates it will hit $600 million before the year is over.

Agencies and Marketing Execs:

• Great Works America made Fredrik Carlström its CEO and Executive Creative Director.
• Pulse Group, a market intelligence firm, just opened an office in Singapore, adding to its bases in Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, New York, London and New Delhi.

Biz Buzz:

• Buy.com implemented Bazaarvoice's Ask & Answer functionality. Users can now post or respond to product questions, which will appear alongside product information.
• CheckM8 will be powering online advertising for coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in Japan. The deal includes over 200 ad-supported video segments.

Gaming

• Gaming ad network Intergi has expanded to the United Kingdom, Australia and China. The company claims to be among the few ad platforms capable of serving online ads in a Flash environment.
• Russian company Gameland acquired magazine publisher Mediasign for $20 million.

Mobile:

• Mobile, widgets and the internet in general were big topics at ad:tech Chicago this year.

Publishing:

• Spammers are using Google Sites to evade junk email filters and CAPTCHA tests on online registration forms.
• Under an agreement with the International Olympic Committee, YouTube will host clips and highlights of Olympic events.

Social Networks:

• Read Write Web posted an article on the best days and times for a blog post to be submitted on sites like digg, Reddit or Mixx.
• Bebo has debuted an online series called "The Secret World of Sam King," marking its first collabo with a music label. (Universal Records UK is providing talent in the form of boy band The Jonas Brothers.) Previous Bebo web dramas, like "The Gap Year" and "Sofia's Diary," have generated 5,836,170 and 19,417,391 views, respectively.
• It's official: companies use social media to drive marketing improvement. The folks at Aberdeen are quick studies.

User Experience:

• Twilighters.org brings a series of vampire novels to life for some young readers. Their popularity is being compared to early gusts of Harry Potter mania.
• Wired conducted an interview with Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff about terrorism, laptop searches and the government's interest in computer security.
• Having just completed the PlaidNation Tour — an effort to teach countries coast to coast about social media — Darryl Ohrt contemplates the importance of workplace culture to a company's success.
• 236.com evaluates the effectiveness of Sen. Barack Obama and John McCain's campaign ads.
• Diana Hardeman of the What I Learned blog lists 14 ways Starbucks has tried and failed to revitalize its brand.