Stella's on the market
Ad Networks and Analytics:
- MySQL is a sleeper hit in the online ad space.
- Real estate site Zillow launched Showcase Ads, an ad platform that enables local advertisers, lenders and brokers to build targeted campaigns.
- Online ad spend in the United Kingdom has overtaken mainstream TV ad spend.
Agencies and Marketing Execs:
- Studio Director Tim Nolan of Firstborn Multimedia has left to become Executive Content Director at Digital Agency Freedom + Partners. Nolan will manage video content production and interactive design.
- TMP Directional Marketing hired Brian Huegel as senior director of business development for its interactive division.
- French firm Havas is setting up a digital ad firm in the Philippines, arguing digital ad spend will grow significantly there. (Last year, a new coalition called CreaM tried positioning the country as Southeast Asia's creative media capital.)
- WidgetBucks adds Kirby Winfield to its team as Chief Revenue Officer.
- LA-based marketing agency Fanscape adds two: ex-Ascent Media Group employee Lori Dicker, now VP of Interactive Media; and Michael Francesconi, Senior Manager of Social Media (and ex-HuffPo blog community manager).
- Aparna Pande joins Disney Publishing Worldwide as VP, GM of US Consumer Magazines.
Biz Buzz:
- InBev is holding a creative review for its Stella Artois brand, an account worth $40M-$50M.
- Media6Degrees, Inc. has closed $9 million in series A funding, led by US Venture Partners. The company focuses on applying social network theory to online advertising.
- Online tween fashion site Stardoll has hit 20 million registered users, doubling its membership of mostly women in less than one year.
Legal, Government and Regulation:
- The Federal Election Commission ruled that online media outlets, including blogs, may advocate political candidates without being subject to campaign finance regulations.
- Facebook faces another class action lawsuit regarding its Beacon ad platform. But the plaintiffs-to-be are having trouble convincing courts Facebook has broken any laws.
Mobile:
- Russia ranks 4th in global mobile internet penetration, with 11.2 percent of Russian mobile users accessing the 'net from handheld devices. The top three include the US (15.6 percent), United Kingdom (12.9 percent) and Italy (11.2 percent).
Overseas:
- The Times School of Marketing, the first institution of its kind in India, was inaugurated last Thursday. It boasts 36 graduate students.
Social Networks:
User Experience:
- The Fay Observer's David Work critiques the marketing of prescription medication during the Olympics, whose athletes are under significant pressure not to use strength-enhancing drugs.
