'American Idol' Inspires Less Watercooler Chat

Word-of-Mouth Research Indicates Talk Has Dropped at Offices, Schools

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- "American Idol" is still the nation's most-watched program, but somehow this year people have a lot less to say about it. Daily conversations about the popular Fox talent show have sharply decreased since last year, according to a survey of Americans between the ages of 13 and 69 conducted by Keller Fay Group, a New Brunswick, N.J., market research firm that specializes in word-of-mouth analysis. FULL ARTICLE

Dish, NBCU Test Interactive Ads on DVRs

Will Be Available to 14M Subscribers

NEW ORLEANS (AdAge.com) -- As the cable industry struggles to scale its addressable advertising solutions for advertisers, NBC Universal is turning to cable's biggest competitors, the satellite pay-TV providers, for an innovative pact in interactive-TV advertising. FULL ARTICLE

Starcom Upfront Deal with Hallmark Furthers Engagement, HD Goals

Buyers Estimate Pact Is Worth $10M-$15M

NEW ORLEANS (AdAge.com) -- Starcom and Hallmark Channel have sealed one of the first upfront deals of the season, following last week's $300 million kids pact between Nickelodeon and Group M. The deal includes Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movie Channel and Hallmark Channel HD. FULL ARTICLE

3 Minute Ad Age: May 21, 2008

Cable Giants Focus on VOD Advertising Roadblocks

VIDEO
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- For all its incredible promise, video on demand has not caught fire as an advertising medium. One reason is the lack of a universal metrics system across all cable companies. Another is the technical barriers that require ridiculously long lead times for ad insertions. Nine months after it launched Project Canoe to address these problems, a consortium of cable giants provided a status report at the Cable Show. In other news in this 3 Minute Ad Age, the video-game industry is proving itself to be recession proof as product sales break new records. FULL ARTICLE

Fox Wins Night With 'House,' 'Bones'

But CBS Sitcoms Gain Viewers

RASH REPORT
MINNEAPOLIS (AdAge.com) -- Fox may have won the night, but CBS may have the last laughs. That's because CBS's sitcom lineup has has worked about as well as any scheduling strategy this season, with last night's season finales performing above last year's ratings. FULL ARTICLE

What You Should Have Read, May 21, 2008

Murdoch Taps Thomson as Top Editor at the Journal

The Wall Street Journal reports on itself, again. In a move that surprised no one, News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch named Wall Street Journal Publisher Robert Thomson as the paper's new managing editor and editor in chief of Dow Jones. As managing editor, he succeeds Marcus Brauchli, who left under pressure last month. As a result, he will continue to oversee editorial operations at Dow Jones Newswires, as he had when he was publisher. Les Hinton, chief executive of Dow Jones, will add to his duties the position of Wall Street Journal publisher. Mr. Thomson sent an announcement to the Journal staff Tuesday evening that said, "I am deeply honored by this appointment and look forward to working closely with you all. This is a news operation with enormous potential, both in the U.S. and around the world. I have no doubt that, together, we will realize that potential." FULL ARTICLE