Here’s today’s AdExchanger.com news round-up… Want it by email? Sign-up here.
Omnicom Reports; Acquisitions Imminent?
Agency holding company, Omnicom Group, reported Q4 earnings yesterday. Profit fell, but hey, there’s profit ($229.6 million worth). Organic revenue fell – but not as much as analysts expected. Read more from AdWeek. Also, it looks like Omnicom is on the verge of making digital acquisitions (digital agencies? digital tech? both?) as CEO John Wren said, “We plan to expand our portfolio of specialized digital properties and we should be making some targeted acquisitions and funding a few start ups as we get into the beginning of the year.” See the Seeking Alpha transcript.
More Google Telecom Aspirations
Google has $25 billion in cash right now according to The Wall Street Journal Market Beat blog’s Matt Phillips. Are they thinking of buying ad technology companies? Likely. But, they’re also thinking about ultra-super-fast broadband as the WSJ reports that the company will test such services in a few, select smaller towns and cities to show the super-fast benefits and possibly consider another entry (e.g. Nexus One phone is another) into the telecom space. Here’s the WSJ overview. And, read Phillips’ commentary. Last but not least – The Google Blog chimes in.
The NY Times Reports Digital Strength
The New York Times reported Q4 2009 earnings and digital advertising which showed year-over-year strength in digital but, oh man, look at the numbers for print: “The News Media Group’s print advertising revenues decreased 20% in the quarter, while online advertising revenues rose 4% mainly due to growth in display advertising.” Bring the pay wall, quick! But “big ads” apparently helped the digital cause – from the call: “We saw gains in the News Media Groups display advertising during the quarter from new large format display ad units.” Later in the call, The Times’ Martin Nisenholtz elaborated on digital growth due to About.com and both CPC advertising and direct-sold display: “The categories that have been strong include CPG, consumer packaged goods, travel, education and financial services.” Full transcript from Seeking Alpha here.
Demand-side platform [x+1] announced “NexTargeting Summit 2010” which is to take place on Thursday, March 18 in New York City. The event will focus on “customer-centric, real-time audience targeting” and include a broad range of panels and speakers including Google’s Group Product Manager on the DoubleClick Ad Exchange, Scott Spencer, Merkle’s David Williams and author/social critic Steven Berlin Johnson among many others. Request invite here.
The Shifting Browser Sands
Quantcast shines a light on its network of pixels as it relates to browser data. The findings are that Microsoft’s Internet Explorer is experiencing significant year-over-year decline as insurgent browsers Firefox and Safari and Chrome make head way. Read more on the Quantcast blog.
Big Brand Retargeting
Fetchback announced that it has caught the retargeting eye of Sears as the enormous retailer said that it’s looking to drive traffic back to SearsHomeServices.com using Fetchback’s retargeting services. The release says, “FetchBack was selected due to its retargeting success with other large, name brand clients.” Read it. If you’re a huge eCommerce company, why wouldn’t you retarget?
AdMeld Forum Videos
If you didn’t make it to the AdMeld Partner Forum event last week in NYC, check out the videos that are now available on AdMeld’s site. Both the supply and demand-sides are represented as well as a wide mix of panel and one-on-one discussions. See ’em.
Golfing For DOOH
Are you buying audience in digital-out-of-home, yet? You will. DOOH proves that advertising opportunity is potentially everywhere as in: Sports Retail Network has acquired “Worldwide Golf Shops’ (WGS) digital signage network and will merge it with The Golf Network (TGN) [www.TGNgolf.com] – the country’s largest network of digital displays serving golf retailers across the country, according to the company.” Fore!
Agencies Strike In Belgium
Belgian agencies are in an uproar about the pitching process so they’re striking according to digitalmedia. Now that’s the spirit! DM says, “The agencies claim the pitching process is running out of control and threatening the viability of many agencies.” Familiar refrain, but a strike? Read more.
MySpace Exec Shown Door
PaidContent’s Staci Kramer covers the exit of MySpace’s Owen Van Natta as Mike Jones and Jason Hirschhorn are apparently take over. Van Natta has only been there a year – wonder what the parachute looks like? See the internal announcement here.
Microsoft And IPG Unite
Microsoft and IPG has joined in advertising matrimony according to Forbes’ Laurie Burkitt who says, “The deal that will make Microsoft the go-to ad technology provider for the U.S. offices of ad giant’s agencies, including McCann-Erickson, Deutsch, Hill Holliday and The Martin Agency.” It’s unclear what “go-to” means, but it’s a win for Microsoft who also nabbed a deal with Publicis when they bought Razorfish last year. Read more.
ComScore Reports And Buys
Audience measurement firm ComScore reported earnings and it was a record. Read the release (PDF). Adjusted EBITDA was
$8.6 million in Q4 2009 vs. $6.5 million in 2008. Revenues and earnings beat analyst expectations according to the WSJ. ComScore wasn’t done with announcements as it said that it has acquired ARS Group, “a deal that will strengthen the company’s position in measuring advertising and its effectiveness in television, online, print and integrated cross-media platforms.”
Advertising Offline, Driving Online
ClickZ’s Kate Kaye looks at how online companies are going offline. In particular, quick-serve restaurants (QSRs!) and other home retailers are the target of Yahoo! who “will sponsor events and conferences held by franchise companies for their franchisees and partners” as Yahoo! looks to penetrate the local advertiser market. Read more.
