WPP is entering the auction for Razorfish along with Publicis according to PaidContent’s David Kaplan who writes, “For WPP’s part (or bid), despite doubts about its wherewithal to absorb such a large shop and meet Microsoft’s estimated $600 million asking price, the holding firm’s dealmakers may point out Publicis’ close relationship with Google.”
Jon Fine of BusinessWeek continues the privacy hit parade of recent days saying that the targeted ad business would crater if cookies were not “on” automatically and tracking became opt-in. But, “‘If you have no cookies and no data, in many ways it will make search engines more valuable and, potentially, make Google even more valuable” since it doesn’t use cookies according to Rishad Tobaccowala, CEO of Denuo. Fine also argues that companies who have already collected tons of data – like Yahoo and Microsoft – could benefit since new competitors wouldn’t be allowed to build similar databases. The portal is back!
And on that note, Google’s Ad Planner has received a makeover says AdOperationsOnline’s Otilia Otlacan. You can view the ad planner here.
According to The Wall Street Journal Digits blog, during a recent exclusive Allen & Co. conference attended by media titans in Sun Valley, Idaho, the outlook on the economy was gloomy and uncertainty reigned about the digital future – even Twitter! But, good news.. John Malone, Chairman of Liberty Media, said that “Warren Buffett privately told him that he would pay $5 a month for YouTube.”
FarneyMedia covers an Association of Online Publishers event in the UK and reports on publishers’ perspectives on ad exchanges.
From Forbes.com, a new report says that the advertising crash is “forever” in traditional media based on a study from private equity fund Catalyst Investors.
“Interpublic’s Mediabrands unit has hired former Home Depot CMO John Ross and named him president of its Emerging Media Lab,” according to MediaPost’s Joe Mandese. He adds, “The fact that Mediabrands has chosen to situate the head of its retail media practice within its emerging media think tank speaks volumes about the role and emerging media technologies.”
Back in June, Tumri won a “Stevie Award for the “Computer Hardware Campaign of the Year” for its work on Hewlett Packard’s 2008 Holiday Campaign.”
Burst Media and Break.com talk “back-to-school” with ClickZ’s Tessa Wegert. (Gee, Mom. Is summer already over?) A Burst Media studay says that “only 16 percent of shoppers will spend less money this year than last, and nearly one quarter will actually spend more.”
Finally, PubMatic has (re)designed itself a sleek, new website.
