Agency

At the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates and Microsoft President of the Entertainment & Devices Division Robbie Bach unveiled several new entertainment services and partnerships, including new deals with Disney-ABC Television Group, NBC Universal and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), that demonstrate how software is improving people’s ability to connect with their favorite content and communities through new and expanded forms of entertainment experiences.

Total U.S. measured advertising spending is projected to increase 4.2 percent in 2008, according to the full-year forecast released by TNS Media Intelligence, the leading provider of strategic advertising and marketing information. Measured expenditures are forecast to grow by 3.6 percent in the first half of 2008 followed by a gain of 4.7 percent in the second half.

FMI, management consultants and investment bankers to the construction industry, announce the publication of the 2008 U.S. Construction Overview.

Associate Creative Director Dan Peralta and Senior Designer Manaf Al-Naqeeb have joined Sensis in its quest to help its clients capitalize on these diverse markets.

Entrepreneurship, the willingness to take a risk and start one’s own business, has always been the driving force of the U.S. economy. Research indicates that among American minority groups, Hispanics are the most likely to start their own business. The most recent government data shows Hispanics own the largest number of firms.

More than a quarter of the companies who participated in Next Level SMG’s recent marketing trends study said that their biggest single regret of 2007 was not investing more effort to understand what makes their customers tick. At the same time, they said that new products or line extensions launched this year would have the greatest long-term impact on their business.

Advertising spending in U.S. measured media is expected to show almost a four percent gain in 2008 compared to the previous year, when spending was up about three percent, according to a new study from GroupM.

PR Newswire announced its acquisition of Hispanic PR Wire, LatinClips, and Hispanic Digital Network, recognizing the need for highly targeted marketing tools among those who communicate with the influential, fast-growing Hispanic market.

Planet Earth and global manufacturing issues increasingly figure into consumers’ spending decisions, with a vast majority of holiday shoppers expressing a willingness to pay more for eco-friendly gifts and taking note of the country where items were made, says the 2007 Annual National Shopping Behavior Survey by audit, tax and advisory firm KPMG LLP.

Dieste Harmel & Partners announced their decision to resign the JCPenney account. The Agency informed the retailer last December of their decision. Since 2004, Dieste has been the Hispanic agency of record for the company.