Agency

The average age at which children begin using consumer electronic (CE) devices has declined from 8.1 years in 2005 to 6.7 years in 2007, according to The NPD Group’s recently released report, Kids and Consumer Electronics Trends III. The report, which provides insight into the penetration of consumer electronics in kids’ lives today and how this has changed since the earlier 2005 and 2006 studies, measures device usage dynamics and trends.

DirecTV has assigned all US Hispanic media responsibilities to Miami-based Del Cueto Media Group (DMG).

The assignment was being handled by MPG in New York. All planning, negotiations and buying for 3Q 2007 going forward will be handled by DMG.

Wal-Mart Stores has ended perhaps the most storied agency-review process ever by giving its $60 million-plus account for multicultural media planning and buying to Starcom MediaVest Group’s 42 Degrees, New York, consolidating duties that had been with the retailer’s multicultural creative shops, according to people familiar with the matter.
By Jack Neff / Advertising Age.

starMedia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Orange, has unveiled its new online image, featuring a newly redesigned logo and Home page. starMedia has been steadily making enhancements to the portal and developing the relevance of its look and content, by adding new areas and features as well as allowing users more control, through “Web 2.0” elements that facilitate collaboration and sharing between users.

The pictures below were NOT taken in Mexico City or L.A.

Would you believe Soho in NYC?

Arbitron Inc. released a 30-market analysis of diarykeeper entries for Internet-based listening to AM/FM radio stations.

Global CEO departures have leveled off at a high plateau, and less than half of CEOs leaving office in 2006 departed under normal circumstances, according to the sixth annual survey of CEO turnover at the world’s 2,500 largest publicly traded corporations released today by management consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. The study found that corporate boards are quicker than ever to replace underperforming CEOs, as they focus more on grooming in-house leaders and turn to outsider and interim CEOs less often as outsider results continue to disappoint.

Total U.S. advertising spending is expected to increase 1.7 percent in 2007 to $152.3 billion, according to the full-year forecast released today by TNS Media Intelligence. This is a downward revision from the company’s prior forecast of 2.6 percent growth issued in January.

The first half of 2007 is projected to advance by just 1.2 percent while the second half of the year is expected to post a gain of 2.3 percent.

Advertising spending for the first quarter of 2007 was down slightly at 0.6% over the same period last year, according to preliminary figures released by Nielsen Monitor-Plus.

Advertising spending was mixed across media with gains in some categories and declines in others. Internet advertising continues to grow steadily with an increase of 31.9% in the first three months. National Magazines (6.5%), Spanish-Language Television (4.0%) and Spot TV Markets 101-210 (4.1%) also reported growth, while Network TV dropped by 8.5% this quarter compared to the same time period last year.

The American Advertising Federation (AAF) honored the exceptional work of the 2007 ADDY Award winners. The ADDY Awards are the world’s largest, and arguable toughest advertising competition, presenting both professional and student advertising. This year’s gala event took place during the AAF National Conference 2007, June 7–9, in Louisville, Ky.