Agency

Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages (CSAB), the Texas-based subsidiary division of London-based Cadbury Schweppes plc, announced that it has selected San Antonio-based The Cartel Group as the agency of record for Hispanic market efforts for its Dr Pepper brand.

If the experts are right, U.S. ad spending should rise about 5.1 percent in 2005, according to a consensus of new forecasts compiled by MDN. That average, which reflects a range of 2005 ad growth estimates from ZenithOptimedia’s +4.2 percent to Universal McCann’s +6.4 percent, compares with a 2004 consensus of +6.7 percent for U.S. ad growth. At that rate, the ad industry would fail to match the projected expansion in the overall U.S. economy in 2005, which is expected to see the U.S. gross domestic product grow by 5.5 percent.

For U.S. Latinos, feeling white seems to be a reflection of success and a sense of inclusion, according to a new report from the Pew Hispanic Center.

Hispanics who identified themselves as white in the 2000 Census have higher levels of education and income and greater degrees of civic enfranchisement than those who pick the census category of “some other race.” The findings of this study, which examined Census Bureau data and information from surveys and focus groups conducted by the Center, suggest that Hispanics see race as a measure of belonging, and whiteness as a measure of inclusion, or of perceived inclusion.

Arbitron Inc. announced that it has compiled detailed ethnic commuter profiles utilizing Census 2000 and Arbitron data to provide valuable information to the radio industry about ethnic commuters’ travel time, time of departure and method of getting to work. This tool is expanded to offer profiles covering Persons 16+ for Hispanic, Black, Asian, and Non-Hispanic White demographic segments.

Substituting radio ads for TV ads can significantly boost brand recall among consumers, a study commissioned by the Radio Ad Effectiveness Lab says.