Agency

Real median household income in the United States climbed 1.3 percent between 2006 and 2007, reaching $50,233, according to a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the third annual increase in real median household income.

Telemundo Communications Group announced that it is re-grouping its digital assets under a newly created Digital Media and Emerging Businesses Division led by Peter Blacker as Executive Vice President Digital Media and Emerging Businesses. The announcement was made by Jacqueline Hernández, Chief Operating Officer, Telemundo, whom Peter Blacker will report to.

One of the key recommendations of a preliminary report on the state of Latinos in the United States is to establish a presidential advisory committee on Latino issues to increase the access of the Latino community to vital educational, health, economic, and civic opportunities.

The University of Denver(DU) and Grupo Salinas’ Fundacion Azteca America, the non-profit arm of the Azteca America Network, present the preliminary findings of a comprehensive study on the state of Latinos in the United States.

Industry insiders have revealed that the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies after a rapid-fire conference call on Friday unanimously agreed to support and fight along with the Spanish Radio Association in their battle with Arbitron and their filing of the concerns and a need for an investigation into the potentially damaging research practices of Arbitron Radio Ratings.

Highly place sources advised us that The Spanish Radio Association (SRA) (BMP Partners, Entravision Radio, Spanish Broadcasting System & Univision Radio) in conjunction with several key organizations and other minority broadcasters will file a request for an investigation to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) into the research practices of Arbitron Radio and its negative impact on the Hispanic Radio Industry and other minority broadcasters.

As many of you know, the US Hispanic Radio and the advertising agency industry are at a crucial standoff together, where they both agree that the incorporation of Arbitron’s Portable People Meter (PPM) technology to measure Hispanic radio listening and ratings generation is very disadvantageous to our Industry and other minority broadcasters.

On Monday August 18th, 2008 the PPM Council of the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) meet with the top brass at Arbitron in the hopes that their concerns would be heard and handled to improve the sampling of the minority population in the USA and that the sample proportionality would reflect a balanced of language preferences and country of origin required to properly measure our diverse Hispanic Consumer base.

Both language and country of origin play an extremely important role in determining format preferences and listening patterns of US Hispanics.

It’s that time of year again when the grass starts to appear greener in the eyes of a client, who may start to look toward some fresh perspective or firepower from a new agency. Affectionately known to agency and client executives as “Silly Season,” there’s really nothing “silly” about it. Remember, according to recent RSW research, clients don’t mind changing firms one bit, so what are you doing to maintain and grow that client base?

Members of the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) PPM Council met Monday in New York with representatives from Arbitron to discuss industry issues and concerns surrounding the impending Portable People Meter (PPM) roll out. While some details were clarified and additional data will be provided by Arbitron, overall AHAA council members feel the methodology, measurement, and design of the PPM ratings system remain flawed.

Jackie Bird has departed from her post as CEO of New York based Wing Latino. She is being replaced by Alain Groenendaal who was the General Manager of Miami based La Comunidad.

This comes on the heals of a management change at Grey Puerto Rico were Andres Claudio replaces Hector Ortiz as President. Mr. Ortiz replaced Ms. Bird when she was promoted to start Wing Latino in New York. Mr. Claudio join Grey Puerto Rico from McCann Puerto Rico.

Big shake up at Grey PR & WingLatino!

Levenson & Hill has been selected by Azteca Mobile to develop strategic media services for the wireless company’s pioneering mobile and radio services at the border between the United States and Mexico.