Archives: February 2007

Sirius and XM: Let 'em Merge.

Posted by: David Kiley on February 27

I was reading one of the hysterical opinion pieces that have come out against the proposed merger of Sirius Radio and XM radio. The latest was from Automotive News, which...

Saturn Found Its Voice In A Hurry on Oscar Night

Posted by: David Kiley on February 26

I have been complaining for months, if not years, that General Motors' Saturn brand was groping for a clear voice in its advertising. Last month, the GM division fired...

MINI Lost Its Touch With New Webisodes.

Posted by: David Kiley on February 22

MINI has launched a webisode serial that stars a talking MINI reminiscent of the 1982-86 TV show Knight Rider. Indeed, the whole serial, titled Hammer & Coop, is meant...

Direct Marketers: Velociraptors with Stamps

Posted by: Burth Helm on February 21

I got this yesterday in the mail. It looks like it's from the IRS, right? Better open it!...

VW's Suicide Ad Gets Pulled. What Goes On?

Posted by: David Kiley on February 16

Last week, GM told suicide prevention groups that it would not pull or change an ad it created, via Deutsch Inc., that depicted a lovable human-like assembly-line robot having a...

Brand Marketers should watch Colbert

Posted by: Burth Helm on February 15

This man is brilliant at amusing and engaging his fans in ways that are new, surprising, and yet totally in keeping with his persona. The latest: a Colbert brand of...

Bud.Tv: So Lame I'm Angry.

Posted by: Burth Helm on February 12

I’ve only watched three sketches and a movie trailer so far on Budweiser's much anticipated and ambitious Bud.TV, a video and entertainment site that the brewer is expected to spend...

GM Agrees To Edit Super Bowl To Appease Offended Groups

Posted by: David Kiley on February 09

In the end, it will be the right thing strategically for GM, if not creatively. General Motors today is editing the Super Bowl spot it aired last Sunday to change...

Only Weak Advertisers Fold To Special Interest Ad Baiters.

Posted by: David Kiley on February 08

Special interest groups are making themselves heard about Super Bowl ads that offend them. Save me. Taking a page from Bill O'Reilly's war against Christmas playbook, The American Foundation...

Why I Think Coke Won The Super Bowl Ad Contest. Not Bud.

Posted by: David Kiley on February 05

So, Marketing editor Burt Helm and I reviewed the Super Bowl ads. And while Burt misguidedly chose the lesser of two Chevy ads as his favorite, I selected the...

Coke and Chevy had the best of the Bowl

Posted by: Burth Helm on February 05

I think my colleague Mr. Kiley said it best over the weekend: "This year's game had maybe one home run and a lot of singles and doubles." I agree -...

Dear Foot Locker: Why Waste Your Money? And Now I'm Ticked.

Posted by: David Kiley on February 02

Dear Foot Locker: I am on the national Do Not Call list. But lo and behold, I answered my phone this morning and was greeted by a recorded voice, saying:...

Coke and Nestle Hit with a Lawsuit for "Negative Calories"

Posted by: Burth Helm on February 01

Earlier this month I wrote a story about Enviga, the new green tea soda from Coke and Nestle that the two companies say has "negative calories." In it I mentioned...

The Whole Aqua Teen Thing

Posted by: Burth Helm on February 01

I know "ads as events" is a hot trend. "Ads as terrorist scare," may going too far, perhaps. Personally I've got to say that I'm surprised by the whole thing...if...