Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.ads,americast.usa-today.ads From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: ads Tue, Oct 13 1992 Date: Tue, 13 Oct 92 05:19:04 EDT Message-ID: 10-13 0000 DECISIONLINE: Advertising USA TODAY Update Oct. 13, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network AD MEETING WATCHES DEBATE: The annual meeting of the nation's largest advertisers in Hot Springs, Va., began - appropriately enough - with the group huddled around television sets. But they weren't watching ads; the opening reception for the Association of National Advertisers coincided with Sunday's Presidential debate. And like the candidates, they haven't stopped talking about the economy since the debate. (For more, see special Meeting package below.) FOOD AD CHANGES ARE WORRISOME: Just as government efforts to revise food labeling have shaken up nutritionists, likely changes in food advertising is worrying consumer product companies. After the Food and Drug Administration adopts new labeling regulations in November, Federal Trade Commissioner Janet Steiger told advertisers, "Food advertising will continue to attract the commission's attention." FTC WILL PURSUE FALSE CLAIMS: Federal Trade Commissioner Janet Steiger said the FTC has pursued 13 claims of misleading food advertising since last year, including foods that claimed to be fat-free or low-cholesterol. A Congressional measure to require that advertising adhere to the same standards as labeling was defeated last year. Steiger says the FTC will guard against misuse of words like "light" and "fat." PEROT AD STORMS VIEWERS: Ross Perot's latest 60-second ad for his presidential campaign focuses on the national debt. "It is a massive storm that is clouding America's future," goes the narration. Analysts say the ad is indicative of Perot's campaign, which has spent more time assessing problems than providing solutions. SUPERMAN GOES NO FURTHER: Count Duracell among Superman's mourners. The Man of Steel has been starring in the battery maker's magazine ads. Tag line on the ad: "He runs like he's on Duracell." Alas, Superman is scheduled to die in DC Comics' issue No. 75, due Nov. 18. The ad has already been killed. Duracell found out about the death from news reports, which broke before DC Comics could alert licensees. DEBATES SWEEP RATINGS: More than four times as many network TV viewers watched the debates as CBS' baseball playoffs Sunday night. Of course, the debates were hard to avoid, airing on ABC, NBC, Fox and cable's CNN and C-SPAN. CBS drew 13% of viewers to the Oakland-Toronto game between 7:30 and 8:30 ET, 25-city ratings indicate. ABC and NBC combined drew 51% of viewers. Other ratings will be out Wednesday. STARS WILL PLAY `JEOPARDY!': For the first time, 15 stars will take the "Jeopardy!" challenge Oct. 26 to Oct. 30 in "Celebrity Jeopardy!," playing for charities. Participants: Ed Begley Jr., Beau Bridges, Carol Burnett, Robert Guillaume, Judith Ivey, Cheech Marin, Donna Mills, Rosie O'Donnell, Luke Perry, Regis Philbin, Alan Rachins, Emma Samms, Andrew Shue, Dean Stockwell and Steven Weber. CHAIRMAN BLASTS AIRLINES: Virgin Atlantic Airlines' Chairman Richard Branson has a list of complaints about major commercial airlines. "Most airline trips are sheer boredom," Branson told USA TODAY Monday, "and most airline advertising is absolute waffle." Branson says airlines squeeze as many seats as possible into a cabin, though ads stress comfort. He says Virgin has wider seats and more room between them. SEAGRAM WILL LAUNCH CHAMPAGNE: Seagram will launch a $5 million-plus global ad campaign for Champagne Mumm in November issues of U.S. magazines, according to Advertising Age. Eight red-toned print ads, tagged, "Paint the town rogue," were created by DDB Needham Worldwide in New York. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON MEETING: GROUP SHIES AWAY FROM BUSH: While business groups are traditionally conservative, the 524 people at the annual meeting of the Association of National Advertisers - from advertisers, ad agencies and media companies - haven't expressed much support for President Bush. Instead, they're asking "who's going to be able to get the country out of this mess," says John Vanderzee, Ford's vice president for advertising. SPEAKER IS OUT OF PATIENCE: Goodyear chairman Stanley Gault, one of Monday's keynote speakers, told the group he is "out of patience with those officials who have not given the business community the support it deserves in order for business in turn to provide the jobs." Still, Dave Ropes of Reebok said of the crowd,"Seventy percent would go Bush, 15% Clinton, 15% for the other guy." ADVERTISERS WILL BUCK GOP: But others said that while advertisers have their hearts with the GOP, Bush's failure to revitalize the economy has forced them to the Democratic camp. To most at the meeting, Clinton's election is virtually a foregone conclusion. The top topic to many is just what a Democratic administration will mean for the business. (End of package.) Advertising Editor: Martin Baucom. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM