Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.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 Thu, Oct 15 1992 Date: Thu, 15 Oct 92 04:48:41 EDT Message-ID: Lines: 111 10-15 0000 DECISIONLINE: Advertising USA TODAY Update Oct. 15, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network BUSH CAMPAIGN LINKED TO AD: A congressional committee is probing charges of illegal links between the 1988 Bush campaign and an independent group that produced the famous Willie Horton ad attacking Michael Dukakis. CBS News reports election officials received a tip that Lillie Fediay, who developed anti-Dukakis ads for the group, may have gotten newspaper clippings about Horton from a Bush campaign worker. ADVO ACQUIRES CIRCULAR BUSINESS: ADVO Inc. said Wednesday that it has acquired substantially all of the advertising circular distribution business formerly conducted by CBA Shared Mail Systems Inc. in the greater Philadelphia area. CBA, privately held, distributed advertising circulars through a combined mail and hand delivery distribution system. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed. SATURDAY NIGHT SEEMS DEAD: Saturday night network viewing is at all-time lows. CBS has scrapped "Frannie's Turn," and more entries could follow. But Robert Urich and the producers of ABC's "Crossroads" are fighting back. Urich will appear on "The Tonight Show" and "Live With Regis and Kathie Lee" to ostensibly sell the show. Producers say they won't alter the show's content. EINHORN SCHEDULES TV MEETINGS: Chicago White Sox owner Eddie Einhorn, a member of Major League Baseball's three-man TV committee, scheduled meetings with the three networks to listen to proposals for the TV format beginning in 1994. Most likely change: The regular season ending a week earlier to accommodate expanded playoffs, which would include cable telecasts. A return to a two-network deal also is likely. PRODUCTION COMPANY GROWS: While network sports divisions are cutting back in a sluggish market, Chicago-based Intersport production company is growing. From its first preview of the NCAA Tournament in 1988, it will produce previews of 23 major sports events in 1992. Monday's world Series preview will be on regional cable networks in 41 million homes. COUCH POTATO IS AN ACTOR: That couch potato who says he's "a real big fan" of CBS' NFL games is really an actor. Doug Towey, CBS creative director, said he picked Tony Hoty out of about 80 actors who auditioned. "We wanted an average guy who's bigger than life," Towey says. "He cuts through the clutter in television. He gets your attention." FOOTBALL GAMES ARE EARLIER: ABC doesn't link its 12% drop in college football ratings to having to place big College Football Association games such as Florida State-Miami at noon ET because it also has the Big Ten-Pacific 10. "Last year, our ratings for first and second games were equal at 6.7," says David Downs of ABC. He says they've given up higher viewing levels for less competition. NEWSPAPERS WILL CHANGE: By the year 2000, newspapers will undubtedly be different from today's, according to an Advertising Age special report on the future of newspapers. A retired Gannett newspaper executive, Joseph Ungaro, who has studied the future of newspapers, thinks that by 2010 or 2020 color newspaper pages will be offered via fax into homes over digital telephone lines. GANNETT OUTDOOR TESTS PROGRAM: Gannett Outdoor Group, New York, has teamed up with the Grand Central Partnership in a test program. Gannett Outdoor will be rebuilding two 42nd Street newsstands, outside the New York Public Library and surrounding Bryant Park. The bright red, retro stands are expected to be in place by year-end. After Gannett rebuilds the stands, ownership will be turned over to Grand Central. RADIO AND OUTDOOR TEAM UP: Beginning in January, the Outdoor Advertising Association of America will begin strategically marketing radio and outdoor together when the Association launches its first ever ad campaign. In addition to outdoor, the Association will use direct marketing and trade magazines to convey its message. Officials say Carmichael Lynch of Minneapolis will promote outdoor as a media alternative. LIQUOR COMPANY TO PICK AGENCY: Brown-Forman Corp. is expected to name an agency this week to replace Ally & Gargano, New York, on its $12 million account for Southern Comfort, Early Times, Canadian Mist and new products, according to Advertising Age. Competing are Altschiller Reitzfeld, FCB:Leber Katz Partners and McCabe & Co., all in New York; Carmichael Lynch and Mullen Advertising. GROUP SELECTS NEW YORK FIRM: Chemical Manufacturers Associations has made a new choice for its $8 million account, pending approval from the group's board this week, according to Advertising Age. The winner is: Ogilvy & Mather, New York. Chiat:Day:Mojo, New York, previously handled the account. 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