AT&T to Switch Its Advertising Message

The new theme, “Mobilizing your world,” replaces “Rethink possible.” With AT&T’s advertising budget near $2 billion, those words may be hard to miss.



Advertising: Family Cable Channels Add Original Series

Crown Media Holdings, ABC Family and Nickelodeon Group are among companies that are highlighting original series in upfront presentations, so called because they promote the fall season.

    



Advertising: Selfies, Pizza and Promoting Brands at the Oscars

Ellen DeGeneres used a Samsung phone, an Oscar sponsor, for a star-studded selfie, but an iPhone to post from backstage. And that Coca-Cola emblazoned pizza delivery box rankled PepsiCo.

    



Advertising: Cable Channel Taps Multicultural Roots

The El Rey Network, owned by the director Robert Rodriguez, and senior executives outlined their goals for the channel at an “upfront” presentation to advertisers.

    



Advertising: At the Oscars, Bringing Brands to Life

Advertisers are turning to experiential marketing, which is intended to engage consumers with a brand, to provoke positive discussion by word of mouth and on social media.

    

Sports of The Times: Time for N.F.L. Sponsors to Demand Change

The way to help rid the league of its abusive locker room culture is for corporate sponsors to take a stand. It should be an easy call, but there’s big money at stake.

    



Advertising: Fingers Crossed, Marketers Count on Olympic Gold

Spending an estimated $1 billion to sponsor and advertise during the Olympics in Sochi, Russia, marketers hope that multiple issues threatening to overshadow the Games won’t repel consumers.

    



Advertising: An American Family Returns to the Table

A sequel will run during the Super Bowl to a Cheerios ad that received an unanticipated quantity of baldly racist online condemnation for the interracial family at its heart.

    



Advertising: Super Bowl Ads to Help Start Busy Season

The power of big-event television is on display as perhaps never before.

    



For ESPN, Millions to Remain in Connecticut

Critics of state tax incentives to ESPN, the multibillion-dollar sports media powerhouse, say the money would be better spent on smaller companies that are in greater need.

    



Super Bowl Advertising Is Already Sold Out, Fox Executives Say

Concluding ad sales nearly two months before kickoff is unusually early and is a sign of an improving economy and interest in a New York-area game.

    



Advertising: Apple Passes Coca-Cola as Most Valuable Brand

Apple, named most valuable brand by Interbrand, a corporate identity and brand consulting company, is one of five technology companies among the top 10.

    



Two Ad Giants Chasing Google in Merger Deal

The merger of Omnicom and Publicis signals that advertising is now firmly in the business of collecting and selling the personal information of millions of consumers.

    

After Four Years, Lowe Agency Gets a New U.S. Partner

The Interpublic Group of Companies has long sought a United States hub for Lowe. Its new plan is to enlist the firm Campbell Ewald.

    

Advertising: A Wienermobile Road Rally, Mapped Out by Fans on Social Media

Social media services like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are shifting how brands, like Oscar Mayer, Chevrolet and A.1., use events as promotions.

    

Crusading Spanish Broadcaster Gives Voice to Ordinary Citizens

Jordi Évole of the investigative television program “Salvados” has doubled his audience by taking on corrupt bureaucrats and powerful corporations.

    

When Cars Assume Ethnic Identities

Jeep is reviving the Cherokee nameplate at a time when ethnic, racial and gender labeling has been largely erased from sports teams and products.

    

Advertising: 20 Questions About Advertising Oddities

Assorted queries about advertising, the media and popular culture.

    

Advertising: Robert Murray of iProspect Joins Skyword as President

Content marketing is expected to be a big growth area for the ad industry and Robert J. Murray, global president of iProspect, a leading digital agency, is signing up.

    

Trying to Be Hip and Edgy, Ads Become Offensive

Some of the biggest names in marketing have had to apologize after consumers objected to ads that hinged on race, rape and suicide.