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Arizona Anti-Smoking Survives; Budget Cut Again LOS ANGELES—After examining ways to offset a budget deficit, Arizona lawmakers have determined that the state will move ahead with its tobacco-education program, but the budget has again been cut. The account has been awarded twice to E.B. Lane Marketing Communications, once in a do-over review, but had then been put on hold. When it was first awarded to the Phoenix shop, the advertising and public relations account was pegged at $10-15 million a year for the next four years [Adweek, July 2]. It was later reduced to $7-10 million annually. The budget is now $3-5 million for the remainder of the fiscal year ending in June, with future spending to be determined at a later date, said E.B. Lane CEO Beau Lane. Creative is expected to break in the spring. The latest cuts include $15 million to help balance the state budget and $2.8 million for dialysis treatment for 150 undocumented immigrants. Miller, Skyy Team on Malternative Entry CHICAGO—Miller Brewing and Skyy Spirits will introduce Skky Blue, a malt beverage, in early March to compete in the growing "malternative" beverage category. Advertising will be handled by Lambesis, Carlsbad, Calif., which handles Skyy Vodka and Skyy Citrus for the San Francisco-based liquor marketer. Marketing Drive, Wilton, Conn., was assigned promotional duties. Starcom, Chicago, which handles media buying and planning for the Milwaukee brewer, will handle similar duties for Skyy Blue. Advertising will include TV, print and outdoor. Spending was not disclosed. Skyy Blue contains a blend of citrus flavors, natural flavors and vodka. Its alcohol content is 5 percent. Blue Shield Looking at 7SAN FRANCISCO—Blue Shield of California narrowed the search for a new agency to handle its $4-6 million account to seven shops, said Lisa Hunt, director of brand communications at the San Francisco-based healthcare company. The list includes a.k.a. Euro RSCG, JWT & Tonic, Hill, Holliday, Leagas Delaney, TBWA\Chiat\Day, Foote, Cone & Belding and Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners West, all in San Francisco. The account was formerly at McCann-Erickson in San Francisco. A decision is expected by early March. Adlink Inks Deal With NY Interconnect LOS ANGELES—Adlink, which acts as a liaison between advertisers and cable TV systems, has agreed to share its strategies for addressing audience segmentation with New York Interconnect. A new licensing agreement between the two calls for NY Interconnect to incorporate techniques developed by Adlink that are designed to simplify the process of alternating TV ad content to reach a specific audience. Included is Adtag, which enables an advertiser to use several different taglines on one TV spot, and Adcopy, which allows advertisers to alternate spots within a single commercial unit. The two techniques are designed to give cable an edge over local broadcast. New York Interconnect is a partnership between Cablevision and Comcast and reaches 3.6 million households, primarily in the New York metropolitan area.

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