W.B. Doner & Co. has joined Blockbuster Entertainment's agency roster.
The Southfield, Mich., agency has been assigned strategic development and creative execution for a national consumer promotion for Blockbuster Video scheduled to break this spring, said Alan Kalter, Doner's chief executive officer.
Blockbuster, headquartered in Dallas, also selected Promotional Resources Group, New York, to work with Doner and execute the game portion of the summerlong promotion, said Karen Raskopf, Blockbuster's vice president of corporate communications. Doner will continue to work with Blockbuster on special assignments, she said.
Doner and Promotional Resources Group were among five agencies solicited by Blockbuster to participate in a review for the assignment, Raskopf said. The three others, which she declined to identify, were promotions agencies. Young & Rubicam, New York, remains Blockbuster Video's national agency of record, she said, and Bernstein-Rein Advertising, Kansas City, Mo., is the agency of record for Blockbuster Music.
"The idea, the promotion that Doner [presented] to us for the summer, it just said 'Blockbuster,'" Raskopf said. "It's something nobody else could do. It really ties back into our business. It's going to get consumers excited. It's bigger than a promotion; it's more like an event. And that's the reason [Doner was] selected. They came back with a wonderful idea that's very supportive of our business and is really going to promote the Blockbuster brand and everything we stand for."
Separately, Doner announced the elevation of Kalter to chairman of the board, succeeding Herb Fried, who becomes a consultant to the agency. Tony Everett, president of Doner Direct, adds the role of general manager of advertising accounts and operations at Doner's Baltimore office.
Jon Tracosas, currently director of client services and co-manager of the Baltimore office, will move to the Southfield office as executive vice president for strategic planning.