$100 Mil. Qwest Review Down to Two
NEW YORK—Qwest has narrowed the review for its $100 million consolidated account to two finalists: Foote, Cone & Belding, here, and DDB in Chicago, the agencies confirmed. The latter shop is one of the incumbents on the business. The other incumbent, J. Walter Thompson in New York, withdrew from the process last week. The Denver-based client had been considering Leo Burnett’s LB Works, Chicago, and McCann-Erickson, New York.
NBC Reverses Liquor Ad Decision
WASHINGTON—NBC rescinded its decision to accept liquor ads last Wednesday, a day before Mothers Against Drunk Driving was to hold a press conference in Washington to call for tougher standards for all alcohol ads. The American Medical Association ran a full-page ad in The New York Times on Feb. 27, telling parents that NBC has “let down America’s children.” NBC has also faced pressure from lawmakers. Earlier this month, 13 law makers, including Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., sent a letter to NBC threatening to regulate network advertising if NBC did not change its policy. Rep. W.J. “Billy” Tauzin, R-La., was considering holding hearings on the issue. Despite NBC’s decision, J. Walter Thompson in New York is said to be moving ahead with plans to shoot “social-responsibility” and brand spots for Diageo’s Baileys Irish Cream [Adweek, March 18]. It’s unclear whether the spots will find a home on a network. Cable stations and affiliates of TV networks continue to accept spirits ads.
Cooper/Hayes Takes $30 Mil. Lottery Business
ATLANTA—Cooper/Hayes has won the Florida Lottery’s estimated $30 million marketing account. The Miami shop, a six-year incumbent, will share Hispanic advertising and public relations chores with Zubi Advertising Services in Coral Gables, Fla., and MRD Consulting in Miami. Florida shops St. John & Partners in Jackson, Zimmerman & Partners in Tallahassee, and Miami shops Crispin Porter + Bog usky and Publicis Sanchez & Levitan, the Hispanic incumbent, also pitched.
Quorn Foods Accused of Misleading Labeling
BOSTON—The marketers of Quorn, a meat substitute, have come under fire from the Center for Science in the Public Interest regarding some of the language in its marketing and packaging materials. The group has filed a complaint with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration alleging that Quorn “deceptively” labeled its product as a “mushroom-based” food though it is derived from an unrelated fungus. A $10 million TV and print campaign had been scheduled to roll out via Decker, Glastonbury, Conn., later this year. Decker did not return calls. Quorn is marketed by a subsidiary of AstraZeneca.
Morgan Stanley Launches Global Ad Effort
CHICAGO—Morgan Stanley uses a variation of its well-known “We measure success one investor at a time” tagline in a new global branding effort from Leo Burnett here. The campaign, which broke during ABC’s telecast of the Academy Awards on Sunday, employs the tagline, “One client at a time.” It’s the first work from Burnett since it was awarded the business earlier this year. Billings were undisclosed, but are expected to increase from the $75 million recorded last year by CMR.
Crawford Returns for Diet Pepsi
NEW YORK—Pepsi-Cola broke a new Diet Pepsi campaign, the brand’s first TV work since 1998, on ABC’s Oscar telecast last night. The new tagline, “Think young. Drink young,” replaces “This is diet.” The spot was an “update” of one Cindy Crawford did for regular Pepsi in 1991 in which she appeared to be ogled by two boys. BBDO in New York is Pepsi’s agency. Its Omnicom sibling Element 79 in Chicago also bowed two spots during the Oscars for Pepsi’s Aquafina bottled-water brand, which feature former Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous host Robin Leach.
4 Inducted into Advertising Hall of Fame
NEW YORK—The American Advertising Federation inducted four ad-industry veterans into the Advertising Hall of Fame at a luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria last Tuesday. The honorees were Katharine Graham, former chairman and CEO of The Washington Post Co., who died last July; Charles Peebler Jr., chairman emeritus of Chicago’s True North Communications; Hal Riney, chairman and CEO of Publicis & Hal Riney in San Francisco; and John Smale, retired chairman and CEO of Procter & Gamble Co. and former General Motors Corp. chairman.
Benson Dead at 75
LOS ANGELES—James Benson, a creative director whose advertising career spanned 42 years, died March 15 after suffering a heart attack. He was 75. Prior to his retirement in 1992, Benson served as evp and creative director for the now-defunct Los Angeles agency Eisaman, Johns and Laws Advertising. His work included branding efforts for the fragrance Giorgio Beverly Hills and the liqueur brand Kahlúa. He also is credited with helping Pennzoil become the No. 1 selling motor oil with a series of spots featuring the golfer Arnold Palmer.
Newswire Roundup
One year after Havas’ Media Planning, New York, began looking to fill Ray Dundas’ vacated post, Bob Riordan has been named svp, managing director of national broadcast. Riordan, a 25-year media veteran, most recently served as the evp of sales at CTN Media Group. … Blue Shield of California has put its search for an agency to handle its brand advertising on indefinite hold, the client confirmed. The San Francisco-based healthcare company initiated its search last December. Sources said that Blue Shield was internally reevaluating how it wants to handle its $4-6 million branding business in the future.
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