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- Eveready Chooses DDB Following Review CHICAGO--Eveready has awarded ad duties for the launch of a new battery to DDB Worldwide here after a competition that began with DDB, Leo Burnett and roster shops TBWA/Chiat/Day and Bates Worldwide, sources said. The new product is thought to be a titanium battery that allows portable electronic devices, such as laptop computers, to start faster, sources said. Spending on the new campaign was not disclosed. Eveready spent $60 million in 1998 on its Energizer and Eveready brands. - First Union Halts "Financial World" TV Campaign ATLANTA--First Union National Bank has cut its ad budget and will suspend its controversial "Financial World" TV campaign as it "moves into other channels," said representative Sandra Deem. Deem declined to discuss budget cuts. Creative duties are handled by Publicis & Hal Riney, San Francisco. Competitive Media Reporting cites 1998 spending at $40 million and $70 million through September, 1999. - KSL's Internet Arm Adds Martha Stewart.com NEW YORK--Drive-to-Site Media, the online marketing division of KSL Media, has won media buying duties for Marthastewart.com, the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Web site, a new account. Creative is handled in-house. DtSM has also added media buying for BitMagic, an online provider of original entertainment, and techies. com, the job site for technology careers. The trio total more than $30 million in new billings. - J.C. Penney Invites 5 Agencies to Pitch DALLAS--Department-store chain J.C. Penney said it has contacted five agencies to participate in a review following its recent split with Temerlin McClain. Invited to the contest are BBDO Worldwide, DDB Worldwide, McCann-Erickson Worldwide, FCB Worldwide and Saatchi & Saatchi, all New York. A decision is expected in March. - Bottlers Mixed on Ads; Coke Revisits in Six Months ATLANTA--As bottlers gave mixed reviews to Coca-Cola's new campaign, sources said the company's top executives vowed to revisit the creative in six months under new chief marketing officer Stephen Jones. The long-awaited campaign features 10 new TV executions bearing the tagline, "Coca-Cola. Enjoy." Lead shop Edge Creative, Santa Monica, Calif., contributing six TV spots and Leo Burnett, Chicago, added four ads. A source said the Edge Creative work, which featured kids in a waterfall and bopping concertgoers, was not well-received. However, the bottlers liked the Burnett work, which featured African boys and a parrot spot. - Grey, Sprint Business Call it Quits NEW YORK--Grey Advertising and Sprint Business have ended their six-year relationship. The parting on the $50 million account was mutual, according to the agency. Sources said billings would be drastically reduced after Sprint's pending merger with MCI WorldCom. Grey, whose "point of contact" tagline was adopted in campaigns from other roster shops, will continue to handle the client's corporate business, sources said. They said Sprint would look to its roster shops for new strategies. - McCain Proposal Draws Industry Concern WASHINGTON, D.C.--Sen. John McCain's tax proposal to eliminate a rule that allows companies to deduct ad costs in the same year has not been welcomed by the ad community. The plan would instead permit companies to amortize the costs over time. Marc Spitzer, McCain's tax adviser, says the presidential candidate is not attacking advertising but wants to create a more equitable tax code. "Advertising creates a long-term asset," Spitzer said. Advertising lobbyists counter that the industry is not receiving a special deal. "It is a legitimate business expense that empowers the entire economy," said American Advertising Federation svp Jeff Perlman. - TBWA/C/D's IOC Work "Celebrates Humanity" LOS ANGELES--TBWA/Chiat/Day will launch an emotional $150 million global ad campaign on behalf of the International Olympic Committee this week. TV spots invite viewers to "Celebrate humanity," with stock footage from past games of Olympic athletes. The IOC will reveal the ads at a Tuesday press conference. The campaign will run worldwide during the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. - Newswire Roundup DeVito/Verdi has been named lead agency for People magazine's $5-10 million account. The shop will handle media and creative duties and will launch a branding campaign for the client by June, the client said in a statement. Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield is talking to nine shops about its $10 million account, sources said. The regional New York office is looking at local shops with billings of $120 million to $400 million John Berg, vp, group publisher at Wenner Media, is joining DDB Worldwide as COO effective Feb. 1 Industry Standard Communications has named TBWA/Chiat/Day its agency. The agency's Playa del Rey, Calif., headquarters will handle the estimated $10 million account Sotheby's parted ways with FCB Worldwide, New York, and sources said the account has moved to Margeotes/Fertitta & Partners in New York Boston Beer Co. selected Grey Advertising's MediaCom for planning and buying chores on its estimated $20 million account Voiceover actor Bob McFadden, the voice of the "Ring around the collar" parrot in Wisk commercials, died Jan. 7 of Lou Gehrig's disease Baskin-Robbins named Western Initiative Media Worldwide its media agency. The company returns to Western, which handled the account from 1985 to 1992, from incumbent Deutsch/L.A. Billings are $15 million The Martin Agency won HomeBytes.com's $20 million account.

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