Newswire

Out Stages First Gay Wedding Webcast NEW YORK--Hoping to spark interest among gay online consumers, Out magazine has gathered a host of promotional partners to stage the first live Webcast of a gay marriage ceremony. The Oct. 16 nuptials will join Jeffrey Newman, president/CEO of Out.com, on which the event will be broadcast, and men's accessories designer Jeffrey Parker. Among the contributors: Flower.com, supplying an estimated $15,000 in flowers; The Cormorant Club and Hotel in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, where the couple's stay is estimated at $7,000; and Baldwin Formals, providing tuxedos for the wedding party worth $1,600. "We realize how important the gay community is and how large they are on the Internet," said Sim Mann, who handles Flower.com marketing and advertising. "The opportunity for something like this is a historic event, and we want to be a part of it." Compaq Launches New Campaign NEW YORK--Compaq Computer last week launched a $60 million e-business campaign from DDB Worldwide that will attempt to broaden the company's image to "more than just a PC vendor." The fourth-quarter print, outdoor, radio and online effort targets senior IT executives and CEOs and is meant to articulate Compaq's "nonstop e-business solutions," said Giovanna Imperia, Compaq's director of brand strategy and advertising. "If you have a business-critical application, such as running your Web site or Intranet, you can't afford to be down," she said. There is no tag, but the line "24x7xCompaq" appears, along with directions to a Web site. Fidelity Breaks Powerstreet Ads BOSTON--Fidelity Investments last week unveiled its revamped online brokerage service--dubbed Powerstreet--with an ad campaign scheduled to run on network and cable TV, and in magazines and newspapers nationwide. This marks the first work for the client from Gotham in New York, which picked up the estimated $50-60 million Powerstreet account this spring. The campaign kicked off with TV spots featuring street signs with the names "Powerstreet" and "Wall Street." Microsoft to Buy Chunk of USWeb/CKS SAN FRANCISCO--USWeb/CKS said that Microsoft will invest $67.5 million in the company. The investment, which will be made over the next 12 months, will be used to develop and market a standardized architecture for delivering e-business solutions. Microsoft will also pay $14.9 million for warrants to purchase 1 million shares of the San Francisco-based USWeb/CKS, at $27.59 each, at some point over the next five years. Mazda to Pay $5.25 Mil. Ad Fine LOS ANGELES--Mazda North American Operations has agreed to pay civil penalties of $5.25 million as part of a consent decree with the Federal Trade Commission and 24 states. The FTC alleged that Irvine, Calif.-based Mazda violated a 1997 order by airing ads in 1997 and 1998 with lease disclosures that were "in small and unreadable print, offset by distracting images or sounds, or that appeared on the screen for too short a time." The agreement does not include an admission of guilt on Mazda's part. The ads were produced by former agency Foote, Cone & Belding, Santa Ana, Calif., and Doner, Southfield, Mich. In a statement, Mazda said it "did not intentionally violate the lease disclosure requirements" and has implemented corrective procedures. Bronnercom Names Presidents BOSTON--Bronnercom last week promoted three new presidents in its regional offices. Harvey Kipnis, who ran New York operations, was named president of the BSH direct marketing unit; he and Michael Ward, already president of the Strategic Interactive Group, will oversee operations for those two divisions at Bronnercom's Boston headquarters. Laura Lang becomes president in New York; Jay Hussey, president of West Coast operations; and Alistair Ross-Russell, acting president in London. They will report to Bronnercom CEO David Kenny; Ward reports to Bronnercom vice chairman Kathy Biro. Bronnercom claims $1.3 billion in global billings. Newswire Roundup WPP Group acquired direct marketing/sales promotion agency Marketing Perspectives, West London. Terms were not disclosed. Clients include American Express, Carlsberg-Tetley, Eurobell, Hewlett-Packard, Orange and Virgin Interactive. The 70-person shop will become part of WPP's Branding & Identity, Healthcare and Specialist Communications unit LendingTree.com is mulling a trio of Interpublic Group agencies for its estimated $50 million ad account. Mullen in Wenham, Mass., The Martin Agency in Richmond, Va., and The Lowe Group in New York will compete for the business FCB Worldwide in Chicago has won the $25 million John Deere account over Campbell-Ewald Advertising, Warren, Mich. The Raleigh, N.C., client split with Publicis & Hal Riney, Chicago, this summer Powertel has awarded its $15 million account to Martin/Williams in Minneapolis. The West Point, Ga., wireless-phone service marketer also considered incumbent Pollak Levitt & Nel Advertising, Atlanta, and Carmichael Lynch, Minneapolis Empire State Development tapped Partners & Shevack/Wolf to handle its $10 million New York State tourism account. The shop stood out for its strategy and sister offices in Rochester and Buffalo, a client rep said. Other finalists: incumbent Toolbox, Moss/Dragoti, Grey Advertising and Smith Advertising Group, Syracuse, N.Y. Advertising Women of New York honored Leagas Delaney for its Adidas women's sports work, which earned the Grand Good award at AWNY's third annual "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" awards. Ogilvy & Mather was also honored for its "Be Anything" campaign for Mattel's Barbie Foote, Cone & Belding, San Francisco, launched a regional TV campaign for Fox Sports Net to hype its National Hockey League coverage Fannie Mae Foundation last week launched a national "Your credit matters" campaign as part of its ongoing mission to tell consumers about home buying. GSD&M, Austin, Texas, created the five TV spots.

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