Who said the little guys lack imagination and moxie? Hiscox insurance services target small businesses — direct, online, and in real-time. But how to get that message out and stand out from the crowd? Scripted web video programming — with a sense of humor, and some heavy-hitting talent.

This summer the brand is launching season two of original "entrepreneurial comedy series" Leap Year, the story of five friends who lose their jobs, follow their dreams and start their own business.Continue reading...

This February marks the 36th annual Black History Month in America, and the marketing geniuses at Nike are showing that the brand's got the spirit by releasing three different BHM-themed shoes that are tied to three of their biggest basketball endorsers: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant.

Nike Blog reports that the release date and prices for the James and Durant shoes haven’t been named yet, but for only $140, fans of Black History Month can show it off all year long with a pair of Kobe shoes.

Of course there are plenty of other ways that marketers think you could be showing your BHM pride, too. 

And don’t think Heineken US doesn’t have the BHM spirit! The brand is sponsoring its second annual Black History Month art competition, which will garner the winner five grand and the opportunity to “have their artwork showcased in an upcoming marketing campaign” for the brewer, according to TrendHunter.com. We’re talking placement in national print, digital, in-store point of sale, and out of home advertising in 2013. And all you have to do to submit art is “like” the Heineken US Facebook page.

The judging of the submissions, of course, will be on originality and creativity as well its “representation of black history,” naturally, and, of course!, “the spirit of the Heineken brand,” TrendHunter reports.

U.S. cable TV networks (beyond BET) have long jumped on Black History Month for programming. This year, naturally, social and digital marketing is coming into play, too.Continue reading...

Bravo fires four Real Housewives of New York cast members (update: Jill Zarin says she's still in talks).

Pepsi fattens up "skinny cans" in UK.

Yahoo meets with potential bidders, as exec confirms talks with AOL and Microsoft for ad sales deal to counter Google.

Adidas and Reebok bring My Coach shoe to India.

Apple TV rumors heat up.

BlackBerry owner RIM earnings plunge by more than half.

Citigroup only hiring "critical" jobs.

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf makes New York debut.Continue reading...

AT&T deemed worst wireless carrier in the US by 58,000 Consumer Reports readers.

Citigroup loses US government backing.

Continental is "held responsible" for 2000 Concorde crash.

GetGlue secures $6 million backing to aid social entertainment expansion.

Google formally launches its e-book store, gets Australian pass on Street View charges.

Hertz to offer electric vehicle rental by the hour.Continue reading...

TV Guide, America's inconic weekly print look at what's on the tube, barely weathered the advent of cable TV (with its explosion of channels requiring new acronyms and smaller fonts). With changes in ownership (including a spell at News Corp.) and a rocky ride, TV Guide's circulation slumped from 20 million in 1970 to under 3 million by 2007.

Purchased by Lionsgate last year, it's still attempting to leverage its brand loyalty and transform another storm: the impact of the web and social media on TV viewing.Continue reading...

Comcast and GE name Comcast COO Steve Burke as new CEO of NBC Universal, replacing Jeff Zucker after the NBCU sale to Comcast closes. 

Alberto Culver has been sold to Unilever for $3.7 billion in cash.

AIG will lose the US Treasury as a part-owner.

Apple's Ping music-based social network incorporates users' iTunes libraries.

Barnes & Noble ownership battle nears its climax.

BP pressured to restore reputation and stock price as new CEO Robert Dudley takes the reins on Friday.Continue reading...

Google Webmaster Matt Cutts shares tips on how to capitalize on Twitter (interesting re this).

More from Apple, BP, Comcast, Facebook and more after the jump.Continue reading...