Anheuser-Busch and Major League Baseball extend partnership.

Best Buy lavishes compensation on new CEO.

Delhaize bets big on retailing in Greece despite economic turmoil.

Dell and HP struggle to sell PCs.

Denver bans outdoor advertising for medical marijuana outlets.

Larry Ellison buys Hawaiian island and everyone wonders what Oracle founder will do with it.

Exelon benefits from ties to Obama administration, New York Times says.

Fox and Ad Council use Glee to target texting while driving.

General Mills, McDonald's and other marketers are accused by feds of collecting data about kids. Continue reading...

Fox has had a hit for itself in the last few years with its “Glee” franchise that will enter into a whole new phase next season as a few of its regulars have finally graduated and will be moving along to their new lives. Before that happens, though, the show’s producer, 20th Century Fox, will be facing off against somebody who isn’t such a fan of the show: the UK's Glee Club chain of comedy clubs.

Owner Mark Tughan says “he will expose the ‘hypocrisy’ of Rupert Murdoch when a multi-million pound trademark battle gets to court,” according to the Birmingham Post. And he's not joking.Continue reading...

The U.S. version of the The X Factor may not be delivering the 20 million fans that executive producer Simon Cowell anticipated, but that’s not stopping the show’s main sponsor, Pepsi, from doing everything it can to engage the viewers the show does have. 

The judges sip from prominently placed Pepsi cups. Host Steve Jones injects much excitement each week into the fact that the show’s winner will not only win $5 million but — much more excitingly! — also the chance to star in a Pepsi commercial. One contestant said it would be “a huge blessing” to have such an honor. Pepsi also placed the musical guest Outasight on the show and he sang – guess what? – Tonight’s the Night, which happens to be the background music for Pepsi ads. Pepsi has also created two digital platforms to engage viewers: Pepsi Pulse and Pepsi Sound Off, which combine gamification and social TV to help bring X Factor fans together and enhance the viewing experience. 

If that weren’t enough, the pair have hooked up to find another way to keep the Pepsi brand top of mind during the show. This week sees the on-air launch of the "Pepsi Choice Performance," a “new partnership element” that invited “fans to help select details of a special ensemble performance by the finalists on ‘The X Factor’ live results show on a special night, Wednesday, Nov. 23." Voting has ended, but you can watch the results in tonight's broadcast.Continue reading...

A year ago, we published a story ("Nook vs. Kindle: The e-Reader Battle Joined") that outlined the battle between the e-readers by Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Today, that battle is a full-fledged war.

B&N wants you to curl up with a nice comfy e-reader — the newest version of the Nook, which is being released Nov. 18th, even as research shows consumers grappling how they’re going to afford gift-giving this holiday season. Amazon's Kindle Fire went on sale ahead of schedule this past Monday to get a jump on the holiday-shopping season.

As USA Today's Ed Baig writes, "There may be no bigger slugfest than what is taking place this week in 7-inch touch-screen tablets as the Kindle Fire from Amazon goes toe-to-toe with the Nook Tablet from Barnes & Noble."Continue reading...

For the return of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Mountain Dew this week broke the new commercial, above. Directed by McG of Charlie's Angels big screen fame, it was created by BBDO NY with Activision and the former military advisors who consult on Call of Duty, with sound design by Music and Strategy. (Watch behind-the-scenes footage here).

Below, watch another audiocentric spot — HTC's new spot for Rezound, its smartphone with Beats Audio by Dr. Dre — and more.Continue reading...

Groupon prices IPO as executives see hope in parallels to Amazon.

DeBeers now controlled by Anglo American.

MF Global Holdings CEO Jon Corzine resigns amid firm's implosion.

AMD to cut 1,400 jobs.

Apple fights discounts tooth and nail.

Church's Chicken focuses on family in new ads.

Columbia Sportswear uses outerwear "anti-spokesperson."

FOX to push envelope (and advertisers' buttons) with Glee episode featuring sex between gay teens.Continue reading...

Ikea introduces a nursery… for men. Australian men. We're jealous.

Below, don't miss Tata's "car chase to end all car chases" spot (and more campaigns).Continue reading...

The United States Postal Service is on the brink of financial collapse, reports the New York Times.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz hosts political town hall on Tuesday.

Amazon.com tests a site redesign as founder Jeff Bezos sees spaceship misfire.

American Apparel is in talks to raise up to $160 million in financing.

Apple retains appeal without Steve Jobs, while iconic designer Jonathan Ive stays on.

Baidu launches app store.

China’s Bright Foods looks to Australia for growth.

Cisco is accused of abetting Chinese government in Falun Gong crackdown.

CW marketer Rick Haskins attracts attention with provocative campaigns.

Domino's Pizza wants to be the first fast food joint on the moon (offer only good in Japan).

Glee star Heather Morris criticized for domestic violence-themed photo shoot.

Google Doodle pays tribute to Queen's Freddy Mercury.Continue reading...