Kia has forged a reality-show sponsorship with Univision as a way of tapping into its fast-growing appeal to Hispanic consumers and as the latest initiative in its efforts to become a brand known more for fun than for fuel economy.

The partnership is around the beauty pageant show Nuestra Belleza Latina, of which Kia will become the official automotive partner. Among many tie-ins on the air, online and everywhere else will be the season's winner receiving a 2014 Forte compact sedan.

It's the biggest product integration and promotion that Kia has done with Univision, Michael Sprague, Kia's executive vice president of marketing, told Marketing Daily. Hispanics now account for more than 9 percent of all Kia buyers in the U.S., and that number is growing. Kia's efforts to reach out to this market also include activations around high-profile soccer matches.Continue reading...

Daily Beast triumphs as Newsweek announces end of print magazine.

Apple loses tablet copyright appeal against Samsung, makes 14 pt. UK apology, reportedly eyes Color Labs, will never resume US manufacturing.

Amazon pushes Kindle to US kindergarten classes.

AOL aims to make email more social with Alto.

Centrum rises on landmark medical study.

China slowdown appears to bottom out.

Facebook rallies on mobile advertising outlook.

In-N-Out Burger opens London pop-up.Continue reading...

The annual San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) kicks off today, and as ever, it's a massive promotional platform for brands.

Founded as the "Golden State Comic Book Convention" in 1970 by a group of San Diegan comic book fans, the annual fanfest has evolved to include video games, toys and other forms of genre entertainment. That's why Hollywood beats a path south to the show every year — to generate buzz among the estimated 250,000 comic book, sci-fi, fantasy, anime, and video game fans hitting town for the four day pop-culture fix.

One of the biggest movies being touted this year: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2, which marks the cast's last appearance as Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner hyping the Nov. 16th final bow with a 1pm ET (above) panel. Also red-hot: Iron Man 3, with Robert Downey Jr. and co-stars on hand to promote the movie scheduled for May 3rd of next year.Continue reading...

Apple pays $60M to end iPad trademark dispute in China, looks to secure ipad3.com domain.

Barclays scandal forces out chairman, saying "the buck stops with me."

Bristol-Myers agrees to buy Amylin Pharmaceuticals for $5B in cash, expands diabetes alliance.

Rupert Murdoch will rebrand the Wall Street Journal as WSJ as part of News Corp. split.

AMC parent ends AT&T U-verse TV dispute with long-term agreement, as Dish feud continues.

Applebee's rolls out fresh menu, look and campaign.Continue reading...

News Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch and son James prepare to testify Tuesday before a British parliamentary hearing on phone-hacking scandal as former News of the World whistleblowing journalist is found dead and The Sun's website is hacked.

Borders calls off auction, announces plans to liquidate and close doors by September.

Cisco slashes workforce by 11,500 positions.

Apple seeks to expand iPhone availability in China.

CNN is first TV network to stream 24/7 online and on mobile.

Delta cuts service to smaller markets.

Dunkin' Brands leads wave of IPOs in the US.Continue reading...

Earlier we flagged how the Center for Science in the Public Interest co-opted Coca-Cola's distinctive branding in order to promote its lobbying efforts to ban the brown food coloring used in soda drink brands such as Coke, Diet Coke and Pepsi.

That prompted an eagle-eyed BC reader to tip us about designer Jeremy Scott's Coca-Cola-inspired garb, which hit the runway this New York Fashion Week.

In addition to modifying Coca-Cola's script to read "Enjoy God," he also lampooned Superman's logo (replacing the 'S' with a question mark) and tweaked America's milk marketing campaign with "Milk Kills" instead of "Got Milk?"Continue reading...

Marvel and DC's comic book rivalry has moved from page to screen in recent years. But as the comic book industry -- an entertainment powerhouse whose branded characters and franchises are VIPs in Hollywood these days -- prepares to descend on San Diego for the annual Comic-Con convention, the biggest challenge these heroic brands may be facing is ... themselves.

Then again, as any comic book fan will tell you, the best superhero story lines are the ones where the conflict is within the hero himself. The latest twists in the superhero branding world?Continue reading...