When Comcast formally acquired NBC Universal back in January of 2011, it was only a matter of time before the two sports powerhouses combined their national, regional, and cable efforts to create a single sports media juggernaut.

Following a complete overhaul from brand strategy through to creative execution that included the rebrand of Comcast's Versus channel to NBC Sports Network on January 2nd, 2012, NBC Sports Group is showing off its new face in 2012.

The NBC Sports Group’s new identity launched in January with the rebrand of Versus to NBC Sports Network, and has rolled out across their coverage of the Super Bowl and Triple Crown. The new brand is set to further roll out during NBC Sports Group’s Olympic coverage in July, and will be featured on NBC, NBC Sports Network, the Group’s RSNs (regional sports networks), and digital and web properties.Continue reading...

Altria launches tobacco rights website.

Apple sees its devices dominate mobile ordering as brand plans books announcement and sets Red Friday sales event for Asia.

Avery Dennison sells office and consumer products business to 3M.

Axe woos young males with interactive comic book.

Bentley plans luxury SUV.

BMW sees 2012 premium growth.

BP sues Halliburton over Gulf spill, includes anti-BP protesters in new ad.

Bridgestone kicks off Super Bowl campaign at NHL Winter Classic.

Brisk ties into Star Wars 3D theatrical launch with mobile campaign.

Cadbury adopts vertical shelf-ready packaging.Continue reading...

When the television network Versus becomes the NBC Sports Network in 2012, it now has a brand new batch of content to share with its viewers.

NBC and Major League Soccer have just made a deal that has the NBC and its new cable network broadcasting 45 games over the next three seasons as well as four men’s national-team games, according to the New York Times. The contract will end when 2014 games have been completed.Continue reading...

Versus took its name in 2006 after spending its first 10 years as OLN (the Outdoor Life Network), broadcasting plenty of hunting and fishing before reaching a larger audience with Tour de France coverage. 

Since its renaming by Comcast in 2006, the network has  focused more and more on mainstream sports and is now going totally that way as it rebrands itself NBC Sports Network, starting in January, according to USA Today.

"This is more than just a name change for Versus," said Mark Lazarus, the former Turner Sports exec who became the chairman of NBC Sports Group in May. "It's a complete repositioning of the brand."Continue reading...

Air New Zealand's Rico is back, this time with David Hasselhoff, who was down under last month to promote...Continue reading...

Brands are luring music-lovers with a variety of musical tie-ins:

• Adidas Originals is hosting a live chat with Snoop Dogg on its Facebook page tomorrow to celebrate reaching the 3 million fans benchmark.
• Converse is appealing to hipsters with indie music collaborations such as artists Cudi, above, and Best Coast.
• Keds is sponsoring performances at The Whitney (and taps artists such as Jenny Holzer for limited-edition sneakers) in summer collaboration.
• Levi's is promoting musicians such as Jason Mraz and John Legend & the Roots as part of its Pioneer campaign.
• VICE magazine and Intel kicked off their Creators Project collaboration in NYC, featuring the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Nick Zinner and other artists.
• Among luxury brands, meanwhile, Burberry is working with British musicians (and tapping some to model) to support its digital marketing.

More brands making news after the jump.Continue reading...

P&G seeks to regain trust of moms by tapping mommy bloggers to defend Pampers Dry Max.

BP's MD Bo Dudley hopes to shut off leak by next week, continues efforts and challenges estimates as oil spill advances.

British Airways is having a tough year.

Dish Network threatens to launch rival to Weather Channel in US.

Facebook and MySpace confront privacy loophole.

Fox News targets Latinos with new online campaign.

Jeep Grand Cherokee relaunches today as "symbol of the new Chrysler."Continue reading...

Sales are up at Wal-Mart, but price cuts trim profits. [NY Times]

Daimler offers discounts on Smart cars in the US. [FT]

GM CEO denies rumors that Opel will become a global brand. [Automobile]

Anticipating recovery, McDonald's tests new menu items, store designs. [WSJ]

InterContinental Hotels will strip Holiday Inn brand from franchises that refuse to upgrade. [WSJ]

Comcast-NBC deal could make Versus a competitor to ESPN. [NY Times]

(More headlines: Ed Hardy, Pine-Sol, Playboy sale.)Continue reading...