Super Bowl XLV combatants, brand marketers including Kraft and Verizon, automakers and other game advertisers and fans gird for the game in north Texas this weekend between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Apple and Campbell Soup say that iAds are twice as effective as TV. 

AT&T reaches out to business users. 

BJ’s Wholesale places itself on auction block

BMW may lease, not sell, its Megacity EV.

Dunkin’ Donuts foresees 50% hike in expansion deals this year.Continue reading...

ABC loads up on high-profile drama pilots. 

Amazon is reportedly developing a subscription web video service to take on Netflix.

BMW, Peugeot form joint venture for developing hybrid technology.

BP faces US inquiry on alleged gas market manipulation.

Cold Stone Creamery adds hot desserts. 

Fox boosts promotion of its own shows during Super Bowl. 

Gap names new CMO, North American head and agency.

Google will demo Android Honeycomb today; outgoing CEO, Eric Schmidt, weighs book offers.Continue reading...

With eight automotive brands scheduled to run TV advertisements during the Super Bowl XLV telecast on February 6, there are bound to be sub-plots among them.

The juiciest might be what’s already unfolding among the three German luxury brands: Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi. It will be the first Super Bowl during which they’re all advertising.

Naturally, Mercedes-Benz would like to use its first-ever appearance in the Super Bowl to take another step closer to Lexus. The Toyota luxury brand held off Mercedes’ charge last year to remain the best-selling upscale auto brand in the U.S. But Lexus isn’t advertising in this Super Bowl.Continue reading...

Super Bowl XLV will offer a match-up between classic franchises when the Green Bay Packers play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Arlington, Texas, on February 6. Mercedes-Benz hints at Super Bowl attack on Lexus with Serena Williams, while Papa John's, Intel, Monster, Dr Pepper, Denny's, Universal Orlando and text-answering service KGB take a pass on returning to this Super Bowl. Fox, meanwhile, rejects potentially controversial Super Bowl ad, creator says.

Air France to disclose safety criticisms of review panel.

The BBC is shedding about 25% of online staff, and moves away from celebrity coverage and in-depth financial analysis.

Conde Nast prepares “Bite me” campaign for Bon Appetit magazine.

Facebook reaches deal with German regulator over “friend-finder.”Continue reading...

Gleeks (you know, fans of the hit TV series Glee) have been showing their devotion with Glee-inspired manicures.

Now nail color brand OPI, which has always kept customers chuckling with polish names such as "My Chihuahua Bites" and "Manicurist of Seville," is getting into the game. Its Sephora by OPI collection is taking a note from Glee with a nail polish collection that pays tribute to the award-winning series.

The new line will bear the hallmarks of OPI's usual cleverness, with inside-joke names like Miss Bossy Pants, a rich raspberry, Slushied, an opaque blue, and Sue vs. Shue, a navy blue. The colors will be available individually as well as in 6-color minisets this spring in Sephora stores.Continue reading...

Apple hopes to come up with more hits without Steve Jobs.

Boeing will begin delivering the 787 Dreamliner in Q3.

Chrysler boosts Jeep's marketing mileage.

Citigroup to name John Havens as president and COO. 

Coca-Cola, Danone and Nike rank high among consumers in emerging markets in Credit Suisse study.

Fox premieres revamped American Idol, featuring rocker Steven Tyler, tonight.Continue reading...

Coca-Cola's latest spot, above, leverages the power of Coke's sonic branding and the visual fun of a Rube Goldberg machine. It's all in the name of promoting Coca-Cola Family Night, a My Coke Rewards sweepstakes tied to the brand's sponsorship of American Idol on FOX, which kicks off its 10th season on January 19th.

Registered members of My Coke Rewards can enter by submitting photos or video of their own family talent nights and compete for a PlayStation Move prize pack or the grand prize, which will send two families to American Idol's 10th season finale.

Abbott backs effort to end childhood malnutrition.

AMC renews Mad Men for a fifth season.

Best Buy sales hurt by holiday tech slide.

BlackBerry to be censored in Indonesia.

BP back in the hot seat with oil leak in Alaska.

Clarins new global campaign not "overly retouched."Continue reading...