Anthony Weiner resigns in wake of sexting scandal following pressure from his fellow Democrats.

AOL's Advertising.com regroups.

Avon censured on Fair Trade claim.

BlackBerry sales are down, while RIM's PlayBook tablet shipped 500,000 units.

Burger King launches DirecTV promotion.

Carolina Herrera hired by movie producers as wedding dress designer for Twilight's Bella Swan.

Comcast unveils next generation Xfinity TV system at US Cable Show.Continue reading...

Magazines struggling to survive could take a lesson from Better Homes and Gardens. Over 85 years old, this powerful publication has extended its brand far beyond the page, moving into television, books, furniture, home and garden products, and even selling real estate.

Now Better Homes and Gardens has teamed up with Weber, a leading maker of outdoor grills, to sponsor the Chill & Grill Festival, a live event that will take place in Chicago's Lincoln Park on May 21 and 22. The event will include tasting booths, a "chill zone" lounging area, a live grilling showdown, master chef classes and demos, local restaurant tastings, cookbook signings, music, and activities for kids.

Amanda Cortese, Associate Director, Brand Business Communications for Meredith Corporation, the magazine's publisher, tells brandchannel that Chill & Grill is taking advantage of "two of the hottest trends" in the US.Continue reading...

Meredith Corporation, the US magazine publisher, has released a trio of iPadazines, with iPad launches of Better Homes and Gardens, Parents and Fitness. The titles, focusing on home, family and health, are among Meredith’s most popular. 

Pricing for the tablet editions, now available on a single-issue basis through the iTunes store: Parents and Fitness are $2.99 per issue, and Better Homes and Gardens is $3.99. Meredith will also offer these brands on the Android tablet via Next Issue Media.  

“Women are seeking more creative and service-oriented content than ever before,” says Better Homes and Gardens editor Gayle Butler.

“Our tablet editions deliver the next level of high-quality and helpful content to her, whether she’s an on-the-go mom, a healthy and active lifestyle enthusiast, the Chief Household Officer or all of the above.”

Features include videos, workout routines, interactive recipes, and for Parents, "Playroom," which lets parents and kids browse new toys, DVDs, and calendar listings.Continue reading...

Airtel's new logo — "blobby" or "modern, vibrant and friendly"?

Apple is preparing for patent showdowns with Nokia, Motorola and HTC.

Audi puts focus on US Sunday TV advertising.

Batten & Company, a new unit of BBDO, opens shop.

Black Friday sales saw more foot traffic but lower-than-expected sales as retailers cross fingers for Cyber Monday.

BP is commissioning a feature-length documentary about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill — but the company says it is not intended to scrub its reputation clean.

Delta and Southwest Airlines aim to emerge from among branding-challenged air carriers.Continue reading...

As Google and Verizon defend a net neutrality proposal that exempts wireless services, Google faces privacy questions over an alleged order of a “microdrone” from a German company.

BSkyB challenges Skype over logo.

BP nears a deal with U.S. government on guarantees for $20B compensation fund.

Dish Network experiences slippage in subscribers even while rival DirecTV posts gains.

H-P navigates its future after the resignation of CEO Mark Hurd in an ethics scandal, as customers by and large remain loyal – but investors knock down the company’s share price.Continue reading...

If bid for NBC is successful, Comcast could rival ESPN. [WSJ]

Bank of America will hand over legal documents from Merrill purchase. [WSJ]

China drives German automaker sales. [FT]

Embarrassed T-Mobile discontinues Sidekick sales after consumers lose data. [WSJ]

Music industry moves to web, combining branded content, advertising for revenue. [BrandWeek]

Ad campaigns market the promise of America. [NY Times]

Disney to rebrand stores as an "experience," may open Times Square flagship. [NY Times]

(More headlines: NBC's mom site, mags' new revenue sources.)Continue reading...