04-24-09
Initiative adds digital to Home Depot portfolio
Interpublic Group media shop Initiative will handle the digital, search and newspaper aspects of Home Depot’s planning account after a review. Initiative already handled traditional buying and planning for the retailer.
Hasbro hopes films will boost toy sales
With the recession taking a toll on toymaker profits, Hasbro is anticipating a boost from two summer Paramount Pictures productions featuring its Transformer and G.I. Joe brands. The company also has films featuring its Battleship, Ouija Board and Stretch Armstrong properties in development. The latest projects were spearheaded by the William Morris Agency as part of a six-year deal with Universal Pictures.
Yahoo! to close GeoCities
As part of its cost-cutting, Yahoo! will shut down Web-hosting network GeoCities, which it acquired for upward of $3 billion in 1999. GeoCities, a relic of the dial-up age, was among the first services to offer individual Web users free hosting for personal profiles, enthusiast sites and other uses.
Apple’s iPhone App store surpassed one billion downloads.
The store, which launched less than a year ago, has been a great success for Apple, as well as an additional source of revenue. The App store has been so successful that it reached a billion downloads more than 2 years faster than the iTunes music store.
Amazon posted a strong financial report, with net revenue up 24% year over year.
In total, the e-tailer’s revenue hit $4.89 billion, surpassing many analyst’s expectations. Amazon’s report, as well as Apple’s, are positive signs of consumer behavior during uncertain economic times.
Microsoft’s fiscal report was hit hard this quarter, with the company’s net income down 32%.
The software manufacturer blamed a weak economy, as well as lack of demand for PC’s, for falling short of analyst’s expectations. While all is not well at Redmond, sales of company’s popular Xbox360 were up 30% during the quarter, with 1.7 million units sold.
Panasonic hooks up with Amazon Video on Demand
Panasonic has announced that some of its current and future HDTVs with the Viera Cast feature also will be compatible with Amazon Video on Demand. Amazon currently offers about 40,000 movies and TV shows through the VOD offering, and about 500 of those titles are in high definition.
Most LCD TV buyers influenced by green features
More than 50% of U.S. consumers say they take environmental considerations into account when shopping for an LCD TV, according to survey results from iSuppli, which found that 27.5% called green factors an important influence on their decision and 23.1% said they looked for such features when buying a TV.