NBC hasn't sold any Super Bowl spots since September. The network is trying to hold the line on a $3 million price tag for a 30-second commercial in the game. Before the economy began its plunge in late September, the network had fewer than 10 left of 67 30-second ad slots for the Feb. 1 broadcast but hasn't moved any since.
Interpublic Group, Omnicom Group Inc and WPP Group are weighing further job cuts as the advertising market deteriorates, the New York Post reported. Agencies run by WPP, the world's second-largest advertising company, are bracing for cuts across the board in January, the paper said, citing sources. Interpublic is mulling layoffs in the event General Motors Corp slashes its ad spending even further or reduces its stable of car brands, the paper said. Several agencies run by Omnicom, the world's largest ad company, have seen job cuts this year, and those agencies are expected to make additional cuts next year, the paper said, citing industry watchers. In addition: Strong rumors out of Ogilvy, New York that management is looking at letting 200 - 250 staffers go right after Christmas. Suggested timing for this event will be around the 8th or the 15th of January.
Mark Cadman, the chief executive of Euro RSCG, is leaving the agency without a job to go to, after what agency sources are deeming "a difference of opinion over the future direction of the agency". The agency has no plans to replace Cadman. Russ Lidstone, the managing partner and chief strategy officer, will take on the acting chief executive role.
Aegis Media is reorganising its global client management team, in a move that will result in a number of redundancies. The team, which is around 150-strong and based in London, manages global clients for Aegis agencies, including Mattel and Johnson & Johnson. The changes are expected to result in around 12 job losses, and could affect some of the global client president roles that currently report into the newly appointed chief client officer Martyn Rattle.