Advertising Roundup: Carrefour Taps Publicis; LePlae Out at TBWA; LA Bans New Outdoor; Insider Buys at ValueClick; More ...

(MoneyWatch)  Carrefour taps Publicis Groupe -- The holding company plans to form an ad-hoc agency that will be totally dedicated to the account, like Enfatico for Dell. Hired without a review to handle its corporate and commercial advertising. [Source: Adweek]

Rumor: LePlae out at TBWA -- Back in October 2005, Omnicom Group's TBWA Worldwide promoted West Coast chief Robert LePlae to president of its North America operations. While he is still on the payroll, as of next week or so, LePlae will be heading for greener pastures. [Source: AgencySpy]

Turner research chief slams Forrester data quality -- As part of the World Trade Group's third annual "Future TV Show" conference, Turner Broadcasting's research chief slammed the present-day accuracy of Forrester Research data reports. Speaking on a panel about the future of audience measurement, Jack Wakshlag said a Forrester report about the coming impact of DVRs on the TV business "caused huge damage." He also had some choice words about the methods currently being used to analyze Nielsen audience data. [Source: Ad Age]

Digital marketplace: Q1 not a 'nuclear winter' -- So far, the first months of 2009 aren't looking as dire as once predicted for the online advertising market, according to buyers and sellers. However, many report that business has slowed down, resulting in intensifying pressure on pricing, particularly in the ad networks space. But the abysmal first quarter that many anticipated--one in which shell-shocked clients either delayed all decision making or went into full budget-slashing mode--hasn't happened, said many industry insiders. [Source: Mediaweek]

More CMOs abandon TV for web -- Best Buy cut its TV spending by about 40 percent last year. But instead of pocketing the money, CMO Barry Judge opted to spend it on increasing staff in the company's stores and on improving the company's Web site. Realtor Century 21, meanwhile, is planning to funnel all the cash that it used to spend on TV advertising onto the Web. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers also is completely cutting out TV in its 2009 media mix. [Source: Brandweek]

L.A. measure would ban new digital billboards -- Proposed outdoor advertising rules would also shrink sign size and effectively outlaw supergraphics that cover buildings. [Source: LA Times]

Google gets knocked for being a one-trick pony -- the vast majority of its revenue comes from search advertising--but its strong fourth-quarter results showed what can be done by making sure cultivation of that business isn't hurt by diversification efforts. In short, Google had two things going for it. First, people performed more Google searches. Second, when they did, Google showed the search ads more often. [Source: CNET]

Insider stock purchases at ValueCLick -- Three directors and one officer bought 108,500 shares or $1,112,000 worth of stock. [Source: StockPickr]

WPP's Sorrell: The end is nigh for old media -- The profit margins within traditional media, including television and newspapers, will never be the same again, according to WPP chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell. Speaking to more than 250 media and advertising professionals at an IAA event yesterday (January 21), the leader of the group behind some ?£15bn in revenue last year, warned the media sector continues to be "disintermediated" by low-cost business models. [Source: BrandRepublic]

WPP agency Kinetic retains Vodafone's ?£15m outdoor work -- Vodafone has confirmed that WPP-owned specialist agency Kinetic will continue to handle the telecoms company's ?£15m outdoor media planning and buying, following the appointment of new media agency Carat this week. [Source: Brand Republic]