Movie fans are surely excited by the soon-to-be-released Superman reboot, Man of Steel. But the film might be even more eagerly anticipated by its 100-plus corporate promotional partners, which are using the movie to help sell razors, cell phones, fast-food burgers, Twizzlers, a career in the armed forces and more.
Media
A Q&A With the Real-Life Maker of ‘Arrested Development’s’ Bluth’s Frozen Bananas
To coincide with the release of Season 4 of “Arrested Development” on May 26, the Bluth’s Original Frozen Banana Stand is popping up in locations around New York and London. But these frozen bananas aren’t being hand-dipped by …
How MTV Decided to Abandon Rebellion
MTV used to be a parent-free zone, but over the last several years the network has overhauled its programming to cater to a generation that views Mom and Dad more as friends than enemies.
The Charles Ramsey-McDonald’s Episode: How a Viral Marketing Opportunity Can Backfire
The Charles Ramsey-McDonald’s episode is shaping up as an argument that brands should respond to viral marketing opportunities slowly, cautiously—and perhaps not at all.
Murdoch’s News Corp. Threatens to Pull Fox Off the Air in Aereo Dispute
News Corp.’s flagship Fox network might cease broadcasting over the U.S. public airwaves if the company’s dispute with upstart challenger Aereo isn’t resolved, a senior company official warned Monday. News Corp. COO Chase Carey …
Obama Administration: Mobile Phone ‘Unlocking’ Should Be Legal
The Obama administration will push to reverse a new prohibition on mobile phone unlocking, after an online White House petition protesting the ban drew more than 100,000 signatures. The ban makes it a federal crime for consumers …
What’s an Oscar Worth at the Box Office?
Is winning a coveted Academy Award a priceless experience? Come on, this is Hollywood. Movie studios don’t tailor their release schedules around Oscar season and pour money into Oscar-bait films just for that warm, fuzzy …
Comcast’s NBCUniversal Deal: As One Media Era Ends, Another Begins
Comcast’s $16.7 billion deal to purchase the remaining half of NBCUniversal from General Electric solidifies the cable and broadband giant’s role as a media titan and represents a triumph for CEO Brian Roberts, whose father …
Liberty’s Virgin Deal Sets Up Media Clash Between Malone and Murdoch
Liberty Global’s $16 billion deal to buy British cable giant Virgin Media will create one of the largest broadband companies in the world, and sets up Liberty mogul John Malone, the famed U.S. cable financier, in a clash of the …
As the Dow Soars, How High Can Tech Stocks Go?
Last Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average — the benchmark stock index of America’s blue chip companies — closed above 14,000 for the first time since the financial meltdown sent the U.S. economy into the worst crisis in …
Testing the Science of Sharing at the Super Bowl: Can Viral Ads Be Manufactured?
After years of trial and error, some believe that viral videos can not only be fostered and quantified but also predicted
The Most Buzzed-About Super Bowl Ads of 2013, A Sneak Preview
Forget the days when you were totally surprised by the ads airing on Super Bowl Sunday. More than ever, companies are releasing ads weeks before the big game, often creating ad teasers (yes — that’s an ad for an ad) as part of …