Chief Marketer Staff

• NHL Signs Agency to Boost Brand

  Departing from standard practice, the National Hockey League has hired an entertainment marketing agency to help restore the brand’s image and build a stronger emotional fan-player connection following a 301-day lockout during the 2004-05 season. …

• Agencies

  AOL Launches New Online Reality Show

  American Online is searching for the next music superstar via a new online reality show, The Biz, that lets contestants compete for a chance to run a record label. AOL is teaming up with Warner Music Group to launch the new show at Thebiz.com. Starting …

• Albertsons Could Sell for $10 Billion

  Grocer Albertsons, Inc. went on the block last week, putting about 70 million square feet of prime retail real estate into play. Albertsons hired Goldman Sachs & Co. and The Blackstone Group as financial advisors with an eye toward selling the company. …

• Verizon Wireless Sues Telemarketers for Mobile Calling

  (Direct Newsline)— Wireless filed two lawsuits last week against telemarketers who used autodialers to send unsolicited recorded calls to cell phones. In separate suits, Bedminster, NJ-based Verizon Wireless is seeking injunctions against the two …

• InBev VP Tom Cardella Joins Miller

  Miller Brewing Co. has named InBev VP-Sales Tom Cardella as senior VP-International Brands and Market Development, effective Sept. 19. Cardella will be responsible for sales and marketing in the new organization supporting SABMiller international brands …

• News Briefs

  THE COCA-COLA CO.; The Coca-Cola Foundation and The Coca-Cola Bottlers through the Coca-Cola Bottlers Association are donating $5 million to hurricane Katrina relief and rescue efforts. The money will be divided among the American Red Cross, the …

• Digital

  Local Search Leans on Community Content

  We tend to trust people who are like us. Whatever consequences that may have in politics, religion or economics, it

• Digital

  This Search Dog May Get Its Day

  How many search engines do you use regularly? A Nielsen/ NetRatings look at the top three engines back in January

• Digital

  Autobytel’s Condor Tames Search

  A mysterious black bird that holds out the promise of great wealth. It’s the stuff that dreams are made of, according to detective Sam Spade in “The Maltese Falcon”. It’s also the perfect way to make sure auto sales Web site Autobytel was able to uncover the riches buried in search engine marketing.

• Agencies

  Coors Extends NFL Sponsorship Deal Through 2010

  Coors Brewing Co. has extended its deal with the National Football League, protecting its position as the “Official Beer Sponsor” through the 2010 season. Coors current $240 million four-year deal ends after this season. News reports said that …