Chief Marketer Staff

• Visa Drops Triple Crown in Favor of Kentucky Derby

  After a 10-year run as the title sponsor of horse racing’s most prestigious event, the Triple Crown, Visa USA plans to put that deal to pasture and focus on one major race. Visa has entered into a five-year partnership with Churchill Downs Inc. to be …

• Agencies

  Purina Readies $3 Million Tidy Cat Launch

  Purina this summer launches Tidy Cats Scoop Small Spaces cat litter with a $3 million campaign. The litter—an extension of Purina’s Tidy Cats line—controls odor in tight quarters, such as a bathroom or utility room. Small Spaces hits store shelves in …

• 24 Hour Fitness Sold to Investment Firm for $1.6 Billion

  24 Hour Fitness Worldwide has agreed to be acquired by Forstmann Little & Co., a private investment firm in New York, for $1.6 billion. 24 Hour Fitness had revenues of more than $1.1 billion , more than 3 million members and 330 clubs in 16 U.S. states, …

• Agencies

  Scholastic Kicks off Weeklong Maya & Miguel MAYnia

  Maya & Miguel, those beloved Latino twins, are back injecting a little spring fever into the brand with a week full of new episodes, online interactive activities and a two-hour TV special. Scholastic Entertainment’s weeklong Maya & Miguel …

• Agencies

  ConAgra, Cartoon Network Offer ‘Big Wig’ Sweeps

  In it’s first ever multi-brand promotion with a television network, ConAgra is teaming up with Cartoon Network in a new sweepstakes, which offers one winner the chance to be boss of the network for a day. Consumers 16 and under can register for the Big …

• Agencies

  Slim Jim Suits Up for Six Flags

  Slim Jim and Orville Redenbacher will spend a lot of time at Six Flags theme parks this summer. ConAgra will put those brand names on roller coasters and theaters as part of ConAgra’s multi-year Six Flags sponsorship. The deal, announced in January, …

• Agencies

  Jagermeister Targets Heavy Metal Fans with Sponsorship

  Jagermeister Liqueur likes heavy metal bands. So, its sponsorship of this summer’s Sounds of the Underground Tour certainly fits the bill, with a lineup filled with hard-hitting metal and hard-core acts. An inflatable lounge—equipped with air …

• PRN Adds Telemundo to Wal-Mart TV Network

  In-store TV network, Premier Retail Networks has signed an agreement with U.S. Spanish-language network Telemundo to add content to Wal-Mart Television Network for Hispanic customers. As part of the agreement, announced Tuesday, Telemundo will produce …

• Direct Mail Still Sparks Auto Sales

  Direct mail is still sparking sales of new automobiles. A study, conducted for Baltimore-based marketer Vertis, showed that 43% of adults who plan to purchase a new vehicle responded to direct mail by visiting a dealer in person. “Direct mail has proven …

• News Briefs

  PEPSICO: will buy Punica Getranke GmbH, a German maker of fruit juices and juice drinks, from Sunny Delight Beverages Co. Financial terms were not disclosed. ROCK GREEN LIGHT: the low-cal, light beer counterpart of Rolling Rock Premium Beers, has a new …