Q&As

A slate of seven entertainment, computer and software manufacturers, and electronics companies have partnered to spend $150 million in trade and consumer marketing to promote high-definition digital-video discs (HD DVD) and to educate consumers on the quality and value of the technology.

Universal Studios Hollywood has named marketing executive Mark Mears to senior VP-marketing and sales.

The state of labor relations is in the dumpster. In fact, 49% of Americans describe the relationship between management and labor at their companies as “lukewarm” or “negative,” with only 9% describing the relationship as “extremely positive,” according to a new Maritz Poll on employee satisfaction conducted by Maritz Research.

Thrifty Car Rental and Budget Rent A Car System, Inc. have individually partnered with airline companies to reward frequent flyer members with additional miles for renting the companies’ vehicles.

Pledging its commitment to sport, McDonald’s Corp. has renewed its longtime sponsorship of the Federation Internationale de Football Association World Cup through 2014.

MARITZ LOYALTY MARKETING: has named Shea Long

Big-budget search marketers are entering the search channel, and they’re bringing sophistication in the shape of more intensive use of Web analytics and bid management tools.

Contribution analysis is one of the foundations for many of the other types of analyses (list response, customer lifetime value, and square-inch analysis, to name just a few) that successful catalogers use to better understand how to profitably grow their businesses.

Cingular Wireless is offering customers a new service: electronic coupons and discounts.

Electronics maker Maxell Corp. of America is showcasing its “blow-away guy” in an online game that stars the iconic advertising character. The debut of the game coincides with Maxell’s first-time sponsorship of ESPN’s X Game 12 in August; both efforts are a bid to jump start sales with a younger demographic.