http://www.iab.net/recent_press_releases The latest press releases from the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:12:05 -0500 greg.vanullen@iab.net (Greg Van Ullen) greg.vanullen@iab.net (Greg Van Ullen) http://www.iab.net/media/image/iab-logo-rss.gif http://www.iab.net/recent_press_releases 144 40 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/413305?gko=7fcc7 Chrysler CMO Deborah Meyer, CBS CEO Les Moonves, Author Clay Shirky Join Roster of Notable Speakers; Set to Investigate Theme of "Invention & Reinvention" as Key to Harnessing the Digital Revolution NEW YORK, NY (August 20, 2008) - The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today announced the full lineup of participants in this year's MIXX (Marketing and Interactive Excellence) Conference and Expo, the Official Interactive Event of Advertising Week 2008 and the preeminent annual gathering of the interactive industry. Energizing this year's event is a new theme, "Invention and Reinvention." This fresh direction for MIXX 2008 spotlights the constant state of creation and evolution required of business leaders in today's rapidly changing digital landscape. Speakers are a "who's who" of top marketers, advertising agency executives, publishers and industry gurus including: Deborah Meyer, Vice President and CMO, Chrysler LLC Tim Armstrong, President, Advertising and Commerce, North America and Vice President, Google Inc. David Kenny Chairman & CEO, Digitas (A Publicis Company) Michael Linton, SVP & CMO eBay, Inc. Young-Bean Song, Director of Analytics & Atlas Institute, Microsoft Advertising Henry Blodget, Editor, Silicon Alley Insider Jacqueline Corbelli, Chairman & CEO, Brightline iTV Marketing Specialists Clay Shirky, Writer, Consultant, and Teacher on New Media and the Internet Charlie Rose, Emmy Award-winning journalist and host of the Charlie Rose Show Leslie Moonves, President and CEO, CBS Corporation Andrew Robertson, President and CEO, BBDO Worldwide "This year's MIXX captures the feverish pace of transformation happening in the media world today," said IAB president and CEO Randall Rothenberg. "The interactive industry's continual innovation forces each of us to evolve and change how we do business--media companies now behave like advertising agencies and marketers act like media companies. And MIXX this year will share the very best thinking from all parties in the ecosystem on how to reach and engage consumers today, which is truly our single biggest combined challenge." In addition to the lineup of keynotes, panels, breakout sessions, industry forecasts and an exhibit hall filled with an all-star line-up of vendors, MIXX 2008 offers its attendees an unrivaled opportunity to learn from senior marketers who will share case studies from across a variety of emerging platforms. How does a top advertising agency decipher the ad network landscape for its biggest clients? Internet Television: It's not the future, it's the present and the industry's leaders will share how to do it right. Gaming: Reaching and engaging the toughest audiences The NHL and Dodge,: Learn how two giant brands converged interactively for a fully integrated digital video campaign. The Next Big Thing: See a series of rapid-fire demonstrations from companies on the bleeding edge of the interactive revolution. For a full list of confirmed speakers and information on how to register, please visit www.mixx-expo.com . The event takes place on September 22-23 at the Crowne Plaza Times Square and will culminate with the 2008 MIXX Awards Gala on the evening of September 23. About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (www.iab.net) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising. IAB Media Contact: Marla Aaron Director, Marketing Communications 212.380.4714 marla@iab.net   Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/413305?gko=7fcc7 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/408504?gko=efa52 Alison Pepper Joins As Director of Public Policy Washington, D.C. (August 5, 2008) - The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) announced today that Alison Pepper has joined the organization as Director of Public Policy. She will work in the organization's Washington, D.C. office, reporting to IAB Vice President of Public Policy Mike Zaneis, on legislative, regulatory, and public policy issues that affect IAB members. "IAB is committed to promoting the interactive advertising industry's public policy agenda, and it's important that we maintain a strong presence in Washington, D.C.," said Randall Rothenberg, President and CEO of the IAB. "This is particularly true at a time when the online advertising industry's successful efforts to self-regulate are being challenged by ill-informed and ill-advised regulatory proposals that would severely curtail the ability of businesses to market effectively on the Internet." "I am excited to welcome Alison Pepper," said Zaneis. "She has extensive experience lobbying at both the state and Federal levels. She is a skilled attorney who brings a deep practical background from within the industry to IAB." Pepper will focus on legislative and regulatory initiatives related to consumer privacy, data and cyber security, as well as tax and trade issues that impact Internet advertising. Pepper previously worked at Experian as Manager for Government Affairs, in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, she was the State and Local Government Relations and Public Policy Programs Coordinator at the Public Affairs Council, in Washington, D.C. Pepper received a J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law and is a member of the Georgia Bar Association.  She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia. About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau ( www.iab.net ) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising. IAB Contact: Mike Zaneis Vice-President, Public Policy mike@iab.net (202) 253-1466 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/408504?gko=efa52 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/406694?gko=5aebe New Benchmarking Study from the IAB and Bain & Company Highlights Ways Publishers and Networks Partner to Drive Greater Value in Interactive Advertising New York, NY - August 11, 2008 - The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and Bain & Company today announced the release of a benchmark study which suggests that online publishers are increasingly turning to sales intermediaries known as ad networks to sell off excess inventories. The use of "ad networks" surged from 5% of total ad impressions sold in 2006 to 30% in 2007, according to the newly released "Digital Pricing Benchmarking Study" from Bain, the global business consulting firm, conducted in coordination with the Interactive Advertising Bureau. As online publishers continue to experience growth rates of 20-30% in ad revenue, the race to create new advertising opportunities has left publishers with an excess of inventory which they are selling through ad networks at up to 90% discounts versus direct sales rates. The study finds the trend particularly foreboding for branded online publishers who traditionally earn between $10-20 CPM (the industry term for the cost per 1,000 ad impressions advertisers pay) and therefore risk severe price erosion. "Online publishers are producing more inventory than the market demands, and risk devaluing the premium nature of their brands, particularly in light of ad networks growth and their dramatically lower pricing," said John Frelinghuysen, a partner in Bain's Global Media Practice and study author. "Building more effective relationships between publishers and ad networks is critical. In the longer-term, both parties will benefit from gains in ad network CPMs." The reason for the rapid growth in the use of ad networks is two-fold: Interviews with online publishers, conducted as part of the study, indicate that the lack of adequate pricing tools and inventory management discipline contributed to the growth in available ad space. This is causing publishers to seek out ways to sell large inventories of unsold ads. Publishers often lack basic information on realized prices and inventory sold by client and channel, limiting management's ability to make effective decisions. Large marketers continue to shift significant portions of their advertising budgets online and view ad networks as an effective way to achieve greater buying scale and drive down CPMs. "What this benchmark study tells the industry is that there is a need for more sophisticated yield management on the part of premium publishers, for stronger partnerships between publishers and ad networks, for development of best practices, and more focus on the value of interactive advertising." said Sherrill Mane, senior vice president, Industry Services of the IAB. "Our industry is at an important juncture and now is the time for publishers to adopt strategic approaches to the use of ad networks who themselves have become critical players in the digital ecosystem." Another important finding of the study is that publishers who actively manage and use multiple ad networks can achieve higher revenues on display ads sold via networks. The benchmarking study finds publishers vary in their adoption of ad networks, the approaches used and the results attained but overall finds that the keys for success for online publishers are having dedicated staff, better tools and metrics that allow constant vigilance in managing ad pricing, reported sell rates and channel conflicts. The authors of the benchmarking study offer recommendations to both publishers and ad networks to pursue steps toward higher realized pricing and enhancing mutual benefits of collaboration. These include: Publishers must become more disciplined in managing ad inventory and deploy improved methods and tools to enhance yield management Ad networks should partner more closely with publishers to enhance the value of the relationship for both parties. Other key findings from the benchmarking study include: Overall, online publisher revenues grew by a healthy 32% in 2007 versus 2006, yet ad network revenues grew more rapidly (in excess of 50%), as marketers boosted online spending. High demand for premium video inventory resulted in CPMs 2-3 times greater than display ads on average. Most publishers in the study lack information to closely measure the impact of cross-platform sales, though most indicate focus on using cross-platform to drive volume, not price. The Digital Pricing Study was developed as a benchmark to explore the impact of online ad intermediaries on ad rates, profitability and ad inventory management for media companies (publishers). The study methodology included executive interviews and in-depth analysis of proprietary company data, including direct, ad network and cross-platform sales, pricing (CPMs) and impressions volume for seven leading online media publishers. The selection criteria included having leading brands, publishing premium content, and selling advertising on a national basis. To view the complete study, please go to www.iab.net/digital_pricing_research About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (www.iab.net) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising About Bain & Company, Inc. Bain & Company, a leading global business consulting firm, serves clients on issues of strategy, operations, technology, organization and mergers and acquisitions. The firm was founded in 1973 on the principle that Bain consultants must measure their success by their clients' financial results. Bain clients have outperformed the stock market 4 to 1. With 38 offices in 25 countries, Bain has worked with over 3,900 major multinational, private equity and other corporations across every economic sector. For more information visit: www.bain.com .   IAB Media Contact: Marla Nitke marla@iab.net 212.380.4714 Bain & Company Contact: Cheryl Krauss cheryl.krauss@bain.com 646-562-7863 Or Frank Pinto frank.pinto@bain.com 917-309-1065 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/406694?gko=5aebe http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/400454?gko=a5367 Improves Efficiencies for Explosive Growth in Digital Video NEW YORK, NY (July 29, 2008)--To meet the need for standardization in the expanding digital video landscape, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today announced the release of a "Digital Video Ad Serving Template" (VAST), designed to standardize communication protocol between video players and servers. VAST will allow companies to build digital video players and video ad servers that have the same interfaces and speak the same standard language. Publishers who use the standard will be able to plug into multiple third-party digital video ad servers and networks without additional development and therefore enable a powerful tool for improving yield. This document: Defines a standard ad response for in-stream video Provides specifications that are compatible with any video player framework  Includes guidance for most on-demand video players (i.e., Adobe's Flash, Microsoft's Windows Media Player and Real Player)  Includes accommodations for linear video and interactive ads (e.g."pre-roll") as well as non-linear ads such as clickable overlays as described in the IAB Digital Ad Format Guidelines "Digital video is one of the most exciting platforms to emerge within the interactive advertising ecosystem," said Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of the IAB. "VAST is a critical industry accomplishment because it lays out a much-needed mechanism for standardization in one of the hottest areas of interactive advertising." "VAST allows for standardized communication between ad servers and players which is essential as more and more marketers embrace digital video as a key element of their interactive media plans and publishers wish to maximize yield on their video inventory," said Ari Paparo, Group Product Manager, Advertiser Products of Google. The public comment period will last until September 10, 2008. The feedback will then be reviewed and the document will be finalized and publicly released. To review the complete document, please go to: http://www.iab.net/vast About the IAB's Digital Video Committee: The Digital Video Committee of the IAB is comprised of over 145 member companies actively engaged in the creation and execution of digital video advertising. One of the goals of the committee is to implement a comprehensive set of guidelines, measurement, and creative options for interactive video advertising. The committee works to educate marketers and agencies on the strength of digital video as a marketing vehicle. A full list of Committee member companies can be found at: http://www.iab.net/member_center/35088?iabid=a0330000000s0p4AAA About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau ( www.iab.net ) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the continuing growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising IAB Media Contact: Marla Aaron Director, Marketing Communications 212.380.4714 marla@iab.net Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:16:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/400454?gko=a5367 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/394759?gko=7ff8c Standardizing Processes to Ensure High Quality in Interactive Ad Campaign Measurement NEW YORK, NY (July 24, 2008)--The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB ) today announced the public comment release of " Ad Campaign Measurement Process Guidelines ," a document that addresses the process of a publisher's or advertising agency's use of a third-party ad server and its application service provider. The guidelines supplement current measurement guidelines and provide definitions and guidance on the auditing of processes used in the placement, trafficking and reporting of interactive advertising. The document is the result of a consensus of participating auditing organizations and the IAB. This document will: Help the IAB, publishers and ad agencies further establish transparency and consistency in the area of ad measurement through certification by having all phases of ad serving put through a technology, process and data audit Provide a Self-Assessment Questionnaire that allows publishers, third-party ad servers and agencies to perform a self-assessment of their compliance using controls outlined in the document and meant to help the industry reduce discrepancies. "As an industry, we are providing marketers with the most powerful, accountable and cost effective way to reach consumers," said Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of the IAB. "To continue to deliver on this promise, we must establish methods that reduce discrepancies in the buying process of interactive advertising--we've made great strides by bringing these guidelines to fruition." "The IAB's work both with its members and the auditing organizations in completing this document is a critical step in solving the ongoing challenges of media measurement discrepancies," said George Ivie, President of the Media Rating Council. "Our research has found that human error plays a material role in large impression discrepancies and these guidelines, when followed, will assist in reducing those errors and improve overall efficiencies in the measurement process." After the 30-day comment period, ending on September 10, the feedback will be reviewed and the guidelines will be finalized and publicly released. To review the complete document, please go to, www.iab.net/campaign_measurement_process   About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (www.iab.net) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising. IAB Media Contact: Marla Aaron Director, Marketing Communications 212.380.4714 marla@iab.net Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/394759?gko=7ff8c http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/392478?gko=658fa World's Leading Brands and Agencies Vie for Honors in Creativity and Effectiveness New York, New York(July 22, 2008)--The  Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today announced that submissions to the fourth annual MIXX Awards hit record levels, surpassing 2007's entries by nearly 40 percent. Since their founding in 2005, the MIXX Awards, the only advertising awards to recognize creativity and effectiveness, have evolved into the most prestigious interactive advertising award and have attracted a distinguished cross-section of the world's top brands and agencies.          This year's entries include submissions from hundreds of agencies--"native digital" shops and large traditional ones as well.          These agencies have submitted the work they have done on behalf of their clients who encompass every major vertical industry--including blue-chip brands, luxury products and services, pharmaceuticals, automotive, financial, consumer packaged goods , entertainment and technology.          The campaigns will be evaluated in 18 categories by a cross-industry panel of judges that includes senior executives from agencies, publishers, and marketing organizations deliberating together--an industry first. "The sheer quantity of submissions and the caliber of the marketers and agencies represented is a testament to the increasingly critical role that interactive advertising plays in marketers' media plans," said Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of the IAB, the trade association for interactive media in the United States. "To think that this awards show is only in its fourth year and has already attained levels of submissions that are on a par with long established shows is nothing short of a revolution--showing how far interactive advertising has come. Now the real excitement begins as our judges see which work among this extraordinary lineup will make it to the final round." Winners of the IAB's 2008 MIXX Awards will be announced at a ceremony in New York City on September 23, near the start of Advertising Week, a gathering of the media and marketing industries that typically draws 10,000 professionals to conferences, seminars, recruiting events, and parties celebrating advertising and its evolution. The host for this year's MIXX Awards is one of the industry's keenest observers and practitioners, Rob Norman, Group M CEO, whose regular riffs on all things interactive have made him the natural emcee for the evening's ceremonies. Last year's MIXX Award winners included many of the most prominent brand marketers in the United States, including Anheuser Busch, American Airlines, The Coca-Cola Company, BMW, Royal Caribbean, Showtime and Unilever, as well as leading agencies such as Universal McCann, Ogilvy, McKinney, Digitas, BBDO and Mindshare. In 2007, the gala's ultimate honor, Best in Show, went to Goodby, Silverstein, and Partners, San Francisco, for its super-rich media campaign for Hewlett-Packard, "The Computer is Personal Again." For more information and to view the complete gallery of the 2007 MIXX Finalists, please visit: www.mixx-awards.com/gallery .  About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau ( www.iab.net ) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the continuing growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising IAB Media Contact: Marla Aaron Director, Marketing Communications 212.380.4714 marla@iab.net Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:00:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/392478?gko=658fa http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/389209?gko=c01ce Mapping Opportunities Available in the Growing Mobile Platform NEW YORK, NEW YORK (July 21, 2008)--The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today announced the release of "A Mobile Advertising Overview," a document that demystifies the mobile platform and showcases it as a vital and growing medium for interactive advertising. It is the first report issued by the IAB on the mobile advertising platform and outlines a broad spectrum of opportunities for marketers and agencies as more and more of them utilize this emerging platform. The document: Educates media companies, agencies, marketers and users about how advertising is currently implemented within the mobile platform Explores the mobile platform as a viable part of the interactive advertising ecosystem Includes case studies of mobile advertising campaigns designed to assist marketers and agencies in campaign execution. "The recent growth of mobile advertising clearly illustrates how quickly we are moving to a three-screen universe," said Randall Rothenberg, President and CEO of the Interactive Advertising Bureau. "This report outlines the opportunity for marketers and agencies to reach increasingly mobile consumers giving them information when they want and where they want--this is no longer the future but the here and now." "This was the IAB Mobile Committee's first major initiative and we are proud to have created a comprehensive guide for marketers, agencies and publishers on the mobile platform," said Gary Schwartz, CEO, Impact Mobile and Co-Chair of the IAB Mobile Committee. "Mobile is changing the way consumers interact with advertising and once they get accustomed to it there is no going back." On July 21, the IAB will host a Leadership Forum on Mobile Advertising in New York City, where industry leaders, including marketers and agencies, will explore the opportunities and innovations of this dynamic medium. To download the full report, please go to www.iab.net/mobileplatform . About the IAB's Mobile Advertising Committee: The IAB's Mobile Advertising Committee works to make mobile a more effective and efficient advertising platform for marketers and agencies through the development and endorsement of measurement guidelines, creative guidelines and best practices. About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (www.iab.net) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising. IAB Media Contact: Marla Aaron Director, Marketing Communications 212.380.4714 marla@iab.net Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/389209?gko=c01ce http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/386651?gko=6bd51 Recommendations Seek to Increase Efficiencies for Interactive Advertising Operations NEW YORK, NY (July 16, 2008) -The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today announced the release of "Revenue Cycle Best Practices," a document that recommends a series of internal controls and processes for publishers aimed at increasing efficiency and effectiveness in the online advertising revenue cycle. This is the fourth in a series of documents that are part of an IAB-led industry initiative to increase operational efficiencies within the interactive advertising ecosystem. "Revenue Cycle Best Practices" was created by the IAB's CFO Council, and is comprised of financial professionals representing 46 leading interactive companies. Key recommendations from the document include: Specific processes for obtaining internal pricing approval Advice to publishers that they closely monitor open receivables that are more than 60 days overdue and that they recommend actions to their sales teams for collections Implementation of appropriate controls along the insertion-order process to ensure proper execution Regular meetings between collections teams and Ad Sales Management. "The work that we've done collectively as an industry in streamlining many areas of the advertising supply chain is important for the growth of interactive advertising," said Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of the IAB. "By working with our members to enhance operational efficiencies, we deliver on the promise of an extraordinary medium that is transforming consumers' lives." "This document provides guidance on how to improve our internal and external communications. This will not only increase productivity, prevent costly errors and decrease the amount of time it takes to collect payment but it also improves customer satisfaction. It ultimately means more revenue for the company," said Christie Lay, Senior Credit Manager, Microsoft Corporation and one of the working group members who participated in the document's creation. The "Revenue Cycle Best Practices" document along with the other three documents in the series--"Billing Methods Best Practices," "On-time Delivery Toolkit" and "Campaign Setup Best Practices"--can be found at www.iab.net/revenue_cycle About the CFO Council: The council is a forum for finance professionals of IAB member companies to identify general finance related issues and recommend solutions. Among the broad issues that the council will address are: interpreting accounting rules, financing opportunities, and bad debt and receivables. The committee will deliver these objectives through industry research, standards and best practice development and stakeholder education. About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau ( www.iab.net ) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the continuing growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising IAB Media Contact: Marla Aaron Director, Marketing Communications 212.380.4714 marla@iab.net Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/386651?gko=6bd51 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/365248?gko=f41d1 Compliant Companies Receive IAB Seal Recognizing Adherence to Accepted Industry Standards New York, NY (July 1, 2008) - The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today announced the release of Revised Ad Unit and Rich Media Creative Guidelines. By providing the industry with a common minimum set of creative specifications, these revised guidelines help simplify the online ad buying process. The guidelines: Address minimum guidelines for common ad formats and sizes such as banners and buttons as well as transitional and various over-the-page units such as floating ads, page take-overs and tear-backs; Define rich media as separate from basic animated ads by requiring interaction aside from the ability to click-through; Cover ads delivered into standard web environments including email and static and dynamic web pages; and Update the minimum file sizes of the 2002 Universal Ad Package (found at www.iab.net/UAP ) "These guidelines expand upon the seminal work begun with the Universal Ad Package and give interactive publishers even more opportunity to provide marketers with innovative solutions that engage consumers," said Randall Rothenberg, President and CEO of the IAB. "Publisher compliance with the IAB guidelines sends a clear signal to marketers that the industry is continuing to simplify the ad-buying process." "The IAB Rich Media and Ad Unit Guidelines are vital to developing consistency within our industry, as well as fostering relationships between publishers and clients regarding creative submission and creative acceptance," said Shell Saras, Creative Services Manager, weather.com. "As an industry, if we focus on adhering to initiatives like these guidelines, marketers and clients will have a creative specification resource that is consistently accepted throughout the marketplace." Simultaneous with the release of the guidelines, the IAB launched today a compliance program for interactive publishers who adhere to the Rich Media Creative requirements. Publishers will display an IAB Rich Media Creative Compliance Seal on their websites and will also be listed on the IAB website. To date, 32 companies are already compliant with the guidelines. For a complete list of those companies, go to: www.iab.net/Rich_Media_Compliant . About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (www.iab.net) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising IAB Media Contact: Marla Aaron Director, Marketing Communications 212.380.4714 marla@iab.net Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/365248?gko=f41d1 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/348352?gko=753c5 Will Outline How Interactive Advertising Fuels Small Business Growth Washington D.C. (June 25, 2008) - Randall Rothenberg, President and CEO of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), will testify as an expert witness today about the critical role that Internet advertising plays for small businesses in the U.S. economy during the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee Subcommittee on Regulations, Healthcare and Trade hearing. The IAB is the trade association for the interactive media industry in the United States. It represents hundreds of small interactive publishers and provides a voice for them in Washington, D.C. on important legislative and regulatory issues. "Small business Web sites are the Mom & Pop grocery stores of the World Wide Web. Just as the local retailer anchors a geographic community, these sites anchor communities of interest that span towns, cities, states, even nations," stated Rothenberg. "They do this with their content and they finance their content through advertising." Interactive advertising revenues totaled more than $21 billion in 2007 and were estimated at $5.8 billion in the first quarter of 2008, up 18.2 % over the same period in 2007. Small companies' share of online ad spending in search engines is more than double the share of medium or large companies, according to the research firm Outsell, Inc. Research done by the consulting firm Booz & Co. for the IAB, the Association of National Advertisers, and the American Association of Advertising Agencies shows that 40% of IAB members' revenues comes from local businesses. According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, more than 32 million American adults have used online classified ads for selling or buying. eBay, the best known auction site, says 768,000 small businesses across the U.S. use this online marketplace as their primary or secondary marketing channel. There are more than 112 million blogs worldwide; in the U.S., as of July 2006, some 12 million American adults, about 8% of the American population, were publishing their own blogs, which were being read by 57 million others, according to Pew. "Millions of people are making their livings creating and operating Web venues that house well-targeted advertisements, but these entrepreneurs are being threatened by the specter of unnecessary government regulation that would destroy or severely limit their ability to advertise their wares and services online," said Rothenberg. Proposals are currently before the United States Congress and several state legislatures that would constrain online advertising. "The IAB believes that the proposed regulations would have a disproportionately negative impact on small publishers whose advertising sales are largely or entirely managed by ad networks, and that government must be prudent in ensuring that no regulation is drawn that would curtail interactive advertising's potential to continue to support small business owners," Rothenberg said. Recently, the IAB opened a new class of membership for small interactive publishers that offers small publishers special pricing for IAB events, training programs, access to networking events around the country, business insurance and protection programs, and membership to IAB's new Small Publisher Committee. Read Randall Rothenberg's testimony before the House Small Business Committee. About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau ( www.iab.net ) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising. IAB Public Policy Contact: Mike Zaneis Vice-President, Public Policy mike@iab.net (202) 253-1466 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/348352?gko=753c5 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/341014?gko=69cff IAB Also Elects Six New Directors to Its Board and Appoints New Members to Its Executive Committee NEW YORK, NY (June 18, 2008) -The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today announced that its Board of Directors has elected David J. Moore as Vice Chair. In addition, others elected to the Board were Lynda Clarizio, President, AOL/Platform A; Cesar Conde, EVP & Chief Strategy Officer, Univision; Greg D'Alba, EVP & Chief Operating Officer, CNN Advertising Sales and Marketing; Gordon McLeod, President, The Wall Street Journal Digital Network; and Christopher Ma, VP, The Washington Post Company; Joseph. Rosenbaum, partner, Business & Finance Group of Reed Smith LLP, was elected Secretary ex-officio of the Board of Directors. Mr. Moore, who has served on the IAB Board of Directors since 2001 and its Executive Committee since 2005, is Chairman and CEO of 24/7 Real Media, Inc., a leading global digital marketing company that offers an award-winning ad serving, targeting, tracking, and analytics platform, along with powerful search marketing technology and a global network of Web sites. "Dave embodies the best combination of entrepreneurship and business acumen in the interactive advertising industry," said Wenda Harris Millard, Co-CEO and President of Media, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and Chair of the IAB. "We are thrilled that he is increasing his role at the IAB at this exciting time." Mr. Moore led 24/7 Real Media's growth from start-up to its current position as a leader in digital marketing. He is a respected industry veteran with over 30 years experience in new media property development. Mr. Moore is a compelling speaker and seasoned executive with expertise in all facets of the digital advertising industry. Throughout his career, Mr. Moore has held positions at companies such as Turner Broadcasting and Viacom. He co-founded Petry Interactive, which eventually became 24/7 Real Media. Mr. Moore has also served as a director of Local Matters, Inc., a provider of Interrnet, voice and wireless technology solutions, since March 2004 and as Chairman since March 2006. In addition, he serves on the board of Our Stage and Auditudes, early stage Internet companies, and on the board of directors of the Advertising Education Foundation (AEF) since May 2007. "I look forward to working with the IAB and its Board to further the important mission of growth for the entire interactive media ecosystem," said Mr. Moore. "This is a dynamic industry with incredible new technologies emerging every day that continue to change the face of the consumer experience and the IAB's important work moves us forward. I'm thrilled and privileged to be taking on this role." "The IAB Board is integral to our ability to guide the industry and having someone with Dave's industry expertise and vision as our vice chair will keep us on course as an organization," said Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of the IAB. "I am honored to work with one of the great visionaries in the interactive advertising industry." Today the IAB also announced two new appointments to its Executive Committee which oversees the activities of the Board as it relates to the operations of the association. The two new members of the Executive Committee of the IAB Board of Directors are: Lynda Clarizio, President, AOL/Platform A Joseph Rosenbaum, Partner, Reed Smith, LLP The Executive Committee of the IAB Board of Directors includes (new members of the Executive Committee are indicated *): Chair: Wenda Harris Millard, Co-CEO and President of Media, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Vice-Chair: David J. Moore, Chairman and CEO, 24/7 Real Media, Inc President: Randall Rothenberg, President & CEO, IAB Tim Armstrong, President, Advertising & Commerce, VP, Google Inc. Neil Ashe, CEO, CNET Networks, Inc. Lynda Clarizio, President, AOL/Platform A* Bruce Gordon, CFO, SVP, Walt Disney Internet Group (Treasurer) Mike Hard, VP, Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions, US Sales Rich LeFurgy, Principal, Archer Advisers (Founding Chairman, ex-officio) Dave Morgan, Chairman, Tennis.com, (ex-officio) Martin Nisenholtz, SVP, Digital Operations, New York Times Company Secretary: Joseph Rosenbaum, Partner, Reed Smith LLP* (ex-officio)* Jim Spanfeller, President & CEO, Forbes.com Steve Wadsworth, President, Walt Disney Internet Group The six new members of the IAB Board of Directors are: Lynda Clarizio, President, AOL/Platform A Cesar Conde, EVP, & Chief Strategy Officer, Univision Greg D'Alba, EVP & Chief Operating Officer, CNN Advertising Sales Christopher Ma, Vice President, The Washington Post Company. Gordon McLeod, President, The Wall Street Journal Digital Network Joseph Rosenbaum, Partner, Reed Smith LLP (Secretary, ex-officio) The full list of the IAB Board of Directors: (new members of the Board indicated with*): Tim Armstrong, President, Advertising & Commerce, North America, VP Google Inc. Neil Ashe, CEO, CNET Networks, Inc. John Battelle, Chairman, Federated Media Bob Carrigan, President, IDG Communications, Inc. Sarah Chubb, President, CondNet Lynda Clarizio, President, AOL/Platform A* Cesar Conde, Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, Univision* Greg D'Alba, EVP & Chief Operating Officer, CNN Advertising Sales* Ned Desmond, President, Time Inc Interactive Jonathan Ewert, GM Advertising, Looksmart Ltd. Joe Fiveash, EVP, The Weather Channel Interactive Mitch Golub, President, Cars.com Bruce Gordon, CFO, SVP, Walt Disney Internet Group (Treasurer) Mike Hard, VP, Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions, US Sales Peter Horan, CEO, IAC Media and Advertising David Karnstedt, SVP, North American Sales, Yahoo! Patrick Keane, EVP & CMO, CBS Randy Kilgore, Chief Revenue Officer, Tremor Media Rich LeFurgy, Principal, Archer Advisers (Founding Chairman, ex-officio) Leon Levitt, VP, Digital Media, Cox Newspapers Christopher Ma, Vice President, The Washington Post Company* Dave Madden, EVP, Sales, Marketing and Business Development, WildTangent Riley McDonough, SVP, GM, Americas of Reuters Media Gordon McLeod, President, The Wall Street Journal Digital Network* Wenda Harris Millard, Co-CEO and President of Media, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia David J. Moore, Chairman and CEO, 24/7 Real Media, Inc. Dave Morgan, Chairman, Tennis.com (ex-officio) Peter Naylor, SVP, NBC Universal Digital Media Sales, NBC Universal Martin Nisenholtz, SVP, Digital Operations, New York Times Company Lance Podell, Chief Executive Officer, Seevast Joseph Rosenbaum, Partner, Reed Smith LLP (Secretary, ex-officio)* Randall Rothenberg, President & CEO, Interactive Advertising Bureau Warren Schlichting, VP, New Business Strategy, Comcast Spotlight Tina Sharkey, Chairman, Babycenter Tad Smith, CEO, Reed Business Information Jim Spanfeller, President & CEO, Forbes.com Steve Wadsworth, President, Walt Disney Internet Group Jeff Webber, SVP & Publisher, USATODAY.com Matt Wise, President & CEO, Q Interactive Dave Yovanno, GM, ValueClick Media About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau ( www.iab.net ) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the continuing growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising IAB Media Contact: Marla Aaron Director, Marketing Communications 212.380.4714 marla@iab.net Biographies of New Members of the IAB Board of Directors LYNDA CLARIZIO Lynda Clarizio is President of Platform-A. Clarizio has been President of Advertising.com, one of the key businesses that makes up Platform-A. In this new, expanded role, Clarizio will lead the industry's largest online advertising network. She will report to AOL President and Chief Operating Officer Ron Grant. Prior to joining Advertising.com in May 2006, Clarizio held several executive positions at AOL.    Lynda came to AOL from the Washington D.C. law firm of Arnold & Porter, where she was a partner for seven years, serving as one of AOL's outside counsel on transactional matters. CESAR CONDE Cesar Conde is Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Univision Communications Inc., the premier Spanish-language media company in the United States.  In this position, Conde works closely with the CEO and the management team to identify new strategic growth opportunities for the Company while continuing to implement Univision's corporate priorities across the Company's television, radio and digital platforms and coordinate with all units in support of these new efforts.  In addition, he has direct oversight of the company's Community Affairs, Government Relations, Marketing and Corporate Business Development divisions.  Conde has held a variety of senior management roles at Univision Communications Inc. In addition, he was one of twelve 2002-2003 White House Fellows appointed by President George W. Bush. In that capacity, he served as the White House Fellow for Secretary of State Colin L. Powell. GREG D'ALBA Greg D'Alba is executive vice president and chief operating officer of CNN Advertising Sales and Marketing for Turner Broadcasting Sales, Inc. In this position, D'Alba oversees all domestic cable and Web sales and marketing for the CNN portfolio of news networks and businesses, including CNN/U.S., CNN Headline News, CNN Airport Network and CNN.com. D'Alba previously served as executive vice president of CNN Sales, working on a variety of news sales efforts while primarily responsible for Headline News ad sales, as well as product management oversight of CNNfn. An industry veteran, D'Alba joined Turner in 1986 as an account executive and has held ascending positions through his 17-year CNN Sales career. CHRISTOPHER MA Christopher Ma is a Washington Post Company vice president with responsibilities in planning and development of new business ventures, particularly content-driven initiatives. He is also publisher of Express, The Post Company's new commuter tabloid newspaper for the greater Washington area. Before joining the corporate staff in early 2000, Ma was executive editor of The Post Company's new media subsidiary, WPNI, where he oversaw the editorial development of washingtonpost.com and Newsweek.msnbc.com.  He was the originator of the site's Live Online talk programming and played a key role in negotiating the media alliance involving The Post Company, Newsweek, MSNBC, and NBC News. Ma joined WPNI from U.S. News & World Report, where he served as deputy editor from 1989 to 1996. GORDON MCLEOD Gordon McLeod is president of The Wall Street Journal Digital Network, a suite of digital properties that includes The Wall Street Journal Online (WSJ.com), MarketWatch.com, Barrons.com, Dow Jones Classified Ventures and the recently launched AllThingsDigital.com. Prior to joining Dow Jones, Mr. McLeod spent six years at Time Inc. in a variety of senior positions, most recently as general manager of Time Inc. Interactive, where he had oversight of the Web sites for more than 80 Time Inc. magazines. JOSEPH ROSENBAUM Joseph Rosenbaum is a partner in the Business & Finance Group and head of the New York based E-Commerce practice at the global law firm of Reed Smith LLP. A corporate commercial lawyer with both domestic and international experience over a wide range of sophisticated and complex transactions, Mr. Rosenbaum specializes in the law and policy relating to electronic commerce, information and information technology, security, compliance, and risk management and their implications to business activities and operations. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/341014?gko=69cff http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/339821?gko=bb00b Online Advertising Remains Vibrant Despite Tough Economic Times NEW YORK --(June 17, 2008) -The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today announced that Internet advertising revenues reached $5.8 billion for the first quarter of 2008. The 2008 first quarter revenues are an 18.2 percent increase over the same period in 2007, and represent the second highest quarter ever recorded, after Q4 2007's $5.9 billion. "We continue to experience significant growth and vitality in interactive marketing, media and advertising," said Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of the IAB. "We expect growth to continue, as consumers spend more and more time online, and marketers find more - and more innovative - ways to reach them through digital media." "The fundamentals of interactive advertising spend continues to be positive and I would expect to see continued growth in the future." said David Silverman, partner, Assurance, PricewaterhouseCoopers "The cyclical fourth quarter to first quarter drop in traditional media advertising spend, combined with an overall economic slowdown, resulted in a not so unexpected first quarter slowdown in the growth of online advertising." Source: PwC/IAB Internet Advertising Revenue Report ( www.iab.net )  About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau ( www.iab.net ) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the continuing growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising. Conducted by the New Media Group of PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Internet Advertising Revenue Report was launched in 1996 by the IAB, and aggregates data from all companies that report meaningful online advertising revenues. The results are considered the most accurate measurement of interactive advertising revenues with the data compiled directly from information supplied by companies selling advertising on the Internet. The survey includes data concerning online advertising revenues from Web sites, commercial online services, free e-mail providers, and all other companies selling online advertising. First and third quarter revenue reports are estimates, with the actual figures being released along with second and fourth quarter data respectively. PwC does not audit the information and provides no opinion or other form of assurance with respect to the information. The IAB sponsors the Internet Advertising Revenue Report, which is conducted independently by the New Media Group of PwC. The full report is issued twice yearly for full and half-year data, and top-line quarterly figures are issued for the first and third quarters. To access an archive of PwC reports please click here . About PricewaterhouseCoopers: PricewaterhouseCoopers ( www.pwc.com ) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 146,000 people in 150 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice. PricewaterhouseCoopers" refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or, as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network or other member firms of the network, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity. IAB Media Contact: Marla Nitke Director, Marketing Communications 212.380.4714 marla@iab.net PricewaterhouseCoopers Media Contact: Steven Silber 646.471.4059 steven.g.silber@us.pwc.com Linden Alschuler & Kaplan for PricewaterhouseCoopers: Suzanne Dawson 212.329.1420 sdawson@lakpr.com     Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/339821?gko=bb00b http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/333274?gko=c1f21 Ongoing Efforts to Simplify and Stimulate Continued Industry Growth NEW YORK, NY (June 11, 2008) -The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today announced the release of " Digital Video In-Stream Ad Metrics Definitions ." Created by the IAB's Digital Video Committee, a group comprised of 145 leading interactive companies, these definitions are designed to improve the reporting of metrics for advertising agencies and marketers by providing consistency across multiple media partners. The types of metrics now reported for digital video vary depending on the type of video ad formats executed within a campaign. Standardizing the definitions of the most commonly used formats is the objective of the new document, which is focused on: Linear Video Ad With or Without Companion Ad Linear Video Interactive Ad Non-linear Overlay Ad Non-linear Non-Overlay Ad "Digital video is one of the most dynamic and creative areas of interactive advertising," said Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of the IAB. "Standardizing the metrics used to evaluate its effectiveness as a tool for engaging consumers is a critical building block for the advancement of this medium." "Metric definition alignment is one of the most important things that we can do as an industry to hasten advertiser adoption of digital video," said Joey Trotz, Senior Director, Turner Broadcasting and co-Chair of the IAB's Digital Video Committee. "As a committee, we will continue our ongoing work of making it easier for marketers to tap into the power of this interactive platform." To view the definitions, please go to: www.iab.net/dv_metrics_definitions . About the IAB's Digital Video Committee: The Digital Video Committee of the IAB is comprised of 145 member companies actively engaged in the creation and execution of digital video advertising. One of the goals of the committee is to implement a comprehensive set of guidelines, measurement, and creative options for interactive video advertising. The committee works to educate marketers and agencies on the strength of digital video as a marketing vehicle. About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (www.iab.net) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the continuing growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising. IAB Media Contact: Marla Nitke Director, Marketing Communications 212.380.4714 marla@iab.net   Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/333274?gko=c1f21 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/330296?gko=60826 Threat of Regulation Weighs Most Heavily on Small Business Operators New York, New York(June 9, 2008)--The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today announced that it would open a new class of membership for small interactive publishers in an effort to mobilize them to prevent adverse state and Federal regulation that could hinder the publishers' ability to sell or carry advertising. "Campaigns have been launched at both the Federal and state levels to seek government regulation of many of the core processes and technologies that support interactive advertising, and the potential impact on small publishers can't be underestimated," said Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of the IAB. Proposals are currently before the Federal Trade Commission and have been or may be introduced in the governments of New York State and Connecticut that would severely constrain "third party internet advertising." The IAB's analysis of the proposed regulations is that they would have a disproportionately negative impact on small publishers whose advertising sales are largely or entirely managed by ad networks. In support of this effort, the IAB is offering small publishers a special introductory rate of $500 a year. IAB Small Publisher Membership is open to any publisher that sells indirectly, through a network, or directly, and has revenues under $1 million per year. The many benefits include: Special pricing for IAB events Training programs and webinars designed exclusively for small publishers Access to IAB networking events around the country Business insurance and protection programs Membership in IAB's new Small Publisher Committee; Representation by the IAB in Washington on industry-related public policy issues For more details on IAB's Small Publisher Membership Program, and to register, visit www.iab.net/publishers .  If you have any questions, please email Vice President of Member Services Michael Theodore at michael@iab.net . About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (www.iab.net) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising. IAB Media Contact: Marla Nitke marla@iab.net 212.380.4714 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/330296?gko=60826 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/322353?gko=09700 Leading Marketers, Agencies and Publishers to Select Best Interactive Campaigns New York, New York(June 2, 2008)--With a transformation in judging procedures it labeled "unprecedented," the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today issued a call for entries to its annual MIXX Awards celebrating interactive advertising excellence. The big change this year: The digital advertising campaigns now will be evaluated by senior executives from agencies, publishers, and marketing organizations deliberating together. "To our knowledge, this is the first time agencies, publishers and marketers have come together to referee a major advertising awards program," said Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of the IAB, the trade association for interactive media in the United States. "This unprecedented assembly of media and marketing professionals reflects our belief that success in interactive advertising is about the entire ecosystem collaborating to drive growth." Winners of the IAB's 2008 MIXX Awards will be announced at a ceremony in New York City on Sept. 23, near the start of Advertising Week, a gathering of the media and marketing industries that typically draws 10,000 professionals to conferences, seminars, recruiting events, and parties celebrating advertising and its evolution. Agencies, marketers and publishers are invited to submit entries in any of the 18 MIXX Awards categories from today through June 20. In addition to the traditional categories--which include Brand Awareness and Positioning, Product Launch, Search Marketing and Digital Video, among others--the IAB called for entries to three new categories this year: Social Marketing, Widget Marketing and Brand Destination Site, reflecting the steady stream of innovation that has been a hallmark of the growth of interactive media. The MIXX Awards are open to marketers and advertising agencies that have run any media, marketing or advertising campaign that was carried out during the qualifying period: April 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008. Full details and entry forms are available at www.iab.net. Founded in 2005 to honor creativity and effectiveness in interactive advertising, the IAB's MIXX Awards have grown into the premier honor in digital marketing. Last year's MIXX Award winners included many of the most prominent brand marketers in the United States, including Anheuser Busch, American Airlines, The Coca-Cola Company, BMW, Royal Caribbean, Showtime and Unilever, as well as leading agencies such as Universal McCann, Ogilvy, McKinney, Digitas, BBDO and Mindshare. In 2007, the gala's ultimate honor, Best in Show, went to Goodby, Silverstein, and Partners, San Francisco, for its super-rich media campaign for Hewlett-Packard, "The Computer is Personal Again." From the beginning, the MIXX Award judging panel was composed solely of executives from consumer marketing organizations. But with the guidance of its MIXX Awards Advisory Board, the IAB changed the panel's composition to include agency and publisher executives, as well. "Case studies increasingly show that digital marketing excellence requires marketing strategy, media channel and advertising content work intimately together," Mr. Rothenberg said, "so having judges who represent these different spheres simply made sense." The 2008 MIXX Awards Judging Panel: Marketers: Carole Irgang - SVP, Integrated Marketing Communications, Kraft Foods David Roman - VP, WW Marketing Communications, Personal Systems Group, Hewlett-Packard Company Debbie Jo Severin - VP, Marketing, Covad Communications Group, Inc. Joseph Eibert - Executive Director, Interactive Marketing, Warner Home Video Cheryl Guerin - VP, Promotions & Interactive, MasterCard Worldwide Carol Kruse - VP, Global Interactive Marketing, The Coca-Cola Company Arjen Linders - VP of Marketing, Philips DAP N.A. Tim Murphy - Senior Director Digital Marketing, Anheuser-Busch Jenny Howell - Manager of Interactive Marketing, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Agencies: Jean-Philippe Maheu - Chief Digital Officer, Ogilvy North America Alan Schulman - SVP, Executive Creative Director, Executive Director of User Experience, imc2 Marty Cooke - Chief Creative Officer, SS+K Hans Neubert - Executive Creative Director, Avenue A | Razorfish Michael Prieve - Chief Creative Officer, Doremus New York Baba Shetty - EVP Chief Media Officer, Hill, Holiday Advertising Publishers: Suzie Reider - Director of Advertising, YouTube Lauren Wiener - SVP, Meredith Interactive Media Mark D'Arcy - Chief Creative Officer, Time Warner Global Media Group Jane Grenier - VP, CondNet Heidi Browning - SVP, Client Solutions, FOX Interactive Media Wonya Lucas - EVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Discovery Communications David Sturman - Chief Technology Officer for Massive (A Microsoft Company) Other: Todd Wasserman - Editor, Brandweek To view the complete gallery of the 2007 MIXX Finalists, please visit: www.mixx-awards.com/gallery About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau ( www.iab.net ) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the continuing growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising IAB Media Contact: Marla Aaron Director, Marketing Communications 212.380.4714 marla@iab.net Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:30:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/322353?gko=09700 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/313980?gko=953c7 Continuing Its Work to Improve Business Processes for Ad Agencies and Interactive Media Companies New York, New York(May 27, 2008)--The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today announced the release of Interactive Campaign Setup Best Practices, part of its long term initiative designed to improve operational efficiency in interactive advertising. This document makes process recommendations for both web publishers and advertising agencies during the setup phase of an online advertising campaign which can help reduce inefficiencies and discrepancies throughout a campaign's lifecycle. It was created jointly by representatives of the IAB's Ad Operations Council and a group of participating advertising agencies. Key recommendations for publishers and advertising agencies from the document: Translation of ambiguous contract language into terms that both agency and publishers understand and can input into an ad server Clear communication of billing methods between agency and publisher Education of media buyers by publishers on the intricacies of rich media fees Specifics on information exchanged between parties at the commencement of the advertising campaign "This important document takes us another step closer to even greater operational efficiency, paving the way for ongoing growth and innovation," said Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of the IAB. "It's an excellent resource for both our members and advertising agencies as they continue to serve the needs of marketers, who are increasingly making interactive the core of their media strategies." "This document is instrumental in helping online agencies and publishers increase the efficiency of the online ad buying process which is a real win for our clients," said Will Restrepo, campaign management supervisor of Horizon Interactive, and one of a number of agency representatives who participated in the creation of the document. "The research that we've conducted with publishers and third-party ad servers has led us to conclude that strong internal controls related to campaign setup and an early review of counts will significantly reduce occurrences of large counting discrepancies," said George Ivie, Executive Director of the Media Rating Council (MRC). "This document is an accomplishment on behalf of our industry for which I applaud the IAB." This is the third in a series of initiatives from the IAB's Ad Ops Council designed to improve operational efficiencies in interactive advertising. The first two, the On-Time Delivery Toolkit for interactive media and Billing Methods Best Practices, were published in 2007. View these documents here . To view the complete Interactive Campaign Setup Best Practices document, please go to www.iab.net/campaign_setup About the Ad Ops Council: The Ad Ops Council is dedicated to improving the operational efficiency of interactive advertising. Ad Ops Council working groups regularly include agency-side representatives to help improve communication, understanding, and work process in many areas of the buyer-seller relationship. Tue, 27 May 2008 14:00:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/313980?gko=953c7 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/299609?gko=7819c Q4 '07 Revenues Total $5.9 Billion; Unabated Growth Defies Other Economic Trends New York, NY (May 15, 2008) - The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) today announced that the 2007 Internet Advertising Revenue Report shows Internet advertising revenues in the U.S. continued their upward climb. For the full year 2007, revenues totaled $21.2 billion, exceeding 2006 performance by 26 %, itself the former record year. Q4 2007 Internet advertising revenues hit $5.9 billion, representing historic revenues for a single quarter and a 24% increase over the same period in 2006. This is the fourth consecutive year and 13th consecutive quarter of record results. "This achievement is a testament to the continued vitality of interactive," said Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of the IAB. "Explosive innovation in the industry is providing marketers with new and unique ways to reach consumers--it's a very exciting time." Search, display, classifieds and lead generation all continued growing at a healthy rate, according to the report. Consumer advertisers remained the largest category of Internet advertising spending, at 55% of 2007 full-year revenues, up from 52% from the full year 2006. "Despite the current state of economic uncertainty, 2007 was another record year and the 13th consecutive record quarter. Interactive advertising is not just the future, it is the here and now, as it represents a meaningful and growing component of U.S. advertising and marketing spend," said David Silverman, partner, Assurance, PricewaterhouseCoopers. ADVERTISING FORMATS 2007 2006 Type of Advertising $ % share of market $ % share of market Display Advertising 4,455 21% 3,685 22% Sponsorship 636 3% 496 3% Rich Media (06 including Broadband Video) 1,657 8% 1,192 7% Digital Video (07 only) 324 2% N/A N/A All Display 7,072 34% 5,373 32% Keyword Search 8,805 41% 6,799 40% Classifieds 3,321 16% 3,059 18% E-mail 424 2% 338 2% Lead Generation* 1,584 7% 1,310 8% TOTALS: 21,206 100% 16,879 100% INDUSTRY CONCENTRATION   FY 2007 FY 2006 Top 10 69% ($14,632) 69% ($11,647) Top 25 80% ($16,965) 82% ($13,841) Top 50 89% ($18,873) 92% ($15,529) PRICING MODELS   FY 2007 FY 2006 CPM or Impression 45% ($9,492) 48% ($8,102) Performance Deals 51% ($10,817) 47% ($7,933) Hybrid 4% ($897) 5% ($844) Conducted by the New Media Group of PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Internet Advertising Revenue Report was launched in 1996 by the IAB, and aggregates data from all companies that report meaningful online advertising revenues. The results are considered the most accurate measurement of interactive advertising revenues with the data compiled directly from information supplied by companies selling advertising on the Internet. The survey includes data concerning online advertising revenues from Web sites, commercial online services, free e-mail providers, and all other companies selling online advertising. First and third quarter revenue reports are estimates, with the actual figures being released along with second and fourth quarter data respectively. PwC does not audit the information and provides no opinion or other form of assurance with respect to the information. View a full copy of the report . The IAB sponsors the Internet Advertising Revenue Report, which is conducted independently by the New Media Group of PwC. The full report is issued twice yearly for full and half-year data, and top-line quarterly figures are issued for the first and third quarters. About PricewaterhouseCoopers: PricewaterhouseCoopers ( www.pwc.com ) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 146,000 people in 150 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice. PricewaterhouseCoopers" refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or, as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network or other member firms of the network, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity.  About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau ( www.iab.net ) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the continuing growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising IAB Media Contact: Marla Aaron Director, Marketing Communications 212.380.4714 marla@iab.net PricewaterhouseCoopers Media Contact:  Steven Silber 646-471-4059 steven.g.silver@us.pwc.com Linden Alschuler & Kaplan for PricewaterhouseCoopers: Suzanne Dawson 212.329.1420 sdawson@lakpr.com Thu, 15 May 2008 12:30:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/299609?gko=7819c http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/284964?gko=ebb4a Fostering Ongoing Standardization and Innovation in the Online Industry New York, NY (May 8, 2008)--The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today announced the release of a set of Revised Ad Unit and Rich Media Creative Guidelines. These revised guidelines will help to eliminate points of friction in the online ad buying process while fostering continued innovation in the interactive advertising industry. The proposed guidelines will: Cover standard Web applications including e-mail, static and dynamic Web pages and address ad formats such as banners and buttons as well as transitional and various over-the-page units such as floating ads, page take-overs and tear-backs.  Redefine rich media so that ads must be interactive aside from the ability to click-through in order to be categorized as rich media. Offer clear guidance on file weights and animation lengths for both rich and non-rich media online ads. "Marketers understand that in the new digital ecosystem, the consumer expects an enhanced level of interaction and engagement with both content and advertising," said Randall Rothenberg, President and CEO of the IAB. "By defining certain ad formats and offering creative guidance for execution, we are paving the way for even greater adoption by marketers and ongoing innovation by agencies and publishers--that's exciting for the industry and consumers." "The IAB Rich Media and Ad Unit Guidelines are vital to developing consistency within our industry, as well as fostering relationships between publishers and clients in regards to creative submission and creative acceptance," said Shell Saras, Creative Services Manager, weather.com. "As an industry, if we focus on adhering to initiatives like these guidelines, marketers and clients will have a creative specification resource that is consistently accepted by major participating publishers." Members of the industry (advertising agencies, advertisers, online publishers and technology vendors) are encouraged to read the proposed guidelines and submit comments on the IAB site. To comment on the Ad Unit Guidelines please go to www.iab.net/Ad_Unit. To comment on the Rich Media Creative Guidelines, please go to www.iab.net/Rich_Media . After the 30-day comment period, the feedback will be reviewed and the guidelines will be finalized and publicly released. About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau ( www.iab.net ) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the continuing growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising IAB Media Contact: Marla Aaron Director, Marketing Communications 212.380.4714 marla@iab.net Thu, 08 May 2008 12:30:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/284964?gko=ebb4a http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/278736?gko=79e81 Simplification and Efficiency Lead the Way to Continued Explosive Growth NEW YORK, NY (May, 5, 2008) -The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today announced the release of "Digital Video In-Stream Ad Format Guidelines." Created by the IAB's Digital Video Committee, a group comprised of 145 leading interactive companies, they are the definitive format guidelines that directly address digital video advertising. The guidelines focus on the most widely used current in-stream ad products, including linear video ads, non-linear video ads and companion ads. They were created in order to meet the following marketplace needs: Simplifying digital video ad buying across multiple sites through minimum common ad specifications for video, overlay and companion ads. Achieving more efficient operations through a common set of creative submission guidelines. Increasing consumer understanding of ad interactions and environments through best practice recommendations for creative development and player environments. "The interest surrounding digital video is no surprise," said Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of the IAB. "Consumers have been swift to embrace the digital video experience online, and marketers have incorporated it just as rapidly into their advertising plans. With the creation and adoption of these formats and guidelines, we see no end in sight to its potential for growth." The document is part of the IAB's ongoing effort to improve marketplace understanding of the role of digital media in the marketing and media ecosystem. "These guidelines respond to the very real market need of simplification and standardization that will continue to propel the explosive growth of online digital video," said Mike Hurt, director, Industry Development of Microsoft and Co-Chair of the IAB's Digital Video Committee. "I am proud to have worked with a team of industry leaders on the IAB Digital Video Committee who together have brought this important industry initiative to fruition." "We believe that advertisers should focus on delivering great creative and compelling messaging - not be deterred by having to figure out which video ad format they should use," said Michael Walrath, senior vice president of Advertising Marketplaces, Yahoo!. "Yahoo! is thrilled to have participated in the development of the IAB's standards, which will play a critical role in driving the industry forward. Not only will this make it easier for advertisers to get their video creative online, it will also provide a better experience for users." To view the guidelines, please go to: www.iab.net/dv_guidelines IAB Launches Digital Video Ad Format Compliance Seal Simultaneous with the release of the guidelines, the IAB launched today a compliance program for web publishers who adhere to the Digital Video In-Stream Ad Format Guidelines. Interactive publishers will display an IAB Compliance Seal on their websites and will in turn be listed on the IAB website. To date, 44 companies are already compliant with the guidelines. For a complete list of those companies please go to: www.iab.net/dv_compliance About the IAB's Digital Video Committee: The Digital Video Committee of the IAB is comprised of 145 member companies actively engaged in the creation and execution of digital video advertising. One of the goals of the committee is to implement a comprehensive set of guidelines, measurement, and creative options for interactive video advertising. The committee works to educate marketers and agencies on the strength of digital video as a marketing vehicle. About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau ( www.iab.net ) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the continuing growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising IAB Media Contact: Marla Aaron Director, Marketing Communications 212.380.4714 marla@iab.net Mon, 05 May 2008 09:00:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/278736?gko=79e81 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/262455?gko=31293 NEW YORK, NEW YORK (April 21, 2008) - Today the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and the Web Analytics Association (WAA) announced their intention to work more closely together to increase consistency and clarity around Web metrics standards. Both organizations have independently made strides toward the standardization of terms commonly used in the advertising and analytics fields. The purpose of the new partnership is to better communicate the goals of metrics standards to the two organizations' respective memberships and target audiences, as well as to better convey the goals of each organization and the subtle differences that may occur among metrics standards. The IAB and the WAA have historically had different goals for metrics standardization. The IAB is focused on increasing the reliability, consistency and transparency of the metrics used for buying and selling interactive advertising. The IAB's Measurement Guidelines include specific technical processes that ensure the validity of interactive advertising currency. The WAA's mission is to foster the growth and evolution of the Web analytics industry by encouraging that the name and definition of each metric is consistent across vendors.  This reduces confusion for analytics professionals who are comparing vendors and integrating data from different providers. While both the IAB and the WAA work toward standardization of metrics, due to the different missions they have, members of both organizations will benefit from increased communication. "We are very pleased to collaborate with the WAA," said Randall Rothenberg, President and CEO of the IAB. "While our missions are different we share the goal of building the interactive marketplace." "The partnership and transparency between the WAA and the IAB will ultimately help to abate confusion, which is exactly why we both advocate standards in the first place," said Jim Sterne, founding chairman of the WAA.  "While it is inevitable there will be differences in the methods we use and the standards we endorse, we each know about those differences and are able to educate our members before the public announcement is made." About the IAB: Founded in 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau ( www.iab.net ) represents over 375 leading interactive companies that actively engage in and support the sale of interactive advertising. IAB members are responsible for selling over 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the continuing growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive's share of total marketing spend, and of its members' share of total marketing spend. The IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices, fields interactive effectiveness research, and educates marketers, agencies, and media companies, as well as the wider business community, about the value of interactive advertising. About the Web Analytics Association The Web Analytics Association is a not-for-profit professional organization dedicated to promoting the understanding of web analytics through education, advocacy, standards, research and technology.  Founded by web analytics industry leaders, the mission of the association is to unite and foster the interests of practitioners, vendors, consultants and educators who use, sell, install, implement, consult, teach or train in the field of web analytics.  For more information, or to become a member, please visit http://www.webanalyticsassociation.org . IAB Media Contact: Marla Nitke (212)380-4714 marla@iab.net WAA Media Contact:      Carla Vicens, blast! PR (919) 833-9975 x10 carla@blastpr.com Sun, 20 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab/recent_press_releases/press_release_archive/press_release/262455?gko=31293