McDonald’s Reports 4.5% Sales Bump for August

Olympic Sponsorship Appears to Pay Off, at Least in Short Term

CHICAGO (AdAge.com) — McDonald’s Corp. Tuesday reported same-store sales for August were up 4.5% in the U.S. — a result one analyst estimates will be nearly double the industry average. But industry-watchers are doubtful the company can keep up that pace, especially now that the Olympics are over.

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Apple Doesn’t Offer ‘One More Thing’ at ‘Let’s Rock’ Event Steve Jobs Trots Out Next-Gen Updates — and Jokes About His Health — but No Surprises

YORK, Pa. (AdAge.com) — Apple underwhelmed both fans and industry watchers with a “Let’s Rock” event in San Francisco that ended up being more holiday-product showcase than typical Apple innovation fest.

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Olympic Beach Babes

Cheerleaders Encourage Chinese to Get More Involved in Sports for the First Time

China Olympics 2008

Watching beach volleyball on a bright sunny day in Beijing you could almost think you had been transported to Rio or Sydney’s Bondi beach. This was especially true when Beijing’s own bikini-clad cheerleaders came out to play and gave an otherwise serious sporting event a carnival atmosphere.

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A Primer on Presidential Political Polling Or: What to Make of the Most Recent Numbers

Campaign Trail

Peter Feld, who recently wrote “What Obama Can Teach You About Millennial Marketing” for Ad Age, has a good piece looking at the recent poll numbers. He offers a for/against take on whether Obama supporters should be worried.

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Speedo Rides Wave of Olympic Success

Almost All Swimming Golds Have Gone to Star Michael Phelps or Others in Its Suits

CHICAGO (AdAge.com) — Other marketers may have spent more, but no brand has benefited from the early days of the Olympics more than Speedo. As of Wednesday afternoon, 24 of the 25 swimming gold medals awarded had gone to swimmers wearing Speedo suits. And American swimmer Michael Phelps, whose bid to become the most decorated Olympian in history has dominated the games, is Speedo’s most prominent endorser.

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Olympics Give NBC Universal First Crack at Cross-Media Metric Network to Provide Data on Audiences Across All Screens

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — NBC Universal displayed its first attempt to measure consumption of the Olympics across diverse media platforms on Wednesday, suggesting that views of the Beijing Games via mobile devices and the web were gaining serious traction.

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Olympic Sponsorship: Hit or Myth?

For Most Sponsors, an Investment in the Games Is Worthwhile

China Olympics 2008

Now that the five-ring circus has started, the knives are out on all the sponsors. If it’s not because they are supporting Darfur or an anti-Tibet sentiment, it must be because they have put a poor value on their sponsorship.

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Humor in Angst: ‘The Writers Room’ Stun Creative Teams With Sony’s Crackle on Web Series

Web Video Report

Stun Creative branched out from its advertising and branding business to expand into web video entertainment. Sony’s Crackle got on board, and together they’re figuring out how to go large.

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Can an Olympic Sponsorship Really Help Your Image?

How a Brand’s Standing Is Affected by Being in Beijing

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — For big brands, the Olympic Games have always been viewed as a major platform in terms of audience and exposure, and this year is no different. With a flailing economy haunting nearly every industry and shaky consumer confidence, corporate sponsors have almost as much at stake in Beijing as the athletes vying for gold.

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Gap Goes Back to Advertising Fall Campaign Signals Renewed Confidence in Brand’s Merchandise

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — Gap is advertising again. Gap Inc. CEO Glenn Murphy took a tough stance on advertising this spring, noting that the company had trimmed marketing expenditures 18% during the first quarter of the year and would have no qualms about continuing to pare back if its brands didn’t meet certain criteria. Now, with a fall campaign rolling out for Gap touting the first full collection by new head designer Patrick Robinson, it looks as if Mr. Murphy thinks Gap is on the right track.

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Could I Have the Roast Olympic Duck, Please?

P.T. Black Succumbs to the ‘Beijing Welcomes You’ Mantra

China Olympics 2008

It’s almost hard to believe the Olympics are finally here. It seems like it’s taken forever. The words “Beijing” and “Olympics” are so crossed in my mind now that I am worried I will accidentally order a roast Olympic duck the next time I eat out.

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Keith Reinhard: Remaking Brand America’s Tattered Image Abroad A 3 Minute Ad Age Video Report

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — Stoked by international discontent with the war in Iraq, Brand America’s international image is at its lowest ebb in recent memory, according to Keith Reinhard. The chairman emeritus of DDB Worldwide and one of the century’s most influential ad men, Mr. Reinhard is also the president of Business for Diplomatic Action, an organization working to change global perceptions about the U.S. This frank discussion comes as the BDA finishes up a month of meetings with business leaders and PR authorities in Washington, New York and Los Angeles.

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Olympic Deal Sealed:

Obama Makes $5 Million Buy Candidate’s Package Includes National Network, Cable

WASHINGTON (AdAge.com) — It’s official. Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign will be among the TV sponsors of NBC Universal’s Olympics coverage. In the first significant network-TV buy of any presidential candidate in at least 16 years, the Obama campaign has taken a $5 million package of Olympics spots that includes network TV as well as cable ads.

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McDonald’s Aims to ‘Evolve’ Dollar Menu Overall Income Rises, but Franchisees Grumble Over Narrowed Margins

CHICAGO (AdAge.com) — Admitting to problems with franchisees over a platform that’s behind much of its turnaround, McDonald’s is determined to tweak its dollar menu until it’s profitable. In a second-quarter earnings call with analysts Wednesday, Ralph Alvarez, the chain’s president-chief operating officer, cited increased commodity costs, declining margins and franchisee profitability for the change.

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