Ad Industry Roundup: Zenith; Microsoft-EDGAR; AKQA; TiVo; TargetSpot

Zenith Reorganizes Video Media Buying: The Publicis Groupe media shop is refocusing its broadcast unit around video in general, instead of the traditional emphasis on TV. Zenith Media’s veteran broadcast buyer Peggy Green, will expand her role as vice chairman and is being put in charge of a new “video investments and marketplace approach.” The agency will immediately begin integrating all video-based media buying operations, joining together traditional broadcast and cable buying departments, which will also include online video. Zenith’s new approach is similar to a strategy adopted a few years ago by sister Publicis media agencies Starcom and MediaVest.

EDGAR Replaces Google AdSense With Microsoft: EDGAR Online, the internet repository for SEC filings, has tapped Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) to be its exclusive third-party supplier of display, contextual, and video ads. As part of the deal, MSN will receive SEC filing documents and other EDGAR materials. Microsoft is also promising to help EDGAR ramp up its recently introduced video efforts. EDGAR and Microsoft will begin working together in March, with the MSN content arrangement set to happen later this year.

AKQA Execs Exit To Start New Agency: P.J. Pereira and Andrew O’Dell have left AKQA to start their own digital shop. The new agency, which will still have some ties to AKQA, doesn’t have a name yet. O’Dell, formerly president-interactive advertising at AKQA, and Pereira, most recently executive creative director, both launched agency startups before joining AKQA. Aside from lacking a name, the new startup is also looking for offices and employees. But it does have funding, though neither the amount nor the backer’s name was disclosed.

TiVo Signs Euro RSCG To Stop//Watch Service: Havas’ creative shop Euro RSCG New York is the second ad agency to sign up for TiVo

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