Chief Marketer Staff

• Agencies

  Lawmakers Call for Hearings on DoubleClick-Google Merger

  A dozen Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives are calling for congressional hearings to be held on the proposed acquisition of online advertising concern DoubleClick by search giant Google.

• Digital

  AOL to Acquire Quigo Technologies

  AOL is buying Quigo Technologies Inc., an online advertising company that specializes in matching ads to specific portions of Web sites, according to wire service reports.

• Agencies

  Nearly 9% of Holiday Returns Will be Fraudulent: NRF

  Retail loss prevention executives anticipate that nearly nine percent (8.93%) of holiday returns will be fraudulent, up slightly from 8.67% last year, according to a National Retail Federation survey.

• Agencies

  FTC Settles Six Cases of DNC Registry Violations

  The Federal Trade Commission has settled six cases and levied nearly $7.7 million in fines against companies and individuals accused of violating the requirements of the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry.

• Agencies

  Quebecor Sells 29.9% of Europe Operations to RSDB

  Quebecor World Inc. is selling a 29.9% interest in its European operations to RSDB Group for 240 million Euros ($341 million).

• Agencies

  Online Game lets Players Create a New Dew

  Pepsi’s Mountain Dew brand has launched an online game, “Dewmocracy,” that lets players team up and design the flavor, color, name and marketing graphics for a new entry in its product line.

• Circuit City Merchandising and Marketing Exec Steps Down

  David L. Mathews, Circuit City’s executive vice president of merchandising, services and marketing, is leaving the retailer after less than a year in the position.

• Bridgestone To Sponsor Super Bowl Halftime Shows

  In its rookie season as a National Football League sponsor, Bridgestone Firestone Tire is looking to have a big impact as title sponsor of the Super Bowl halftime show.

• Weather Channel Store Boosts Brand Online

  Responding to its viewer base, The Weather Channel has created an online store for branded products

• News Brief

  IZZE: sparking juices are getting a new look this holiday season. The brightly colored packaging for the four-packs of 8.4-ounce cans will be swapped for a simple silver one for a limited time.