Riding High on \'Hatfield and McCoys,\' A&E Gives Dubuc a New Deal

September 13, 2012, 6:31 pm

By BILL CARTER

The A&E Networks announced a new deal on Thursday for a woman who has become one of the most important programming executives in cable television, Nancy Dubuc.

Ms. Dubuc is being elevated to a new position of president of entertainment and media for A&E Networks, which essentially means she will now be in charge of programming for all the channels run by that company, which include A&E, History and Lifetime.

In an interview Ms. Dubuc said, “All the content at all the networks will now report to me.”

Retaining Ms. Dubuc, who acknowledged that she had been pursued by many other television companies, was a high priority for A&E because she was coming off a hugely successful tenure programming the History Channel, with such hit shows as “Pawn Stars” and “The Hatfield and McCoys,” a miniseries that attracted over 14 million viewers in May.

“I had a lot of calls and it was very flattering,” Ms. Dubuc said. “I take it with a great deal of humility.”

She said she had decided to accept the promotion at A&E because she had “so much confidence in these brands.” History is the No. 2 network in cable among viewers ages 25 to 54 and ranked in the top five among viewers 18 to 49.

My Eyes Were Heavy, but I Didn\'t Doze Off During the Show, Mike Francesa Says

Radio September 13, 2012, 5:50 pm

By RICHARD SANDOMIR

The sports radio talk show host Mike Francesa - who appeared to take a brief nap while conducting an interview on Monday on WFAN-AM in New York - said on Thursday that while he had been tired from getting no sleep the night before, he had not actually fallen asleep while talking to Sweeny Murti, who covers the Yankees for the station.

Those who watched the simulcast of the show on the YES Network, or the video that has spread virally (more than 250,000 views), saw Mr. Francesa's head droop toward his right until his chin appeared to rest on his chest. He appeared to be sleeping, or simply to have turned very quiet. Then, as if stunned to wakefulness, his head whipped back up and his eyes were suddenly wide open, looking as if he had just dozed off while watching a ball game, suddenly awoke and then told his wife he had not fallen asleep.

Mr. Francesa's eyes were not visible to the YES camera, so ascertaining if he was in a REM state was impossible.

But Mr. Francesa did say that he had had a long Sunday: he rose at 6 a.m., did his National Football League show on WFAN and watched the games through the evening. But he was then up all night taking care of his son Jack's asthma. “As the weather changes, he has exercise-induced asthma,” Mr. Francesa, who is 58, said during the show.

“I was dragging during the show,” he said. His exhaustion led him to close his eyes as he spoke to Mr. Murti, something he has said he has done many times in the past. But, he insisted, “You can listen to the interview. I was never asleep.” He vowed “never to close my eyes again or come in without sleep.”

He called the nap flap “nonsense,” and said that he had not been going to address it until his wife, Rose, and Mark Chernoff, WFAN's operations manager, urged him to explain what happened.

Disney, Unexpectedly, Reveals Movie Write-Down and Sluggish Ad Revenue

Movies September 13, 2012, 2:49 pm

By BROOKS BARNES

James A. Rasulo, Disney's chief financial officer, unexpectedly revealed two important tidbits at a gathering of Wall Street analysts on Thursday: The company will take a $50 million write-down at its movie studio, and summer advertising revenue at ABC was softer than expected.

Mr. Rasulo's remarks, which came at a conference organized by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, prompted some brief volatility in the entertainment conglomerate's stock price. By midday, however, Disney shares were trading at $52.35, up about 1.2 percent, on par with the broader market.

The movie write-down, which will total about 2 cents a share for Disney's fiscal fourth quarter, involve s terminating production of an untitled stop-motion animation film from Henry Selick, best known recently for directing “Coraline.”

“After looking at it, we've decided we don't want to continue with it,” Mr. Rasulo said.

About 150 people had been working on the movie. Pulling the plug marks one of the first major decisions of Alan F. Horn, who took over as Disney's movie chairman at the beginning of the summer.

Mr. Rasulo also discussed weakness at ABC, which is entering a crucial fall period with the opportunity to take advantage of weakness at Fox and ongoing problems at NBC. “We did not see the kind of rebound after the Olympics that we thought we would see,” Mr. Rasulo said. “We did not have great ratings over the summer.” He added that expectations for the fall remain robust, however.

Additionally, Mr. Rasulo addressed concerns by some analysts about Disney's reduced stock buyback in its fiscal t hird quarter. Disney bought back $373 million of its stock in that period, down from a pace of about $800 million in prior quarters and $1.4 billion in its year-ago third quarter.

“We still believe that we're very much in line with what I have been talking about for a long time in terms of how we invest our cash, what we do with our capital,” Mr. Rasulo said. “My expectation is that by the end of the fourth quarter, which is a week and a half from now, that we will have repurchased three billion dollars of stock in fiscal 2012.”

Fiercest Competition This Season May Be Among Singing Competitions

By BILL CARTER

Wednesday night brought further evidence that network television may be saturated with singing competitions, even as news reports circulated about which celebrated recording artists the Fox network would be adding as judges to revive the flagging flagship of singing shows, “American Idol.”

Fox's alternate singing entry, “The X-Factor,” opened its second season Wednesday with a performance that would be considered acceptable in a vacuum - a 3.4 rating in the advertiser-preferred 18-49 audience group and 8.7 million total viewers (according to fast national ratings which Fox ordered special from Nielsen) â€" but which fell short in comparison to the 4.2 rating, 12.5 million viewers its premiere attracted last fall. The show also trailed in the head-to-head competition in the 8 p.m. hour with NBC's vocal-contest entry, “The Voice.”

“American Idol,” which won't return until January, was nevertheless in the ne ws because of accounts that the singers Nicky Minaj and Keith Urban will join Mariah Carey and the holdover Randy Jackson on the next edition of “Idol.” Still, Fox has not yet said anything official about the final determination of the “Idol” judging panel.

Meanwhile, the network has had to concentrate on how best to position the results for “X-Factor,” which was hoping that its own new, high-profile judge, Britney Spears, would pump new life into a show whose audience last season fell considerably short of the 20 million predicted by its creator, Simon Cowell.

The chief explanation for the decline in numbers for “X-Factor” this season was the competition from “The Voice,” which Fox executives have gone to great lengths to disparage as a lesser imitation of the real thing. (They even introduced a funny parody dating show, called “The Choice,” this summer.)

That “The Voice” probably damaged the premie re performance for “X-Factor” seemed clear Wednesday, because the two shows went head to head for an hour at 8 p.m. “The Voice” won that exchange, scoring a 3.3 rating in the 18-49 audience for that hour, with 10.7 million viewers, to a 2.9 rating and 7.5 million viewers for “X-Factor.”

Interestingly, NBC listed this edition of “The Voice” as a special, which means its lower-than-usual rating on Wednesday will not count in the average for the show.

Even so, “X-Factor” last fall faced what seemed like tougher competition because it went against network premieres on all networks, including the first new episode of television's biggest comedy, “Modern Family.”

But two singing competitions at the same time may have been too much for fans of the genre. Fox is hoping for growth based on positive reaction on social media to Ms. Spears and a revamped format.

Bill Carter writes about the television industry. Follow @wjcarter on Twitter.

Many Struggling With Prescription Drug Costs

September 13, 2012, 1:13 pm

By ANN CARRNS

While health insurance premiums may be increasing more modestly than they were a year or two ago, consumers who take multiple drugs but lack prescription drug coverage are nearing a “crisis point” because they can't afford to pay for them, a new report finds.

Consumer Reports' annual prescription drug poll finds that more Americans who lack a drug benefit are failing to fill prescriptions because of cost. Almost half of Americans (45 percent) under 65 who lack drug coverage failed to fill a prescription because of cost, the report found - up from 27 percent last year.

Those without drug coverage also reported being more likely to cut back on other costs, including groceries, to pay for medicatio ns.

Nearly half (46 percent) of American adults take prescription drugs; the average is 4.1 prescriptions. A fourth of those ages 18 to 39 regularly take two prescription drugs, the report noted, suggesting that a reliance on multiple drugs is no longer confined to older Americans.

The poll was conducted in May and June by the Consumer Reports National Research Center using a telephone survey of a total of 1,158 interviews with adults 18 years of age and older. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Consumer Reports suggests saving on drug costs by using $4 generic versions available at many chain drug stores, switching to generics if you haven't already and even splitting pills “where appropriate.”

Have you skipped a prescription in the last year due to costs?

Kevin Costner Plans Book Project

September 13, 2012, 12:53 pm

By JULIE BOSMAN

The director and actor Kevin Costner has signed a deal with Atria Books for a book project - an illustrated adventure series titled “The Explorers Guild” that will be released in 2014. In a statement, Atria described ambitious plans for the series, saying it would first be released in book format and later as films; Mr. Costner will produce the films and also star in them. The publisher, describing the project as “reminiscent of Conrad and Kipling, with the epic sweep of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,” is aiming for a crossover audience that would include both teenage and adult readers.

\'60 Minutes\' to Produce a Monthly Sports Show for Showtime

By BRIAN STELTER

“60 Minutes” is extending itself to another network, Showtime, for a monthly newsmagazine called “60 Minutes of Sports.”

CBS News and Showtime said Thursday that the new program would begin in November.

It's a cooperative effort between corporate siblings, as the premium cable channel Showtime is owned by the CBS Corporation, just as CBS News is. Each episode of “60 Minutes of Sports” will include two new stories, along with one old (but updated) story from the “60 Minutes” archive; and one in-studio interview. “60 Minutes” correspondents and CBS Sports reporters will both contribute to the newsmagazine.

“This is an exciting opportunity for all of us at '60 Minutes,' ” Jeff Fager, the show's executive producer, said in a statement. “Our Showtime edition will offer the same high-quality, original reporting and great storytelling our viewers have come to expect every Sunday night on CBS.†

CBS already repurposes old stories from “60 Minutes” for themed editions on the cable channels VH1 and CNBC. But “60 Minutes of Sports” will include new stories specifically for the Showtime audience.

The new program may be a sign of Showtime's eagerness to challenge its bigger rival HBO in the category of sports. For many years HBO has televised a monthly sports newsmagazine, “Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel.”

Showtime already televises “Inside the NFL” - which began on HBO - “Inside NASCAR” and some mixed martial arts events.

The last time “60 Minutes” tried a spin-off was about a decade ago; “60 Minutes II,” which was shown on Wednesday nights on CBS, also included new stories and updates on old stories.

“60 Minutes of Sports” will be co-executive produced by Mr. Fager, who is also the chairman of CBS News, and Bill Owens, the executive editor of “60 Minutes.”

\'60 Minutes\' to Produce a Monthly Sports Show for Showtime

By BRIAN STELTER

“60 Minutes” is extending itself to another network, Showtime, for a monthly newsmagazine called “60 Minutes of Sports.”

CBS News and Showtime said Thursday that the new program would begin in November.

It's a cooperative effort between corporate siblings, as the premium cable channel Showtime is owned by the CBS Corporation, just as CBS News is. Each episode of “60 Minutes of Sports” will include two new stories, along with one old (but updated) story from the “60 Minutes” archive; and one in-studio interview. “60 Minutes” correspondents and CBS Sports reporters will both contribute to the newsmagazine.

“This is an exciting opportunity for all of us at '60 Minutes,' ” Jeff Fager, the show's executive producer, said in a statement. “Our Showtime edition will offer the same high-quality, original reporting and great storytelling our viewers have come to expect every Sunday night on CBS.†

CBS already repurposes old stories from “60 Minutes” for themed editions on the cable channels VH1 and CNBC. But “60 Minutes of Sports” will include new stories specifically for the Showtime audience.

The new program may be a sign of Showtime's eagerness to challenge its bigger rival HBO in the category of sports. For many years HBO has televised a monthly sports newsmagazine, “Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel.”

Showtime already televises “Inside the NFL” - which began on HBO - “Inside NASCAR” and some mixed martial arts events.

The last time “60 Minutes” tried a spin-off was about a decade ago; “60 Minutes II,” which was shown on Wednesday nights on CBS, also included new stories and updates on old stories.

“60 Minutes of Sports” will be co-executive produced by Mr. Fager, who is also the chairman of CBS News, and Bill Owens, the executive editor of “60 Minutes.”

Checking Social Security Benefits Online

September 13, 2012, 11:03 am

By ANN CARRNS

Back in the spring, I wrote about how the federal government, to cut costs, has stopped mailing annual Social Security statements to most workers. Instead, the agency now invites workers to register and check their benefits online.

It's important to check your statement, to make sure your annual income - the basis for calculating your retirement benefits - is correctly recorded.

I was skeptical that I'd remember to check my statement each year if it didn't prompt me by arriving in my mailbox, but I was willing to give the system a try.  After a bit of a hassle about choosing a password and security questions, I was able to register online in May. I then promptly forgot about the whole thing.

Until last week, that is, when I got an e-mail from the Social Security Administration, reminding me to go online to check my statement. So far, so good!

As I had feared, though, I had forgotten my log-in credentials and couldn't seem to locate them in my records. So I went through the process of requesting my username and password, which required me to enter my Social Security number and birth date, and answer three security questions that I'd previously established when I registered. That allowed me to obtain my username, and to quickly reset my password and gain access to my statement.

The most recent income totals looked correct. Plus, the statements also provide information about what your payment will be at “full” retirement age, which varies by year of birth, as well as if you retire early, at age 62. The difference is striking. My total benefits at full retirement, age 67, are estimated to be about $600 more a month than i f I retire at age 62.

The statement also estimates your monthly benefit if you become disabled, and, if you're a parent, what your children's survivor benefits would be if you were to die.

The site allows you to print your statement, and there's also an option to deactivate your online account, should you change your mind about using the Internet to monitor your statements. (Workers who are 60 and older and not yet receiving benefits still get paper ones mailed.)

Have you checked your Social Security statements online? Did you receive an e-mail reminder?

The Breakfast Meeting: Anti-Muslim Trailer\'s Murky Past, and Casting Nina Simone

By NOAM COHEN

The 14-minute trailer “Innocence of Muslims,” which spurred the rioting that led to the death of the United States ambassador to Libya and three members of his staff on Tuesday, is a murky piece of work, Adam Nagourney writes, starting with the question of who made it and ending with the question is there even a full-length movie. The crude video - which includes scenes mocking Prophet Muhammad as, in turns, a buffoon, a child molester and a greedy, bloodthirsty thug - was at first largely ignored when it was posted to YouTube in June. But after being translated into Arabic, it gained more attention and prompted the bloody protests.

• The production was decidedly amateurish, and deceptive, Mr. Nagourney writes, with Hollywood unions saying they had no involvement; casting directors said they didn't recognize any of the actors. One actor said in an interview that during production the film was called “Desert Warriors” and was supposed to depict ancient life. “When I looked at the trailer, it was nothing like what we had done,” she said. “There was not even a character named Muhammad in what we originally put together.”
• On Wednesday, YouTube said it would be taking down the video in Libya and Egypt, The Lede blog reported. In a statement, YouTube said, in part: “This video â€" which is widely available on the Web â€" is clearly within our guidelines and so will stay on YouTube. However, given the very difficult situation in Libya and Egypt we have temporarily restricted access in both countries.”

Apple introduced the iPhone 5, and while it is hardly the revolutionary device the first iPhone was, Nick Wingfield writes, it has a bigger (four-inch) screen and faster wireless speeds. The device, which goes on sale Sept. 21, will make the experience of reading books, browsing Web sites and watching movies faster and easier, the company said. When it comes to scr een size, Apple is playing catch up with its competitors who have been pushing bigger displays on their smartphones, with some screens approaching five inches.

The presidential campaign of Barack Obama has become more dependent on “bundlers” - people who gather large checks from friends and business associates - than it was four years ago, Nicholas Confessore writes. Among the president's largest bundlers are figures from the media and entertainment world, including Anna Wintour, the editor of Vogue, who has raised $2.7 million, and the writer Andrew Tobias, who is treasurer of the Democratic National Committee and a major bundler for Mr. Obama among gay donors. Jeffrey Katzenberg, the Hollywood producer, who, along with his fund-raising partner, Andy Spahn, has brought in at least $6.6 million combined for the 2008 and 2012 campaigns.

The casting of Zoe Saldana as the singer Nina Simone in the film “Nina” has prompted strong online debate about the role of skin color in casting decisions, Tanzina Vega writes. The debate has nothing to do with Ms. Saldana's acting chops, but rather whether Hollywood favors a lighter-skinned actress like Ms. Saldana over an actress as dark as Ms. Simone herself. The director, Cynthia Mort, who is white, said the film was not intended to be a biography in the strict sense, but instead “a love story about an artist's journey unto herself.”

Thursday Reading: Lang College Offers Credit for Gap Year

September 13, 2012, 8:14 am

By ANN CARRNS

A variety of consumer-focused articles appears daily in The New York Times and on our blogs. Each weekday morning, we gather them together here so you can quickly scan the news that could hit you in your wallet.

Thursday Reading: Lang College Offers Credit for Gap Year

September 13, 2012, 8:14 am

By ANN CARRNS

A variety of consumer-focused articles appears daily in The New York Times and on our blogs. Each weekday morning, we gather them together here so you can quickly scan the news that could hit you in your wallet.

Answers to Your Questions About Student Loans, Part Two

September 13, 2012, 8:00 am

By ANDREW MARTIN

This week, two New York Times reporters and Geoffry Walsh, an expert on student debt and bankruptcy at the National Consumer Law Center, are answering questions about ways to avoid default, pay off student loans or try to expunge student loans through bankruptcy court. Along with questions, some readers proposed their own answers. The first set of answers is here, and the second set is below.

The reporters, Ron Lieber and Andrew Martin, recently wrote articles about the difficulties of paying back student loans as part of The New York Times's series Degrees of Debt, which examines the implications of soaring college costs and the indebtedness of students and their families.

I am supposed to start paying loans in November and signed up for the income contingent payback plan but haven't gotten any paperwork nor have I been asked to provide proof of my income. How do they decide what I'm paying per month? â€" Christy Maier Dorfler

You should have received the forms by now, so you may want to contact your loan servicer and ask them to resend the forms. If that doesn't work, try the Department of Education directly. According to Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of finaid.org, a Web site devoted to college financial aid, your payment will be based on your previous income. As a consequence, you will be asked to fill out a form called the alternative documentation of income form, and a form that permits the Department of Education to gain access to your tax returns through the Internal Revenue Service.

If you file for bankruptcy, can you add your student loans? â€" Mike Reynolds

If you file for bankruptcy, you have to list all of your debts including your studen t loans. But student loans won't be discharged unless you file a separate lawsuit as part of the bankruptcy case and win, which is not easy, according to Geoffry Walsh, a lawyer at the National Consumer Law Center. Essentially, you will be required to prove to a judge that paying your student loans is an undue hardship. As my colleague Ron Lieber recently wrote, it's a difficult process that can be tough on your self-esteem.

The way to do college is, after high school (if you have no money) to get a full-time job. Then after work, go online and get a degree online from a university. Live meagerly, save 10 percent, pay for the online courses and use the rest for rent and food and expenses. It may take 10 years or more to complete, but at least by the time you are in your late 20s or early 30s you are set and debt free. You will have another 30 years to reap the rewards for your efforts and have a family, house, cars and vacations. Those without the money to do it in fou r years need to think in much longer terms. â€" NewsDogReports

This isn't a bad idea, but not all online classes are created equal. Some online classes are surprisingly expensive and carry little weight with employers, so there are few rewards to reap. Having said that, many of the nation's top universities, including Stanford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, are moving aggressively into free online classes, and it is only a matter of time before there will be many more rigorous online programs. It is hard to know, however, when, if ever, employers will consider online degrees the same as those from brick-and-mortar colleges.

How do I really get my student loans reduced? Do I call and tell them, “Hey, I want my repayment to go to a certain part of the loan?” For example, perhaps the interest on it, give more than they ask. â€" Jorge Aguilar Cruz

If you have federal loans, you should look at the different repayment plans that are available, including income-based repayment. The Web site studentaid.gov explains these programs in some detail. However, if you extend the term of your loan, you may reduce your monthly payments but pay more interest over the life of the loan. If you have private student loans, call your servicer and ask them to explain what types of repayment options are available.

Thank you to all fellow Americans who helped me with student loans. I have payed them off, and that has helped my credit history. â€" Thomas Doran

Thanks for posting this. Despite the sobering number of borrowers in default, nearly six million, it's important to remember that most students pay off their student loans and find the investment well worth it.

I've been deferring my loans for almost two years now. I can't afford to pay them. But the interest just keeps growing. Is filing bankruptcy possible yet? â€" Tim Weiskopf

As I stated previously, you can try to file a petition with the court to d ischarge your student loans. But initially, a better option may be to apply for income-based repayment, if you have federal loans. If you decided to follow through with trying to discharge your student debts in bankruptcy, it will help prove undue hardship if you have tried to exhaust your repayment options, Mr. Walsh says. He also suggests seeking out a bankruptcy lawyer with experience in student loans. The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Web site may be a good place to start.

Is it smart to double-pay all loans at once or to take that extra income and put it all toward one loan so I can knock them out one at a time? â€" Gaber Zua

The best approach is to apply the extra money to the loan with the higher interest rate, Mr. Kantrowitz says.

I have private loans. Even though I'm still a full-time student (Ph.D.), my deferment has expired and I was rejected for forbearance. My bank - Citibank - says it will not work with me. It's pay or default. What are my options? And how is this fair? Banks were bailed out, the auto industry, I need help, too! â€" Cari Varner

Your best option is to call Citibank and try to work out an affordable payment plan. If you can't do that, then unfortunately you don't have many choices. As for fairness, I suggest you read the comments that accompanied my story on Sunday about student loan defaults. While many readers believed that the student loan system was broken and in need of reform, at least an equal number had little sympathy for borrowers who were struggling to pay off their loans. Sure, the banks got a bailout, but the idea of bailing out citizens - whether for mortgages or student loans - is deeply unpopular and unlikely to happen in any major way.

Should I consolidate or continue to pay the four loans separately? There are a few federal (Stafford) and private. The highest rate is a fluctuating one at 6 percent currently. O.K., thanks! â€" Madelyn G

Lik e many borrowers, you have both federal and private student loans. Unfortunately for you, federal and private loans cannot be consolidated, Mr. Kantrowitz said. You can consolidate your federal loans, but it won't reduce your interest rate because the rate will be the weighted average of your existing loans. Under consolidation, however, you may be able to extend the length of your loan, which may reduce your monthly payment even if it increases the amount of interest you will pay over the term of the loan.

ESPN, Aided by Arbitron and comScore, to Follow the Audience Wherever It Goes

By TANZINA VEGA

With more people using Twitter while they watch television, surfing the Web while they listen to the radio, or toggling between the content on their tablets and smartphones, advertisers and media companies are struggling to keep track of the eyeballs they covet.

On Monday, a new joint venture between Arbitron, the radio ratings giant, comScore, the digital media research company, and ESPN will be announced that will try to measure the media consumption patterns of consumers across five platforms: radio, television, mobile phones, tablets and desktop computers. ESPN will be the first media company to use the service and collaborate with the two companies.

“The industry has been struggling with cross media,” said Manish Bhatia, the executive vice president for new product innovation at Arbitron “Any conference you go to there is a discussion around cross-media management.”

Media companies and advertisers are trying to answer questions such as whether the ads and content are reaching the right people, how much of the audience is duplicated and which platforms are most effective, Mr. Bhatia said.

ComScore will provide data from its opt-in panels that track consumer use of smartphones, tablets and desktop computers. The company will also provide information about user activity on the Web sites it tracks for publishers and from set-top television boxes. Arbitron will provide radio listening data from the use of its opt-in Portable People Meter technology, which covers 70,000 people in the United States.

ComScore's desktop panel includes one million people and it has set-top boxes in several million homes, according to Andrew Lipsman, a company spokesman. Mr. Lipsman said the mobile and tablet panels were “still in development.”

Representatives from comScore and Arbitron said the goal was to produce results that are “nationally p rojectable” and not specific to the individual. For example, the data could measure how many people are watching television while using their tablets, or determine what devices people are using when following a sporting event.

Joan FitzGerald, the vice president for television sales and business development at comScore, said the results would help advertisers and media companies better understand what time of day is ideal to reach certain parts of the audience, and, more generally, how best to combine different types of media.

“Really basic questions about cross-platform use are not answered today,” Ms. FitzGerald said, giving as an example, “How many more people can I reach by combining PC and mobile?”

Merging all of these sets of data will allow ESPN to see both how its own content performs and how users consume media more generally, said Artie Bulgrin, the senior vice president for research and analytics at ESPN. That information will help ES PN and the advertisers and agencies it works with. “We have to get the content measurement right,” Mr. Bulgrin said. “It's critical from a planning perspective from our clients.”

The companies will disclose more details on the new venture at Advertising Week, which will be held in New York City in October.

Tanzina Vega writes about advertising and digital media. Follow @tanzinavega on Twitter.