Can Hulu Save Traditional TV?

Chuck Salter — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:00:00 -0500

Even for Hollywood, where long odds and high stakes are staples of storytelling, the plotline is a doozy: A couple of old business rivals facing the threat of a lifetime agree to put aside their differences and join forces on a half-baked experiment that makes them laughingstocks. (We're thinking Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty.) And who do they put in charge? A young guy, a newbie to the biz. He promptly cleans house and hires an even younger guy who's halfway around the globe. These renegades throw out the rule book -- and they pull it off. Their idea kills.

From a Texas Small Town and a Bedding Company, the Future of Journalism, Marketing, or Both

Chuck Salter — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:35:40 -0400

Recently, journalist and novelist Dan Gearino moved to Texas to spend a month documenting life in Stephenville (population: 15,000). Finding humorous and charming stories and a cast of memorable characters is nothing new for him. Previously, he was a longtime local columnist for The News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina, where we were colleagues. What's new this time is who's footing the bill.

Tiger Woods on Video Game Realism and Knowing Your Customers

Chuck Salter — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:36:52 -0400

As I mentioned in last week's dispatch, when Tiger Woods came to New York City recently, I was able to pick his brain a bit about Twitter, Facebook and the changing landscape of sports marketing. Today, the topic is video games. After all, that's what brought him to Niketown, following the U.S. Open.

Why America Is Addicted to Olive Garden

Chuck Salter — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0400

On a Tuesday morning in April, the presidents of three of the largest restaurant chains in the country slip into an unmarked white van in Orlando, Florida, and embark on an unprecedented mission -- sharing their latest trade secrets.

Tiger Woods on Twitter, Facebook, and the Marketing of Pro Athletes

Chuck Salter — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:55:28 -0400

If Tiger Woods were hooked on Twitter like Shaq, he would have gotten thumb blisters posting updates during his whirlwind New York City visit last Thursday:

Will the Letterman-Palin Clash Take a Bite Out of Olive Garden?

Chuck Salter — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:59:19 -0400

Late last week, the Web site Politico ran a story claiming that Olive Garden was pulling its ads during The Late Show with David Letterman because of the late-night comedian's recent joke about Sarah Palin's teenage daughter.

Why W.L. Gore's Retractable Roof Changes Wimbledon Forever [video]

Chuck Salter and Denise Martin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:00:31 -0400

As the tennis world switches this week from baguettes to strawberries and cream in anticipation of Wimbledon, the sport is abuzz with several tantalizing questions. Is Roger Federer the greatest player of all time? Better than rival Rafael Nadal? Better than Rod "Rocket" Laver? Will Nadal's knee trouble prevent him from defending his Wimbledon title? And this: Is Wimbledon without rain delays still Wimbledon?

The 10 Most Creative People in Sports...

Chuck Salter — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400

How Big Blue Is Pursuing Its Share of $101 Billion in Tech Stimulus Spending

Chuck Salter — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:36:26 -0400

"Follow the money" is not just a maxim for investigative reporters; it's also good business. Launched in November, IBM's Smarter Planet initiative--its ambitious approach to health care, energy, infrastructure, and other problems--sounds like a marketing campaign.

Corning's Rings of Defense: A Survival Strategy That Grew Out of the Telecom Crash

Chuck Salter — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:33:06 -0400

If anyone should be able to build a shatterproof fortress, it's Corning. But during the telecom crash earlier this decade, the specialty glassmaker for everything from medical devices to consumer electronics to cars saw revenue nosedive from $7 billion to $3 billion in 18 months.