Sony's "Jerry Maguire" was tops at the box office this
weekend earning an estimated $17.5M, nearly twice the second
place film. "Space Jam" moved into ninth with $2.2M.
"Space Jam"'s cumulative total is $76.4M (HOLLYWOOD
REPORTER, 12/16). The "Space Jam" soundtrack is No. 5, on
the December 2-8 album chart (N.Y. TIMES, 12/16)....VA-based
Ben Hogan Golf assigned its reported $6M per-year ad account
to Cramer-Krasselt, Chicago (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/16).
...Coca-Cola will introduce early next year its first new
soft drink in the U.S. in nearly two years. The "green-
colored, carbohydrate-enhanced" drink, called Surge, will
have Leo Burnett, Chicago, ads run during Super Bowl XXXI.
The ads mark the first time the company has run Super Bowl
spots since '91 (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 12/16)....Online
retail purchases this holiday are expected to reach $194M,
according to data from NYC-based Jupiter Communications
(DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 12/16)....USA TODAY examines the
"Ad/Marketing Powerbrokers of 1996." Among "Product Hits of
the Year," the Atlanta Summer Games. Among "Marketing
Headliners," FAME CEO David Falk (USA TODAY, 12/16).
...NEWSWEEK's Kaplan & Glick look at consolidation in the
ski industry. Since '61, the number of North American Ski
resorts has fallen from 1,000 to 519. Industry officials
hope consolidations "reduce costs and attract new customers"
(NEWSWEEK, 12/23 issue).
