AD AGE's E.J. Schultz reported Coca-Cola has "selected UM as its lead media agency for North America, ending a review that began in the spring." The beverage giant "considered incumbent SMG's MediaVest along with other agencies that Coke works with globally, including MediaCom." Coke as part of the move is "changing its media strategy, embracing what it calls a 'hybrid approach' that will include handing some media strategy assignments to other shops, including creative shop Ogilvy" (ADAGE.com, 7/31).
DICK'S FLICKS: In N.Y., Claire Atkinson noted Dick's Sporting Goods is "focusing on the human drama of athletic competition through movies." The retailer is "generating a lot of buzz" through its foundation, which "focuses on youth sports." Its documentary from last year, "We Could Be King," about two rival Philadelphia high school football teams, "won an Emmy and was presented at the Tribeca Film Festival." Dick's "has two more documentaries queued up, one about a girls lacrosse team from upstate New York and the other about three-time beach volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings." Both are "slated to air on ESPN" (NYPOST.com, 8/1).
URBAN OUTFITTERS: In Columbus, Kelsey Husnick reported Ohio State Univ. "has secured trademark designation for the name" of football coach Urban Meyer. Half of the royalties in those cases "will go to Ohio State and the other half to Meyer." Trademarks for "Urban Meyer" and the phrase "Urban Meyer Knows" were issued on July 7 and "provide protection on clothing items for men, women and children, and namely hats and T-shirts" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 7/31).
PUCK-A-PALOOZA: In Chicago, Blair Sheade noted the Blackhawks "teamed up" with music festival Lollapalooza for "new, limited-edition, customized hats" that will be sold at the Blackhawks store. The store is selling the hats for 15% off when customers "show the store clerk your Lollapalooza wristband" (SUNTIMES.com, 7/31). Sheade noted the Blackhawks hats are for sale at the festival's downtown pop-up store, "plus collaborations" with the Bulls and Cubs (SUNTIMES.com, 7/31).
