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Largest-Ever Ad Panel for Super Bowl XLVI

Viewers are being offered a new way to engage with the most important part of the Super Bowl following an announcement from USA Today and Facebook. The Gannett Co. publication is opening its annual Super Bowl Ad Meter to participation by all Facebook members for Super Bowl XLVI, which will be held Feb. 5, 2012, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

GameStop Welcomes Scvngrs

One way to lure customers into physical stores is to gamify the real world, which is exactly what GameStop and Coca-Cola are doing with Scvngr and the "Happiness in Numbers" campaign. The companies say it’s the biggest real-life location-based game ever. Challenges are tasks like visiting a GameStop and taking a photo with a favorite game box and a Coke, or getting the high score on one of the in-store game kiosks and taking a picture posing with the game while holding a Coke.

Pittman to Lead Clear Channel into Digital Future

Bob Pittman has been named chief executive officer of Clear Channel’s parent company CC Media Holdings and will join the Board of Directors of CC Media Holdings and Clear Channel Communications, effective immediately. He also will join the board of directors of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings as its executive chairman, according to the company's Sunday announcement. He replaces Mark Mays, who in June 2010 announced his intention to step down as CEO and who retains his role as chairman of the board at Clear Channel.

'Mega Jump' into the Record Books with Kiip

Sunday marks the end of an event from mobile rewards network Kiip and the Guinness World Records to get one player into the famous record book for “The Highest Score Achieved on 'Mega Jump,'” the free-to-play mobile game from Canadian developer Get Set Games with more than 16 million players in dozens of countries. This competition, which started Sept. 28, kicks off an ongoing network integration that will see players of every Kiip-enabled game being potentially eligible to become a Guinness World Records holder.

Enrique Likes the Feel of 'CityVille'

Enrique Iglesias, one of the most popular Latin musicians of all time, wants to add some additional venues to his upcoming tour. These new stages will be built by his fans, and they will exist only in Zynga’s "CityVille." Between Oct. 4 and 10, players who have attained at least level six will encounter Iglesias in their city and can get him to say a few words. Among other things, they also can collect the brown boots, leather bracelet and military cap familiar to all of his fans, along with a two-seater plane commemorating his love of flying. The more dedicated can enhance their cities with a limited-edition “Enrique” speedboat and a high-rise like those near his Miami home.

'Need for Speed' Puts SI Swimsuit Models in Hot Cars [with...

Motion capture teams already have unusual jobs, but the mocap artists on Electronic Arts’ "Need for Speed:The Run" had an assignment that was out of the ordinary even for them. Due to a marketing partnership between the street-racing video game and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit brand, they got to put the mocap dots on skin-tight suits worn by 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model Irina Shayk and fellow Swimsuit model Chrissy Teigen so that the two women could play a small part in the game itself.

VideoSurf Locates CBS' "Person of Interest"

VideoSurf is running a promotion that uses a key element of the new CBS drama "Person of Interest" to demonstrate what its live television identification app is capable of. Each episode of the Jonathan Nolan and J.J. Abrams show hinges on discovering an unknown stranger who will be involved in a future crime, so VideoSurf played on that concept to devise its contest. In what may be a coincidence, VideoSurf also announced the appointment of ex-CBS' Jeff Clark executive vice president Sales, Marketing and Business Development.

Spotify Now Requires Facebook ID, Users Howl

Spotify has warmly embraced its Facebook integration, changing its new user registration to require logging in with a Facebook account. Anyone who wants to join Spotify from now on will have to have a Facebook account to do so. Existing Spotify members will not be affected by the new rules, but even so a very vocal minority is complaining about the move and angry about the deeper implications of Facebook keeping tabs on their listening habits.

Clearspring Nabs Right Media's McGrory

Clearspring today announced the appointment of Ramsey McGrory to the position of chief operating officer. McGrory formerly led Right Media, Yahoo’s U.S. digital advertising exchange and data business. He replaces Clearspring founder Hooman Radfar, who will assume new responsibilities as executive chairman. Ted Leonsis, who previously held that role, will remain on the company’s board of directors. McGrory (pictured) had been with Right Media since the $1 billion annual revenue business was a startup, back in 2004, and most recently held the title vice president, North American Marketplaces, Yahoo.

Three YouTube Channels Exceed 17M Viewers Each [with charts]

ComScore Inc. just released its first comScore YouTube Partner Report, putting actual numbers behind some assumptions and expectations. There are few surprises for those immersed in digital media, but the data may be a wake-up call to traditionalist television executives. Take Machinima for example. Its 17.7 million viewers in August exceeds the average number who watch NBC’s Sunday Night Football. The mostly under 35, male-skewing Machinima audience sticks around, too, for a monthly average of 70 minutes per viewer. Only music videos reached more people on YouTube. Vevo attracted the most viewers (60.6 million), and Warner Music (31 million), with average times of 60 minutes and 29.1 minutes respectively.