Advertising

Millennial Media, a Baltimore-based company that runs a global network of advertising on smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, said Wednesday that it had a lower-than-expected loss in its second quarter as revenues soared by more than 75 percent. The company, which went public in March in a $1.8 billion offering, said it lost $2.2 million in the second quarter, which ended June 30, compared to $152,000 in the year-earlier period. Millennial reported a loss of 3 cents per share, beating Wall Street analysts' estimates of 5 cents per share.

Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. saw its second-quarter income jump 61 percent and raised its quarterly dividend as political advertising far exceeded company expectations, the Hunt Valley broadcaster said Wednesday. The company earned $30.1 million, or 37 cents per share, in the three months that ended June 30, up from $18.6 million, or 23 cents per share, in the same period the year before. The company's stock jumped 13 percent Wednesday, rising $1.31 a share to $11.51 each in Nasdaq trading.

A pilot working for an Eastern Shore company that flies advertising banners over Ocean City beaches each summer was killed Thursday after his plane crashed on a golf course in Worcester County, according to Maryland State Police. The pilot, identified by police as Garett Colona, 23, of the 5000 block of Sharptown Road in Rhodesdale, was a "super guy" beloved by all the company's other pilots, said Bob Bunting, owner of plane operator Ocean Aerial Ads Thursday afternoon. "This was one of the nicest individuals I've ever known in my life," Bunting said.

Today's topic: the billions (yes, with a "b") that will be spent on advertising in this year's presidential and congressional campaigns, and what kind of messages that money is sending. Like jazz, blues and musical comedy, the political ad is a uniquely American contribution to the arts, only less uplifting. Some turn into classics, like Ronald Reagan's 1984 "Morning in America" ad or the 2008 will.i.am music video based on Barack Obama's "Yes, we can" speech. Whatever your politics, you had to admire their artistry.

As National HIV Testing Day approaches, there will be a testing event held this week in Baltimore and the launch of an educational campaign. This will be the fourth year for Project SHALEM's City Uprising HIV Outreach Day , a collaboration with the University of Maryland's JACQUES Initiative at the Institute of Human Virology. It will involved 400 volunteers to provide testing and links to care. The project has trained hundreds of people from faith, academic and community circles to test more than 5,500 people.

In May, I reported on Baltimore-area homes receiving mysterious robocalls voiced by WBFF anchorman Jeff Barnd asking residents a series of questions about Lyme disease, same-sex marriage and the alleged agenda of Gov. Martin O'Malley. Read that here . At the time, WBFF acknowledged commissioning the calls, but WBFF General Manager Bill Fanshawe declined to name the company that executed the robocall campaign. I have since been able to confirm that the name of the company is ccAdvertising, of Centreville, Va. And from its website, the firm appears to be heavily engaged in right-wing politics, including push polling in at least one state against same-sex ballot initiatives like the one Maryland is expected to have in the fall.

A Baltimore City Council committee approved a measure Tuesday that would allow advertisements to be placed on fire trucks to help support the department - and potentially prevent the closure of some fire companies. Firefighters and community leaders backed the bill, sponsored by West Baltimore Councilman William "Pete" Welch, expressing hope that the ad revenue could prevent three of the city's 55 fire companies from being shuttered due to budget cuts. Welch said the city would not know how much the measure could raise until after a planned study was completed, but the prospect of any new revenue cheered fire union officials and residents.

Indie bands, be careful - advertising agencies want your sound, and if you say no, they'll hire studio musicians to do their best impression. Patrick Carney, the drummer for the Black Keys, complained of several big-name companies doing this exact procedure. Now, Baltimore duo Beach House - a band whose new album, "Bloom," hit stores this past Tuesday to strong reviews - is the latest act claiming to be kinda-copied. In a new ad for Volkswagen's Polo, there's a familiar, haunting croon over a light, springy organ.

For decades, the NFL prohibited teams from accepting advertisements from casinos — and casinos couldn't woo the sport's rabid fan base as potential customers. But last week, the league relaxed its policy, allowing franchises such as the Baltimore Ravens to accept casino ads in game programs, on limited signs at stadiums and on local radio stations. The new policy will be enforced with strict guidelines for the next two seasons. The change in the NFL's policy is the latest sign that the league is modifying its hard-line stance against nonsports gambling.