Plus, a big win for WPP. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
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First Things First
 
October 29, 2020
By Jess Zafarris
 
 
Presented By
Quad
 
 
 
Zaxby's Is Reigniting the Chicken Sandwich War
 

Are we doing this again? Yes, we're doing this again.

The chicken sandwich wars are back, raging on thanks to Zaxby’s, which is throwing down against the likes of Popeyes, Chick-fil-A, Shake Shack, Wendy’s and KFC. The Southern chicken chain announced its step into the fray this week with a quote tweet of Popeyes’ 2019 “... y’all good?” message that kicked off the conflict, with Zaxby’s adding “... y’all good?” The new sandwich is competitive in size and flavored with a new sauce.

The battle rages on: Adweek spoke with Zaxby's CEO about why the restaurant brought back the chicken wars.

 
 
 
 
 
Hollywood's Great Streaming Overhaul Is Just Beginning

The biggest companies in television—Disney, NBCUniversal, ViacomCBS and WarnerMedia, and even Netflix—have all seen massive overhauls and restructures of their higher ranks over the past three months. These shifts are all toward common goals: bolstering the businesses to meet the streaming boom (both in terms of viewership and new players entering the market), cutting costs amid pandemic challenges, unifying across portfolios and keeping customers and advertisers happy.

But more change is ahead: Discover what each major shift means for these companies—and the future of streaming.

Speaking of new players: T-Mobile is pushing into TV and streaming with a new service, TVision, which aims to disrupt the “cableopoly” that “holds TV fans hostage.”

 
 
 
Promoted Content by Student Beans
How the Black Lives Matter Movement Changed Student Spending
 
How the Black Lives Matter Movement Changed Student Spending
 
 
 
 
 
 
WPP Retains Global Advertising Duties for Walgreens Boots Alliance

In one of the biggest reviews of the year, WPP held onto Walgreens, which reported net advertising expenses of $585 million in its fiscal 2019. It's a huge win for WPP, which will serve as the brand's advertising partner until 2022, with an option to extend the partnership to 2024.

Sources explain: Why WPP held onto the account over top contender, Publicis.

 
 
 
Wieden+Kennedy Moves New York Execs Into Global Leadership Roles

Wieden+Kennedy’s New York office has been on a roll lately, racking up win after win lately, including McDonald’s, Michelob Ultra, Kraft Heinz and Duracell, leading to four consecutive years of powerful revenue growth. Tapping this success, the company is elevating New York managing director Neal Arthur and executive creative director Karl Lieberman to global roles—chief operations officer and chief creative officer, respectively. Starting in 2021, the duo will work with president as global CCO Colleen DeCourcy. 

Building on momentum: The goal is to leverage the New York’s office’s success, but not to duplicate its style.

Also in job moves:

  • Marc Juris, the president and general manager of WE tv, is leaving AMC Networks after seven years. The move comes shortly after the company lost AMC Networks Entertainment Group president Sarah Barnett.
 
 
 
How Agencies Will Be Reshaped in 2021 as 50,000 Jobs Leave the Industry

Layoffs aren’t a new thing in 2020, but new research from Forrester shows that they might continue into 2021 for the agency world. The study estimates that a total of 35,000 jobs will be lost in 2020, and 17,000 more will follow next year, and that on average, agencies have laid off 11% of staff since March. The pandemic has, by necessity, accelerated the push toward digital solutions, which the study predicts will result in more than 10% of digital, creative and media agency tasks will be automated.

What does that mean for agencies? Teams will shrink, machine learning will take over—and transformation will begin.

More of Today’s Top News & Highlights

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Samsung Transforms 18th Century House Into Spooky Halloween Haunt Using Hi-Tech Projection
 

In the U.K., Samsung got creative with a social distancing friendly Halloween project, taking an 18th-century house and using it as a backdrop for a high tech show. The eye-catching project uses state-of-the-art projection mapping to create a spectacle completed with performances by makeup artists and dancers.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adweek Promos and Events
Explore the Future of Commerce
 

Join Adweek for Commerce Week, on Nov. 9-12, for four days of exploration into the rapid transformation of the commerce landscape with the leaders building the ecommerce marketplace of tomorrow. Register for free.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
How Delta Air Lines’ Digital GM Innovates With An Almost Century-Old Brand
 

With newly enforced COVID-19 regulations, Akhil Anumolu and Delta Air Line’s Digital team had to reply quickly. Read how Delta has leveraged digital to deliver personal travel journey experiences amid a pandemic.

 
 
 
 
 
This Beautiful Animation For an Addiction Charity Shows the Power of Love and Support
 

Partnership to End Addiction shows the importance of human connection in times of self-isolation.

 
 
 
 
 
Jerry Garcia's Cannabis Line Debuts With an Airstream and a Deadhead Ambassador
 

Holistic Industries collaborated with the late musician's family for Garcia Hand Picked.

 
 
 
 
 
LinkedIn’s New ‘Let’s Step Forward’ Ad Emphasizes Small Steps Toward Career Progress
 

The professional network is taking on the stigmas associated with unemployment.

 
 
 
 
 
This Online Grocery Store Only Stocks Purpose-Driven Brands
 

Hive embraces socially conscious companies that have been overlooked by bigger stores.

 
 
 
 
 
Panera Aims to Satisfy Changing Diner Habits With New Pizza Offering
 

The chain wants to be as synonymous with flatbread pizza as it is with soups and salads.

 
 
 
 
 
 
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