By Suzanne Vranica
When it comes to television ad sales, Madison Avenue has barely moved since the “Mad Men” days of the 1960s, with deals struck over the phone, via fax and, in a nod to modern day, email. But the industry appears to be moving slowly toward the digital age.
Ad giant Interpublic Group of Cos IPG 0.00% . is teaming up with TV and radio companies, including A&E Networks, Clear Channel, Tribune Co. TRBAA +0.58% and Cablevision Systems Corp., CVC -0.56% to build and test an automated ad-buying system for television and radio ads, the companies say.
Others, such as NBCUniversal, are in discussions with the group but haven’t yet agreed to join.