Ad Groups Back Microsoft-Yahoo Search Pact

The ad industry expressed concerns when Yahoo inked a search deal with Google back in 2008. There are no such concerns when Yahoo's partner is Microsoft. The American Association of Advertising Agencies and four top ad holding companies sent a joint letter to federal regulators urging them to approve the agreement, which is still under review, saying it will improve competition in the key search ad market. We believe that Yahoo and Microsoft's proposal to combine their technologies and search platforms is good for advertisers, marketing services agencies, Web site publishers and consumers," the letter says. It goes on to urge a "speedy conclusion" to the review. The letter, sent by 4A's CEO Nancy Hill, is co-signed by Omnicom Group CEO John Wren, WPP Group chief Martin Sorrell, Publicis Groupe CEO Maurice Levy and Interpublic Group leader Michael Roth.