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Universal McCann MD to assume charge of Cable Advertising Bureau
NEW YORK: The Cable Advertising Bureau (CAB), a professional organisation of ad-supported cable networks and system operators, has appointed Sean Cunningham as its president-CEO. Cunningham will step down as the managing director of Interpublic Group of Cos.’ Universal McCann to assume charge at the CAB from 23 June onwards.
An adage report says that Cunningham will replace Joe Ostrow at CAB. Ostrow is retiring and will be a part-time consultant to CAB.
The 42-year old Cunningham has managed Universal McCann’s New York office since 2000. The agency’s clients include Wendy’s International, Maytag Corp. and Sony Corp. Universal McCann, part of Interpublic’s McCann-Erickson WorldGroup, was named Advertising Age’s 2002 Media Agency of the Year.
“I’m happy as a clam here,” Cunningham was quoted as saying about Universal McCann. “They’ve got great people, great clients. This was the only place I wanted to work on the buy-side. But I think [cable] is such a powerful sector, that even as great as it is working here, the CAB is an even better opportunity.”
The cable industry indeed is looking to tally its highest revenue and cost-per-thousand (CPM) increases during the current cable upfront TV ad sales market. The adage report says that executives from media companies and agencies have been quoted as saying that CPM increases alone this year are up 12 per cent, while overall revenue increases are about 20 per cent higher than last year, with close to $6 billion in sales being done.
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Adbhoot weaves AI magic into CottonKing Aura linen campaign
Subtle AI craft brings premium linen’s texture, fall and finesse to life in cinematic film that feels tangibly real.
MUMBAI: Adbhoot has threaded the needle perfectly using AI so invisibly that the real star of Cottonking’s new premium linen range, Aura, gets to shine. The campaign, built around the insight that premium clothing isn’t merely worn but experienced, puts the fabric itself centre stage. Instead of flashy drama or exaggerated styling, every frame focuses on what truly defines Aura: its visible weave, natural drape, soft finish and effortless movement. The result feels so tactile you almost want to reach out and touch the screen.
What sets the work apart is its quiet confidence in technology. There is no “look at our AI” fanfare. Adbhoot treated the tool as a precision filmmaking instrument ensuring consistent model features, accurate proportions, natural lighting behaviour and real-world physics so the film feels polished, controlled and unmistakably premium rather than artificial.
Adbhoot, founder & creative director Vaibhav Pandit explained, “AI is powerful only when it doesn’t announce itself. For Aura, our intent was clear. The fabric needed to feel tangible, the lighting needed to behave naturally, and the model had to remain authentic throughout. We shaped AI around the brief, not the other way around.”
Cottonking director Koushik Marathe added, “With Aura, our vision was clear: to create a premium linen range that feels elevated not just in look, but in experience. Linen is a fabric of character, it breathes, it moves, and it carries a distinct elegance that can’t be replicated. This campaign captures that essence beautifully.”
The campaign marks another step in Adbhoot’s thoughtful approach to modern storytelling, innovation supports the narrative rather than stealing the spotlight. In an era when AI is often used to grab attention, this one stands out by staying quietly honest letting the linen do the talking and the craft do the work.
From weave to wind-blown drape, Aura doesn’t just look premium, it feels it. And thanks to Adbhoot’s restrained touch, viewers are left with the impression of real fabric, real movement, and real emotion rather than pixels and prompts. In the world of fashion advertising, that’s the kind of seamless finish that really leaves a mark.
