CBS snags first Times front-page ad

New York -- CBS says it has become the first advertiser to appear in a front page ad in The New York Times.

The newspaper's newly offered, below-the-fold strip ad made its debut Monday morning.

"This high-impact placement represents an exciting new opportunity for our advertisers to reach our educated, affluent and influential readers across the country," Denise Warren, senior vice president and chief advertising officer for The New York Times Media Group, said in a statement. "With a weekday readership of 2.8 million and a Sunday readership of 4.2 million, The New York Times is the largest seven-day newspaper in the United States."

"It's exciting that CBS is kicking off The New York Times's inaugural front page ad," added George Schweitzer, president of the CBS Marketing Group.

"America's most watched network will clearly have one of the most read ads -- and we value this new means of prominently showcasing our valuable media properties."

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.