Los Angeles-based Spot Runner , which operates an online service to help businesses buy and sell TV and video advertising, said late Friday that it has promoted Gus Warren to General Manager of the firm's Malibu Media Platform unit. Before Spot Runner, Warren was at Time Warner Investments Group, and has also served at Granite Ventures, NetMarket, and Internet Profiles. Warren has been VP of Media Partner Sales and Development for the last three years. READ MORE>> ...Tags:

Los Angeles-based Spot Runner , which operates an online service to help businesses place television advertising, has filed to dismiss a lawsuit filed against the firm by one of its investors, WPP. In a legal filing, Spot Runner said that among other things, WPP was unable to point to a decline in Spot Runner's stock price, that WPP sold almost 40% of its common shares of stock at a profit, and that securities laws were not made to ensure that companies like WPP did not lose money in their investments. WPP had alleged that Spot Runner breached legal agreements with the firm, and used it as a part of a "pump and dump" scheme to find new investors.

Los Angeles-based Spot Runner announced today that the firm has partnered with Yodle, an online advertising network, where Yodle will handle local online advertising services for Spot Runner's clients. According to the firms, Spot Runner said it is shifting the local advertising operations to Yodle to focus on its Malibu Media Platform. Spot Runner's Malibu Media Platform automates buying and selling TV and video advertising. The companies did not detail the financial arrangements between the two.

Los Angeles-based Spot Runner has laid off 115 employees, as part of a new strategic plan, a spokeperson for the firm confirmed Monday. According to Spot Runner, the 115 represents about 30 percent of the company. Spot Runner provides online services that help place television advertising, and is venture backed by Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), Grupo Televisa, Legg Mason Capital Management, A spokeperson for the firm told socalTECH that the change was due to an "unprecedented change in the economic environment."

Los Angeles-based Spot Runner , a developer of services which help advertisers buy TV advertising, announced today that it has launched its Malibu Media Platform, which the firm says will help improve the process of buying and selling television advertising. The company said the new technology has been under development for two years, and offers media sellers and buyers features such as creating campaigns and orders, managing inventory and pricing, managing credit and invoicing, submitting and clearing creative, and more. ...Tags: Tags: spotrunner media platform

Los Angeles-based SpotRunner , a venture-backed firm which helps businesses place television advertising, is the target of a lawsuit from investor WPP, according to a report from AdAge. According to the report and copies of the lawsuit posted to the Internet, WPP alleges that Spot Runner is in a breach of a legal agreement with WPP, and used the firm as part of a "pump and dump" scheme to find new investors. Investors Battery Ventures and Index Ventures are also named in the suit, along with Spot Runner's founders and a number of board members. READ

Los Angeles-based Demand Media , the online media venture of Richard Rosenblatt, announced Monday afternoon that it has hired on Joanne Bradford, most recently Yahoo's SVP of U.S. Bradford had also served at Spot Runner and Microsoft. Revenue and Market Development, as its Chief Revenue Officer. According to Demand, Bradford will oversee brand advertisers on the firm's top 20 owned and operated web sites.

Los Angeles-based Demand Media , the online media venture of Richard Rosenblatt, has apparently scored a high profile executive from Yahoo, according to reports. Bradford had also served at Spot Runner and Microsoft. According to AllThingsD, Joanne Bradford, most recently Yahoo's SVP of U.S. Revenue and Market Development, is leaving Yahoo for Demand Media to serve as Chief Revenue Officer.

Los Angeles-based 60Frames , an online entertainment studio developing professionally produced, online content, has reportedly shut down , according to The Hollywood Reporter . 60Frames had been incubated within the United Talent Agency and Spot Runner. 60Frames had raised $3.5M in funding in 2007, from Tudor Investment Corporation and the Pilot Group, and was apparently unable to raise a second round of financing.

Oversee.net ($1B) – Los Angeles 23. Hulu ($750M) – Los Angeles 24. Spot Runner ($80M) – Los Angeles 58. The Silicon Alley Insider has weighed in on its list of “ 50+ most valuable startups “, and suprisingly, they didn’t neglect Southern California. Facebook was tops, but local companies highlighted in the list: