EarthLink, Inc. introduced its EarthLink Internet Accelerator in January 2004 while Time Warner, Inc. leaped into heavy marketing of its AOL TopSpeed across television, print, radio and web.

Portland-based advertising agency, Wieden & Kennedy, was awarded an estimated $50 million branding contract with AOL in June 2003. W&K created a high-profile campaign for the Internet service provider in 2004 to coincide with Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Wieden & Kennedy canceled their contract Monday, citing creative differences. In a telephone interview late Monday, W&K would not comment on their decision.

The New York agency of BBDO is credited with creating the yellow figure of a man who runs faster in AOL's ad spots that have gone long to provide the ISP results.

Both AOL and EarthLink have benefited by promoting high-speed internet access through the use of acceleration technology. EarthLink announced Monday that its board of directors had approved increasing its share buyback program, adding $100 million to bring the total share buyback to $145 million.

In the quarter ended June 30, EarthLink earned $49.6 million, or 31 cents a share, on revenue of $348.6 million. In the same period last year, it reported a loss of $15.3 million, or 10 cents a share, on revenue of $352.2 million.

EarthLink added 31,000 net subscribers in the second quarter for a total of 5.3 million subscribers, compared with just over 5 million a year ago.

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