Pitch Watch: Sony Pictures; Village Roadshow; Energy Australia; Frucor; Taubmans
Mumbrella casts an eye over the major media, creative and public relations pitches at play in market.
In this week’s wrap up: Sony wraps up its global pitch moving media agencies on motion pictures (media account move); Village Roadshow (imminent media pitch); Energy Australia (new media pitch); Cancer Council (new media pitch); Taubmans (PR account move); 21st Century Fox (new round); Frucor (shortlist); Midori (PR account move).
Sony moves its media agency for motion pictures
It was one of the last mediapalooza pitches but the Sony account was resolved on Friday with a big shakeup on the roster to both its electronics and its movie picture business.
Sony moved its electronics business from OMD to Mediacom. But it’s not all bad news for Omnicom agencies with the other key part of the account, the movie pictures business, moving from UM to OMD sister agency M2M.
The movie pictures business is thought to be worth more than $10m while the electronics was worth around $5m.
All agencies contacted declined to comment. Sony did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Update 11am: Since posting this story Sony has now confirmed the account move issuing a statement through M2M.
m2m Sydney have today confirmed their appointment as media agency to Sony Pictures Releasing across Australia.
Stephen Basil-Jones, executive vice president of Australia/NZ & Northern Asia said: “We congratulate the M2M team here in Australia who made such an impresssive and persuasive argument for their appointment to our business. We areexcited by this new partnership and our future together”.
M2M Sydney’s managing director Wendy Gower commented, “We are absolutely thrilled to have been successful in the pitch process for Sony Pictures. With up- coming releases of Angry Birds, Ghostbusters & Inferno to name but a few, this is undoubtedly an account which offers huge scope to deliver exciting market leading work.”
The appointment is effective from 1st April 2016.
Village Roadshow set to pitch media account for movies and theme parks
The win of Sony for M2M comes amid growing speculation that OMD may face a media pitch from Village Roadshow, covering both movie pictures and its theme park business.
While the media pitch has not yet been formally called a pitch is expected in the coming weeks.
The account has been a long term OMD client but you can expect a number of media agencies to line up for the account.
Comment has been sought from Village Roadshow. OMD declined to comment.
21st Century Fox moves to the next round
The resolution of Sony leaves only one major mediapalooza media pitch outstanding, that of $30m 21st Century Fox account.
As Mumbrella reported back in November ZenithOptimedia is facing off against Havas Media, Mindshare and Vizeum and it is understood that agencies are currently awaiting a new pitch in a process that has stopped and started a number of times.
The media pitch was originally meant to be a local pitch, but got pulled into the global media pitch in May.
All agencies contacted declined to comment.
Cancer Council seeks to consolidate nationally
One of Australia’s most high profile charities the Cancer Council is seeking to consolidate its media buying, Mumbrella can reveal.
Currently the Cancer Council uses a raft of media agencies across its various state division and national offices to help promote its major fundraisers including Daffodil Day, Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea and Pink Ribbon breakfast.
It is understood all the incumbent media agencies on the roster including PHD, Dentsu Mitchell, Initiative and Slingshot have been invited to pitch.
A spokesman for the Cancer Council confirmed the media tender was in progress.
All agencies contacted declined to comment.
Frucor shortlist down to five
An update on the media pitch for Frucor which was called just before Christmas last year.
The pitch is understood to have been reduced to a shortlist of five agencies facing off for the $15m media account which includes energy drink brands V, Rockstar and Lucozade,
It is rumoured that the final shortlist includes incumbent M2M facing off against Havas, Bohemia, Match and Initiative.
All agencies contacted declined to comment.
Energy Australia pitches media
Mumbrella revealed back in October that Energy Australia CMO Kim Clarke was pitching for a new creative agency, and while that pitch is not resolved it now understood that the brand is now pitching media.
It is understood that chemistry meetings with media agencies began in Melbourne last week.
The move puts incumbent Mediacom on alert. The agency is also currently defending the AFL media account.
Energy Australia did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publishing but has previously said it does not comment on third party relationships.
Taubmans reappoints UM but changes PR agency
Paint brand Taubmans and its parent company PPG Industries undertook a roster shake up at the end of 2015, Mumbrella can reveal.
The accounts were understood to have been pitched with its media agency UM reappointed and public relations moving from DEC PR to Hausmann Communications.
“When PPG Industries recently pitched out its accounts across multiple marketing disciplines, including PR, the team at DEC PR decided to not re-pitch – we felt it was time for a change and leave our client partnership on our own terms and on a high after five excellent years together,” said a DEC PR spokesman.
“With an ever expanding consumer portfolio and numerous recent account wins, the team at DEC PR is excited for the new year ahead and wishes PPG Industries all the best in 2016.”
Liquid Ideas picks up PR for Midori and Cape Grim
PR agency Liquid Ideas has expanded its hold on the Beam Suntory portfolio, picking up the Midori account.
The agency has also been appointed by premium Tasmanian water company Cape Grim to relaunch the brand. Liquid Ideas will be developing video and image content for the brand’s new website, as well as working with Cape Grim’s team to launch social channels.
It is also implementing a targeted influencer campaign, identifying experiential opportunities and supporting trade and business relations.
“The Cape Grim relaunch is an exciting win for the agency, fully utilising our in-house creatives, alongside our account team”, said Sarah Myers, creative director, Liquid Ideas.
“We continue to see huge growth in demand for clever creative content and are justly proud of our talented pool of designers, videographers and copywriters who work closely with the account teams to produce fully integrated, holistic campaigns.”
Liquid Ideas also recently won a competitive pitch for UK brand Tilda rice. The agency will be implementing a PR and influencer campaign throughout 2016, focusing on Tilda’s Basmati range now available in Woolworths and Coles.
Nic Christensen and Miranda Ward
