Pitch Watch: iiNet moves media; 21st Century Fox pitch shortlist; Will Optus drag into new year?; Ikea pitches public relations
Mumbrella casts an eye over the major media, creative and public relations pitches at play in market.
In this week’s wrap up the latest on: iiNet (account move), 21st Century Fox (short list), Optus (update on media pitch), Ikea (new PR pitch).
iiNet moves $30m media account inhouse
It’s only eight months since OMD WA fought and retained the media account for the $20n iiNet however, Mumbrella can reveal that its new parent company TPG has now taken the buying inhouse.
The ISP’s media is now being done alongside TPG’s media buying and is a blow to the WA agency, which is owned by Marketforce in Perth, which managed to fend off a slew of bigger multinational rivals in what is the largest media account in the Perth market.
iiNet did not respond to requests for comment.
21st Century Fox shortlist
It has been six months since Mumbrella revealed that 21st Century Fox is pitching its media globally.
And after being dragged into a global process next week a raft of local agencies will finally line up for the regional pitch which is being run out of Australia.
The stakes are high with the account worth some $30m according to Nielsen and incumbent ZenithOptimedia on alert defending against a massive shortlist understood to include: Havas Media, Mindshare and Vizeum.
21st Century did not respond to requests for comment. All agencies declined to comment.
Optus pitch down to final stages
The biggest pitch in play at the moment is the Optus/Virgin Mobile account worth some $60m.
Mumbrella understands the pitch is now in final stages with a shootout between Starcom and UM tipped to come down to price on media, M&C Saatchi and Ogilvy fighting it out for the main creative duties on what is thought to be a roster.
While it is thought the local team has made a decision it still has to be signed off by the board of parent company Singtel. However, last time it got pushed back a couple of times leading to fears it could slip off the agenda at the next board meeting. Should that happen it will push a decision into 2016.
It may be a long Christmas wait for a whole lot of agencies.
Ikea pitches public relations
Ikea is pitching its public relations account, with incumbent Mango on alert.
Mango picked up the account in March 2013, beating previous incumbent One Green Bean for the account.
Mumbrella understands the pitch is part of Ikea’s three year procurement cycle which sees the Swedish furniture retailer review its agency relationships on a three year cycle.
Mango declined to comment on the pitch.
Nic Christensen, Alex Hayes, Miranda Ward
What a kick in the guts for OMD WA. These things happen, but it would be especially annoying given the time and money that would have gone into pitching.
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