David Elstein, the chief executive of Channel 5, has dismissed as
’wishful thinking’ reports that the channel’s programme director, Dawn
Airey, is to join Sky Television. ’Dawn is very committed to Channel
5.
I’d be surprised if they managed to winkle her out of here.’ Airey was
unavailable for comment.
MindShare, the WPP media operation set to launch early next year, will
work alongside St Luke’s on the Government’s Welfare to Work account
(Campaign, last week). MindShare, which pitched successfully with St
Luke’s for the Fox’s biscuits business in September, will handle media
planning on the account, which will spend pounds 18 million over three
years, pounds 11 million in the first year.
Televest, the TV buying agency which is a sister to DMB&B in the US, has
picked up the dollars 1.2 billion TV account for Procter & Gamble, the
biggest media buying account in the US. The business was previously
split between five agencies.
Egypt’s hosting of the International Advertising Association World
Advertising Congress in Cairo next May is in doubt after this week’s
massacre of 64 tourists at Luxor. IAA executives said they were
monitoring the situation and may switch the venue to Dubai if there are
further terrorist attacks.
The Times is believed to be prepared to bow to pressure from other
newspapers and put an end to its 10p Monday cover price early next year
if its new Saturday magazine, announced this week, is a success. The
inevitable fall in circulation on Mondays should be cushioned by the
anticipated rise in sales resulting from the launch which will be backed
by a pounds 10 million ad push.
Leo Burnett and the incumbent, Saatchi & Saatchi, are understood to have
reached the final round of the pounds 4 million Tetley Bitter pitch.
Proposals will be put into research in mid-December, with a result
expected before the end of the month.
Anglian Windows has denied speculation that it will review its pounds 5
million full-service account at the start of next year. The media
business is handled by Eurospace, with the creative account held by TBWA
Simons Palmer. Both accounts come up for renewal at the end of this
year.
The European Commission has confirmed a crackdown on direct mail was
omitted from the latest draft of its directive to ban tobacco
advertising (Campaign, 7 November). A spokesman said direct mailshots
could continue if smokers ’opt in’ by requesting them, as is already the
case in Britain.
The bookmaker-run alternative to the National Lottery, a daily draw
called 49s, has shortlisted six agencies for its pounds 3 million
account. Leo Burnett, Ogilvy & Mather, Bates Dorland and Walsh Trott
Chick Smith will pitch against the incumbent, J. Walter Thompson, and
one other agency.
The UK’s two biggest ’breathable’ waterproof fabric brands, Sympatex and
Gore-tex, are both reviewing their advertising. The German-owned
Sympatex brand is understood to be talking to TBWA Simons Palmer and the
Manchester-based Barrington Johnson Lorrains. Gore-tex is talking to
undisclosed agencies about a more Europe-focused approach to its
advertising.
Sara Lee Bakery is understood to have shortlisted Banks Hoggins O’Shea,
Mitchell Patterson Grime Mitchell and Mustoe Merriman Herring Levy for
the creative assignment on its pounds 1.5 million account, previously
handled by Walsh Trott Chick Smith.
Roose & Partners, the agency that created the Dr Chessington character,
has pulled out of the pitch for the new campaign for the Tussaud’s
Group’s theme park, Chessington World of Adventures. Those remaining are
Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper, J. Walter Thompson and BDDP GGT.
BBJ Media Services has hired a replacement for its head of radio, Rupert
Garrett, who is leaving to join GWR’s sales house on 1 December. Tim
McCabe comes from the Network where he was a press and radio buyer.
