DiGi marketing budget to remain flat in 2008

KUALA LUMPUR - DiGi, the Malaysian telco currently reviewing its RM45 million (US$14 million) youth and Malay marketing business, will not increase its marketing budget this year despite intense competition with rivals Celcom and Maxis.

Jeanette Lee, the DiGi head of marketing communications, said the company - which is Malaysia's fastest growing telco - would not be raising advertising spend in 2008.

Gaining a market advantage over competitors would partly be the responsibility of its new agency-of-record to "make the budget work harder," she said.

Four-year incumbent McCann WorldGroup pulled out of the running earlier this month (Media, 10 January). However Lee confirmed that the IPG agency continues to work on the business and may continue to "partner" McCann in the future.

A decision on the pitch next week. Grey, DDB International and JWT were joined in the running by Leo Burnett and Y&R last week following the exit of McCann.