Sources suggest that STB teams will be visiting these agencies this week and will announce a shortlist by 20 February.
Among the creative agencies JWT, Publicis, Leo Burnett and incumbent Y&R have been narrowed down for a visit by the STB team. While media agencies that are expecting a visit by STB include ZenithOptimedia, MediaCom, OMD, Mindshare and Starcom, digital agencies Modem and Arc are reported to have made it.
Among the creative agencies JWT, Publicis, Leo Burnett and incumbent Y&R have been narrowed down for a visit by the STB team. While media agencies that are expecting a visit by STB include ZenithOptimedia, MediaCom, OMD, Mindshare and Starcom, digital agencies Modem and Arc are reported to have made it.
What, however, has become puzzling for agencies is the reason why STB has decided to pay some agencies a visit.
An agency source said, “There are different ways to interpret why STB is paying a visit to certain agencies. One way is to see them as the shortlisted agencies and the other way is to see them as agencies, which have not submitted complete information and the client wants to be reassured on some front.”
In the first stage, the agencies had to take an initial brief to understand STB’s advertising and marketing communications requirements as well as to submit credentials. In the second stage, five agencies are expected to be selected. Three out of these shortlisted agencies are to make it to the final round after a face-to-face meeting with clients, while the final announcement will be made in the second week of March.
R3, a pitch consultancy is managing STB’s global advertising review.
