Vizeum lands £4m Discovery account

by Andrew McCormick, Media Week 18-Mar-08, 11:20

Aegis agency Vizeum has picked up Discovery Networks UK's £4m UK media account from incumbent Starcom.

Vizeum beat Havas agency Arena BLM and Publicis Groupe's Equinox Communications to land the broadcaster's account in a pitch process handled by the AAR. Starcom did not repitch for the business.

The Aegis agency will now work to promote Discovery Network's 11 pay-TV channels that include Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and Discovery Channel HD.

One of Vizeum's first tasks will be to promote new Discovery Channel series Deadliest Catch, which debuts in May.

Vizeum handles media spend for broadcasters Five and Hollywood studio 20th Century Fox, Arena BLM works for Setanta Sport and Pathé, while Equinox runs the media account for MTV Networks Europe.

Vizeum's list of media owner clients is growing fast, with media spend from Fox, Teletext, Five, AOL, Time Out and Discovery Networks all handled by the Aegis agency.

Paul Wilson, vice-president of UK marketing for Discovery Networks, said Vizeum's insight, combined with sector experience, made it stand out during the pitch. Discovery Networks was one of the few clients to hand the shortlisted agencies a pitch fee for their efforts.