PHD Surfaces in $300-480 Mil. Paramount Media Review

LOS ANGELES Omnicom Group’s PHD has emerged as the fourth contender in the review for Paramount Pictures’ $300-480 million media planning and buying account, sources said.

New York-based PHD joins Interpublic Group’s Initiative, WPP Group’s Mediaedge:cia and incumbent Publicis Groupe’s MediaVest, all New York, in the contest [Adweek Online, Sept. 22].

Paramount worldwide president of motion picture marketing Gerry Rich is the former marketing head of MGM, whose $180 million-plus media account is handled by PHD sister network OMD and before that, creative sibling BBDO, which won the business in 1997.