Gte Talks With Ogilvy, Temerlin About $30 Mil. Direct Assignment

DALLAS – GTE Corp.’s Network Services division in Irving, Texas, is reviewing roster and nonroster agencies for a direct marketing contract estimated at $30 million by insiders.
Glen Gilbert, vice president of advertising and social responsibility for GTE Corp., said the company has met with its lead agency, Ogilvy & Mather, New York; Temerlin McClain, Irving, Texas; and other shops. Temerlin develops ads for GTE’s Internet service and retail stores, along with other assignments.
GTE Network Services encompasses all of the company’s wire-line telephone operations, which serve more than 21 million customers.
Gilbert would not confirm spending or additional contenders, but sources said McCann-Erickson Relationship Marketing in New York and the Irving office of Rapp Collins Worldwide were also contacted.
Executives at all four agencies either had not returned calls at press time or declined to comment.
Ogilvy has been handling direct marketing chores on a project basis since it acquired GTE’s $100 million main...