hotline

A DirecTV Reviews $65-70 Mil. Account
LOS ANGELES–Direct-broadcast satellite service DirecTV has put its $65-70 million ad account in review, sources said. Select Resources International will assist the Los Angeles-based client, a division of General Motors’ Hughes Electronics, with the search. Campbell-Ewald, Los Angeles, handles creative; Direct Partners, San Francisco, has the media assignment.
A TheStreet.com Plans Relaunch, Seeks Shop
NEW YORK–TheStreet.com is talking to 10 agencies, most of them in New York, for its estimated $10-15 million account, sources said. The New York-based client parted ways several months ago with Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners. The financial news and services Web site is moving from subscription-based access to “a free hub.”
A Grey May Tap London’s Blamer for N.Y. Office
NEW YORK–Steve Blamer, CEO of Grey Advertising’s London office, may be moving to New York to take a senior management position at the headquarter office, sources said. An agency representative would neither confirm nor deny it, but sources said the move could come as soon as Blamer’s replacement in London is selected by Grey president, chairman and CEO Ed Meyer. “It could happen within the next few months,” a source said.
A KB&P Wins Tommy Hilfiger Fragrance Duties
NEW YORK–Tommy Hilfiger Toiletries, a division of Aramis, has awarded creative duties on its fragrance line to Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners, here, an account with billings estimated at $20 million. The line, which includes “Tommy,” “Tommy Girl” and “Freedom,” was handled by AG Worldwide, here. KB&P already handled ad duties on seven categories of Tommy Hilfiger brands.
A IPG Acquires Daiko Stake; Seeks Lowe Partnership
NEW YORK–Interpublic Group of Cos. is taking a minority stake in Japanese agency Daiko Advertising, with plans to forge an alliance with IPG’s Lowe Lintas & Partners Wordwide. IPG will acquire up to 20 percent in Daiko, which claims billings of $1.5 billion and clients such as Panasonic and Japan Tobacco. Daiko recently divested itself from a 36-year-old joint venture with Grey Advertising.
A Account Activity
TBWA/GGT in London has been appointed the agency for the Labour Party after a strategic-only pitch that included J. Walter Thompson and Saatchi & Saatchi, sources said. … Saatchi & Saatchi has withdrawn from the U.S. Army’s review for its $115 million account and was replaced by Ogilvy & Mather, New York. Other contenders are The Martin Agency, Richmond, Va.; Arnold Communications, Boston; Campbell-Ewald, Warren, Mich.; DDB and Leo Burnett, both Chicago; and McCann-Erickson, New York. New York incumbent Young & Rubicam declined to defend. … Four New York agencies remain in the hunt for creative duties on Pfizer’s Zoloft: Deutsch, FCB Worldwide, Young & Rubicam and Merkley Newman Harty, sources said. Four other agencies, including J. Walter Thompson and D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles, were cut last week, sources said. Final pitches are scheduled for early May. The new, direct-to-consumer assignment is worth $50 million in billings.