3.5m Teletext tasks up for grabs

Teletext, the on-screen news and information service on ITV and Channel 4, has put its 3.5m media buying and advertising accounts up for review.

The accounts are currently with Optimedia and FCB. The two incumbent agencies are pitching against Manning Gottlieb Media with St Luke’s, Zenith with Bates Dorland, and Ogilvy & Mather with The Network.

Optimedia and FCB were appointed in December 1992 to handle the business in 1993 and have held the accounts since.

Teletext marketing manager Gary Bean says the review marks an intention to check the market. “We’ve been very happy with the two agencies and are simply checking the market before finalising our marketing plans for next year.

“Our intention is to increase our audience and we’ve been working on brand building to do that,” he adds. The text service has used the strapline Teletext – the information channel.

Teletext has been at the centre of an advertising row after the Government and ITV came to blows over a controversial amendment to the Broadcasting Bill.

The amendment would prevent ITV franchise holders from selling any Teletext ad space in their regions effectively giving its operator, Associated Newspapers, a continuation of its monopoly of the TV pages.