Media Insight retains Telewest 6m account

Cable and telephony company Telewest has reappointed incumbent media company Media Insight to its 6m account.

The WPP media agency held on to the account despite competition from MediaVest, Total Media, and fellow WPP agency, MindShare.

Media Insight has held the account for four years. The review is thought to be the first marketing move by new chief executive Tony Illsley, who announced he would leave his role as president of Walkers Snack Foods to join the company last August. Illsley replaced Stephen Davidson, who stood down as chief executive last April.

Agency sources close to the review say that Illsley wanted to ascertain whether Media Insight would have the planning and buying strategies in place when the company launches its digital service later this year. It has set a date for the launch.

Telewest marketing director, Linda Whittingham, reviewed the agencies with Illsley. Telewest’s creative account is handled by TBWA GGT Simons Palmer, and is not thought to be affected by the review.

Last April, Telewest bought rival cable company General Cable for 649m, giving the company access to a total of 5.8 million homes.