O&M faces £30m Disney challenge
Euro Disney, which operates the Disneyland Paris theme park, is to review its $50m (£31m) advertising account held by Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide in Paris.
The review will begin when the present contract expires. A Disneyland Paris spokeswoman says: “A decision will be made at the end of June.”
The winning agency will land a significantly enlarged account. Disney is to spend $640m (£397.5m) launching a second theme park, with the working title Disney Studios, in 2002. It will focus on film and TV production, and be sited next to Disneyland Paris.
To appeal to French sensitivities, Disney says it will celebrate Europe’s, as well as Hollywood’s, contribution to cinema and TV.
The second-phase park in Marne-la-Vallée has been planned since Walt Disney signed its original agreement with the French government in 1987. However, the losses Disneyland Paris made after opening in 1992 effectively put it on hold.
Disneyland Paris is now making a £20m a year profit.
