COI to review £105m media agency roster

The Central Office of Information (COI), one of the UK’s biggest advertisers, is to review its &£105m media planning and buying roster.

It is the first full-scale review for three years. MediaVest handles press and TV work, Carat has radio and Universal McCann holds cinema.

Agencies frozen out in the last COI review – including Zenith Media – are now expected to pitch for a slice of the business.

A COI spokesman confirms a review will begin in six weeks.

High-profile campaigns such as the Department of Health’s anti-smoking drive helped push the Government’s adspend to record levels last year. In the 1998/1999 financial year, it spent &£105.4m – an increase of 79 per cent on the previous year’s &£59m. Some sources expect its spend to fall by up to 15 per cent before the next General Election.

Other media specialists with Government accounts which might be expected to pitch include BJK&E and MindShare.