Universal Studios in pre-split media hunt

Universal Studios is looking for an agency to handle its media planning and buying in the UK after the break-up of United International Pictures (UIP) next year. The changes will see Universal and Paramount split into individual companies.

UIP incumbent ZenithOptimedia will retain the Paramount business, which is understood to be worth about &£25m, and will be blocked from pitching for the Universal account, thought to be worth up to &£15m.

Universal and Paramount are separate companies: Universal is part of Universal NBC and Paramount is owned by Viacom, but they currently distribute in the UK under UIP, which will cease to exist next January.

UIP announced last September that it was breaking up the joint film distribution partnership into separate international distribution networks. The UIP brand will continue to manage all countries outside North America that are not covered individually by Paramount and Universal.

Billetts is understood to be handling the review and MediaCom, which already handles the Universal Pictures Home Entertainment account as well as Universal Music Group, is thought likely to pitch for the new Universal Studios account.

⢠Universal Music Group’s media account at MediaCom is not up for review, as reported last week. We apologise for this error.