CBS's media account, estimated at $130 million, is in review, AdWeek reports (via MediaBuyerPlanner). Aegis Group's Carat is the incumbent and will defend. Los Angeles-based consultancy Opinions, headed by former McCann Erickson and Sony Pictures executive Cheryl Lodinger, will manage the competition. At stake are national advertising planning and buying duties for TV, print, cable, radio, newspaper, magazines and interactive.
Interested parties can contact Lodinger directly at clodinger. The deadline for returning the request for proposal is Jan. 27.
CBS wants the decision to be made by March in time for the upfront selling period and to prepare marketing for the fall 2006-2007 season, MediaPost reports.
The review is due to the split of Viacom and CBS into two companies at the start of the year. CBS added Showtime, the King World and Paramount syndication units, Simon & Schuster Publishing, Paramount theme parks and CBS Digital Media, all of which are part of the review.
