UKTV calls tender for media account as it takes creative in-house
UKTV has put a tender out for its eight-figure media planning and buying account, and is set to open its own “full service” in-house creative agency.
UKTV calls media review
Rocket, which has overseen UKTV’s media account since 2008, will be invited to repitch. Pitches will begin from next month, the review led by ISBA and Ebiquity. A final decision will be made by the end of Q2.
"It’s UKTV’s optimism for our continued evolution as a broadcaster and content creator that makes now the right time to reinvent our creative and media approach," said Zoë Clapp, chief marketing and communications officer at UKTV.
The broadcaster, which owns channels Dave and Drama, will also be opening up a full-service creative shop to build on its existing creative team, led by creative director Scott Russell. The company will be hiring senior and junior-level creatives, print, social and motion designers, and campaign and design producers.
It will still work with external agencies for individual or occasional campaigns.
As part of the changes, UKTV will extend its relationship with Soho-based post-production house, The Farm, which runs the post operation for the broadcaster’s creative team.
UKTV joins the likes of Channel 4, ITV and BBC in producing creative in-house as part of the programme-making process: "Broadcasters tend to have full creative capabilities in-house because TV is such an incredibly fast-paced business, and you need to be agile," Clapp said.
"The major thing that will change is our capability to make all kinds of advertising and communications in house, encompassing print, digital, OOH and AV.
"As UKTV grows and matures, and our commitment to original programming develops, full-service in-house creative is the right next step for us," she added.