MediaTel Group Hosting ‘Future Of The Media Agency’ Seminar

MediaTel Group is hosting a full morning seminar next month looking at the ‘Future of the Media Agency’, with a £20 discount for those who book their tickets by Friday.

Panellists confirmed for the event so far include Nick Manning, chief operating officer at Ebiquity; Mark Read, strategy director at WPP; and Chris Locke, managing partner at VivaKi. The discussion will be chaired by Torin Douglas, media correspondent for BBC Radio.

Manning was also a panellist at last October’s MediaTel seminar on the ‘Future of the Media Agency’, where he said that according to clients, media agencies have become “much of a muchness”, with the only difference being price.

However, he added that he was confident there were many ways to get out of this particular bind, but “the business at the moment is at a relatively low ebb in the standard media planning and buying arena”. Delegates at the forthcoming seminar will be able to see if his position has changed in the intervening months.

The morning’s first session – focusing on the industry and its structure – will look at how to persuade advertisers to keep spending in tough times; how a client can differentiate between the main agency networks other than on price; whether media agencies are becoming surrounded (Google/direct deals/media auditors); and how the industry can continue to attract the best people.

The first session will also look at what needs to change if media buying margins are to increase, and seek to answer the question: Might media buying become an activity that is being outsourced (or managed offsite) by media buying companies of all sizes in the next five years?

Following a short break, the discussion will then move on to trading and attempt to answer the following questions:

• How do you get the ear of an agency these days?
• Briefs and plans – does anyone have time?
• Is there really any such thing as media neutral?
• How can last minute work for both parties?
• Will trading systems and opportunities systems play a greater role in the future?

The event will take place on Wednesday 15 October, at RBS, 250 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4AA.

More information, including booking details, is on the MediaTel Group seminar site.

MediaTel Group: www.mediatelgroup.co.uk