Arqiva kicks off hunt for ad and media agencies

LONDON - Arqiva is on the hunt for media and advertising agencies for its upcoming video on demand service SeeSaw.

Arqiva: transmission outfit hunts media and ad agencies
Arqiva: transmission outfit hunts media and ad agencies

The transmission infrastructure company has held the attention of the industry since acquiring the technology originally intended for the defunct Project Kangaroo in July from shareholders ITV, BBC Worldwide and Channel 4.

The agency search is being led by Maya Bhose, the current head of brand marketing at Arqiva, who is set to become SeeSaw's new marketing director.

The multi-million pound brief for the media planning and buying business suggests there are optimistic plans to launch its first campaign before the end of the year.

A number of agencies have expressed an interest in the business and Bhose is believed to be looking to make a fast-track appointment within the next two weeks.

WPP's Mediaedge:cia has not been invited to compete for the new business, despite being a front-runner for the Project Kangaroo account earlier in the year.

A separate hunt is also believed to be underway for an ad agency to handle the creative.

It marks the latest sign of intent by Arqiva to quickly establish a new digital offering in the market, and follows news that Channel 4's former strategy and distribution manager, Richard Knight is set to become its commercial manager.

Arqiva already provides much of the infrastructure behind the UK's TV, radio and wireless communications, and is understood to have paid in the region of £8m for the assets of Project Kangaroo after it was prevented from launching by the Competition Commission.

Bhose was appointed by Arqiva in September, prior to which she has held marketing positions at a number of broadcasters, including NBC Universal, Sparrowhank Media, UKTV and, most recently, Ravensbeck.

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