Twentieth Century Fox is set to award its estimated 拢150 million international planning and buying brief to Vizeum.
The film and home entertainment company, which this week confirmed that Zenith Media had won the 拢350 million US and Australia portion of the account, is said to be in final fee negotiations with the Aegis-owned network over handling the business in Europe, Asia and Latin America.
This is expected to result in the 拢34 million UK account moving from Starcom to Vizeum's London office. An official announcement is anticipated next week.
The appointment means WPP's MindShare network has been knocked out of the process and, despite its initial plans to consolidate global media into one network, Fox has instead opted to appoint two. Sources said Fox's international marketing teams exerted pressure to push for their own favoured option.
Sources close to the process, which was co-ordinated by the US-based company Select Resources International, indicated that Fox is still considering how to allocate online planning and buying and is thinking of making a separate appointment. Its original intention was to consolidate online and offline buying into the same network.
Fox, which has been promoting Rocky Balboa, was behind last year's hits such as Borat and The Devil Wears Prada.
Fox recently strengthened its relationship with the communications agency Ingram, which provides it with global strategy advice. Soon after this announcement, Elizabeth Kesses, a former managing partner at Ingram, joined Twentieth Century Fox as its UK marketing director.
Fox, which has been promoting the launch of its Rocky Balboa blockbuster, was behind last year's hits such as Borat, The History Boys and The Devil Wears Prada.
According to Nielsen Media Research, Fox's film releases division spends 拢22 million in the UK on media and its home entertainment division 拢12 million.