Five of Australia’s six media agency groups condemn plan to charge fees to facilitate client relationships

Five of Australia’s six major media buying groups have condemned the idea of asking media companies to pay for help building closer relationships with advertisers.

The statements, condemning the proposed practice, were shared after Mumbrella reported the existence of the document, which was circulated to more than a dozen media companies.  It was sent to a suite of traditional and digital media players allegedly offering them the chance to get closer to clients in exchange for a fee.

The initiative is seen as an unusual one within the industry in the context of the traditional three-way relationship between advertiser, the media agency acting on its behalf and the media company, and the questions of potential conflict of interest which arise.

The letter also detailed a menu of other consultancy services. These included facilitating sessions which would put media owners in a room with clients and agency execs in exchange for a fee. The price for that service is allegedly determined by how many of the group’s clients media owners chose to see. One proposed fee was $150,000 to set up four client meetings.

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