BMW Narrows Ad Agency Search to Only Eight Semi-Finalists

Before the Story: Snide's Remarks: Our ad sales team here at The Auto Channel hope that BMW chooses an ad agency that will recognize the importance of you the TACH audience...upscale, well educated, technophiles and all interested in car stuff. For the past 10 years The Auto Channel has not been on a single BMW ad buy...how come? we would like to know too. Let me know what you think, msnide@theautochannel.com.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - August 23, 2005... BMW announced today the selection of eight agencies bidding for its U.S. Lead Brand Agency account.

The agencies were selected from initial RFP responses and are: Anomaly Communications, NYC; Berlin Cameron/Red Cell, NYC; GSD&M, Austin, TX; kirshenbaum bond + partners, NYC; Publicis USA, NYC; The Martin Agency, Richmond VA; Venables, Bell & Partners, San Francisco, CA; and Wieden + Kennedy, Portland OR.

BMW's appointed Lead Brand Agency will manage an ongoing account of approximately $70 million while Publicis NY, Publicis Dallas, and Grey Worldwide, Los Angeles will continue to manage regional marketing accounts totaling approximately $90 million.

The list of eight will be narrowed down in early October 2005 and the final decision will be made the end of the fourth quarter.

No further comment will be made until the finalists have been selected.