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Kellogg’s Special K to JWT, Omnicom bats against client payment terms and still has to resolve C5 stand-off

*Leo Burnett in the States has lost Special K in the US to JWT, which will please people at WPP Towers in London’s Mayfair, already gung-ho following a triumphant WPP performance at Cannes.

Kellogg’s’ Special K is one of those brands like Ab-InBev’s Bud Light – just departed BBDO for Wieden+Kennedy – on a slippery slope as consumers, finally, wake up to the fact that they can get ‘slimmer’ foods and, certainly, better beer elsewhere.
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Don Draper might have fixed the problem, it’s a bit harder for JWT and W+K.

*I’m very intrigued by Omnicom’s financial doings.

On one front it seems to be saying to clients: fuck off if you want pay us in 90 days. This seems to be an issue in AMV BBDO’s resignation of the Heinz account (Warren Buffett-owned Heinz now wants to pay in 97 days) while adam&eveDDB has decided not to pursue Sony Mobile, ostensibly because the marketing has moved to Japan but new payment terms might have something to do with it. Sony really ought to get its act together: great brands, great technology but it’s a mess.

Any serious company would pay in 60 days max.

*Meanwhile, back in the UK, there still seems to be no resolution to Omnicom’s stand-off with Channel 5 which has resulted in the removal of about £60m of advertising. This has all gone to ITV and Channel 4, much more expensive than 5 (now owned by a very pissed-off Viacom).

My spies tell me that this is the consequence of some disastrous bets made by Omnicom’s UK media operation, promising clients certain results from advertising on ITV in return for a very small amount of money. As it turned out ITV over-delivered (you pay according to the ratings it achieves), leaving Omnicom owing ITV £20m.

Well who knows? It’s a funny way to do business though – as those Omnicom media clients who are on ITV when they’d sooner be on Channel 5 are doubtless reminding themselves.

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