Open shortlists for consumer PR

Interactive digital broadcaster Open, formerly known as British

Interactive Broadcasting (BIB), is reviewing its consumer PR account,

just weeks before launching its first digital package to consumers.

The company is understood to have seen presentations from a longlist of

agencies a few weeks ago and has now selected a shortlist.

The shortlisted agencies are believed to include incumbent agency Bell

Pottinger Good Relations, Countrywide Porter Novelli, Edelman PR

Worldwide and Consolidated Communications.

Bell Pottinger also handles corporate PR and public affairs for the

company, but these are not under review.

Open has been considering reviewing its consumer brief for several

months.

It held preliminary discussions with some agencies last year, but no

conclusion was reached.

The selected agency is expected to report to corporate communications

director Julian Eccles, who joined Open last November. Eccles was

unavailable for comment.

BIB rebranded as Open last November, when it unveiled its consumer

package.

The broadcaster will offer home banking and shopping, entertainment

listings and holiday information via digital satellite TV.