SBC Communications will "hand virtually all of its"
annual $50M in "sports and lifestyle marketing activity to
an outside agency, likely" Dallas-based The Marketing Arm
(TMA), according to sources of Andy Bernstein of the
SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. The deal, which "would cost SBC
several million dollars in fees," would be "one of the
largest pieces of business to go to a sports marketing
agency from a single client," as TMA "would handle virtually
all activity, from contract negotiations to execution." But
SBC spokesperson Larry Solomon said while the company is
"looking at firms to handle our presence marketing and
promotions work, ... no decision has been made." Bernstein
adds that TMA, which was acquired by Omnicom Group last
year, would "share the SBC business" with the Omnicom-owned
promotions agency TLP. SBC, which owns six regional and
wireless telephone companies, holds naming rights to Pac
Bell Park and title sponsorship of the Southwestern Bell
Cotton Bowl. TMA was Ameritech's agency before Ameritech
was acquired by SBC (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/13).
