TV buying admin process faster than ever, say media agencies, thanks to CARIA® Link

- Pilot scheme with Mediaocean a resounding success: Link now available to all UK media agencies

LONDON, May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearcast and IMD have completed a six-month pilot scheme with Mediaocean to transfer complex TV campaign media data quickly and accurately from CARIA® to agency workflow systems with minimal manual effort.

During the pilot of CARIA® Agency Link, participating agencies processed more than 240 million pounds Sterling of TV advertising budgets and experienced significant time savings.

Alex While, broadcast manager, Universal McCann, says: "The new Link delivers a much more efficient way of setting up and administering campaigns, saving us time in the process. Definite progress."

Peter King, TV research manager, OMD, adds: "What used to take buyers a whole day now takes just 40 minutes." At ZenithOptimedia, trading director Yatin Patel endorses this view: "The Link between CARIA® and Mediaocean reduces the time our people spend on admin so they can focus on buying."

CARIA® connects agencies and sales houses online for the exchange of vital data. Mediaocean operates the market-leading agency workflow system. CARIA® Agency Link, funded and overseen by Clearcast, eliminates much of the administration and risk of error for agency TV buyers maintaining data across the two systems.

James Morgan-Yates, CTO, Clearcast, says: "Pilot users have demonstrated that CARIA® Agency Link is a resounding success and we're excited to offer this new service to the industry."

"I'm delighted that this integration is saving our agency clients so much time and is delivering tangible value," comments Liam Plowman, media director, Mediaocean.

Dan Shawcross, client services director, IMD, adds: "The results speak for themselves. We're pleased to deliver something so beneficial to the market."

With the pilot now completed, CARIA® Agency Link is being made more widely available in the UK. Media agencies and system providers should contact Clearcast at james.morgan-yates@clearcast.co.uk.

About Clearcast

Clearcast was founded in 2008 by Britain's eight largest commercial broadcasters to simplify the process of getting advertising to air. Incorporating the BACC, it builds on over 50 years of experience of being a partner in the creative process for TV advertising. The service Clearcast provides is based on its core strengths:

• Compliance: 50 years of expertise ensuring that television advertising complies with BCAP codes.
• Advertising processes: uniquely positioned to streamline the advertising copy chain to the benefit of everyone who advertises on TV and wider audiovisual media.
• Metadata: Clearcast holds a range of metadata related to ads ranging from artists and music featured to advertising restrictions.

For more info visit clearcast.co.uk, call Ellie Bonnet on +020-7339-4700 or email press.enquiries@clearcast.co.uk.

About IMD

IMD supports many of the world's top creative advertising and media agencies, post production houses, broadcasters, advertisers and digital media companies, with digital media logistics services that have transformed the way that they work.

IMD is at the forefront of a structural change that is taking place in the media logistics sector, as the industry migrates to organised, online, digital delivery of content and data away from traditional methods such as tapes, couriers, emails and faxes. IMD has pioneered the introduction of these services in major European markets, improving efficiency and reducing costs. Global coverage is offered through IMD's Global Media Network of partners and IMD is continually expanding its own in-market coverage.

About Mediaocean

Mediaocean gives the advertising industry power over technology in a changing landscape. Its mission is to empower buyers and sellers to configure any set of third-party technology tools into the precise stack of solutions they need.

From its offices in North America, Europe and Asia, Mediaocean partners with the world's most successful advertising agencies, media specialists, media owners, advertisers, publishers, PR firms and direct response agencies, helping them navigate the rapidly-changing world of marketing communications.

For more information visit mediaocean.com or email lplowman@mediaocean.com.