Headline Media, the longtime sports media agency, is on the verge of being acquired by ICM, two sources told The Big Lead.
Talks between the two companies began in earnest in early February, and have ramped up this week. A partnership between Headline Media – which represents the likes of ESPN’s Mike Golic, Stephen A. Smith (non-broadcast work with WME) and Chris Berman – and ICM would close the gap for 3rd place in the sports media agency pecking order.
Michael Glanz, co-President of Headline media, told The Big Lead this week, “there is no deal between Lou [Oppenheim] and I and ICM. We have an arrangement with one of our clients – Meredith Viera – and ICM, but that’s it.”
Chris Silbermann of ICM had no comment. As has been detailed elsewhere, ICM is in rebuilding mode after some turbulent years. The partnership makes sense for both shops, as Headline Media has lost sports media clients such as Jemele Hill, Darren Rovell, Maria Taylor and Holly Sonders in recent years.
In January 2014, UTA acquired Bienstock. After that, WME (William Morris Endeavor) merged with IMG, triggering something of a sports media arms race between the agencies.
from The Big Lead http://ift.tt/1TDNDFO
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