WPP will Produce its Own TV Dramas

I think this has been inevitable for a while but Sir Martin Sorrell brings it out into the open.

From the Times:

"SIR MARTIN SORRELL, the chief executive of WPP, said that the advertising group is to make its own television dramas across the world so that it can exploit advertising and use the programmes to promote its clients’ goods through product placement and sponsorship."

WPP Press Release:

"GroupM, the ABC Television Network, and Touchstone Television today announced a partnership to produce six-episodes of October Road, a drama script from Scott Rosenberg, Josh Appelbaum, and Andre Nemec, to air on ABC.

The deal marks the evolution of an unprecedented programming partnership that began in 2004 as a venture with ABC and GroupM, the leading media investment management firm.

“GroupM has proven to be an excellent partner in organically connecting creativity with viewers and advertisers,” added Pedowitz. “We were deliberate in choosing October Road for its compelling storyline that will resonate with the audience.”

October Road centers on a young, acclaimed novelist at a crossroads in his life when he returns to his hometown to teach at the local university and face the family and friends he left behind. The series will begin shooting this month as a joint production between Touchstone Television and GroupM Entertainment."

Group M:

"GroupM, the world's leading full-service media investment management operation, was created by WPP to oversee its assets in this sector. These assets include MediaCom Worldwide, Mediaedge:cia Global, Mindshare Worldwide and MAXUS. The focus of GroupM is the intelligent application of volume and scale in trading, innovation and quality of services, in order to bring benefit to clients and the companies it operates."