BBC Sppoints Proximity to Deliver TV Licensing Direct Marketing

Proximity London has been appointed – subject to contract – to a new BBC contract to handle TV Licensing's direct marketing, printing and fulfilment services for the next five years.

The contract will apply to the main direct marketing activity conducted by TV Licensing, including reminder letters and licence distribution.

It also includes fulfilment of digital communications, which are increasingly used to help lower the cost of collection.

The re-appointment concludes a rigorous procurement process started in May 2009.

Peter Kirk, Head of Sales and Marketing for TV Licensing at the BBC, said: "We are pleased to be able to reappoint Proximity to handle this large and complex contract, which will save the BBC £20m over the five-year term.

"During the course of a very thorough bid process, the team demonstrated best practice quality control processes and a high standard of value for the licence payer."

Mike Dodds, Chief Executive of Proximity, said: "We are delighted to have been re-awarded this prestigious contract.

"We've worked hard over the past year to demonstrate our commitment to best practice quality control and we are looking forward to delivering an even better and more cost effective service than before to the BBC and licence payers."

Proximity, which bid with Orchestra Group Ltd as their print services provider, will continue to work alongside a number of agencies contracted by the BBC to deliver integrated communications services for TV Licensing.

These include AMV BBDO Ltd (advertising), Fishburn Hedges Boys Williams Ltd (public relations) and PHD Ltd (media planning).