Concerns about agency transparency remain at the forefront of advertiser thinking according to a new survey conducted by the World Federation of Advertisers and the Festival of Media. The issue of transparency in media trading will feature strongly on the agenda at the Festival of Media in Switzerland with WFA members from Heineken and MasterCard debating the subject on Tuesday 17 April.

The first comprehensive look at both agency and advertiser attitudes to transparency shows the issue continues to prove divisive in key areas. Based on 70 responses from multinational advertisers and senior global representatives from media agencies, the results indicate some areas of agreement as well as signs of a clear disconnect.

Key findings:

- Advertisers are wary about some of the new ways of trading being developed for digital platforms. 84% agreed with the statement that: “Agency trading desks are a threat to transparency.” 91% of agencies disagreed.
- Both parties agreed overwhelmingly that advertisers have the right to know the actual costs charged by any media owner to any third party acting on their behalf. All advertisers and 91% of agencies agreed with this statement.
- Both agencies and advertisers are equally split as to whether auditors overstate the issue of transparency, with 55% and 53% respectively agreeing with this statement.
- Both agencies and advertisers agree that procurement helps improve transparency in media buying but while 91% of advertisers agree, just 64% of agencies agree.
- More than three-quarters of advertisers also cited media rebates as the biggest stumbling block to full transparency when asked “what is the biggest issue in the media transparency debate today?” The vast majority of clients feel that 100% of any rebate should be passed on to the advertiser.

Will DSPs encourage you to:

Said Stephan Loerke, WFA Managing Director, comments: “Advertisers want improved transparency both in existing areas of media buying and also in the new digital tools and platforms being established. There is common ground in this area and we want to establish a dialogue with agencies and media owners to address this important issue. If we can resolve these issues than it will make it much easier for agencies and advertisers to work harmoniously together for mutual benefit.”

Festival Founder and CEO of C Squared Charlie Crowe adds: “It might seem odd to many of us that transparency is still such a huge issue between advertisers and their agencies. Media has enormous value-adding capability and our Festival of Media Awards show how the fusion of great ideas and new technologies is resulting in the reformation of advertising into one of the most exciting industries in the global economy today. And yet it seems that this nettle has not been grabbed. It’s the role of the Festival of Media – and its variants across the world – to bring all the parties together in order to find a path forward that works for everyone. I hope The Festival can help the WFA in achieving this goal.”

The WFA transparency debate, involving members from Heineken and Mastercard, is taking place at the Festival of Media Global in Montreux, Switzerland from 15th to 17th April. The WFA will also be highlighting the issue of transparency and rebates as part of its Asia-Pacific Media and Marketing Network meeting in Singapore on April 25.