• by Tom Siebert , December 22, 2006

Somebody's going to have a very Happy New Year. Unless Wal-Mart changes its mind -- again.

Linda Blakely, a spokesperson for Bentonville's behemoth big-box retailer, Thursday confirmed that the retail giant's $580 million re-staged account review was already hearing presentations from agencies, and is on track finalize and name new media and creative shops by the first week of January.

She would not, however, confirm or deny reports in Advertising Age that Publicis-owned MediaVest has been asked to join the media pitch process. "The marketing department tells me that we're not going to be talking about the review during the process," Blakely said.

If that claim is true, it would suggest the client will likely split the account between a creative agency. The Martin Agency and Ogilvy & Mather are the lone finalists, following the self-removal of incumbent GSD&M and a media shop.

Media agencies in the review include Carat, which originally won the pitch partnered with DraftFCB. That win was rescinded, and the latter agency tossed from the follow-up. Mediaedge:cia is also in contention.

Early in the Wal-Mart review, MediaVest was partnered with another Publicis agency, Saatchi & Saatchi, until the shop won JC Penney's creative business, leaving MediaVest without a creative partner.

Now, all the agencies are pitching separately, sources say, leaving the door open for MediaVest. Representatives for the media company did not return phone calls or emails by press time.