• by Wayne Friedman , January 11, 2006

OLN and The Golf Channel, two of Comcast Corp.'s cable networks, will move their collective $25 million in annual media billings to StarLink Worldwide, part of the Starcom MediaVest Group. The decision was made after a competitive review that started in late 2005.

The assignment is part of a roll for Starlink, which has had a strong new business track record, including a number of direct-from-advertiser wins. Starlink, which was established as a unit of SMG expressly to service media for smaller "full-service" agencies looking to outsource media services, also recently retained buying duties for Virgin Atlantic, even though sister Publicis shop Fallon lost the ad account.

StarLink will handle all national and local media strategy and investment for both networks. OLN is looking to become a major player as a cable sports network, and this year, made its first move in airing National Hockey League telecasts.

The network also airs the Tour de France, Boston Marathon, The Americas Cup, and Professional Bull Riders programming. OLN is available in 63.4 million homes. Previously MediaStorm--based in South Norwalk, Conn.--was OLN's media agency.

The Golf Channel is available in more than 90 million homes worldwide. It has been the exclusive home of the Nationwide Tour, European Tour and Canadian Tour. RJ Palmer, New York, had handled the account.