By SONALI KRISHNA
Indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Months after the loss of Star India's media account to TME, Mindshare has managed to swing the entire Star Network account back into its coffers.

The account size is pegged at Rs 200 million if one takes card rate prices as the currency for calculation.

Although Star India officials, when contacted, declined comment, reliable sources have confirmed the development to Indiantelevision.com. Interestingly, the incumbent TME was appointed as Star India's media agency only in September last year. When Mindshare had earlier lost the media account, Star India officials had stated the reason to be a mis-match of objectives between the two parties.

It is worth noting that the Star Network's entire creative account, with the exception of Star One, is currently handled by O&M (also a WPP group company). The creative duties of Star One are with Lowe.

The next 90 days are crucial at Star as Star Plus' most pivotal property for 2005 KBC II unleashes on 5 August.

Although, it is still unclear as to why the account has actually shifted hands, there is no gainsaying that Mindshare has managed to bag the account at a very strategic point, considering Star's future plans.

While Mindshare and TME, were both tightlipped on the same when questioned, Indiantelevision.com has been given to believe that the transition process from TME to Mindshare is slated to take place over the next 15 days.