MarketingVOX: Globally, Publicis Group's Starcom MediaVest Group will surpass OMD as the top media shop with a projected $25.580 billion in 2006 worldwide media billings; and in the U.S., MindShare, with $11.300 billion in U.S. media billings, will also top OMD (though just barely), according to a revised ranking by Paris-based consulting firm RECMA, reports MediaPost.

Starcom MediaVest Group will be the largest media agency network with a 7.4 percent share of global media planning and buying, according to RECMA; OMD will be second with 7.2 percent; MindShare 6.9 percent, Carat 6.8 percent, and ZenithOptimedia 6.6 percent.

In the U.S., MindShare will barely edge out OMD, taking in $10 million more in projected 2006 billings - $11.300 billion vs. $11.290 billion; both will account for 12.8 percent of RECMA's estimates for U.S. media planning and buying billings.

Starcom is ranked third with a 10.9 percent share; MediaVest is sixth with an 8.3 percent share. Publicis's ZenithOptimedia unit is ranked fourth with 9.8 percent share of 2006 U.S. market; Mediaedge:cia is ranked fifth with 9.0 percent.