The MadTech Podcast

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover a new study finding AI is accelerating the collapse of Google Search referral traffic, the EU fining AliExpress €550m over failures to police illegal and counterfeit products, and Beehiiv launching Community and AI Copilot as it expands beyond newsletters.

In today's Digest, we discuss Stagwell bringing ad inventory curation in-house with a new AI platform, the EU forcing Google to open Android AI and Search to rivals under the Digital Markets Act, and Chinese AI lab Moonshot narrowing the gap with leading US frontier models. 

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Uber and Delivery Hero joining forces, Stripe and Advent launching a $53bn bid for PayPal, and DoorDash integrating with Shopify.

On this week's MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire COO Lindsay Rowntree and CEO Rachel Smith join John Still to discuss Netflix's short-form ambitions, Sky's purchase of ITV and what went down at ATS Singapore...Netflix Strikes Short-Form Video Deals with Major Publishers (Straits Times)Netflix has signed licensing deals with Penske Media, BuzzFeed Studios, Condé Nast, Hearst and People Inc. for short-form video (2–20+ minutes), launching August 3 across the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. They define short-form as 2-20 mins, and this move comes on the back of YouTube overtaking Netflix in daily viewing time and TikTok closing the gap…ITV Sells Media & Entertainment Arm to Comcast's Sky for £1.6bn (Reuters)ITV has agreed to sell its broadcast channels and streaming service to Comcast-owned Sky for up to £1.6bn, spinning ITV Studios off separately. The combined Sky/ITV entity would command over 70% of UK TV advertising and aims to compete with global streamers, though regulators may force Sky to give up its third-party ad sales business.ATS Singapore Wrap-UpWe're back from a successful ATS Singapore - we had over 1000 guests present to discuss the issues, challenges and opportunities for our industry…

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover publisher ad supply plunging by as much as 40% as AI search erodes web traffic, Spotify testing a conversational AI chatbot for Premium subscribers, and Shein and DeepSeek advancing their IPO plans.

In today's MadTech Daily, we discuss OpenAI's ad business targets, Disney considering and ad-supported free tier, and much more…

In today's MadTech Daily, we look at Apple suing OpenAI over alleged trade secret theft involving former employees, Microsoft striking a deal with Nine to feature its journalism in Copilot AI results, and Integral Ad Science appointing Lidiane Jones as its new CEO. 

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Brussels ramping up pressure on Meta over its alleged "addictive" platform design, Google expanding AI disclosure rules across Search, YouTube, and Discover ads, and an export control gap that has reportedly allowed OpenAI and Google services to reach blacklisted Chinese firms.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Netflix expanding its short-form video offering through publisher content deals, YouTube becoming the UK's leading podcast platform, and OpenAI launching the GPT-Live-1 voice model for ChatGPT.

It's an exciting MadTech Podcast this week as ExchangeWire's Lindsay Rowntree and John Still are joined in-person by our APAC/MENA Editor Charlotte Mceleny, as they record on location in Singapore. Former WPP China Executive Gets Life Sentence for Advertising Kickbacks Di Fei, former chief investment officer at GroupM's China operations, has been sentenced to life in prison over a bribery scheme in which he and colleagues allegedly received 1.2 billion yuan (~$176 million) in kickbacks between 2019 and 2023. Two colleagues also received lengthy sentences - 14.5 years and four years respectively.Australia's ACCC Sues Amazon Over Unfair Prime Video Ad Contract TermsAustralia's competition regulator, the ACCC, is suing Amazon over unfair contract terms affecting more than one million annual Prime subscribers. It alleges Amazon used five one-sided clauses to introduce ads into Prime Video from mid-2024 without offering refunds, forcing subscribers to pay extra to keep an ad-free service they'd already paid for upfront.Shopee and Meta Launch Instagram Affiliate Partnerships Shopee and Meta have extended their Facebook affiliate program to Instagram, letting eligible creators across Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Brazil tag Shopee products in Reels and Feed posts and earn commissions on completed purchases. The companies are also piloting paid affiliate ads, as Shopee builds out creator-led commerce to counter TikTok Shop's growth.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Netflix expanding its short-form video offering through publisher content deals, YouTube becoming the UK's leading podcast platform, and OpenAI launching the GPT-Live-1 voice model for ChatGPT.

In today's MadTech Daily, we look at Vista and Quinti making a takeover bid for Criteo, LiveRamp launching its first brand campaign following its Publicis deal, and Outvertising searching for a new CEO after Chris Dunne steps down.

In today's MadTech Daily, we discuss Sky agreeing to a £1.6bn deal to acquire ITV's broadcast and streaming business, Uber pausing its European Eats expansion amid its pursuit of Delivery Hero, and Alibaba Cloud capturing 40.1% of China's AI cloud market.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Meta naming a new CMO and its first-ever Chief Data Officer, Australia suing Amazon over Prime Video ads, and OpenAI expanding hiring to develop new AI advertising formats. 

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Sony's plan to end PlayStation disc production in 2028, and Google being ordered to pay Klarna USD$1.5bn (£1.19bn).

In this episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire's head of content, John Still, and COO Lindsay Rowntree discuss Walmart acquiring Vibe.co, AppFlyer's $1B raise, and John's takeaways from Cannes.The first story this week is Walmart's acquisition of Vibe.co to expand access to connected TV advertising. Their conversation looks into the convergence of CTV and retail media, leading up to the retail media panel Lindsay will be moderating at ATS Singapore next Wednesday. The second covers AppFlyer's $1B raise from advertising and technology leaders Moloco, Google, Meta, and Unity.Finally, fresh from sunny Cannes, John shares his anecdotes, insights, and takeaways from the hot conversations that took place on La Croisette...

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Apple and the EU holding talks over Siri's AI rollout, DeepSeek introducing peak-hour API pricing amid China's AI price war, and Amazon reporting that AI-referred purchases have doubled. 

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Shopee and Meta teaming up on Instagram affiliates, the UK regulator targeting Apple and Google's app store payment rules, and TAG demonetising World Cup pirate sites.

In today's Digest, we discuss Sky agreeing to ITV Broadcast Acquisition, a study finding that YouTube creator content is shaping AI assistant answers, and Carat being named Media Network of the Year amid the industry's AI-driven shift

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover the BBC expanding its YouTube strategy with 24-hour news streaming tests, DeepSeek expanding hiring as China's AI talent race intensifies, and Asda teaming up with Amazon in a UK-first retail media and ad tech partnership.

In this special episode of The MadTech Podcast, Terry Kane, managing director at The Trade Desk, joins ExchangeWire CEO Rachel Smith in Cannes to discuss ad tech in the MENA region.MENA's ad tech ecosystem is ascending in maturity. The region's cultural cycles and consumption patterns provide unique growth vectors, with strong momentum in open internet channels, CTV, retail data, telco-enabled identity, and DOOH. Education and local presence are needed to unlock value and shift budgets from walled gardens, while fragmented regulations make identity solutions a priority. Agentic AI is poised to help the region leapfrog stages of digital evolution, redefining discoverability, performance, and the advertising value chain. Over the next 3-5 years, agents will drive omnichannel planning and enable regional brands' global expansion. As consumer discovery shifts to LLMs, prompting becomes a core marketing lever, while backend AI will redefine scale and profitability in programmatic. •••We're delighted to be heading to MENA for our first ever ATS Dubai event in November. If you're interested in commercial opportunities at the event, contact sales@thewirecorp.com.•••0:00 Introduction1:09 MENA ad tech growth & maturity 3:09 Challenges and driving issues in MENA market5:54 MENA cultural approaches and fragmentation9:00 Opportunities for growth across the open internet12:54 MENA activations vs. other regions15:55 Future of MENA advertising & ad tech 20:21 LLMs and changing consumer behaviour

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Albertsons introducing advertising within its AI shopping experience, Forbes testing a creator-led strategy to expand its reach, plus the biggest announcements, deals, and talking points emerging from Cannes.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover AppsFlyer raising USD$1bn with backing from major advertising industry players, plus the biggest announcements, deals, and talking points emerging from Cannes.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover the Latest from Cannes 2026, the podcast industry being worth more than previously estimated, and Channel 4 adding new partners to its ad tech stack. 

In today's MadTech Daily, we look at Penske Media acquiring the Vox Media portfolio in a major publishing deal; Telegram losing its appeal against an app block in India; and the Attorney General ordering a government department off X over disinformation fears. 

In this episode, Ant Hopper of the 99ers sits down with ExchangeWire's Rachel Smith and Grainne Reid to discuss the UK social media ban for under-16s, Google's AI search changes and the data landscape as Accenture buys Whalar

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Ant Group transforming Alipay into an AI-powered platform, Hyundai testing containerised ad tech, and Coupang being hit with a record fine over a massive data breach.

In today's MadTech Daily, we look at Uber expanding its advertising business beyond its own apps, Electronic Arts launching an in-game advertising platform, and Walmart expanding retail media measurement across YouTube campaigns.

In today's MadTech Daily, we discuss Fox agreeing to a USD$22bn Roku Deal to boost streaming, Pinterest adding Amazon storefront links, and e-commerce giant Coupang being fined a record sum over a data breach.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Publicis and TTD settling dispute, The Advertising Association unveiling a new global identity, and Coupang being hit with a record fine over a data breach.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover ChatGPT Ads landing its first Conversion API partner in LiveRamp, Seven's parent company cutting jobs as TV earnings fall, and Amazon DSP integrating Adelaide attention targeting.

In this episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire's head of marketing, Grainne Reid, is joined by COO Lindsay Rowntree and John Still, head of content.The first story this week is MENA becoming the world's fastest-growing digital advertising market. The team discuss the biggest categories in the region and their expectations for future growth. The second covers the CMA imposing new measures on Google search, and whether this affords publishers greater protection in the AI era.Finally, UK ad exports recorded a £19.4bn milestone in 2025. Is the UK proud enough of its advertising industry, and what's being done to further promote it?•••July 8th, Sands Expo & Convention Centre. ATS Singapore 2026. This year marks fifteen years of ExchangeWire bringing together the people who actually run this industry in APAC. We've got some great speakers lined up, including Index Exchange CEO Andrew Casale, on stage in conversation with Ciaran O'Kane.That's before you factor in the rest of the people on stage and in the room: senior buyers, sellers, traders, and decision-makers. This is where the industry figures out what it's going to do next, and you need to be in the room.Secure your ticket now → https://events.exchangewire.com/ATSSingapore2026 •••0:00 Introduction0:53 MENA digital advertising spend hits $8.185bn6:35 Maturity of MENA ecosystem vs. other markets9:05 CMA imposes conduct requirement on Google18:16 Is Google being made an example of?21:08 ATS Singapore 2026 speaker lineup22:58 UK ad exports hit £19.4bn

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Netflix bringing Upfronts to the UK for the first time, Brussels forcing Meta to allow rival AI services on WhatsApp, and Italy's Bending Spoons filing for a US IPO.

In today's MadTech Daily, we look at MENA becoming the fastest-growing advertising market, Whalar joining Accenture in an acquisition deal, and VCCP unveiling a new retail media offering alongside an ECD appointment.

In today's MadTech Daily, we discuss Portugal fining telecoms companies over ad collusion, The Trade Desk's CRO stepping down after seven months, and software buyouts falling to pandemic-era lows amid an AI-driven market rout

In today's Digest, we cover Google introducing Search Profiles in Discover, Roblox expanding ads to children under 13, and Singtel securing AI funding through a partnership deal in Singapore. 

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover the SPUR Coalition welcoming 30 new members at the World News Media Congress, and Peer39 strengthening its verification offering through a deal with Adloox, and Malaysia's under-16 social media ban taking effect on 1st June.

Is the industry sleepwalking into a creative quality crisis? Why are we still building retail media on first-wave infrastructure? Are marketers ready to adopt audio as a full funnel channel?This week, we're handing the mic over to our audience for another mailbag special. We've gathered burning questions from across the ad tech landscape and put them to our team, who'll dive in and answer as best they can… In this episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire's head of content, John Still, is joined by CEO Rachel Smith and COO Lindsay Rowntree to discuss generative AI content, retail media, and audio. The conversation explores if AI is doing more harm than good to public perceptions of advertising, the pace of retail media's evolution, and measurement challenges with audio channels.Thank you to DAIVID's Barney Worfolk-Smith, VML's Kiessé Lamour, and Audion's Kamel El Hadef for this month's questions!Got a burning question for the ExchangeWire team? Send your questions over to us and we'll answer in our next monthly mailbag special...0:00 Introduction0:47 Is the industry sleepwalking into a creative quality crisis?20:46 Why are we still building retail media on first-wave infrastructure?33:53 Are marketers ready to adopt audio as a full funnel channel?

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Google coming under UK scrutiny over its use of publisher content in AI products, InMobi and Scope3 launching an autonomous media buying agent, and DeepSeek nearing a $7bn funding round. 

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover UK ad exports reaching £19.4bn, Tencent readying an AI agent for China's most-used app, and Anthropic making its public market debut amid the AI surge. 

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Perplexity facing a CNN lawsuit over a copyright dispute, Amazon launching new bidstream signal tools, and Pichai downplaying fears around ‘Google Zero'. 

In today's Digest, we discuss Walmart teaming up with Yahoo and Magnite on an ad tech overhaul, Meta renewing its funding pledge for the Oversight Board, and Anthropic nearing a USD$1tn valuation ahead of an IPO.

In this special episode of The MadTech Podcast, Dave Barr and Nick Fletcher, co-founders of TruTxt, join ExchangeWire's John Still to discuss localisation and monetisation of international publisher traffic.TruTxt is FirstPartyStudio's first incubation supported by FirstPartyCapital. The AI-powered platform helps publishers grow international audiences, improve engagement, and increase revenue through real-time content translation, localisation, and advertising optimisation infrastructure.Dave and Nick discuss the challenges faced by the publishing industry and the global traffic dilemma. While digital publishers are attracting an increasingly global audience, non-local language traffic is often deprioritised. As content consumption shifts towards multimedia, translation and localisation will unlock more opportunities for publishers to regrow lost traffic and revenue.0:00 Introduction2:51 What are the challenges faced by publishers?6:38 Barriers to monetising international traffic9:03 Revenue and opportunities in content translation 15:32 Applications of content localisation in different sectors17:02 How is AI being used to scale technology?  20:33 AI translation in multimedia and video

In today's Digest, we cover Temu being hit with an EU fine over unsafe product sales, ChatGPT adding cost-per-action advertising, and YouTube rolling out AI content detection and labeling.

In today's Madtech Daily, we cover the Supreme Court rejecting Meta's appeal in an addiction case, Instagram banning betting ads featuring Kane and Haaland, and an IPA report warning that ‘small thinking' is hurting advertising.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover ITN launching YouTube subscriptions for archive content, AI guardrails being removed from Meta and Google's models, and Pope Leo challenging Big Tech in a new AI encyclical.

 In today's MadTech Daily, we look at whether Uber is still keen on Delivery Hero, plus Google's latest commerce move and a new app ahead of the World Cup. 

How much did Publicis acquire LiveRamp for? What percentage of UK digital advertising businesses are using AI? What figure is Meta's ad revenue projected to hit in 2026?In this quiz edition of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire's head of marketing is joined by John Still, head of content, and COO Lindsay Rowntree, with an all-time score of 3-0. The first story this week is Publicis Groupe acquiring data collaboration platform LiveRamp. The team discusses what this means for the industry and the agentic opportunities it presents for the agency holding group. The second explores the pace of AI adoption in digital advertising, and the regulations needed alongside its rapid acceleration. Finally, they examine Meta's ad revenue growth, which is projected to rise in 2026 before slowing in 2027, and the possible reasons behind those figures.*Lindsay was referring to Meta's Advantage+, not Automated+0:00 Introduction1:12 How much did Publicis acquire LiveRamp for?11:06 What percentage of UK digital advertising businesses are using AI?23:25 What figure is Meta's ad revenue projected to hit in 2026?

In today's MadTech Daily, we look at The Telegraph and AMI launching a £1m media fund, and Murdoch acquiring Vox Media, New York Magazine, and a podcast network. 

In today's MadTech Daily, we discuss OpenAI committing USD$234m as Singapore signs new AI deals, Google debuting a new AI model amid pressure from coding rivals, and UK advertising returning to Cannes Lions.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Musk losing the OpenAI trial after a two-hour verdict, Google and Blackstone launching an AI cloud venture, and HBO Max debuting podcast content in Europe.