The MadTech Podcast

Today's MadTech Daily discusses Larry Ellison giving his personal backing to Paramount's hostile bid for Warner Bros Discovery, Instacart deciding to terminate price tests on its platform following pushback from customers, as well as Netflix's latest moves in the video podcast space.

Today's MadTech Daily covers Google suing SerpApi over its web scraping activity, ByteDance boosting benefits for staff to attract and retain top AI talent around the globe, plus Facebook carrying out a test which limits the number of links creators and businesses can post on the platform. 

In this special episode of the MadTech podcast, ExchangeWire's head of content John Still is joined by CEO Rachel Smith, COO Lindsay Rowntree, and co-founder & advisor Ciaran O'Kane to share their big industry predictions for the year ahead. They look at the impact of AI search on brands and publishers, how the Omnicom-IPG deal will change the global agency landscape, and a reframing of ad tech amid the contraction of the open web. 0:00 Introduction 1:52 Rachel: “Publishers become brands, brands become publishers” 20:10 Lindsay: “Agencies” 29:54 Ciaran: “A reframing of ad tech”

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover DoorDash partnering with OpenAI to enable grocery ordering in ChatGPT, the WBD board rejecting Paramount's offer, and the FTC probing Instacart's Eversight dynamic pricing algorithm.

In today's Digest, we cover Amazon in talks to invest over USD$10bn in OpenAI, and OpenAI hiring George Osborne to lead its global ‘Stargate' expansion. We also discuss the Trump administration threatening Spotify over EU tech rules, and an IAB report highlighting how digital ads shape today's media.

In today's Digest, we cover Meta tolerating China-linked ad fraud to protect revenue, the US suspending a tech deal with the UK amid trade frustrations, and AI becoming Santa's helper for 2025 Christmas shopping.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover BBC Studios accelerating digital growth in EMEA, Reddit challenging Australia's under-16 social media ban in court, and Amazon planning to invest over USD$35bn in India's AI sector.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover YouTube TV launching genre-based plans, expanding its sports streaming push, and increasing ads on Shorts. We also cover Pinterest buying tvScientific to expand performance ads to CTV, and Meta reportedly using Alibaba's Qwen in its ‘Avocado' model.

In this episode of the MadTech podcast, ExchangeWire co-founder & advisor Ciaran O'Kane and head of content John Still join head of marketing Grainne Reid to look at pivotal changes across media consolidation and transatlantic policy tensions.  They discuss Paramount's move to gazump Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, US backlash against the EU's fine on X, and the EU's investigation into Google's AI overviews.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Disney and OpenAI striking a deal to bring characters to Sora, Google testing AI article overviews on certain Google News pages, as well as a look at Meta's shift from open-source to revenue-driven AI.

In today's MadTech Daily we look at newly released figures from Ofcom, Tencent dropping out of Paramount's Warner Bros bid over US regulatory fears, and Cadent acquiring YouTube ad firm VuePlanner.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Google denying a 2026 ads plan for Gemini, the EU probing Google's AI search summaries, and Uber turning rider and delivery data into ad insights.

In today's Digest, we cover Paramount's late bid for Warner, Meta securing a series of AI content deals, and China's open-source AI reaching 30% of global usage.

In today's MadTech Daily, we discuss Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, X being hit with a €120m EU penalty, and the UK eyeing tougher laws for AI chatbots.

In this episode of the MadTech Podcast, Shula Sinclair, chief strategy officer at T&P, joins ExchangeWire editor Aimee Newell Tarín and head of content John Still to discuss the latest surrounding Meta's fraudulent ads, AI sending traffic and conversions soaring for retailers, and the influencer landscape. They look at a complaint launched by Swedish publishers against Meta, how AI is reshaping consumer habits, and influencer content's increasing popularity with older viewers.

 In today's MadTech Daily, we look at global ad spend set to top USD$1tn in 2026, WPP being demoted from the FTSE 100, and the EU probing Meta's AI use in WhatsApp.

On today's MadTech Daily, we cover Anthropic hiring IPO counsel in its race against OpenAI, Mistral unveiling new AI models, as well as Sam Altaman declaring ‘code red'. We also discuss Google testing AI overviews blended with AI mode, and Eventbrite being acquired by Bending Spoons. 

In today's MadTech Daily, we look at Omnicom announcing a major overhaul with new leadership and job cuts, Havas buying Unnest to boost data services, and retailers seeing an 830% jump in traffic from generative AI.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover publishers taking legal action against Meta over its serving of scam ads as well as the impact of this year's Black Friday, with record online sales in the US while UK high streets saw slowing traffic. Plus Ad Net Zero celebrating five years and unveiling its global strategy.

In today's MadTech Daily, we discuss the out-of-home advertising (OOH) industry reporting 4.4% growth in Q3, Australia making streamer content quotas law, and China's AI governance framework winning backing from researchers at DeepSeek and Alibaba.

In this episode of the MadTech podcast, Anna Bager, CEO of the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA), joins ExchangeWire head of marketing Grainne Reid and COO Lindsay Rowntree to discuss key shifts in programmatic out-of-home and industry consolidation. They look at the OAAA's Programmatic OOH Transparency Pledge, the growth of the global out-of-home advertising market, and the European Commission's unconditional approval of the Omnicon-IPG acquisition.

In today's MadTech Daily, we look at the European Parliament urging a social media ban for under-16s, the Observer debuting a new digital subscription service, and news ad performance leading the industry.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Walmart exploring ads for its Sparky AI shopping agent, Warner Music Group settling with an AI music firm and launching a joint venture, and YouTube trialing new feed control features.

In today's MadTech Daily, we look at US senators pushing a probe into Facebook and Instagram scam ads, ChatGPT adding a new shopping research tool, and Alibaba topping revenue forecasts driven by instant retail and AI.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover the EU greenlighting Omnicom's IPG acquisition without conditions, YouTube usage reaching 84% of adults, and Alibaba's Qwen topping 10 million downloads.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Warner Bros. Discovery drawing bids from Paramount, Comcast, and Netflix, UK Champions League rights targeted by Paramount, as well as Google fighting an ad business breakup. We also discuss ChatGPT Rolling out Group Chats worldwide

In this episode of the MadTech Podcast, Nicole Pruess, freelance presenter and educator at U of Digital, joins ExchangeWire editor Aimee Newell Tarín and COO Lindsay Rowntree.  They discuss Meta profiting from fraudulent ads on its platforms, TikTok's and Netflix's podcasting push, and transparency in CTV advertising.

In today's MadTech Daily we cover Perplexity launching a tool to simplify online shopping, a Spanish court ordering Meta to pay $550m to digital media firms, and new EU probes into Meta.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover shifts for advertisers in 2026 media budgets, ChatGPT offering target shopping via OpenAI, and OpenAI striking a deal with Intuit for personal finance integration. We also discuss Meta being cleared of monopoly claims over Instagram and WhatsApp.

In today's MadTech Daily, we look at Channel 4 launching an AI ad tool for SMEs, Jack Dorsey backing diVine, a Vine reboot featuring its video archive, as well as Jeff Bezos becoming co-CEO of Project Prometheus.

In today's Digest, we look at Havas entering talks over a potential WPP stake, Dentsu accelerating its global restructuring amid revenue declines, and a German court ordering Google to pay €572m in a price-comparison case.

In today's MadTech Daily, we discuss the IAB launching a faster ad auction protocol, NBCUniversal preparing to debut its new NBC Sports Network, and Alibaba rolling out an AI tool to streamline sourcing.

On this week's podcast, Samara Hocihara of the Telegraph joins John Still and Rachel Smith to discuss AI litigation, Reddit's big moment and the new Browser Wars. *Check out the winners from The Wires Awards 2025*

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover the EU planning a new probe into Google over news rankings, Tencent's profit jumping 19% on AI gains, and 58% of UK households holding fewer than three streaming services.

In this special episode of the MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire CEO Rachel Smith is joined by Bastiaan Spaans, Chief Commercial Officer at digitalAudience, and Remco Steen, Manager of Advertising Technology at Mediahuis Netherlands, to discuss their companies' latest partnership. They look at data distribution and collaboration between publishers, brands, and agencies, tools like data clean rooms, and how publishers are experimenting with their monetisation strategy. 

In today's MadTech Daily, we look at the latest announcements from ITV's Palooza event, Reddit reeling in advertisers with the launch of a new ad format, plus Microsoft making its behavioural analytics tool mandatory for publishers.  

In this special episode of the MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire's head of content John Still is joined by Nikki Bhargava, partner at Reed Smith LLP, to discuss the convergence between privacy and ad tech in the US. They look at the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the AB566 bill recently signed by governor Gavin Newsom, and what the implementation of opt-out preference signals might look like for both businesses and consumers.

In today's MadTech Daily, we look at Trump threatening a USD$1bn lawsuit against the BBC over the editing of a Panorama broadcast, TikTok and iHeartMedia launching a podcast network to tap the creator economy, and Netflix eyeing original video podcasts. We also discuss Wikipedia urging AI developers to use its content responsibly.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Amazon expanding its global reach with a low-cost Bazaar app, OpenAI proposing teen safety standards amid rising scrutiny, and the Daily Mail seeing its traffic disrupted. 

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Comcast looking to buy ITV's broadcast arm for £2bn, Apple nearing a USD$1bn deal to power a Siri overhaul with Google's Gemini AI, and the EU weakening its landmark AI Act amid Big Tech pressure.

In this MadTech Podcast team episode, ExchangeWire editor Aimee Newell Tarín is joined by co-founder & CEO Rachel Smith and COO Lindsay Rowntree. They look at UK broadcasters' appeal to the government to stamp out big tech's anticompetitive practices, WPP's partnership with analytics firm Sightly, and the DSP wars between Amazon, Google, and The Trade Desk. They also discuss AI regulation in journalism and publishing, the modularisation of ad tech, and parallels between the DSP wars and the Chinese economy.

In today's MadTech Daily, we discuss documents revealing Meta's profits from scam ads, Netflix entering its third year of ads with an eye on the future, and Snap soars surging after a USD$400m Perplexity AI deal.

Today, we look at Amazon suing Perplexity over its AI shopping assistant, Epic and Google settling their lawsuit, and People Inc. signing an AI deal with Microsoft. 

In today's MadTech Daily, Dot discusses Amazon Ads expanding its sports streaming inventory, Getty and Perplexity inking a multi-year deal to power AI search visuals, as well as Sky, BBC, and ITN urging a crackdown on Big Tech.

In today's MadTech Daily, we discuss tech giants stepping up efforts to fix AI security flaws; Alibaba investing USD$281m to expand Taobao stores; and the global TV and video market on track to hit USD$1tn by 2030.

In today's MadTech Daily, look at Netflix eyeing a Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition, the IAB unveiling a framework to standardise conversion APIs for CTV, and ABC and ESPN being pulled from YouTube TV ahead of their deal expiry.

In this MadTech Podcast team episode, ExchangeWire head of marketing Grainne Reid is joined by head of content John Still and COO Lindsay Rowntree. They look at Apple Maps moving towards ad monetisation, Comcast making their linear TV inventory available programmatically for advertisers, and the launch of the new Ad Context Protocol (AdCP). They discuss Apple's and Google's relationships with long tail businesses, the state of the TV landscape for media buyers, and the adoption of ad tech industry standards.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover Bending Spoons acquiring AOL for $1.5bn, WPP's new CEO issuing a profit warning, and Meta's ad revenue jumping 26% in Q3. 

In today's Digest, we cover the latest ad spend forecast from the AA and WARC, Publicis buying HEPMIL Media Group to boost its influencer marketing in Southeast Asia, and US senators pushing to ban teen use of AI chatbots.

In today's MadTech Daily: ChatGPT adds a PayPal wallet, Musk launches an AI encyclopedia, plus StarHub and Mediacorp team up to enhance the viewing experience for customers in Singapore

In today's MadTech Daily, we discuss Apple planning ads for Maps, X losing its advertising boss, and the EU's preliminary findings that Meta and TikTok broke transparency obligations.