The Media Leader Podcast

Ahead of The Future of Brands on Tuesday, Jack Benjamin is joined by Specsavers head of media, connections planning and insights Ian Maybank to discuss how the retail chain has built a strong brand through media investment.The pair speak about how brands can work to bring creative and media closer together, the importance of consistent brand messaging and humour, and how agency-client relationships have changed and are likely to change in the near future.Maybank also explains why he believes media trading is likely to consolidate, how in-housing has helped Specsavers' creative process and how AI could impact agency remuneration."The bedrock that great work comes from hasn't changed," Maybank says. "It's still built on trust, creativity and having strong relationships and partnerships — even at a time when there's lots of headwinds."Highlights:6:21: How "consistency" of Specsavers' brand platform and humour have led to sustained marketing success10:05: Bringing media and creative closer together16:23: Agency-client relationships: what's changed and what's stayed the same23:02: In-housing and AI28:57: What does an ideal media mix look like in 2025?Related articles:Don't forget retail media's brand-building powerForget the ‘good old days': What Gen Z's financial outlook means for brandsRethinking agency remuneration in 2025 — with MediaSense's Ryan Kangisser---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Social media gets a lot of flak. Its critics accuse platforms of causing massive negative externalities on society – everything from crumbling democracies to mental health crises gets blamed on social media.And “social media” as a term has even become so toxic that social media companies themselves prefer to call themselves anything but “social media”. The tagline to Snapchat's marketing campaign last year was: “Less social media. More Snapchat.” TikTok calls itself an entertainment platform.But does social media need to be this way? Perhaps not.WeAre8 is a challenger platform that wants to prove social media can have a positive social impact. The platform has a unique opt-in advertising experience that enables users to be paid to watch ads, with proceeds optionally donated to charities of their choosing.The startup calls itself “The People's Platform” – but does it have the requisite scale to attract advertisers looking for strong business results and not just a morally driven goal of spending with supposedly nicer players?Laura Chase, WeAre8's UK managing director, joins host Jack Benjamin to explain the app's features, commercial model and how it is working to attract investment from brands."We can fix big problems by watching ads," she says.During the interview, Chase also reveals that WeAre8 is launching a voice note ad product in time for less healthy food ad restrictions.Highlights:5:12: WeAre8's mission to "bring the best of social" while removing "the bad bits"9:34: Scale, product development and brand-safety efforts15:12: WeAre8's opt-in ad model: control, effectiveness and charitable benefits28:44: Supporting publishers and partnering The Independent on Bulletin38:09: Moving beyond algorithmic feedsRelated articles:‘This is for everyone': Tim Berners-Lee is continuing his search for a benign online world‘Positive' platforms improve purchase intent, Pinterest saysThe Fishbowl: Laura Chase, WeAre8---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Alan Rusbridger is one of Britain's most acclaimed journalists. As editor of The Guardian for 20 years, he oversaw the outlet's transition into the digital world and landed a Pulitzer Prize for publishing information leaked by Edward Snowdon about the US National Security Agency.Since 2021, he has worked as editor of Prospect, a leading British current affairs magazine celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Prospect had an exceptional year in 2024, nearly doubling its digital circulation to more than make up for losses in print circulation.Rusbridger joins host Jack Benjamin to discuss what is driving strong growth for Prospect. The pair also weigh up the sustainability of news media business models, the differences between US and British press standards, whether social media platforms provide a net benefit to publishers and what journalism will look like in the age of AI."We're in a world of information chaos," Rusbridger says. "We're in a world where people don't know who to believe or what to believe, increasingly. We know there are bad players who are deliberately pumping out information that is wrong. "You've got the most powerful man in the world actively trying to create a world in which disinformation, misinformation flourish and facts and fact-based journalism don't. And it's really frightening."Advertisers are part of that world. The advertisers I've spoken to are dismayed by the thought of their content swimming in this sea of garbage – I'm using a polite word – because it's not good for their brands. it's not good for trust in information."Highlights:2:09: What drew Rusbridger to Prospect and his editorial strategy for the magazine8:46: Drivers of Prospect's digital growth14:16: Can advertising models still support news media?24:38: Journalism's messy relationship with AI29:51: The failure of trust in news in the US and the UK38:18: Why platforms are "good, bad and ugly"43:49: What keeps Rusbridger up at nightRelated articles:‘End of an era for search as we know it'? Publishers grapple with gen-AI searchStagwell out to prove business case for investing in newsConsumer ABCs 2024: 5 key takeaways---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

At the tail end of March, Digital Cinema Media (DCM), the UK's largest cinema ad sales house, hosted its annual upfronts in the Leicester Square Odeon. It was a way to celebrate cinema's strong start to the year and look ahead to the 2025 and 2026 film slates, but also an opportunity for brands to consider whether to position the channel more prominently on their AV plans.Among the presentations, new research from DCM found that cinema is well-placed to drive price premiums – that is, consumers were willing to pay on average 12% more for a brand that advertised in cinemas than if it had advertised on other media channel. It's a finding that could prove useful in an era marked by continued macroeconomic uncertainty and the desire for brands to retain pricing power.DCM CEO Karen Stacey joined host Jack Benjamin to discuss the research and unpack what has driven the sales house's 33% revenue growth in Q1. Stacey also explored where cinema belongs on media plans today and how the channel can grow its share of adspend.Highlights:1:30: Stacey's career path, advice for leaders and priorities for Wacl14:59: DCM's strong start to 2025 – what's behind the growth in revenue and cinema admissions?24:52: The opportunity for cinema to embrace programmatic30:45: Will box office and admissions ever get back to pre-Covid levels?34:59: How cinema drives strong price premiumsRelated articles:Cinema drives up price premium, research suggestsBridget Jones leads 20% growth in February box officeAre all ‘views' created equal? With TikTok, DCM, Total Media and Mindlab---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

The creative industries' fight to protect their intellectual property from AI companies reached a crescendo last month amid the end of a government consultation on how it should handle copyright in the age of AI. But will public pressure be enough to convince governments to maintain copyright laws and not cave to tech giants promising strong economic growth?Alongside the wider creative industries, the publishing sector has argued that offering tech companies leniency around copyright would severely undermine existing business models for publishers and artists.One industry leader at the forefront of the fight to protect publishers' IP is Professional Publishers Association (PPA) CEO Sajeeda Merali.In a conversation with Jack Benjamin, Merali explained the arguments being made by AI companies and by publishers over copyright, as well as what the government is currently considering as it weighs the desire to drive technological and economic growth while protecting its outsized creative industries from harm.The pair also discussed how magazines are adapting to new business realities – such as those created by consumer shifts towards AI usage and away from print readership – by transitioning to multiplatform content and commercial strategies.Highlights:4:46: Outlining arguments by AI companies and publishers over IP protections13:03: Where the UK government presently sits on the policy debate17:51: What's at stake for publishers in the age of AI25:10: Unpacking the latest ABC figures – where are publishers in the transition to digital?Related articles:UK creative industries call on government to ‘make it fair' in AI era‘End of an era for search as we know it'? Publishers grapple with gen-AI search‘Show me the money': Will business models be ‘redefined' by AI agents?---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

This month, JCDecaux reported strong fiscal year 2024 earnings: the global business saw 9.7% organic growth, while JCDecaux grew 18.4% in the UK — a growth figure more typically associated with tech giants.Meanwhile, the broader OOH industry is in rude health, with total ad revenue hitting record highs (£1.4bn) in 2024.JCDecaux UK co-CEOs Chris Collins and Dallas Wiles joined host Jack Benjamin to discuss what is driving such strong growth in OOH investment and why JCDecaux is making 2025 its largest-ever year for screen deployment across the UK.The pair also talked about making OOH "as simple as possible" for advertisers to buy, innovations in measurement efforts and whether the retail media opportunity for OOH is overhyped.Highlights:5:06: Collins and Wiles' co-leadership strategy and changes at JCDecaux before, during and after the pandemic13:00: Reflecting on JCDecaux's strong UK growth and its year of investment18:59: How can OOH grow its share of the adspend pie?29:07: Why measurement is the "backbone" of JCDecaux's commercial strategy35:47: Are brands making the most of digital OOH with their creative?41:47: The opportunity for OOH in retail mediaRelated articles:JCDecaux to double London digital roadside footprintOOH hits record year in revenueWhy not advertise in a real town square?---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

This episode was produced in partnership with The Guardian.Last month, The Guardian promoted its chief advertising officer, Imogen Fox, to a new global role to drive commercial growth not only in the UK, but also in markets like the US and Australia, where the news outlet has seen a substantial influx of new readers."We're growing," Fox told senior reporter Jack Benjamin. "I'm not sure that message has translated yet to the advertising community and I think that's where there's a huge opportunity."In the US, she noted, The Guardian already has larger readership than The Washington Post, the Daily Mail and Bloomberg.In a special partner episode of The Media Leader Podcast, Fox joined Benjamin to discuss her new remit and reveal how The Guardian is innovating its ad offering to give advertisers new opportunities to access the title's "scale, influence and integrity".Fox also reflected on the importance of supporting journalism, the senselessness of keyword-blocklist practices and how The Guardian offers an effective media environment to drive business growth.She continued: "The Guardian is really needed in all of these regions. It's needed by readers, it's needed by democracy. In terms of what that means for advertisers, it means that there are lots of places where they can show up."Highlights00:49: Moving from editorial to commercial at The Guardian and Fox's priorities with her expanded remit6:34: The Guardian's commercial ethos: scale, influence and integrity12:13: How The Guardian is innovating its "fewer, better" ad experience and building new verticals22:30: The Guardian's progressive audience and what it means for brands25:05: Why premium publishers shouldn't be lumped in with all online advertisingRelated articlesGuardian moves into more subscription content with cooking appFrom skibidi to pebbling: Making sense of culture and why it matters‘Advertisers nowhere to be seen' despite election traffic high, warns The GuardianScott Trust and Guardian Media Group approve Observer sale to TortoiseThe Guardian US appoints Sara Badler as new Chief Advertising Officer---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Last week, digital advertising trade body IAB UK unveiled new research forecasting a matured digital market, a fast-growing video and retail media market, and strong potential for gaming.It also found, based on interviews with 40 industry leaders, that the marketing funnel as we have known it may well not survive a digital future in which more media channels become shoppable and generative AI proliferates, changing how consumers seek information about products and services.In a companion op-ed to the report, James Chandler, IAB UK's chief strategy officer, argued that not only is the future funnel-less, but that all media will soon become retail media.Chandler joined host Jack Benjamin to elaborate on his argument and discuss how advertisers should adjust their media strategies as the consumer journey gets truncated by shoppable advertising in AV formats."Immediacy is going to be the biggest thing," said Chandler. "With the advent of AI and the sophistication around digital, you can go from awareness all the way through to buying something and becoming a customer in the space of seconds."Highlights:1:11: Takeaways from the IAB's Futurescape research6:34: Should agencies move away from a channel-led approach to planning?11:33: The opportunity in shoppable formats17:32: How AI is changing consumption habits and what it means for advertisers24:31: Is there a new heuristic that can replace the funnel?Related articles:The future is funnel-less — adapt your ad strategies accordingly100 years of doing it wrong — and how to do it right‘Full funnel measurement must accelerate' — media priorities for Arla Foods' Rob Edwards4 principles to create an effective full-funnel measurement strategy---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Last month, concerns around brand safety and the opaque nature of programmatic advertising flared up again following a report from adtech transparency startup Adalytics, which found that a huge number of big-name brands have been accidentally placing ads on a website that hosts a great deal of child sexual abuse material (also known as CSAM).How did this happen? Do brands actually care about brand safety? And, if they do, what steps can they take to make sure they're supporting quality media?Emily Roberts is head of digital at the Responsible Marketing Advisory, an independent marketing consultancy. She is also co-founder of the Women in Programmatic Network and an inaugural member of The Media Leader's Future 100 Club.Roberts joined host Jack Benjamin to unpack the Adalytics report and share tips on how brands can avoid supporting harmful content online.Highlights:6:17: Is programmatic advertising a sustainable model for publishers?8:40: Unpacking the Adalytics report and the flaws in current brand-safety practices19:26: What brands should do to avoid accidentally showing up against CSAM online23:40: Brand safety on social media platforms31:48: How the Women in Programmatic Network has reacted to DEI "sunsetting"Related articles:How can brands avoid advertising against CSAM?Time to replace brand-safety paranoia with a nuanced approachBrand safety in a Donald Trump-led worldAdvertising adjacent to quality news content is brand-safe regardless of topic---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Next month, Global CEO Stephen Miron will officially step back from his role after 16 years at the helm of one of Britain's largest media enterprises.When Miron joined Global as CEO in 2008, it was a £200m business with only one national radio brand. In March, he'll leave an almost £1bn business, with numerous national radio brands, a digital ad exchange, dedicated listening app and substantial OOH footprint.Miron will still be involved at Global as chairman, replacing former ITV and Granada CEO Lord Charles Allen, who himself will become a senior non-executive director. Former STV CEO Simon Pitts is succeeding Miron as Global's CEO.In an interview with The Media Leader in October, Global's chief commercial officer Mike Gordon said: “We're very lucky because Stephen's not leaving the business. We have Stephen and we have Simon – it's great to have somebody join the business with the experience that Simon's got. No-one has a monopoly on a great idea.”Miron sat down last autumn with The Media Leader columnist and former editor-in-chief Omar Oakes for a conversation at our Future of Media London event to reflect on his career and legacy.“You have to know when to exit stage left,” Miron said. “It's been the most amazing journey for 16 years, but I also think the business needs different thinking in the next 15 years.”Highlights:3:13: Looking back on Global's beginnings and Miron's early career path13:54: Lessons from Associated Newspapers18:50: Working with Ashley Tabor-King to identify growth in radio and OOH31:02: Defining Global's unique culture and identifying and inspiring talentRelated articles:‘Disrupt yourself before someone disrupts you': Stephen Miron on 16 years of GlobalGlobal commercial chief Mike Gordon: Radio has ‘grown up and adapted'STV's Simon Pitts to succeed Stephen Miron as Global CEO‘A tough act to follow': Industry reacts to Stephen Miron's departure from Global---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Are audience-targeting practices too simple in an era of big data? Advertisers and their agencies tend to use demographics to target people across media channels, but perhaps that model is outdated.Natalie Bell is CEO of MG OMD. The Omnicom media agency is coming out with new research on how community-based targeting might be a new model worth considering and she joined host Jack Benjamin to preview early findings.As a trustee of Nabs and member of Wacl, Bell also spoke to concerns around a rollback in DEI initiatives across the media industry, led by the US market.She discussed the ethical conundrums of striving for responsible marketing in what feels like a new era, where progress is at risk of being rolled back, and what leaders should be doing to fight for what's right for their employees and their clients.Highlights:5:40: Why brands should reconsider targeting practices to focus on communities13:17: Learnings from working on the government account during the Covid-19 era18:50: Media agency brands aren't dead23:38: How agency leaders are reacting to a "sunsetting" of DEI and ESG initiativesRelated articles:ESG has become a key differentiator for the investment communityLet's harness the power of community for mental wellnessPodcast: Why social media is all about community now – with Reddit's Paul Peterman---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

At a Thinkbox event in September, ITV, Sky and Channel 4 announced Lantern, a new measurement panel aimed at tracking the short-term impact of TV advertising on sales.The goal for the initiative, which is aiming to fully launch in 2026 following a period of testing and requests for proposals, is to help provide TV with “the measurement it deserves” in an era when brands have increasingly demanded more outcomes-based measurement solutions, rather than simply measuring audiences.Sameer Modha is measurement innovation lead for commercial at ITV and sits on the commercial board of UKOM. Matt Hill is director of insight and measurement at Sky Media and formerly director of research and planning at TV marketing trade body Thinkbox.Both have had a strong hand in the early development of Lantern. They joined The Media Leader Podcast to discuss the project – its purpose, goals and timeline – as well as how TV measurement efforts need to adapt more broadly to address the needs of advertisers.Modha and Hill also spoke about how Lantern will help attract new-to-TV advertisers, how the project is "fundamentally different" from Isba's cross-media measurement initiative Origin and why the majority of media buying is now spent on outcomes, not eyeballs."In the end, buying outcomes rather than buying eyeballs has won in the market," said Modha. "We can either sit on our hands and just ignore that or say no, no – actually, we've got a fantastic ad product and it is great at doing those things, but we haven't surfaced that in a way that can play a part in those finance conversations."Highlights:4:44: The when, how and why of Lantern13:10: Targeting new-to-TV brands and the problem with attribution19:54: The challenge of cross-industry collaboration24:37: Lantern's launch timeline39:16: Has brand advertising become passé in an era of outcomes-based measurement?50:21: What the future of TV measurement looks likeRelated articles:ITV, Sky, C4 reveal Lantern audience measurement launchLantern joint measurement panel could be live ‘by 2026'Thinkbox research lead Matt Hill to join Sky Media---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

On 7 January, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced changes to its platforms' content moderation policies that, he admitted, will mean the company is “going to catch less bad stuff” across Facebook, Instagram and Threads.Among the raft of changes, Meta announced it was halting its third-party fact-checking programme in the US and replacing it with a Community Notes feature. It also updated its hateful conduct policy to now allow users to call women “household objects” or refer to transgender or non-binary individuals as “it”, among numerous other dehumanising examples.The story has dominated conversation around the industry throughout the early weeks of the year, with media agencies looking to reconcile potential concerns around brand safety and their own DEI commitments with the importance of Meta platforms on the media plan.In an op-ed for The Media Leader, Sonnie Spenser, Outvertising's communications co-director and Fresh Pies' digital marketing manager, pleaded with the UK media industry to disavow Meta's content moderation changes and consider an “exit strategy” to cut adspend from the tech giant.They joined senior reporter Jack Benjamin on the podcast to elaborate on the ethical and business cases for reapportioning spend away from Meta. They also discussed the raw impact Meta's policy changes have had on the LGBTQ+ community in the UK, whether brands truly care about brand safety and what the media industry can do to support minority members of staff amid a business culture shift away from DEI.Spenser said: "Hate is slowly becoming normalised and we need to do something about it."Highlights:2:22: Content moderation changes and cozying up to Donald Trump8:04: Should advertisers reduce spend on Meta? Considering ethical and business arguments16:55: Do brands actually care about brand safety?26:10: Threads' ad proposition35:13: A cultural paradigm shiftRelated articles:We need an exit plan for Meta and we need it now‘Too big to fail'? Industry reacts to Meta content moderation changesMental health vs Meta's wealth: What will it take to hold a tech giant to account?Playing defence in politics and in tech: Nick Clegg leaves Meta---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

In November, a report from global advisory MediaSense found that an overwhelming majority of advertisers — three-quarters — are looking to make changes to their agency compensation model in the next three years.A similar number of survey respondents indicated that they are seeking to better align agency compensation to business performance, however it may be defined by the brand.According to Ryan Kangisser, chief strategy officer at MediaSense and co-author of the report, it is “unprecedented” for so many brands to want to change their compensation models at once.Last year, Kangisser spoke on The Media Leader Podcast about how advertisers do not find the current agency model to be fit for current and future needs.Now, he returns to discuss whether the agency remuneration model is fit for purpose and what a new outcomes-based approach could look like as a replacement in the near future."At the heart of this is the need for speed and agility," Kangisser said.Highlights:2:14: Overwhelming desire to change remuneration models7:00: Moving to outcome-based compensation — are brands and agencies on board?13:23: Have agencies moved to future-proof their business? "From attention to intention"19:24: Misaligned incentives between brands and agencies21:26: The impact of AI on fees and the future of talent and working practiceRelated articles:Three-quarters of advertisers want to change their agency compensation model Why agencies must move from a buffet model to à la carte service Marketers cut spend in main media as cautious approach continues MediaSense reveals ‘biggest blocker' to business transformation MediaSense appoints Jamie Posnanski as global CEO---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

The new year always brings with it the inclination to not just future-gaze, but to consider how to future-proof.One media agency that has always billed itself as a future-forward organisation is Omnicom's Hearts & Science and UK CEO Garrett O'Reilly joined Jack Benjamin to discuss the shop's growth strategy.O'Reilly discussed the challenges in scaling the business while remaining future-forward and what big client wins like Jaguar and Allwyn have meant for the agency. He also shared initial reactions to the Omnicom-Interpublic merger and the recently announced rollbacks in DEI and WFH policies across media.Specifically, O'Reilly reaffirmed the need to remain steadfast in responsible marketing efforts, seeing it as a core pillar of creating a future-facing media proposition."There's so many different fronts to fight [responsible marketing] on and we have to fight on all of them — whether it's environmental, or DEI, or responsible trading, or respecting audiences' privacy — they're all important. We can't neglect any of them."Highlights:2:31: Breaking down Hearts & Science's growth plan10:48: Challenges facing agencies needing to innovate14:11: Early-year adjustments: reaction to Omnicom-Interpublic merger, changes in WFH policies and Meta content moderation19:52: Category entry points as a key strategic focus24:57: The future of agencies and the need to reaffirm responsible marketing commitmentsRelated articles:Omnicom and Interpublic merger set to reshape global ad industryHearts & Science launches programme to nurture media owner rising starsSimon Carr: 100 years of doing it wrong — and how to do it rightOutvertising: We need an exit plan for Meta and we need it now---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

What's really behind that view? Are all views created equal? What truly keeps our attention? Are consumer habits really changing that much?As marketers increasingly shift towards outcomes-based assessments of their ad effectiveness, behavioural research is likely to become more relevant to understanding how video ads can cut through to audiences in what has become a highly competitive environment for attention.At the inaugural Future of Video event in December, senior reporter Jack Benjamin interviewed four experts on how views are and should be measured, and what behavioural research tells us is happening in our minds when we watch video ads, be they on short-form platforms, in cinemas or on TV.The panel features Jenny Fernandez, TikTok's head of research and insights; Michael Tull, Digital Cinema Media's head of strategy and insight; Lea Karam, consulting director at Total Media's behavioural science consultancy Behave; and Juliane Beard, director of research at market research company Mindlab.Highlights:2:24: What is a view? How do TikTok, cinema and behavioural researchers define a view?12:04: How to stand out21:45: Passive versus active video consumption and the generation gap in viewing27:13: Have attention spans shortened?38:44: Trends to keep an eye on as the TikTok generation agesRelated articles:Should broadcasters be embracing YouTube?Wicked and Moana 2 help 2024 box office surpass £1bn for second straight year8 out of 10 brands' TikTok videos aren't working — here's how to fix itIsba's Phil Smith: Advertisers should take a bigger stake in Origin---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

On the surface, the global ad industry appears to be in rude health. GroupM upwardly revised its This Year Next Year global ad revenue forecast for 2024 and expects it to surpass $1tn for the first time – and that's excluding US political advertising, which itself totalled $15.1bn.In the UK, despite uncertainty regarding the country's political and economic future, the ad market grew 8.3%, with further 7% growth now expected for 2025.But, of course, there are numerous unpredictabilities next year, such as around how a new Donald Trump administration could impact global trade or pursue Big Tech regulation. Meanwhile, most ad growth is being driven by just five companies: Google, Meta, Amazon, ByteDance and Alibaba — suggesting a consolidation of ad revenue into fewer, bigger hands.Kate Scott-Dawkins is GroupM's global president of business intelligence and author of the This Year Next Year report.In conversation with Jack Benjamin, Scott-Dawkins explained that advertisers have grown accustomed to managing uncertainty over the past five years and that growth drivers such as retail media and streaming TV, as well as an influx of new AI-based startups, are likely to provide a boost to future ad spending."The uncertainty that advertisers are dealing with has existed and will continue to exist into next year," she said. "The advertising economy is going to continue despite that."Scott-Dawkins will be presenting further details from This Year Next Year at The Media Leader's Future of TV Advertising Global conference in London next week.Highlights:2:24: Toplines: positive growth despite uncertainty8:13: Big Tech's domination of ad revenue growth – is it healthy?12:26: Why the UK is outperforming expectations16:43: Volatility in the Chinese market20:26: Opportunities and knock-on effects as sport becomes more important for TV23:36: The importance of supporting publishing as it loses market share27:02: Tech brands to watch as they spend on marketing to promote AIRelated articles:Global ad industry to grow 9.5% this year as revenue flows to tech giantsOOH tops £1bn in ad revenue in 2024 so farUK TV exports fall 2% despite strong US demandExplained: how we should treat GroupM, IPG and Zenith adspend forecasts---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

2024 is winding down and for their last weekly news podcast of the year, host Jack Benjamin and editor-in-chief Omar Oakes sat down to look back on the past year in media and advertising.It was a year in which digital giants continued to grow, retail media surged, OOH prospered and TV streaming services became largely profitable. It was also a year that saw Big Tech facing renewed antitrust efforts, changes to Google and Meta's algorithms punishing online publishers and the industry reckoning with what a new AI-led era could look like.The pair not only consider what 2024 meant for the wider media ecosystem, but also look ahead to the uncertainties to come in 2025.Highlights:2:56: What was the big trend in 2024? A year of two halves and political uncertainty11:26: Tech regulation and profitable streaming services19:06: Traditional media: OOH sees success; journalism and publishing challenged by headwinds35:22: AI uses are broadening and changing working practice43:41: The past week in news: Sky upfronts, Barb and Origin, Ofcom's BBC report and Guardian/Observer strikesRelated articles:Sky failed our high standards, ads chief tells industry at upfrontsIpsos eyes UK TV measurement space as it plots Kantar Media acquisitionPlan tabled for Barb to join Origin in hybrid reporting modelOOH tops £1bn in ad revenue in 2024 so farPublishers say Google's AI Overviews have reduced traffic potential---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Serial agency founder and digital media pioneer Pete Robins talks to editor-in-chief Omar Oakes about why he believes there's never been a better time to plan media.Robins is set to launch his fifth media agency, Project5 – named after his belief that the industry has entered "the fifth age of media".Four-fifths of all media is delivered by a form of technology shaped by some sort of data, Robins explains. While the principal goals of media have not changed, the possibilities to plan media have now transformed significantly.Related articles:Digital pioneer Pete Robins launches fifth media agency---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audience

Sarah Prentice, head of media strategy and planning at Heineken UK, Rachel Coffey, chief strategy officer at Initiative UK, and Peter Rowe, head of media at NatWest Group, answer audience questions on planning.During the discussion, the trio debate what truly drives consideration, the role of AI in strategic thinking, how diversity, equity and inclusion informs their work in a practical sense and so much more.In particular, they also respond to one of the hot questions this year: how much is too much when it comes to spending on social media, in light of EssenceMediacom's eye-catching research that suggests brands could be spending three times too much in social.The panel was recorded at The Future of Media London in October and was chaired by Jack Benjamin.Highlights:1:02: Considering consideration4:00: Are we spending too much on social and where to reapportion that budget6:50: What should technology stay out of the way from? 9:15: How to position DEI in planning and what that means within the wider business13:42: Balancing wider concerns about social media use with brand spend on these platforms18:15: The role of sustainability initiatives in planning22:50: Breaking down specialism "silos"Related articles:Brands could be spending three times too much on social. You read that right100 years of doing it wrong — and how to do it rightAMA: Ask media experts anything!---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Are managers well-equipped to wear all the different hats we ask of them in today's workplace?It's a question worth considering in an era when, according to Nabs' All Ears study, managers are increasingly being hired younger, report being undertrained and have become more responsible for the mental health of their team.Sue Todd is the CEO of Nabs, the media and advertising industry charity focused on workplace wellness.After joining The Media Leader Podcast last year to discuss concerns around stress and burnout, especially relating to the pitch process, Todd returns to chat about a new initiative launched by Nabs, Managers' Mindsets, that aims to offer mental health training to managers.Todd discussed the impetus for the initiative and considered whether managers are being set up for success given what appears to be a chronic lack of time and resource available to media industry employees.Highlights:1:26: Why are managers undertrained and being asked to take on more responsibility?7:55: Impacts of managers skewing younger11:20: Structure of Nabs' Managers' Mindsets training programme21:50: Does it all come down to money?29:01: Advice to younger managersRelated articles:Nabs launches manager wellness training3 ways to create future-ready leadersThird ad industry All In Census to launch in March ---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Radio production has changed a lot since Ken Bruce began presenting in 1977. And yet, when it comes to the basics of good radio – a close, one-to-one relationship with the audience – things haven't changed much at all.“For years, people have been saying to me, ‘Radio's dead, dying. It's finished,'" said Bruce. "Even in the 70s, they were saying that to me. And I thought, well, no – I don't believe it is. Because there's a person there. It's a human interaction. And while that remains, radio will always have some kind of life.”Alongside Hits Radio presenter Fleur East, the Greatest Hits Radio presenter chatted with Bauer Media director of audio Gary Stein at The Future of Media London in October about the day-to-day challenges and excitements of producing a contemporary radio show.The pair reflected on the continued success of radio, even in an era marked by declines in audience for other traditional media channels. They also touched on career highlights and gave advice to audio industry professionals.Highlights:2:06: What goes into the day-to-day production of live radio?9:42: Technological advancement and how radio has changed since Bruce first started presenting14:47: Lessons for leaders and interviewers18:50: Favourite guests, fan interactions and career highlightsRelated articles:Ken Bruce surpasses 4m listeners on Greatest Hits Radio while Radio 2 declinesBauer commercial chief urges action over social media and mental health ‘deterioration'Bauer's Rayo app to offer branded content ‘in due course'What next for Bauer and radio? Interview w/ Simon Myciunka, CEO of Bauer Media Audio UKRajar Q3 2024: Top takeaways

Patrick 'Paddy' Affleck aims to 'walk the walk when it comes to inclusion and courage in particular, his personal story is quite different from your average media agency CEO. That why he known as someone who likes to challenge conventional ways of thinking about this business.Affleck speaks to Omar Oakes about his personal journey from growing up on a commune in Devon and how it has shaped his attitude to leadership and mental-health challenges at work. His philosophy emphasies progressiveness, adaptability, and ethical practices and he highlights Havas' initiatives like "Havas Minds" and "Havas More" to support mental health and work-life balance.He also addresses the industry's evolving role, stressing the importance of combining human creativity with AI for effective client solutions. Affleck also touches on Havas' strategic investments in data, technology, and talent to enhance client relationships and sustainability efforts, such as their work with Shell which has attracted criticism.Affleck joined Havas Media Group as its UK CEO in July 2020 from Dentsu, where he spent 12 years, and has over 20 years' experience in the industry spanning integrated planning, digital strategy and innovation and activation. He was a Grand-Prix winner (agency leader of the year) in The Media Leader Awards 2024.Highlights:3:08: How Paddy's background shaped his leadership qualities.19:59: The importance of adaptability for agencies.23:45: How can the industry improve mental health practices?31:09: What makes Havas Media distinct from its competitors?34:53: The future of media agencies — staying relevant in an era of AI developmentRelated articles:Vivendi confirms plans to list Canal+ and HavasHavas Media expands Boost initiative to support north westPodcast: Yannick Bolloré on why Vivendi wants to create 4 ‘cousin companies'---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

The newly promoted Jack Benjamin and outgoing editor-in-chief Omar Oakes discuss a flurry of updates about streaming service user numbers and how their "premium versus ad" strategies are evolving.They also discuss MediaSense's latest acquisition, Spotify's latest earnings, a Newsworks study on youth news consumption habits and more. Highlights:01:00: Takeaways from Barb's Establishment Survey: Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and Paramount+18:15: Why media consultancy MediaSense has acquired R320:30: Young people actually do consume news, after all – what is the industry getting wrong?23:10: Spotify earnings: Why profits have surged despite an advertising slowdown28:00: A dark festive period ahead for ITV?Related articles:Total UK SVOD subs stay flat as ad tier users grow at paceMediaSense buys R3 as consultancy expands to US and AsiaHow Spotify delivered a profitable combo despite advertising slowdownITV expects 6-7% ad revenue decline in golden quarter---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Origin, the world-first cross-media measurement platform led by Isba, went live in September through the launch of beta trials with 35 major UK advertisers.While advertisers in the beta trials have signalled their excitement, Origin has been received with a more tepid response by some stakeholders, particularly in TV broadcasting and at some agencies, over its inclusion of non-Media Rating Council-standard viewability measures.Last month, The Media Leader editor-in-chief Omar Oakes sat down with Isba director-general Phil Smith at The Future of Media London conference to ask him tough questions about the future of Origin, concerns around measurement and what advertisers are making of the beta trials so far.Smith explained: "[Critics] come from a background which is about currency measurement, where historically the real creed has been apples with apples. [They] come to this with a different set of views from those that are really hell-bent on evaluation, where what they're really looking for is richness in the data and granularity."He added: "Change is never easy."Highlights2:11: What has been learned from the beta phase so far?4:08: Why Barb hasn't bought in10:30: Origin's perception in the market13:42: Funding and developmentRelated articlesIsba's Origin goes live with real audience data for first timeJustin Sampson: Barb and Origin must find consensusOpinion: Origin is not a currency and won't replace BarbOpinion: Origin: Broadcasters are barking up the wrong treeLack of Origin data transparency puts broadcasters on ‘backfoot', says Sky Media execIsba launches quarterly Origin Media Landscape Study

Jack Benjamin and Omar Oakes unpick the media coverage and what's in store for the industry with another Donald Trump US presidency.They also discuss announcements from Origin and Barb, Sky's big ad revenue miscalculation, GB News getting fined £100K by Ofcom and more.Highlights:01:00: Hot takes about hot takes about Trump12:30: Why Isba's Origin is starting to produce its own research14:30: Sky Media on the hook for underpaid ad revenue18:15: Why Barb is launching co-viewing data for the first time on linear and VOD20:40: Industry reactions to the budget24:10: GB News fined – is £100,000 a fair amount?28:15: Tech giants' earningsRelated articles:Isba launches quarterly Origin Media Landscape StudySky Media's ad blunder occurs at pain point in TV's transition to digitalBarb to reveal TV co-viewing data for linear and streaming‘Welcome clarity': Ad industry reacts to Labour's autumn budgetOfcom issues first financial penalty to GB News for Rishi Sunak Q&A---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

This year, most major digital players including Meta, TikTok, Google and Pinterest have developed AI tools to help marketers get more out of their campaigns with less effort.Such tools, which often target the long tail of advertisers at small and medium-sized businesses, have helped boost ad revenues in the third quarter at many major social media companies.One of the most interesting companies that has released AI performance tools is Pinterest. In recent years, Pinterest has built out its capacity as a performance platform – a key strategic goal given so many users find and shop for products on the platform.Pinterest's vice-president of performance, Matt Crystal, who recently moved to the UK from Silicon Valley, joins host Jack Benjamin to discuss Pinterest's lower-funnel strategy, why AI performance tools are useful for advertisers of all sizes and why he believes Pinterest offers a healthier alternative to the "toxicity" of other social media."We're big believers that adopting Performance+ campaigns is going to deliver you better results and we're big believers that advertisers should decide," said Crystal. "One of the things we've heard a lot about from the industry is this idea that advertisers feel uncomfortable that they're giving themselves over to the 'black box'. We want to provide advertisers with this option and we want to give them the option for control."We believe there is a business model in doing good."Highlights:3:43: Pinterest's performance push6:52: What is Performance+ and what is Pinterest's competitive advantage?11:12: Addressing the "black box" critique of AI performance tools14:16: The distinction between "shopping" and "buying", and why Pinterest doesn't want to be a retailer20:45: Creating a healthier alternative to other social mediaRelated articles:Pinterest eyes performance budgets as it takes on Big TechTwo myths Pinterest is keen to slay6 in 10 Brits say brands should stop funding social platforms spreading misinformation---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

A conversation about the future of TV advertising featuring executives from Sky Media, Direct Line Group, Channel 4 and Samba TV.At our recent Future of Media Manchester event, this panel stood out for revealing key insights about how advertisers and broadcasters have made significant changes over recent years to make the most of digital tools and measurement.Moderated by The Zoo.London co-founder Rachel Forde, the speakers were:Amy Taylor, head of investment, Sky MediaEwan Douglas, head of sales and business development, Channel 4Sam Taylor, head of performance marketing and CRM, Direct Line GroupJay Fowdar, vice-president, international customer success, Samba TV“We're at a tipping point where quality data will drive effective outcomes – and it's less about the cost per unit and it's more about outcomes.” – S Taylor"[A]s viewing continues to fragment, linear viewing will become increasingly important to advertisers who want to secure a line with key cultural moments." — A Taylor“You can't measure clicks on TV, which has always been the driving factor in digital.” — Fowdar"[TV has] become more flexible and that will continue to happen." — Douglas---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

It's earnings season and the publicly listed agency groups have been more expansive about their "proprietary media" or "principal-based media" products.Jack Benjamin and Omar Oakes discuss why this is important to these companies' growth and what it means for advertisers that may or may not wish for their media to be bought this way.They also discuss Netflix's earnings and its future as an ad seller and gaming provider, the latest Rajar listening figures, increased losses for Sky and why Joker sequel Folie à Deux is bombing at the box office.Highlights:01:10: Earnings comparison: WPP, Publicis Groupe, Interpublic and Omnicom15:15: Rajar top takeaways16:20: Sky's losses and its two big content challenges25:00: Netflix earnings34:10: IPA Bellwether: why are marketers cautious about the UK right now?39:00: Joker: Folie à D'ohRelated articles:Losses mount at Sky ahead of WBD showdownNetflix CEO: ‘Work still ahead of us' to improve ad offeringIPA Bellwether: Media budgets to expand despite total marketing ‘on ice'---PLEASE SUBSCRIBE AND WRITE SOMETHING NICE ABOUT THE PODCASTConstructive criticism and requests are massively appreciated too and our email is: news@the-media-leader.com.

On a panel at The Future of Media Manchester a few weeks ago, members from Stagwell agencies HarrisX and Goodstuff took the stage to unpack new research which found that advertising adjacent to quality news is brand safe — even against "hard news" subjects like war and politics.The research undermined common concerns that advertisers express about not wanting their ads to be placed next to hard news content, which they often, wrongly it seems, deem brand unsafe.Since then, there has been an additional study by Teads and Lumen which came to a similar conclusion.The panel session was hosted by Ozone's client services director Emma Cranston, and featured Alex Chizhik, chief commercial officer at HarrisX, and Paul Gayfer, planning partner at Goodstuff Communications.“We need to recognise that blocklists are a very blunt tool," said Gayfer.Chizhik added: “I'm hoping brands see that limiting their spend, limiting advertising based on the different stories folks can run, just leads us down a really bad path from a citizenship perspective, from a humanitarian perspective, and frankly from a business perspective.”Highlights:2:38: Summary of Stagwell's findings7:09: Initial reaction from advertisers and publishers8:56: Why are brands using keyword blocklists?10:13: The halo effect of trust and premium inventory14:45: Hope for changeRelated articles:Advertising adjacent to quality news content is brand-safe regardless of topicLessons from Manchester: Media's industrial revolution needs youHalf of Reach's Euro 2024 coverage wrongly identified by brands as unsafe---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Reporter Jack Benjamin and editor-in-chief Omar Oakes unpack key themes from last week's Future of Media London 2024 event.The duo review some of the biggest sessions from the two-day conference, including takeaways from interviews with DMG Media vice-chairman Rich Caccappolo, LBC presenter James O'Brien, and Global CEO Stephen Miron.Oakes also describes the inspiring manifestos presented by members of the Future 100 Club, and why Starcom's Vanessa Jarrad had the winning pitch.Highlights:1:54: "Confidence" in the immediate future of media, publishing and Origin10:39: Avinash Kaushik's word of the conference: "Incrementality"13:47: Reviewing the Future 100 manifestos20:29: James O'Brien's views on industry trust29:45: Stephen Miron's sage advice and leaders' tolerance for riskRelated articles:DMG boss Caccappolo: ‘Control' is key as Mail invests in long-form videoStarcom's Jarrad wins Future 100 manifesto with ‘Empowering Voices' plea‘Disrupt yourself before someone disrupts you': Stephen Miron on 16 years of GlobalHow to make marketing indispensable to the CFO? Focus on incrementality---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Last month, ITV launched two ads that were created primarily with the use of generative AI.Made for new-to-TV small businesses Travel House and Sheepbridge Interiors, the spots feature AI-generated imagery and were created by augmenting ITV Commercial's normal creative process by using licensed generative-AI image and video tools alongside ITV's in-house voiceover artists.The result received a lot of attention. ITV has billed the project as a way to democratise advertising on TV for small and medium-sized businesses that otherwise would not be able to afford high-quality creative production. But consumers and industry leaders have questioned the effectiveness of the ads and how the creative industry might be impacted by the new technology.Jason Spencer is business development director at ITV and Alan Hall is creative production lead at ITV.Both had a direct hand in the creation of these AI ads. They joined Jack Benjamin to discuss the creative process using AI and why they believe AI tools have a lot to offer for new-to-TV advertisers.Highlights:2:06: Why did ITV begin developing ads using generative AI?4:35: How AI ads could democratise TV advertising10:30: How effective are these ads?16:57: Best practice for using AI to develop creative20:56: AI versus humans23:53: Copyright implicationsRelated articles:The future of TV ads? ITV creates two spots with generative AISmall business, big picture: What ITV's gen-AI play tells us about thinking localStories that mattered this week: Origin launches – now what?---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Omar Oakes and Jack Benjamin review the big stories in UK media and advertising this week, including Amazon's UK upfronts, in which it revealed new ad formats for Prime Video, and Pinterest, whose lead marketer had some strong words to say about the digital media "duopoly".Omar is also joined by Wacl's president Karen Stacey and vice-president Claire Sadler to talk about why the female leaders' network is looking for new partners and ways of raising money.Highlights:01:00: Amazon's UK upfronts, Prime Video audience numbers and new ad formats09:05: Pinterest Presents – what the platform had to say at its annual advertising summit16:00: Why Observer journalists are unhappy about selling to Tortoise19:15: Elon Musk's X is valued at less than a quarter of the $44bn he paid to buy Twitter – fair price?21:00: Immediate Media has launched Prism, a full-scale first-party data solution28:30: Reuters and CNN to introduce metered website paywalls. Will bundles follow?32:10: Interview: Karen Stacey and Claire SadlerRelated articles:Amazon Prime Video now reaches 19m in the UKPinterest eyes performance budgets as it takes on Big TechImmediate Media launches Prism first-party data solution---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Jack Benjamin and Omar Oakes report highlights from The Media Leader's first outing in Manchester! The Future of Media Manchester attracted around 600 people on 26 September and included ITV and Coronation Street's "big sell", Manchester City FC's fledgling operation as an in-house production company and advertising consultancy and, of course, a special Manchester edition of "Who Wants to be a Media Leader?"Jack and Omar discuss why there is still a big regional imbalance in UK media and advertising, with one agency boss estimating that £250m has been lost by Manchester agencies to London shops in the last three years. There will be more reports from The Future of Media Manchester over the next few days but, in the meantime, check out the agenda for the event.Interested in being involved next year? Email us: team@uk.adwanted.com.---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Jack Benjamin and Omar Oakes are back to review the big media business news of the week, starting with the launch of Origin, Isba's world-first cross-media measurement tool.It may be billed as a "beta" launch with a limited pool of 35 advertisers, but Oakes explains why "as far as Isba is concerned, Origin is now officially launched".The Media Leader duo also discuss ITV's first-ever generative-AI ads created for small businesses, Roblox's progression into advertising and The London Standard's decision to revive a dead art critic.Highlights:01:00: Isba launches beta trials for Origin with real data12:00: Barb includes Netflix and Discovery+ in total campaign planning 20:00: Roblox creates a walled garden as it leans in to ad strategy23:30: ITV's generative-AI ads30:00: Why is TikTok putting up paywalls?33:30: Perplexity woos brands with AI search offer: should Google be worried?37:00: Why The London Standard is 'reviving' Brian Sewell through AIRelated articles:Isba's Origin goes live with real audience data for first timeBarb extends total campaign planning to include Netflix and Discovery+Roblox moves to create a walled garden as it leans into ad strategyThe future of TV ads? ITV creates two spots with generative AI---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

News titles across the UK are changing hands and senior leaders amid what has been a downturn in the digital advertising market. Meanwhile, challenges relating to referral traffic, anticompetitive practices by tech giants, and the continuing decline in print revenues are dogging publishers.Owen Meredith, the CEO of the News Media Association, sat down with Jack Benjamin to discuss.The pair spoke about the numerous headwinds facing both local and national news organisations, whether it be from adapting their business models to the digital age or addressing developments in AI and publishers' dependency on social media companies for traffic.Meredith additionally revealed the NMA's priorities for working with the new Labour government, including on improving fair competition with Big Tech in the digital ecosystem.“News publishers have never directly reached into the minds or the hands of readers," he said. "They've always been intermediaries. That's something we're used to deal with. We're just not used to dealing with intermediaries on take-it-or-leave-it terms and who can make a tweak to an algorithm and suddenly see your traffic switch off overnight.”Highlights:4:26: Working with the new Labour government to promote better online competition.11:14: News publishers need to adapt their business models.13:12: Is the BBC creating competition issues?15:08: Reactions to Observer, Telegraph, and Spectator sales.16:37: Is local news sustainable as we know it?20:48: Addressing issues of trust and ownership transparency.25:36: What keeps Meredith up at night? AI, Google monopoly, and co-dependency on social media.Related articles:Reach CEO: Sun and Mail are our allies in ‘battle for survival'Tom Hunt appointed editor-in-chief of ExpressGuardian ad revenue plunges as it plans Observer sale---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Jack Benjamin and Omar Oakes discuss the major stories of the past week, including the proposed sale of The Observer to Tortoise Media, scenes from recent Radiocentre, Thinkbox and Who Cares? events, and product updates from Meta and Snap.Highlights:1:04: Guardian Media Group shares earnings and considers sale of The Observer to Tortoise12:35: Takeaways from Radiocentre's Tuning In conference15:53: Broadcasters express concerns over Isba's use of Barb data in Origin19:18: Who cares about Who Cares?22:32: Instagram's changes for teens and the age-verification problem26:54: Snap's new Spectacles and the appeal of smart glasses31:29: Programmatic DOOH market growthRelated links:Guardian ad revenue plunges as it plans Observer saleCommercial radio revenue grows 5% in H1Who cares about advertising? Those who are willing to say ‘no'ITV warns advertisers over Isba plan to launch Origin without BarbProgrammatic DOOH grows as advertisers move budget from other channels---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Social media gets a lot of buzz and an increasingly large slice of media budgets. But is that spend optimal compared with other media channels?In an article for The Media Leader last week, EssenceMediacom's chief strategy officer Richard Kirk revealed new research that suggests brands are spending three times as much on paid social than is most efficient.Kirk and Olga Zaitseva, EssenceMediacom's head of media science and modelling, join Jack Benjamin to unpack the findings.According to the pair, paid social receives more attention from marketers than is strictly necessary, and if AV budgets were increased, campaign effectiveness would likely improve."We're starting to see multiple pieces of research all pointing in quite a specific direction," says Kirk. "And I would hope that those things combined start to lend real credence to this idea that maybe the industry has gone too far in one direction and needs to correct."Highlights:1:09: How surprising are EssenceMediacom's findings?5:00: Reasons brands are overspending on social media18:46: Caveats: different results for SMBs, production budgets23:14: AV channels are underinvested. A look at other media channels30:20: How research should be communicated to CMOs and CFOsRelated articles:Brands could be spending three times too much on social. You read that rightAdvertising generates profit, but not all media channels are equalThinkbox's Media Mix Navigator tool, which uses the same data as the EssenceMediacom study, can be accessed for free here. It provides econometric data for 2021-2023 from 141 brands across 14 product categories and 10 media channels, enabling advertisers to explore the impact of budget allocations on revenue and return on investment.---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Jack Benjamin and Omar Oakes discuss the major stories of recent weeks following a brief summer hiatus. Key stories include Google's second antitrust case in the US this year, Sir Paul Marshall's purchase of The Spectator and the dissolution of EssenceMediacomX.Highlights:1:32: What to know about Google's adtech antitrust trial11:56: The Spectator sale – what's Sir Paul Marshall's aim?15:46: X's lack of appeal to mainstream advertisers17:49: EssenceMediacomX dissolves19:13: TV no longer the top place for news21:56: News Corp's activist investor23:30: August box office boom25:28: The importance of the TfL account to Global and JCDecauxRelated links:CMA suggests Google has abused dominant positions in adtechEssenceMediacomX is no moreMarketers' trust in ads on X drops to historic lowTfL reappoints Global and JCDecauxAugust box office tops £120m as summer ends on high note---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Terry Hornsby, founder and executive vice-president of Mantis, joins Jack Benjamin to discuss how keyword blocklists remain in use by advertisers to the detriment of publishers.Hornsby explains that blocklisting is being used irresponsibly by too many advertisers, many of which often add words to their blocklists without sufficiently checking which may be worth taking off.These could include adding "Paris" after the 2015 terrorist attacks or "Taylor Swift" after her Vienna concert was nearly attacked, and then never remembering to take these keywords off.The result? Publishers having much of their brand-safe work demonitised.Hornsby also discusses why this keeps occurring and what needs to change for publishers to earn revenue on articles that brands would in fact want to advertise against.This episode was recorded earlier this summer, before the Paris Olympic Games began.Highlights2:00: Why Hornsby founded Mantis5:12: The problem with keyword-blocking11:38: Are brands being too cautious?19:54: The importance of contextual advertising regardless of the future of the cookie26:41: Other brand-safety verification vendors29:23: What needs to change?---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Jack Benjamin hosts a live panel where three media strategists field questions about common challenges in advertising.Speakers: Jackie Lyons, chief planning officer, Havas Media Network UKRaj Mahon, director of client partnerships, MiQAmy Caven, head of media and strategy planning, BootsThis was recorded at our Future of Brands event in April. You can watch it on the Adwanted UK YouTube channel here.Do you like this AMA format? Let the editor know what you think: omar.oakes@uk.adwanted.comMore from Jackie in a previous episode: The Future of Marketing – episode 2The podcast is about to take a short summer break before returning in September.---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Sue Unerman, global chief strategy officer at Brainlabs, joins Omar Oakes to discuss leaving WPP's EssenceMediacom after 34 years and "reinventing" herself at a very different agency.Unerman is well-known across the industry and beyond as a progressive thinker and media strategist, thanks to the books she has written as an author about workplace culture and inclusion.She is a Cannes Lions Creativity for Good winner and 2024 Glass Lions judge, a fellow of the IPA and has co-authored three bestselling books: Belonging, The Glass Wall and Tell the Truth. A fourth book, A Year of Creativity, is due to be released next month.HighlightsUnerman on… AI: "Businesses that are built on AI, rather than businesses that are kind of importing AI as a last-minute thing, are going to have some advantages."Unerman on… strategy: "What has changed is the ability to gather signals and understanding and intelligence about the right time, the right place, the right message, the right person, has gone up exponentially, and finding a way to digest and see the signals in all of that data and all of that noise. That's the task of the strategist."Unerman on… her new book: "There has been a lot more promotion of both people and techniques that fall within the left-brain bucket, the analytical bucket. And the right-brain techniques and ideas around creativity tend to get a bit squashed by left-brain thinkers."---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Jack Benjamin and Omar Oakes discuss the major media and advertising stories of the week, including the verdict in Google's US antitrust case, how social media companies have been implicated in the spread of far-right violence across the UK and the latest financial results for WPP, Amazon, Snap and Meta.Highlights:00:20: Google is a monopoly. So what happens next?6:38: Elon Musk spars with Sir Keir Starmer; X sues advertisers13:59: Meta earnings and the future of smart glasses17:35: News round-up: Warner Bro Discovery sales; Evan Gershkovich goes home; US sues TikTok; July box officeRelated links:CMA urged to move against Google following US antitrust decisionSocial media isn't solely to blame for the shameful riotsMeta's on a mission to become an advertiser's one-stop shop---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Elliott Clayton, managing director, international sales, at Epsilon, joins Omar Oakes to discuss how the data-led marketing business has fared since being acquired by Publicis Groupe five years ago and what's next.Clayton also has strong views on what marketers should do now that Google has decided not to get rid of third-party advertising cookies on its platforms.---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Jack Benjamin and Omar Oakes discuss the major media and advertising stories of the week, including YouTube rejoining Barb, TV audience trends from the latest Ofcom Media Nations report and why Warner Bros Discovery could end its HBO exclusivity deal with Sky in the UK.Highlights:00:30: YouTube rejoins Barb, why it matters and Media Nations reaction07:00: Should WBD end its HBO deal with Sky in the UK?11:00: OpenAI's challenge to Google17:30: Omar's debut for the news round-upRelated links:YouTube rejoins BarbOpenAI seeks to reassure publishers over SearchGPT---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Dr Grace Kite, a business economist and founder of Magic Numbers and Magic Works, joins Omar Oakes to discuss the importance of independence in media consulting, trends in effectiveness, Cannes Lions and what it takes to be a successful business founder.Kite is one of the industry's most respected voices on what makes advertising effective and has just sold Magic Numbers to US-based tech consultancy Analytic Partners.She says: "My experience as an independent is that the client themselves will tell you more stuff and they'll treat you more as a partner because you're not trying to sell them the next media campaign, you're not trying to steer them towards your media partners who can get you a better deal and you can get more commission on them."---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Reporters Jack Benjamin and Ella Sagar look at the stories that mattered most in media and advertising this week.The pair discuss Google's reversal on cookie deprecation, plus coverage around the latest earnings from Alphabet, Spotify, Netflix and others, as well as an odd match for Teads and Outbrain.Highlights00:21: Google's U-turn on cookie deprecation6:46: Alphabet earnings 8:23: Netflix earnings 11:22: Spotify earnings14:30: Warner Bros Discovery considers split16:45: Teads and Outbrain's potential merger15:45: News round-up: Publicis Groupe's stronger-than-expected Q2 earnings; Vivendi's plans to list its business on separate stock exchanges; Ofcom fines TikTok; City AM agrees content-sharing deal with Reach; UK Q1 adspend according to AA/Warc

Laurence Green, the IPA's effectiveness director, speaks to Omar Oakes about the rise of media agencies submitting entries for the new IPA Effectiveness Awards, whose shortlist is published this week.The awards, which run every two years, have seen a "dramatic" increase in media agencies submitting best-in-class advertising effectiveness work. Green discusses the reasons behind this and whether advertising and marketing are being more led by media planning and buying.Green, who has founded ad agencies and is one of the UK's most renowned brand strategists, also discusses the state of Cannes Lions and the work showcased this year at the world's biggest advertising show.Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Reporters Jack Benjamin and Ella Sagar look at the stories that mattered most in media and advertising this week.The pair discuss media coverage around the Euros and Olympics, takeaways from the latest IPA Bellwether, how Labour intends to support the current BBC funding model and more.Highlights:00:24: Summer of Sport – Olympics and Paralympics coverage; keyword-blocking of Reach articles8:14: IPA Bellwether shows business optimism10:51: Labour's commitment to the BBC's licensing arrangements15:45: News round-up: UKTV's U masterbrand; another Telegraph Media Group auction; Omnicom earnings; Taboola and Apple strike adtech deal; Euros viewing figuresRelated Links:UKTV launches U masterbrand with ‘biggest-ever' campaign starring CherChannel 4 creates ‘most accessible' sponsorship idents yet for Paralympics 2024Half of Reach's Euro 2024 coverage wrongly identified by brands as unsafeLabour quietens BBC funding chatter for now as it commits to licence fee to 2027ITVX pulls in its biggest live-stream audience for England semi-final victory---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Kate Harris, former CEO and current regional director at Nabs, talks to Omar Oakes about mental health in the media and advertising industry.Harris, a former ad agency executive who now runs a recruitment business, discusses the challenges of managing work-from-home stress and the benefits of art and creativity for mental wellbeing.They also explore the need for open conversation and practical support for women going through the menopause at work and why the industry is still "ageist", despite making improvements over the last 20 years.Further reading:Omar Oakes: 'Is it time to cut back on 'junk media'?Lessons in supporting your teams' mental wellnessCreate, donate and participate at the Nabs Art Auction---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

Reporter Ella Sagar and deputy editor Maria Iu look at the stories that mattered most in media and advertising this week.The pair discuss new culture secretary Lisa Nandy's in-tray, Ofcom's ruling on BBC spin-off stations, Meta's view that news is "substitutable" and Paramount Global's merger with Skydance Media.Highlights0:26: What you need to know about the new Labour government3:54: Ofcom delays early launch of BBC Radio 2's "pop nostalgia" service8:30: Industry reaction to Meta saying news is "substitutable"12:15: Paramount Global and Skydance Media merger14:30: Bundling could be "consolidation lite"16:57: News round-up: Channel 4's chief revenue officer will depart at the end of the year; Spotify has added a comments feature for podcasts; the UK and Ireland June box office is up 7%; The Independent has been having “more than half a dozen serious conversations” with global publishers about partnerships; and latest IPA TouchPoints data showing 38% of Brits "are not coping" on their current income.Related linksBig changes ahead in media under a new governmentOfcom delays launch of BBC Radio 2 ‘pop nostalgia' serviceParamount ends merger saga after reaching ‘definitive' Skydance agreementDisney bundling found to lower churn in USChannel 4 sales chief Veriça Djurdjevic exit: CEO's letter to staff in fullJune box office up 7%The Independent's CEO eyes publisher partnerships beyond BuzzFeed