The Media Leader Podcast

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: [email protected].

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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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---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

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

Andrew Cole, board member of Liberty Global and one of the original backers of GB News, talks to Omar Oakes about shaking up the status quo of TV measurement and trading.Cole's new venture, Digital Audience Data, seeks to get all major telecoms operators in advanced economies to jointly share data for a "more accurate" TV measurement system than legacy ones such as those operated by Barb and Kantar Media in the UK.He also talks about his track record working with Steve Jobs and Apple on the iPhone's launch and how his career has been built on "disrupting" legacy systems.And, amid rumours of GB News following in TalkTV's footsteps by going online only, Cole answers questions about the rationale for launching the channel in 2021 – a move that attracted calls for an advertiser boycott before it began programming.Further reading:UK telcos plot audience measurement and ad sales platformTelcos can transform the UK ad industry for the better---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---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

Omar Oakes and Maria Iu digest the big stories of the week and Les Binet talks to The Media Leader about why he's created an AI version of himself. Binet, group head of effectiveness at Adam & Eve/DDB and a renowned ad authority, talk to Oakes at Cannes Lions about his long history with AI, his Cannes diary and his battle against the industry's "shiny object" syndrome.Highlights:2:30: What will change in media and advertising under Labour?7:20: What analysts are saying about the economy under Labour10:00: Commissions from Netflix and Amazon are up – confidence returning to TV?12:30: Fox launches Tubi in the UK – is the market saturated?15:10: London's most attention-grabbing bus shelters – where and why?16:45: What to do about election leaflets posing as fake newspapers20:00: Les Binet interview---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

Prioritising talent and creativity should be top of the list for media leaders this year, according to attendees at The Media Leader Summit.The Media Leader reporters Jack Benjamin and Ella Sagar bring you highlights in a special episode from their conversations with senior figures around what the top focus should be for the industry this year.Sustainability, measurement, inclusion, consistency and trust were also discussed as key topics.Some of the winners of The Media Leader Awards' Leader of the Year category — Patrick Affleck, CEO of Havas Media Network UK and Ireland; Thomas Bremond, senior vice-president and chief revenue officer, international, at FreeWheel; Rob Edwards, head of media and digital at Arla Foods; and Dominic Williams, chief revenue officer at Mail Metro Media — share their thoughts.We also hear from Cath Waller, managing director of advertising at Immediate Media, and Chloë Davies, founder of It Takes A Village.Highlights00:53: Dominic Williams on testing new things02:56: Patrick Affleck speaks about people and optimism06:10: Rob Edwards discusses the importance of measurement and creativity for advertisers08:48: Thomas Bremond's views on sustainability and building the future of TV11:14: Chloë Davies highlights the need for the media and advertising industry to "hold the line"14:36: Cath Waller calls for more action on trust in media---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 are back with a look at the stories that mattered most in media and advertising this week.The duo unpack The Media Leader Awards, which saw Mail Metro Media awarded four gongs, including a Grand Prix for chief revenue officer Dominic Williams. They also discuss the importance of media in the run-up to next week's general election and the EU's potential action against Apple under the Digital Markets Act.Highlights:00:26: The Media Leader Awards and Mail Metro Media's aggressive AV strategy5:11: General election run-up – whether fact-based political ads can be regulated, plus the importance of social media to this year's campaigns14:57: Apple found in breach of the Digital Markets Act17:40: News round-up: European Programmatic TV Initiative, UN framework for tackling misinformation and disinformation, contingency plans for the US TikTok ban, Bauer's Rayo app and Telegraph Media Group lossVisit 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

Flash interviews from the Croisette with media leaders — what's it really like here, what makes it worthwhile for media people looking to sell and ink deals, where are the best parties and how do you stand out?This is an epic episode — skip to your favourite part!Highlights: 03:10: Chris Kleinschmidt, VP, advertising, TiVo07:45: David Jones, founder and CEO, The Brandtech Group15:30: Louise Johnson, CEO, Fuse (Omnicom)19:35: Chris Volmer, managing director and managing partner, MediaLink28:20: Anne-Laure Dreyfus, TV director, Egta33:35: Marc Guldimann, founder and CEO, Adelaide42:48: Jake Dubbins, Conscious Advertising NetworkThanks to TiVo for sponsoring this conversation with The Media Leader! While some of our coverage is sponsored, all of it is independently created by the editorial team when one of our journalists is involved. ---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

Editor-in-chief Omar Oakes, deputy editor Maria Iu and reporter Jack Benjamin look back on their time at the 2024 Cannes Lions, from the application of "meaningful" AI to the dominance of adtech, from media owner activity to Media Lion winners.Highlights:00:45: Impressions of the 2024 Cannes Lions4:28: Media owner activity at the event – Amazon, Meta, Reddit, TikTok, Pinterest, Netflix — and what they're trying to sell to the global advertising community13:20: The Media Lion Grand Prix and other award-winning work20:03: Key learnings from the week – sustainability, the value of pacing yourself, the rise of the creator economy, cookies, bringing people into the tent amid a tough market---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 Cannes Lions this week, so we've brought you a special debate about the future of bringing creativity and media planning together in advertising, featuring senior decision-makers at major brands and one of the UK's foremost media strategy consultants:>> Olya Dyachuk, global media and data director, Heineken>> Sebastien Bourne, head of media for north-west and central Europe, HP>> Sally Weavers, co-founder, Craft MediaOmar Oakes asks them about how media and creative should reconcile in an industry where audiences are becoming more fragmented across digital media: how does "the big idea" get sold to advertisers when audiences are seeing different messages at different times? Recorded at The Future of Brands in April.Stand by in the coming days for what the media vibes are from Cannes Lions as The Media Leader sends its biggest contingent of journalists to the festival this year – Omar's intro sets out what you can expect from us and why you should remember Cannes' "dirty secret"…Who should we interview next? We're open to requests! Email [email protected] 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 are back with a look at the stories that mattered most in media and advertising this week.The pair discuss how growth in the Chinese ad market has driven upward revisions in GroupM's mid-year ad forecasts, the industry's response to António Guterres' call for a global fossil-fuel ad ban and what Apple's WWDC announcements mean for publishers.Highlights:1:00: Unpacking GroupM's latest adspend report5:02: UN urges fossil-fuel ad ban to muted industry response9:20: OOH surpasses 5% market share threshold12:20: Apple WWDC AI announcements16:35: News round-up: BFI Imax anniversary, May box office, Bauer podcasts, Paramount's Skydance talks and BeReal acquisition

Where has the joy gone in digital advertising? And how can we get it back? James Chandler, chief marketing officer at the IAB, thinks that while the start of the digital scene was "an incredibly exciting space", the feeling of "joy and magic dissipated" somewhere along the way.In a study with advertisers, the IAB found that this came down to two things: "unease" about the pace of change and a feeling of "futility mainly around creativity", where advertisers do not feel "they have got much agency" in a world of algorithms and AI.Indeed, as Chandler acknowledges, in a seven-year career at the IAB, there have been "big moments" including brand safety, fraud and ad-blocking – all of which have had "advertisers questioning the integrity of the performance of digital".So the focus should be on getting people to "rediscover" joy, fun and creativity in digital advertising.Chandler joins Ella Sagar to discuss joy in digital advertising and highlights sessions from the recent Engage conference, including talks from former UK MD for Twitter Dara Nasr and EssenceMediacom's Geoff de Burca and Lindsey Jordan. Highlights03:32: Why joy in advertising is so important and where it has gone 07:15: What would a two-tier dystopian internet look like?11.56: A rallying cry for creativity from EssenceMediacom strategy chief Geoff de Burca 12.38: Former Twitter UK MD Dara Nasr on making the internet fun 15:58: Holding a mirror up to society 19.47: Key takeaways from IAB Engage

Reporters Jack Benjamin and Ella Sagar are back with a look at the stories that mattered most in media and advertising this week.The duo discuss what the pre-election period means for held-up government adspend, recent M&A activity by MediaSense and Mediaplus, and why the Evening Standard has fallen on troubled times.Highlights:0:40: How much government adspend has been put on hold during the pre-election period4:39: MediaSense acquires PwC's media advisory6:36: Indie merger: Total Media and Mediaplus9:50: Why the Evening Standard dropped its daily edition12:28: Takeaways from IAB Engage14:25: The AA's new report on trust16:30: News round-up: Election debate overnights, new leadership at Ocean Outdoor, plus The Washington Post, X's adult content and Netflix's gaming additions

Omar Oakes interviews Laura Jordan Bambach (co-founder, Uncharted) and Tom Curtis (ECD, EssenceMediacom UK) about the challenges of building collaborative partnerships, potential conflicts of interest and how agencies can be creative when planning where media is bought.They discuss the evolving landscape of creativity and marketing, and the importance of taking a media-first approach to creativity and leveraging technology to create better assets and plan media more efficiently. They also highlight the potential for creative agencies to be sidelined in digital advertising projects and stress the importance of collaboration and integration in the industry.Highlights05:35: Curtis' unusual role as a media agency ECD and how creative roles have evolved at media agencies07:19: Uncharted's emphasis on a collaborative approach10:04: Why great leadership from the top is key to successful agency partnerships16:04: How the market has changed alongside the way audiences consume contentRecorded at The Future of Brands, London (April 2024) Who should we interview next? We're open to requests! Email [email protected] 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 are back with a look at the stories that mattered most in media and advertising this week, including and especially how the media industry has responded to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calling for a general election on 4 July.Highlights:1:45: Media Bill becomes the Media Act5:29: DMCC Bill also passes7:30: Media bills that were not passed during wash-up period12:55: What should be the top media priority for the next government?15:32: Klarna cuts its marketing budget thanks to AI18:20: News roundup: PayPal, Total Media Group, BuzzFeed, Daily Beast, Netflix---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

Omar Oakes and columnist Nick Manning have a wide-ranging conversation about the recent ANA report into media agency reselling ("principal-based media"), where media agencies buy media at one price and resell it to clients at an undisclosed higher price – and why it's important.This is an epic conversation that delves into why advertising is no longer well-integrated with content, why there is a talent drain from the industry, why it may be "inevitable" that major ad agency groups are broken up and what Nick is planning through the 'Who Cares" movement with Brian Jacobs.Highlights:3:18: What's so bad with principal-based media?8:16: Why do media agencies do this?19:07: What should be the auditor's role in all this?36:12: What PM shows about the state of the ad industry41:08: Impact on media owners44:53: The demise of a "curated" advertising experience and Omar's epiphany52:17: The impact on content creation and why we're bombarded with 1990s rehashes63:38: The 'Who Cares" movement and what it wants to achieve61:11: Do we need greater regulation to make advertising and media function better?64:48: Should the major ad agency groups be broken up?Useful links: ANA calls for contracts and auditing shakeup over principal media ‘conflicts of interest’Nick Manning: Why principal-based media is bad for the whole industryNick Manning: Who cares wins: The antidote to 'badvertising'Omar Oakes: Squeamish about advertising? Get over it---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 are back with a look at the stories that mattered most in media and advertising this week.Highlights00:28: Barb joins the Media Rating Council3:34: GB News facing potential Ofcom sanction8:25: Netflix upfronts12:45: IPA survey: Ad industry "demoralised" about climate crisis15:50: Other important updates: Comcast's streaming bundle, gaming news publisher consolidation, Bauer Media's new HQ, ThreadsDeck and more.---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

Omar Oakes interviews Simon Myciunka, the CEO of Bauer Media Audio UK.Speaking at The Future of Audio & Entertainment, Myciunka discussed his first year in the job, his vision for the business, and why he believes continued innovation will be the key to radio's future success in the year radio celebrates its centenary.Highlights2.55: Myciunka's unconventional route to becoming a media CEO8.13: Why he got the job and what he plans to do14.33: Reaction to leadership changes at Global16.37: His key challenges19.46: Plans for Hits Radio, why merge local stations, and how to make that brand distinct23.24: In a digital audio market, will talent routinely be bigger than radio brands?28.14: Plans for developing Rayo, Bauer's putative rival to Global Player32.26: Opinion on the BBC selling UK ads on podcast platformsLinks:>> Watch this interview (Adwanted UK YouTube)>> Our Rajar coverage (Q1 2024)Coming up next week: Oakes and Nick Manning will discuss the ANA report into principal-based media and where it fits into wider issues with the way is media is traded globally today.---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 are back with a look at the stories that mattered most in media and advertising this week.Highlights00:35: ANA report on principal media3:47: Rajar Q1 takeaways5:54: Changes to Google and Safari search and the impact on publishers10:01: Streaming TV bundles13:59: Takeaways from Advertising Week Europe16:59: Other important updates this week: mental health awareness, Channel 4 and ITV updates, Clear Channel earnings, and more.What do you think of this new format? Contact [email protected] The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

David Abraham, founder and CEO of Wonderhood Studios, speaks to Omar Oakes about the future of the "big idea" in marketing, his company's approach to ad-funded programming and his view on Channel 4, the broadcaster he used to run for seven years as CEO.Skip straight to 6:15 for the interview!Abraham believes we still need the “big idea” and the creative agencies behind them, amid a fragmented media landscape and an increasing feeling that this industry is no longer “fun”.In his keynote interview at The Future of Brands in April, Abraham talked of advertising that “can reach you at such a deep, emotive level that you’ll remember that core idea that surrounds that brand for the rest of your life”. So a big idea “actually creates memory structures that create brand equity over time”.Useful links:Summary of Abraham's interview (our website)The video version of the interview (YouTube)Editor’s note: Let’s trust each other to get real about sponsored content (our website)The Future of Brands (Adwanted Events)Email the editor! [email protected] want to know what you think about this podcast, who we should interview, what topics we should address... everything!---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

Reporters Jack Benjamin and Ella Sagar are back with a look at the stories that mattered most in media and advertising this week.0:20: Disney earnings4:20: Paramount – the saga continues8:10: Reddit – what did we learn from its first quarterly earnings?12:15: Why Acast is reporting strong sales growth15:30: Introducing "And Finally" – other important updates this week: TikTok, Reach, QueerAF, The Guardian, JCDecaux, UK box officeWhat do you think of this new format? Let us know at [email protected] The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

There is a rough 50/50 split between marketers who are either "relieved" that Google's cookie deprecation has been delayed again and those who are more prepared with solutions for when it does eventually happen.This is according to Tony Miller, chair of the Data & Marketing Association, who spoke to reporter Ella Sagar about Google's decision to push cookie deprecation down the road for a third time, as well as what current challenges DMA members are facing.

Reporters Jack Benjamin and Ella Sagar are back with a look at the stories that mattered most in media and advertising this week.1:30: Google delays the phasing out of third-party cookies again. Why and should we still care?3:00: Alphabet earnings and a focus on YouTube4:30: TikTok faces US ban in nine months – how will it respond?7:07: Spotify's pivot to video10:10: Snap's small-business success13:00: Factors now driving Amazon ad growth16:50: Bob Bakish exits Paramount amid merger talks---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

Welcome to this special four-part series of the podcast, which we've produced with Bloomberg Media. For the first time, we've recorded the podcast in a studio, so you can also watch/listen on our YouTube channel.The Future of Marketing is a series of conversations about the essential strategies and skills needed for marketers and their teams to thrive in today's complex cross-platform ecosystem. Hosted by editor-in-chief Omar Oakes, each episode this month will bring together the buy side and sell side of media to discuss the opportunities and pitfalls in 2024 and beyond.Episode 4: The magic of video – captivating content for all seasonsMedia agency Starcom’s chief strategy officer, Dan Plant, is joined by Bloomberg Media’s Duncan Chater and Omar Oakes to delve into how video and original programming have redefined the boundaries of brand engagement and audience resonance.Conversation outline:The state of video today as a storytelling channel with the rise of short-form content on TikTok, Instagram and YouTubeStories from brands during the recent festive seasonOriginal programming and documentary-style videos' impact to reach diverse audiencesHow marketers can use storytelling in video throughout the year, as opposed to a particular time in the calendarWhat’s new in 2024 for working with original content creators, platforms and media owner in-house studios?This is the last episode! Duncan and Omar wrap the conversation to summarise what advertisers and media owners should take into account when considering the future of marketing.Subscribe and scroll back through our feed to get previous episodes (they can be taken in any order).---Thanks, as always, to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode and for producing this series, which was recorded at Create in London. Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

We’ve just finished one of our big London events, The Future of Audio and Entertainment, where we had some of the most influential players in commercial audio and online platforms get together to talk about the future of content, production, AI, ads, sponsorships and measurement.If you subscribe to our YouTube channel, you’ll see that we’re also regularly publishing flash interviews from our events, via The Media Leader Live studio, and today we bring you two of those conversations by our audio reporter Ella Sagar.The first one is with Matt Payton, CEO of commercial radio industry body Radiocentre, which launched some stark findings on the day of the event that showed if the BBC decided to introduce advertising across radio, the financial impact on commercial radio would be “devastating”, with a 36% forecast decline in revenues.And Michael Bayston, Acast's vice-president of adtech solutions, discusses why measurement is still such a key challenge this year, both for legacy radio broadcasters and digital platforms.---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

Welcome to this special four-part series of the podcast, which we've produced with Bloomberg Media. For the first time, we've recorded the podcast in a studio, so you can also watch/listen on our YouTube channel.The Future of Marketing is a series of conversations about the essential strategies and skills needed for marketers and their teams to thrive in today's complex cross-platform ecosystem. Hosted by editor-in-chief Omar Oakes, each episode this month will bring together the buy side and sell side of media to discuss the opportunities and pitfalls in 2024 and beyond.Episode 3: How to really move the needle with storytelling and engaging audiencesOmar Oakes is joined by Ann Wixley, executive creative director at WPP media agency Wavemaker, and Bloomberg Media European managing director Duncan Chater. They dive into breakthrough thought-leadership solutions and building valuable custom content that promises to convey your brand's unique value proposition through the art of storytelling.Conversation outline:Has the importance of "the big idea" changed in 2024 – ie. reaching people with a singular campaign message as audiences become more fragmented?In-house expertise available when working with media ownersOptimal ways to work with studios and content creatorsHow does the media strategy impact on the storytelling? Which one should be planned first?Data insights and tools that make your brand’s storytelling betterNext episode: "The magic of video: Captivating content for all seasons" with Bloomberg Media's Duncan Chater and Starcom's Dan Plant.---Thanks, as always, to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode and for producing this series, which was recorded at Create in London. Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

In-game advertising has proven to be a tough nut to crack for brands and marketers. But are agencies set up well to take advantage of the burgeoning possibilities in the medium?Rhys Hancock is a technology, media and entertainment consultant who previously worked at Epic Games and, before that, co-founded metaverse studio and agency Metavision.In a conversation with host Jack Benjamin, Hancock gives his perspective on whether agencies are well-suited to planning and buying gaming inventory."That separation between creative and media, I don't think can hold in gaming much longer," says Hancock.Highlights:7:05: Breaking down intrinsic and immersive in-game advertising options11:20: In-game advertising campaigns that have worked well17:06: Are agencies well-suited to executing on gaming campaigns?25:50: The future of gaming – VR, cross-platform and cloud gaming, shoppable gaming and generative AI---This episode was edited by our production partner Trisonic.Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

Welcome to this special four-part series of the podcast, which we've produced with Bloomberg Media. For the first time, we've recorded the podcast in a studio, so you can also watch/listen on our YouTube channel.The Future of Marketing is a series of conversations about the essential strategies and skills needed for marketers and their teams to thrive in today's complex cross-platform ecosystem. Hosted by editor-in-chief Omar Oakes, each episode this month will bring together the buy side and sell side of media to discuss the opportunities and pitfalls in 2024 and beyond.Episode 2: How to master the impact of insights and data toolsOmar Oakes is joined by Bloomberg Media’s Phil Robinson and Havas Media Network UK's chief planning officer, Jackie Lyons. They delve into the transformative impact of incorporating insights and data tools into your advertising strategy.Conversation outline:The best ways of measuring brand perception in the marketHow marketers can craft responsive strategies that enhance their brand’s imageWhat are marketers generally not doing when it comes to gaining data-driven insights and how should they improve this in 2024?Why it is important for marketers to be strategic leaders within their businesses and the support they needNext week: "How to really move the needle with storytelling and engaging audiences" with Bloomberg Media's Duncan Chater and Wavemaker's Ann Wixley. ---Thanks, as always, to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode and for producing this series, which was recorded at Create in London. Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

Host Ella Sagar is joined by reporter Jack Benjamin and columnist and ex-media agency founder Nick Manning to discuss hot topics in the media industry from the past week.The trio examine the 'Forbesgate' scandal and the trouble marketers and publishers are having over efforts to tamp down on adspend being wasted on Made-For-Advertising sites.They also chat about March's box office figures, News Group Newspapers' latest financial results, and how publishers and influencers are experimenting with SMS to engage with audiences.Highlights:00:26: The row over defining what a "Made-For-Advertising" website is.09:52: What the Forbes-MFA scandal means for the state of the digital advertising market.23:05: Looking ahead to the Future of Brands and Future of Audio & Entertainment events.25:30: Quick hits: March box office; Vevo's shoppable TV formats; Havas Media Network UK's "Avengers"; publishers using WhatsApp; News Group Newspapers' mixed financial results---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader