Media Intelligence

Global advertising is proving more resilient than the headlines suggest — even as the Middle East conflict and rising oil prices rattle energy markets, consumer confidence and supply chains. In episode 92 of the WPP Media Intelligence podcast, Kate Scott-Dawkins, Jeff Foster and Nidhi Shah break down what the oil disruption really means for ad budgets, why the ad market floor is holding, and what brands should do right now.Plus: two landmark court rulings find Meta and YouTube liable for platform harm, Netflix makes its live sports debut with MLB opening night and draws 18 million viewers to its BTS concert, micro dramas emerge as a serious global media format, and the US ad market closes 2025 with a surprising 14.7% growth figure.Key Topics DiscussedMiddle East conflict & oil disruption: Why global ad growth may hold despite the macro shock — and which sectors face the biggest riskScenario planning for advertisers: Bull, base and bear case outlooks for 2025–2026 ad budgetsMeta & YouTube legal verdicts: Platform liability, child safety rulings and what it means for brand advertisersNetflix live sports & live events: MLB opening night broadcast, the BTS concert hitting 18M viewers and top 10 in 80 countries, subscription price increases and the live events strategyMicro dramas: How short-form vertical video storytelling is going global and what the ad revenue model looks likeUS ad market 2025 results: 14.7% growth, digital advertising up 15.6%, digital newspapers up 10.4%2026 US ad forecast: 7.4% growth projected, local TV under pressure in a midterm election year, out-of-home boosted by the World CupChapters00:00 - Middle East conflict and global ad market impact15:57 - Meta and YouTube platform liability verdicts explained20:47 - Netflix live sports, BTS and subscription price increases25:39 - Micro dramas: the short form format going global31:04 - US ad market 2025 results and 2026 forecast34:20 - What to watch next week

Oil is surging and the headlines say brace for impact — but the relationship between energy prices and advertising spend is more nuanced than it looks. In this episode of the Media Intelligence Podcast, WPP Media's Kate Scott-Dawkins, Jeff Foster and Nidhi Shah break down what rising oil prices actually mean for advertising budgets, media planning and brand strategy across five key markets: the US, Canada, the UK, Europe and Australia.The team unpacks why an oil shock today works as a macro stress multiplier rather than a direct spending killer — and what that means for marketing investment decisions in 2026. Then it's into eCommerce, where US online retail crossed $1.23 trillion in 2025 and the UK hit nearly 29% of all retail sales online — and what the rise of global retail media networks means for brands and advertisers navigating this shift.Topics covered: oil price impact on CPI and consumer spending, inflation risk by market, retail media growth, OpenAI's commerce strategy, Amazon's advertising ecosystem, and the global eCommerce players reshaping media investment.00:00 Introduction01:50 Oil prices and the macro stress multiplier02:37 Market by market: US, Canada, Europe and Australia14:30 China: EVs, exports and the labour market shift17:17 eCommerce: where retail growth is actually happening20:06 Retail media, agentic commerce and the $1B+ club26:26 Amazon's content and commerce ecosystem📊 Read the WPP Media Advertising Intelligence Framework — the full analysis of how AI is reshaping advertiser capabilities, competitive positioning and partner selection: https://www.wppmedia.com/thought-leadership/research-business-intelligence/advertising-intelligence-framework-first-edition?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep91

Women's Sports Are Booming — But Is Your Brand Keeping Up?This week on the WPP Media Intelligence Podcast, hosts Kate Scott-Dawkins, Jeff Foster, and Nidhi Shah are joined by special guest Denise Ocasio, Executive Director and Head of Investment at WPP Media, to unpack three of the biggest conversations shaping media and advertising right now.First, they dive deep into women's sports — still on a record-breaking trajectory despite a quieter 2025 calendar. Denise shares why authentic storytelling, the creator economy, and smarter holistic video strategy are the keys to unlocking this still-undervalued media asset.Then, as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East ripple through energy markets and newsrooms, the team examines what it means for advertisers — from out-of-home disruption in MENA to cable news preemptions in the US — and how brands navigate uncertainty without pulling back.Finally, they break down the 2025 Top 50 Global Ad Sellers leaderboard — who climbed, who slipped, and what the rise of commerce media players like Uber, Netflix, and Reliance Industries signals about where the industry is headed.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro & episode overview00:41 – Welcome: Denise Ocasio, Head of Investment, WPP Media01:45 – Women's sports viewership trends: 2025 in review03:13 – The power of athlete storytelling (Caitlin Clark effect)04:31 – Brand authenticity in women's sports sponsorship06:11 – Navigating fragmented video: reach vs. engagement07:25 – The creator economy as the "new Hollywood"08:27 – Are athletes exhausted by content creation demands?10:51 – Sports rights fragmentation & the future of leagues12:00 – AI, new platforms, and where sports media is headed15:52 – Geopolitical tensions: economic and advertising impacts17:31 – Energy prices, inflation, and central bank pressures20:06 – MENA advertising: OOH, news demand, and cautious messaging21:37 – US market signals: EVs, gas prices, cable news preemptions24:08 – Versant Q4 earnings: $6.7B revenue, 9% ad decline25:52 – 2025 Top 50 Global Ad Sellers leaderboard breakdown29:05 – New entrants: Uber, Netflix, Reddit, Reliance, Globo30:34 – Who fell: legacy TV broadcasters and newspapers32:36 – Commerce media's growing dominance (9 of top 50)34:10 – International Women's Day: female CEO & board representation35:10 – What the team is watching next week

The ad market is starting to look like a three-body problem: streaming growth, linear decline, and event-driven spikes (sports + politics) — all colliding as deal rumors swirl around Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).Kate Scott-Dawkins hosts Jeff Foster and Nidhi Shah (WPP Media Business Intelligence) to break down Paramount and WBD earnings: Paramount+ up 17% with 78.9M subs, Pluto TV down 16% on monetization headwinds, and WBD streaming ad revenue up 20% (just over $1B) with 131.6M global streaming subscribers — plus the aftershock of losing NBA rights and the looming NFL renewal.They also scan Europe’s pressure points (TF1, Atresmedia) as broadcasters raise streaming ad minutes and broaden advertiser access, then look at TelevisaUnivision (U.S. ad softness, tentpole demand, political and World Cup tailwinds). Finally: Mercado Libre’s +67% ad growth and why shifting tariffs and de minimis rules are complicating 2026 planning.00:00-Deal rumor backdrop, tariffs uncertainty, what’s on the docket01:13-Paramount earnings: DTC growth, Pluto monetization slump, ad declines07:07-Sports and NFL renewal: why local reach still matters08:06-Warner Bros. Discovery: streaming ads +20%, subs 131.6M, NBA loss fallout13:08-Europe: Atresmedia & TF1 declines, streaming monetization and ad-load strategy16:30-TelevisaUnivision: US down, Mexico steadier, political + World Cup tailwinds19:17-Mercado Libre +67% ads, retail media momentum, tariffs and de minimis “whack-a-mole”23:37-Next week’s earnings and podcast recommendationsPost-recording update: WBD’s board deemed Paramount Skydance’s sweetened offer “superior” to the $83B Netflix deal; Netflix will not match and has withdrawn.Advertising Intelligence Framework: https://www.wppmedia.com/thought-leadership/research-business-intelligence/advertising-intelligence-framework-first-edition?utm_source=media_intelligence&utm_medium=podcast

Ad revenue is still holding up in key quarters—even as some US economic signals flash stress and platform reporting gets a bit murkier. Kate Scott-Dawkins joins Jeff Foster and Nidhi Shah to break down fresh earnings signals (Roku, Walmart/eBay, Pinterest, travel platforms, Reddit), then brings in WPP Media search experts Katelyn Taylor and Teddie Cowell for a fast-moving conversation on how “search” is expanding beyond the box into AI discovery, answer engines, and agentic commerce. Topics include: Roku platform growth and OS advantage, retail media’s continued surge (Walmart’s $6.4B ads and eBay near $2B), AI shopping assistants and order value lift, Pinterest monetization and international user mix, travel advertising divergence (Booking/Expedia vs Tripadvisor) under AI-driven traffic shifts, Reddit’s ad growth and changes to user reporting, why AI search isn’t a zero-sum threat to traditional search, “total search” (paid + organic + social + commerce), EEAT/source-worthiness and third-party signals (PR/UGC/reviews), the human vs machine content tension during the agentic transition, and the five pillars of the Advertising Intelligence Framework (inputs, processing, distribution, monetization, content/media).00:00 — Opening: ad signals, “search is everywhere,” what it means for advertisers00:25 — Agenda: earnings highlights + Advertising Intelligence Framework01:00 — Roku earnings + TV OS advantage02:39 — Retail media: eBay/Walmart ad growth + AI/agentic commerce04:29 — Pinterest earnings: growth, user mix, monetization trends05:39 — Travel platforms: Booking/Expedia vs TripAdvisor; AI’s impact on traffic07:54 — Reddit earnings + AI citations; debate on logged-in metrics12:00 — Deep dive: the future of search (paid + organic + new AI entrants)18:52 — Myths/realities: AI search vs traditional search; Google’s role20:47 — Becoming “source-worthy”: EEAT, PR/UGC, content for humans vs AI parsing29:45 — Advertising Intelligence Framework: 5 pillars, companies scored, why it matters38:49 — Wrap: what they’re watching + outro/contact infoAdvertising Intelligence Framework: https://www.wppmedia.com/thought-leadership/research-business-intelligence/advertising-intelligence-framework-first-edition?utm_source=media_intelligence&utm_medium=podcast

The Super Bowl isn’t just football—it’s the biggest advertising marketplace in American TV. Kate Scott-Dawkins (live from Levi’s Stadium) joins Jeff Foster and Nidhi Shah to break down Super Bowl commercials, the cost of Super Bowl ads, and why brands still pay for the last truly mass, shared TV moment.They also unpack a major earnings week—Amazon, Alphabet (Google/YouTube), Uber, Disney, and Fox—and the theme cutting across everything: AI investment and rising capex, plus what it means for retail media, streaming ads, and sports rights economics.Topics include: Super Bowl ad “hacks” (prediction markets and skywriting), the “AI Super Bowl” creative playbook, Amazon advertising and Prime Video, Google search growth and retail ad spend, Uber’s $2B ads run-rate and AV data partnerships, Disney’s shifting profit mix, Fox/Tubi growth, and why sports rights keep squeezing margins.0:00 – Intro: inside Levi’s Stadium vs the “advertising Super Bowl” at home01:22 – Watching the game + what commercial breaks feel like in-stadium02:34 – Prediction markets ad ban: Kalshi skywriting and “hacking” the Super Bowl04:00 – San Francisco OOH: why every billboard says “AI”04:39 – Super Bowl creative takeaways: Gemini, Alexa, celebrities05:53 – Halftime show moments and cultural impact07:05 – Early ratings chatter + why this reach is hard to replicate08:17 – The reach math: what it would cost to match Super Bowl scale elsewhere09:23 – Retail/commerce media: Walmart’s milestone and resilient growth10:31 – Amazon results: ads, Prime Video, and audience scale11:31 – AI capex surge: 2025 vs 2026 spending acceleration12:07 – Alphabet/Google: $400B year, search growth, YouTube signals, CapEx jump16:13 – Uber: $2B ads run-rate, AV strategy, Nvidia partnership, expansion20:01 – Disney: earnings, streaming economics, and CEO succession signals25:18 – Fox: sports rights pressure, Tubi growth, and ad category strength29:44 – Europe: AI adoption in marketing/sales and budget implications32:25 – Wrap-up + what to watch next (Snap note)

Meta’s ad engine keeps accelerating—even as legal and regulatory pressure builds. Kate Scott-Dawkins is joined by Jeff Foster and Nidhi Shah to break down a packed earnings week and the theme they see everywhere right now: concentration and consolidation—of ad spend, audience attention, and especially AI investment.They unpack Meta’s surprisingly strong growth and a striking geographic disclosure (why Singapore suddenly shows up as a top billing market), Microsoft’s mixed ad signals across Search and LinkedIn (including rapid growth in paid video ads), and what Comcast/NBCU’s results say about the economics of streaming—where sports can lift subscribers and advertisers, but also widen losses. Plus: what luxury earnings reveal about an uneven recovery (China stabilizing, other markets shifting) and why jewelry looks more resilient than other categories.We explore:Meta earnings: strong growth, the “billing address vs. user geography” disconnect, and why Singapore stood out.AI capex arms race: Meta’s major 2026 investment plans vs. Microsoft’s narrative challenge linking AI to ad growth.Microsoft ads + LinkedIn: Search/news resilience, marketing solutions, and the surge in paid video ads.Comcast/NBCU: mostly flat ad trends, tough comps, and the coming change as Versant assets roll out of reporting.Peacock: subscriber lift, NBA-driven advertiser gains, and what bigger sports bets mean for profitability.Luxury: uneven normalization, China’s importance, broader growth pockets, and LVMH’s lower ad/promo spend.Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: Super Bowl, Olympics, and the week’s earnings theme02:23 – Meta: growth stays strong03:30 – Meta disclosure: why Singapore appears as a top billing market06:22 – AI capex: Meta’s 2026 ramp and monetization paths (ads + subs)07:17 – Market reaction: why Meta and Microsoft were read differently10:30 – Meta headwinds: lawsuits and platform pressure vs. advertiser momentum12:08 – Comcast/NBCU: Q4 ads, tough comps, and scale questions14:01 – Peacock: subs, ad growth, NBA impact, and widening losses15:58 – Microsoft: Search/news ads, LinkedIn momentum, and video growth19:20 – Advertiser takeaways: efficiency, AI, and consolidation21:17 – Luxury: uneven recovery, jewelry strength, and ad spend trends24:13 – Tech preview: Apple/Samsung notes and what to watch next26:45 – Closing

Netflix says ads are booming—but are viewers actually watching more? Kate Scott-Dawkins and Jeff Foster dig into Netflix’s latest earnings: ~$3B in projected ad revenue for 2026, 325M paid memberships, and a surprisingly modest lift in hours watched. We unpack what that gap could mean for advertisers, why big IP (including Warner Bros. Discovery/WBD) suddenly looks even more valuable, and where Netflix may go next on content and sports.Plus: what P&G’s results suggest about a more disciplined year for CPG ad spend, the latest on TikTok’s new U.S. ownership structure (and the still-open questions around the algorithm), and OpenAI/ChatGPT testing ads—with an early focus on transparency and user control.We explore:Netflix’s 2026 ad revenue guidance (~$3B) and what it takes to scale a young ad business.Why 96B hours watched in 2H 2025 only grew ~2%—and the “attention per member” problem.Content strategy and competition: ~$18B implied 2026 content spend, sports optionality, and the pull of major franchise libraries (WBD).P&G earnings and why the company isn’t planning a big media ramp—what that signals for CPG budgets in 2026.TikTok’s U.S. divestment outcome: who owns what, what likely stays the same for advertisers, and how pressure is rising on social platforms globally.OpenAI begins testing ads: early guardrails, what “AI-native” advertising could look like, and why this launch matters.Chapters:00:00 – Intro: Netflix, P&G, TikTok U.S. deal, OpenAI ads00:42 – Netflix: ad revenue forecast to double to ~$3B in 202601:51 – Netflix: 325M paid memberships (first update in a year)02:20 – Engagement: 96B hours watched in 2H 2025 and what it implies04:29 – Content + sports: 2026 spend plans and rights questions07:30 – The hardware challenge: Netflix vs OS-controlled platforms08:38 – P&G: growth, pricing, category performance, and ad spend tone12:32 – TikTok: new U.S. ownership structure and open algorithm questions16:12 – Social pressure: under-16 bans, lawsuits, and brand risk20:29 – OpenAI/ChatGPT: testing ads, transparency, and what’s next25:27 – Weekend recommendations: AI reads/listens28:41 – Next week preview: key earnings to watch29:00 – Closing + contact

Is your next big purchase going to be made by AI? In this “super pod” crossover between WPP Media Intelligence and Madison & Wall, Kate Scott-Dawkins, Brian Wieser, Luke Stillman, Jeff Foster, and Nidhi Shah unpack the week’s biggest shifts in media and marketing.We explore:Google & OpenAI’s new agentic commerce protocols — and what AI shopping means for brands.Why US banks grew ad spend 12.5% in 2025 despite economic uncertainty.TikTok’s World Cup deal and what it signals for sports media rights.The evolving creator economy and where the dollars are really coming from.Insights into app advertising & mobile gaming following LiftOff’s IPO filing.Chapters:00:00 – Intro: AI shopping & what’s ahead in media and marketing01:20 – Agentic commerce: Google vs OpenAI protocols & retail media impact08:36 – US economy: Bank earnings and why ad spend is still rising17:28 – Sports media rights: TikTok’s global World Cup video partner deal20:40 – Creator economy: Where the money comes from and industry effects25:53 – App advertising & gaming: LiftOff IPO, AppLovin, mobile ad quality31:52 – Market outlook: Risks, opportunities, and sector growth potential32:13 – Next week preview: Key earnings, inflation data, and major events34:56 – Closing thoughts & outroWPP Media Global Advertising Forecast, Dec 2025: https://www.wppmedia.com/news/report-this-year-next-year-december-2025 Cross-over episode disclaimer: The views of Madison & Wall do not represent the opinions of WPP or WPP Media

Smart glasses everywhere, robots in your living room, and 73.9% of global ad spend concentrated in just 25 companies.Kate Scott-Dawkins, Jeff Foster, and Nidhi Shah break down what really matters for advertisers from CES: the explosion of robotics and smart home ecosystems, a wave of smart glasses and next-gen TVs, and what this growing “surface area” for media means for targeting, measurement, and creative. They also unpack WPP Media’s latest Top 25 Global Media Owners update, where those players are now expected to account for 73.9% of total ad industry revenue — and how consolidation, regulation, and AI could reshape that landscape.We also look ahead to 2026: the impact of a packed sports calendar and US midterm elections on ad pricing and inventory, rising youth-focused social regulation (inspired by Australia and Europe), and new AI-driven business models on both the content and media owner side.Listen for:What CES 2026’s robots, smart homes, and smart glasses really signal for brandsHow the Top 25 media owners reaching 73.9% share changes planning and partnership strategyWhere new ad opportunities may emerge in ecosystems like autos, connected homes, and creator platformsKey risks and catalysts for 2026: regulation, labor negotiations, mega-deals, and sports/election cycles00:00-CES recap: robots, smart homes and health tech03:29-Macro backdrop: jobs, inflation and retail context05:39-Next-gen TVs and hardware ecosystems09:23-Autos, energy tech and AI infrastructure13:10-Creators, fandom and sports at CES14:50-Top 25 global media owners and consolidation18:22-Smart glasses boom and new ad surfaces20:49-2026 outlook: deals, sports, elections and AI26:16-Advertising Intelligence framework and earnings preview

Host Kate Scott-Dawkins is joined by Jeff Foster and Nidhi Shah to break down WPP’s newly released global advertising forecast across 60+ markets and every major media channel.Discover why 2025 global ad revenue is now projected to grow 8.8% to $1.14 trillion, how AI is driving a shift toward “intelligence” advertising, and what the milestone of commerce surpassing TV ad spend means for brands worldwide.We explore:The rise of proactive, AI-powered advertising and the $400B expanded search opportunity by 2026.Category shifts, including retail media’s slowing growth amid consolidation, and the emergence of financial services, travel, and gaming networks.Regional trends in North America, LATAM, EMEA, China, and India.Sector-specific insights for automotive, technology, and media entertainment.Key challenges — from concentrated consumer spending, to diminishing retail media returns, to the threat of “agentic shopping.”Whether you’re a marketer, media buyer, or brand strategist, this episode delivers actionable intelligence to prepare for the evolving advertising landscape in 2025 and beyond.See the forecast here: https://www.wppmedia.com/news/report-this-year-next-year-december-2025

Earnings season meets forecast crunch time | Kate Scott‑Dawkins, Jeff Foster, and Nidhi Shah break down the latest media and marketing shifts: European broadcasters in decline, OOH gains from travel rebound, Amazon’s surge in cloud and streaming ads, Tubi’s early AVOD profitability, and the mixed fortunes at Peacock, Paramount+, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Disney. From sports rights battles to identity‑based targeting and looming M&A moves, the team unpacks what’s driving TV and streaming ad revenues — and what brands and advertisers need to know now.Listen for:• Trends in linear TV vs. streaming ad revenue growth• Why sports rights remain top-tier ad inventory• AVOD’s profitability milestone and what’s next• How consolidation could reshape the media buying landscape00:00 – Introduction and forecast season overlaps02:27 – European broadcaster earnings, consolidation moves, and OOH trends09:35 – Amazon earnings: Cloud, advertising, Prime Video reach, and sports rights15:03 – Fox earnings: Tubi’s growth, early profitability, and login strategy18:52 – Comcast: Peacock’s subscriber trends, ad revenue, and M&A speculation21:11 – Paramount/Skydance: Ad revenue decline, price hikes, and theatrical expansion24:32 – Warner Bros. Discovery: Revenue and ad declines, streaming subs, strategic options26:07 – Disney highlights and advertiser implications27:30 – Forecast wrap‑up and upcoming focus areas

This week, Kate Scott-Dawkins, Nidhi Shah, and Jeff Foster discuss Netflix’s 17% growth and plans to expand its ad business, Spanish-language broadcasters facing declines, political ad trends, luxury sector resilience, and a flood of AI news — from OpenAI’s browser to Samsung’s AI TVs — plus Google’s cancer research breakthrough.Chapters00:00-Introduction01:18-Netflix Q3 earnings and Brazilian tax impact09:25-Legacy broadcasters and Spanish-language media declines13:48-Political advertising trends and brand implications17:42-Luxury sector resilience and market recovery19:06-AI announcements from OpenAI, Samsung, and Google28:23-Next week’s preview and closing remarksLinks: This Year Next Year MidYear Forecast 2025: https://www.wppmedia.com/news/tyny-midyear-2025How Google's Gemma model helped discover a new potential cancer therapy pathway: https://blog.google/technology/ai/google-gemma-ai-cancer-therapy-discovery/How Humans Decide research: https://www.wppmedia.com/news/how-humans-decide

This week on the WPP Media Intelligence Podcast, Kate Scott-Dawkins, Nidhi Shah, and Jeff Foster are diving into the big stories shaping media, marketing, and the economy right now.The IMF has bumped up its global growth forecast, China’s trade numbers are surprising everyone, and luxury brands like LVMH are showing early signs of recovery. Banks are riding high on AI investments, IPO activity is picking up, and connected TV continues to gain traction with advertisers.We also get into some fascinating moves in the AI and commerce space — Walmart teaming up with OpenAI for conversational shopping, Perplexity hitting pause on ads, and Netflix joining forces with Spotify to bring video podcasts to streaming audiences.And with US midterms on the horizon, political ad spend is already looking like it could smash records. Whether you’re in media, marketing, finance, or tech, this episode is packed with insights on where growth is coming from, what’s changing fast, and how brands can stay ahead.00:00-Introduction & Global Economic Outlook02:59-China’s Trade Data and Luxury Sector Recovery06:08-Bank Earnings, AI Investments, and Advertising Trends11:41-Perplexity AI Pauses Ads & Future of AI Search16:13-Walmart Partners with OpenAI for Conversational Commerce23:17-Netflix and Spotify Video Podcast Partnership27:13-Political Advertising Trends & Closing Remarks

How privacy rules, AI growth, and EV competition are reshaping advertisingIn this episode of the Media Intelligence Podcast, the team unpacks the week’s biggest stories in media, marketing, and global business. From Europe’s push toward ad-free social media to AI’s economic boom and the worldwide EV race, they explore how regulation, consumer values, and technology are reshaping advertising strategies. Regional insights from WPP’s global forecast and the impact of major sports events round out a packed agenda.Key Topics DiscussedEurope’s “consent or pay” social media models and regulatory push on privacy, youth safety, and mental health.Global sentiment on banning social media for children under certain ages.Potential long-term advertising impacts if younger generations delay or avoid social media adoption.PepsiCo’s Q3 performance, cost optimization, and brand refresh toward healthier products.Dell’s AI-driven growth, PC sales trends, and the Windows 10 end-of-support upgrade cycle.China’s goal to produce one-third of the world’s cars by 2030 and its EV export strategy.Tesla’s pricing changes and the challenges of EV adoption in the U.S.Economic bifurcation affecting auto sales and marketing messaging.Digital addressable advertising now comprising ~80% of total ad spend.Regional insights from WPP’s “This Year, Next Year” forecast: EMEA, APAC, and LatAm trends.The advertising boost from the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Winter Olympics.Gen Z’s shifting values and what they mean for brands and hiring managers.Chapters00:00 Introduction & Europe’s Ad-Free Social Media Models05:25 PepsiCo Earnings & Healthier Snacking Trends09:50 Dell’s AI Growth & Hardware Market Insights14:55 China’s Auto Ambitions & Global EV Competition19:46 Economic Divide, Auto Marketing & Addressable Ads22:25 Global Ad Forecast Insights: EMEA, APAC & LatAm25:44 Sports Events Driving Future Ad Spend27:13 Closing Thoughts & What’s Next

On this week’s Media Intelligence Podcast, Kate Scott-Dawkins, Jeff Foster, and Nidhi Shah from WPP Media’s Business Intelligence team discuss some of the week’s biggest media and marketing stories. Topics include TikTok’s $14B valuation and what it means for the platform’s future, the latest UK inflation data, rising streaming subscription prices, Netflix’s new partnership with AB InBev, and OpenAI’s plans to introduce advertising. The team looks at how these developments could affect brands and advertisers as we head into Q4.Key TopicsTikTok’s $14B valuation and U.S. ban updateUK inflation trends and global economic signalsNetflix teams up with AB InBev for native advertisingStreaming service price hikes compared to cable costsComcast spinout Versant’s revenue declineAffiliate TV station consolidation in the U.S. and EuropeOpenAI’s push toward ad monetization with PulseChapters00:00 – Introduction & TikTok valuation update02:21 – UK and global economic outlook11:55 – Netflix and AB InBev partnership15:27 – Streaming price hikes vs cable costs20:01 – Comcast spinout Versant revenue trends23:23 – Affiliate TV station ownership and consolidation28:14 – OpenAI moves toward advertisingLinks:WPP Media's Mid-Year Global Advertising Forecast Update: https://www.wppmedia.com/news/tyny-midyear-2025

Kate Scott-Dawkins and Jeff Foster break down the Fed’s first rate cut in a year, new US income data, and what a “two-speed” economy means for brands. They cover TikTok’s uncertain US future, the rumored Warner Bros. Discovery–Paramount mega-merger, billion-dollar sports rights, fresh AI usage insights from Anthropic and OpenAI, and the IPOs that could reshape ad spend transparency.Key Topics DiscussedThe Fed’s Big Move – A quarter-point rate cut is here. What does it mean for the economy, the ad market, and the rest of 2025?Two-Speed Economy – Fresh Census data shows income gains for some groups, declines for others, and a widening gender pay gap. How are brands balancing premium products with value options?TikTok’s US Cliffhanger – Another deadline extension, a possible deal with US investors, and the big question: who controls the algorithm?A Media Mega-Merger? – If Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount join forces, they could dominate US TV ad sales, shake up sports rights, and rival Netflix in streaming scale.Sports & Ad Dollars – From the Super Bowl’s billion-dollar day to tech giants eyeing broadcast rights, what’s next for advertisers and networks?AI in the Real World – New data from Anthropic and OpenAI reveals how people are actually using AI — from coding to meal planning — and what it means for marketers.IPO Watchlist – Recent debuts like Klarna and Figma, plus private giants like ByteDance, OpenAI, and Shein that could reshape ad spend transparency.Looking Ahead – Industry events in Japan, upcoming inflation and consumer sentiment reports, and what to watch in Q4.Chapters00:00 - Introduction & Fed Rate Cut Overview03:33 - US Income Data & Two-Speed Economy07:30 - TikTok’s Uncertain US Future11:00 - Warner Bros. Discovery–Paramount Merger Analysis19:53 - Sports Rights, Super Bowl Economics & Media Competition21:12 - AI Adoption Trends from Anthropic & OpenAI28:39 - IPO Trends & Advertising Spend Visibility32:44 - Upcoming Events & Closing RemarksLinks:This Year Next Year MidYear Forecast 2025: https://www.wppmedia.com/news/tyny-midyear-2025Anthropic (Claude) Economic Index interactive report: https://www.anthropic.com/economic-indexOpenAI (ChatGPT) "How People Use ChatGPT": https://cdn.openai.com/pdf/a253471f-8260-40c6-a2cc-aa93fe9f142e/economic-research-chatgpt-usage-paper.pdf

Pharma ad crackdown, Murdoch succession, NFL streaming surge, EV ad spend, plus economy, 2030 ad trends, and Apple’s latest showcase.Kate Scott-Dawkins and Jeff Foster unpack a busy week in advertising and media: the Trump administration’s potential crackdown on pharma ads, the Murdoch family’s succession deal, NFL’s streaming surge from Brazil, and aggressive EV ad spending from Lucid, VinFast, and Chinese OEMs. Plus, a U.S. economy update, highlights from WPP’s 2030 Advertising Futures report, and takeaways from Apple’s latest showcase.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction & sports recap01:08 - U.S. economy: Inflation, jobs revisions, Fed outlook03:25 - Pharma ad crackdown & market impact06:00 - Murdoch succession & media strategy10:07 - NFL on YouTube TV: Brazil game success11:00 - Auto ad trends & EV newcomers13:13 - Advertising in 2030: WPP’s extended-cut report17:15 - Apple tech showcase: Incremental updates19:10 - Wrap-up & next week’s previewAdvertising in 2030 report: https://www.wppmedia.com/news/Latest-Advertising-in-2030?utm_source=MediaIntelligence&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=ep75

In this week’s WPP Media Intelligence Podcast, Kate Scott-Dawkins, Jeff Foster, and Nidhi Shah break down the biggest media and advertising stories shaping the global market. From last-minute US carriage deals to the NFL’s free-to-air push in the UK, and a major European media merger, we explore what these moves mean for advertisers. Plus, we look at newspaper ad revenue trends, China’s growing media players, and how AI investment is fueling economic growth.Key takeaways:How Fox and YouTube TV avoided a blackout before football seasonWhy Disney is suing Sling TV over $5/day streaming passesNFL’s new free-to-air deal in the UK and its impact on sports rightsThe MFE + ProSiebenSat.1 merger and European media consolidationNewspaper ad revenue trends in the US and UKXiaomi and ByteDance’s role in the global ad marketHow AI investment is driving ad spend growth into 2026Chapters:00:00 – Introduction & Episode Preview01:25 – Fox & YouTube TV Carriage Dispute and Skinny Sports Bundles05:44 – Disney Sues Sling TV Over Short-Term Streaming Passes08:18 – NFL Goes Free-to-Air in the UK & Sports Rights Landscape11:22 – European Media Consolidation: MFE and ProSiebenSat.1 Deal14:45 – Newspaper Ad Revenue Trends in US and UK17:27 – China-Based Players: Xiaomi, ByteDance & AI Investments20:17 – Closing Thoughts & Upcoming Sports EventsThis Year Next Year Midyear Forecast 2025: https://www.wppmedia.com/news/tyny-midyear-2025

Kate Scott-Dawkins is joined by Jeff Foster and Nidhi Shah to break down the latest trends in the economy, media, and advertising. They chat about what lower-than-expected US inflation means for consumers, how Chinese retailers are staying strong despite economic challenges, and some exciting moves in sports streaming and local TV. Plus, they dive into the rapid rise of AppLovin and what it means for advertisers.00:00 - IntroductionWelcome and overview of inflation, AppLovin, and sports streaming topics.01:37 - Inflation and Retail TrendsMixed inflation signals, tariffs, and how advertisers are responding.08:36 - Global Economic UpdatesUK, EU, and China’s growth trends, plus retail spending shifts.15:49 - Tencent and Mini-ProgramsTencent’s ad growth and the rise of short-form content in China.20:10 - Sling TV’s $5 Sports PassSling TV’s innovative pricing and its potential impact on streaming.26:22 - Local TV ConsolidationNextar and Tegna talks, and what it means for advertisers.31:14 - AppLovin’s GrowthAppLovin’s 77% growth and its rise as a major advertising player.34:26 - Wrap-Up and Future TrendsFinal thoughts on media shakeups and what’s ahead for advertisers.Mid-Year Global Advertising Forecast Update: https://www.wppmedia.com/news/tyny-midyear-2025?utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=episode_73_descriptionEDITOR NOTE: In the episode, we mention that AppLovin’s ad revenue grew 77% in Q2 to $1.3 billion. To clarify, the 77% growth refers to year-over-year performance, not quarter-over-quarter.