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 – Intro: ad resilience, murkier reporting, and search beyond the box01:01 – Earnings roundup: Roku, retail media (Walmart/eBay), Pinterest, travel, Reddit12:01 – Search deep dive begins: why search is still strong in 202615:10 – “Total search”: paid + organic + social + commerce + PR/affiliates18:10 – Myth-busting + Google context: AI discovery isn’t zero-sum20:53 – EEAT/source-worthiness: trust signals, UGC, and third-party visibility23:16 – Who’s most disrupted: traffic-first models vs value-based measurement26:06 – Advertising Intelligence Framework: five pillars and how to use itAdvertising 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