The Media Leader

News analysis, opinion and insight for media and advertising professionals

Atria six months on: New formats, attention measurement, a ‘broad mix’ of clients and potential for expansion

Bauer, Future, Hearst UK, Hello!, Immediate and Time Out’s unified programmatic marketplace is driving early growth in programmatic business through six-figure display campaigns from a variety of brands.

DCM upfront: Cinema, TV, sport and news carry majority of culturally resonant content, study claims

A study conducted by consultancy MTM found that the commercially available cultural moments people most recalled from the last 12 months are dominated by TV, cinema and sport.

Advertising Association names Waitrose CCO next president

Ansell will succeed outgoing president Andria Vidler following the completion of her two-year tenure in the spring of 2027.

GenAI is disrupting publishing. Advertisers need programmatic AI to help repair it

The relationship between publishing, advertising, and AI is more closely linked than it might first appear. Weakness in one area carries through to the others, writes Onetag’s SVP.

How heritage publishing brands are evolving

Reach’s strategy director discusses how publishing brands are evolving to meet audiences where they live, and how the role of video, social and live experiences is deepening audience relationships.

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Opinion

Charli West

As part of Audiotrack’s 10 year anniversary, we asked the audio industry for their favourite audio ads from the last decade.

Hugo Welkers

A less-is-more approach improves both the user experience and the value of your ad inventory. Refinery89’s CEO explains.

Nicola Kemp

At a crushing time of year for working parents, leaders must ensure that caring responsibilities are not a career killer, writes Nicola Kemp.

Data Snapshot

Data-led charts from across the UK media landscape

Find out more about the UK's most comprehensive aggregator of media data.

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The Future of Media Manchester 2026 is the region's premier event bringing together media planners, strategists, and buyers to explore the biggest challenges and opportunities shaping the commercial media landscape. Hosted by The Media Leader, the event features expert speakers, thought-provoking debates and research-led sessions designed to spark honest conversations about where the industry is heading. Taking place at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester on 17 September, the event will bring together 600+ industry professionals and 40+ speakers for a full day of insight, discussion and networking. Attendees can expect sharp debates, fresh perspectives and valuable connections with senior leaders across the media ecosystem — making it a must-attend for anyone looking to stay ahead of the industry’s next chapter.
17 September 2026

News analysis, opinion and insight for media and advertising professionals

Atria six months on: New formats, attention measurement, a ‘broad mix’ of clients and potential for expansion

Bauer, Future, Hearst UK, Hello!, Immediate and Time Out’s unified programmatic marketplace is driving early growth in programmatic business through six-figure display campaigns from a variety of brands.

DCM upfront: Cinema, TV, sport and news carry majority of culturally resonant content, study claims

A study conducted by consultancy MTM found that the commercially available cultural moments people most recalled from the last 12 months are dominated by TV, cinema and sport.

Advertising Association names Waitrose CCO next president

Ansell will succeed outgoing president Andria Vidler following the completion of her two-year tenure in the spring of 2027.

GenAI is disrupting publishing. Advertisers need programmatic AI to help repair it

The relationship between publishing, advertising, and AI is more closely linked than it might first appear. Weakness in one area carries through to the others, writes Onetag’s SVP.

How heritage publishing brands are evolving

Reach’s strategy director discusses how publishing brands are evolving to meet audiences where they live, and how the role of video, social and live experiences is deepening audience relationships.

The Media Leader

Opinion

The audio industry’s favourite audio ads

Why chasing scale is quietly eroding publisher revenue

Being too busy for sports day is not a leadership flex

Industry News

Publisher case study: Changing what people think about frozen food

Publisher case study: Making the Galaxy S25 part of the AI conversation

Why TV should play the performance game

Netflix embraces publishers in ‘fit for TV’ push

What publishers can learn from NYT’s ‘solar system’ model – with global ads VP Tom Armstrong

Case Study: Turning London’s cable cars into karaoke booths

Audiotrack at 10: If you’re not going to do it for 20 years, then you probably need a rethink

How Channel 4 is taking a ‘platform mindset’ to TV — with David Amodio and Jay Kassam

Data Analysis

Mapping the UK agency landscape

The industry is calling it cross-media. It’s not

Campaign ROI is maximised when audio gets 25% of spend, finds Radiocentre report

Tech firms must enforce tougher age checks for social media platforms, regulator says

Data Snapshot

The ad-vantages of streaming

World Cup Wonders

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