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Platforms under fire, measurement in flux, TV being rewritten. 2026 the story so far…

Platforms under fire, measurement in flux, TV being rewritten. 2026 the story so far…

A look back at the biggest themes that have emerged in UK media during what has at times been a predictably chaotic Q1.
Time to end this nonsense talk we call ‘brand safety’

Time to end this nonsense talk we call ‘brand safety’

The brand safety debate is the industry’s equivalent of arguing about which cigarettes are safer.
Why cut-through, not scale, will be the real trick to the FIFA World Cup – with The Guardian’s James Fleetham and Marcus Christenson

Why cut-through, not scale, will be the real trick to the FIFA World Cup – with The Guardian’s James Fleetham and Marcus Christenson

The Guardian’s director of advertising and football special projects editor unpack the major threads of this year’s World Cup, both as a commercial opportunity, and an editorial one.
The collective effect: 6 levers driving successful community growth

The collective effect: 6 levers driving successful community growth

Brands still need to be noticed, easy to buy and emotionally relevant. What has shifted is the collective’s role in driving value and growth, writes SocialChain’s group strategy director.
How Apple made simplicity the standard in OOH

How Apple made simplicity the standard in OOH

As Apple celebrates its 50th anniversary, its creative is a reminder that the future of out-of-home isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing less, better.
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Opinion

Why smart advertisers start their World Cup 2026 campaigns now

With less than 70 days until the FIFA World Cup, the pre-tournament campaign window is well and truly open, says Mail Metro Media’s digital investment director.

TV has a Google-shaped problem

The BBC will welcome former Google executive Matt Brittin as its director-general next month. Will he defend the principles the BBC was built on, or does the Google playbook follow him through the door?

How much OOH reach in conurbations is people who don’t live there?

People travel far from their home base as part of their daily routine. Ruth Chalisey looks at the latest Route journey data with advertising opportunities in mind.

Industry News

Media Mind 2026 kicks off with victory for The Guardian in Group E

Media Mind 2026 kicks off with victory for The Guardian in Group E

The Brief – Thursday 2 April: Future’s traffic decline, Snap’s activist investor, OpenAI’s funding round

The Brief – Thursday 2 April: Future’s traffic decline, Snap’s activist investor, OpenAI’s funding round

WPP Media partners with Google on AI planning tools for YouTube

WPP Media partners with Google on AI planning tools for YouTube

The Brief – Wednesday 1 April: Australia U16 ban non-compliance, BBC accused of making ‘propaganda films’ for Saudi Arabia, and more

The Brief – Wednesday 1 April: Australia U16 ban non-compliance, BBC accused of making ‘propaganda films’ for Saudi Arabia, and more

Ozone launches AI research and development centre

Ozone launches AI research and development centre

Spotify touts agentic, voice-interface future in a bid to prevent AI slop

Spotify touts agentic, voice-interface future in a bid to prevent AI slop

The Brief – Tuesday 31 March: AdGreen report, Mathias Döpfner’s London trip, an update to Futurescape

The Brief – Tuesday 31 March: AdGreen report, Mathias Döpfner’s London trip, an update to Futurescape

‘Consultative, not transactional’: The Observer’s Studio 1791 wants brands to value trust

‘Consultative, not transactional’: The Observer’s Studio 1791 wants brands to value trust

Data Analysis

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

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

The measurement debate TV really needs to have

The measurement debate TV really needs to have

Rajar Q4 2025: Heart Breakfast remains top commercial show after reporting strong growth

Rajar Q4 2025: Heart Breakfast remains top commercial show after reporting strong growth

IAB launches measurement advisory board in push for measurement solutions

IAB launches measurement advisory board in push for measurement solutions

Data Snapshot

Data-led charts from across the UK media landscape

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