The Media Leader

News analysis, opinion and insight for media and advertising professionals

The future of media research and JICs – with the IPA’s Dan Flynn and Graeme Griffiths

The IPA’s joint directors of media research and judges of this year’s AMRAs discuss why media research is not always put into practice and how JICs need to evolve to meet advertiser demands.

The Premier League is back and there’s an AI game for brands

The CEO and founder of The Liberty Guild on how AI will change everything that happens around 90 minutes of football, and what it means for agencies competing to get clients into the answers.

Why advertising needs to think like a blockbuster film

Audiences no longer judge an advert against another advert; they compare it with everything else they watch. That’s raised the bar for creativity, quality, and storytelling, writes Brian LaBrec.

The next battleground in programmatic advertising isn’t identity, it’s infrastructure

AI needs environments where data and insights can move quickly, securely and intelligently between different participants in the ecosystem. Does adland have the right plumbing?

Meta commits to make platforms less harmful, but questions remain over implementation

As part of a settlement in a US lawsuit, Meta has agreed to pay over $17bn in penalties and to make substantial changes to how its platforms operate to reduce teen harms. It is calling on TikTok and YouTube to do the same.

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Opinion

Raymond Snoddy

Following Matt Brittin’s appearance before the industry at last month’s Edinburgh International Television Festival, Ray Snoddy assesses how it’s all going for the BBC director-general.

Chris Herbert-Lo

Planning will always be more powerful if brilliant people can play with the full kit, rather than some pre-vetted bits that benefit the agency commercially, writes Chris Herbert-Lo.

Dave Singleton

At Postcode Lottery Group, conversations about transparency, effectiveness, and agency value go beyond marketing performance. They become about maximising social impact.

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

The future of media research and JICs – with the IPA’s Dan Flynn and Graeme Griffiths

The IPA’s joint directors of media research and judges of this year’s AMRAs discuss why media research is not always put into practice and how JICs need to evolve to meet advertiser demands.

The Premier League is back and there’s an AI game for brands

The CEO and founder of The Liberty Guild on how AI will change everything that happens around 90 minutes of football, and what it means for agencies competing to get clients into the answers.

Why advertising needs to think like a blockbuster film

Audiences no longer judge an advert against another advert; they compare it with everything else they watch. That’s raised the bar for creativity, quality, and storytelling, writes Brian LaBrec.

The next battleground in programmatic advertising isn’t identity, it’s infrastructure

AI needs environments where data and insights can move quickly, securely and intelligently between different participants in the ecosystem. Does adland have the right plumbing?

Meta commits to make platforms less harmful, but questions remain over implementation

As part of a settlement in a US lawsuit, Meta has agreed to pay over $17bn in penalties and to make substantial changes to how its platforms operate to reduce teen harms. It is calling on TikTok and YouTube to do the same.

The Media Leader

Opinion

Brittin’s first summer in charge of the BBC

One industry. Two very different business models

AI won’t replace media agencies. It will redefine what clients value most

Industry News

Four things you need to know about the Amazon advertising lawsuit

‘Impressive’ growth, but will it hit lofty targets? Unpacking OpenAI’s ads business as it hits $1bn annualised run rate

The Trade Desk launches updated planning platform Kokai Zuma

Business podcasts are most oversupplied genre relative to listener demand, finds WhichPodcast

Digital terrestrial TV switch-off could lead to 16% decline in PSB revenue by 2034, analysts estimates

Netflix and Waitrose among media owners to donate inventory to ASA awareness campaign

WPP files to seal Foster complaint, arguing allegations ‘immaterial’ to case

Disney+’s Overlap deal exemplifies creator-led football gold rush

Data Analysis

Has Origin failed?

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

Data Snapshot

Podcast Ad Promo Position Plays A Part In Perception

The ad-vantages of streaming

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