From radio darlings to streaming service losses, measurement rows and Twitter debacles, The Media Leader has compiled a list of our most-read stories of 2023.
1. Bauer hails ‘phenomenal’ Ken Bruce effect as Greatest Hits Radio gains 1m listeners
In August 2023, the Q2 Rajar audience listening figures were released. This was the first time the industry could see the impact of former BBC Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce moving to the mid-morning slot at Bauer’s Greatest Hits Radio after 31 years at the BBC.
In this article, The Media Leader revealed he had added nearly one million listeners to the show, increasing its weekly reach by 93% year-on-year.
Bauer hails ‘phenomenal’ Ken Bruce effect as Greatest Hits Radio gains 1m listeners
2. Greenwashing: an unserious word for a serious conversation
Inspired by Channel 4’s ad for its Climate Change Season, editor Omar Oakes penned this piece in November 2023.
He argued that if greenwashing in media and advertising is such a major concern, it doesn’t seem to be working very well.
Greenwashing: an unserious word for a serious conversation
3. The top five pointless metrics in digital media
In this opinion piece from May 2023 Andrew Spurrier-Dawes, Wavemaker’s head of precision for EMEA outlined his top five “pointless metrics” in digital media including clicks and attention.
Rather than a call for change, he issued “more a plea for uncomfortable common sense” when it comes to measurement in media, particularly in digital channels.
The top five pointless metrics in digital media
4. How much money have streaming services lost?
In March 2023 reporter Jack Benjamin analysed the losses from streaming companies like Warner Bros Discovery, Disney and Netflix.
He found broadcasters are losing billions as they invest in the future of TV and that real losses were likely to be even larger than the companies had reported thus far.
How much money have streaming services lost?
5. Twitter on TV: the real reasons why advertisers avoid GB News
Columnist Nick Manning took on the topic of GB News in October 2023, comparing it to Twitter since its takeover by Elon Musk.
He said: “These parallels show why media that are ideologically-driven do not provide a conducive environment for advertising.”
Twitter on TV: the real reasons why advertisers avoid GB News
6. The Metaverse is passé – cool brands are into the Scaniverse now
Phil Rowley, head of futures at Omnicom Media Group UK, suggested looking at the metaverse from a different angle in February 2023.
Using the analogy of the metaverse as a music festival, he said gamers and NFTs would be headliners and one-hit wonders respectively, but that “the scaniverse” would be on a lesser-known stage in the middle of the day, but that anyone who stumbled on them by accident would rave about them to their friends.
The Metaverse is passé – cool brands are into the Scaniverse now
7. Barb warns YouTube amid measurement row
In an exclusive in April 2023 Omar Oakes revealed a row between YouTube and TV measurement body Barb Audiences.
This potentially jeopardised the prospect of bringing the global video-sharing giant into the UK TV measurement system.
Barb warns YouTube amid measurement row
8. TV slips out of marketers’ top-ranked media channels
Kantar’s annual Media Reactions report came out in September 2023 showing that TV had fallen out of marketers’ top-ranked media channels for the year.
Other findings included a mismatch between marketers and consumers’ preferred media channels.
TV slips out of marketers’ top-ranked media channels
9.The Brandtech Group acquires Jellyfish
The Brandtech Group acquired Jellyfish in June 2023 becoming the largest digital-only marketing group in the world.
The Brandtech Group acquires Jellyfish
10. Major outdoor media unite to create single ad-tracking system
In February 2023, the UK’s major outdoor media owners entered a landmark deal to create a centralised system for tracking and verifying out-of-home advertising called Playout.
It was backed by trade body Outsmart’s members, including: Clear Channel, Global, JCDecaux, Ocean Outdoor, Kinetic (part of WPP), Posterscope (Dentsu), Rapport (IPG) and Talon Outdoor.
Major outdoor media unite to create single ad-tracking system
Adwanted UK is the trusted delivery partner for three essential services which deliver accountability, standardisation, and audience data for the out-of-home industry.
Playout is Outsmart’s new system to centralise and standardise playout reporting data across all outdoor media owners in the UK.
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