The IPA’s four-day Festival Of British Advertising launches today (Wednesday), celebrating the best of British creativity from the past 100 years.

Metrics, trust and transparency are three of the hottest topics in media, and Mediatel will be discussing all three in detail at the Future of Media Research conference next Monday.

The new deal means ITV will no longer broadcast any highlights, forcing the competitions off of terrestrial TV entirely. To compensate, BT said it will enhance its social media coverage to reach new audiences.

A new YouGov report reveals that more than four in 10 consumers say they would let a digital assistant either help them with or undertake activities.

Tomchak joins from Number 10 where he has led digital marketing for the Prime Minister and Cabinet Office.

Walczak will lead a new team – including product management, global partnerships and supply – focused on developing outcome-based media solutions.

Chief executive David Abraham said Channel 4 has been watching the virtual reality markets – currently worth around £800 million globally – with interest.

Sizmek has promoted Andrew Morsy to the newly created role of UK managing director.

The half-day conference will see senior media and creative planners, clients, media owners, data business and programmatic companies debate the role of the planner in an increasingly automated business.

A five year study conducted by Google and Kantar TNS shows that 74% of UK consumers use smartphones, compared to 51% in 2012.