The Brief – Thursday 16 April: LHF ban rule breakers, BBC and Snap job cuts, Sun losses and more

🍿 Lidl and Iceland have become the first companies to have ads banned from air following the passage of an ad ban on less-healthy food (LHF). The Advertising Standards Association (ASA), tasked with policing the ban, said ads from the supermarkets that appeared on Instagram and the Daily Mail had broken the new rules. (The Guardian)

📺 The BBC is planning to cut up to 2,000 jobs, affecting about 10% of the corporation’s 21,500 staff. The announcement was made at an all-staff meeting on Wednesday and is the biggest round of job cuts at the BBC for 15 years. (The Guardian)

📉 The Sun reported a £53m loss amid falling tabloid sales and reduced online readership weighing on digital ad revenue. (The Telegraph)

👻 Snap is laying off 16% of its global staff, equivalent to 1,000 full-time employees, as the company looks to improve profitability amid a push into AI. An additional 300 open roles are also being closed. (The Verge)

🎧 Bauer Media has partnered with Experian to bring the data and tech company’s consumer insights into Bauer’s digital audio and publishing platforms, AudioXi and Illuminate. (Bauer Media)

💬 YouTube announced it will hold back ads during livestreams if Live Chat engagement is at its peak to protect the “collective vibe”. An ad-free window will also be created when a fan shows support through a Super Chat, Super Stickers, or gifts. (YouTube)

📖 Spotify has expanded into physical book sales in the US and UK. Readers can now purchase physical books via the Spotify app on Android via the streaming giant’s partnership with Bookshop.org. (Spotify)