In this week’s Week in Review: ITV reports H1 earnings, the World Cup boosts sales for Unilever and Coca-Cola, and AI traffic drops hit UK publisher revenues.
Top Stories
LHF Rules Knock £20 Million From ITV Revenues
The new rules around Less Healthy Food (LHF) advertising knocked around £20 million from ITV’s H1 revenues, according to the UK broadcaster’s earnings update this morning, though the declines were offset by advertiser demand for the FIFA World Cup. Total revenues were up 2 percent YoY, with digital ad revenues rising 13 percent YoY for the six-month period.
The broadcaster also stated its confidence in the sale of its media and entertainment business to Sky going through next year, despite scrutiny by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
“The process has already started, the CMA has launched its own review process,” said ITV CEO Carolyn McCall. “Based on the advice we have received, our own assessment, and the strong pro-competitive rationale for the transaction, we remain confident that it will be approved by the relevant decision-makers. Given that this is a media merger, we expect the Secretary of State to issue a public interest intervention notice in due course. The transaction may go to a phase two CMA review, if it does, then it’s likely the transaction will complete in H2 2027.”
World Cup Boosts Sales for Unilever and Coca-Cola
Unilever spent 16.1 percent of its overall turnover on marketing in Q2 2026, the consumer goods giant revealed in its earnings update on Tuesday, including a branding push at the FIFA World Cup. The marketing push helped boost Q2 sales volumes by 5.5 percent YoY, marking its biggest increase since 2010, prompting the brand to up its underlying sales growth forecast for 2026 to 4-6 percent. “The days of underinvesting in our businesses are over,” Unilever CFO Srinivas Phatak told investors.
Coca-Cola also cited the World Cup in its Q2 results, noting the impact of the tournament’s hydration break commercial windows on the company’s Powerade brand. The drinks giant’s quarterly revenue rose 6 percent YoY to $13.37 billion, beating estimates of $13.16 billion. “I’m not sure whether these hydration breaks are going to be a permanent feature of the soccer world, but we were not unhappy with them in the World Cup,” Coca-Cola CFO John Murphy told Reuters.
UK Digital Publisher Revenues Fall as AI Traffic Drops Bite
UK digital publisher revenues fell by 4.55 percent YoY to reach £152.91 million in Q1 2026, according to the latest Digital Publishers’ Revenue Index (DPRI) from the Association of Online Publishers (AOP) and Deloitte, following four quarters of consecutive growth. The quarter saw 5.06 percent uplift in display ad revenues, offset by declines across digital audio (-46.98 percent) and miscellaneous revenues (-39.67 percent), while subscription and video revenues were broadly flat. The AOP cited AI substitution of publisher content across various referral channels as a likely factor in the declines.
The Week in Tech
Meta Has Run Thousands of Ads for “Nudify” Apps Finds TTP
Facebook and Instagram served thousands of ads for AI “nudify” apps in recent months, according to the nonprofit Tech Transparency Project (TTP), in breach of Meta’s policies. Bloomberg reported that the social media giant has run 7,600 ads for mobile apps that can create sexualized videos, via its Chinese advertising partner GatherOne Inc. “Meta appears to be giving a free pass to one of its top Chinese advertising partners when it comes to nudify ads,” said TTP director Katie Paul.
Snap Expands Indy Agency Partner Program to France and UK
Snap has enhanced its Business Manager and expanded its Indy Agency Partner Program into France and the UK, the social media company announced on Tuesday, including adding an Agency Permissions functionality that allows brands to assign account access to agency partners. Meanwhile the expanded Indy Agency Partner Program enables independent agencies to add Snapchat to their clients’ media mixes using Snap’s tools and audience insights. Wider rollouts to other markets will follow, according to Snap.
Meta Stock Tumbles as Free Cash Flow Declines 91 Percent
Meta’s last few quarterly earnings updates have been marked by strong ad revenues but costly AI expenditure, and Q2’s results were no exception. While ad revenues were up 27 percent YoY, investors focused on the tech giant’s 91 percent decline in free cash flow, with forecasts for Meta’s 2026 capital expenditure raised to $130-145 billion. The company’s stock price tumbled 9 percent following the results.
Reddit’s revenues climbed 61 percent YoY during Q2, marking the social sharing site’s eighth consecutive quarter of growth above 60 percent. Reddit CEO Steve Huffman noted that the business is driving more web users to the app, “where they are far more engaged”, helping to offset volatility in traffic and search referrals. “While our visibility in referral traffic remains low, we’re not building for drive-by traffic. We’re building a daily destination,” Huffman said in a letter to shareholders. “Our product work is what will get us to our goal of 1 billion daily users globally and 100 million in the US. That work takes time to gain traction, but is what will deepen engagement, strengthen our monetisation flywheel, and drive more durable growth.”
StackAdapt Launches AI Advertising Hub ‘Ivy Studio’
StackAdapt, a demand-side platform (DSP), has introduced Ivy Studio, a new AI advertising hub for planning, forecasting, analysis, optimisation, and execution. The company said the system uses AI agents to allow marketers to move from insight to action without switching between tools or workflows. “Ivy Studio changes the paradigm of how marketers use our platform,” said StackAdapt CEO Vitaly Pecherski. “By moving core capabilities into an AI-first environment, we are enabling teams to accomplish in minutes what previously took hours or even the coordination of multiple teams.”
X and WFA Settle Legal Battle
Elon Musk’s X has settled its multi-year legal battle with the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), the organisations announced on Wednesday. Musk sued the WFA in 2024, accusing the trade body of organising an “illegal boycott” against X, forcing the WFA to shutter GARM, a brand safety standards body. A federal court dismissed the lawsuit in March, after a judge said X had failed to demonstrate it had suffered any harm under federal competition laws. “Today the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) and X Corp. are putting the litigation involving the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) behind them,” the groups said in a joint statement. “This resets the relationship between the two organisations.”
MediaRadar Integrates VideoAmp TV Ratings
MediaRadar, a media intelligence firm, is integrating ratings from VideoAmpinto its advertising intelligence platform. The deal brings together MediaRadar’s TV ad occurrence and spend data with VideoAmp’s national and local TV audience ratings, according to the partners, giving customers access to spot-level commercial viewership data. “By deepening our partnership with VideoAmp, we’re giving clients more choice and transparency in how they analyse advertising performance, audience reach and competitive activity across today’s evolving TV ecosystem,” said MediaRadar CEO Matt Krepsik.
The Week in TV
UK TV Ad Market Set for Growth This Year After Flat First Quarter
UK ad spend rose 9.3 percent YoY to £11.7 billion in Q1 2026, according to the latest Expenditure Report from the Advertising Association and WARC, prompting an upward revision in the ad market forecast for 2026 and 2027. Ad spend on addressable TV increased by 15.5 percent during Q1, but growth was offset by declining linear TV sales, bringing total TV spend to 0.8 percent growth. However, TV spend is forecast to grow by 3.7 percent this year (likely lifted by the FIFA World Cup) and 3 percent in 2027. Read more on VideoWeek.
TF1 Ad Revenues Hit by Middle East Conflict
French commercial broadcaster TF1 reported its half-year results last week, posting a 9.9 percent YoY decline in consolidated revenues, despite 18.6 percent growth in ad revenues on its TF1+ streaming service. Following its distribution partnership with Netflix, the broadcaster noted that H2 will benefit from growing Netflix audiences and the rollout of its SME-focused advertising offering. “The structural decline in the linear advertising market was exacerbated by a particularly unstable environment for advertisers due to the conflict in the Middle East,” the company said in the earnings report. “In addition, as expected, the Group faced exceptional competitive pressure in June linked to the FIFA World Cup.”
Younger Audiences “Reaching Saturation” in Streaming Finds Ofcom
While viewing on SVOD services continues to grow in the UK, overall at-home video viewing declined last year, according to the latest Media Nations report from Ofcom, while younger audiences are “reaching saturation” in streaming consumption. For younger viewers, viewing time has come under pressure from social media, gaming and other online entertainment, with social media the most prevalent media activity among consumers aged 16-24. Read more on VideoWeek.
ProSieben Brings Pause Ads to Linear TV
ProSiebenSat.1 is bringing pause ads to linear TV using the open HbbTV standard, according to Broadband TV News. Seven.One Media, the German broadcaster’s sales house, has launched a Pause Creative Fullscreen Package, combining the format on the Joyn streaming service with HbbTV-based addressable TV placements on CTV. “The Pause Ad has established itself as a high-attention advertising format in a very short time and we are seeing enormous demand from the advertising market,” said Markus Messerer, MD and COO at Seven.One Media. “This shows that our customers have recognised the strength of the format: full attention outside the traditional commercial break. By expanding into addressable TV, we are consistently pursuing this approach, bringing it to live television for the first time and developing the product into a cross-channel offering with additional reach.”
Streaming Made Up 48.6 Percent of US TV Time in May
Streaming’s share of total TV time in the US rose to 48.6 percent in May, according to Nielsen’s latest The Gauge report. YouTube continued its ascent with 13.8 percent of TV watch-time, while the Roku Channel recorded its highest ever share at 3.1 percent. The measurement company noted that it updated its currency ratings in February, with impact data provided to clients and the industry, and is working on updates to The Gauge to better reflect these currency enhancements.
ITV Scores Exclusive Rugby World Cup 2027 Rights
ITV has secured exclusive UK broadcasting rights for the Men’s Rugby World Cup next year. Every match from Australia will be broadcast live for UK audiences, alongside highlights, analysis and digital content across ITV, ITVX, and ITV Sport on YouTube. “This is a monumental deal for audiences across the UK delivering coverage on ITV of the biggest rugby tournament,” said Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport. “We’ve enjoyed a long standing partnership with World Rugby and this will continue to thrive. This partnership further secures ITV as the home of rugby adding to our extensive portfolio and commitment of rugby coverage across ITV1, ITVX and ITV Sport YouTube.”
HBO Max Adds Short-Form Video Feed
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is adding a short-form video feed to HBO Max, echoing similar products on Disney+ (‘Verts’) and Netflix (‘Clips’). The new ‘Shorts’ icon on the HBO Max app will open a feed of trailers, clips and bonus content, in order to help users find shows and films to watch. The moves are also designed to help the streaming services compete with short-form video apps such as Instagram and TikTok.
FOX Advertising Extends iSpot Partnership for Outcomes Measurement
FOX Advertising has extended its partnership with iSpot, a TV ad measurement firm, the US sales house announced on Wednesday. Over the past year, the partners have built always-on attribution and outcomes measurement through FOX AdStudio, FOX’s recently launched unified data and technology platform. FOX and iSpot said the partnership enables advertisers to access near real-time measurement that links ad exposures directly to consumer actions.
Canal+ Commits €980 Million to French Film Production
French broadcaster Canal+ has signed a five-year agreement to invest €980 million in French and European cinema starting in 2028, Reuters reported on Monday. The deal will allow the company to offer its subscribers French, European and international films six months after their theatrical release. Canal+ said in a statement that an agreement of this scale and duration is unprecedented.
The Week for Publishers
Ströer Launches DOOH Video in Germany
Ströer, a German out-of-home advertising business, has launched a DOOH Video product for the German market. The move is designed to meet growing demand from advertisers and agencies for additional video inventory with high reach and relevant target audiences in reliable, high-quality environments, according to the company. The new offering only includes screens with full video capabilities, along with relevant visibility, dwell time and contact quality. “With DOOH Video, we are introducing the biggest structural product innovation since the digitisation of out-of-home advertising,” said Ströer CEO Udo Müller. “We’re not just creating another offering, but an entirely new product category. In the future, out-of-home advertising will be marketed across three distinct segments: OOH, DOOH, and DOOH Video. In doing so, we’re systematically transforming public spaces into a standalone video channel within the total video mix.”
AI Overviews Encourage ‘Stop Here’ Behaviours Finds AOP
The presence of an AI Overview on a search results page causes an 18 percent reduction in a user’s propensity to click through to the source, according to AOP data shared with Press Gazette, a sign of the ‘stop here’ behaviours encouraged by AI answer engines. The research found that these behaviours were particularly pronounced in standalone environments such as ChatGPT. Just 26 percent of ChatGPT users said they would click at least one media link shown in a response, compared to 34 percent for a Google Search with an AI Overview.
BuzzFeed to Cut 35 Percent of Staff
Following its acquisition by media entrepreneur Byron Allen, BuzzFeed is cutting 35 percent of staff in efforts to save between $29 million and $32 million in annualised savings. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the company will lay off around 180 employees across BuzzFeed, HuffPost and Tasty. “Four months ago, in our March earnings call we stated a substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern,” the company said in a memo to staff. “Fortunately after that public announcement, Byron Allen quickly stepped in and made an investment of approximately $26 million into BuzzFeed to stabilise, protect, and grow the company.”
Reach’s The Daily Expresso Was June’s Most-Watched UK News Podcast on YouTube
Reach’s The Daily Expresso podcast from The Daily Express racked up 3,388,950 YouTube views in June, becoming the most-watched UK news podcast on the video service, Press Gazette reported on Wednesday. Launched in September 2025, the podcast’s June numbers place it ahead of The Telegraph’s The Daily T (3,377,542), The Rest Is Politics (2,916,76) and The News Agents (1,929,728), according to figures from Tubular Labs. “We’re not a TV company, and this was all a little bit of a shot in the dark,” said Sam Lister, Deputy Editor at the Express. “But we took the view we know what our readers like, what they’re engaged with, what they’re interested with, and it was just a chance to try and see if we can reach a similar audience on new platforms, and we’ve shown there is an appetite for that.”
The Week for Brands & Agencies
Omnicom Revenues Jump on Expanded Services for Clients
Omnicom reported organic revenue growth of 6.1 percent in its core operations during Q2, citing the expansion of services the agency group is delivering to its existing client base, as well as new client wins. The $6.6 billion revenue total included $567.5 million from selling “low-growth” assets, and the holdco is planning to complete its asset disposal by the end of the year. “We are built for an era where speed, integration, and scale matter most,” said Omnicom CEO John Wren. “Our wins this quarter demonstrate that. Clients are consolidating more work with us because they see the competitive advantage our connected capabilities deliver.”
Stagwell Posts Strongest Growth in Last Six Quarters
Stagwell also reported its Q2 earnings this week, posting 10 percent YoY organic revenue growth and 5 percent YoY net revenue growth, representing the agency network’s strongest growth in the last six quarters. The company also said its quarterly net new business earnings were their highest ever at $171 million. “Our second quarter results demonstrate Stagwell is thriving in today’s AI era,” said Stagwell CEO Mark Penn. “Stagwell’s unique combination of software, services and engineers is being embraced by the industry leading to another record-breaking Net New Business quarter of $171 million, highlighted by recent wins with IBM, Adobe, Mondelez and Heineken.”
Black Friday Gains Traction for UK Consumers in IPA Christmas Research
IPA research released this week found that 22 percent of UK consumers plan to spend up to half of their overall Christmas shopping budget during Black Friday, up from 16 percent in 2025, and 14 percent in 2023. A further 27 percent plan to take advantage of the Boxing Day and January sales, according to the survey. The findings also revealed that 45 percent of consumers expect to feel more financially anxious due to rising costs, though 49 percent said they will not be cutting back on anything this Christmas.
Alzheimer’s Society Extends Medialab Partnership
UK charity Alzheimer’s Society has extended its partnership with independent agency Medialab for an additional three years, the partners announced on Wednesday. Since being appointed by the charity in 2014, Medialab has delivered and developed editorial partnerships with the Daily Mail, Coronation Street partnerships with ITV, and integrated sport content with Sky. “We’ve been working alongside Alzheimer’s Society for over a decade now, and that kind of longevity is rare in our industry,” said Marcus Orme, Co-Founder and CEO at Medialab. “It’s a relationship built on a shared commitment to delivering outcomes that actually matter.”
Hires of the Week
Barb Names Jen McLevey Head of Strategic Developments
Barb, the UK TV measurement body, has appointed Jen McLevey to the new role of Head of Strategic Developments. McLevey will ensure delivery of Barb’s major strategic and operational projects in line with industry expectations and contractual commitments. She joins Barb after 11 years at TRP Research, a Barb-registered data-processing bureau.
Serviceplan Group UK Hires IPG’s Anna Nichols as CFO
Serviceplan Group UK, an independent agency, has announced Anna Nichols as its first Chief Financial Officer. Nichols will oversee the finance function across the group’s UK agencies, including Mediaplus Group UK, Behave, Serviceplan and Plan.Net. She joins from IPG Mediabrands (now Omnicom Media), where spent four years as CFO.
Bauer Media Outdoor Appoints Ajoy Nath as DSP Partnership Manager
Bauer Media Outdoor, a UK OOH media owner, has named Ajoy Nath as DSP Partnership Manager. Nath will work to bolster the company’s relationships with DSP partners, drive commercial growth, and expand its programmatic opportunities. He previously worked on programmatic monetisation at Mumsnet.
LoopMe Announces Board Appointments
LoopMe, an outcomes-based ad tech business, has appointed Penry Price to its Board, and Christina Beaumier to its Data Advisory Board. Price brings more than 25 years of experience across media, advertising and tech, including a seven-year stint at Google, while Beaumier has spent over 15 years in enterprise technology, most recently serving as CPO at EnFi.
