The Campaign Podcast

Adland’s agency networks have been forced to think differently, after a challenging year for holding companies with economic instability, a mega-merger and AI disruption.Publicis began calling itself a “platform organisation” years ago, while Omnicom restructured to become a “premier marketing and sales company” after the acquisition of IPG last year. In February, WPP’s chief executive Cindy Rose said: “We don’t want to be a holding company any more”, but a “single operating company” instead.Campaign Red released a market report called "The big reboot", looking into the top network's 2025 FY results and what the post-holding company era looks like for the industry.In this episode, Campaign's editorial team is discussing why the largest agency groups are moving away from the holding company label, and what this "reboot" means. Editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier, media editor Beau Jackson and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis join the episode hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley.Further reading:Arthur Sadoun on why “pressure” from investors doesn’t matter, Publicis' “resilience” and the competitionPublicis grows 4.5% in Q1 as Arthur Sadoun pans “squeeze to please Wall Street”Q1 expected to be “worst quarter” for WPP’s new business in 2026WPP reports 6.7% revenue decline in Q1 2026Omnicom revenue grew 3.9% in Q1 after IPG acquisitionChapter 1: RevenueChapter 2: HeadcountChapter 3: M&AChapter 4: Share priceChapter 5: New businessChapter 6: Creative awardsAA/Warc: adspend forecast for 2026 drops amid methodology shake-up“The fragmentation of media is clear”: adland reacts to AA/Warc Expenditure ReportAA/Warc: adspend to break records and smash £50bn ceiling in 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Media has seen a string of deals in the last year, poised to consolidate key areas of the market. Paramount Skydance seeks to complete its $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros., and in the UK, Sky ponders its bid to acquire the broadcast and ad sales division of ITV. In publishing, after several other attempts fell through, European media group Axel Springer, which owns Business Insider and Politico, has agreed to buy the Telegraph Media Group for the sum of £575m.So, pending various approvals, what would such deals mean for the media landscape and its advertisers?Campaign's editorial team gather in the studio to discuss why media owners are consolidating, the impact on media buyers and what it means for competition. Hosted by media editor Beau Jackson, this episode includes Campaign’s UK editor Maisie McCabe, editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis.Further readingWill Sky’s proposed takeover of ITV be good for advertisers?ITV confirms talks with Sky about £1.6bn sale of M&E unitParamount Advertising takes sole control of UK sponsorship deals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Publicis Groupe acquired sports marketing and entertainment agency 160over90 this month, in a move it claims will “disrupt” the sector.In this episode, the Campaign team discusses why Publicis has made this "big bet" now, whether the sector needs disrupting and how influencers are changing the game. The team discusses why some say "the gap between brands and consumers is widening" and how athletes are becoming their own "self-contained media platforms, because their performance in the game is so intrinsic to their personas".Hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley, this episode includes deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings, creativity and culture editor Shauna Lewis and deputy news editor Marianne Calnan-Holland.Further reading:What does the fan experience of the Fifa World Cup look like from the UK?Coca-Cola World Cup spot explores emotional journey of footballWhy is gaming not a media channel?Beyond borders: why countries don’t define modern fandomFifa 2026’s longer tournament window presents a golden opportunity for fan activationsBurnley FC and X unveil social documentary on women’s teamBurnley FC and X partner with Sure For Men for UK’s first X Original series Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.