The Media Leader Podcast

Outvertising's Cass Naylor joins host Ella Sagar and reporter Jack Benjamin to dissect BBC director-general Tim Davie's big speech about the BBC's commercial future and look ahead to how media and advertising will play its part in this year's UK general election.Highlights:3:20: The future of the BBC's commercial activities18:20: Which media channel will be a key 2024 election battleground?29:20: Quick hits: why Instagram is minimising political content; Reddit's IPO; Outsmart/KPMG's sustainability in advertising study; Spotify's move into educational content; and Astrolab's plan to put ads on the moon---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

“Less social media. More Snapchat.” That is the tagline to Snap’s latest marketing campaign. The company, founded in 2011 as an image-sharing app that deletes the pictures after a short time frame, has evolved into a more comprehensive product and clearly wants to separate itself from the perhaps toxic connotations of the label “social media”.One area where Snap looks increasingly distinct from its competitors like Facebook, which has wound down its support for news over the past year, is in its partnerships with news and lifestyle publishers that bring unique content to Snapchat users via the app’s Discovery page and Stories.Lucy Luke, Snap's UK head of partnerships, sits down with reporter Jack Benjamin to talk about the company's strategy of working with publishers and, increasingly, creators.The pair discuss Snap's level of commitment to supporting news on its platform, how publishers are having to adapt the way they present stories to appeal to younger audiences in short-form video formats and how Snap benefits from becoming a place for audiences to check in on news and lifestyle.Highlights:1:45: Why Snap's young audience appeals to publishers and vice versa8:30: A place for hard news, soft news or both12:39: Do journalists need to act more like creators to get news across on Snapchat?17:52: The role of news in Snap's commercial strategy20:30: A more hands-on approach to brand safety24:41: The future of partnerships for Snap – Olympics, Paralympics, 2024 elections and the growth in creators---This episode was edited by our production partner Trisonic.Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

The Media Leader columnist and Creativebrief editorial director Nicola Kemp joins Omar Oakes and host Jack Benjamin for this candid discussion of the biggest stories in media and advertising this week.In recent days, there has been a renewed push to ban TikTok in the US, the BBC is considering adding ads to podcasts when they are accessed on commercial sites, the government has disallowed newspapers to be purchased by foreign governments and United Talent Agency’s Michael Kassan has left the company. And, believe it or not, Ofcom has once again found GB News in breach of its broadcasting code, but has not doled out a punishment. Highlights:0:50: Gender equality in the workplace and the need for action5:30: The impact of Michael Kassan's departure on the media industry10:40: What happens if TikTok is banned in the US25:45: Is the BBC right to enable ads for podcasts in the UK?34:30: Quick hits – The Telegraph sale; another GB News Ofcom breach; and Ofcom's "no shit, Sherlock" report about what children see on social media.---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

In a special edition of The Media Leader Podcast, editor-in-chief Omar Oakes and reporter Jack Benjamin report live from last week's Connected TV World Summit in London.The pair discuss a number of topics in the world of TV that cropped up at the conference, such as the development and increasing popularity of FAST channels, the importance of TV operating systems to creating discoverability for broadcasters, and how media planners and buyers should be considering TV and the broader medium of "video" in 2024.Also featured are snippets from throughout the day, including an interview with Sky Media' investment director Ruth Cartwright, a presentation by Wavemaker's chief strategy and planning officer Elliott Millard, and more.Read our coverage from the event, including on how broadcasters are replacing lost linear audiences for advertisers, the future of addressable TV, and whether streaming services should be bundled on our website at themedialeader.co.uk.Highlights:0:37: Highlights from Day 1: new remote controls; the importance of smart TV operating systems; subscription bundling.3:48: Sky's Ruth Cartwright on the importance of measurement and collaboration.5:00: Retail media has come to TV.6:31: Highlights from Day 2: How everything is "video" now.13:40: What is and isn't working in FAST.---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

It is a challenging environment for publishers. That is no secret. Numerous publishers have had to lay off and restructure staff in recent months and, as traffic and revenue have been impacted in part by changes made by search and social media companies, as well as consumers continuing to move away from print, things have at times seemed quite dire.But when industries face challenge, it is always met with innovation. Publishers are actively exploring and testing new ways to create unique content and reach new and young audiences with video and audio products, on social and more.One such publisher is the Daily Mail, which has invested heavily into its AV production capacity in the past year.Mail Metro Media's chief revenue officer, Dominic Williams, sat down with Jack Benjamin to discuss the publisher's multimedia strategy in what is a key year for politics and sport.The pair talked about the Mail’s push into podcast and short- and long-form video; new subscription service Mail+; opportunities and challenges in selling ads in an election year; and the state of Metro’s post-pandemic recovery."This is the year for news. This is the year for trust," said Williams. "The whole world is going to the polls this year, so this is the year for content – and we've got the best content, we've got trusted content, we've got brand-safe content."Highlights:2:00: How Williams' career in media led him to Mail Metro Media8:10: What's behind the Mail's push into audio and video products13:13: The commercial strategy for selling podcast and video to clients19:18: Does this election year offer a challenge for a historically conservative-leaning newspaper?22:50: The Mail's new hybrid subscription offering and the importance of good UX28:35: Will Metro ever recover to pre-pandemic levels?---This episode was edited by our production partner Trisonic.Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

Yannick Bolloré, chairman and CEO of Havas and chairperson at Havas' parent group Vivendi, speaks to Omar Oakes about the company's financial earnings, in which it turned around a €1bn loss the previous year, and why Vivendi is considering creating four distinct "cousin companies", centred on Havas, Canal+, publishing and distribution.The interview also reveals:Bolloré's view on how Vivendi companies will integrateWhy he has committed to lead the company for another 11 yearsHis media hero and why he's passionate about advertising and mediaBolloré on…Restructuring: "It's easier to sell a company which is 100% owned by a private company than the listed company. So the idea is not at all to sell anything. It's because we believe in the potential of appreciation of each of our assets that we believe they will get better value."Innovation: "Innovation is one of the key ingredients of Havas' success. We have been funding innovation since forever, since always, whether it was digital, then data, tech and, today, artificial intelligence are a key path for us. And I think it's a key reason why we are one of the best performers in the entire advertising industry."Strategy: "Ten years ago, the industry was very siloed. It was not about holding companies, it was about networks with, most of the time, different names from the holding companies, and few people knew [those names]. And today, it's all about integration."---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media.LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

Host Ella Sagar welcomes editor-in-chief Omar Oakes and reporter Jack Benjamin to examine the past week in media, including TalkTV's decision to come off linear TV, Reach's "better-than-expected" earnings and Global appointing Simon Pitts as its next CEO after Stephen Miron. The trio also discuss Isba's plans for spinning off Origin into a separate company, ITV selling its 50% stake in BritBox International to BBC Studios, February's box office and Apple's €1.8bn fine from the European Commission.Highlights:0:21: STV's Simon Pitts to become Global CEO beginning Q1 20253:02: Will 2024 be a Mediapalooza?7:47: Takeaways from The Media Leader's interview with The Sun MD Ben Walmsley10:50: The implications of TalkTV coming off linear TV21:52: Reach's better-than-expected earnings report – is the publisher turning a corner?29:36: Quick hits: Isba spinning off Origin; February's box office and the success of Dune: Part Two; ITV's sale of BritBox International; Apple's European Commission fine---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media.LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

Consultancy in some form may become part of a media practitioner's career at some point, but how does it work in reality?Rachel Forde and Marco Bertozzi, co-founders of consultants' collective The Zoo.London, join Ella Sagar to talk about founding a company, misconceptions about consultancy and the senior brain drain in media.For Forde, the days when consulting was seen as "something to do in-between jobs" are gone and consultants have "a really super smart way to work", focusing on projects they enjoy doing without the politics of a full-time role.At the same time, Bertozzi believes companies choosing the right consultant is "more important than ever".He adds: "It is a tough market. And I think that all points to the fact that companies, whether it's consultancy or full time, they're evaluating way more carefully every pound they're spending on their business. So this all ties together for us. It's like, yes, consultancy might be an easier step for them rather than hiring."Highlights02:41: How TheZoo.London started06:10: How TheZoo.London is going12:00: The rise of the fractional CMO15:41: Misconceptions about consultancy21:50: Advice for founders25:05: Advice for consultants30:31: Media needs to change its attitude to senior talent32:53: Forde and Bertozzi's animal psychology results35:03: Why are you passionate about media?

Host Jack Benjamin welcomes columnist Nick Manning and reporter Ella Sagar to examine Warner Bros Discovery's latest earnings, Reddit's forthcoming IPO and why agency-client relationships at holding companies have become less transparent over time.On digital publishers making cuts and lay-offs, Manning said: "One thing that is a shame for all of us is that content costs money and good content costs even more money. And those companies who get the most advertising revenue are the ones that do not have any cost of content at all because it is all user-generated."The big issue, for me, is how the advertising money is gravitating towards those with the lowest content costs."The trio also discuss the decline of Vice Media, Walmart's purchase of Vizio and a leadership change at Global.Highlights:00:41: The "unhealthy trend" of principal-based trading04:05: What's the solution for declining transparency in media buying?11:47: Warner Bros Discovery's "big mixed bag" of earnings20:18: Why is Reddit going public now?24:05: The "enshittification" and business prospects of social media platforms30:54: Quick hits – Vice.com ceasing publishing, Walmart purchasing smart TV maker Vizio and Stephen Miron leaving Global---Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media.LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader

Ed Couchman, head of sales for the UK and Northern Europe at Spotify, joins Ella Sagar to talk about the company's long-term advertising ambition, its podcast and audiobook strategy, Apple's app practices and how kindness should not be seen as a weakness.He underscores the commitment to CEO Daniel Ek's goal of generating 20% of revenue from advertising and describes a "longer-term aspiration" for Spotify's advertising sales.Couchman says: "We do want in the long term for the ad sales to reach $10bn – so a real sizeable revenue contribution to the overall business."Elsewhere, he reveals the streamer's "case-by-case" podcast strategy and how he would hypothetically like to see advertising in audiobooks.Couchman also expands on his recent column on how kindness at work is never a weakness, pointing out why it "has never been more needed" in the industry.Highlights: 03:38: Why kindness in media and advertising leadership is a superpower10:07: Spotify's long-term advertising ambition12:48: What's next for non-exclusive podcasts?15.15: Growing the audiobook market17:16: The audiobook advertising dream18.28: Spotify's "Time to Play Fair" campaign taking aim at Apple23.55: Why are you passionate about media?---This episode was edited by our production partner Trisonic.Visit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderThreads: @TheMediaLeaderTwitter: @TheMediaLeader YouTube: The Media Leader