The WIR: RTL Acquires Sky Deutschland, BBC Launches a US Paywall, and DoubleVerify Uncovers a $2.5 Million CTV and Mobile Fraud Scheme

In this week’s Week in Review: RTL acquires Sky Deutschland, BBC launches a US paywall, and DV uncovers a $2.5 million fraud scheme.

The Week in Tech

Australia Considers YouTube Ban for Under-16s

Australia is reviewing whether its social media ban for under-16s should include YouTube when it comes into force later this year. The government passed the legislation late last year, covering services such as Instagram, X, Facebook and Snapchat. YouTube was exempt from the ban due to its role in education and entertainment, but this month the country’s internet safety regulator has submitted new research suggesting the Google-owned video sharing service is where children suffer the most online harm, citing YouTube’s “opaque algorithms” that drive “users down rabbit holes that they are powerless to fight against.”

ID Solution Utiq Launches in UK with Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone

Utiq, the identity solution created by four European telcos, has launched its service in the UK, following the activation of partnerships with Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone. The UK follows Germany, France, Spain and Austria on Utiq’s roadmap, granting brands, publishers and platforms access to the cookieless ID solution. “Through Utiq’s privacy-first solution, our partnership will enable advertisers to engage more effectively with UK consumers,” said James Hardy, Digital Director at Virgin Media O2. “An individual must choose to opt in to this service, meaning it is fully open and transparent, and consistent with our commitment to providing responsible digital experiences for our customers.”

European Commission to Assess Google’s Use of AI Summaries

The European Commission is investigating Google’s use of AI summaries in search results for potential violations of EU copyright rules, competition law, platform obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA), and the protection of media pluralism under the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). The introduction of AI summaries at the top of Google search results has been shown to diminish traffic to publisher websites, which in many cases are the sources of the information being surfaced, leading to potential loss of revenues for the publishers themselves. While no formal steps have yet been taken under the DSA, the copyright directive or the EMFA, the issue will be assessed as part of the Commission’s ongoing DMA investigation into what it considers self-preferential practices by Google Search.

LiveRamp Provides Outcomes Insights for THG Beauty’s Retail Media Network

LiveRamp, an identity resolution specialist, has partnered with commerce platform THG Ingenuity and retail media network THG Beauty Media, to give brands insights into outcomes across media channels. LiveRamp’s Retail Intelligence solution will provide THG Beauty Media’s advertisers with dashboards visualising campaign performance, based on their inputs and brand-specific KPIs. “We’re excited to be one of the first in the beauty sector to offer this level of media and sales measurement, which will help us continue to deliver growth for THG and our partners,” said THG Beauty CCO Tom Mills-Webb. “Our customers and brands come to THG Beauty Media thanks to our excellent products and advertising experiences, and with LiveRamp we can provide our partners with more sophisticated, actionable insights that can drive even more effective advertising strategies.”

TV Ads Are Missing Accessibility Features and Their Benefits Finds, XR Report

Only 10 percent of TV ads globally include accessibility features, according to XR’s 2025 ‘Global Accessibility Maturity Index & Trends Report’, such as closed captions or audio descriptions. The report, now in its second year, found that more than 50 percent of adults regularly enable subtitles, even when watching content in their native language, and captions can boost ad recall by 8 percent. “Millions of impressions are lost when people can’t understand video content,” said XR CEO John Batter. “Accessible advertising ensures every impression can connect.”

The Week in TV

Mobile Time Overtakes TV in the UK, but TV Provides a Mood Boost

New data released this week by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) shows that for the first time, British adults (aged 15+) are spending more time on their phones than watching a TV set. The data, from the IPA’s TouchPoints dataset which tracks consumers’ media habits, finds that British adults use their phones for an average of 3 hours and 21 minutes per day. Meanwhile average TV usage sits at 3 hours and 16 minutes per day. This shift has been driven by increased mobile engagement rather than declining TV viewing. Ten years ago, the average British adult spent 3 hours and 23 minutes per day in front of a TV set, compared to 1 hour and 17 minutes spent on their phone.

The emotional states of audiences vary significantly based on the device they’re using, according to the IPA’s data. And on this front, TV appears to come out on top. For example, British adults are 52 percent more likely to feel relaxed when watching content on a TV set, compared to viewing video on a mobile phone. Viewers are also 55 percent more likely to report feeling sad when watching video on a phone, compared to a TV set. Read more on VideoWeek.

BBC Sues Perplexity for Scraping Content to Train AI

The BBC has threatened legal action against AI startup Perplexity, accusing the firm of scraping the broadcaster’s content to train its AI model. Several other media organisations, including the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post, have sued Perplexity for copyright infringement in recent months, but the move marks the first time the BBC has taken action in the matter.

YouTube Beats TV Networks in Nielsen’s May Ratings

YouTube made up 12.5 percent of TV viewing in the US in May, according to Nielsen’s Media Distributor Gauge, which breaks down broadcast, cable and streaming consumption by media company. Despite only comprising the streaming service, YouTube beat The Walt Disney Company (10.7 percent), NBCUniversal (8 percent) and Paramount Global (7.9 percent) as a share of total TV viewing. But the media companies’ broadcast, cable and streaming offerings put the trio ahead of second-placed streaming service Netflix (7.5 percent).

Mediator Suggests Paramount Pays Trump $20 Million Settlement

A mediator has suggested Paramount pays Donald Trump around $20 million to settle the president’s lawsuit against CBS News, potentially offering a resolution to the dispute between the media company and the Trump administration. The proposed settlement would include a $17 million donation to Trump’s presidential library, as well as millions in legal fees, and public service announcements on Paramount’s TV channels, according to the FT. Trump alleges that CBS News defamed him on an episode of 60 Minutes in the runup to the election, causing friction for Paramount as it seeks federal approval for its merger with Skydance Media.

TF1+ to Launch in 22 French-Speaking African Markets

French broadcaster TF1 has announced plans to launch TF1+, its ad-supported streaming service, in 22 French-speaking African countries on 30th June. The move follows the launch of TF1+ in Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland last year. “The launch of TF1+ across the French-speaking world [aims to make] TF1+ the leading entertainment platform in those markets,” TF1 Group CEO Rodolphe Belmer told Variety.

One in Four Indian Consumers Are Mobile-Only Finds Kantar

Nearly one in four consumers in India only use mobile phones to access entertainment and media content, according to Kantar’s Media Compass report, suggesting a significant proportion of the population are ditching the TV set. The report suggested the smartphone-only audience is skewed toward the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum, which could shape the marketing strategies of Amazon and Meta as they seek to expand their presence in India. The rise of e-commerce is also enabling industries to target rural audiences, according to Kantar, allowing consumers to buy products that are not otherwise available in rural markets with “the click of a button.”

The Week for Publishers

Axel Springer Moves From Clicks to Relationships as it Seeks to Double its Value

European media giant Axel Springer, fresh from a corporate restructure which saw its classifieds business spun off into a separate company, has set itself the aim of doubling its value within the next five years, CEO Mathias Döpfner has announced. Speaking at a meeting with over 100 of the company’s executives in Berlin, Döpfner laid out some of the media group’s strategy for growing both its journalism and media marketing arms. “Journalism remains our core, but it’s evolving,” he said. “The business model of maximising clicks and advertising is over. We must focus on deep and long-term relationships with our users […] Direct traffic is the proof that users choose Axel Springer. Dependence on search and social is a weakness. Owning the audience is a strength.” Read more on VideoWeek.

Subscriptions Overtake Display Advertising for UK Digital Publishers

Subscriptions have overtaken display advertising as the largest driver of digital revenues for UK publishers, according to the latest Digital Publishers’ Revenue Index (DPRI) from the Association of Online Publishers (AOP) and Deloitte. The data from Q1 2025, covering 13 UK digital publishers, suggests that subscriptions accounted for 34 percent of total revenues, compared with digital advertising comprising 31 percent of the total. “For many years, subscription revenues have been gradually increasing while display advertising revenues have contracted, with their respective trajectories indicating subscriptions would eventually become the largest revenue driver for premium publishers,” said the report. “This milestone has now been met.” Read more on VideoWeek.

Gay Times Reports Advertiser Exodus Amid Anti-Diversity Pushback

LGBTQ publisher Gay Times lost eight out of ten advertisers over the past year, the company’s CEO Tag Warner told Campaign this week, amid an anti-diversity pushback in the corporate world. There’s been a notable pullback in support from businesses for diverse media groups and causes in the wake of the re-election of Donald Trump, and Warner said that a US-based anti-diversity movement has filtered through to the UK.

CMA Scrutiny of Google Search Could Provide Boost to Publishers

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) this week announced it is proposing to designate Google Search as having ‘Strategic Market Status’ in general search and search advertising, a designation under the UK’s Digital Markets Competition Regime which would give the CMA enhanced powers to force Google to change some of its business practices. The CMA has already outlined some actions it would consider, which include giving publishers more control over how their content is used by Google. This could enable publishers the ability to opt-out of having their content used in Google’s AI-generated search answers, without removing themselves from Google Search entirely.

LBG Media Reports Advertising-Powered Revenue Growth

UK social-focused publishing group LBG Media, which owns titles including LadBible, UNILAD, and Betches, reported 13 percent year-on-year total revenue growth for the first half of the year in an earnings report released this week, fuelled by strong ad revenues. LBG Media says it is seeing the impact of economic uncertainty sparked by US tariffs announced earlier this year, but that it is nonetheless confident of delivering 10 percent full-year revenue growth. The company says its strength with younger audiences, which are typically harder for advertisers to reach, is a big contributor to its success.

Hearst Magazines Brings AURA to Amazon DSP

International publisher Hearst Magazines has announced it is making AURA, its AI-powered ad targeting tool based on Hearst’s first-party data, available through the Amazon DSP. Hearst says the integration will enable advertisers to combine Hearst’s own data with Amazon Ads’ browsing, shopping, and streaming insights for programmatic transactions. “As we see increased programmatic interest in our inventory — especially from DSPs like Amazon — it’s the right time to bring the power of AURA targeting and meet buyers where they’re already transacting”, said Lisa Ryan Howard, global chief revenue officer at Hearst Magazines.

News Corp Extends CEO Robert Thompson’s Contract for Five More Years

Robert Thompson, the CEO of media giant News Corp, has had his contract extended for another five years, meaning he will continue in the role until 2030 barring any other changes. Thompson first took the reins in 2013, meaning he will have headed up the company for over 15 years by the time the new contract ends. “Robert has been instrumental in News Corp’s growth and transformation, and his vision and leadership are extremely important as the company continues to navigate this era of rapid change,” said News Corp Chair Lachlan Murdoch. “He is a crucial voice in the fight for publishers and journalists in the digital age, and a strong advocate for intellectual property rights. I look forward to his continued leadership.”

The Week for Brands & Agencies

FTC Clears Omnicom/IPG Merger, with Political Neutrality Conditions

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has cleared the planned merger of agency groups Omnicom and Interpublic Group, but has placed restrictions on the merged entity’s ability to direct clients’ ad spend away from specific media companies as a condition of its blessing. FTC chairman Andrew Ferguson said in a statement that the decision “prohibits Omnicom and IPG from entering into or maintaining any agreement which would steer advertising dollars away from publishers based on their political or ideological viewpoints”. This includes the use of pre-made “exclusion lists”, as well as collusion with other firms.

UK Government Considers Ban On Alcohol Ads

The UK government has considered imposing either a partial or full ban on alcohol ads, as part of its soon-to-be-released ten-year plan for the NHS, Sky has reported. A draft version of the document seen by Sky included a mention of an advertising ban, as part of a wider effort to prevent the damaging effects of excessive alcohol use, though it’s not certain that these plans will be included in the final report. Read more on VideoWeek.

Media Matters Attempts to Block FTC Probe Amid X Lawsuit

American media watchdog Media Matters has filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block a probe from the Federal Trade Commission, which is investigating whether Media Matters helped orchestrate illegal coordinated boycotts of advertising on platforms including X, Reuters reported this week. Media Matters says the FTC’s probe is retaliation against the group for its criticism of X, owned by Elon Musk, previously a close ally of President Donald Trump.

Spain Passes Bill to Ban Petrol Ads

Spain is set to become the first country in the world to ban petrol ads, The Telegraph reported this week, after the Spanish government introduced a new bill which will ban any petrol or diesel ads unless the product in question contains a non-fossil fuel ingredient. There is, however, no limit on the minimum amount of non-fossil fuel ingredients which must be included in a product in order for it to be exempt from the ban, according to The Telegraph.

WPP Seals AI Partnership with Vercel

Agency holding group WPP this week announced an expanded AI-focused partnership with Vercel, a cloud computing company which helps businesses build and scale web applications. The deal will make Vercel’s AI technologies, vo and AI SDK, available to WPP teams and their clients, helping them design digital experiences through ‘vibe coding’. WPP says the partnership could increase development efficiency by up to 25 percent.

Dentsu Among Companies Hit With 3.3 Billion Yen Fine Over Olympics Bidding Scandal

Japanese agency group Dentsu is among six companies to have been hit with fines totalling around 3.3 billion yen (over £16 million) over their involvement in an Olympic bid rigging scandal. The companies were found by Japan’s antitrust authority to have rigged bids for operating test events ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games. Dentsu says it has fully cooperated with the investigation.

WPP and Omnicom Pick Up Top Prizes at the Cannes Lions

WPP was named Creative Company of the Year at this year’s Cannes Lions for the second year in a row on the final day of the festival last week. Meanwhile Omnicom agencies picked up two other major prizes, as DDB Worldwide was picked as Network of the Year, and OMD Worldwide won Media Network of the Year.

Hires of the Week

Reach Promotes Mantis’ Terry Hornsby to Chief Product and Technology Officer

British publishing group Reach has appointed Terry Hornsby to the newly created role of Chief Product and Technology Officer. Previously Group Digital and Innovation Director, Hornsby will oversee the product function and technology/IT and commercial product teams. Following stints at TalkSport and Condé Nast, Hornsby joined Reach in 2017, and founded the company’s ad tech business Mantis in 2019.

JWP Connatix Appoints Chris Maccaro as CRO

JWP Connatix, a video technology and monetisation business, has named Chris Maccaro as Chief Revenue Officer. He succeeds Jenn Chen, who will remain part of JWP Connatix in an advisory capacity. Maccaro has more than two decades experience in digital media and ad tech, including six years at AOL, six years at Yahoo, and six years as CEO of Beachfront Media.

Simon Michaelides Named ISBA Director General as Phil Smith Becomes Origin Chair

ISBA, a UK advertiser trade group, has announced Simon Michaelides as its next Director General. Currently Interim Chief Customer Officer of Great British Racing, Michaelides has held senior marketing roles at P&G, PepsiCo and UKTV. He succeeds Phil Smith OBE, who steps down after eight years to become Chairman of Origin, ISBA’s cross-media measurement initiative.