In this week’s Week in Review: FranceTV announced a new partnership with YouTube, US Republicans propose a new national data bill, and RTL gets EU approval for its Sky Deutschland acquisition.
Top Stories
FranceTV to Air All News and Directly Monetise Content on YouTube
French public service broadcaster France Télévisions announced on Thursday an expansion of its partnership with YouTube, which will see the TV business ramp up its output on the platform, and start selling ads alongside its YouTube inventory itself.
News content will be a big focus for the broadcaster. France Télévisions says it plans to make all of the group’s national and local news programmes, as well as its flagship daily and weekly current affairs shows, available on the platform. This will go live either at the same time as their linear broadcasts, or shortly afterwards. FranceTV will run more curated channels organised by programme and theme on YouTube, and produce native content for the platform. And YouTube will also help the broadcaster integrate its proprietary ‘Likeness ID’ tool, which detects AI-generated content which uses images of public figures without their consent, helping it to filter out misleading or manipulated content.
The move is part of FranceTV’s wider ‘streaming first’ strategy. “In an ultra-competitive video landscape, and in the face of the French public’s growing exposure to misinformation, it strengthens the reach of France Télévisions’ news content among all audiences, including those furthest removed from traditional media,” said Delphine Ernotte Cunci, chair and CEO of France Télévisions.
House Republicans Unveil New Data Protection Act
Republican legislators in the US this week unveiled the SECURE Data Act, a new piece of national privacy legislation which would create a country-wide standard for how tech companies handle personal data, including for targeted advertising purposes.
There’s been a push for nation-wide regulation in recent years, as state-specific privacy laws have created an increasingly fragmented privacy landscape. But building enough support to pass a bill has proven difficult.
The SECURE Data Act outlines requirements around data minimisation, access rights for consumers, specific obligations for sensitive data, and consumer data deletion rights. For targeted advertising specifically, the bill covers the collection of data based on consumers’ behaviour over time across third-party sites and apps, rather than tracking of activity within a data controller’s own properties. It also specifically exempts the collection of data for measurement and reporting purposes.
Industry trade group IAB said the bill is a step in the right direction, in its attempt to simplify the privacy landscape in the US. “Where state laws diverge materially, it becomes essential to identify and reconcile those differences to avoid consumer confusion about their rights and fragmentation that imposes compliance difficulties on businesses,” said the IAB’s head of public policy Molly Crawford. “Issues such as different state standards on data minimisation, definitions of “sensitive data,” third-party disclosure lists, and the treatment of children’s and teens’ data have become touchpoints for businesses that pose ongoing implementation and operational challenges in compliance. A federal privacy law can remedy these challenges when coupled with a single national standard.”
RTL Receives Unconditional Approval from EU for Sky Deutschland Takeover
European TV giant RTL Group this week was granted unconditional clearance by the European Commission for its proposed takeover of Sky Deutschland, paving the way for the acquisition to complete on June 1st.
The deal, announced last year, will see RTL Group take control of Sky’s operations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as Sky Deutschland will be merged with RTL Deutschland. It’s a core part of RTL’s strategy in Germany, help the company to leapfrog Disney in terms of its streaming subscription market share, lifting it to third place behind Netflix and Prime Video. That scale should help boost ad sales, offering more scale overall to marketers, as well as creating a more compelling proposition for audiences.
While approval had been expected, it does signal a willingness from the EU to allow major local TV mergers. From a local perspective, the deal brings together two of the largest players in the German TV market. But on a global scale, both are dwarfed by the international streaming platforms they’re competing with.
“This represents a significant milestone for the RTL Group and will strengthen the competitiveness of European media companies,” said RTL Group CEO Thomas Rabe. “The transaction is thus in line with the European Commission’s goal of expanding Europe’s industrial sovereignty. […] The RTL Group is convinced that domestic mergers are necessary to compete with global platforms in the long term. The acquisition of Sky Deutschland is an important first step in this direction.”
The Week in Tech
Google TV to Lose European Market Share to VIDAA, Titan OS and TiVo, Suggests Omdia Data
Four years ago the European OS market was largely controlled by three major players, namely Samsung’s Tizen, Google TV and LG’s webOS. But according to new data from Omdia, these companies are expected to lose share gradually to new entrants that did not even exist in the European market in 2022, including VIDAA, Titan OS and TiVo. These OSs are forecast to control 28 percent of the European OS market by 2030, up from 21 percent in 2025. At the same time, Google TV’s market share is projected to fall to 26 percent in 2030, down from 32 percent in 2025. Read more on VideoWeek.
Meta to Cut 10 Percent of Staff in AI Spending “Tradeoff”
Meta is planning to lay off 10 percent of staff (around 8,000 people) in May, to offset its massive outlay in AI investments, the WSJ reported on Thursday. The tech giant said it would also cancel plans to hire for 6,000 open roles. “This is not an easy tradeoff and it will mean letting go of people who have made meaningful contributions to Meta during their time here,” said Janelle Gale, Meta’s Chief People Officer, in a memo sent to employees.
PayPal Uses Transaction Data to Drive Streaming Ads
PayPal Ads is rolling out a new product to help marketers target and measure streaming and open web ads using its transaction data, Adweek reported on Wednesday. Curated Ads uses PayPal’s transaction graph of sales data to create audiences that advertisers can target through direct partnerships with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), Spectrum Reach and Tubi, according to the report. The company can then measure sales uplift by matching ad impressions with its own data from consumers who purchased a product advertised using PayPal.
The Trade Desk and Stagwell Launch Agentic AI Tools for Media Buyers
The Trade Desk has announced the alpha launch of Koa Agents, a new agentic tool designed to streamline planning, buying and measuring campaigns. Agency network Stagwell is also developing capabilities within The Trade Desk’s MCP (Model Context Protocol), which are expected to be available to select clients in beta later this summer. “Koa Agents represent a meaningful step forward for our clients,” said Slavi Samardzija, Global Chair of Media and Commerce at Stagwell. “By combining The Trade Desk’s AI capabilities with our data, identity infrastructure and Stagwell Media Platform, we can make advanced advertising more accessible, strategic and effective.”
DoubleVerify Launches ‘AI SlopStopper’ for Social Media
DoubleVerify, a media verification firm, has launched a new tool designed to help advertisers navigate low-quality, AI-generated content in social media environments. The ‘AI SlopStopper’ sits within DV AI Verification, an offering aimed at avoiding low-quality GenAI content across digital channels. “With the expansion of DV AI Verification to include DV’s AI SlopStopper for social, we are empowering advertisers to ensure their brand investment is protected wherever they spend while driving stronger media outcomes,” said DV CEO Mark Zagorski.
IAS Expands TikTok Media Quality Coverage
Integral Ad Science (IAS), a digital ad verification business, is expanding its Total Media Quality (TMQ) coverage for TikTok. TMQ will cover Search Ad Campaigns, Upgraded Campaign Creation Experience for Brand & Smart+ Traffic Objectives, GMV Max (US), and TikTok Lite (US). “By extending our Total Media Quality coverage across these new formats, we are providing advertisers with the transparency and granular insights they need to protect their brand equity, so they can use media quality signals to unlock greater performance across one of the world’s largest short-form video and creator platforms,” said IAS CEO Lisa Utzschneider.
Mirriad Advertising Warns it Could Enter Liquidation Due to Impact of Iran War
Mirriad Advertising, a UK advertising firm, warned on Thursday that it may have to place itself or its operating units into liquidation or administration due to the effects of the Iran war, according to Reuters. The business said deteriorating trading conditions have hit marketing spend and worsened the company’s cash crunch. Mirriad’s share price fell 80 percent following the reports.
Venatus to Sell Rewarded Video Inventory for Roblox
Ad tech firm Venatus is partnering with Roblox as the gaming platform’s official reseller for Rewarded Video inventory across the UK, France and Germany. Through the partnership, Venatus will enable advertisers to reach users via opt-in Rewarded Video ads, where players earn in-game value in exchange for viewing an ad. “Through our partnership with Venatus, we’re enabling advertisers to engage highly active Gen Z audiences across key European markets in formats designed for immersive, participatory environments,” said Mark Bambury, Senior Director of Brand Partnerships at Roblox.
The Week in TV
Paramount+ Launches Short-Form Video Mobile App in Push to Compete with Shorts
Paramount Skydance is releasing a reworked mobile version of the Paramount+ app for iPhone users, featuring a scrollable feed of short-form videos, Reuters reported on Tuesday. According to people with knowledge of the initiative, the short videos will include sports highlights, CBS News segments, UFC clips and trailers for movies and shows. The move continues the push by major media companies to compete with short-form mobile apps such as TikTok and Instagram; last month, Disney launched vertical video feed ‘Verts’ on the Disney+ mobile app.
WBD Stockholders Approve Paramount Merger
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) stockholders have voted to approve its acquisition by Paramount, the company announced on Thursday. The transaction is expected to close in Q3 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory clearances. “We appreciate the support and confidence our stockholders have placed in us to unlock the full value of our world-class entertainment portfolio,” said Samuel A. Di Piazza, Jr., Chair of the WBD Board of Directors. “With Paramount, we look forward to creating an exceptional combined company that will expand consumer choice and benefit the global creative talent community.”
French Telcos Enter SFR Acquisition Negotiations
Bouygues Telecom, Iliad-Free and Orange have entered exclusive negotiations with Altice France over the acquisition of French telco SFR, Broadband TV News reported last week. The trio’s offer values the Altice France assets at €20.35 billion (£17.4 billion). The acquisition would mark the biggest French telco deal since France Telecom’s acquisition of Orange in 2000, according to the report, and would reduce France’s mobile market from four major operators to three, making it likely to face close scrutiny from the competition authorities.
Sports Help Drive Strong Streaming Growth for Viaplay
Nordic broadcaster Viaplay’s streaming subscription revenues were up 7.9 percent year-on-year in Q1, according to the company’s Q1 earnings this morning, delivering a very slight uptick in overall revenue growth of 0.1 percent. It’s not just subscription volume which is driving streaming growth. Average revenue per user (ARPU) was up year-on-year for both Viaplay’s direct-to-consumer streaming subscriptions and its business-to-business offering. And on this front, president and CEO Jørgen Madsen Lindemann said the company’s investment in premium sports is helping ramp up revenues. Read more on VideoWeek.
EBU Warns Czech PSB Funding Cuts Could Undermine Editorial Independence
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has warned that proposals by the Czech Government to change the funding model for public service media could undermine editorial independence. The proposals involve the abolition of licence fees, effectively cutting funding to Czech Television by CZK 1 billion per year, and Czech Radio by CZK 400 million. “Stable, adequate and independent funding is a key safeguard for their editorial and institutional independence,” the EBU said in a statement. “In this context, the EBU recalls that Article 5 of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) requires Member States to ensure that public service media benefit from adequate, sustainable and predictable financial resources, enabling them to fulfil their broad public service remit and develop in line with societal and technological changes.”
ProSieben Sells North American Creator Company in Ongoing Refocus on TV Business
ProSiebenSat.1 has sold Studio71 US, the North American creator business it acquired in 2015, to digital content studio Fixated LLC, for an undisclosed amount. Studio71 US houses content creators and podcasts, alongside video content syndication, production and content monetisation capabilities, and generated €246 million in revenues last year. The sale sees the German media group shift its focus onto the entertainment business in the DACH region, following its takeover by pan-European media holding company MFE-MediaForEurope.
German Media Groups Call for AI Regulation to Protect Media Plurality
German media groups have called for tighter AI regulation, according to Broadband TV News, warning that tech giants are becoming “AI gatekeepers” that threaten media plurality, revenues and democratic discourse. In a joint statement, public broadcasters ARD and ZDF, the commercial broadcasters’ industry association VAUNET, and publisher organisations BDZV and MVFP, urged policymakers to establish “fair framework conditions” to protect a diverse information ecosystem.
ITV and Xperi Bring ITVX to In-Car Entertainment Systems
ITV has partnered with Xperi, a media and in-car entertainment tech company, to launch the ITVX streaming service in BMW, MINI and Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The BVOD service will be available on Xperi’s DTS AutoStage Video Service, powered by the TiVo operating system (OS). “This partnership with Xperi is a significant step for ITVX as we continue to expand our distribution reach into innovative new areas,” said Akhila Khanna, ITV Distribution Director. “We are excited to be one of the first major broadcasters to offer our content to owners of and passengers in BMW, MINI and Mercedes-Benz vehicles.”
ProSieben Adds Live Restart and Download Capabilities to Joyn+
ProSiebenSat.1 is rolling out new features on Joyn+, the paid version of the German broadcaster’s streaming service. Paid subscribers will be able to restart live TV programs from the beginning, and download up to ten pieces of content to their smartphones or tablets and watch them offline for 30 days. They will also have access to exclusive content and previews, including collections of Promi Big Brother (Celebrity Big Brother) and The Masked Singer.
The Week for Publishers
Bauer Cites AI Impact in Round of Job Cuts
European magazine publisher Bauer Media Group is undergoing a major restructure in Germany and the UK, with a significant number of jobs on the line. Bauer’s German standalone digital business Bauer Xcel Media Deutschland KG will be shuttered entirely, while its wider German digital activity will be streamlined and focused on a core set of brands. Meanwhile, a reorganisation in the UK, which will integrate digital activity more closely into existing publishing structures, will also put jobs at risk. “Technological disruption, particularly the rapid rise of AI, is reshaping how audiences access content, with users increasingly receiving answers directly via platforms rather than visiting publisher websites,” the company said in a statement. “At the same time, platform dynamics, user behaviour and monetisation models are evolving. Advertising markets remain under pressure, while affiliate and commerce models are becoming more competitive and fragmented.”
Daily Mail Moves from Page Views to New Engagement ‘Golden Metric’
UK newspaper the Daily Mail is moving away from using page views as its core metric, focusing more instead on a range of wider engagement metrics including an in-house ‘golden’ metric that looks at traffic, dwell time, shares, comments, and likes among other things. Time spent on page and repeat usage over a seven-day window will also be used to judge performance. This will help power a revamped product strategy which will see the Mail use an AI-powered dynamic paywall and deliver fewer but higher quality ads.
TMB Leans on AI for Sales Narratives and Media Planning
Trusted Media Brands, the US media business which owns titles including Reader’s Digest, Taste of Home, FailArmy and People Are Awesome among other brands, is leaning on AI to help craft sales narratives and power media planning, according to an interview with AdExchanger. TMB’s properties are diverse in their nature, covering traditional publishers, social-first media brands, and free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels. This makes it difficult to convey to advertisers how content performs and audiences engage across platforms. TMB’s VP of marketing Michael Boccacino told AdExchanger the company is using a generative AI tool provided by Jasper.ai to help analyse performance data across properties and channels, helping it answer more data-driven RFPs. The company is also testing AI for media planning, inventory checks, and reporting.
Sky News Launches Paid App for Defence and Security Content
Sky News has launched a new paid app, Sky News Defence, which will focus on specialist defence and security content, Press Gazette reported this week. The move is part of a wider plan to find ways to introduce paid subscriptions into Sky’s offering. “This is an example of us starting to move into places where we think we’ve got a real authority and voice and distinction that ultimately consumers will engage with,” Andy Thomson, Sky News’s executive director of business operations told Press Gazette.
Axel Springer Expands Global Reporter Network in Resource Pooling Strategy
European media group Axel Springer announced an expansion of its Global Reporters Network, adding four journalists from across its publications to the network. The Global Reporters Network, launched in March last year, pools reporting, sources, and distribution across Axel Springer’s media brands. It’s part of a growing trend of publishing groups which own multiple media titles finding ways to generate more value and efficiency from the talent and resources which are split across their various media brands. “In its first year, the network has shown how powerful cross-brand collaboration can be in breaking stories and reaching global audiences,” said Tim Röhn, senior editor of the Global Reporters Network.
The Week for Brands & Agencies
Marketing Budgets Under Scrutiny Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty
Ninety-seven percent of senior marketers say budget scrutiny now feels heavier than it did 12 months ago, according to the World Federation of Advertisers’ latest Global Risk Barometer, run in partnership with transformation consultancy The Intangibles. In the same study last year, 82 percent reported the same sentiment, demonstrating a continued escalation of the need for marketers to justify their budgets. This scrutiny comes in an atmosphere of business uncertainty, with over 90 percent of those interviewed for the study saying that the business environment feels less predictable and riskier than it did 12 months ago. Geopolitics, the economic outlook, and AI are the most cited sources of risk.
Omnicom Launches New Video Planning Capabilities to Improve Frequency Management
Omnicom Media this week announced the launch of new video content planning capabilities which it says will better enable clients to manage frequency across linear and CTV environments. The new capability draws data from measurement provider VideoAmp, The Trade Desk’s programmatic bidstream, various streaming partners, and its own data unit Acxiom to help avoid duplication and wasteful repetition. Amazon, AMC, Disney, Fox, NBCU, Roku, Samsung, and Paramount are signed up to participate at launch. Omnicom also launched new research this week highlighting the danger of getting frequency wrong, finding that overexposure to ads is eroding brands’ returns on investment and creating “negative reach” where brand perceptions are actually damaged rather than improved.
WPP Unveils New Partnerships with NVIDIA, Google Earth, and Trainline
WPP announced a slate of major new partnerships this week, signing agreements with NVIDIA, Google Earth, and Trainline. The NVIDIA deal will see creative AI agents run by Adobe and powered by NVIDIA’s OpenShell Runtime use WPP’s global media and marketing intelligence to inform decision making. The Google partnership will see Google Earth AI models and datasets — including data on traffic, weather, and neighbourhood movement patterns — integrated into WPP’s company-wide platform WPP Open. And the Trainline tie-up will integrate Trainline’s transactional location data into WPP’s Open Intelligence for Commerce.
Publicis UK Acquires Fabric Social
Publicis Groupe UK has bought social media specialist agency Fabric Social for an undisclosed fee, the company announced this week. Fabric Social, founded five years ago, has a team of over 110 people, and delivers content across platforms including TikTok and Instagram. Publicis says the acquisition will strengthen its expertise across PR, social, and influencer marketing. “Welcoming Fabric Social, the UK’s leading social agency, into Publicis Groupe signals our continued investment to build best in class capabilities across PR, social and influencer marketing,” said Rebecca Grant, UK CEO and chief client officer, EME PSI Practice for Publicis Groupe UK.
WPP Consolidates Commerce Offering into WPP Commerce
British holding group WPP this week announced the launch of WPP Commerce, a new unit which will unite the company’s commerce expertise and capabilities under one structure, Adweek reported this week. Brent Taylor will lead WPP Commerce as global CEO, and Taylor told Adweek that the new unit will interact with the four main pillars of WPP’s business: media, creative, enterprise solutions, and production.
M+C Saatchi Warns Middle East Conflict is Hitting Sports Revenues
UK-based agency M+C Saatchi, which reported its full-year earnings for 2025 this week, warned that the US/Iran conflict is likely to “significantly impact [its] sport and entertainment and consumer-facing business”, as several large-scale Middle East-based sports events have been shelved as a result of the conflict. Perhaps the most high-profile cancellations so far have been the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Formula One Grand Prix races, which were both set for earlier this month. M+C Saatchi’s wider forecast for the year ahead, however, was more positive. While net revenues and operating profit both fell in 2025, both like-for-like and on a statutory basis, the marketing group is predicting a return to growth this year. Read more on VideoWeek.
Dentsu Wins Netflix’s EMEA Media Remit
Dentsu has been chosen by Netflix as its media agency of record in the EMEA region, covering 22 markets, Campaign reported this week. Netflix already worked with Dentsu in the UK, and this expanded partnership will see the account handled through Carat and iProspect. WPP and Omnicom also competed in the pitch process, according to Campaign.
Hires of the Week
RTL Deutschland Appoints New Management Ahead of Sky Deutschland Merger
RTL Deutschland has announced its new senior leadership for the company, following the approval of its merger with Sky Deutschland. Stephan Schmitter will be CEO of the merged company, and Julia Kloke will become chief financial officer, while Sky Deutschland has appointed Elke Walthelm as chief human resources officer and Michael Radelsberger as chief consumer officer to the management board of RTL Deutschland.
This Week on VideoWeek
M+C Saatchi Warns Middle East Conflict is Hitting Sports Revenues
Unpacking the Role Retailers Play in Choosing TV Operating Systems
Google TV to Lose European Market Share to VIDAA, Titan OS and TiVo, Suggests Omdia Data
Introducing the Video & TV Advertising Buyer’s Guide 2026
The Cost of Burnout in Media Buying
Sports Help Drive Strong Streaming Growth for Viaplay
Ad of the Week
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