This week on the WPP Media Intelligence Podcast, Kate Scott-Dawkins, Nidhi Shah, and Jeff Foster are diving into the big stories shaping media, marketing, and the economy right now.

The IMF has bumped up its global growth forecast, China’s trade numbers are surprising everyone, and luxury brands like LVMH are showing early signs of recovery. Banks are riding high on AI investments, IPO activity is picking up, and connected TV continues to gain traction with advertisers.

We also get into some fascinating moves in the AI and commerce space — Walmart teaming up with OpenAI for conversational shopping, Perplexity hitting pause on ads, and Netflix joining forces with Spotify to bring video podcasts to streaming audiences.

And with US midterms on the horizon, political ad spend is already looking like it could smash records. Whether you’re in media, marketing, finance, or tech, this episode is packed with insights on where growth is coming from, what’s changing fast, and how brands can stay ahead.

00:00-Introduction & Global Economic Outlook
02:59-China’s Trade Data and Luxury Sector Recovery
06:08-Bank Earnings, AI Investments, and Advertising Trends
11:41-Perplexity AI Pauses Ads & Future of AI Search
16:13-Walmart Partners with OpenAI for Conversational Commerce
23:17-Netflix and Spotify Video Podcast Partnership
27:13-Political Advertising Trends & Closing Remarks

How privacy rules, AI growth, and EV competition are reshaping advertising

In this episode of the Media Intelligence Podcast, the team unpacks the week’s biggest stories in media, marketing, and global business. From Europe’s push toward ad-free social media to AI’s economic boom and the worldwide EV race, they explore how regulation, consumer values, and technology are reshaping advertising strategies. Regional insights from WPP’s global forecast and the impact of major sports events round out a packed agenda.

Key Topics Discussed

• Europe’s “consent or pay” social media models and regulatory push on privacy, youth safety, and mental health.
• Global sentiment on banning social media for children under certain ages.
• Potential long-term advertising impacts if younger generations delay or avoid social media adoption.
• PepsiCo’s Q3 performance, cost optimization, and brand refresh toward healthier products.
• Dell’s AI-driven growth, PC sales trends, and the Windows 10 end-of-support upgrade cycle.
• China’s goal to produce one-third of the world’s cars by 2030 and its EV export strategy.
• Tesla’s pricing changes and the challenges of EV adoption in the U.S.
• Economic bifurcation affecting auto sales and marketing messaging.
• Digital addressable advertising now comprising ~80% of total ad spend.
• Regional insights from WPP’s “This Year, Next Year” forecast: EMEA, APAC, and LatAm trends.
• The advertising boost from the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Winter Olympics.
• Gen Z’s shifting values and what they mean for brands and hiring managers.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction & Europe’s Ad-Free Social Media Models
05:25 PepsiCo Earnings & Healthier Snacking Trends
09:50 Dell’s AI Growth & Hardware Market Insights
14:55 China’s Auto Ambitions & Global EV Competition
19:46 Economic Divide, Auto Marketing & Addressable Ads
22:25 Global Ad Forecast Insights: EMEA, APAC & LatAm
25:44 Sports Events Driving Future Ad Spend
27:13 Closing Thoughts & What’s Next

On this week’s Media Intelligence Podcast, Kate Scott-Dawkins, Jeff Foster, and Nidhi Shah from WPP Media’s Business Intelligence team discuss some of the week’s biggest media and marketing stories. Topics include TikTok’s $14B valuation and what it means for the platform’s future, the latest UK inflation data, rising streaming subscription prices, Netflix’s new partnership with AB InBev, and OpenAI’s plans to introduce advertising. The team looks at how these developments could affect brands and advertisers as we head into Q4.

Key Topics

• TikTok’s $14B valuation and U.S. ban update
• UK inflation trends and global economic signals
• Netflix teams up with AB InBev for native advertising
• Streaming service price hikes compared to cable costs
• Comcast spinout Versant’s revenue decline
• Affiliate TV station consolidation in the U.S. and Europe
• OpenAI’s push toward ad monetization with Pulse

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction & TikTok valuation update
02:21 – UK and global economic outlook
11:55 – Netflix and AB InBev partnership
15:27 – Streaming price hikes vs cable costs
20:01 – Comcast spinout Versant revenue trends
23:23 – Affiliate TV station ownership and consolidation
28:14 – OpenAI moves toward advertising

Links:

WPP Media's Mid-Year Global Advertising Forecast Update: https://www.wppmedia.com/news/tyny-midyear-2025

Kate Scott-Dawkins and Jeff Foster break down the Fed’s first rate cut in a year, new US income data, and what a “two-speed” economy means for brands. They cover TikTok’s uncertain US future, the rumored Warner Bros. Discovery–Paramount mega-merger, billion-dollar sports rights, fresh AI usage insights from Anthropic and OpenAI, and the IPOs that could reshape ad spend transparency.

Key Topics Discussed

• The Fed’s Big Move – A quarter-point rate cut is here. What does it mean for the economy, the ad market, and the rest of 2025?
• Two-Speed Economy – Fresh Census data shows income gains for some groups, declines for others, and a widening gender pay gap. How are brands balancing premium products with value options?
• TikTok’s US Cliffhanger – Another deadline extension, a possible deal with US investors, and the big question: who controls the algorithm?
• A Media Mega-Merger? – If Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount join forces, they could dominate US TV ad sales, shake up sports rights, and rival Netflix in streaming scale.
• Sports & Ad Dollars – From the Super Bowl’s billion-dollar day to tech giants eyeing broadcast rights, what’s next for advertisers and networks?
• AI in the Real World – New data from Anthropic and OpenAI reveals how people are actually using AI — from coding to meal planning — and what it means for marketers.
• IPO Watchlist – Recent debuts like Klarna and Figma, plus private giants like ByteDance, OpenAI, and Shein that could reshape ad spend transparency.
• Looking Ahead – Industry events in Japan, upcoming inflation and consumer sentiment reports, and what to watch in Q4.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction & Fed Rate Cut Overview03:33 - US Income Data & Two-Speed Economy07:30 - TikTok’s Uncertain US Future11:00 - Warner Bros. Discovery–Paramount Merger Analysis19:53 - Sports Rights, Super Bowl Economics & Media Competition21:12 - AI Adoption Trends from Anthropic & OpenAI28:39 - IPO Trends & Advertising Spend Visibility32:44 - Upcoming Events & Closing Remarks

Links:

• This Year Next Year MidYear Forecast 2025: https://www.wppmedia.com/news/tyny-midyear-2025

• Anthropic (Claude) Economic Index interactive report: https://www.anthropic.com/economic-index

• OpenAI (ChatGPT) "How People Use ChatGPT": https://cdn.openai.com/pdf/a253471f-8260-40c6-a2cc-aa93fe9f142e/economic-research-chatgpt-usage-paper.pdf

Pharma ad crackdown, Murdoch succession, NFL streaming surge, EV ad spend, plus economy, 2030 ad trends, and Apple’s latest showcase.

Kate Scott-Dawkins and Jeff Foster unpack a busy week in advertising and media: the Trump administration’s potential crackdown on pharma ads, the Murdoch family’s succession deal, NFL’s streaming surge from Brazil, and aggressive EV ad spending from Lucid, VinFast, and Chinese OEMs. Plus, a U.S. economy update, highlights from WPP’s 2030 Advertising Futures report, and takeaways from Apple’s latest showcase.

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction & sports recap
01:08 - U.S. economy: Inflation, jobs revisions, Fed outlook
03:25 - Pharma ad crackdown & market impact
06:00 - Murdoch succession & media strategy
10:07 - NFL on YouTube TV: Brazil game success
11:00 - Auto ad trends & EV newcomers
13:13 - Advertising in 2030: WPP’s extended-cut report
17:15 - Apple tech showcase: Incremental updates
19:10 - Wrap-up & next week’s preview

Advertising in 2030 report: https://www.wppmedia.com/news/Latest-Advertising-in-2030?utm_source=MediaIntelligence&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=ep75

In this week’s WPP Media Intelligence Podcast, Kate Scott-Dawkins, Jeff Foster, and Nidhi Shah break down the biggest media and advertising stories shaping the global market. From last-minute US carriage deals to the NFL’s free-to-air push in the UK, and a major European media merger, we explore what these moves mean for advertisers. Plus, we look at newspaper ad revenue trends, China’s growing media players, and how AI investment is fueling economic growth.

Key takeaways:

• How Fox and YouTube TV avoided a blackout before football season
• Why Disney is suing Sling TV over $5/day streaming passes
• NFL’s new free-to-air deal in the UK and its impact on sports rights
• The MFE + ProSiebenSat.1 merger and European media consolidation
• Newspaper ad revenue trends in the US and UK
• Xiaomi and ByteDance’s role in the global ad market
• How AI investment is driving ad spend growth into 2026

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction & Episode Preview
01:25 – Fox & YouTube TV Carriage Dispute and Skinny Sports Bundles
05:44 – Disney Sues Sling TV Over Short-Term Streaming Passes
08:18 – NFL Goes Free-to-Air in the UK & Sports Rights Landscape
11:22 – European Media Consolidation: MFE and ProSiebenSat.1 Deal
14:45 – Newspaper Ad Revenue Trends in US and UK
17:27 – China-Based Players: Xiaomi, ByteDance & AI Investments
20:17 – Closing Thoughts & Upcoming Sports Events

This Year Next Year Midyear Forecast 2025: https://www.wppmedia.com/news/tyny-midyear-2025

Kate Scott-Dawkins is joined by Jeff Foster and Nidhi Shah to break down the latest trends in the economy, media, and advertising. They chat about what lower-than-expected US inflation means for consumers, how Chinese retailers are staying strong despite economic challenges, and some exciting moves in sports streaming and local TV. Plus, they dive into the rapid rise of AppLovin and what it means for advertisers.

00:00 - Introduction
Welcome and overview of inflation, AppLovin, and sports streaming topics.

01:37 - Inflation and Retail Trends
Mixed inflation signals, tariffs, and how advertisers are responding.

08:36 - Global Economic Updates
UK, EU, and China’s growth trends, plus retail spending shifts.

15:49 - Tencent and Mini-Programs
Tencent’s ad growth and the rise of short-form content in China.

20:10 - Sling TV’s $5 Sports Pass
Sling TV’s innovative pricing and its potential impact on streaming.

26:22 - Local TV Consolidation
Nextar and Tegna talks, and what it means for advertisers.

31:14 - AppLovin’s Growth
AppLovin’s 77% growth and its rise as a major advertising player.

34:26 - Wrap-Up and Future Trends
Final thoughts on media shakeups and what’s ahead for advertisers.

Mid-Year Global Advertising Forecast Update: https://www.wppmedia.com/news/tyny-midyear-2025?utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=episode_73_description

EDITOR NOTE: In the episode, we mention that AppLovin’s ad revenue grew 77% in Q2 to $1.3 billion. To clarify, the 77% growth refers to year-over-year performance, not quarter-over-quarter.

This week, Kate Scott-Dawkins is joined by Jeff Foster, Nidhi Shah, and special guest Aisha Khan to break down the latest Q2 earnings reports from major media and commerce players.

They talk about Disney’s NFL-ESPN deal, Fox’s Tubi success, Warner Bros. Discovery’s struggles, and the booming growth of retail media.

Plus, they explore how tariffs are affecting businesses, AI’s growing role in advertising, and the blending of streaming and commerce.

00:00 - Introduction
01:38 - Disney’s NFL-ESPN Deal and Speculation on ESPN’s Future
04:36 - Fox’s Tubi Growth and Political Ad Revenue Highlights
07:27 - Warner Bros. Discovery’s Struggles with Streaming and Linear Declines
10:27 - Retail Media’s Explosive Growth: Mercado Libre, Shopify, and More
14:06 - Tariffs and Their Impact on Retailers and Consumers
16:14 - AI’s Role in Advertising and Commerce Trends
19:22 - Shopify’s Expansion and Success with Larger Clients
21:41 - Snap’s Underperformance and Digital Advertising Trends
22:12 - Closing Thoughts and Preview of Next Week’s Topics

Mid-Year Global Advertising Forecast Update: https://www.wppmedia.com/news/tyny-midyear-2025?utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=episode_72_description