The MadTech Podcast

On today’s MadTech Daily, we cover the BBC Group and YouTube striking a strategic UK partnership, the FTC moving to appeal a Meta antitrust ruling, and the IPA launching the IPAi Forum focused on generative AI.

On today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss Temu catching up to Amazon in global cross-border e-commerce, the UK Gambling Commission accusing Meta of ignoring illegal gambling ads, and ByteDance challenging Alibaba with an AI-powered cloud push.

On today’s MadTech Daily, we cover five US publishers suing Google over alleged ad tech manipulation as well as Google appealing a landmark antitrust verdict over its search monopoly. We also cover 60 plus MPs urging Starmer to act on an under-16s social media ban and Threads surpassing X in daily mobile users. 

In today’s MadTech Daily, we look at the new ChatGPT ads, BBC teaming with YouTube, and Singapore changing laws to ease data sharing.

In this episode of the MadTech podcast, ExchangeWire’s head of marketing Grainne Reid is joined by head of content John Still and COO Lindsay Rowntree to discuss three major stories surrounding AI, consumer tech, and media power dynamics.

They look into Google’s new protocol for AI-driven commerce, Apple’s decision to tap Google’s Gemini for Siri, and Paramount’s lawsuit following Warner Bros’ rejection of its latest offer.

0:00 Introduction
0:56 Google announces Universal Commerce Protocol
13:53 Apple strikes deal with Google to use Gemini
19:50 Paramount sues Warner Bros over Netflix deal

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Wikimedia expanding AI partnerships across tech giants, Alibaba’s Qwen app topping 100m users, and Freely surpassing 1m weekly users.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Dentsu’s bid to sell a global unit nearing collapse, the UK seeking a copyright reset between AI firms and creators, and Netflix eyeing a cash deal for Warner Bros. and HBO Max.

On today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Apple tapping Google Gemini to power AI Siri, Paramount Skydance taking Warner Bros. Discovery to court, and a study revealing publishers’ grim outlook for search.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Google introducing a new AI commerce standard, Nvidia appointing its first-ever CMO, and Trump pushing back on Netflix’s Warner Bros. acquisition.

In today’s MadTech Daily we discuss TikTok splitting its US staff ahead of a potential sale, China AI listings lifting MiniMax’s shares by 87%, and Anthropic planning a $10bn raise to reach a $350bn valuation.

In this episode of the MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire editor Aimee Newell Tarín is joined by head of content John Still and COO Lindsay Rowntree for a quiz covering some of the biggest recent events in the ad tech industry. They look at ChatGPT, cookies, ad fraud, and the bidding war for WBD.

On today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss Disney’s biggest ad tech updates from CES, WBD swatting away Paramount’s latest bid, and Spotify opening the door wider for video podcasters.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss the IAB revealing its Agentic Roadmap, China examining Meta’s USD$2bn Manus deal, and Amazon facing claims over unauthorised indie listings.

On today’s MadTech Daily we cover Reddit launching an AI media buying tool, WPP launching Agent Hub to power agentic AI marketing, and a US judge rejecting Amazon’s bid to dismiss a price gouging lawsuit.

On today’s MadTech Daily, we cover the UK enforcing a ban on junk food TV ads before 9pm, Omnicom Media working with Google on a new insights tool, and OpenAI going all-in on audio with an audio-first device expected to launch this year. 

In our first MadTech Daily of 2026, we cover Meta acquiring Manus, ITV investing in The Body Coach app, and Adform acquiring Splicky

Today’s MadTech Daily discusses Larry Ellison giving his personal backing to Paramount’s hostile bid for Warner Bros Discovery, Instacart deciding to terminate price tests on its platform following pushback from customers, as well as Netflix's latest moves in the video podcast space.

Today’s MadTech Daily covers Google suing SerpApi over its web scraping activity, ByteDance boosting benefits for staff to attract and retain top AI talent around the globe, plus Facebook carrying out a test which limits the number of links creators and businesses can post on the platform. 

In this special episode of the MadTech podcast, ExchangeWire's head of content John Still is joined by CEO Rachel Smith, COO Lindsay Rowntree, and co-founder & advisor Ciaran O’Kane to share their big industry predictions for the year ahead.

They look at the impact of AI search on brands and publishers, how the Omnicom-IPG deal will change the global agency landscape, and a reframing of ad tech amid the contraction of the open web.

0:00 Introduction
1:52 Rachel: “Publishers become brands, brands become publishers”
20:10 Lindsay: “Agencies”
29:54 Ciaran: “A reframing of ad tech”

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover DoorDash partnering with OpenAI to enable grocery ordering in ChatGPT, the WBD board rejecting Paramount’s offer, and the FTC probing Instacart’s Eversight dynamic pricing algorithm.

In today’s Digest, we cover Amazon in talks to invest over USD$10bn in OpenAI, and OpenAI hiring George Osborne to lead its global ‘Stargate’ expansion. We also discuss the Trump administration threatening Spotify over EU tech rules, and an IAB report highlighting how digital ads shape today’s media.

In today’s Digest, we cover Meta tolerating China-linked ad fraud to protect revenue, the US suspending a tech deal with the UK amid trade frustrations, and AI becoming Santa’s helper for 2025 Christmas shopping.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover BBC Studios accelerating digital growth in EMEA, Reddit challenging Australia’s under-16 social media ban in court, and Amazon planning to invest over USD$35bn in India’s AI sector.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover YouTube TV launching genre-based plans, expanding its sports streaming push, and increasing ads on Shorts. We also cover Pinterest buying tvScientific to expand performance ads to CTV, and Meta reportedly using Alibaba’s Qwen in its ‘Avocado’ model.

In this episode of the MadTech podcast, ExchangeWire co-founder & advisor Ciaran O’Kane and head of content John Still join head of marketing Grainne Reid to look at pivotal changes across media consolidation and transatlantic policy tensions. 

They discuss Paramount’s move to gazump Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, US backlash against the EU’s fine on X, and the EU’s investigation into Google’s AI overviews.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Disney and OpenAI striking a deal to bring characters to Sora, Google testing AI article overviews on certain Google News pages, as well as a look at Meta’s shift from open-source to revenue-driven AI.

In today’s MadTech Daily we look at newly released figures from Ofcom, Tencent dropping out of Paramount’s Warner Bros bid over US regulatory fears, and Cadent acquiring YouTube ad firm VuePlanner.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Google denying a 2026 ads plan for Gemini, the EU probing Google’s AI search summaries, and Uber turning rider and delivery data into ad insights.

In today’s Digest, we cover Paramount’s late bid for Warner, Meta securing a series of AI content deals, and China’s open-source AI reaching 30% of global usage.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, X being hit with a €120m EU penalty, and the UK eyeing tougher laws for AI chatbots.

In this episode of the MadTech Podcast, Shula Sinclair, chief strategy officer at T&P, joins ExchangeWire editor Aimee Newell Tarín and head of content John Still to discuss the latest surrounding Meta’s fraudulent ads, AI sending traffic and conversions soaring for retailers, and the influencer landscape.

They look at a complaint launched by Swedish publishers against Meta, how AI is reshaping consumer habits, and influencer content’s increasing popularity with older viewers.

 In today’s MadTech Daily, we look at global ad spend set to top USD$1tn in 2026, WPP being demoted from the FTSE 100, and the EU probing Meta’s AI use in WhatsApp.

On today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Anthropic hiring IPO counsel in its race against OpenAI, Mistral unveiling new AI models, as well as Sam Altaman declaring ‘code red’. We also discuss Google testing AI overviews blended with AI mode, and Eventbrite being acquired by Bending Spoons. 

In today’s MadTech Daily, we look at Omnicom announcing a major overhaul with new leadership and job cuts, Havas buying Unnest to boost data services, and retailers seeing an 830% jump in traffic from generative AI.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover publishers taking legal action against Meta over its serving of scam ads as well as the impact of this year’s Black Friday, with record online sales in the US while UK high streets saw slowing traffic. Plus Ad Net Zero celebrating five years and unveiling its global strategy.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss the out-of-home advertising (OOH) industry reporting 4.4% growth in Q3, Australia making streamer content quotas law, and China’s AI governance framework winning backing from researchers at DeepSeek and Alibaba.

In this episode of the MadTech podcast, Anna Bager, CEO of the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA), joins ExchangeWire head of marketing Grainne Reid and COO Lindsay Rowntree to discuss key shifts in programmatic out-of-home and industry consolidation.

They look at the OAAA’s Programmatic OOH Transparency Pledge, the growth of the global out-of-home advertising market, and the European Commission’s unconditional approval of the Omnicon-IPG acquisition.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we look at the European Parliament urging a social media ban for under-16s, the Observer debuting a new digital subscription service, and news ad performance leading the industry.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Walmart exploring ads for its Sparky AI shopping agent, Warner Music Group settling with an AI music firm and launching a joint venture, and YouTube trialing new feed control features.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we look at US senators pushing a probe into Facebook and Instagram scam ads, ChatGPT adding a new shopping research tool, and Alibaba topping revenue forecasts driven by instant retail and AI.