The MadTech Podcast

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover the BBC expanding its YouTube strategy with 24-hour news streaming tests, DeepSeek expanding hiring as China’s AI talent race intensifies, and Asda teaming up with Amazon in a UK-first retail media and ad tech partnership.

In this special episode of The MadTech Podcast, Terry Kane, managing director at The Trade Desk, joins ExchangeWire CEO Rachel Smith in Cannes to discuss ad tech in the MENA region.

MENA’s ad tech ecosystem is ascending in maturity. The region’s cultural cycles and consumption patterns provide unique growth vectors, with strong momentum in open internet channels, CTV, retail data, telco-enabled identity, and DOOH. Education and local presence are needed to unlock value and shift budgets from walled gardens, while fragmented regulations make identity solutions a priority.

Agentic AI is poised to help the...

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Albertsons introducing advertising within its AI shopping experience, Forbes testing a creator-led strategy to expand its reach, plus the biggest announcements, deals, and talking points emerging from Cannes.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover AppsFlyer raising USD$1bn with backing from major advertising industry players, plus the biggest announcements, deals, and talking points emerging from Cannes.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover the Latest from Cannes 2026, the podcast industry being worth more than previously estimated, and Channel 4 adding new partners to its ad tech stack. 

In today’s MadTech Daily, we look at Penske Media acquiring the Vox Media portfolio in a major publishing deal; Telegram losing its appeal against an app block in India; and the Attorney General ordering a government department off X over disinformation fears. 

In this episode, Ant Hopper of the 99ers sits down with ExchangeWire's Rachel Smith and Grainne Reid to discuss the UK social media ban for under-16s, Google's AI search changes and the data landscape as Accenture buys Whalar

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Ant Group transforming Alipay into an AI-powered platform, Hyundai testing containerised ad tech, and Coupang being hit with a record fine over a massive data breach.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we look at Uber expanding its advertising business beyond its own apps, Electronic Arts launching an in-game advertising platform, and Walmart expanding retail media measurement across YouTube campaigns.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss Fox agreeing to a USD$22bn Roku Deal to boost streaming, Pinterest adding Amazon storefront links, and e-commerce giant Coupang being fined a record sum over a data breach.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Publicis and TTD settling dispute, The Advertising Association unveiling a new global identity, and Coupang being hit with a record fine over a data breach.

In this episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire's head of marketing, Grainne Reid, is joined by COO Lindsay Rowntree and John Still, head of content.

The first story this week is MENA becoming the world's fastest-growing digital advertising market. The team discuss the biggest categories in the region and their expectations for future growth. The second covers the CMA imposing new measures on Google search, and whether this affords publishers greater protection in the AI era.

Finally, UK ad exports recorded a £19.4bn milestone in 2025. Is the UK proud enough of its advertising industry, and w...

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover ChatGPT Ads landing its first Conversion API partner in LiveRamp, Seven’s parent company cutting jobs as TV earnings fall, and Amazon DSP integrating Adelaide attention targeting.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Netflix bringing Upfronts to the UK for the first time, Brussels forcing Meta to allow rival AI services on WhatsApp, and Italy’s Bending Spoons filing for a US IPO.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we look at MENA becoming the fastest-growing advertising market, Whalar joining Accenture in an acquisition deal, and VCCP unveiling a new retail media offering alongside an ECD appointment.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss Portugal fining telecoms companies over ad collusion, The Trade Desk’s CRO stepping down after seven months, and software buyouts falling to pandemic-era lows amid an AI-driven market rout

In today’s Digest, we cover Google introducing Search Profiles in Discover, Roblox expanding ads to children under 13, and Singtel securing AI funding through a partnership deal in Singapore. 

Is the industry sleepwalking into a creative quality crisis? Why are we still building retail media on first-wave infrastructure? Are marketers ready to adopt audio as a full funnel channel?

This week, we're handing the mic over to our audience for another mailbag special. We’ve gathered burning questions from across the ad tech landscape and put them to our team, who’ll dive in and answer as best they can…

In this episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire's head of content, John Still, is joined by CEO Rachel Smith and COO Lindsay Rowntree to discus...

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover the SPUR Coalition welcoming 30 new members at the World News Media Congress, and Peer39 strengthening its verification offering through a deal with Adloox, and Malaysia’s under-16 social media ban taking effect on 1st June.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Google coming under UK scrutiny over its use of publisher content in AI products, InMobi and Scope3 launching an autonomous media buying agent, and DeepSeek nearing a $7bn funding round. 

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover UK ad exports reaching £19.4bn, Tencent readying an AI agent for China’s most-used app, and Anthropic making its public market debut amid the AI surge. 

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Perplexity facing a CNN lawsuit over a copyright dispute, Amazon launching new bidstream signal tools, and Pichai downplaying fears around ‘Google Zero’. 

In today’s Digest, we discuss Walmart teaming up with Yahoo and Magnite on an ad tech overhaul, Meta renewing its funding pledge for the Oversight Board, and Anthropic nearing a USD$1tn valuation ahead of an IPO.

In this special episode of The MadTech Podcast, Dave Barr and Nick Fletcher, co-founders of TruTxt, join ExchangeWire's John Still to discuss localisation and monetisation of international publisher traffic.

TruTxt is FirstPartyStudio’s first incubation supported by FirstPartyCapital. The AI-powered platform helps publishers grow international audiences, improve engagement, and increase revenue through real-time content translation, localisation, and advertising optimisation infrastructure.

Dave and Nick discuss the challenges faced by the publishing industry and the global traffic dilemma. While digital publishers are attracting an increasingly global audience, non-local language traffic is often deprioritised. As content consumption shifts to...

In today’s Digest, we cover Temu being hit with an EU fine over unsafe product sales, ChatGPT adding cost-per-action advertising, and YouTube rolling out AI content detection and labeling.

In today’s Madtech Daily, we cover the Supreme Court rejecting Meta’s appeal in an addiction case, Instagram banning betting ads featuring Kane and Haaland, and an IPA report warning that ‘small thinking’ is hurting advertising.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover ITN launching YouTube subscriptions for archive content, AI guardrails being removed from Meta and Google’s models, and Pope Leo challenging Big Tech in a new AI encyclical.

 In today’s MadTech Daily, we look at whether Uber is still keen on Delivery Hero, plus Google’s latest commerce move and a new app ahead of the World Cup. 

How much did Publicis acquire LiveRamp for? What percentage of UK digital advertising businesses are using AI? What figure is Meta's ad revenue projected to hit in 2026?

In this quiz edition of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire's head of marketing is joined by John Still, head of content, and COO Lindsay Rowntree, with an all-time score of 3-0. 

The first story this week is Publicis Groupe acquiring data collaboration platform LiveRamp. The team discusses what this means for the industry and the agentic opportunities it presents for the agency holding group. The second explores the pace o...

In today’s MadTech Daily, we look at The Telegraph and AMI launching a £1m media fund, and Murdoch acquiring Vox Media, New York Magazine, and a podcast network. 

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss OpenAI committing USD$234m as Singapore signs new AI deals, Google debuting a new AI model amid pressure from coding rivals, and UK advertising returning to Cannes Lions.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Musk losing the OpenAI trial after a two-hour verdict, Google and Blackstone launching an AI cloud venture, and HBO Max debuting podcast content in Europe. 

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover terrestrial TV switch-off plans coming under government review, Baidu saying AI is now its primary growth driver despite a revenue drop, and Anthropic set to brief a global watchdog on Mythos cyber flaws. 

In today’s Digest, we cover Publicis’ purchase of LiveRamp, Netflix debuting new ad markets, podcast inventory, and vertical video ads. We also discuss WBD betting on agentic advertising ahead of its Paramount merger and AI driving 129% growth for ‘meaningful’ brands. 

In this episode of The MadTech Podcast, Kashif Dalvi, digital strategy partner at the7stars, joins ExchangeWire COO Lindsay Rowntree and John Still, head of content.

The first story is Alibaba integrating Qwen into Taobao, its biggest e-commerce platform. They discuss if the future of search lies in fluid conversations, and compare the latest developments in AI and e-commerce across different regions. The second story covers Instagram's plans to expand into long-form CTV content, emulating YouTube.

Finally, Amazon data will become available on Netflix inventory in the UK and wider EMEA region from next week...

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover ministers being urged to act as AI adoption hits 95%, Ofcom drafting new rules for streaming platforms, and Tencent missing Q1 forecasts while doubling down on AI.

In today’s Digest, we cover Meta’s ad business set to reach $240bn amid a market surge, Alibaba’s AI revenue posting its 11th straight quarter of triple-digit growth, and Netflix being accused of spying in a Texas lawsuit.

On today’s MadTech Daily we cover TikTok introducing an ad-free subscription in the UK and Byron Allen taking over BuzzFeed as CEO in a $120m buyout. We also discuss Meta being sued over scam ads in California. 

On today’s MadTech Daily we cover Alibaba leaning into AI shopping with a Qwen–Taobao tie-up, Amazon data set to power Netflix ads in the UK from 18th May, and Instagram exploring long-form video on CTV. 

On today’s MadTech Daily, we cover OpenAI expanding ChatGPT ads globally as The Trade Desk’s CSO joins the company, Meta taking Ofcom to court over online safety penalties, and Apple agreeing to a USD$250m payout over Siri AI misrepresentation.