Mobile ad tech business AppLovin confirmed on Thursday that it has submitted a bid for all of TikTok’s operations outside of China, ahead of an impending deadline<\/a> for TikTok to either separate from its Chinese parent company or be banned in America. AppLovin has filed a statement of interest, which states that its proposal for TikTok is preliminary, and there is no guarantee a transaction will proceed.<\/p>\n AppLovin’s stock has soared over the past year, as its performance-focussed mobile ad tech business has attracted the confidence of investors, though its share price has dropped significantly in recent months due to the release of several reports from short-sellers. A TikTok acquisition would give it direct access to one of the biggest mobile-focussed media companies in the world, and one which is still establishing its advertising business. The acquisition however would be something of a reversal of its moves towards becoming a pureplay ad tech business \u2014 earlier this year AppLovin announced a deal to sell its games publishing business for $900 million, shedding its large pool of in-house supply.<\/p>\n BBC Plans AI Negotiations and Short-Form Investment<\/strong><\/p>\n The BBC plans to open up conversations with AI providers and increase its output on social platforms in the year ahead, according to its annual plan released on Monday.<\/p>\n The broadcaster pledged to “open up a new conversation with the leading AI technology providers and other news brands”, in order to create partnerships which work for both news providers and AI platforms. “We are acutely aware of the growing threat to trusted information that is emerging from generative AI technology,” read the report. “Distortion is what happens when an AI assistant \u2018scrapes\u2019 information to respond to a question and serves up an answer that is factually incorrect, misleading and potentially dangerous.”<\/p>\n The BBC also plans to increase its output on short-form platforms in the coming year, particularly from BBC News. “To reach young audiences with our most important stories, we will expand our presence on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram this year, and invest further in our vertical and short-form video capabilities, to drive off-platform reach and enrich experiences on our owned platforms,” said the broadcaster. The BBC added that it will look to develop routes to lead audiences on third-party platforms back to the BBC’s owned and operated properties.<\/p>\n Half of European Viewers Turn First to Linear TV When Turning on TV, Finds RTL<\/b><\/p>\n Broadcaster content remains the entry point for most European viewers when they turn on their TV device, according to the latest edition of RTL AdAlliance\u2019s \u2018The New Life of the Living Room\u2019 study, with 51 percent of respondents turning first to linear TV, and another 8 percent first choosing BVOD services. The research also found that linear TV is trusted by 66 percent of consumers, twice the level of trust in social media services.<\/span><\/p>\n “The smart TV remains the central hub for television and video entertainment with viewers defining TV by device, quality and long-form content rather than delivery method,\u201d said RTL AdAlliance CEO St\u00e9phane Coruble. \u201cNonetheless, trust in traditional media is growing across Europe, reinforcing the enduring value of broadcast content, particularly as a trustworthy source of information and for locally produced premium programming.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n French Competition Authority Fines Apple \u20ac150 Million Over ATT<\/strong><\/p>\n France\u2019s competition regulator, the Autorit\u00e9 de la concurrence, on Monday announced it is fining Apple \u20ac150 million over the implementation of its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) policy on iOS devices between April 2021 and July 2023. The regulator says the design of ATT created an overly complicated consumer journey, harming both consumers and app publishers, particularly smaller app publishers. Apple also appeared to apply different rules to its own services compared with third-party apps, handing itself a competitive advantage. Read more on VideoWeek<\/a>.<\/p>\n IAB Europe Launches \u2018LEAF\u2019 Sustainability Suite<\/b><\/p>\n IAB Europe has announced a new suite of sustainability tools called LEAF, designed to help advertisers understand and reduce the carbon emissions of digital ad campaigns in alignment with emerging standards. The tools include OpenGHG, which estimates emissions, and CreativeLi, which helps optimise display advertising creatives. \u201cWith LEAF, we are providing businesses with the practical tools they need to estimate and reduce emissions while maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of digital advertising,\u201d said IAB Europe CEO Townsend Feehan. \u201cIAB Europe is committed to driving industry-wide progress, and LEAF is a significant step in supporting stakeholders on their sustainability journey.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n US State Department Raises Free Speech Concerns to Ofcom Over Online Safety Act<\/b><\/p>\n The US State Department has challenged UK regulator Ofcom over supposed risks to free speech created by the Online Safety Act, The Guardian reported on Tuesday. Officials from the department\u2019s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) reportedly met Ofcom in London, and later said the meeting was part of its initiative \u201cto affirm the US commitment to defending freedom of expression, both in Europe and around the world.\u201d The UK watchdog said they used the meeting to assure the officials that the new rules were only in place to deal with explicitly illegal content, as well as material that could be harmful to children.<\/span><\/p>\n DoubleVerify Becomes One of FirstPartyCapital\u2019s Largest Investors<\/b><\/p>\n DoubleVerify, a media verification business, has invested an undisclosed amount in FirstPartyCapital, a venture capital firm specialising in ad tech, martech and digital media. DV said strategic partnerships were a \u201ckey priority\u201d for the company, having invested over $200 million in acquisitions. “This investment from DV marks a major milestone for our fund, reflecting the progress we’ve made since our inception,” said Rich Ashton, Managing Partner at FirstPartyCapital. “We’re proud to play a role in the industry’s evolution. With this capital injection, DoubleVerify becomes not only one of our largest investors but also a key partner to our portfolio companies as they scale. Partnering with one of the world\u2019s leading technology companies is incredibly exciting for us and the entrepreneurs we support.”<\/span><\/p>\n Samsung Ads Introduces Mini-Game Ad Format<\/b><\/p>\n Samsung Ads has launched an interactive ad format called Samsung GameBreaks, which incorporates mini-games into Samsung TV Plus content. Currently available to advertisers in the US and Canada, the ads are shown in the first ad slot of premium commercial breaks. Gameplay can also be designed to align with brand messaging and seasonal occasions, for example a travel brand could have trivia questions about holiday destinations.<\/span><\/p>\n Roblox Announces Programmatic and Measurement Partnerships for Video Ads<\/b><\/p>\n Roblox has partnered with Google to offer its rewarded video ad format in Google Ad Manager, the online gaming platform announced on Tuesday, enabling brands and agencies to buy the format programmatically in the coming weeks. The format is a full-screen 30-second video, whose completion rewards the user with in-game benefits. Roblox also announced partnerships with Cint, DoubleVerify, Integral Ad Science, Kantar and Nielsen to measure campaigns on the platform.<\/span><\/p>\n Nielsen Sues VideoAmp for Infringement After Previous Case Dismissed<\/b><\/p>\n Nielsen is suing measurement rival VideoAmp for patent infringement, just two days after a federal court dismissed the ratings giant\u2019s previous patent infringement lawsuit against the company. The latest suit accuses VideoAmp\u2019s OOH viewership product of infringing Nielsen\u2019s patented measurement technology. Nielsen has filed at least 10 lawsuits against its rivals in the last four years, as it fights to retain its position as the de facto TV measurement standard in the face of growing competition from alternative currency providers.<\/span><\/p>\n Chalice AI Expands into EMEA<\/b><\/p>\n Chalice AI, a US ad tech firm, has announced its expansion into the EMEA market, with Freddie Turner (formerly Managing Director of MiQ UK) joining the company as MD EMEA. Chalice AI has partnered with Dentsu EMEA at launch, providing its GenAI platform to the agency group. “The EMEA advertising landscape is at a pivotal moment, and there’s a growing need for AI-driven solutions that put advertisers in control,” said Turner. “Chalice AI’s commitment to transparency and innovation aligns perfectly with the direction in which the industry is heading. I’m excited to lead this expansion and help advertisers unlock new levels of performance and accountability.”<\/span><\/p>\n Elon Musk\u2019s xAI Acquires Elon Musk\u2019s X<\/b><\/p>\n Elon Musk\u2019s xAI startup has acquired X, the social media company also owned by Musk, at a valuation of $33 billion. The move is designed to streamline the businesses and their relationship, with xAI already using information from the social network to hone its AI chatbot. \u201cxAI and X\u2019s futures are intertwined,\u201d Musk posted. \u201cToday, we officially take the step to combine the data, models, compute, distribution and talent. This combination will unlock immense potential by blending xAI\u2019s advanced AI capability and expertise with X\u2019s massive reach.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n ITV Launches Retail Media Geotargeting for FMCG Brands<\/b><\/p>\n ITV has launched a retail media offering called Proximity Shopper, enabling FMCG brands to target campaigns geographically. Available in ITV\u2019s self-serve platform Planet V, Proximity Shopper leverages retail data from Circana to identify optimal postcodes across the UK. The broadcaster also announced updates to its Retail Match (formerly Matchmaker) product, including automation of Tesco audiences via InfoSum, and a new suite of effectiveness products.<\/span><\/p>\n French Trade Body SNPTV Changes Name and Embraces Streaming Services<\/b><\/p>\n French trade association SNPTV (Syndicat National de la Publicite Televisee) is changing its name to ADMTV (Alliance des M\u00e9dias TV Vid\u00e9o), the organisation announced last week. The change of identity reflects the evolution of the sector, according to ADMTV, now driven by a growing convergence between linear TV and the digital world. The trade association is therefore expanding its scope to include Amazon, Disney and Netflix, in efforts to represent all forms of TV and video broadcasting, and champion their effectiveness in advertising.<\/span><\/p>\n CNBC+ Launches on Apple TV and Roku<\/b><\/p>\n CNBC+, the business news network\u2019s SVOD service, has launched on Apple TV and Roku in the US. The service costs $14.99 per month, or $149.99 per year. \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to expand our distribution of CNBC+ to Apple TV and Roku,\u201d said CNBC President KC Sullivan. \u201cGiving new and existing audiences another way to engage with our content ensures they never miss a moment of CNBC\u2019s highly valued insights and analysis that matter most for their money.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n MFE Confirms Minimum-Priced Offer for ProSieben Shares<\/b><\/p>\n MFE-MediaForEurope has confirmed its voluntary public takeover offer for the shares in ProSiebenSat.1 it does not already own, with an offer price of \u20ac5.74 per share. The valuation was calculated by Germany\u2019s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), and represents the statutory minimum price. The offer will be formally launched upon approval by BaFin.<\/span><\/p>\n FCC Investigates Disney Over DEI Initiatives<\/b><\/p>\n The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is launching an investigation into diversity initiatives at Disney and ABC, the <\/span>FT<\/span><\/a> reported last week. In a letter to Disney chief Bob Iger, FCC chair Brendan Carr said he wanted to \u201censure that Disney and ABC have not been violating FCC equal employment opportunity regulations by promoting invidious forms of DEI discrimination.\u201d Disney was one of several US companies that rolled back its DEI initiatives in anticipation of the Trump administration, but Carr said \u201cit is not clear that the underlying policies have changed in a fundamental manner.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Profits Rise Marginally but Revenues Fall at Times Media<\/strong><\/p>\n Times Media, publisher of The Times and The Sunday Times, saw pre-tax profits rise to \u00a361 million in the year up to the end of June 2024, according to financial reports released this week, up marginally from \u00a360.9 million the previous year. Revenues however fell slightly, from \u00a3385.8 million to \u00a3383.4 million. This is despite continued growth in the publisher’s digital-only subscription count, which was up by 29,000 compared with the previous year, reaching 594,000.<\/p>\n The Independent Launches New Content Studio<\/strong><\/p>\n UK newspaper The Independent this week announced the launch of Independent Studio, a new content studio which will develop talent-led media covering original video formats, podcasts, newsletters and more. The Independent said that investments in talent-led content in recent years have shown how “putting truly independent, trusted voices at the forefront creates deep engagement with audiences and creates valuable IP for brand sponsorships”. Independent Studios is designed to aid the creation of more of this type of content, and create more opportunities for brand partnerships based on this content.<\/p>\n Reuters Institute Boss Warns of News Avoidance Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n Mitali Mukherjee, acting director of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, has warned that news publishers are struggling to deal with news avoidance, an issue which is drawing audiences away from news content and hurting audience figures. Speaking at the Society of Editors Media Freedom conference, Mukherjee said that between 20-30 percent of the public are now news avoiders, and that younger people and people from economically disadvantaged communities are the most likely to avoid news. “The fundamental problem here is: the news, or the news industry, misses its audiences, but the audience doesn\u2019t miss the news,” she said, according to Press Gazette<\/a>.<\/p>\n UK Tech Secretary Urges Media Companies Not to Resist Change Over AI Laws<\/strong><\/p>\n The UK’s technology secretary Peter Kyle has told opponents of the UK’s planned copyright laws for AI systems not to resist change, the Financial Times<\/a> reported this week. Kyle says the UK government will prioritise “forward movement” with its AI laws, but said that media companies will “find a way through”.\u00a0 “Just as in every other time there is change in society, there will be some people who will either resist change or try to make change too difficult to deliver,” Kyle told the FT. “That\u2019s why it is important we have a government that will prioritise the forward movement of our society, economy and government itself, so all are fit to seize the opportunities of the future.”<\/p>\n Newsquest Nears 40 “AI-Assisted” Reporters<\/strong><\/p>\n UK local news publishing group Newsquest now employs 36 “AI-assisted” reporters, its editorial development director Toby Granville said this week, according to Press Gazette<\/a>. Granville said that those reporters use AI to rewrite press releases, while the reporters themselves check that any facts and quotes generated by the AI are correct. Granville said the use of AI-assisted reporters frees up other staff for more original reporting.<\/p>\n WPP Acquires InfoSum to Power its AI-Based Data Strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n UK-based agency holding group WPP announced on Thursday it has acquired data clean room provider InfoSum for an undisclosed fee. InfoSum will become part of WPP\u2019s media arm GroupM, which is headed up by former InfoSum CEO Brian Lesser. As part of GroupM, WPP says InfoSum will \u201cpower the creation of a new generation of AI-enhanced marketing solutions\u201d for its clients. WPP says that following the acquisition, InfoSum will be integrated into WPP Open, its company-wide \u2018operating system\u2019, enabling clients to combine their own first-party data with data signals available through the InfoSum network, as well as WPP\u2019s own data assets and GroupM\u2019s media intelligence. Read more on VideoWeek<\/a>.<\/p>\n Omnicom Offers X Ad Discounts to Clients<\/strong><\/p>\n Internal documents show that US agency group Omnicom has agreed a partnership with social platform X which allows the group to pass on significant discounts to its clients, Adweek<\/a> reported this week. Any clients who didn’t spend on X in 2024 but want to return this year are offered 50 percent extra in added value, up to $200,000, according to Adweek. The news comes shortly after reports that X executives have been pressuring Omnicom and Interpublic Group to increase spending on the platform, insinuating that X owner Elon Musk’s influence in government could be used to scupper the two groups’ impending merger.<\/p>\n WPP Cuts DEI References from Annual Report<\/strong><\/p>\n WPP cut references to diversity, inclusion, and equality (DEI) initiatives and targets from this year’s annual report, The Guardian<\/a> reported this week, following a significant number of companies across industries who have rolled back DEI efforts following the election of President Trump. The previous annual report had included 20 references to DEI, according to The Guardian. In this year’s report, CEO Mark Read referenced that “much has changed” over the past year, adding that “a pressing question for brands and organisations is whether to engage on social issues in a more contested public arena, and how to navigate the expectations of different audiences with competing views on sensitive topics”.<\/p>\n Brands Plan to Raise Investment in Influencer Marketing<\/strong><\/p>\n Fifty-four percent of global marketers surveyed by the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) say they plan to increase their investment in influencer marketing over the next year, while 61 percent believe influencer marketing will become more important in the future. And 74 percent of marketers are working with influencer agencies to identify influencer partners, up by 20 percent compared with 2019. The research follows shortly after major FMCG business Unilever publicly stated it is ramping up influencer spending, pushing fifty percent of its advertising budget on to social media.<\/p>\n Publicis Media Wins LinkedIn Media Account<\/strong><\/p>\n French holding group Publicis picked up another significant media win this week, coming out on top in a competitive review for LinkedIn’s global media account. Publicis Media beat out incumbent Dentsu, Adweek<\/a> reported, and though full details of the contract haven’t been revealed, the win will give Publicis Media control of the majority of LinkedIn’s global media planning and buying.<\/p>\n Heineken Picks WPP as Global Shopper Marketing and Commerce Partner<\/strong><\/p>\n Drinks maker Heineken announced this week it has chosen WPP as its global shopper marketing and commerce partner, a role which will involve working on in-store and in-bar brand presence, retail activations, and ecommerce strategies. WPP says a dedicated team, led by VML Amsterdam, will handle the account, making use of the group’s AI-powered operating system WPP Open.<\/p>\n M&S Chair Warns Junk Food Ad Ban will Hit Christmas Ads<\/strong><\/p>\n Archie Norman, chair of UK retailer Marks & Spencer, has warned that the UK’s incoming ban on junk food ads could deter some businesses from running big Christmas ad campaigns, the FT<\/a> reported this week. Speaking at the Retail Technology Show in London, Norman said that his company will probably not be able to justify the expense of a Christmas food ad, given that popular Christmas products like mince pies, Christmas pudding, and sausages can’t be shown in TV ads before the 9pm watershed.<\/p>\n WFA Launches New Guide to Global Media Contracts<\/strong><\/p>\n The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) has launched a new guide designed to help members adapt recent ISBA and ANA contract templates for global use. The guide covers current issues including principal media, audit rights, governance structures, data access, the role of holding companies, and use of generative AI. “A solid contract is a commercial necessity in an age of increasingly complex client-media agency relationships but it\u2019s also potentially harder to achieve than ever, particularly at a global level,” said Tom Ashby, global lead for media services at the WFA.<\/p>\n Reach Names CRO Piers North as CEO<\/b><\/p>\n Reach has announced that Piers North, currently Chief Revenue Officer at the UK publisher, will become Chief Executive. He replaces Jim Mullen after six years in the role, as he moves to become Group Chief Executive of horse racing organisation The Jockey Club. North joined Reach in 2014, and became CRO in 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n Stagwell Appoints Microsoft’s John Kahan as First Chief AI Officer<\/b><\/p>\n Stagwell has appointed John Kahan as the agency group’s inaugural Chief AI Officer, leading the integration and development of AI across the company’s global network. Kahan has nearly four decades of experience in data and AI, according to Stagwell, most recently serving as Vice President and Chief Data Analytics Officer at Microsoft.<\/span><\/p>\n Havas Promotes Global Data and Technology Officers<\/b><\/p>\n Havas has promoted Dan Hagen to Global Chief Data and Technology Officer, succeeded by Jamie Seltzer as Global Chief Data and Technology Officer for Havas Media Network. Hagen joined the agency in 2019 after seven years at Dentsu-owned Carat UK, while Seltzer joined Havas Media Network in 2016 as VP Data Strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n Mail Metro Media Promotes Lauren Dick to New Commerce Role<\/b><\/p>\n Mail Metro Media, the Daily Mail & General Trust\u2019s sales house, has promoted Lauren Dick to Managing Director, Media & Commerce. In the newly created role, Dick will focus on new revenue streams through commerce partnerships. She has been with Mail Metro Media more than 10 years, most recently in the role of Executive Director, Media & Data Services.<\/span><\/p>\n OMG UK Names Performics UK’s Sam Holt as Chief Digital Officer<\/b><\/p>\n OMG UK has named Sam Holt as Chief Digital Officer, succeeding Henry Rowe, who becomes OMG\u2019s EMEA Chief Transformation Officer. Holt joins the Omnicom agency from Publicis-owned Performics UK, where he served as CEO. Meanwhile Rowe joined OMG as Chief Digital Officer in 2021.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Channel Factory Elevates Luca Di Cesare to Inaugural AI Role<\/b><\/p>\n Channel Factory, a brand suitability and contextual advertising business, has named Luca Di Cesare as Head of Innovation EMEA. The newly created role will see Di Cesare spearhead the company’s AI strategy, in addition to his existing responsibilities as Regional Director for Italy, Spain and Portugal.<\/span><\/p>\n BBH London CEO Karen Martin Takes IPA President Position<\/b><\/p>\n Karen Martin has taken her position as IPA President, delivering her inaugural speech on Monday, in which she outlined the value of creativity in the UK ad industry. Martin serves as CEO of BBH London, having joined the agency in 2016.<\/span><\/p>\n Breaking Down the Barriers to CTV for Independent Agencies<\/a><\/p>\n French Competition Authority Fines Apple \u20ac150 Million Over ATT<\/a><\/p>\n Week in Charts: Trump Tariffs Drag on Ad Forecasts, ProSieben Shares Fall on MFE Takeover Bid, and Omnicom Tops New Business Rankings<\/a><\/p>\n OutTV Believes FAST\u2019s Future Lies in Integrations with SVOD<\/a><\/p>\n Are Brand Safety Tools Fit for Purpose?<\/a><\/p>\n Why Programmatic Live TV Might Be the Most Exciting Opportunity in CTV<\/a><\/p>\n Why Agencies are Investing More in Data Clean Rooms<\/a><\/p>\n VideoWeek Podcast #50, Nick Manning, Encyclomedia<\/a><\/p>\n CTV\u2019s \u2018Mini Walled Gardens\u2019 are Holding Back Data Innovation<\/a><\/p>\n Some Genres are Having a Tough Time Transitioning from Linear to BVOD<\/a><\/p>\n Advertisers Face Fresh Choices as Late TikTok Bidders Emerge<\/a><\/p>\n WPP Acquires InfoSum to Power its AI-Based Data Strategy<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n O2, First Breath<\/strong><\/p>\n Follow VideoWeek on Twitter<\/a> and LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/videoweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Screenshot-2025-04-04-at-12.49.17-1024x647.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Week in Tech<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Week in TV<\/h2>\n
The Week for Publishers<\/h2>\n
The Week for Brands & Agencies<\/b><\/h2>\n
Hires of the Week<\/h2>\n
This Week on VideoWeek<\/h2>\n
Ad of the Week<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n