The Campaign Podcast

Adland’s agency networks have been forced to think differently, after a challenging year for holding companies with economic instability, a mega-merger and AI disruption.

Publicis began calling itself a “platform organisation” years ago, while Omnicom restructured to become a “premier marketing and sales company” after the acquisition of IPG last year. In February, WPP’s chief executive Cindy Rose said: “We don’t want to be a holding company any more”, but a “single operating company” instead.

Campaign Red released a market report called "The big reboot", looking into the top network's 2025 FY results and what the post-holding company era looks like for the industry.

In this episode, Campaign's editorial team is discussing why the largest agency groups are moving away from the holding company label, and what this "reboot" means. Editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier, media editor Beau Jackson and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis join the episode hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley.

Further reading:
Arthur Sadoun on why “pressure” from investors doesn’t matter, Publicis' “resilience” and the competition
Publicis grows 4.5% in Q1 as Arthur Sadoun pans “squeeze to please Wall Street”
Q1 expected to be “worst quarter” for WPP’s new business in 2026
WPP reports 6.7% revenue decline in Q1 2026
Omnicom revenue grew 3.9% in Q1 after IPG acquisition
Chapter 1: Revenue
Chapter 2: Headcount
Chapter 3: M&A
Chapter 4: Share price
Chapter 5: New business
Chapter 6: Creative awards
AA/Warc: adspend forecast for 2026 drops amid methodology shake-up
“The fragmentation of media is clear”: adland reacts to AA/Warc Expenditure Report
AA/Warc: adspend to break records and smash £50bn ceiling in 2026

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Media has seen a string of deals in the last year, poised to consolidate key areas of the market. Paramount Skydance seeks to complete its $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros., and in the UK, Sky ponders its bid to acquire the broadcast and ad sales division of ITV. In publishing, after several other attempts fell through, European media group Axel Springer, which owns Business Insider and Politico, has agreed to buy the Telegraph Media Group for the sum of £575m.

So, pending various approvals, what would such deals mean for the media landscape and its advertisers?

Campaign's editorial team gather in the studio to discuss why media owners are consolidating, the impact on media buyers and what it means for competition. Hosted by media editor Beau Jackson, this episode includes Campaign’s UK editor Maisie McCabe, editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis.

Further reading
Will Sky’s proposed takeover of ITV be good for advertisers?
ITV confirms talks with Sky about £1.6bn sale of M&E unit
Paramount Advertising takes sole control of UK sponsorship deals

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Publicis Groupe acquired sports marketing and entertainment agency 160over90 this month, in a move it claims will “disrupt” the sector.

In this episode, the Campaign team discusses why Publicis has made this "big bet" now, whether the sector needs disrupting and how influencers are changing the game. The team discusses why some say "the gap between brands and consumers is widening" and how athletes are becoming their own "self-contained media platforms, because their performance in the game is so intrinsic to their personas".

Hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley, this episode includes deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings, creativity and culture editor Shauna Lewis and deputy news editor Marianne Calnan-Holland.

Further reading:
What does the fan experience of the Fifa World Cup look like from the UK?
Coca-Cola World Cup spot explores emotional journey of football
Why is gaming not a media channel?
Beyond borders: why countries don’t define modern fandom
Fifa 2026’s longer tournament window presents a golden opportunity for fan activations
Burnley FC and X unveil social documentary on women’s team
Burnley FC and X partner with Sure For Men for UK’s first X Original series

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Last year WPP, Apple and Amazon increased their in-office days, with the latter two tech companies mandating five days in office. In February this year, adland’s best-performing holding company Publicis Groupe increased its mandated staff attendance from three days to four.

In the age of AI and efficiency, this episode of The Campaign Podcast is asking if being in the office more does actually increase productivity, if its possible to measure productivity and if adland will soon be in the office for more days a week.

Hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley, this episode includes deputy editor Gemma Charles, deputy media editor Shauna Lewis and deputy creative and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings.

Further reading:
Should adland follow Publicis and WPP’s four-day office mandate?
This is adland: 2025
Updated: latest hybrid working policies at “new big six”
Why do more office days no longer boost staff’s sense of belonging?
Hybrid working in adland: who struggles most with stricter in-office policies?
Hybrid working Credos report: Less than half of adland happy with home/office split
Mark Read: 'People are happier when they’re in the office'
Is a four-day working week viable for adland?

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In March, Meta and Google were found liable for designing addictive platforms that harmed a young user's mental health, a verdict both platforms disagree with and plan to appeal. Channel 4 also released its documentary called Molly vs The Machines about a 14 year old girl who took her own life after seeing harmful content online. Plus, the UK Government began a consultation for a potential ban for under 16s to improve digital safety, following Australia's ban in December, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying we “have to act”.

Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and other platforms rely on advertising to make money. So whether a government ban or strict regulation of the platforms is the solution, this episode questions how much responsibility should the brands funding these platforms have.

Jake Dubbins, managing director at Media Bounty and co-chair of Conscious Advertising Network, joins the episode alongside Campaign's UK editor Maisie McCabe and editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier. This episode is hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley.

Further reading:
Ian Russell challenges Instagram boss to “chat” at Cannes Lions
Molly vs the Machines showed us that advertising choices aren't neutral
Can we talk about whether fraudulent ads are the tech platforms' biggest problem?
Ofcom research finds rise in concern over online risks versus benefits

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