The MadTech Podcast

Today’s MadTech Daily covers the UK launching a consultation on a social media ban for under-16s, a Google patent hinting at AI-generated landing pages, and Roblox surpassing TikTok in Gen Z shopping growth.

Today’s MadTech Daily covers Netflix pulling out of the bidding war for Warner Bros, Dentsu naming Takeshi Sano as global CEO, and HubSpot expanding its media reach with a Starter Story deal.

In this episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire editor Aimee Newell Tarín is joined by COO Lindsay Rowntree and co-founder & advisor Ciaran O’Kane to discuss streaming, retail, and out-of-home.They look into Ofcom's regulation of video-on-demand platforms, backlash over in-game ads on the Six Nations debut, and Walmart’s AI-powered shopping assistant, Sparky.0:00 Introduction1:51 UK streamers face 'enhanced regulation'11:14 Rugby fans riled over in-game ads20:16 Walmart's AI boosts order value31:20 2025 out-of-home revenue

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover WPP unveiling a £500m cost-cutting plan in an AI-led overhaul, ByteDance being valued at $550bn in a proposed General Atlantic stake sale, and UK news giants launching a ‘NATO for News’ AI coalition.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we look at DoorDash ending Deliveroo operations in Singapore, ITV Studios launching Studio 55 and opening its content library, as well as Apple rolling out global age-verification tools.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover video-on-demand services facing new Ofcom regulation in the UK, Canva buying animation and marketing startups, and OOH hitting record revenue in 2025.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Germany backing social media curbs for children, the DOJ probing Netflix’s market power in its Warner deal review, and the Motion Picture Association sending a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance over Seedance 2.0.

On today’s MadTech Daily we look at eBay acquiring Depop for USD$1.2bn, Amazon overtaking Walmart in annual revenue, and Scopely agreeing a $1bn deal for a Turkish game developer.

In our very first mailbag special, ExchangeWire’s head of marketing Grainne Reid is joined by CEO Rachel Smith and John Still, head of content, to answer our listeners’ biggest questions about ad tech and media.The team put on their media planning hats, debating where they would allocate spend across retail & commerce media, CTV, and out-of-home. They also discuss the strengths of independent agencies versus holdcos, and unpack the legal and regulatory battles shaping the industry, from antitrust trials to social media bans.0:00 Introduction1:27 Kerry asks: Media planning14:01 Steve asks: Agencies26:16 Paul asks: Investigations & policy moves

On today’s MadTech Daily we cover Omnicom posting a USD$941m Q4 loss following its IPG deal, WPP launching a new advertising intelligence framework, and YouTube becoming the UK’s leading living-room screen, according to a study.