Martin Sorrell calls WPP ‘catatonic’ as Goldman slaps sell rating on its own client Media Sir Martin Sorrell spent 33 years turning WPP from a small Kent-based wire and plastics manufacturer into the world’s largest ad company. He left in 2018 following a dispute over personal conduct that he has consistently denied, and has been a vocal critic of his successors ever since. “I think they are further gone than [...]
Google hit with UK-first AI crackdown over publisher content Tech Google will be forced to give publishers greater control over how their content is used in AI-generated search results after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) unveiled what it described as a “world-first” intervention aimed at re-balancing power between Big Tech and content creators. The move comes as publishers increasingly complain that Google’s AI Overviews [...]
New Married At First Sight series still in edit despite ‘troubling’ allegations Media Channel 4’s new chief executive, Priya Dogra, has said allegations surrounding Married at First Sight (MAFS) UK were “really hard to watch”, as the broadcaster weighs the future of the hit reality show while the next series remains in edit. Dogra confirmed on Wednesday that no decision had yet been made on whether the upcoming [...]
Future bets on SheerLuxe as Google squeezes digital publishers May 14, 2026 Future said the acquisition of SheerLuxe and a push into AI-driven products would help return the publisher to growth after weaker digital ad and ecommerce markets dragged profits lower in the first half. The media group behind Marie Claire, TechRadar and Go.Compare reported revenue of £349.1m for the six months to March 31, down from [...]
ITV banks on World Cup boost as Sky talks rumble on May 14, 2026 ITV is eyeing a rebound in ad revenue in the second quarter as the broadcaster bets on the World Cup to power a summer recovery. The broadcaster and producer behind Love Island and Rivals posted flat revenue for the first quarter, with growth in ITV Studios and streaming platform ITVX offsetting weaker ad sales. Total [...]
Google to teach small publishers how to use AI amid copyright row May 12, 2026 Google has launched an AI training programme for small publishers to teach them how to benefit from AI, as the technology continues to reshape how audiences access news. The announcement follows a similar scheme launched by the Mag Seven firm last year, which had targetted bigger players in the industry, with names like Tindle Newspapers [...]
Channel 4 puts HQ up for sale as London footprint shrinks May 5, 2026 Channel 4 has formally placed its long-standing Horseferry Road headquarters on the market, as the broadcaster presses ahead with a major overhaul of its London footprint under new chief executive Priya Dogra. The move marks the broadcast giant’s latest step in a long-term transformation strategy designed to modernise the organisation, cut costs and reflect changing [...]
BBC to cut 2,000 jobs ahead of Matt Brittin takeover April 15, 2026 The BBC is set to cut up to 2,000 jobs in its largest round of redundancies in 15 years, as the broadcaster accelerates cost-cutting plans ahead of a leadership change next month. Staff were briefed on the proposals at a company-wide meeting on Wednesday, with the cuts expected to affect roughly 10 per cent of [...]
BBC appoints former Google executive as director general March 25, 2026 Former Google executive Matt Brittin has been confirmed as the BBC’s next director general, taking over from Tim Davie at a pivotal moment for the broadcaster. Brittin spent nearly two decades at Google, most recently serving as president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa before stepping down in 2025. He will now lead the [...]
Axel Springer strikes £575m deal to buy Telegraph titles March 6, 2026 German media giant Axel Springer has agreed a £575m deal to acquire Telegraph Media Group, ending years of uncertainty over the future ownership of one of Britain’s most influential newspaper publishers. The all-cash agreement will see the Berlin-based publisher – which owns Politico, Business Insider, Bild and Die Welt – take control of the Daily [...]