AGP Executive Report

Agency & Media Business: Publicis Groupe posted 5% organic growth in Q3, with Asia-Pacific also up 5.4%. GSTV named Eric Kozik permanent CEO and added three executives as it sharpens its retail media and advertiser offering. Retail Media: A new Amazon Ads-MMA-WPP playbook finds 59% of advertisers now see retail media as a full-funnel channel. Tesco is bringing influencer videos to screens in UK supermarkets, while its media network is adding AI tools and shoppable content. Platform Moves: Meta has barred TikTok’s parent ByteDance from advertising across its apps in the US and several other markets, escalating competition between the platforms. Campaigns & Accountability: Democrats are outspending Republicans three to one on Spanish-language ads, while Elon Musk’s America PAC faces criticism over voter texts officials called misleading. Ad Tech: Bannerflow launched a creative intelligence suite, and Intent IQ introduced a tool aimed at improving transparency in programmatic advertising.

Agency Leadership: BBDO India co-founder Josy Paul has been promoted to chairman and group chief creative officer, leading creative vision across BBDO India, Ulka and Mudra. Political Advertising: US government ads promoting Trump reportedly aired nearly 400 TV spots after a judge ordered them stopped. The Justice Department apologized, blaming an internal email delay. Media Spending: Australia’s out-of-home advertising revenue rose 8.78% to A$376 million in the third quarter; digital formats made up 77% of the total. Event Marketing: LinkedIn company pages account for about 1% of the average professional’s feed, while personal profiles can deliver much stronger engagement and conversions, according to event marketing advice. Brand Content: Innocean has launched Cinema by Brand, a film platform with Hanwha as its first partner, aiming to build stories with filmmakers rather than rely on product placement. Retail Media: A new Amazon Ads, MMA Global and WPP Media playbook finds 59% of advertisers view retail media as a full-funnel channel. AI and Creativity: Australian agency founder Marcus Tesoriero says AI production can help creatives bring ambitious ideas to life on smaller budgets.

Political Advertising: A federal judge temporarily halted taxpayer-funded pro-Trump TV ads and ordered the administration to cancel the remaining portion of its $20 million campaign, citing a challenge over election spending. Brand Growth: General Mills is doubling its use of influencers and building a content studio, with campaigns spanning campus events, rapper GloRilla and K-Pop Demon Hunters as it seeks profitable growth. AI Ad Boom: ChatGPT now has more than 60,000 advertisers, up from 20,000 just over a month earlier, as brands rush to test the platform. Experiential Marketing: Marriott Media is planning hotel activations that let guests try products, from food and beauty items to in-room samples. Product Placement: Global spending is forecast to rise 13.7% to nearly $42 billion this year, driven in part by microdramas, AI and placements in new formats.

AI Advertising: ChatGPT ads are becoming a crowded new channel: Somantra found ads in 71% of Australian insurance responses, with five advertisers taking 57% of placements. Shopping-style questions were especially likely to trigger ads. Creator Strategy: Brands are turning to meme pages to reach niche communities, but a separate marketing analysis warns that six million influencer views brought almost no sales when the creator wasn’t a credible fit. Campaign Watch: Alcohol marketers are adapting as Gen Z moves away from drinking-centred socialising, while the University of New England’s new dentsu campaign spotlights students taking unconventional paths to study. Media & Regulation: The Skydance merger unites Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery, concentrating major studios, broadcasters and news outlets under billionaire David Ellison’s control. Regulators are also scrutinising AI-generated health ads, with Nigeria’s ARCON warning against fake endorsements and the UK watchdog prohibiting ads for oral weight-loss drugs.

Ad Rules: The UK watchdog banned ads for oral weight-loss drugs amid a marketing backlash, while China cleared a Focus Media deal subject to price and exclusivity curbs. Political Advertising: The U.S. Supreme Court halted an FCC action on political ad rates as campaign spending and scrutiny of who funds ads continue to rise. Market Outlook: WARC expects AI and major events to fuel U.S. ad growth in 2026; Uber Eats took the year’s Grand Effie. AI & Brand Safety: TikTok’s quietly revised ad rules have been linked to a surge in scams, sharpening concerns over platform oversight as AI reshapes campaign tools. Customer Experience: Marketing leaders at a franchise conference urged brands to build omnichannel journeys around customer needs, not channels. Media Shift: Kids’ TV commissioning is shrinking as YouTube expands its role in children’s content.

Media Relations: The Justice Department is investigating whether five major TV networks broke antitrust law by suspending White House pool coverage after CNN was barred from the rotation. The probe raises fresh questions about press access and how broadcasters coordinate coverage. Streaming: Netflix may cut about 5% of its workforce as it faces stronger competition for viewers and advertising from YouTube. The company is also expanding into ads, live programming and gaming. Adtech: Platforms are adding automation and measurement tools, with X offering AI campaign setup and Google testing in-store retail attribution and automated ad previews. Ad Safety: TikTok’s reported rollback of advertising rules is drawing scrutiny amid a surge in scams. Kids’ Media: Broadcaster commissions for children’s shows are shrinking as YouTube and creator-led deals reshape how content and franchises are funded.

Ad Tech: Mobavenue launched PiiX, a platform that automates Apple Ads targeting, bidding and app-page optimisation. Vannor is also pitching autonomous AI agents for marketing, reporting sharp early gains in search visibility. Platform Shifts: Meta has barred TikTok’s parent ByteDance from advertising across Facebook and Instagram in the U.S. and five other countries, while Tesco Media is adding AI tools and shoppable content to its ad platform. Market Signals: WARC expects AI and major events to fuel U.S. ad growth in 2026. But a separate report finds 81% of Indian marketers prioritise reach, against just 17% who prioritise attention quality. Rules: India is considering tighter controls on prescription-drug advertising, including by pharmacies and wholesalers. Türkiye’s new rules also bar personalised ads on social-media accounts for children under 15. Campaign Craft: Himalaya BabyCare launched a new campaign for its Gentle Baby Wash in eight languages, targeting parents with a message around newborn care.

Campaign Clash: Education advocacy group Next Chapter Boston is relaunching ads accusing public schools of failing pupils after the transit authority pulled its first placements within a day, highlighting tensions around public ad space. Agency Moves: StackAdapt promoted Pinar Ozyetis to chief legal officer and Anna Grodecka-Grad to chief client officer. Radiocentre research director Mark Barber will step down after 25 years shaping radio advertising research. Platform Shift: Meta has barred TikTok parent ByteDance from advertising across its apps in the U.S. and six other countries, sharpening competition for digital ad budgets. AI & Retail Media: Amazon Ads, MMA Global and WPP Media launched a full-funnel advertising playbook as Tesco expands AI-powered ad tools and shoppable content. Ad Rules: India is proposing tighter controls on prescription-drug advertising, including approval requirements that could affect pharma marketers, pharmacies and distributors.

Platform Rivalry: Meta is blocking TikTok ads on Facebook and Instagram in the U.S. and other markets, escalating the battle for users and advertisers. Sports Marketing: Nestlé’s multiyear NBA deal will make Nesquik, Milo and Nescau official partners across 21 markets from January—its largest international brand collaboration. Marketing Under Pressure: PepsiCo posted revenue growth, but weak North American demand persists; the company is counting on its new Publicis partnership to improve returns on media spending. Ad Rules: Helsinki plans to bar ads for flights, cruises and fossil-fuel cars from city-controlled outdoor spaces as existing contracts expire, beginning in 2035. Campaign Watch: Rivian is bringing Bill Murray and a custom Ghostbusters vehicle into its Halloween push, while Angry Orchard is using a Scream-themed video-store pop-up to promote a limited-edition cider pack.

Platform Rivalry: Meta has barred ByteDance from advertising across its platforms in the US and six other markets, including third-party campaigns linking to TikTok, intensifying the fight for users and ad dollars. Campaign Control: Google’s AI-driven ad tools are leaving marketers with limited placement visibility; a survey found only 16% had full visibility into where ads appeared across Google’s non-search inventory. Political Ad Scrutiny: The DNC sued the Trump administration, alleging it used $20 million in taxpayer funds for political advertising and asking a court to stop the campaign. Small-Business Support: DoorDash and the Greater Memphis Chamber held a workshop on advertising and AI tools, offering local businesses $1,000 in credits to put the training to use. Market Outlook: Global ad spending is forecast to grow 11.9% to $1.34 trillion this year, with online listening helping lift audio advertising.

Platform Trust: Meta says it acted on 5.3 million pieces of child-exploitation content in the first half of 2026 and is adding AI tools to check ads, even as a report alleges some AI-generated abuse videos remained online after being flagged. TikTok is also under scrutiny after a reported rollback of ad rules was followed by a surge in scams. CTV and Commerce: Walmart Connect is expanding its audience and connected-TV measurement, while Amazon Ads’ interactive video campaign for Revlon delivered a 9.8-times higher click-through rate than non-interactive ads, according to figures shared by Amazon. Where Ads Appear: New industry analysis points to advertising moving back into physical spaces, as brands seek attention beyond crowded digital feeds. Purpose-Led Media: Horizon Media is rallying more than 100 partners to provide over $15 million in donated media for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, supporting mentor recruitment and donations through 2027.

Political Ad Scrutiny: The Trump administration faces two lawsuits over taxpayer-funded TV ads, with Democrats and Common Cause alleging public money was diverted for partisan promotion ahead of the midterms. The administration calls them public-service messages; the claims have not been ruled on. Ad Rules: India’s medical regulator has barred doctors and hospitals from using AI-generated testimonials or promotional claims, while allowing factual health education. Direct Marketing: South Africa’s new opt-out registry requires marketers to check their lists monthly and stop contacting consumers who have opted out. AI Search: As more consumers turn to AI for recommendations before visiting websites, Indian brands are being urged to compete for visibility inside AI-generated answers. Ad Platforms: TikTok is bringing its global ad network to the US and introducing agentic AI tools, adding to the industry’s push to automate campaign work.

Retail Media: Walmart Connect is extending shopper targeting and sales measurement across Warner Bros. Discovery’s live TV, Spotify audio and connected TV, and Yahoo DSP. Ad Safety: Meta says it addressed 5.3 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content in India in the first half of 2026 and is using AI to spot ads that disguise links to illegal material. Audience Measurement: Media leaders in Pakistan highlighted the challenge of tracking viewers across television, streaming and social platforms as audiences move between screens. AI in Advertising: TikTok, X and OpenAI are rolling out new AI-powered ad tools, from creative and search formats to more measurable campaigns. Regulation: California has joined New York in requiring disclosures for synthetic performers in ads, raising new compliance questions for marketers.

Media & TV Economics: Australia’s AFL Grand Final drew 4.5M viewers, edging NRL’s 4.3M, a reminder that live sport still pulls brand dollars even as streaming and social keep stealing attention. Industry Consolidation: Paramount Skydance’s completed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery signals the next wave of scale-seeking as legacy media fights Netflix-era competition. Local News Funding: California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2222, creating refundable tax credits to help struggling local newsrooms hire and retain journalists. Political Advertising & Rules: Trump says he won’t reimburse the federal government for “Patriotic Ads,” while the White House clarifies the super PAC won’t necessarily cover already-aired spots. Ad Compliance & Health Claims: The FDA warned Evolus over an Instagram reel for Jeuveau that framed a prescription injection like everyday beauty and downplayed risks. Brand Safety/Trust: Digital Realty broke ground on KIX15 in Osaka to expand AI-ready data capacity, underscoring how infrastructure spending underpins modern marketing and media delivery. Marketing Litigation: A judge granted summary judgment in a Barilla “not Italian enough” false-ad suit, tightening how plaintiffs can rely on consumer survey claims.

Philippines Digital Safety Law: The House passed a bill banning kids 13 and under from creating social media accounts and tightening access rules for under-18s, aiming to curb online harms tied to real-world violence. UK Retail Restructuring: TGJones confirmed it’s shutting its Malmesbury High Street store, prompting a petition from residents trying to save the long-running shop. Influencer Marketing Growth: Clark Influence landed again on The Globe and Mail’s 2026 Report on Business list, ranking No. 205 overall and No. 13 among marketing firms after 131% revenue growth (2022–2025). Marketing Measurement Push: Caliber Corporate Advisers launched the Caliber Authority Index to track earned media, digital/SEO, AI visibility and social impact in one score. AI Commerce SEO: Nina Systems launched a Shopify app that connects stores to its done-for-you blog service in about a minute, targeting Google and AI answer visibility. Political Ad Spend Surge: Seven House races have topped $30M in ad spending, with multiple districts now in the $30M–$40M range. Clean Energy Campaign: Our Energy rolled out a John Cena-led campaign using comedy stunts to spotlight wind and solar’s growing electricity share.

Political Ads Backlash: Trump says his super PAC will pay for TV ads that were previously funded with taxpayer money, after criticism and claims of possible federal law violations. Local Consumer Protection: San Diego County launches a Consumer Fairness and Public Protection unit and files early lawsuits targeting AppLovin, Roblox and Polymaker over alleged harms to kids, privacy and “ghost gun” marketing. AI in the Workplace: Meta and Microsoft restrict employee access to Anthropic’s Claude, steering teams toward internal Llama and Copilot tools as costs and privacy concerns rise. MarTech & Automation: Colonial First State shifts to “always-on” engagement, cutting customer-journey build times from weeks to hours via marketing automation. School Marketing & AI: A Beyond Education discussion argues AI can streamline school recruitment marketing, but schools must keep authentic storytelling and strong data governance. Sports Media & Safety: A judge dismisses a bid by independent school districts to force ad/health vendors to pay for alleged opioid-related special ed harms, spotlighting how marketing campaigns can trigger legal fights. Regulated Advertising Scrutiny: San Diego’s new lawsuits add to a broader trend of governments challenging how platforms advertise to children.