MadTech Daily: UK Digital Adspend in H1 Tops Entire 2020; Shein Profit Plunges 67% as Costs Rise

In this special episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire co-founders Rachel Smith and Ciaran O'Kane join John Still to discuss IAB UK's Digital Adspend report, as well as their top takeaways from ATS London 2026...ATS London took place on September 15, featuring industry experts like Index Exchange president and CEO Andrew Casale, PubMatic co-founder and CEO Rajeev Goel, and many more. Rachel and Ciaran share their top takeaways and favourite moments from the networking sessions, the Churchill and Burton room talks, MadTech Money insights, and the ad tech gilet crowd.They also share their thoughts on IAB UK's latest Digital Adspend report. UK digital advertising spend grew 13% year-on-year in H1 of 2026, reaching £21.2bn* – £5bn more than the entirety of 2020.*Figure was mistakenly cited as £21.6bn.We'll be rolling out a selection of panels and voxpops from the event on exchangewire.com and ExchangeWireTV. Stay tuned to hear from more insights from established and rising voices in ad tech. See you again at ATS London 2027!•••0:00 Introduction1:29 Digital Adspend UK report11:48 ATS London 2026 review24:15 Top ATS London takeaways

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss Apple blocking Trade Desk ads on Safari, AppLovin and Unity becoming locked in a data collection dispute, and IAB Europe setting new CTV measurement standards.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss UK digital ad spend in H1 surpassing the whole of 2020, Shein’s profit plunging 67% as costs rise, and ChatGPT ads expanding into new Asian markets.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss 58% of ad executives expecting agentic buying to scale within a year, Apple and Amazon facing a renewed UK consumer case, and A24, Sony and The New York Times circling Letterboxd.

In today’s Digest, we discuss McDonald’s betting on a USD$1bn (£750m) ad business as it joins the commerce-media gold rush, Temu cutting a USD$1bn (£750m) fake influencer network on Meta, and TikTok settling with Alabama for USD$100m (£75m) over teen use.

In this episode of The MadTech Podcast, ExchangeWire's head of marketing, Grainne Reid, is joined by COO Lindsay Rowntree and John Still, head of content. They discuss Google's ad tech rules, OOH advertising growth, and John Lewis launching a YouTube chatshow.The first story covers Judge Leonie Brinkema's assessment on the DOJ's proposal to break up Google's ad tech business, and what the ruling means for advertisers. The second is out of home advertising in Q2 showing +12.7% revenue growth from the same period last year. The conversation explores drivers of OOH growth, and whether it will continue on the same trajectory without World Cup activations.Finally, John Lewis is launching an online chatshow with the aim of improving its visibility in AI search. How should retailers be adapting their marketing strategies in the age of chatbots and social media?•••0:00 Introduction1:23 US judge says Google should relax ad tech rules11:57 Out of Home advertising reports +12.7% revenue growth in Q222:16 John Lewis to launch YouTube chatshow to improve AI search results

 In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss Citi entering advertising with a new ad business, IAB Europe finding growing momentum for agentic ad buying, and Alibaba unveiling an AI roadmap to drive monetisation. 

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss Shopify tapping Meta’s Muse for agentic checkout, Brian O’Kelley’s startup pivoting to AI agents, and a Microsoft patent revealing plans to pause games for ads.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we look at Paramount clearing a legal hurdle ahead of its Warner merger, Amazon blocking Meta’s AI assistant in an agentic shopping standoff, and Ant Group reshaping Alipay for agentic commerce.

In today’s MadTech Daily, we cover Infillion acquiring Foursquare in a location data deal, McCann merging FP7 and MullenLowe in MENA, and OpenAI rolling out a youth safety plan for Australia.