Adspend Report 2025: UK’s digital ad market reaches £40.5bn

In this first episode of a special mini-series from the IAB UK Podcast, produced in partnership with Global, we explore the work shaping the future of advertising and media in the UK.This episode focuses on the power of communities, and what it really means to connect with audiences in a more human way. Drawing on insights from Global and MG OMD’s Belonging in Britain research, we unpack how people across the UK are finding identity, connection and belonging through shared passions, interests and experiences.At a time when audiences are often reduced to demographics, this research offers a more nuanced perspective, revealing why communities are such powerful spaces for engagement, and what that means for brands.Host James Chandler is joined by Ailsa Mackenzie (Global) and Samantha Redmond (MG OMD) to discuss what the research tells us about modern Britain, why the picture may be more optimistic than headlines suggest, and how advertisers can move beyond one-to-one targeting to engage communities in more meaningful ways.You can download the Belonging in Britain 2026 Key Insights here - https://www.mgomd-belonginginbritain.com/belonging-in-britain-2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The IAB UK Leadership Summit is where some of the industry’s most senior leaders come together to step away from the day-to-day and tackle the big questions shaping the future of digital advertising. From AI and innovation to trust, leadership and the changing media landscape, it’s two days of honest conversation, bold thinking and fresh perspective.In this special episode of The IAB UK Podcast, we went live from the Summit, speaking to a host of industry leaders, speakers and attendees to capture the energy, ideas and debates happening on the ground.It was so bumper, we’ve split it into two parts.In Part One, you’ll hear from Amelia Torode (Ogilvy), Shaun Betts (Omnicom), Parmy Olson (Bloomberg), Nick Buckley (The Coca-Cola Company) and Tom Standage (The Economist), sharing their perspectives on leadership, innovation and the forces shaping our industry.In Part Two, we’re joined by Ugo Monye (broadcaster and former rugby player), Liz Jones (Conker), Julia Clement (Nielsen) and double Olympic gold medallist Lizzy Yarnold, bringing fresh perspectives on performance, storytelling, resilience and partnership.Expect sharp insights, candid reflections and a real sense of where the industry is heading next, straight from the people shaping it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The IAB UK Leadership Summit is where some of the industry’s most senior leaders come together to step away from the day-to-day and tackle the big questions shaping the future of digital advertising. From AI and innovation to trust, leadership and the changing media landscape, it’s two days of honest conversation, bold thinking and fresh perspective.In this special episode of The IAB UK Podcast, we went live from the Summit, speaking to a host of industry leaders, speakers and attendees to capture the energy, ideas and debates happening on the ground.It was so bumper, we’ve split it into two parts.In Part One, you’ll hear from Amelia Torode (Ogilvy), Shaun Betts (Omnicom), Parmy Olson (Bloomberg), Nick Buckley (The Coca-Cola Company) and Tom Standage (The Economist), sharing their perspectives on leadership, innovation and the forces shaping our industry.In Part Two, we’re joined by Ugo Monye (broadcaster and former rugby player), Liz Jones (Conker), Julia Clement (Nielsen) and double Olympic gold medallist Lizzy Yarnold — bringing fresh perspectives on performance, partnership, resilience and leadership.Expect sharp insights, candid reflections and a real sense of where the industry is heading next, straight from the people shaping it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, we sit down with Jen Wong, Global COO (Reddit), to explore the remarkable transformation of one of the internet’s most influential platforms.Over the past eight years, Jen has played a pivotal role in shaping Reddit’s evolution, from a community-led forum network into a scaled global platform with a rapidly growing advertising business and a renewed focus on brand safety, measurement, and partnerships.In a wide-ranging conversation, we discuss how Reddit has balanced growth with authenticity, the challenge of monetising community-driven spaces, and what makes Reddit fundamentally different from other social platforms. Jen also shares insights into Reddit’s approach to advertisers, the rise of interest based communities, and how the platform is positioning itself for the next era of the internet.From culture and community to commerce and creativity, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Reddit has redefined its place in the digital ecosystem, and what comes next for the internet’s self-proclaimed “front page.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the IAB UK podcast James is joined by Elizabeth Lane (IAB UK) and Jeff Youssef (Oliver Wyman), to unpack the latest findings from the AdSpend report - the official measure of the UK digital advertising market.Produced by the IAB UK Insights team and in partnership with Oliver Wyman, AdSpend provides the industry’s definitive view of where digital ad investment is flowing. This year’s report breaks spend down across Platform, Retail Media, Video:TV+, Publishing and Audio, offering a clear picture of the market’s health and direction.If you want to understand where the UK digital ad market is heading, and what it means for your strategy, this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This special episode is recorded live from unBoxed London 2026, James Chandler (IAB UK) is joined by Jenny Liu (Amazon Ads) to unpack the latest innovation from Amazon Ads, the Creative Agent.Asad Khan (VodafoneThree) also joins James, to talk about how Amazon Ads DSP has evolved into a powerful programmatic solution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Audience modelling is evolving fast as AI, contextual intelligence and real-time signals reshape how advertisers understand and reach people. Hosted by IAB UK's Patrick Hann, this episode features Seedtag's Phil McMullan and Quantcast's Peyman Fakharian exploring the shift away from demographic targeting towards more dynamic, semantic and predictive approaches. They unpack how AI interprets context and meaning, how real-time data can deliver relevance without crossing privacy lines, and what this shift means for creative, transparency and trust, plus a look ahead to what audience modelling could look like by 2027. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Retail and commerce media are growing fast, from retailer networks to shoppable formats across social, video and TV, but with that growth comes new complexity for marketers.In this episode, we're joined by Tom Richards, SVP of Global Product at MiQ, to explore how audiences now move seamlessly between watching, browsing and buying, often all at once, and why this shift is making the traditional funnel feel increasingly outdated. We unpack what it really means to plan in a channel-agnostic way, why fragmentation and silos have become the bigger challenge than unlocking new channels, and how interoperability is becoming essential for brands trying to drive performance and build long-term growth.We also look at the role AI can play as connective tissue across retail, digital and CTV data in helping marketers make better decisions, optimise campaigns more effectively, and unlock greater creative agility while activity is still live. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Programmatic has never been more powerful, or more complex.Recorded live at Last Thursday Club, this episode brings together Ollie Chadwick (AdsWizz), Layla Soufi (Vistar Media) and Ben O’Mahoney (Ocado Ads) to explore where programmatic really stands today, and what needs to change for it to work better for marketers.The conversation looks at how programmatic has expanded far beyond display into CTV, audio and retail media, why fragmentation and transparency remain real challenges, and how automation and AI can support better decision-making - not just faster buying.A candid, in-the-room discussion on the realities of programmatic today, and what the next phase needs to deliver. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the IAB UK podcast, we’re joined by Tony and Jill from IAB Tech Lab, recorded during their visit to the UK for Techtonic, IAB UK’s flagship ad-tech event.Coming shortly after the launch of the Tech Lab’s Agentic AI Roadmap at CES, the conversation explores what agentic AI means in practical terms and what it signals about how advertising is evolving. Tony shares the thinking behind the roadmap, who across the ecosystem should be paying attention, and how it connects with wider Tech Lab initiatives such as CoMP, focused on publisher engagement with LLMs.Jill brings a connected TV and premium video perspective, drawing on her work across TV+, the CTV Ad Portfolio, and ECAPI, and discusses the opportunity ahead if the industry aligns - as well as what still needs to mature for CTV to reach its full potential.Together, they reflect on the pace of change across AI, CTV, measurement and privacy, and where standards make the biggest difference in reducing friction, building trust, and helping the industry move faster. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.