David Ellison’s Nightmare: A-List Coalition Unites to Kill the AU$156B Warner Merger
Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison, is pursuing a US$111 billion (AU$156 billion) acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, the largest media merger in Hollywood history. More than 1,000 actors, directors and writers have signed an open letter on BlocktheMerger.com demanding the deal be stopped, citing threats to creative diversity and jobs. The coalition includes A‑list talent such as Joaquin Phoenix, Ben Stiller, Kristen Stewart and directors Denis Villeneuve and J.J. Abrams. While Paramount argues the merger will preserve both studios and deliver 30 theatrical releases a year, regulators now face intense industry pressure.
ACAM Warns Marketers as AI Drives Surge in Zero-Click Search
Australian Centre for AI in Marketing (ACAM) warns that AI‑generated answers are causing a surge in zero‑click searches, with more than 70% of Google queries in Australia yielding no click‑through by early 2026. When AI summaries appear, click‑through falls to...
Saatchi & Saatchi Drives Toyota’s ‘Long Live Recreation’ Push for New RAV4
Toyota Australia unveiled a new brand platform “Long Live Recreation” for the all‑new sixth‑generation RAV4, developed with Saatchi & Saatchi Australia and media by Spark Foundry. The integrated campaign highlights the RAV4’s first plug‑in hybrid powertrain and positions the model...
Media Editor Natasha Lee Moonlights on ‘Media Tarts’ Podcast
Mediaweek editor Natasha Lee has joined creative entrepreneur Wade Kingsley as co‑host of the new "Media Tarts" podcast, a Friday‑afternoon show that blends casual conversation with industry analysis. The format features the hosts sipping drinks, dissecting the week’s media news,...
AI Could Make MEDVi $1b in Sales – but It Could Also Break It
MEDVi, an online GLP‑1 weight‑loss drug retailer, posted $401 million in 2025 sales and is projected to reach $1.8 billion in 2026 after scaling from a $20,000, two‑person AI‑built operation. Founder Matthew Gallagher leveraged generative AI for everything from code to customer...
Brené Brown Misquoted in Error of Epic Proportions
The Financial Times published an interview with Brené Brown that mistakenly quoted her as saying she was "solidly in my f*ck it era" instead of the intended "f*cking era." The error was flagged by Stanford professor Bob Sutton and quickly...
Seven Ramps up Glasgow 2026 Coverage with 800+ Hours Across Platforms
Seven Network is expanding its role as the official Australian media partner for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, committing more than 800 hours of content across broadcast, streaming and audio platforms. The plan includes 150 hours of linear TV, over...
Are Media’s Blake Talarico Says Marketers Have a Signal Quality Problem, Not a Data One.
Blake Talarico, head of commercial data at Are Media, says marketers face a signal‑quality problem rather than a data shortage. He points to tightening privacy rules, fragmented identifiers and AI‑driven data volume that have shifted focus from scale to the...
‘Two Aussie Icons’: Cadbury Old Gold Teams up with Bundaberg Rum for Limited-Edition Bark
Cadbury’s Old Gold brand has partnered with Bundaberg Rum to release a limited‑edition chocolate bar that blends 45% dark chocolate with a rum‑infused centre. The product, developed by agency Asembl, is now stocked across Coles, Woolworths and independent retailers nationwide....
OMA and RSL to Roll Out National ANZAC Day OOH Campaign
The Outdoor Media Association (OMA) and the Returned and Services League (RSL) have renewed their partnership for a seventh‑year, national out‑of‑home (OOH) campaign marking ANZAC Day 2026. Running from April 13 to April 25, the message “The ANZAC spirit lives here” will...
Partners Named for Prince Harry-Led InterEdge Summit
The InterEdge Summit, debuting in Melbourne on 15‑16 April, will be headlined by Prince Harry and feature more than 18 Australian and international speakers on workplace wellbeing, psychosocial safety and organisational performance. Major partners MINI Australia, Lander & Rogers and...
Omnicom Lands IBM Global Media Account
Omnicom has been awarded IBM’s global media account, a remit valued at roughly $330 million in 2024. The award follows IBM’s media review that began in December 2025 after incumbent WPP Media declined to defend the business. IBM’s broader agency reset...
StreetIQ Hires Dave Mullan to Drive Programmatic DOOH Push
Australian out‑of‑home platform StreetIQ has hired Dave Mullan as sales director to accelerate its national expansion and programmatic DOOH push. Mullan will lead agency and brand growth, steer the company’s programmatic strategy across DSPs and trading desks, and oversee the...
Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds Bring Chaos, Banter (and Sailing) Ahead of Rio Grand Prix
Hollywood stars Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds have fronted a new advertising spot for the BONDS Flying Roos, co‑owned by the duo, in partnership with work‑management platform monday.com. The campaign, released ahead of the SailGP Rio Grand Prix on April...
How Kia Cracked Reddit: Inside the Tasman Campaign that Delivered Standout Results
Kia Australia leveraged Reddit’s community‑driven format to launch the Tasman model campaign, focusing on relevance over traditional social. The brand used long‑form, Reddit‑native ads that mimicked real threads, targeting niche outdoor and automotive subreddits. The effort delivered a 480% lift...
