September 3, 2025  |  SIGN UP

Michael Bürgi
SENIOR EDITOR, MEDIA BUYING AND PLANNING

I hope everyone had a good summer. Because the fall is going to be intense. For one, the sports marketplace refuses to slow down, having been the biggest driving factor in upfront negotiations, which are wrapped up. Football season officially starts tomorrow, followed by basketball and hockey -- just as baseball lurches into its post-season. The biggest challenge will be for fans to find the new places sports content will show up, because it's less and less on linear TV or regional sports networks. 

Then there's the continuous consolidation happening across the agency world. Just yesterday brought word that Ocean Media and Empower Media are merging to form Empower Ocean Media Group with about $1.5 billion in billings power. And at a holdco level, Dentsu's non-Japanese holdings are formally in play for either another holdco or maybe even a platform like Meta. It's doubtful Google's looking to buy, since it just dodged a major divestiture bullet (see below). 

Finally, Digiday and its sister brands are ramping up several conferences and events over the next few months that I hope you'll consider attending. I'll be handling a few conversations alongside colleagues Kimeko McCoy and Modern Retail's Anna Hensel on Sept. 10 at Retail Media Advertising Strategies in New York, and then co-host the semi-annual Digiday Media Buying Summit in Phoenix Oct. 15-17. Hope to see you there! 

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DIGIDAY+ MEDIA BUYING BRIEFING

Media Buying Briefing: What’s going to happen with Dentsu outside of Japan?

The Japanese-owned holding company wants to sell all its international assets. Who might buy them and what are the best parts? 

BUSINESS OF TV

Streaming investments are rising, but media buyers drive hard bargains over CPMs and fees

The dust settles on an upfronts season that’s seen advertisers spend more on streaming and CTV, at the expense of streamers’ profit margins.

SPONSORED TEENVOICE

Report: Gen Z’s shopping habits provide clues about Gen Alpha

TeenVoice surveyed teens ages 13–19 to learn more about the key forces shaping Gen Z’s shopping habits. The differences between younger Gen Z (ages 13–14) and older Gen Z (ages 17–18) offer hints about how Gen Alpha may shop in the future.

EVOLVING AGENCIES

WPP’s new boss Cindy Rose starts today: Here’s what will be on her to-do list

Insiders acknowledge the company is struggling. Outsiders say there’s no magic bullet. WPP's board hopes Cindy Rose has her own answer.

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Digiday+ delivers exclusive reporting, weekly briefings, proprietary research and access to exclusive editorial-led events — everything you need to make smarter decisions in media and marketing.

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MARKETING ON PLATFORMS

Platform and agency execs recommended must-watch films, series heading into fall

Senior execs from the likes of LinkedIn, Reddit, IPG, Brainlabs and more let us in on their favorite films and series they enjoy.

MARKETING ON PLATFORMS

Amazon reverses its Google Shopping retreat, making life harder for performance buyers

The e-commerce giant has halted its eye-catching paid search retreat, leaving marketers' heads spinning.

SPONSORED BY ACTIVISION BLIZZARD MEDIA

How reaching gaming audiences improves an omnichannel strategy

Gamers play a significant role in making household purchasing decisions. Sixty-eight percent of players make decisions on beauty and personal care purchases, while 65% oversee technology and electronics choices. Brands can reach these influential decision-makers by capitalizing on gaming’s ability to command sustained audience attention and to provide tailored interactions.

DIGIDAY EVENTS

Digiday Media Buying Summit: Connect with leaders at Epsilon, Mindgruve, Agital and more

Join us for three days of learning and networking at the Digiday Media Buying Summit, October 15-17 in Phoenix. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with top media buyers through 1-on-1 meetings, cocktail hours and coffee breaks.