Unfiltered Media
A senior, data-driven podcast on media, advertising and ad-tech — TV, streaming, ad-spend and the markets behind them. Hosted by Justin Lebbon and Ian Whittaker.
Episodes
Meta in Court, Disney v. FCC and the Paramount/WBD Wrangling
Justin Lebbon and Ian Whittaker unpack the escalating collision of politics, tech and media law — from four state AGs suing Meta, to Disney suing the FCC, to the state AG challenge to the Paramount/WBD deal.
James Rooke on how can TV compete and win against the platforms
Comcast Advertising president James Rooke argues premium video is inherently performative and can win share back from the big platforms — if TV makes itself as easy to buy as social and proves outcomes via incrementality.
The Politics Episode: Paramount/WBD stalls, AI's charm offensive and Burnham's UK
Ian Whittaker and Justin Lebbon dissect the politics stalling the Paramount/Warner Bros Discovery deal, the tech-titan PR push on AI, and how a Burnham government could reshape UK media and social-platform policy.
Summer Summary - Q2 updates: Google, Netflix, Comcast and AI Investment
Justin Lebbon and Ian Whittaker run through Q2 results — Alphabet, Comcast, Netflix, Havas and Publicis — and unpack why soaring AI CapEx is spooking investors plus ad investment figures remain resilient despite the war and political uncertainty
Market reaction to Sky ITV Deal; NBCU/Comcast; Future consolidation
Justin Lebbon and Ian Whittaker unpack the agreed Sky–ITV deal, the likely regulatory path, whether ITV Studios gets bought, and why Comcast is splitting off NBCUniversal — plus the collaboration-not-just-consolidation lesson from Norway.
Rita Ferro on Disney’s advertising strategy and competing with Big Tech
Disney's global ad president Rita Ferro talks trust and premium inventory, competing with Big Tech on value not price, the "mid-market" growth tier, live/fandom monetisation, and how AI is reshaping ad operations.
NBCUniversal's Marshall: Universal Ads, BravoCon & the Measurement Mess
NBCUniversal's Mark Marshall talks to Justin Lebbon about a blockbuster sports year, the new Performance Insights Hub, Universal Ads' push into the "messy middle," diversification via events like BravoCon, and why the US measurement fight makes the whole TV industry look bad.
Analysing SpaceX, Roku/Fox deal, Revenue urgency for AI
Most investors overlook the game-changing signals from SpaceX's recent IPO; Elon Musk's space empire is shaping the future of tech, media, and capitalism itself.In this pre-Cannes episode, we unveil how SpaceX's valuation and Musk’s control are rewiring the investment landscape, impacting everything from AI advancements to media giants' strategies. We also discuss the real implications behind bill
AI, Agility & Growth: The new agency playbook
Most agencies remain constrained by legacy structures, short-term KPIs, and slow-moving processes. But a new generation of independent agencies is proving there's another way. In this episode, we speak with Ali Reed, Chief Growth Officer at Brainlabs, about why the future of marketing belongs to bold, agile, AI-powered businesses. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience, Ali explains her move
How industry incentives, trading and measurement shape media quality and why it matters
This episode features a discussion with Erez Levin, a prominent speaker and writer in the advertising industry, focusing on the concept of quality media. The conversation explores the challenges of defining and valuing quality in a landscape dominated by major platforms and unlimited impressions. Erez introduces the "quality trifecta," which includes media quality, creative quality, and audience/d
The Great Ad Tech Squeeze: Platforms dominate tech, kickbacks and consolidation
This episode explores the fundamental shift from efficiency to dominance in digital advertising. Ian shares why the traditional ad tech model is at a crossroads, with many players facing margin squeeze or consolidation, while a few with true differentiation may thrive. You’ll discover how the biggest platforms - from Google to Amazon - are the real gatekeepers not only selling vast quantities of m
The Great Ad Spend Shift: Why Meta, Amazon & programmatic are reshaping media
Justin Lebbon is joined by Guideline’s Chief Insights & Analytics Officer, Sean Wright, for a deep dive into where advertising money is really flowing and why the biggest platforms continue to dominate despite mounting scandals and industry criticism.
Using Guideline’s unique data tracking major agency and brand spend, they explore Meta’s resilience, the rise of Amazon in the DSP wars, the collap
Meta, Google, Amazon all post Q1 results - Analysis and market reaction
An in-depth analysis of the latest quarterly results from Google, Meta, and Amazon, exploring their growth, AI investments, and implications for the advertising and media industry.
NBCU attacks Nielsen; Retail Media's growth; What Havas/Publicis Q1 results say
This week we discuss NBCU’s attack on Nielsen and why audience measurement has become a high-stakes power play influencing valuations, revenues, and market sentiment. This isn’t just about metrics and currency; it’s about who controls the narrative, and the money.We also explore the rise of retail media, set to hit $190 billion by 2026, and how retailers are using high-margin ad businesses to grow
Agency models; Macro trends; social media regulation and the music industry!
The episode kicks off with a discussion on the evolving landscape of advertising agencies, particularly focusing on Accenture's innovative approach to agency models. We delve into how traditional cost-plus models are becoming unsustainable in the age of AI, and how Accenture's shift towards a subscription-like service could redefine client offerings. We explore the challenges and opportunities thi
Broadcasters fight back; OOH growth; Accenture's new agency model and AI investment
Fresh from Future TV Sydney and a trip to New Zealand, we break down the TV industry’s comeback playbook with examples from out-of-home to broadcasters rebuilding momentum by collaborating and building what buyers want. We unpack the flawed “premium vs cheap” debate, why premium might be the wrong word to use and new agency models reflecting on Accenture’s back-to-basics remuneration structure. Pl
Can premium survive and thrive?
Most brands think premium media is about content. It isn’t. It’s about environment.In this episode, we unpack what “premium” really means in a world of unlimited impressions and AI-generated noise and why the fight over its definition is really a fight for ad budgets. They explore how trust, transparency, and attention - not just content - are now the real drivers of effectiveness and long-term br
Markets, War and the Growth Problem
This week we examine the economic impact of the Middle East conflict, how geopolitical uncertainty is influencing financial markets, and what it could mean for the media and advertising industry. We also dig into the surprisingly weak long-term growth of many major global companies, using data from Michael Farmer and others to explore why so many large firms appear to be struggling to generate mea
Broadcast Strategy, Paramount/WBD deal explained and the Cost-Cutting Trap
Feature-rich episode this week, starting with feedback from global broadcasters following Justin Sampson’s interview last week. We then focus on M&A activity, looking at developments around ITV and Sky, while Ian explains the financial framework behind Paramount’s proposed acquisition of WBD. We also discuss content strategies and why broadcasters need to stop talking about cost-cutting- and the s
The future of media currencies in the platform era
Ian and Justin are joined by Barb’s outgoing CEO Justin Sampson to discuss the growing pressures facing industry measurement currencies as media consumption fragments and digital platforms reshape the market. Hot off the heels of the Google debacle, the conversation explores the importance of independent, jointly governed measurement systems, the balance between innovation and stability in audienc
Media deals: Netflix, WBD, Paramount, ITV, Sky and agency business models/Q4 results
In this episode of Media Unfiltered, Justin Lebbon and Ian Whittaker unpack the shifting deal landscape in global media, from the evolving Netflix–Warner–Paramount dynamics to the conspicuous silence around Sky–ITV. They dig into what Q4 results really reveal about the agency business, examine why music continues to outperform in a digital-first world, and debate what diversification actually mean
Markets fret over AI capex as TV advertising shows signs of life
This week we examine investor nerves around the colossal levels of capital being poured into AI, and whether those investments will truly pay off without fundamental change across gaming, software, and agency businesses. We also look at signs of advertisers returning to TV, following positive financial signals from NBCUniversal and Fox in the US, before closing with a discussion on the importance
Google scuppers service comparing YouTube viewing with TV
This episode covers the recent news that Google employed a 'cease and desist’ tactic to force Barb and Kantar Media to stop the viewership measurement of YouTube on TV screens. We secured private commentary from advertisers and agencies while discussing implications for YouTube around transparency. Does it even matter today? Are clients happy with the data and feedback loop they get from YouTube t
The 2026 Predictions Podcast
This podcast explores the turbulent financial world in 2026 reflecting on the impact it may have on media and marketing. Much to the surprise of our hosts, 2025 was a strong year for ad spend with the main victors being the platforms. What will happen in 2026? Will brands begin to resist the ease and appeal of the platforms? Will governments step up efforts to support local media and curb the domi
Kelly Williams in Cannes 2025
A senior TV ad-sales leader makes the case that the UK's premium TV market is back in growth — led by streaming — and why the UK landscape is fundamentally different from the US. Plus the SME opportunity via Universal Ads, and where the market heads in 2026.
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