In today’s Digest we cover Publicis acquiring 160/90 to expand its sports marketing capabilities and Ackman targeting €55bn takeover of Universal Music Group in bid to unlock value. We also look at Netflix launching a kids gaming app while an Italian court rules its price hikes illegal. 

Publicis acquires 160/90 to expand sports marketing

Publicis Groupe is ramping up its investment in sports marketing with the acquisition of 160/90, a global sports and culture agency, as part of a strategy to integrate live events and fandom into data-led marketing. The deal brings 160/90’s 670 staff across the US, UK, EMEA, and APAC into Publicis Sports, linking the agency to Publicis’ Epsilon data platform and media buying capabilities. 

By merging media, sponsorship, content, creators, and commerce into a single system, Publicis aims to transform sports marketing from a traditional branding exercise into a measurable, end-to-end channel. According to executives, the combined operations will enable brands to measure and monetise sports marketing more effectively.

Universal Music gets €55bn takeover bid

Bill Ackman’s hedge fund, Pershing Square, has launched a takeover bid for Universal Music Group, valuing the world’s largest music label at approximately €55bn (£48bn). The offer proposes a cash-and-stock deal that would also shift UMG’s stock market listing from Amsterdam to New York. Ackman praised UMG’s leadership under Lucian Grainge and its strong artist roster including global stars like Taylor Swift and Elton John but argued its share price has underperformed due to factors unrelated to its core business. 

Ackman attributed the company’s lagging valuation to issues such as the delayed US listing, underutilisation of its balance sheet, and uncertainty surrounding major shareholders including the Bolloré Group and Vivendi, both controlled by Vincent Bolloré. He also pointed to limited investor recognition of UMG’s €2.7bn (£2.32bn) stake in Spotify. 

Netflix launches kids gaming app; Italian court rules Netflix price hikes illegal

Netflix is sharpening its focus on interactive entertainment with the launch of a dedicated children’s gaming platform, Netflix Playground. The standalone app, aimed at children aged eight and under, is included with existing Netflix subscriptions. Free of ads and in-app purchases, it aligns with growing parental demand for safe, child-friendly digital environments. Netflix Playground launches with an expanding library of games based on popular franchises, including Peppa Pig, Sesame Street, Storybots, and Bad Dinosaurs, blending entertainment with early learning.

Meanwhile, a court in Rome has ruled that Netflix’s price increases in Italy between 2017 and 2024 were illegal, siding with the consumer advocacy group Movimento Consumatori. The court found that the streaming giant violated Italy’s national consumer code, which prohibits unilateral price hikes without a valid, pre-stated reason. The ruling comes just days after Netflix announced its second US price increase in little over a year. The Rome court ordered Netflix Italia to reduce current subscription fees and refund customers for amounts paid in violation of the law, estimating reimbursements of around €500 (£436.28) for Premium subscribers and €250 (£218.14) for Standard subscribers.

Netflix has stated it will appeal the decision.