In today’s Digest, we cover UK broadcasters launching a self-serve TV ad marketplace, Roku and Amazon striking a deal to target 80% of the US CTV audience as well as Google cutting ties with Scale AI after Meta’s investment, and its $32bn Wiz acquisition facing antitrust scrutiny. Finally, we discuss Omnicom moving to fully acquire Clemenger Group.

UK Broadcasters to Launch Self-Serve TV Ad Marketplace

Sky, Channel 4, and ITV have announced plans to launch a pioneering self-serve TV advertising platform in 2026, in partnership with Comcast Advertising. The new marketplace will allow advertisers to run a single campaign across the broadcasters’ combined addressable inventory for the first time, covering premium on-demand and streaming content. 

The key features of the marketplace include a user friendly interface, real time analytics and optimisation tools and a commitment to transparency and trust. This collaborative effort represents a major step forward in making TV advertising more accessible and efficient.

Roku & Amazon Deal Targets 80% of US CTV Audience

Roku and Amazon have announced a landmark partnership that will create what they call the “largest authenticated TV footprint” in the US. Through the integration of Roku’s platform with Amazon’s demand-side platform (DSP), advertisers will gain access to approximately 80 million connected TV (CTV) households, representing more than 80% of the total US CTV audience, according to Comscore data.

This login-based model provides rich, first party data, enabling advertisers to target and measure campaigns with greater accuracy than many traditional or third party based methods. 

Although the public rollout isn’t expected until Q4, early results from closed testing have been promising, AdExchanger reports. According to Kelly MacLean, Vice President of Amazon DSP, the integration of Roku and Amazon’s data has delivered a threefold increase in return on ad spend (ROAS), a 42% boost in unique reach at the same media budget, and a 27% reduction in ad frequency, ensuring a better balance between reach and repetition.

Google to Cut Ties with Scale AI After Meta Investment; $32bn Wiz Acquisition Draws Antitrust Scrutiny

Google, the largest customer of Scale AI, plans to end its relationship with the company after news emerged that rival Meta is acquiring a 49% stake, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. One source told the publisher that Google had intended to spend roughly USD$200m (£157m) with Scale AI this year for human-labeled training data, an essential component in developing advanced technologies, including its Gemini AI models. Following the Meta announcement, Google has already begun exploring alternative providers to redirect much of that work.

At the same time, Google’s broader strategic moves are drawing fresh regulatory scrutiny. The US Department of Justice has opened an antitrust review into Google’s planned USD$32bn (£2.52bn) acquisition of Wiz Inc., according to sources familiar with the matter. The inquiry, still in its early stages, is examining whether the deal would unlawfully limit competition in the growing cybersecurity sector. DOJ officials have already begun engaging with Google, Wiz, competing firms, and customers. The review could stretch on for months and ultimately determine whether the transaction is allowed to proceed.

The companies appear to have anticipated potential regulatory hurdles. As previously reported, Google agreed to pay Wiz a USD$3.2bn (£2.52bn) breakup fee about 10% of the total deal value if the acquisition fails to close.

Omnicom to Fully Acquire Clemenger Group

Omnicom Group is set to acquire the remaining 13.16% stake in Clemenger Group, moving from majority to full ownership. The minority stake is largely held by employees through a long-running staff share scheme. According to The Australian, shareholders will vote on the proposed deal at a general meeting on 30 June 2025.

Omnicom’s BBDO Worldwide first invested in Clemenger in 1972 with a 35% stake, increasing its share to 74% in 2011 and to 86.84% in recent years. A full buyout would consolidate Omnicom’s creative agency footprint in the region under one banner, bringing Clemenger and Colenso BBDO fully into the fold alongside TBWA and DDB within the Omnicom Advertising Group.

Meanwhile, Omnicom Group is preparing to launch a new regional management structure in Oceania that will integrate Omnicom Media Group and Omnicom Advertising Group under a single leadership team. Industry reports suggest Nick Garrett, former CEO of Clemenger BBDO and Colenso BBDO, is the frontrunner to lead the combined entity.