In this MadTech Podcast episode, ExchangeWire editor Aimee Newell Tarín is joined by research lead Mat Broughton and Alex Bodini, CEO of creative agency, Spin to discuss the latest in media, marketing, and advertising.

They look at YouTube winning the rights to the opening game of the 2025 NFL season, new ad formats planned by Netflix which aim to make ad breaks look less like ad breaks, as well as dissecting a claim from Meta that AI is redefining advertising.

YouTube wins exclusive rights to the opening game of the 2025 NFL season (Social Media Today)

YouTube has won the rights to the opening game of the 2025 NFL season, which will be available to stream for free on its app. The platform has been hosting NFL matches since 2023 via its “Sunday Ticket” broadcasts, but this will be the first time it airs an opening night match.

Netflix will use AI to make ad breaks look less like ad breaks (The Verge)

Netflix is working on a new type of ad which will harness AI to let advertisers marry their product with the streaming service’s shows and movies. It aims to blend ads into the content a user is watching. The ad format is due to roll out by the end of this year. 

Meta claims new tech ‘redefining’ advertising as an ‘AI agent’ (MarketingWeek) 

Meta claims AI is “redefining” advertising. It identified improving its ad proposition as one of five “major opportunities” for 2025. CEO Mark Zuckerberg prioritised improving advertising, alongside creating “more engaging experiences”, business messaging, Meta AI and AI devices.