Dentsu’s half-year earnings underscored persistent challenges outside Japan, prompting plans to cut around 3,400 roles, or 8 percent of its international workforce. The holding group posted organic net revenue growth of negative 0.2 percent across the quarter, with declines in the Americas (negative 3.4 percent), EMEA (negative 2.4 percent), and APAC excluding Japan (negative 8.9 percent). Japan remained a bright spot at 5.3 percent organic growth across H1. Dentsu downgraded its full-year outlook to flat year-on-year and suspended its interim dividend.
Switzerland’s TV industry agreed to introduce a unified advertising model for time-shifted viewing from November 2025. Ads will appear when viewers start, pause, or fast-forward through catch-up content, aiming to offset losses from skipped commercials. Industry bodies cited that 30 to 40 percent of Swiss TV viewing happens in catch-up environments. Notably, public broadcaster SRG has joined commercial peers including CH Media, ProSieben, and RTL Deutschland in a coordinated approach to stabilise TV revenues. Meanwhile in the UK, the Professional Publishers Association asked the Competition and Markets Authority to compel Google to increase transparency around its Artificial Intelligence search features, citing steep referral declines since the rollout of Artificial Intelligence overviews. The PPA proposed four measures focused on detailed crawling and Search Console reporting, clearer acquisition source data in Analytics, and stronger attribution and linking in Artificial Intelligence-driven results.
In technology, Artificial Intelligence startup Perplexity said it has bid for Google’s Chrome browser ahead of an expected US antitrust ruling, with OpenAI also expressing interest. Dashverse closed a Series A led by Peak XV Partners and outlined a portfolio spanning generative video, comics, and short-form apps, claiming more than 20 million users. Viant reported 18 percent year-on-year Q2 revenue growth, pointing to supply path optimisation, identity tools, and new Artificial Intelligence measurement capabilities, while Nexxen extended its VIDAA deal through 2029, securing exclusive global access to ACR data and North American monetisation rights for CTV and native display. A US judge dismissed Rumble’s ad boycott suit against European firms on jurisdiction grounds.
In TV, the newly merged Paramount said it will keep the company together, retaining cable networks such as BET while investing in streaming and theatrical releases. Paramount also secured exclusive US rights to the UFC from 2026 on Paramount+. Netflix said its third US Upfronts delivered double the commitment volume, driven by live events and expanded targeting. Nexstar is in advanced talks to buy Tegna, and Amazon’s Prime Video will carry Ligue 1+ in France under a new distribution deal.
Publisher highlights included Bloomberg Media’s seven percent H1 revenue growth, with subscriptions up eight percent and a rebound in advertising across display, video, and audio. Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun sued Perplexity over alleged Artificial Intelligence harvesting. Future launched a paid membership beta at Tom’s Hardware, Google rolled out Preferred Sources in the US and India, and Vanity Fair refocused on core coverage areas. In agencies, MSQ Partners rejected merger chatter with S4 Capital, IPG partnered with Aaru for Artificial Intelligence-powered predictive simulations, Publicis sued India’s antitrust authority for access to case files, Havas Media Network UK launched an Artificial Intelligence brand insights tool, and ISBA released a pitch consultant guide. Channel 4 promoted Jennifer Carey to the newly created director of media and effectiveness role.
