Social commerce overtakes search commerce revenue at The Independent.
For the first time, The Independent earned slightly more commerce revenue from social than from SEO in September, CEO Christian Broughton told a Digiday event in London. He called the gap narrow but said the direction is clear.
Why it matters
Publishers' commerce traffic is moving from search to social, and so are product discovery budgets.
Related trends.
MediaDubai Media teams with Livewire to sell gaming and creator ads
Dubai Media has partnered with Livewire to add in-game media, creator collaborations and interactive experiences to its UAE ad offer. Formats include in-game billboards, rewarded video, gamified challenges and custom game environments linked to real-world activations.
Why it mattersA state-backed broadcaster now sells gaming audiences alongside TV and social in the UAE.
MediaProduct placement spend set for fastest growth since 2022
PQ Media forecasts global product placement spending will rise 13.7% in 2026 to almost $42 billion, with the US making up 57% of the market. Microdramas and print are named as emerging placement channels; the Netherlands is growing fastest.
Why it mattersBrands are shifting budget into content itself; microdramas are a new route worth testing.
MediaUSA Today Co. sues OpenAI over news content used for training
USA Today Co. filed a copyright complaint in New York, alleging OpenAI trained ChatGPT on articles from 19 of its publications and reproduces its reporting. It seeks over $250 million in damages.
Why it mattersPublisher fights with AI firms will shape how news content shows up in AI answers.
