DoorDash to buy Instacart for $17 billion, merging retail media giants
MediaPost’s Laurie Sullivan reports that DoorDash agreed to acquire Instacart for $17 billion, paying $65 a share in cash and stock, combining two retail-media businesses each already generating more than $1 billion in annualized ad revenue.
Peter Rice inherits Netflix’s global hit problem
The Ankler’s Manori Ravindran reports that Netflix content chief Peter Rice now oversees local production in 50 of the 190 countries Netflix operates in, with Enders Analysis finding 40 percent of viewers aren’t primarily English speakers.
Non-English titles now dominate Netflix, Disney+ acquisitions
Deadline’s Jesse Whittock reports that Ampere Analysis found non-English content made up 65% of Netflix’s acquisitions and 50% of Disney+‘s as of September, led by Japanese and Korean titles at Netflix and German and Japanese titles at Disney+.
Walmart opens shopper data to CTV advertisers on Vibe
Adweek’s Kendra Barnett reports that Walmart will let Vibe advertisers target over 3,300 shopper audience segments built from its first-party web and in-store data, starting this week, marking the first major product move since Walmart acquired the CTV ad platform in June.
News Movement launches creator doc licensing network TNM Network
C21Media reports that The News Movement has launched TNM Network, a licensing arm that repackages original YouTube and creator-made documentaries for distribution on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
Stagwell posts $816M Q3 revenue, up 10% year over year
Campaign US reports that Stagwell logged $816 million in third-quarter revenue, a 10% increase from the prior-year period, as part of its weekly roundup of agency moves and client wins.
YouTube subscriber growth hits highs as ad revenue growth cools
The Ankler’s Sean McNulty reports that YouTube is hitting new subscriber highs even as its ad revenue growth rate slows, part of a broader Q4 pullback across media.
World Cup, ViX gains lift TelevisaUnivision Q3 despite US ad slump
Variety’s Brian Steinberg reports TelevisaUnivision’s total Q3 revenue rose 9% to $1.4 billion, driven by $90 million in World Cup sublicensing, ViX premium-tier growth and $389 million in Mexico World Cup ad sales, even as U.S. ad revenue fell 24% to $328 million.
Hallmark’s brand discipline fuels its “One Hallmark” flywheel
Media War & Peace’s Evan Shapiro reports that Hallmark Media, which makes 100 movies a year, has built a loyal “cult” fanbase by refusing to chase trends and staying anchored to positivity and comfort.
Beehiiv launches dynamic ad insertion and programmatic for podcasts
Simon Owens’s Media Newsletter reports that Beehiiv is launching dynamic ad insertion for podcasts, following Substack’s similar move, but adding programmatic advertising available immediately with no minimum download requirement, unlike Substack’s 2027 timeline.
Skydance may shed sports rights as $6.6B tab, $80B debt collide with NFL talks
The Ankler’s Lesley Goldberg reports Skydance holds at least 36 sports-rights deals worth over $6.6 billion yearly, and sources say it’s weighing cuts to Big Ten football, NASCAR and the French Open, worth $515 million combined, ahead of pricier NFL talks.
‘Nobody Wants This’ S3 debut down 28% as ‘Below’ holds Netflix’s No. 1 spot
TheWrap’s Loree Seitz reports that “Nobody Wants This” Season 3 opened to 6.2 million views, down 28% from Season 2’s 8.6 million debut, landing at No. 2 on Netflix’s weekly TV list behind “Below.”
DoorDash offers $17 billion for Instacart in grocery delivery mega-merger
ExchangeWire reports that DoorDash has made a $17 billion offer for Instacart, pairing DoorDash’s logistics with Instacart’s software and merchant ties, pending shareholder and regulator approval.
Holdco production hubs squeeze independent studios
Adweek’s Brittaney Kiefer reports that WPP’s new 34,000-square-foot Devon’s Point hub, following February’s WPP Production launch, combines AI-powered, virtual, and human-led production under one roof.
Ad Age tracks 12 agency and marketing job moves at BBDO, Liquid I.V., Lego
Ad Age rounds up twelve notable executive moves this week across agencies and marketing departments, including changes at BBDO New York, Liquid I.V. and Lego, as part of its ongoing weekly leadership-change tracker.
Local broadcasters scale streaming, but ad dollars lag the audience shift
TVNewsCheck reports that executives from NBCUniversal Local, E.W. Scripps, CBS, Gray Media and Viamedia told its Local TV Strategies conference that local streaming platforms are expanding fast, yet monetization has not kept pace with that growth.
SiriusXM’s $160M Giggly Squad deal shows podcasts chasing creators, not shows
Digiday’s Alyssa Mercante reports that SiriusXM’s multi-year deal with Giggly Squad hosts Paige DeSorbo and Hannah Berner, reportedly worth $160 million, follows a sold-out four-night Madison Square Garden run.
Netflix ad tier joins Australia’s official TV currency in 2027
PPC Land’s Luis Rijo reports that OzTAM and Netflix struck a multi-year deal putting census-level ad tier viewing into VOZ, Australia’s TV currency, starting February 2026 alongside broadcast TV and BVOD data.
Coupang Play orders SNL Korea spin-off sitcom ‘The Smile Clinic’
Deadline’s Max Goldbart reports that NBCUniversal Formats struck a deal with Korean streamer Coupang Play to turn the SNL Korea digital short “The Smile Clinic” into a ten-episode, thirty-minute sitcom.
Ragu reunites with Gerry Graf as Joan wins Mizkan creative account
Ad Age’s Jon Springer reports that Joan has won the Mizkan creative account, reuniting Ragu with Gerry Graf, the creative behind its memorable 2012 ad.
Netflix cuts up to 3% of London staff, production VP Anna Mallett exits
Variety’s K.J. Yossman reports Netflix has laid off up to 3% of its London HQ, with U.K. and EMEA production VP Anna Mallett departing amid the fallout from last month’s U.S. reorganization under new content chief Peter Rice.