New Digital Age

New Digital Age

Interviews, insight & analysis on digital media & marketing

  1. The NDA Podcast: retail media consolidation, indusry optimism, and special guest Matt Barashode

    11 HR AGO

    The NDA Podcast: retail media consolidation, indusry optimism, and special guest Matt Barashode

    In the latest edition of the NDA podcast, Justin Pearse, Editor-in-Chief, is joined by Rebecca Sentance, Editor of Retail Media Age, and Andy Oakes, Publisher of New Digital Age, to discuss optimism in the UK media landscape.  The team kicks off with the positive news from the latest IPA Bellwether report, which shows UK ad spend is up by 7.3. This positive shift is mirrored by the return of several industry veterans who are launching innovative new ventures, proving that experience and entrepreneurship remain the driving forces of the sector. The conversation then turns to the "growing up" phase of retail media. Rebecca explains that as the sector matures, we are likely to see a consolidation of networks as the market moves away from explosive growth toward a more sustainable model. They explore how formats are evolving, particularly with Tesco’s introduction of video placements, which marks a shift from simple sponsored listings to high-end creative storytelling. This week's special guest is Matt Barash, a veteran of the adtech world, who shares his perspective on why the industry needs to refocus on the "art" of advertising. Barash argues that while data and science have dominated the last decade, real creativity and authenticity, especially within social creative, are what truly drive consumer engagement. Finally, the podcast previews the upcoming industry calendar, including the Possible event in Miami and the return of the Trinity lunch in London. With Claire Enders set to provide a macroeconomic view of the market at Trinity, the team emphasises that despite the rise of AI and automation, the most valuable currency in media remains in-person relationships and human connection.

    35 min
  2. The NDA Podcast: Rebecca Sentance's debut in a busy week for retail media

    23 MAR

    The NDA Podcast: Rebecca Sentance's debut in a busy week for retail media

    The latest episode of the NDA Podcast, our weekly ramble through digital media and marketing, sees the debut of our newest editorial star, Rebecca Sentance. Rebecca joins us from Econsultancy to take the helm at Retail Media Age (RMA), a title that is going from strength to strength as the sector booms. Rebecca began her career in radio before she transitioned into digital journalism with foundational roles at ClickZ and Search Engine Watch. This deep expertise in search and SEO laid the groundwork for her seven-year tenure at Econsultancy, where she covered everything from digital transformation to the sudden emergence of Generative AI. The discussion with NDA Editor-in-Chief Justin Pearse, includes: The Full Funnel Journey: Why home improvement brands like Wickes must be present at the "inspiration" stage (Pinterest, TikTok) as well as the point of sale.The Store as a Canvas: The fascinating overlap between in-store retail media and programmatic Digital Out of Home (DOOH).A Supportive Community: The unique, collaborative spirit within the retail media space, including the growing Women in Retail Media network.What’s Next for NDA? The podcast discusses a packed 2026 calendar, including: The RMA Lunch in Manchester (July 16th) and London (September 10th).NDA MENA: Our continued focus on the booming Middle East ecosystem, including a virtual round table in April.Cannes: Our return to the NDA Maison for a week of panels, podcasts, and parties.

    29 min
  3. NDA Meets: Christian Muche, Founder and Global President, Possible

    9 MAR

    NDA Meets: Christian Muche, Founder and Global President, Possible

    The transition from "event" to "essential platform" is how Christian Muche, Founder and Global President of Possible, describes the evolution of Possible, taking place in Miami this April. In the latest of our NDA Meets podcasts, Muche outlines how POSSIBLE has grown from a high-potential debut into what he calls the "Davos of the marketing world." But this isn't just about growth in numbers, it’s about a fundamental shift toward quality, ROI, and hyper-personalisation. Beyond the main atage: A custom experience Muche highlights that for industry leaders, time, not budget, is the most precious currency. To respect that, Possible, for which NDA is once again media partners, has moved away from the "one-size-fits-all" panel model. Instead, the 2026 event focuses on: POSSIBLE Connect: A matchmaking programme facilitating over 3,000 pre-scheduled, opt-in meetings between brand marketers and solution providers.The CMO Experience: A curated, peer-to-peer program designed specifically for the industry’s most senior leaders to solve real-world problems behind closed doors.Granular Learning: Moving beyond broad keynotes into intimate workshops and academies of just 20 people.While comparisons to Cannes Lions are inevitable, Muche is quick to point out the distinction. Possible is a "domestic" powerhouse for the US market (though increasingly global), housed in a centralised footprint at the Fontainebleau and Eden Roc hotels. "It’s a highly efficient setup," Muche said. Whether you are on the beach, where meeting tents sit on the sand, or on the "street side" among the yachts, the entire ecosystem is designed to minimise travel time and maximise networking. In the podcast we discuss the changing face of industry events, the role of Miami itself and the industry trends this year's event will explore.

    28 min
  4. It's Always Media Thursday: Indie agencies, CTV creativity and Titan OS's Joe Evea

    05/12/2025

    It's Always Media Thursday: Indie agencies, CTV creativity and Titan OS's Joe Evea

    We discuss our launch of PitchLab and the continued rise of indie agencies, the looming presence of Cannes, and the creativity challenges in retail media and CTV advertising.  This week's special guest is Joe Evea, SVP Advertising and Retail Media EMEA at Titan OS, which this week announced it had raised €50 million in Series A funding, in a round led by Highland Europe. We discuss the creative potential of CTV, such as the TV Home Screen, the chaging needs and demands from the buy side, and the vital of proving incremtality.  "We work with a agency which spends a lot of money on Netflix but they're only buying 30% of the Netflix customers on our devices because only 30% buy into the ad tier," he pointed out. "We're able to use data to enable them to reach the other 70% and that incrementally is very important. But we need more focus on the creative. It's great that. you've got incremental reach but how can you use the medium to create advertising that really resonates and I think that will be a major discussion point in 2026." And with Christmas starting to hit, we discuss the critical role of industry socialising in building and strengthening the relationships the drive this industry.  "We're doing team-focussed meetings at agencies more and more now and this is so much more efficient and productive," said Evea. "We've even started taking a TV into agencies to demonstrate the home screen and it's really working."

    31 min
  5. NDA Meets: Will Jones, Head of Omnichannel Activation at Adform

    20/10/2025

    NDA Meets: Will Jones, Head of Omnichannel Activation at Adform

    In the latest episode of the New Digital Age Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Justin Pearce sits down with Will Jones, Head of Omnichannel Activation at Adform, to discuss the evolution of omnichannel marketing, the challenges of measurement and fragmentation, and how Adform is helping brands and agencies navigate the fast-changing programmatic landscape. Will’s media journey began almost 20 years ago at New Media Age, where he and Justin first worked together. From those early days of the dotcom boom and social media’s infancy, Will has seen the digital industry transform dramatically. Today, at Adform, he leads efforts across CTV, digital out-of-home, and audio, helping advertisers bring these channels together seamlessly. “Buyers are facing huge challenges,” Will explains. “With so many new channels emerging, resources are stretched. Brands need partners that make activation simple, transparent, and consistent across markets.” He points to Adform’s Campaign Planner as a key innovation. enabling clients to plan, activate, and measure campaigns across multiple channels from one place. The conversation also explores data sovereignty and the importance of maintaining transparency and control over where ads appear and how data is used. “We’re passionate about giving clients visibility,” Will says. “They need to know exactly where their media is running and how their audiences are reached.” Creativity remains a crucial part of omnichannel success, particularly as formats like CTV and digital out-of-home mature. “These are immersive, emotional environments,” Will adds. “Getting the creative right is what makes omnichannel work.” Looking ahead, Will sees enormous potential: “If we can connect these channels effectively, standardize measurement, and keep experiences premium, the next few years will be truly exciting.”

    31 min

About

Interviews, insight & analysis on digital media & marketing