In this MadTech Podcast episode, Lindsay Rowntree is joined by Rachel Smith and Andrey Liulko, Chief Sales Officer at Epom to discuss the latest news in the worlds of media, advertising and tech. 

They explore the dominance of digital ad spend, Apple approving Epic Games’ marketplace app, and the pursuit of programmatic ad dollars at this years’ Olympic Games. 

Digital dominance: brands shift ad spend online in the hunt for results (Raconteur)  

Worldwide ad spend is on track to outpace global economic growth this year, according to a mid-year forecast by dentsu and IMF data: ad spend is expected to rise by 5%, compared to a 3.2% increase for real GDP. Digital ad spend will lead the growth with an expected 7.4% increase. 

Apple approves Epic Games’ marketplace app after initial rejections (TechCrunch) 

Apple has approved Epic Games’ third-party marketplace app for launch in the EU. The European Commission had rejected the submission twice over concerns that its Games Store was too similar to Apple’s App Store. Apple has granted the app’s approval under the condition that Epic would make changes to certain buttons and labels on its design. 

Research Briefing: NBCU and Warner Bros. Discovery pursue programmatic ad dollars at the Olympics (Digiday) 

Programmatic is opening up the Olympics to more advertisers, with more than ever planning to show ads at this years’ games. NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery are making inventory on the Peacock streaming platform and the Eurosport website and supporting apps available to buy in private marketplaces for programmatic advertisers, allowing smaller brands access to the huge audiences available.