On this MadTech Podcast episode, ExchangeWire head of content John Still is joined by research lead Mat Broughton and Kat Bean, head of media at agency Wake The Bear. 

They discuss TikTok Shop’s huge sales increase in the US, Channel 4’s plan to simplify its ad buying platform along with a relaunch of its streaming offering, and BuzzFeed’s plan to create a new social media platform which aims to counter the negative impacts of the current leading social apps. 

TikTok Grabs Market Share From Shein (Bloomberg) 

TikTok Shop’s US sales increased by 153% in January. Shein and Temu lagged far behind, achieving growth of 26% and 28%, respectively.

Channel 4 to Relaunch Streaming Offering (The Media Leader)

Channel 4 is planning to simplify its ad buying platform and explore ways in which AI can support its brands in the ad production chain, with the goal of attracting more advertisers from small and medium businesses. Barry John, head of operations at Channel 4 Sales, said that the relaunching of its streaming proposition was about simplifying TV buying. 

BuzzFeed Looks to Launch Social Media Platform (Social Media Today)

Web publisher BuzzFeed is creating its own social network in order to counter the negative impacts of the current leading social apps, which use AI-based algorithms to optimise for the highest engagement possible.