media industry news

Media Loop is your one-stop shop for staying informed in the ever-evolving South African media and marketing landscape. We provide news, analysis, and insights for industry professionals, keeping you up-to-date on the latest trends, awards, and key players shaping the market. Our aim is to be your trusted partner in navigating this dynamic space, offering valuable resources and fostering connections within the South African media and marketing community.

LOCAL

What SABC commercial has in store for 2026
January 26, 2026
New chief commercial officer supports ongoing transformation of SABC's advertising model.
The Media Online
Brands now have to convince AI they’re awesome so AI will convince you
January 26, 2026
We’re entering the agentic web era, with LLM-driven traffic surging across key industries—forcing brands to shift from persuading people to persuading AI, which now guides what we buy.
Forbes
Mediaocean flags widening AI execution gap as fragmented ad tech slows marketers
January 26, 2026
Mediaocean’s 2026 H1 Advertising Outlook finds a gap between marketers’ AI ambitions and execution due to fragmented ad tech. While 70% see generative AI as the top 2026 trend, growth is focused on CTV/digital video (63%), social (61%), and AI-driven media (54%), as traditional channels decline.
Marketing Interactive
South African film breaks box office record and beats new Spongebob movie in the US
January 26, 2026
South African animated musical David grossed $22 million (R367 million) at the US box office in its opening weekend, beating The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants for second place overall.
MyBroadband
Coca-Cola creates new Chief Digital Officer role
January 26, 2026
The CDO appointment will be effective as of March 31, when Henrique Braun succeeds James Quincey as CEO, with Sahin reporting directly to Braun. “We believe our ongoing growth depends on understanding consumers even more deeply,” Braun said in a statement. “We are evolving our operating organization structure and elevating digital leadership so we can move faster and work smarter across all markets.”
MediaPost
What shopper influenceability means for FMCG growth: Tesco Media study
January 26, 2026
Tesco Media research shows most grocery purchases are still up for grabs—shoppers decide in the aisle, switch mindsets mid-trip, and respond to non-endemic ads, making the supermarket shelf a place to influence and build brands.
Warc
Behind the Lesedi FM 2025 song of the year furore
January 26, 2026
Lesedi FM’s choice of Ya Itshepelang Modimo by Oufadafada, raised concern among listeners and quite rightly so. The song doesn’t feature anywhere near the top five songs played on the station over the 2025 year.
The Media Online
Hershey’s undergoes a brand update as it rethinks paid, earned and owned media
January 26, 2026
When Hershey’s takes the rare step of overhauling its brand marketing creative and communications platform, it is news. And this Wednesday marks the beginning of Hershey’s first major brand marketing campaign since 2018, VP of consumer connection Vinny Rinaldi told AdExchanger. “It’s a big refresh,” he said.
AdExchanger
UK marketing budgets flatlined in Q4
January 26, 2026
Total overall marketing budgets in the UK were unchanged in the final quarter of 2025, according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report, and are expected to grow only slightly in the 2026/27 financial year.
Warc
#BizTrends2026 | Provantage CEO Jacques du Preez: 5 Key (D)OOH / DOOH trends to watch
January 26, 2026
Here are five key Out of Home (OOH) and Digital Out of Home (DOOH) trends to watch this year.
Bizcommunity
This Week in social media: All the updates you need – 19/01/2026
January 26, 2026
Hello, social friends! This week’s updates include numerous AI-powered tools for TikTok Shop creators and advertisers. YouTube is also rolling out more features to help creators with audience targeting from a desktop. Let’s take a closer look at how these improvements can steer your social strategy in the right direction.
PR Daily
Global content spend to grow 2% to $255B in 2026, streaming up 6%
January 26, 2026
Global streaming spend is forecast to rise 6% to $101bn this year, reaching about 40% of total content spend, according to Ampere Analysis—outpacing overall content growth of 2% to $255bn.
MediaPost
Surge in South African e-commerce: Top brands drive 47% growth in 2025
January 26, 2026
According to a recent study be Omnisend, e-commerce orders across all channels in South Africa grew 47% in 2025, but that growth was uneven, with the top 5% of brands generating 44% of total order growth.
Bizcommunity
How to explain flat traffic when SEO is actually working
January 26, 2026
AI Overviews are reshaping organic attribution—learn which metrics matter and how to clearly communicate SEO impact to stakeholders. Flat traffic? Don’t worry—flat doesn’t mean failure anymore.
Search Engine Land
Plans to crack down on podcasts in South Africa
January 26, 2026
The South African government is considering regulating podcasts as it finalises the Draft White Paper on Audio and Audiovisual Media Services, with Minister Solly Malatsi noting they currently fall outside the Electronic Communications Act.
MyBroadband
OpenAI moves on ChatGPT ads with impression-based launch
January 26, 2026
ChatGPT ads are coming soon, offering advertisers early access to a new impression-based placement inside conversational AI. OpenAI is preparing to launch impression-based ads inside ChatGPT as early as February, marking a faster-than-expected step into advertising.
Search Engine Land
Outdoor advertising crackdown in South Africa’s richest city
January 26, 2026
Musah Makhunga, the CEO of the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), said that unlawful structures are a big problem in the city. He explained that these unlawful structures compromise public safety, disrupt infrastructure, and deprive the City of much-needed revenue.
Newsday
TikTok shares 2026 trend predictions for marketers
January 26, 2026
As per TikTok: “This year, we’ll see trends rooted in our Irreplaceable Instinct, representing a shift toward the curiosity, conviction, and care that connect us.”
Social Media Today

GLOBAL

Brands now have to convince AI they’re awesome so AI will convince you
January 26, 2026
We’re entering the agentic web era, with LLM-driven traffic surging across key industries—forcing brands to shift from persuading people to persuading AI, which now guides what we buy.
Forbes
Mediaocean flags widening AI execution gap as fragmented ad tech slows marketers
January 26, 2026
Mediaocean’s 2026 H1 Advertising Outlook finds a gap between marketers’ AI ambitions and execution due to fragmented ad tech. While 70% see generative AI as the top 2026 trend, growth is focused on CTV/digital video (63%), social (61%), and AI-driven media (54%), as traditional channels decline.
Marketing Interactive
Coca-Cola creates new Chief Digital Officer role
January 26, 2026
The CDO appointment will be effective as of March 31, when Henrique Braun succeeds James Quincey as CEO, with Sahin reporting directly to Braun. “We believe our ongoing growth depends on understanding consumers even more deeply,” Braun said in a statement. “We are evolving our operating organization structure and elevating digital leadership so we can move faster and work smarter across all markets.”
MediaPost
What shopper influenceability means for FMCG growth: Tesco Media study
January 26, 2026
Tesco Media research shows most grocery purchases are still up for grabs—shoppers decide in the aisle, switch mindsets mid-trip, and respond to non-endemic ads, making the supermarket shelf a place to influence and build brands.
Warc
Hershey’s undergoes a brand update as it rethinks paid, earned and owned media
January 26, 2026
When Hershey’s takes the rare step of overhauling its brand marketing creative and communications platform, it is news. And this Wednesday marks the beginning of Hershey’s first major brand marketing campaign since 2018, VP of consumer connection Vinny Rinaldi told AdExchanger. “It’s a big refresh,” he said.
AdExchanger
UK marketing budgets flatlined in Q4
January 26, 2026
Total overall marketing budgets in the UK were unchanged in the final quarter of 2025, according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report, and are expected to grow only slightly in the 2026/27 financial year.
Warc

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