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

How marketing will shift to reward-led marketing in 2026
January 19, 2026
The shift is underway in consumer behavior, brand strategies, and data rebuilding. After nearly two decades in reward-led marketing, I see 2026 as the year rewards move from accessory to operating system.
BW Marketing World
Netflix reportedly considering all-cash WBD Offer
January 19, 2026
Just 24 hours after the news that Paramount was filing a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix – the competing bidder for WBD – is considering revamping its deal to an all-cash offer, according to reports.
MediaPost
SABC 2 Introduces a New Era
January 19, 2026
This New Era signals a deliberate shift to relevant, emotionally resonant programming rooted in South African lived experiences. Confident in its audience and purpose, SABC 2 now unveils the first wave ahead of its full rollout on Monday, 9 February.
Media Update
Your most up-to-date snapshot of social media updates this week – 12/01/2026
January 19, 2026
Hello, social people! This week brings some new tools and features for advertisers looking to make their campaigns easier to build and more user-friendly Let’s take a look and see where these updates can be most beneficial to your social game plan.
PR Daily
Beyond the hype: Teaching the machines about TV
January 19, 2026
If we don’t fix AI bias, autonomous agents will systematically defund premium media in favour of performance marketing. Jon Block explains how.
The Media Leader
A trip to the cinema: How theatres plan to entice moviegoers and advertisers in 2026
January 19, 2026
Eventizing releases, social blitzes, and better data could shape attendance and advertising trends in the new year.
Marketing Brew
The consumer is not a moron
January 19, 2026
The recently published WARC Marketer’s Toolkit 2026 identifies the gap between brand and customer experience as a key trend impacting marketing effectiveness.
The Media Online
Over 60% of marketers set to supercharge creator investments in 2026
January 19, 2026
A net 61% of marketers plan to increase their investment in content creators in 2026, underlining a shift towards measurable ROI and long-term brand-building strategies, according to Kantar’s "Marketing trends 2026" report.
Marketing Interactive
The SABC TV licence escape clause
January 19, 2026
South African households can legally stop paying SABC TV licence fees by having a technician remove their TV’s tuner, making it unable to receive broadcast signals. Such “denatured” TVs are exempt from licensing, provided owners submit proof of removal and pay a R300 inspection fee, although the SABC says it currently has no active inspectors.
MyBroadband
Strength over size: How Omnicom is pitching the holding company post-IPG acquisition
January 19, 2026
Execs for the “largest media organization in the world” emphasized in Las Vegas that the company had more to offer than sheer scale
Marketing Brew
7 Digital marketing trends to watch for in 2026
January 19, 2026
A look at some evolving industry shifts, including sharing behavior and emerging platforms.
Social Media Today
Canal+’s last minute deal rescues Warner Bros. Discovery channels
January 19, 2026
A last-minute new multi-year deal on 31 December with Warner Bros. Discovery and Canal+ sees all 12 existing pay-TV channels from Warner Bros. Discovery to remain on DStv in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa.
Bizcommunity
Why SA’s retail giants are rethinking constant promotions
January 19, 2026
The South African consumer goods retail industry is nearing a turning point after years of inflationary pressure and fierce competition: value is still crucial, but it is getting harder for manufacturers and retailers to maintain "always-on" discounts.
Bizcommunity
CES 2026: For Monks, AI-powered personalization is key
January 19, 2026
One of the biggest takeaways from CES this year is that AI’s place in marketing is starting to feel more practical than hypothetical. Just look at how much tech platforms like Google, Amazon and Meta have invested in developing AI optimization tools for marketers that operate at scale, said Chris Wilhelmi, EVP and global head of data at Monks.
AdExchanger
UK introduces landmark junk food advertising ban
January 19, 2026
The UK government has introduced a landmark ban on junk food advertising, marking a major regulatory shift aimed at reducing children’s exposure to HFSS food marketing through strict limits on when and where ads can appear.
Bizcommunity
Proposal to raise drinking age to 23 in South Africa
January 19, 2026
A South African organisation has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to raise the legal drinking age from 18 to between 21 and 23, citing concerns over alcohol abuse and public safety
Top Auto
Future of Media 2026: systems planning and why it matters
January 19, 2026
Traditional planning approaches, based on static plans, rigid personas and stable channel definitions are being disrupted by structural and technological shifts in media and marketing making them no longer fit for purpose – systems thinking is at the heart of the Future of Media 2026.
Warc
Deep Dive: 9 marketing predictions for 2026 as AI fuels polarity
January 19, 2026
The sense of a stable middle ground is eroding across an industry at a point of contraction, with many displaying mixed feelings about marketing’s future
Marketing Dive

GLOBAL

How marketing will shift to reward-led marketing in 2026
January 19, 2026
The shift is underway in consumer behavior, brand strategies, and data rebuilding. After nearly two decades in reward-led marketing, I see 2026 as the year rewards move from accessory to operating system.
BW Marketing World
Netflix reportedly considering all-cash WBD Offer
January 19, 2026
Just 24 hours after the news that Paramount was filing a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix – the competing bidder for WBD – is considering revamping its deal to an all-cash offer, according to reports.
MediaPost
Beyond the hype: Teaching the machines about TV
January 19, 2026
If we don’t fix AI bias, autonomous agents will systematically defund premium media in favour of performance marketing. Jon Block explains how.
The Media Leader
Your most up-to-date snapshot of social media updates this week – 12/01/2026
January 19, 2026
Hello, social people! This week brings some new tools and features for advertisers looking to make their campaigns easier to build and more user-friendly Let’s take a look and see where these updates can be most beneficial to your social game plan.
PR Daily
A trip to the cinema: How theatres plan to entice moviegoers and advertisers in 2026
January 19, 2026
Eventizing releases, social blitzes, and better data could shape attendance and advertising trends in the new year.
Marketing Brew
Over 60% of marketers set to supercharge creator investments in 2026
January 19, 2026
A net 61% of marketers plan to increase their investment in content creators in 2026, underlining a shift towards measurable ROI and long-term brand-building strategies, according to Kantar’s "Marketing trends 2026" report.
Marketing Interactive

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