News Corporation has finalised the sale of Foxtel Group to global sports streaming platform DAZN, marking the end of a decades-long chapter for one of Australia’s most influential pay TV providers.

The transaction, officially completed this week, comes after regulatory approvals from the Foreign Investment Review Board, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), and other key authorities.

As part of the deal, News Corp received repayment of A$592 million in shareholder loans and has secured a minority equity stake of approximately 6% in DAZN. News Corp’s senior vice president and deputy CFO, Andrew Cramer, has also joined the board of DAZN, underscoring the ongoing relationship between the two media players.

A new era for Foxtel

DAZN’s acquisition is expected to turbocharge Foxtel’s evolution from a traditional subscription TV business to a digital-first sports and entertainment platform. While local Foxtel customers may not notice immediate changes, DAZN’s global expertise in direct-to-consumer sports delivery is likely to influence the group’s strategy and product offering moving forward.

“Foxtel’s successful transformation to becoming a leading provider of sports and entertainment is a result of the team’s tenacity, creativity and professionalism,” said News Corp CEO Robert Thomson. “We are confident that DAZN is poised to drive the next phase of Foxtel’s growth and we are delighted to be DAZN’s partner and shareholder.”

Foxtel has undergone a significant reinvention in recent years, with the launches of Kayo Sports, Binge, and Flash helping to offset declines in linear television. The group has secured key sports rights and invested in original content as part of its digital growth strategy.

Strategic focus for News Corp

For News Corp, the divestment marks a clear move toward sharpening its focus on core growth areas such as digital real estate, publishing, and financial information services.

“The sale of Foxtel is significant for News Corp, and will enable greater focus on our core growth pillars, which drove over 95% of Total Segment EBITDA in the Company’s fiscal second quarter,” said CFO Lavanya Chandrashekar. “It will also meaningfully strengthen our balance sheet and should reduce future capital intensity and improve return on invested capital.”

News Corp expects the sale to be accretive to earnings per share and provide additional capital flexibility.

What this means for the Australian media market

The completion of the deal caps off months of speculation around Foxtel’s future and opens a new chapter for sports broadcasting in Australia. DAZN has previously indicated its intention to expand globally, and this acquisition provides a significant footprint in the Asia-Pacific region.

The move may also spark fresh competition in Australia’s increasingly crowded streaming market, particularly in sports where rights and access remain fiercely contested.

For now, News Corp remains a minority stakeholder in the newly expanded DAZN, while reaffirming its “passionate support for Australian sport and entertainment” through its broader media properties.

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Omnicom Media Group (OMG) Australia has launched a first-of-its-kind influencer marketing platform, CREO, redefining how brands plan, execute and measure creator-led campaigns.

Positioned as a performance-first tool, CREO streamlines the entire influencer marketing process, from talent discovery and contracting through to content approval, live reporting and final measurement. The platform aggregates real-time data to support strategic planning, bringing a level of rigour to influencer marketing typically reserved for traditional media channels.

Thomas Hutley, managing director at OMG Content, said the new platform marks a turning point for how the industry approaches influencer campaigns.

“We need to be viewing influencer marketing as a vehicle for media effectiveness,” Hutley said. “This means treating it as a key media channel; planned, executed and measured with the same rigour as any other. We are excited about the potential of CREO to make our end-to-end creator process much more efficient and effective for our clients.”

To celebrate the launch, OMG hosted a national thought leadership event series focused on how creators can drive cultural impact through brand partnerships. As part of the event, OMG unveiled Australia’s first-ever influencer attention study, conducted in partnership with Amplified Intelligence and TikTok.

The research examined human attention on Instagram and TikTok, measuring passive and active attention, short- and long-term brand impact, and emotional responses to creator content versus standard social ads.

The findings revealed a powerful case for creators as the new creative engine in media campaigns:

• 116% increase in active attention when creators are used versus standard social ads

• 300%+ uplift in active attention for services and automotive campaigns

• 21% improvement in spontaneous brand recall

• 9% boost in long-term mental availability

The study also highlighted the impact of cultural relevance. When creator content is aligned with cultural moments, active attention surged by 246%, jumping from an average of 3 seconds for standard content to 10 seconds. This alignment also delivered a 55% increase in short-term effectiveness.

Steph Pearson, national head of social and innovation at OMG Content, said the research reinforces the power of creators to deliver outcomes across the funnel.

“By applying principles in content duration and brand presence, brands can supercharge the attention advantage of creator activity versus standard ads,” Pearson explained. “Creators are effective partners in driving increased attention, with both short- and long-term outcomes, and leveraging cultural moments is critical to gain maximum share of attention.”

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Spotify has announced it is modernising its advertising capabilities, in a bid to make it easier for advertisers to buy, create, measure, and get clear results on Spotify’s ad platform.

At the core of this update is Spotify Ad Exchange (SAX), a new programmatic offering that allows advertisers to reach Spotify’s engaged, logged-in users through real-time auctions.

SAX offers advertisers flexibility in how they buy ads on the platform. Following a successful pilot in the US, Australia, and Canada, SAX is now available, via The Trade Desk and Google DV360 who have access to Spotify’s suite of audio, video, and display formats. Podcasts will also be included in the near future.

Evolving platform

Liam Hickey, Head of Automation, JAPAC at Spotify, highlighted the industry shift toward automation, stating:

“The advertising industry is rapidly shifting towards automation, with programmatic and self-serve platforms driving display and video ad spend. As Spotify continues to grow, we’re helping brands embrace more outcomes-driven, omnichannel strategies.

“Through Spotify Ad Exchange, we’re evolving our platform to make advertising more automated, competitively priced, and addressable—putting outcome-based audio and the right formats at advertisers’ fingertips. At launch, we’re partnering with industry-leading DSPs like The Trade Desk and DV360, providing seamless access to high-quality inventory across music, with podcasts coming soon.”

Spotify is also enhancing Spotify Ads Manager, its self-serve advertising platform, with improved targeting, new first-party and third-party measurement tools, and outcome-based objectives. These updates include Spotify Pixel, Custom Audiences, and third-party partnerships designed to help advertisers optimize and measure campaigns more effectively.

In-house consultancy

For brands looking to create compelling content, Spotify AUX, the company’s in-house consultancy, provides expertise in music, podcasts, culture, experiential marketing, and content production. Spotify AUX connects brands with artists, creators, and fandoms to deliver innovative advertising solutions.

To further support advertisers, Spotify has introduced new measurement tools tailored to the platform, including updates to Spotify Brand Lift and the integration of Spotify Pixel into Ads Manager. Additionally, Spotify is expanding partnerships with DoubleVerify, IAS, The Trade Desk Unified ID 2.0, LiveRamp’s RampID, and Google’s PAIR to enhance third-party measurement capabilities.

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Affiliate and partnership marketing is on the rise in Australia, with advertisers doubling down on performance-based channels to weather economic uncertainty. According to the latest IAB Australia Affiliate and Partnership Marketing Report, 89% of brands and agencies using the channel plan to maintain or increase their investment over the next 12 months.

Now in its seventh year, the report highlights growing confidence in the affiliate space. It also reveals a clear need for better tools, education and standards, particularly around measurement, tracking, payment models, and best practices.

Launched today at the IAB Affiliate and Partnership Marketing Summit in Sydney, the report draws on responses from 140 industry professionals across agencies, brands, publishers and affiliate partners.

A performance-first response to economic pressure

More than 60% of marketers surveyed say affiliate and partnership marketing will become even more important to their business this year, with many citing tightening budgets and search algorithm changes as key challenges.

“Affiliate and partnership marketing has proven to be a resilient and results-driven channel, especially in challenging economic conditions,” said Gai Le Roy, CEO of IAB Australia. “As the industry expands, developing best practices will be vital for building trust, transparency and long-term value.”

Content and rewards dominate affiliate strategies

While advertisers are tapping into a variety of affiliate formats, content-led strategies and rewards-based models are considered the most effective. Content partnerships are currently the most commonly used method by brands.

Despite some experimentation with mixed and custom attribution models, the report found that the vast majority, 88%, still rely on the last-click model to track affiliate conversions. Only 23% use custom attribution, and just 11% reward first-click interactions.

Retail and fashion lead the charge

Unsurprisingly, the retail and fashion sectors are the heaviest users of affiliate and partnership marketing among both advertisers and publishers. These industries continue to drive innovation in the space, leveraging content creators and partners to enhance reach and revenue.

Industry guidance ramps up

To address ongoing knowledge gaps, the IAB Affiliate Marketing Working Group has developed a suite of resources, including:

• Affiliate Marketing Knowledge Series

• Guide to Tracking Affiliate Partnerships

• Commission Validation: Recommended Practices

• Navigating Affiliate Marketing Attribution in Google Analytics 4

Additional guidelines focusing on compliance and transparency are expected later this year.

The Working Group includes representatives from major players such as Afterpay, Are Media, Cashrewards, Commission Factory, impact.com, News Corp Australia, Rakuten, Skimlinks, Silverbean, and others.

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In the latest episode of Uncomfortable Growth Uncut, we have the privilege of hearing from Sherilyn Shackell, the founder of The Marketing Academy. Sherilyn’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience and self-discovery, showcasing how a life-altering event can lead to profound change.

Sherilyn’s story begins with a serious illness that struck when she was in her early 40s. As a successful headhunter running her own firm, she was caught in the relentless cycle of work, striving for more while sacrificing her well-being.

It wasn’t until a near-fatal health crisis that she was forced to confront her choices and the path she was on.

Listen Here

My three favourite quotes from Sherilyn’s story are:

“If you haven’t got some sort of real deep joy somewhere in your life, then that’s going to manifest physically.”

“What you are not changing, you are choosing.”

“The choices that I was making at that time manifested my illness.”

Sherilyn’s story is a reminder that we don’t have to wait for a crisis to reassess our path. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about self-awareness, purpose, and the courage to change.

Learn more about Uncomfortable Growth® & Rowena here.

The world doesn’t need more stories of success; it needs real conversations about resilience, vulnerability, and the human spirit’s incredible capacity to turn trials into triumphs.

That’s why the Uncomfortable Growth Uncut podcast was born. It’s a reminder that struggle and success are intrinsically linked, that growth is rarely easy, and that the moments we feel most uncomfortable are often where our greatest breakthroughs lie.

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A new player in the audio ad space is promising to reshape how agencies think about sound.

Enter Original Audio, launched by Creative Fix founder Aaron Matthews and NOVA Entertainment’s Adam Johnson, is positioning itself as Australia’s first AI-enhanced audio creative agency, built to bridge the gap between creativity and performance.

Bringing AI into the creative mix

At the heart of Original Audio’s offering is personalisation at scale.

The agency has inked an exclusive deal with AI audio platform AudioStack, giving it unique access to tools that generate dynamic, data-responsive ads designed to deliver the right message at the right time.

Distribution and creative optimisation will be powered by Frequency’s infrastructure, allowing campaigns to scale and adapt in real time.

“This is different,” Johnson told Mediaweek, following a very sleepless night ahead of today’s launch.

“We feel agencies haven’t fully embraced what tech can do for audio. There’s so much global innovation, mainly out of the US and Europe, but we’re here to show the local market how data and creative can work harder together.”

Not less work… just more output

While AI is central to Original Audio’s strategy, the focus isn’t on automation, it’s on amplification.

Matthews explained: “It’s not about writing a script and tweaking a few versions. It’s about creating thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of iterations that are contextually relevant. AI becomes the engine for creative scale, not a replacement for human craft.”

Voiceovers, Matthews stressed, will remain human. “Brands still want authenticity. We’re using AI to enhance, not replace, what great voice talent already delivers. Think of it as a hybrid model: real voices supported by real-time, AI-informed decision-making.”

A partner for agencies

The goal isn’t just to make ads sound better, it’s to elevate audio’s place in the media mix.

“We don’t think agencies think about audio enough,” Johnson said. “Whether it’s a creative agency building assets or a media agency planning the schedule, our role is to ensure the audio component is just as creatively powerful and performance-driven as every other channel.”

Both founders bring deep industry credentials: Matthews from the BBC and Global Capital in the UK, and Johnson from a decade across NOVA and Global Media, bridging creative and commercial strategy. Together, they’re making a pitch to agencies: don’t just buy audio… build with it.

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UnLtd, the media, marketing and creative industry’s social purpose organisation, has appointed Philippa Moig as its new CEO, effective 2 June 2025.

Moig joins UnLtd from Google, where she served as media leader ANZ since 2024. She brings a wealth of experience from senior roles across top media agencies, including PHD, OMD, Carat and Mediacom. Well-regarded in the industry for her leadership and commitment to driving meaningful change, Moig’s appointment signals a bold new chapter for UnLtd.

In addition to her impressive resume, Moig is a committed advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion. She sits on the MFA’s DE&I Advisory Council, mentors through The Marketing Academy, and has been an active volunteer for several UnLtd charity partners.

“Philippa brings an impressive mix of ambition, energy, leadership skills and demonstratable results in uniting our industry for social change,” said Karen Halligan, Chair of the UnLtd Board. “She has shown unwavering tenacity and proactivity to land this role… she is capable and committed to creating real change.”

Moig will lead the organisation through the rollout of its new cause-centric strategy, focused on diversifying revenue streams and amplifying the industry’s collective impact on at-risk youth.

“My commitment to UnLtd stems from a profound understanding of the challenges faced by at-risk youth,” Moig said. “I’ve seen through personal experience and my work with many UnLtd charity partners how impossible the cycle is to break without support. I’m on a mission to be the catalyst for transformative change.”

Moig will report to the UnLtd Board, which includes Karen Halligan (chair), Kerry McCabe, Justin Graham, Kristiaan Kroon, Mark Coad, and Paul Sigaloff. She joins a leadership team that includes Ashley McGrath (COO), Jade Harley (director of impact), Nina Nyman (CMO) and Tiffany Damm (commercial director).

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Origin has launched a new brand platform that aims to change how Australians see the utility company.

‘All Kinds of Useful’ , developed with creative agency Special, aims to reposition Origin as the utility provider making things easier, simpler and more useful – from simplifying customer service, helping people electrify their home or business, and everything in between.

With a growing range of services under the Origin banner, from energy to internet, the utility company is out to change the entrenched perception of big companies as being unhelpful. Origin seeks to counter this by delivering useful solutions and service – provided through tangible support for customers.

“We’ve listened to Australians about their perceptions of energy and utility providers, and we’re on a journey to change them and to show up differently for our customers and Australia,” Catherine Anderson, Origin’s chief marketing officer, said.

“All Kinds of Useful is a powerful platform to help shape everything we do – including how we design our products and services, how we communicate, and how we find the right solutions.”

“Making things simpler, easier, and more useful can be transformative, and our campaign aims to playfully showcase how this can be achieved with the flick of a switch. These transitions also reflect our own transformation from a utility company to a truly useful company.”

The campaign, which launched 23 March, imagines a world made more useful with the flick of a switch – from a confusing parking sign made clear, to a solar-powered dog kennel.

The ‘Useful’ switch carries through into Outdoor and Social, where simple executions hero all the ways Origin is leaving ‘Usual’ behind in pursuit of ‘Useful’.

“When Origin first started talking to us we were inspired by their ambition,” Bec Stambanis, chief strategy officer and partner at Special. “They were quick to acknowledge that dealing with large service providers can be frustrating and were unwavering in their desire to run head-on at that perception and work to change it – making Origin feel as useful as the utilities they provide.”

The launch campaign includes film for broadcast, BVOD and social, and the static and CGI switch executions across OOH and social.

Client
Chief Marketing Officer: Catherine Anderson
Head of Brand & Creative: Stephen Thompson
Head of Partnerships, Media & Planning: Sarah Kutrolli
Creative, Media & Sponsorships: Matthew Hunt
Brand & Sponsorship Campaigns Manager: Vyon Contos

CREATIVE – Special
Agency: Special Australia
Partner/CEO: Lindsey Evans
Partners/CCO: Tom Martin and Julian Schreiber
Partner/CSO: Bec Stambanis
Managing Director, Melbourne: Sasha Firth
Executive Creative Director: Ryan Fitzgerald
Creative Directors: Leti Bozzolini and Justin Butler
Team Lead: Felicity Touzeau
Business Director: Ayesha Kithulegoda
Head of Film & Content Production: Sophie Simmons
Head of Stills Production: Nick Lilley
Senior Integrated Producer: Katherine Muir
Senior Producer: Di Williams
Head of Design: Adam Shear
Design Director: Dan Jones
Designer: Sarah Ristevski
Finished Artist: Jen Bailey
Creative Services Manager: Leigh Cuda

FILM PRODUCTION
Production Company: Finch
Director: Michael Hili
Producer: Anna-Tara Clark-Sneddon
Executive Producers: Corey Esse
D.O.P: Stefan Duscio
Editor: Leila Gabbi, The Editors
Post Production/VFX: The Editors
Flame/Online: Jamie Scott
Grade: Matic Prusnik
Production Design: Leah Popple
Sound: Electric Sheep
Music: Original Composition, Electric Sheep

SWITCH PRODUCTION
Design: Electric Art
Animation: Electric Art
Sound: Sean Wilkinson, Rumble Studios

MEDIA – Atomic 212°
Group Account Director: Kate Nicholls
Strategist: Jan Janas
Planning & Trading Director: Umar Hafiz
Planning & Trading Manager: Shreya Thakkar

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Melbourne Social Co. has been appointed as the social media agency for WhiteGlo.

The agency will oversee the Australian oral care brand’s social media strategy and content creation, with a focus on re-engaging a millennial audience who grew up with the brand and introducing White Glo to a new generation of consumers.

“White Glo is a brand that many Australians have grown up with – it’s nostalgic, it’s trusted, and it has a real opportunity to own the oral care space online,” said Shelley Friesen, founder and director of Melbourne Social Co.

“We’re thrilled to bring our storytelling, creative and strategy expertise to the table to help White Glo re-connect with their loyal millennial customers and inspire a whole new audience to fall in love with the brand.”

Melbourne Social Co. will guide White Glo through a refreshed social direction with a creative-first, data-driven approach, the agency will develop a full-scale content strategy for White Glo across platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, with a focus on driving brand love, engagement and product awareness.

This new partnership is set to bring a fresh, fun and highly engaging tone to White Glo’s digital presence, with lo-fi video content and scroll-stopping creative leading the charge.

This win for Melbourne Social Co. comes after the agency welcomed Rosie Chong as its social content manager earlier this year.

Chong has built her reputation as one of Australia’s top LinkedIn creators and is known for her innovative approach to social content and her ability to craft impactful campaigns that drive engagement and connection.

Last year, Melbourne Social Co. was appointed to the social media accounts of professional and household cleaning products, Oates. The agency was also appointed as the creative agency to lead the launch on social media for the newly opened Novotel and Ibis Styles Melbourne Airport.

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Luxury marketing agency MAXMEDIALAB has been appointed agency of record for Haus Labs by Lady Gaga across Australia, New Zealand and the broader Asia Pacific region.

The bold, beauty-meets-innovation brand, founded by the musician-slash-actor, is known for its clean, high-performance, and artistry-first makeup range, and is gearing up for a major market expansion.

A beauty brand with serious star power

Under the new partnership, MAXMEDIALAB will lead communications, event production and paid talent strategy across APAC.

The remit includes delivering an integrated approach that builds consumer engagement, amplifies Haus Labs’ global message, and cements its presence as a serious contender in the regional beauty space.

“We are honoured to be partnering with Haus Labs by Lady Gaga, a brand that is redefining beauty through innovation, inclusivity, and self-expression,” said Lynette Phillips, CEO and Founder of MAXMEDIALAB.

“Haus Labs has already made its mark globally, and we’re excited to bring its vision to Australian audiences.”

Setting the stage for a headline launch

The agency has already begun work alongside Haus Labs ahead of the brand’s official launch in Australia in May 2025. Expect high-glam events, luxe influencer seeding, and immersive brand experiences designed to capture the imagination, and wallets, of beauty consumers across the region.

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GAME Creative and Hello Fresh Group have partnered to relaunch the EveryPlate brand with a new brand strategy, design system, and a clear identity centred on simple, delicious meal kits.

The creative transformation is anchored on the brand’s new campaign line: ‘Get Stuck In’. With its striking visuals, punchy tone, and straight-to-the-point attitude, the campaign makes it clear, EveryPlate takes the hassle out of dinner. Live now across billboards, radio, and all digital channels.

“GAME has been amazing to work with from start to finish. The evolution of the EveryPlate brand is simple, bold, and really exciting,” Chloe Painter, director of brand marketing at EveryPlate, said. “The brand is no-fuss, accessible, and all about simple, tasty meal kits.”

Dan Beaumont, founder of GAME Creative, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have serviced the EveryPlate brand from all angles , and to have worked so closely with the team at HelloFresh. This project has produced some of our best brand and design work yet, EveryPlate now truly feels like the compelling meal kit it was always meant to be.”

Steve Jackson, creative director on the project, highlighted the strong approach: “‘Get Stuck In’ isn’t just a slogan, it’s an invitation and an attitude.

“We designed the typeface, the colours, the language and carefully crafted the photography, to ensure that EveryPlate stands out from its competitors and is out standing in a cluttered category – letting the brand carve out its own space with confidence.”

This is another new business win and campaign launch for GAME this year after it won Rugby Australia, New Zealand Rugby and the Super Rugby Pacific business in late ‘24. The new creative advisory continues to grow its client & creative portfolio, aiming to be one of the best boutique creative companies in the country.

Client: EveryPlate
Director, Brand Marketing – Chloe Painter
Associate Director Brand & Communications ANZ – Miles Thomas
Brand Manager – Isaac Noakes

Agency: GAME Creative
Founder/ MD: Dan Beaumont
Creative Director / Writer: Steve Jackson
Strategy Director: Frank Bethel (Forward Scout)
Art Director/ Designer: Ramon Rodriguez / Cam Hoelter
Producer: Lucy Pilkington
Production Co: Louis&Co
Photographer: Ian Butterworth
Media: Spark Foundry

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The Australian Influencer Marketing Council (AiMCO) is set to host a webinar with Jordan Barclay, Australian YouTube trailblazer and Spawnpoint Media founder, in which he will share his career learnings and insights.

The webinar, to be held on April 8, is a rare opportunity for AiMCO members to learn from Barclay as he deep dives into how brands, agencies and creators can retain their audience in the modern home viewing experience, focusing on repeat viewership, brand integration and producing successful, brand-safe content.

Over the past 12 years, Barclay has transformed from a solo YouTube content creator into an innovative media executive and the founder of Spawnpoint Media (SPM) – a multi-million-dollar production company, with more than 100 dedicated specialists across Australia and the US.

Rise to the top

The 22-year-old started his career as a YouTube content creator, making videos in his bedroom as EYstreem. Since then, he has generated more than 10 million YouTube subscribers on his channel alone, and established SPM, which focuses on delivering diverse youth and family content.

Its channels, including Barclay’s EYstreem and EYreacts, along with EYanimations, Milo & Chip, Firelight, Sponty and EMazing, have a subscriber base of more than 19 million, and have been recognised as the most-watched, locally produced gaming content on YouTube.

Additionally, SPM’s data-driven and storytelling approach to branded content campaigns has earned trust from partners like Lacoste, McDonald’s, LEGO and Microsoft.

Insights and engagement

“We’re incredibly lucky to have someone of Jordan’s talent and innovation on-hand to share his journey and learnings with our members,” AiMCO managing director, Patrick Whitnall, said.

“Jordan’s work around audience retention, monetisation and platform strategy has made him a sought-after expert for brands looking to capture attention in the current digital media landscape. This webinar is a unique opportunity for our members to gain valuable insights on the future of content creation and audience engagement from someone right at the heart of production and creation.

“As an organisation, we need to explore how to hold more attention than traditional media, particularly in light of the shift to streaming and non-traditional viewing models,” Whitnall added.

Barclay said: “This AiMCO session will focus on what works in the modern home viewing era, and why Spawnpoint Media is leading in this space. We’ll also unpack our successes to take a closer look at why our entertainment resonates with youth and families.”

The upcoming webinar is the latest in a series of in-person and online events delivered by AiMCO for its members. Earlier this year, the organisation held two sold-out beauty influencer marketing sessions in Sydney and Melbourne, a webinar on intellectual property for creators, as well as hosting a panel discussion on AI in influencer marketing.

Top image: Jordan Barclay

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Match & Wood has retained the Snooze media business, securing a renewed multi-year contract with the leading Australian retailer.

The independent media agency‘s reappointment to the follows two years of year-on-year sales growth, with the retailer citing Match & Wood’s strategic expertise, seamless collaboration, and strong cultural alignment as key factors in the renewed partnership.

The $20 million account, covering media strategy, planning, and buying across traditional and digital media, was won by the independent media agency in 2022 after 14 years with Starcom.

“At Snooze, we conduct periodic reviews to ensure we are delivering the most effective, competitive, and cost-efficient media strategy for our franchise network,” Doni Davies, general manager of marketing and ecommerce at Snooze, said.

“Over the past two years, Match & Wood has partnered with us to drive consistent year-on-year sales growth, and our working relationship has never been stronger. Their strategic expertise, efficiencies, and communication have been outstanding, and we are absolutely thrilled to continue this partnership and look forward to building on our shared success.”

Penny Watson, head of brand at Snooze, said: “This year we launched our new brand platform, ‘every day, every night amazing’, which has been a major milestone for Snooze in differentiating ourselves in the market. Match & Wood played a critical role in crafting the media strategy around this work and ensuring its success across multiple channels.

“We couldn’t have brought this platform to life in such an effective way without them, and we’re absolutely thrilled with the results.”

Christopher O’Keefe, COO at Match & Wood, added: “We are incredibly proud of the work we’ve achieved with Snooze over the past two years, and the meaningful impact our team has had on their business growth. The Snooze team are outstanding operators who are driving strong momentum for the brand, and together we have created a powerful partnership. We are thrilled to be reappointed and excited for what’s to come.”

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oOh!media CEO Cathy O’Connor will be the headline speaker at the World Out of Home Organisation’s 2025 Annual Congress in Mexico City, discussing the growth of retail media and its opportunities for the OOH industry.

As the category continues to scale, with projections surpassing $179.5 billion in 2025 according to Coresight Research, Retail Media looks to take an even greater share of advertising spend, in-store retail media has emerged as the next big wave of growth with broad implications and opportunities for the OOH sector.

As an industry leader, CEO and WOO board member, O’Connor will explore the strategic opportunity retail media represents for the OOH sector and how oOh!media has set itself up to capitalise on the next big wave of growth in a presentation at the World Out of Home Organisation Annual Congress in Mexico City from June 4-6.

The outdoor media company launched retail media division reo in 2023 with a vision to partner with retailers to build and monetise their omni-channel retail media networks, complementing oOh!media’s retail OOH offering of over 4,000 screens in more than 450 retail centres. Clients include leading ANZ retailers Officeworks, Petbarn, The Warehouse Group and Australia Post.

O’Connor was appointed CEO in 2021. Before oOh!media, she led Nova Entertainment as CEO for 12 years, where she helped to transform the company into a multi-platform business and launched Smooth FM. Her earlier career includes management roles at Austereo and radio advertising sales positions at 2SM and 2GB.

As well as her executive role, she chairs the Sony Foundation, serves on the board of the Outdoor Media Association, is a member of Chief Executive Women (CEW) She has been a member of the Commercial Radio Australia Board and is a respected mentor through programs such as IMAA’s Female Leaders of Tomorrow.

“Cathy O’Connor is one of today’s ground-breaking media leaders, seeing the bigger media picture as well as the particular issues of OOH,” WOO president Tom Goddard said.

“Retail media is one of the key growth drivers for OOH now and in the future and there could be no better guide to its opportunities and challenges.”

Top image: Cathy O’Connor

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