Political Ads & FCC: A U.S. FCC rule means broadcast stations can’t censor or reject profanity in political ads paid for and sponsored by qualified candidates—so swear words can be “fair game,” even when viewers complain. Cross-Platform Deals: Australia’s Southern Cross Media (post Seven/SCA merger) has started closing combined TV + audio ad deals, with early wins in health and banking campaigns and a clear push to convert single-platform buyers. Ad Tech Consolidation: Experian has retired the Audigent brand, folding it into Experian Marketing Services as the industry debates what “curation” really means in agentic marketing. AI Agents vs Publisher Ads: Perplexity blocked Time’s AI-agent-targeted ads from influencing its search index, calling them “deceptive” and warning publishers about reputational hits. Creator Monetization: YouTube raised the bar for new Partner Program applicants from Feb. 1, 2027, doubling watch-time/Shorts thresholds while grandfathering existing partners. Meta Legal Blow: A U.S. judge ruled Meta wiped key evidence in Andrew Forrest’s scam-ad lawsuit, potentially weakening Meta’s defense. YouTube/Creators: YouTube doubles eligibility requirements for new monetization partners, signaling tighter entry for ad revenue sharing. OOH/Infrastructure: I Squared Capital has agreed to buy oOh!media in a deal valuing the company around $900m, underscoring continued investor appetite for large-scale media assets.