Merger Announcement: Empower Buys Ocean Media; Television Stations Push to Abolish Transmission Fees; China Imposes Mandatory Labeling of AI Content

Empower Ocean Media Group Formed in North America

In a significant move, Empower Media and Ocean Media have merged to create the Empower Ocean Media Group, positioning it as North America's second-largest independent media shop, with approximately USD$1.5 billion in US billings and employing 400 staff.

The new entity will be co-chaired by Ashlee Clarke, the CEO of Empower Media, and Jay Langan, the CEO of Ocean Media. Annmarie Turpin will oversee the tech infrastructure for the new group, while Matt Fleishman will continue to do so for Empower. Chris Clarke will also join as a co-chair.

The merger aims to combine the strengths of both agencies, with each retaining separate client rosters and cultures but sharing a unified tech infrastructure. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Meanwhile, across the globe, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), along with other key ministries, has drafted a law aimed at tightening AI oversight and curbing misinformation, copyright infringement, and fraud. The law, part of China's 2025 Qinglang campaign, came into effect on Monday.

Chinese social media giants WeChat and Douyin have implemented new measures to label all AI-generated content in compliance with the law, which requires visible labels and embedded digital watermarks on AI-generated text, images, video, and audio.

In Australia, TV network CEOs from Seven, Nine, Ten, WIN, and Free TV Australia are lobbying in Canberra against the Commercial Broadcasting Tax and new gambling ad restrictions, and for more support for regional TV. They argue that the tax is unfair since digital platforms like Netflix and YouTube pay nothing to operate in Australia.

Similarly, Roqad has acquired Zeotap's third-party data arm, Zeotap Data, aiming to expand its business through access to scaled third-party audience segments and Zeotap's integrations with ad tech partners. The financial details of this deal were not disclosed.

Free TV CEO Bridget Fair stated that the industry is burdened by outdated rules and wants to compete effectively. She suggested direct support for regional broadcasters and extending producer offsets to news production as ways to help the sector.

Critics, however, say the spectrum TV uses is a valuable public resource that must be regulated. This debate continues as the media landscape evolves, with companies like Empower Ocean Media Group and Roqad shaping the future of advertising.