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Welcome to The Brief by Kuro House, your daily pulse on the most compelling stories shaping the marketing world. I’m glad you’re here—today, we’re diving into the latest cable news ratings shake-up, and exploring some of the most creative campaigns making waves across the UK and beyond. Let’s get into the details you need to know.

Let’s start with the numbers behind the headlines. According to Adweek’s TVNewser, the week of December 8, 2025, brought some significant movement in cable news ratings. CNN stood out as the only network to post across-the-board gains in both primetime and total day, with double-digit growth in the coveted Adults 25-54 demographic during primetime. Fox News, while still the most-watched cable network across total day for the 49th consecutive week, didn’t see any total viewer gains during primetime, though it did see a 7% uptick in the demo. MS NOW, meanwhile, experienced declines in the key demo during both primetime and total day. For the week, Fox News averaged just over 2 million primetime viewers and 179,000 in the demo, while CNN saw 527,000 primetime viewers and 80,000 in the demo—up 6% and 14% respectively from the previous week. Year-over-year, CNN’s primetime audience grew by a whopping 46%, while Fox News was down by 20%. On the programming side, Fox News dominated with 12 of the top 15 most-watched shows, but MS NOW’s The Rachel Maddow Show held strong in the top 10. These shifts highlight changing audience preferences and the fierce competition for viewers’ attention in the news space.

Next up, let’s talk about innovation in public experiences. Samsung Electronics made headlines with a color-changing installation in London, as reported by Campaign. While the article itself was light on details, the concept is intriguing: Samsung is using immersive, interactive installations to capture the mood of the city, likely leveraging technology to alter the environment based on real-time data or participant interaction. These kinds of experiential campaigns are increasingly popular as brands look for ways to connect emotionally with urban audiences and create memorable, shareable moments that go beyond traditional advertising. It’s a trend to watch, especially as city dwellers seek experiences that break up the routine of daily life.

Monzo, the UK digital bank, is also turning heads with its latest out-of-home campaign and Tube takeover, promoting “The Book of Money.” Again, Campaign’s article didn’t give us the full creative rundown, but the move signals Monzo’s commitment to large-scale, high-visibility marketing in some of London’s busiest commuter spaces. By taking over the Tube, Monzo is positioning itself not just as a financial tool, but as a brand with personality and relevance to everyday Londoners. This kind of presence is about more than just awareness—it’s about embedding the brand in the daily rhythms of urban life, and making finance feel approachable, even a little bit fun.

Now, onto a playful twist in gaming advertising. Xbox’s newest campaign, also covered by Campaign, imagines a caretaker sent to clean up gaming worlds. While details are sparse, the creative premise is clear: Xbox is tapping into the shared experience of mess and chaos in virtual environments, and perhaps hinting at new features or simply poking fun at the state of our digital playgrounds. It’s a smart, self-aware approach that speaks directly to gamers’ lived experiences, and shows how brands can use humor and narrative to stand out in a crowded market.

Finally, there’s a story with potentially huge ramifications for the UK media landscape: the government is reportedly considering an ad-supported BBC, according to Campaign. While the article doesn’t go into specifics, the very idea of the BBC shifting from its traditional license fee model to one supported by advertising would be a seismic change. It would not only alter the broadcaster’s funding structure, but could fundamentally shift the tone, content, and competitive dynamics of UK media. For marketers, this could mean new inventory and opportunities, but it also raises questions about the future of public service broadcasting and the role of advertising in shaping national culture.

That’s a wrap for today’s Brief. From surging cable news ratings to city-wide brand activations and the potential transformation of the BBC, these stories remind us just how fast the landscape is shifting. Stay curious, keep questioning, and we’ll see you tomorrow with more insights to keep you ahead of the curve. Thanks for listening.