AGP Executive Report

Sports Marketing: Eight major brands, including Coca-Cola, Itaú and Mercado Livre, renewed CazéTV sponsorships for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil after the platform’s record audiences at the 2026 men’s tournament. CazéTV will stream all 64 matches free on YouTube. Media Consolidation: AT&T agreed to sell its Mexican business to Televisa and Fintech Holdings for $2 billion, giving Televisa a larger combined fixed and mobile footprint. Agency Business: Publicis Groupe reported 5% organic growth in Q3 and maintained its full-year outlook. Sports Rights: Globo and Paramount+ added CONMEBOL Libertadores rights deals in Brazil, while Netflix named IMG production partner for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Digital Policy: Trinidad plans to apply VAT to foreign digital services. In Brazil, an election court judge cleared a pro-Lula WhatsApp channel to resume operations, extending a dispute over campaign messaging and the court’s authority.

Agency Growth: Publicis Groupe reported 5% third-quarter revenue growth, citing a record run of new-business wins. AI & Publisher Rights: The SPUR coalition has doubled its membership, with 40 media groups joining efforts to track AI use of journalism and negotiate compensation; Latin American media associations have also signed on. Brazilian TV: Globo is pitching its “Super Drama” concept at Mipcom, showcasing Brazilian telenovelas as export-ready content. Sports Media: CONMEBOL added Globo and Paramount+ as Libertadores rights partners in Brazil. Market Outlook: Latin America’s media and entertainment market is forecast to reach $62 billion in 2026. Culture-Led Marketing: A Black woman-led agency brought Wray & Nephew to Miami Carnival with a campaign centered on culture.

Agency Growth: Publicis Groupe reported 23.8% organic growth in Latin America in Q3, its strongest regional increase, while keeping its 2026 growth forecast unchanged. The group cited rising demand for AI-powered marketing services. AI Advertising: OpenAI expanded ChatGPT Ads Manager access to more than 60 countries, including Mexico, opening a new channel for regional advertisers to test. Platform Politics: Brazil’s Lula accused Meta of election interference, and a court gave the company 48 hours to respond. Sports Media: CONMEBOL added Globo and Paramount+ as Libertadores rights partners in Brazil. Market Outlook: Latin America’s media and entertainment market is forecast to reach $62 billion in 2026.

AI & Publishing: Brazil’s National Association of Newspapers has joined SPUR, a coalition of more than 80 publishers building standards to track and license AI use of journalism. The move comes as publishers challenge unauthorized use of their work and grapple with falling search referrals. Brazilian Content: Globo and Endemol Shine Brasil are teaming up to create entertainment formats with global potential, while Globo and Paramount+ have secured new Libertadores rights deals in Brazil. Media Market: Latin America’s media and entertainment sector is forecast to reach $62 billion in 2026, underscoring the region’s growing commercial pull. Platform Oversight: Brazil’s Lula has accused Meta of election interference; a court gave the company 48 hours to respond. Caribbean Broadcasting: St. Vincent’s Star Radio faces a license dispute, with former telecommunications minister Camilo Gonsalves accusing the regulator of trying to force the opposition-linked station off air.

Brand Marketing: Trident is rolling out its first Latin America-wide campaign, built around chewing as a stress reliever. The push spans 13 countries, three languages and a year of activity. Brazilian Media: An anti-piracy campaign will run across TV, radio, outdoor ads and cinemas, with media and telecom companies donating ad space; organizers plan to expand it nationwide. Platforms and Politics: Brazil’s Lula accused Meta of election interference, and a court gave the company 48 hours to respond. Production Deals: Globo and Endemol Shine Brasil are joining forces to develop entertainment formats with global potential. Sports Rights: CONMEBOL struck new Libertadores deals with Globo’s SporTV and Paramount+, bringing 41 matches per season to each service. Gaming: Nintendo’s Latin America chief says the company has no plans to drop physical games, citing strong demand across the region.

Platform Politics: Brazil’s election court gave Meta 48 hours to explain alleged limits on Lula campaign posts after his team accused the company of favoring Flávio Bolsonaro. Global Content: Globo and Endemol Shine Brasil are teaming up to create entertainment formats for international markets, while Globo is also pitching its telenovela “To Love Is to Care” to buyers at Mipcom. Tourism Marketing: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines unveiled a campaign framework built around culture, marine experiences and nature, putting its 32 islands and cays at the center. Ad Market: Brazil’s online betting ban is reshaping the market: Apple and Google have removed betting apps, while industry groups seek to suspend the restrictions.

Brazil Election and Platforms: Lula’s campaign accused Meta of suppressing his posts ahead of the Oct. 25 runoff, alleging restrictions on Instagram promotion and search visibility. Meta denied the claims, while Brazil’s electoral court gave the company 48 hours to explain. Entertainment Partnerships: Globo and Banijay’s Endemol Shine Brasil will jointly develop unscripted formats, building on hits such as Big Brother Brasil and aiming to create Brazilian IP with global reach. Media Expansion: Bogotá-based lifestyle magazine Placeres is planning a quarterly publishing schedule from January, seeking to stand out with long-form coverage of food, travel, culture and design. Sports Rights: Fox Latin America has secured a deal for the 2026–27 European Rugby Champions and Challenge Cups.

Influence Operations: OpenAI says it disrupted a Russian-linked campaign targeting Latin America with fabricated reports, forged emails and fake audio aimed at undermining Ukraine and influencing debates in Argentina and Bolivia. Caribbean Media: The Media Institute of the Caribbean won UNESCO consultative status, opening new opportunities to work on media resilience, access to information and press freedom across the region. Screen Industry: A Chinese film and TV showcase in Brazil wrapped its sixth edition, extending a cultural exchange that has brought nearly 100 Chinese productions to Brazilian audiences since 2021. Spanish-Language TV: Univision’s Jackie is drawing new attention as interview clips spread beyond its core audience, turning host Jackie Guerrido’s candid conversations into a social-media talking point. Press Freedom: A Mexican journalist was shot dead in Oaxaca, the ninth journalist killed in the country this year, according to an NGO.

Press Freedom: Mexican journalist Hamurabi Huesca Manzano, owner of Oaxaca news site Pinotepa Comunica, was shot dead. Article 19 urged prosecutors to prioritize his journalism in the investigation; he is the ninth journalist killed in Mexico this year. Online Abuse: FIFA says Argentina was the 2026 World Cup’s most-targeted national team on social media, with referee-bias claims and xenophobic abuse among the attacks. Sports Rights & Advertising: CONMEBOL signed Brazilian rights deals with Globo and Paramount+. Brazil’s betting-platform ban is also disrupting football sponsorship, though shirt sponsors have received a limited reprieve. Media Innovation: Caribbean journalism events put AI and newsroom innovation on the agenda, while Mexican science podcast Contacto XIII reached Spotify Mexico’s Top 50.

Brand Partnerships: Nestlé and the NBA have signed a multi-year deal making Milo, Nescau and Nesquik official partners, with youth basketball and fan activations across 21 markets. Nestlé calls it its biggest international brand collaboration yet. Brand Momentum: Tequila is spirits’ fastest-growing category, with José Cuervo, Don Julio and Patrón leading brand-value gains, according to Brand Finance. Sports Rights: CONMEBOL has signed rights deals with Globo and Paramount+ in Brazil, while Fox Latin America secured the 2026–27 Champions and Challenge Cups. Brazilian Campaigning: Lula is changing his digital strategy for the presidential runoff, putting online outreach at the heart of the campaign. Ad Regulation: Brazil’s online betting ban is disrupting football sponsorships; betting companies are challenging the restrictions and seeking a limited reprieve for shirt deals. Screen Production: Netflix’s One Hundred Years of Solitude generated US$162 million in Colombia, highlighting the local economic impact of international productions. Media Innovation: Caribbean journalism events put AI in focus, with seminars exploring its use in newsrooms and how to adopt it without displacing human creativity.

AI in Brazilian TV: Globo plans to make AI-generated mini-soaps for early 2027, testing generative production at one of Latin America’s biggest broadcasters. Media Integrity: OpenAI says a Russian influence operation used fake media and think-tank fronts to target audiences across Latin America, including in Argentina and Bolivia. Brazil’s Campaign Battle: Lula is turning to selfie videos to reach voters ahead of the runoff, as his campaign tries to close the right’s advantage online. Sports Rights: Fox Latin America has secured the 2026–27 Champions and Challenge Cup rugby rights, adding a major live-sports package. Ad Safety: TikTok has quietly weakened advertising rules, while scams have surged—an emerging brand-safety concern for marketers. Media Consolidation: Paramount has completed its Warner Bros. Discovery merger, creating a media giant with major global franchises.

AI & Media Influence: OpenAI says Russian-linked accounts used ChatGPT to push false narratives in Latin America, including by impersonating an education authority in Peru; the company found efforts to place stories in established outlets appeared to reach wider audiences than fake social posts. Advertising & Platforms: TikTok’s reported rollback of ad rules has been linked to a surge in scams, raising fresh concerns about platform safeguards for advertisers. Brazilian Media: SBT is expanding its playout operations with Pebble automation, while Brazil’s crackdown on online betting puts football sponsorships and gambling ads under pressure. Regional Rights: Fox Latin America has secured broadcast rights to the 2026–27 EPCR Champions and Challenge Cups, adding major European rugby competitions to its regional slate.

Ad Market: Global advertising spend is forecast to rise 11.9% to $1.34 trillion in 2026, pointing to continued momentum for brands and agencies. Podcast Analytics: CD Media launched MoodiSonic, an AI tool benchmarked against 38,400 comedy podcasts across five regions, including Latin America, to identify where shows hold or lose listeners. Media Rights: Fox Latin America secured rights to the 2026–27 European Rugby Champions and Challenge Cups. Broadcasting: Brazil’s SBT is using Pebble automation to expand its playout operations. Content Impact: Netflix’s One Hundred Years of Solitude generated a reported $162 million in Colombia, underscoring the local economic reach of a major screen production. Sports Advertising: Brazilian betting companies are pushing back against Lula’s online gambling ban through football advertising boards, keeping sponsorship and ad restrictions in focus.

Streaming: Disney+ will carry Super Bowl LXI in 2027 across Latin America, Brazil and the Caribbean, including the ESPN Deportes Spanish-language broadcast. Brand Marketing: Adidas marked Messi’s Argentina farewell with a film narrated by the star, turning its long-running sponsorship into an emotional tribute. Campaign Communications: After trailing Flávio Bolsonaro in Brazil’s first round, Lula is rebuilding his runoff strategy around selfie videos and social media influencers. Sports Production: Netflix tapped IMG to produce the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, expanding its event-production slate. Broadcast Technology: Brazil’s SBT is using Pebble automation to expand its playout operations.

Brazil’s Election Media Battle: With the presidential runoff ahead, Lula’s campaign is scrambling to rebrand as reports spotlight digital disinformation and a new English-language Brazilian reporting project. Media Business: Alcon Media Group is launching an international TV studio led by Argentine executive Diego Piasek, while Brazil’s SBT is expanding its playout automation. Advertising & Sponsorship: Brazil’s betting-platform restrictions are disrupting football sponsorships, with shirt sponsors seeking a limited reprieve. Creator Economy: Global agency group SAMY is adding social and creator specialist Get Engaged to its platform. Caribbean Journalism: A regional seminar put AI and newsroom innovation on the agenda, with RAPP leading discussions on using the technology in journalism.

RTD Launch in L.A.: Noctría, a premium mezcal-based ready-to-drink brand, officially debuted in Los Angeles with two flavors—Smoky Ranch Water and Spicy Mezcalíta—built around a five-ingredient recipe and a nightlife-first positioning. Brazil Politics & Rights: São Paulo’s state deputy-elect Eduarda Campopiano was reported to prosecutors over alleged transphobia and gender-based political violence tied to a social media post targeting Erika Hilton. Aviation & Travel: British Airways will add a daily non-stop London–Buenos Aires route from March 28, 2027, continuing to Santiago, as part of a broader Latin America capacity push. Sports Culture Moment: Lionel Messi’s final Argentina match vs. Benin is set for a major homecoming at Estadio Monumental, with global attention on the farewell. U.S.-Latin Security: The U.S. repositioned MQ-9 Reaper drones to Colombia and Ecuador to expand anti-cartel operations. Business/Media Adjacent: Get Engaged, the social-first agency behind 50 Cent’s DoorDash “Beef 101,” partnered with SAMY in a deal reported as worth at least $100M.