"City AM" believes its decision to ban ad blockers is just the start of a more conscious riposte from publishers to the threat that ad blocking poses to their revenues, but argues advertisers and technologists need to chip in to find techniques powerful enough to convince readers that they are benefiting from ads. The financial freesheet has become the first UK newspaper to ban readers who use ad blockers from its Web site. Desktop readers seeking ad-free articles using Firefox browsers are greeted with blurred out text.

Facebook has been named as the most effective advertising platform by industry executives, according to a new report from eMarketer. Executives from 29 companies graded the "Big Three" social platforms- Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter- and the "Emerging Three" -- Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat -- across an array of categories such as creative capabilities, ad targeting, measurement and Return on Investment (ROI).

Sky's media sales arm has kicked off its IAB Digital Upfronts activity by unveiling its first managed service offering as part of its Sky AdVance rollout, as it seeks to use its data-led customer insights to bring more parity to the media dynamic. Sky AdVance enables advertisers to plan and book cross-platform campaigns, letting them target audiences and tell their brand stories in a sequential way -- as opposed to bombarding with the same messaging -- across TV and digital channels.

Diageo is launching its Smirnoff Electric range in the UK as it looks to meet changing consumer needs and ensure that its brand remains relevant amid growing competition. The move comes after the brand trademarked the Electric range in February this year. The launch is being supported with a brand campaign, #WhatWeBring, which is described as the next chapter of Smirnoff's aim of encouraging "inclusivity." Earlier this year the brand launched its "We're On" campaign, which promoted the brand's inclusive positioning.

Starbucks is opening an experiential store in London that will bring together the brand's newest tech developments and a bespoke coffee offering, as well as introducing an evening menu complete with beer and wine in the UK for the first time. The West End cafe is branded "Starbucks Reserve" and aims to bring together three key factors in the consumer experience: convenience, customisation and discovery. On the tech side, the store will include virtual screens, wireless charging and hand-held payment units.

In the fondly remembered time travel movie "Back to the Future Part II," released in 1989, this was the date the hero Marty McFly leaped forward to in an attempt to get his future son out of trouble. The film's comic imagining of what would be cool for the next generation offered up hoverboards, flying cars and self-lacing boots, as well as some lighthearted product placement. "Marketing" presents an A-Z of brands that either featured in the film or are doing their best to associate themselves with it now.

UK advertising spend grew 5.8% in the first half of 2015 to reach a record high of GBP9.4bn, according to the Advertising Association/Warc Expenditure Report data published today. Growth in digital advertising was a big driver, with a 13.3% increase in Internet spend to GBP3.9bn, with mobile accounting for 79% of this growth. Mobile ad spend grew 52% to break the billion pound barrier in a half-year period for the first time (GBP1.07bn).

John Whittingdale, the culture secretary, has urged the press to sign up to a tough and independent regulator, adding that the jury was still out on whether the current system was good enough. He urged the industry to sign up to a regulator that complied with the royal charter. He said Ipso, the year-old self-regulatory body supported by most national newspapers, was "not a million miles away" from complying with the charter agreed in the wake of the Leveson inquiry into the phone-hacking scandal.

Global is expanding the digital audio exchange, its digital ad platform, into 18 countries across Europe from early next year. Brands will have access to 60 million people consuming digital radio, music streaming services and podcasts in Europe. Global said it will make Dax the "single biggest audio platform across the continent, with both direct and programmatic buying options." Oliver Deane, the commercial digital director at Global, said there has been an increase in listening and demand from clients.

While many print brands are struggling to keep their publications going, the free-sheet market seems to be thriving. The latest ABC figures show that the magazine market is having a tough time. UK magazines saw their circulations fall by an average of 5.3% in the first half of 2015, while newspaper sales declined 7.6% year-on-year between March 2014 and March 2015. While free-sheet newspaper circulation figures are slightly down at -1.8% in August over the year, they are outperforming paid-for counterparts.