"The Guardian" reveals that Sir Martin Sorrell's final year in charge saw him earn GBP13.9m -- way down from the GBP70m he earned in 2015. However, the paper does point out that he could be on target to receive a further GBP20m over the next five years, depending on the performance of the company.

A BBC investigation has uncovered fake five-star reviews being sold online. The report goes on to mention that half of the three in four adult internet users who read review sites believe they have seen fake testimonials.

There may be talk of mergers in the news headlines, but there is a split afoot for Asda this morning. "Campaign" confirms that the supermarket chain, in talks to merge with Sainsbury's, has ended its two-year relationship with Saatchi & Saatchi and handed the ad brief to Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO.

Campaign has been boning up on projected Government ad spending, and reckons there is a mammoth 140 campaigns to run across 2018 and 2019, including a Brexit reassurance initiative. The campaigns are estimated to have a GBP300m budget between them.

Online grocery sales are growing at what Netimperative refers to as a "pedestrian" rate, from 6.3% of total sales to 6.4% in 2017.

"The Guardian" has a useful summary of the action so far in the saga of Rupert Murdoch trying to take over the whole of Sky at the same time that Comcast has made a bid. It predicts Comcast has enough financial bidding power to win the day.

It's the deal that took everyone by surprise this weekend. "Marketing Week" discusses the proposed merger of Sainsbury's and Asda, confirming that this would give the group a 31% share of the UK supermarket industry and both brand names would be retained.

WPP has announced results for Q1, and like-for-like revenue is down 0.1%, "The Drum" reports. UK sales were up 1.6% like-for-like, but North America and Western Europe were down 2.4% and 0.2%.

Vice will feature a weekend news show aired by the BBC World Service, "Press Gazette" reports. The half-hour show will feature a roundup of news from Vice and will be called "Vice News Tonight."

Snap took a $39m hit on its previous failed launch of Spectacles in 2017. However, "Campaign" is reporting that the social media site is gearing up to launch a new range of Spectacles in three new colours.