Global has agreed to acquire Alight Media, one of the UK’s leading digital media owners

The combination will boost investment in UK Outdoor and strengthen its ability to compete for overall advertising spend by:

  • Modernising and simplifying Outdoor media for advertisers, bringing Global’s best-in-class technology to an enlarged Outdoor estate
  • Offering advertisers broader geographic reach across the UK; and Making Outdoor advertising more accessible to smaller businesses through Global’s self-service platform, AdPower

Global, the Media & Entertainment group, today (Monday, 9 November 2026) announced it has agreed to acquire Alight Media, one of the UK’s leading digital media owners.

Award-winning Alight Media operates a national portfolio of over 1500 digital 48-sheets, digital and classic 6-sheet posters, as well as more than 4000 digital screens in leisure and hospitality environments. Recognised as one of Campaign’s top 100 Best Places to work, Alight was co-founded by media industry experts Matthew Dearden and Dave Huckerby, with Matthew having previously held the role of President of Clear Channel Europe, one of the biggest Outdoor companies in the world.

Since entering the Outdoor industry in 2018, Global has consistently invested in modernising and simplifying Outdoor media for advertisers. It has rolled out its pioneering digital advertising platform, DAX, to Outdoor media. It has also invested in insights, planning and outcomes tools, including launching Global IQ and AdPower, the first self-serve advertising platform for smaller, fast-growing brands who have not used outdoor advertising before. Global holds some of the most significant advertising contracts in the world, including the rail contract for Transport for London (TfL).

Combining Alight Media’s digital network with Global’s leading-edge technology, insights and programmatic capabilities will make it easier for advertisers, agencies and specialists to plan, buy, and measure campaigns. Alight Media’s estate is a perfect fit with Global’s existing advertising network across roadside, transport and city centres, offering advertisers a broader geographic reach across the UK, and a diverse range of high-quality Outdoor formats and environments.

Global’s extensive sales and creative capabilities, as well as wider agency relationships, will build on Alight Media’s established customer relationships and market expertise, creating new opportunities for advertisers and partners.

Global’s acquisition of Alight Media underlines its commitment to investing in the Outdoor sector, offering new tools and capabilities to advertisers. Bringing the two businesses together will support continued investment and innovation in Outdoor, making it more attractive to advertisers as they choose where to spend across multiple channels, including digital platforms like Google and Meta.

“We are delighted to announce our agreement to acquire Alight Media. Alight has an impressive digital Outdoor estate with excellent customer relationships and a geographical reach that complements Global’s existing Outdoor business.

Combining Alight Media with Global will enhance the whole Outdoor sector by offering advertisers even greater reach across the UK, as well as improved access to our best-in-class technology, self-service and programmatic solutions. This is brilliant news for advertisers of all sizes.”
Simon Pitts, Group CEO of Global

“I’m incredibly proud of the great team at Alight and all that we’ve achieved together. Since launching in 2019 we’ve built a successful business and established an outstanding estate that engages valuable and unique audiences.

Joining forces with Global is an exciting opportunity to build on that success and drive the next phase of growth. Global’s expertise, innovative technology, and unique planning and booking tools, will supercharge what we can offer customers so we can build on delivering outstanding digital Outdoor solutions for advertisers.”
Matthew Dearden, CEO and co-Founder of Alight

The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to the required regulatory approvals. Until then, Global and Alight Media will remain independent businesses and continue to operate separately.