Technology, media, and telecommunications M&A update: Q1 2026

The shift toward composable, API-first platforms has allowed retailers to adapt faster across channels while supporting more responsive personalization and scaling.

Technology, media, and telecommunications trends

  • Automation and data analytics software
    Cloud-native delivery remains central as buyers prioritize faster insight, scalable deployment, and lower-friction adoption.1
  • Experience, MarTech, and revenue management software 
    Chatbots, virtual assistants, copilots, and AI agents are becoming core engagement layers rather than add-ons, and the MarTech market is projected to grow from $589.1 billion in 2025 to $714.6 billion in 2026, representing 21.3% year-over-year growth.2
  • E-commerce and retail software
    The broader e-commerce software market is projected to grow from $11.3 billion in 2025 to $44.3 billion by 2034, representing a 16.5% CAGR, with the market reaching approximately $13.1 billion in 2026.3
  • Global IT services
    The global IT outsourcing market is expected to reach $639.0 billion in 2026, underscoring the continued move toward value-driven, specialized delivery models.4
  • Advertising and publishing
    Global ad spend is projected to exceed $1.0 trillion for the first time in 2026, with nearly 69.0% of spend flowing to digital, with retail media, online video, and social expected to be the fastest-growing channels.5
  • Film and TV broadcasting, distribution, and production
    Amid growing pushback from the creative community over employment, creativity, and intellectual property, AI adoption in film and TV is advancing cautiously, with companies prioritizing governed deployment as they integrate AI into specific parts of the value chain such as editing, dubbing, visual effects, and content recommendation.6

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References

1The Business Research Company, Automation software market report, January 2026.

2Research and Markets, Marketing technology market report 2026, February 2026.

3Fortune Business Insights, E-commerce software market report, accessed April 9, 2026.

4Jose Alvarez, “6 IT outsourcing trends impacting 2026 and beyond,” Auxis, March 20, 2026.

5Dentsu, “Global ad spend set to surpass $1 trillion for the first time in 2026 as the algorithmic era redefines growth,” press release, December 3, 2025.

6Plunkett Research, “9 major trends shaping the entertainment, movie, publishing and media industry,” February 17, 2026.

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