CMI Media Group Releases 2026 Media Inflation Report

At its third annual Agility Philadelphia: Hype to Hope to Health event, CMI Media Group (a WPP agency specializing in healthcare and life sciences) unveiled its 2026 Media Inflation Report – a data-rich analysis designed to help pharma brands confront rising costs and shifting media dynamics. 

The report provides detailed benchmarks on year-over-year inflation rates across digital, traditional, and point-of-care channels. It also outlines baseline and inflation scenarios, giving marketers tools to forecast investment needs, mitigate risks, and justify ROI in an increasingly complex environment. 

Key Takeaways from the 2026 Report 

1. Digital Dominance – But with Nuance

• Digital remains the growth engine, but inflation varies widely across display, endemic content, online video, CTV, social, and search. 

• Programmatic buying is gaining strength, while AI-driven search is reshaping how health queries surface and how marketers allocate budgets.

2. Traditional Media’s Shifting Role

• Linear TV, audio, print, OOH, point-of-care (POC), and point-of-purchase (POP) still matter – but each faces distinct cost dynamics. 

• The report highlights the importance of holistic video strategies as patient and HCP media habits fragment. 

3. Healthcare-Specific Pressures

• Pharma marketers face unique constraints: compliance reviews, audience limitations, and restricted targeting all intensify inflation effects. 

• Rising digital rates directly impact reach, frequency, and engagement...