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Seedtag Acquires Beachfront For Deeper Roots In TV And Streaming, reports AdExchanger

M&A

Jun 3, 2024

Seedtag has acquired Beachfront to strengthen its presence in TV and streaming. This move aims to position Seedtag as an omnichannel marketing platform with a focus on CTV.

Beachfront's direct integrations with TV and streaming publishers will expand Seedtag's contextual ad products and accelerate its growth in the US. Seedtag, which entered the US market in 2022, will benefit from Beachfront’s established relationships with major TV programmers.

The acquisition will also enhance Seedtag’s contextual advertising capabilities using AI technology to provide more detailed programming insights. The integration will transform Seedtag into a comprehensive ad platform specialising in CTV.

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Even financial services businesses want a piece of the ad pie now, reports Digiday

General

Jun 3, 2024

Financial services companies are increasingly entering the advertising market through financial media networks (FMNs). Notable examples include Klarna, JP Morgan Chase, and PayPal, which are leveraging programmatic ads and retail media networks.

Klarna uses Yahoo’s ad tech and deep consumer insights for targeted ads, while PayPal hired Mark Grether to lead its ad network.

These firms aim to use first-party data effectively amidst the decline of third-party cookies.

However, concerns about data privacy, misuse, and the need for regulation are rising. This trend reflects the growing influence of retail media, projected to reach $140 billion in global spend this year.

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Google admits its AI Overviews need work, but we’re all helping it beta test, reports TechCrunch

General

May 31, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Google has admitted to issues with its new AI-powered search feature, acknowledging "odd, inaccurate or unhelpful AI Overviews." The feature, intended to enhance Google Search, has produced misleading information and bizarre responses.

Liz Reid, Google’s VP and Head of Search, explained these errors were due to misinterpreting queries and nuances. Despite extensive testing, some AI responses relied on unreliable sources like Reddit. Google is now working on improvements, including better detection of nonsensical queries and limiting the use of user-generated content.

Although these missteps are significant, Google remains a major player in AI development.

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Disney and Comcast Hit Impasse in Final Lap of Hulu Negotiations, reports WSJ

M&A

May 31, 2024

Disney and Comcast's NBCUniversal are in conflict over the valuation of Hulu as they negotiate the ownership of the streaming service.

Disney, which owns two-thirds of Hulu, is in the final stages of determining the amount it should pay to acquire Comcast's remaining one-third stake.

The significant disagreement on Hulu's value raises the possibility of a court battle, according to sources familiar with the situation.

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TikTok Pauses E-Commerce Push into Europe to Focus on US, reports Bloomberg

General

May 31, 2024

TikTok has delayed the launch of its e-commerce platform in major European markets, including Spain, Germany, Italy, France, and Ireland, as well as Mexico and Brazil. This strategic shift aims to focus on growth in the US, where TikTok is battling a potential ban.

ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, prioritises entrenching its presence in its most lucrative market with 170 million monthly users. The decision also considers avoiding regulatory scrutiny similar to that in the US.

TikTok Shop, integrating video content with shopping, has seen rapid growth, with plans to increase US merchandise volume significantly this year.

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Amazon’s Original Rivals Throw a Twist Into FTC Antitrust Case, reports Bloomberg

General

May 31, 2024

Amazon's first rivals, American booksellers, seek to voice their grievances in the FTC's antitrust lawsuit against the e-commerce giant. The booksellers wish to intervene, urging Amazon to cease retail book sales, while the FTC argues they should file their own lawsuit as their issues do not align neatly with the government's case.

The FTC's lawsuit, primarily focused on Amazon's price manipulation across various product categories, mentions books minimally. In contrast, the booksellers accuse Amazon of leveraging its market power to secure low wholesale prices, undercutting smaller bookstores.

Both sides' arguments could coexist, reflecting Amazon's complex market strategies. Amazon and the FTC both oppose the booksellers' involvement.

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Spain's data watchdog blocks two EU election tools from Meta's Instagram, Facebook, reports Reuters

General

May 31, 2024

Spain's data protection authority, AEPD, has ordered the provisional suspension of Meta's planned "Election Day Information" (EDI) and "Voter Information Unit" (VIU) tools for the upcoming European election on Instagram and Facebook. The AEPD stated these tools potentially violate GDPR by being "unnecessary, disproportionate and excessive."

Meta's plan to select eligible voters based on user data, such as city of residence and IP addresses, was criticised for excluding certain EU citizens and targeting non-EU citizens in Europe.

Additionally, the AEPD noted issues with age verification and unjustified data retention post-election. Meta disagrees but has cooperated with the suspension.

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Dunkin’ Parent Company Runs On Ad Tech Consolidation, reports AdExchanger

General

May 31, 2024

Brands need to manage ad repetition in streaming media campaigns effectively. Inspire Brands, owning Dunkin’, Sonic, and Arby’s, is refining its TV strategy using Yahoo’s ConnectID for better targeting and consolidating its ad buys within Yahoo’s DSP.

This consolidation reduces ad repetition and boosts match rates with Epsilon’s CORE ID, enhancing audience reach. Centralising CTV ad buys lowered Inspire’s effective CPMs by nearly 20% in Q1.

Inspire aims to negotiate preferred rates for programmatic buys similar to direct deals, ensuring more funds go to working media, benefiting both programmers and publishers.

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Shrinking budgets leave programmatic marketers with a raw deal, reports Digiday

General

May 31, 2024

Programmatic advertising, particularly in the open marketplace, is losing prominence due to stretched ad budgets and challenges like generative AI, cookie deprecation, and measurement issues.

At the Digiday Programmatic Marketing Summit, industry professionals highlighted budget constraints, reduced commissions, and transparency issues. Programmatic advertising struggles to prove its effectiveness, unlike channels like search or social media.

Agencies face pressure to offer low-cost solutions, leading to hidden fees and potential trust erosion. Staffing is also affected, with cost-cutting measures driving offshoring, which presents mixed results and risks losing programmatic expertise locally.

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TikTok preparing a US copy of the app’s core algorithm, sources say, reports Reuters

General

May 30, 2024

TikTok is developing a version of its recommendation algorithm for its 170 million U.S. users that operates independently of its Chinese parent, ByteDance. This effort aims to address concerns from U.S. lawmakers and could potentially facilitate the divestiture of TikTok’s U.S. assets.

The project involves separating millions of lines of code to create a distinct code base free of links to Chinese users. This complex task is expected to take over a year.

TikTok and ByteDance are challenging a new U.S. law requiring the sale or ban of the app by January 2024 in court.

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Google Refines AI Search Overviews After Odd Results, reports WSJ

General

May 30, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Google is refining its AI-powered search feature after users reported odd and incorrect answers, such as promoting rock consumption for health benefits. The AI overviews, which provide text answers at the top of search results, faced issues prompting Google to make technical improvements.

This is the second major AI-related adjustment this year after the February controversy over the Gemini chatbot. Despite extensive testing, unexpected user queries revealed flaws, leading Google to enhance detection systems and limit misleading content.

Google remains committed to improving AI overviews, emphasising user feedback and satisfaction with search results.

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Musk disregarded warnings, hid Twitter stake, US lawsuit claims, reports Reuters

General

May 30, 2024

Elon Musk ignored repeated warnings about U.S. securities disclosure obligations while secretly amassing a stake in Twitter in 2022, according to a lawsuit filed by a Twitter investor.

The lawsuit claims that Musk and his aide, Jared Birchall, knew they had to disclose when their stake exceeded 5% but delayed doing so to buy shares at lower prices. This strategy allegedly saved Musk over $200 million.

Despite warnings from a Morgan Stanley executive to seek legal advice, Birchall falsely claimed that lawyers had been consulted. Musk eventually purchased Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022, renaming it to X.

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Google and augmented reality startup Magic Leap strike partnership deal, reports Reuters

General

May 30, 2024

Gaming / Metaverse

Alphabet's Google and augmented reality startup Magic Leap have formed a strategic technology partnership to create immersive experiences blending physical and digital worlds. This collaboration leverages Magic Leap's expertise in optics and device manufacturing with Google's technology platforms.

While details are sparse, the partnership suggests Google may be re-entering the augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) market, challenging rivals Meta and Apple. Both companies did not specify if this partnership will yield a consumer AR device. Google's ongoing collaboration with Samsung on mixed reality technologies remains unchanged.

Magic Leap's CTO expressed excitement about integrating Google's AI innovations with augmented reality.

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Paramount Suitor Skydance Sweetens Terms of Buyout Offer, reports Bloomberg

M&A

May 30, 2024

David Ellison has improved his bid for Paramount Global, offering more to non-controlling investors while reducing the amount allocated to controlling investor Shari Redstone. Ellison's Skydance Media aims to buy the Redstone family's shares and merge his business with Paramount, which includes CBS and MTV. Class B shares rose 3.6% following the news. Some investors oppose favouring the Redstones at a premium.

Additionally, Apollo Global Management and Sony proposed a $26 billion offer for all shareholders.

Paramount, home to franchises like The Godfather, faces challenges transitioning to streaming. The decision to sell rests with Redstone, Paramount's board chair.

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AI Content Deals Face Antitrust Spotlight, Top US Official Says, reports Bloomberg

General

May 30, 2024

The US Justice Department is scrutinising deals between AI companies like OpenAI and content creators, according to Jonathan Kanter, the agency’s top antitrust official.

Kanter emphasised that agreements where one side holds monopsony power are not automatically lawful. He stressed the need for AI companies to fairly compensate creators to avoid industry declines similar to journalism post-internet.

OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, has made several deals with news providers, including News Corp and the Financial Times, but faces criticism and legal challenges over copyright issues. Meta is also using Instagram content for training AI, with opt-outs available only in the EU.

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Amazon is rolling out AI voice search to Fire TV devices, reports TechCrunch

General

May 30, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Amazon is introducing an AI-powered search feature for Fire TV, enabling Alexa to answer open-ended questions and provide tailored recommendations for TV shows and movies.

Announced at Amazon’s annual devices event, this feature is driven by a proprietary large language model (LLM) that comprehends natural language. It can answer specific queries, such as identifying movie quotes, and suggest options based on actors, characters, genres, and topics. Alexa will also recommend titles from streaming services the user subscribes to.

This feature will be available in the U.S. within weeks on Fire TV devices running Fire OS 6 or later.

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Twitch terminates all members of its Safety Advisory Council, reports CNBC

General

May 30, 2024

Twitch is ending its Safety Advisory Council, composed of nine industry experts, streamers, and moderators, as of May 31, 2024. Formed in May 2020, the council advised on trust and safety issues, including child safety and nudity policies. Council members were notified via email and will not be paid for the second half of 2024.

Twitch plans to replace the council with Twitch Ambassadors, chosen for their positive community impact. The decision follows broader cost-cutting measures and layoffs across the tech industry, including Twitch's previous reductions in its trust and safety team.

Twitch aims to include more diverse perspectives with this new approach.

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Google and Amazon win EU court backing in Italian rule dispute, reports Reuters

General

May 30, 2024

Alphabet's Google, Amazon, and Airbnb have won a case in the European Union's top court against an Italian rule requiring them to register and provide information. The Italian provisions, adopted in 2020 and 2021, mandated online service providers to sign up to a register, submit various information, and pay a financial contribution or face fines.

The companies argued that this requirement contradicted EU legislation, which states that online service providers are only subject to the regulations of the country where they are established.

The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in their favour, stating that Italy cannot impose additional obligations on these companies. The ruling is final and cannot be appealed.

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Google’s post-cookie ad tech glitch, recent issue raises industry questions, reports AdAge

General

May 30, 2024

Cookie Deprecation

Early testers of Google’s Privacy Sandbox are addressing recent issues with the platform following a glitch that disrupted ad flow. The glitch disabled key APIs used for ad auctions within Chrome, halting ad activity and revenue for some publishers for hours.

Although quickly resolved, the incident raised concerns about future system reliability. Google aims to phase out third-party cookies by mid-2025, transitioning to Privacy Sandbox to enhance consumer privacy. This shift represents a major overhaul in ad tech, requiring extensive testing.

Concerns remain about system accountability and the impact of potential future outages on publishers and advertisers.

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A brand safety watchdog wants to galvanize ad tech vendors to save publishers from MFA classification, reports Digiday

General

May 30, 2024

Made For Advertising

The Brand Safety Institute (BSI) is lobbying measurement firms like DoubleVerify and Integral Ad Science to help publishers understand how MFA (made-for-advertising) content is flagged.

BSI aims to create a "publisher portal" to assist media owners in avoiding misclassification and financial penalties. This move comes in response to existing guidelines being exploited by fraudsters, affecting legitimate publishers.

Discussions with measurement firms are ongoing, focusing on transparency and data protection. BSI's initiative seeks to bridge the gap between publishers and advertisers, ensuring fair classification and avoiding the misuse of MFA guidelines.

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PwC sells UK media advisory arm to MediaSense, reports The Media Leader

M&A

May 30, 2024

Leadership Transitions

MediaSense has acquired PwC’s UK Marketing and Media Owner business, marking its first major acquisition since selling to private equity. This acquisition will add over 50 PwC employees, including Sam Tomlinson, who will become MediaSense’s Chief Client Officer.

The move signifies PwC’s exit from the media advisory business to focus on larger sectors like AI and sustainability.

MediaSense aims to enhance its growth and capabilities, doubling its headcount and expanding its client portfolio. Founded in 2009, MediaSense seeks to provide better media investment productivity and effective operating models for brands. The deal is expected to finalise on 31 July.

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Publishers and advertisers demand that Apple's Tim Cook stop the rollout of an anticipated 'web eraser' tool over fears it'll hobble web advertising, reports Insider

General

May 29, 2024

A group of trade associations representing around 800 advertisers, publishers, agencies, and adtech companies have written to Apple CEO Tim Cook, urging him not to introduce the "web eraser" feature in Safari.

This feature, reportedly allowing users to remove unwanted content from webpages, could severely impact the online advertising industry. The associations argue it would restrict access to diverse information and threaten jobs reliant on online advertising. They also question whether Apple can legally release such a feature in Europe without assessing its impact.

The plea follows concerns over Apple's past privacy features affecting ad revenues.

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Activist Investor Nelson Peltz Is Said to Sell His Disney Stake, reports NYT

General

May 29, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Nelson Peltz, head of Trian Fund Management, has sold his Disney shares, ending his involvement with the company. Peltz, who held around $3.5 billion in Disney stock mostly owned by Ike Perlmutter, had been a vocal critic of Disney's management and pushed for board seats.

After Disney announced cost reductions and shareholders backed the current board in April, Peltz sold his shares at $120 each, making a profit as Disney’s stock has risen by about 15% in the past year.

The corporate battle between Trian and Disney was one of the costliest, with significant expenditures from both sides.

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Pinterest expands its Creator Fund to allow founders, reports TechCrunch

General

May 29, 2024

Influencer Marketing

Pinterest has rebranded its Creator Inclusion Fund as the Pinterest Inclusion Fund, now including small business owners from underrepresented backgrounds through a partnership with Shopify’s Build Black & Native program.

The fund, a six-week accelerator program, helps founders use Pinterest to grow their brands, offering educational and financial resources, mentorship, and paid subscriptions. Launched in the U.S. and Canada, it will expand to Brazil, India, France, and Argentina.

Since its inception in 2021, Pinterest has invested over $3.3 million, supporting more than 150 participants globally, aiming to reflect user diversity in its content. Applications are open on Pinterest’s website.

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With the EU AI Act incoming this summer, the bloc lays out its plan for AI governance, reports TechCrunch

General

May 29, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

The European Union has unveiled the structure of its new AI Office, which will take effect on 16 June, ahead of the AI Act's enforcement in July.

The AI Office, comprising five units, aims to regulate AI risks and promote innovation. The units will focus on regulation and compliance, AI safety, AI and robotics excellence, AI for social good, and AI innovation and policy coordination. The Office will support AI ecosystem development, enforce AI Act rules, and foster trustworthiness to encourage AI adoption.

The EU aims to exert global influence on AI governance through this initiative.

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Meta Removes AI-Generated Influence Campaigns in China and Israel, reports Bloomberg

General

May 29, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Meta Platforms Inc. has removed hundreds of Facebook accounts linked to covert influence campaigns from countries including China, Israel, Iran, and Russia. Some campaigns used AI tools to generate disinformation.

Despite this, Meta's ability to disrupt these networks was not affected. The report highlighted deceptive AI-generated content from China and Israel, which Meta removed before gaining significant traction.

Meta's policy director, David Agranovich, noted that current AI-generated tactics have not been sophisticated or effective. Meta has updated its policies to label misleading AI-generated content and requires disclosure for AI-generated ads related to social issues, elections, or politics.

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The Atlantic, Vox Media ink licensing, product deals with OpenAI, reports Axios

General

May 29, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

The Atlantic and Vox Media have signed licensing and product deals with OpenAI, allowing the AI company to use their archived and current content to train its models and fuel responses in products like ChatGPT. OpenAI will include citations and links to the original articles in its responses.

These multi-year agreements also enable The Atlantic and Vox Media to leverage OpenAI's technology for developing new AI-driven products. The Atlantic will experiment with AI via its new initiative, Atlantic Labs, while Vox Media will enhance advertising and content recommendations.

These deals help OpenAI secure credible content and protect against future copyright liability.

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Ikea hires Dentsu’s Carat for US media, moving away from Wavemaker, reports AdAge

General

May 29, 2024

Ikea is changing its U.S. media agency to Dentsu’s Carat, effective 1 September, ending a six-year relationship with Wavemaker, part of WPP’s GroupM. An Ikea U.S. spokeswoman confirmed the decision followed an evaluation of their needs, though it is unclear if a formal review was conducted.

Carat already handles Ikea’s media in various global markets. The switch comes after Ikea recently hired McCann for global branding to consolidate its messaging.

Ikea reported a 7% rise in total retail sales for fiscal 2023, reaching 47.6 billion euros. Carat’s recent U.S. media business wins also include Kraft Heinz and Papa Johns.

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The Trade Desk Ranks the Top 100 Publishers, reports AdWeek

General

May 29, 2024

Made For Advertising

The Trade Desk has released a list of the 100 most premium publishers across the open internet, including TV, web, and audio publishers globally. This initiative is part of their report on the rise of the premium internet, aligning with CEO Jeff Green's recent comments.

The list, featuring publishers such as Hulu and Spotify, is also tied to their upcoming SP500+ platform, which will facilitate high-quality ad transactions.

The list aims to highlight quality content and transparency in the ad experience. The Trade Desk plans to update the list biannually to promote the value of the open internet and stimulate discussion.

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An intensifying Republican-led legal campaign alleging big advertisers colluded to defund conservative media is rankling the ad industry, reports Insider

General

May 29, 2024

Jim Jordan, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has intensified his investigation into advertisers' brand safety measures, potentially affecting the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM).

The probe examines whether GARM members colluded to demonetise conservative platforms, possibly violating the Sherman Act. Jordan recently requested documents from Coca-Cola and Ørsted related to their GARM membership and advertising decisions. GARM members argue that advertisers can freely choose where to place ads, but fear the investigation could hinder their work.

Despite these concerns, GARM continues its operations, including the upcoming launch of a Global Media Sustainability Framework.

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Perion Shutters Content IQ, Its Made-For-Advertising Division, reports AdExchanger

General

May 29, 2024

Made For Advertising

Content IQ, known for operating clickbait websites, has been shut down by its owner Perion, following research by Sincera that exposed its practices.

Perion, which acquired Content IQ for $73 million in 2020, terminated all UK-based content staff without warning. This move is part of Perion’s strategic shift away from Content IQ’s activities to focus on advanced advertising technologies.

Content IQ’s websites, including Boredom Therapy and Pets Fanatic, are now offline. This shutdown reflects the ad industry’s increasing efforts to combat made-for-advertising (MFA) websites, which attract significant advertising spend but provide minimal content value.

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Karen Blackett exits WPP on a high, reports The Media Leader

General

May 29, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Karen Blackett OBE recently marked her departure from WPP after 29 years at a leaving party attended by industry figures.

Blackett, who held multiple senior roles, including UK president, significantly impacted diversity and business strategy. Claudine Collins, chief client officer at EssenceMediaCom UK, praised Blackett's charisma and influence. WPP CEO Mark Read and Nick Lawson, global CEO of EssenceMediacom, lauded her achievements.

Despite her departure, Blackett's legacy continues through her advocacy for diversity and her influential roles outside WPP. She plans to take an extended summer holiday before announcing her future plans in January.

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Top EU data regulator says tech giants working closely on AI compliance, reports Reuters

General

May 29, 2024

Leading internet firms are actively engaging with European Union regulators to ensure their AI products comply with the bloc's stringent data protection rules, according to Ireland's Data Protection Commission.

The Commission, which oversees firms like Google, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok, and OpenAI, highlighted potential privacy issues with AI, including the legality of using personal data. Extensive consultations have led Google to delay and modify its Gemini AI chatbot.

The firms must comply with the new AI Act and the General Data Protection Regulation, which can impose fines up to 4% of global turnover for non-compliance.

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HubSpot shares jump on talks of potential Google deal, reports CNBC

M&A

May 28, 2024

Reports emerged in early April about Alphabet's potential acquisition of HubSpot. Initial news from Reuters and Bloomberg suggested that discussions were advancing.

On Tuesday, CNBC's Faber confirmed the likelihood of an all-stock deal for Alphabet to acquire HubSpot, valuing it at approximately $33 billion. This acquisition would be Alphabet’s largest, surpassing its $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility in 2011.

HubSpot, known for its marketing tools for small- and medium-sized businesses, would enhance Google's marketing technology and customer relationship management offerings. Following the news, HubSpot shares closed at $638.39, having doubled in value in 2023.

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Pinterest poaches Spotify’s Beth Horn to scale UK business, reports The Media Leader

General

May 28, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Pinterest has appointed Beth Horn, formerly Spotify’s director of sales, as its new UK managing director. Starting on 24 June, Horn will lead Pinterest’s sales strategy and execution in the UK, reporting to Milka Privodanova, Pinterest’s vice-president and head of EMEA sales.

Horn’s experience includes over 12 years at Meta and a tenure at Spotify. Her appointment follows Pinterest’s efforts to enhance its shopping experience and position itself as a positive social media platform.

Recently, Pinterest hosted its annual advertiser summit, Pinvision, in London. The company reported a 23% year-on-year revenue increase to $740 million and a 12% rise in monthly active users to 518 million.

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Google Draws Heat For Its AI Overviews, reports MediaPost

General

May 28, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Google's new AI Overviews feature is facing strong criticism for its impact on publishers.

The News/Media Alliance has urged the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice to investigate Google’s "monopolistic" practices via generative AI. The Alliance alleges that Google has increasingly used detailed snippets of publishers’ content, reducing traffic to publishers' sites and strengthening its search monopoly. The prominent placement of AI Overviews in search results could further diminish click-through rates to publishers, harming their ability to monetise content.

Danielle Coffey, president of the Alliance, criticises the forced integration of AI without an opt-out option, disputing Google's traffic increase claims.

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Huge Google Search document leak reveals inner workings of ranking algorithm, reports Search Engine Land

General

May 28, 2024

A trove of leaked Google documents, released on GitHub by an automated bot, reveals insights into Google's Search ranking mechanisms.

The documents, analysed by Rand Fishkin and Michael King, disclose 2,596 ranking features but do not specify their weighting. Key elements include demotions for mismatched links and user dissatisfaction, the importance of link diversity, and the impact of successful clicks. Brand recognition, authorship, and "siteAuthority" are crucial. Data from Google Chrome also influences rankings.

The leak underscores the complexity and multi-faceted nature of Google's algorithm, potentially marking a significant event in the history of SEO and Google Search.

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YouTube’s free games catalog Playables rolls out to all users, reports TechCrunch

General

May 28, 2024

Gaming / Metaverse

YouTube is expanding its "Playables" feature, a collection of lightweight, free games, to all users on its app and Home page. Initially available to select users and YouTube Premium subscribers, Playables offer games like Angry Birds Showdown and Trivia Crack.

Unlike paid downloads or in-app purchases, these games don’t directly challenge the app store model but could compete with free games generating ad revenue. Google hasn’t indicated plans to monetise Playables yet.

The feature aims to engage users between browsing and viewing sessions, with over 75 minigames available. This move follows other tech giants, like Netflix and Epic Games, exploring gaming.

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OpenAI begins training next AI model as it battles safety concerns, reports FT

General

May 28, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI has started training its next-generation AI system while downplaying earlier claims of aiming to build "superintelligent" systems surpassing human intelligence.

The company emphasised its mission to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) capable of human-level cognitive tasks. Anna Makanju, OpenAI's vice-president of global affairs, clarified that the goal is not superintelligence but AGI beneficial for humanity.

OpenAI faces competition from Google’s Gemini and Elon Musk’s xAI and aims to reassure policymakers about its commitment to responsible AI development. A new safety and security committee has been established to oversee the project.

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US Presses TikTok, Meta and X to Crack Down on Antisemitic Posts, reports Bloomberg

General

May 28, 2024

The Biden administration has urged major tech companies to intensify their efforts to curb antisemitic content on social media and gaming platforms, which has surged in recent years.

Representatives from Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok, and X met with the US special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, Deborah Lipstadt, to discuss designating policy team members, training personnel, and publicly reporting trends in antisemitic content. While the companies have not yet agreed to these voluntary measures, the administration remains hopeful for future action.

This initiative is part of broader efforts following increased antisemitism and recent conflicts in the Middle East.

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Verizon Offers YouTube Premium in 30% Discounted Deal, Adds Peacock to Streaming-Subscription Menu, reports Variety

General

May 28, 2024

NBCUniversal’s Peacock and YouTube Premium are now part of Verizon's streaming service offers for wireless customers.

Verizon will provide YouTube Premium for $10/month, a 30% discount off the regular price, allowing ad-free video viewing and offline downloads. Available from May 30, Verizon holds exclusive U.S. rights to this package in the wireless sector. Peacock joins Verizon’s +play content hub, with pricing at $5.99/month for Premium (rising to $7.99 in July) and $11.99/month for Premium Plus (rising to $13.99).

Verizon also offers various discounted bundles, aiming to increase customer loyalty and provide flexible subscription options.

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US court to hear challenges to potential TikTok ban in September, reports Reuters

General

May 28, 2024

A U.S. appeals court has expedited the legal challenges to a new law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok's U.S. assets by January 19 or face a ban. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has scheduled oral arguments for September.

TikTok, ByteDance, and TikTok content creators, alongside the Justice Department, requested the accelerated schedule. Legal briefs are due by June 20, with the Justice Department's response by July 26, and reply briefs by August 15.

The law, signed by President Biden, aims to address national security concerns by ending Chinese ownership of TikTok.

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Google, Amazon and Apple lobby group opposes India's EU-like antitrust proposal, reports Reuters

General

May 28, 2024

A U.S. lobby group representing tech giants Google, Amazon, and Apple has urged India to reconsider its proposed competition law, similar to the EU's Digital Markets Act. The law aims to curb data exploitation and preferential treatment, potentially increasing user costs.

The "Digital Competition Bill" targets firms with over $30 billion global turnover and at least 10 million local users, prohibiting the misuse of non-public data and mandating fair competition.

The U.S.-India Business Council warned that the law could reduce investment, raise prices, and limit services. Indian startups support the bill for promoting fair competition. The government will review feedback before seeking parliamentary approval.

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EU monitoring new measures by Meta to tackle election disinformation, reports Reuters

General

May 28, 2024

The European Commission announced that Meta Platforms has implemented measures to curb the spread of disinformation ahead of the EU elections. Meta introduced 27 new real-time visual dashboards, one for each EU member state, to facilitate third-party civic discourse and election monitoring.

Last month, the European Commission launched an investigation into potential breaches of EU online content rules by Meta, citing failures on Facebook and Instagram to address disinformation and deceptive advertising.

The Commission will monitor the rollout of these new features while formal proceedings against Meta continue.

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PayPal Is Planning an Ad Business Using Data on Its Millions of Shoppers, reports WSJ

General

May 28, 2024

PayPal plans to launch an ad network leveraging data from its millions of users to drive growth. The company has appointed Mark Grether, former head of Uber’s advertising business, to lead the new PayPal Ads division.

PayPal introduced its first ad product, Advanced Offers, in January, which uses AI and PayPal’s data to target users with personalised promotions. The ad network will serve not only PayPal customers but also non-endemic advertisers.

Despite recent workforce reductions and stock drops, PayPal's first-quarter profits rose, prompting an optimistic outlook for the year. The company is also expanding its executive team to support this new initiative.

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News Corp. Deal With OpenAI Proves NY Times Suit Is Right, Lawyers Say, reports MediaPost

General

May 28, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

News Corp.’s deal with OpenAI supports the New York Times' stance that publishers should be compensated for their content used by AI, according to Times lawyers. A Times spokesperson expressed approval of OpenAI's acknowledgement of this issue and urged Microsoft to follow suit.

The $250 million, five-year deal allows OpenAI to display material from various News Corp. publications in response to user queries. This agreement underscores the Times' legal argument that content cannot be used for free.

OpenAI has also made similar agreements with other publishers, although the News Corp deal excludes some of its other businesses.

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The Trade Desk’s premium internet shift stirs concerns among publishers over ad dollar allocation, reports Digiday

General

May 28, 2024

User Identifiers

The Trade Desk has reassured publishers that their ad revenues won't be compromised despite not having large logged-in audiences. Concerns arose when CEO Jeff Green emphasised the "premium internet" over the "open web." Publishers fear this indicates a shift in ad dollars.

The Trade Desk clarified that only 5-10% authenticated reach is needed to attract ad spend. They introduced OpenPass, a single sign-on solution rewarding users for providing email addresses.

Publishers still face challenges in increasing user authentication. The Trade Desk remains committed to optimising ad inventory outside walled gardens, focusing on CTV and retail media for better email collection.

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Musk’s xAI Raises $6 Billion in Bid to Challenge OpenAI, reports Bloomberg

General

May 27, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, has raised $6 billion in a Series B funding round, making it one of the largest investments in AI development.

Announced on May 26, this funding will help xAI bring its products to market, build advanced infrastructure, and develop future technologies. The company, valued at $18 billion pre-money, has attracted investment from top venture capital firms like Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz.

Musk, a former backer of OpenAI, launched xAI in November 2023, with its notable product, Grok, integrated into X.com. This move underscores Musk's renewed commitment to AI development.

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Disney, Fox and WBD’s Venu Sports Streaming JV Taps Ex-Apple Exec Tony Billetter as SVP of Strategy and Planning, reports Variety

General

May 24, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Tony Billetter, previously Apple's head of worldwide business strategy and planning for video and sports, has joined Venu Sports, a joint venture by Disney, Fox Corp., and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Billetter, who worked at Apple since 2017 and at Disney for over a decade prior, now reunites with Pete Distad, Venu's CEO and former Apple TV+ executive.

Venu Sports, announced in February and aiming for a fall 2024 launch, will combine ESPN+ with the sports programming from ABC, ESPN networks, Fox, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network, TNT, TBS, and truTV. The launch depends on regulatory approval and agreement finalisations.

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Meta and Elon Musk’s xAI fight to partner with chatbot group Character.ai, reports FT

General

May 24, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Meta and Elon Musk’s xAI are competing for a partnership with AI chatbot-maker Character.ai. Meta has held early talks to collaborate on initiatives like pre-training and model development, while xAI has also explored similar discussions. However, no deals have been finalised.

Both tech giants are keen to secure partnerships with top AI start-ups to advance their AI capabilities. Meta, integrating AI chatbots into its platforms, aims to become a leading AI company, while Musk’s xAI, developing its chatbot Grok, is raising $6 billion to compete with OpenAI, Google, and Meta.

Character.ai continues to explore various partnership opportunities.

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Community Notes Could Come to News and Other Platforms, CEO of X Says, reports Bloomberg

General

May 24, 2024

News Publishing

X CEO Linda Yaccarino suggested expanding the platform's Community Notes feature to newspapers and other platforms during the VivaTech technology conference in Paris.

Community Notes, launched by X (formerly Twitter) in 2021, allows users to fact-check misleading posts by adding context, which is then voted on by other users. Elon Musk, who acquired the platform in 2022, has promoted this tool as a defence against misinformation.

Yaccarino highlighted the tool's effectiveness in scientific and medical fact-checking but acknowledged its struggles with contentious issues like Israel’s conflict with Hamas. She also critiqued the impact of clickbait and partisan news on legacy media revenue.

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X CEO Linda Yaccarino accuses Australia of overreach after judge lifts ban on stabbing video, reports CNBC

General

May 24, 2024

X CEO Linda Yaccarino criticised Australia's actions following a court ruling that refused to extend an order blocking videos of a Sydney church stabbing from the platform. The eSafety Commissioner had previously obtained a temporary injunction to remove the footage.

Speaking at the VivaTech conference in Paris, Yaccarino accused Australia of overreach and emphasised the importance of maintaining access to information.

The dispute has led to a clash between Elon Musk and the Australian government, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accusing Musk of arrogance and stressing the issue was about decency, not censorship.

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Musk’s xAI Nears Close of Deal Valuing Startup at $24 Billion, reports Bloomberg

General

May 24, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Elon Musk’s AI startup, X.AI Corp., is set to complete a funding round in June, potentially valuing the company at over $24 billion. Initially aiming to raise $1 billion, X.AI is now seeking up to $6.5 billion, with a pre-money valuation of $18 billion. The deal has been marketed to Silicon Valley investors, highlighting Musk’s successes with Tesla and SpaceX.

X.AI's chatbot, Grok, will leverage data from Musk’s social platform X (formerly Twitter).

Musk has criticised AI models from Google and OpenAI for political correctness, stating X.AI aims to be "truth-seeking" and "the funniest AI."

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Airlines, hotels, retailers fear being left out in Google's search changes, reports Reuters

General

May 24, 2024

Lobbying groups representing airlines, hotels, and retailers have urged EU tech regulators to ensure their views are considered by Google when making changes to comply with new tech rules.

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) aims to provide more user choice and fair competition but the groups worry these changes may favour large intermediaries and hurt their revenues. In a letter to EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager and industry chief Thierry Breton, they expressed concerns that current solutions could increase discrimination and reduce direct sales revenues.

The Commission is investigating Google for potential DMA breaches, but Google has yet to comment.

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Google invests $350 million in Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart, reports TechCrunch

General

May 24, 2024

Google is investing nearly $350 million in Flipkart, joining a high-profile group of backers for the Walmart-owned Indian e-commerce startup. As part of the deal, Google will provide cloud services to Flipkart. This investment is part of a nearly $1 billion funding round led by Walmart, which invested $600 million last year.

Valued at $36 billion, Flipkart dominates India's e-commerce market, serving millions in smaller cities and towns, and owning Myntra. It faces competition from Reliance Retail, Amazon, Meesho, and others.

India's e-commerce market is projected to reach $133 billion by next year. Google views India as a key market, with significant investments in local businesses.

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EU industry chief urges US to pass new tech rules, foster shared digital market, reports Reuters

General

May 24, 2024

The EU's industry chief has urged the United States to enact new technology regulations to create a cohesive transatlantic digital marketplace.

The EU, known for its stringent tech regulations like the Digital Markets Act and the AI Act, contrasts with the U.S., which relies on existing laws to regulate tech giants. For instance, the Department of Justice sued Apple for antitrust violations, a claim Apple disputes.

Thierry Breton, speaking at the Viva Technology conference in Paris, stressed the importance of aligning digital regulations, highlighting shared values between the U.S. and Europe, especially amidst growing concerns over AI advancements.

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EU data protection board says ChatGPT still not meeting data accuracy standards, reports Reuters

General

May 24, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI's efforts to reduce factual inaccuracies in its ChatGPT chatbot do not fully comply with EU data rules, according to a task force at the EU's privacy watchdog. The task force's report stated that while OpenAI's measures improve transparency, they do not meet the data accuracy principle required by EU regulations.

The task force was established following concerns raised by national regulators, led by Italy, about ChatGPT. Investigations are ongoing, and current findings represent a consensus among national authorities.

The report noted that due to the system's probabilistic nature, ChatGPT may produce biased or fabricated outputs, which users might mistakenly accept as accurate.

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Meta submits changes to UK privacy compliance proposals, CMA says, reports Reuters

General

May 24, 2024

Meta Platforms has proposed limiting the use of data from all advertisers on Facebook Marketplace, as part of amendments accepted by the Competition Market Authority (CMA) in November. The CMA had previously accepted commitments from Meta to prevent the exploitation of advertising customers' data, including allowing competitors to opt out of data usage for improving Facebook Marketplace.

The British competition watchdog has provisionally accepted the proposed changes and is seeking views from interested third parties until June 14. Details of other changes to Meta's earlier proposals were not disclosed.

Amazon made a similar commitment in November to ensure fair competition for third-party sellers.

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Google's AI summaries cause headaches and spawn memes, reports Axios

General

May 24, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Google’s AI-generated summaries, now default for many U.S. searches, are facing backlash due to significant inaccuracies. Errors include dangerously incorrect medical advice, conspiracy theories, and misrepresented facts, such as incorrect data about U.S. presidents and absurd cooking suggestions.

Critics argue these mistakes could have severe consequences, damaging Google’s reputation for reliable search results. Concerns extend to the broader impact on online publishers, potentially reducing web traffic and encouraging deals or lawsuits with AI firms.

Google's CEO, Sundar Pichai, claims AI summaries will ultimately benefit web publishers by increasing clickthrough rates. Users currently have the option to disable these summaries.

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Ad-Supported Paramount+ to Be Included in Charter’s Spectrum Packages Under New Deal, reports WSJ

General

May 24, 2024

Charter Communications’ Spectrum TV customers will receive free access to Paramount Global’s ad-supported streaming services, Paramount+ Essential and BET+ Essential, as part of a new multi-year distribution deal. This agreement also includes access to Paramount’s linear cable networks and CBS broadcast stations.

Charter will offer Paramount’s streaming services for purchase to its internet-only customers. The financial terms were not disclosed. This deal follows a similar model used in Charter’s agreement with Disney last year, which allowed for higher carriage rates and provided Disney+ and ESPN+ streaming services to certain customers.

Paramount is also in talks about potential mergers and acquisitions.

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TikTok Limits State-Affiliated Media in Key Election Year, reports Bloomberg

General

May 23, 2024

TikTok is limiting the reach of state-affiliated media accounts to counter foreign influence during the election year. These accounts will not appear in users’ personalised feeds and will be blocked from advertising outside their home countries. While users can still access this content through search or shared links, TikTok's move follows its two-year experiment with labelling such accounts.

This action comes amid heightened scrutiny from the US government, which has national security concerns about TikTok’s Chinese ownership.

TikTok disrupted 16 accounts in February for promoting Chinese policy to US audiences and pledged regular updates on covert influence operations.

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NBCUniversal Sells $10.1 Million Worth of BuzzFeed Stock After Vivek Ramaswamy’s Ownership Disclosure Boosts Share Price. NBCU Sold $28.3 Million in Stock Last Year, reports Variety

General

May 23, 2024

NBCUniversal sold 61% of its BuzzFeed shares for $10.15 million, following a significant investment of $400 million in 2015 and 2016. This sale leaves NBCU with a 5.68% stake in BuzzFeed.

The transaction occurred after Vivek Ramaswamy acquired a 7.7% stake in BuzzFeed, aiming to influence the company's strategy. BuzzFeed's stock surged 80% after Ramaswamy's purchase but remains significantly lower than its initial public valuation of $1.5 billion.

The company has faced declining revenue, multiple layoffs, and the shutdown of BuzzFeed News. BuzzFeed reported a Q1 2024 revenue drop of 18% to $44.8 million.

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Warner Bros. Discovery’s NBA rights offer could put it in competition with Amazon, not NBC, reports CNBC

General

May 23, 2024

Warner Bros. Discovery is considering matching an offer for the media rights to NBA games, potentially focusing on a package designed for Amazon rather than NBCUniversal.

This follows a complex renegotiation, as Warner Bros. Discovery, one of the current rights holders alongside Disney, evaluates its options.

The NBA is close to agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon for different game packages. Warner Bros. Discovery has the right to match competing bids due to its existing contract with the NBA. CEO David Zaslav may leverage this to secure a more affordable package or potentially exit NBA rights in favour of other sports investments.

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Spotify grows video podcasts and podfluencers, reports The Media Leader

General

May 23, 2024

Influencer Marketing

Spotify has reported a 39% year-on-year increase in average daily streams of video podcasts globally. The platform saw 64% more video episodes and 78% more video shows compared to the previous year. Gen Zs were 18% more likely to watch video podcasts, with notable shows including "What Now? With Trevor Noah" and "The Joe Rogan Experience."

Spotify’s podcast advertising revenue grew faster than its music advertising revenue. In the UK, vodcasts are gaining momentum, with increased exposure across platforms.

Trust in podcast hosts exceeds that in social media influencers, with 63% of surveyed individuals trusting podcasters more. Popular UK podcast categories include comedy, sports, and true crime.

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TikTok, Facing Ban, Makes it Easier for Creators to Earn Money, reports Bloomberg

General

May 23, 2024

Influencer Marketing

TikTok has lowered the threshold for joining its affiliates programme from 5,000 followers to 1,000, enabling more content creators to earn money by promoting products on TikTok Shop.

This move aims to boost small businesses and could counteract opposition to a US law requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance Ltd., to sell the app or face a ban. ByteDance and TikTok creators have sued the US, claiming the ban violates free-speech rights.

The change benefits "micro influencers" willing to make videos for commissions, allowing brands to collaborate with more creators and increase the chances of their products going viral.

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Snapchat Bolsters Lower Funnel Tools for Performance Marketers, reports AdWeek

General

May 23, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Snapchat is changing its advertising approach to focus on immediate purchases, enhancing ad returns for brands.

Over the past six to nine months, Snapchat has improved its lower funnel ad products and entered political advertising. The platform has redesigned ad formats, enabling app installs within Snapchat in just two clicks. New features include eliminating inadvertent clicks, state-level targeting, and a delayed call-to-action button.

Snapchat reported a higher-than-expected Q1 revenue of nearly $1.2 billion and an 85% increase in small and medium advertisers. Additionally, Snapchat is introducing AI-powered creative tools and investing $1.5 billion annually to improve AI development.

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Kids Safety Bill Moves Forward In House, reports MediaPost

General

May 23, 2024

Responsible Media

A U.S. House subcommittee has advanced the Kids Online Safety Act, aiming to regulate how social media platforms display content to minors under 17.

However, significant changes may occur before a full House Energy and Commerce Committee vote. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. expressed concerns that the bill might incentivise over-filtering of content by social media companies to avoid legal risks.

The bill seeks to protect minors from potential harms such as depression, eating disorders, and online bullying by requiring platforms to use "reasonable care." Civil liberties groups argue the bill is unconstitutional and could suppress important content related to sexual health, racial justice, and LGBTQ+ issues.

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Walmart Realm Invites Users To Purchase Items In Creator-Curated Virtual Worlds, reports MediaPost

General

May 23, 2024

Gaming / Metaverse

Walmart is expanding its virtual shopping concept with "Walmart Realm," an immersive world where customers can purchase items within virtual spaces curated by influencers.

Built on the Emperia platform, it includes three themed experiences: Mai Pham's "So Jelly," Mackenzie and Malia's "Y’allternative," and Nava Rose's "Go Chromatic." Users can navigate these shops, view items, and make purchases directly from Walmart's online store. The platform also features gamified options for winning prizes.

Walmart plans to expand "Walmart Realm" with more storefronts and partnerships, continuing its innovation in e-commerce experiences aimed at younger consumers.

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Microsoft Introduces Sports Audiences For Summer Olympics, reports MediaPost

General

May 23, 2024

This summer, brands can connect with sports enthusiasts via Microsoft's new in-market audience feature, powered by audience intelligence. This tool targets users interested in the 2024 Paris Olympics based on online behaviours like searches and clicks.

Microsoft reports that 49 million users rely on Microsoft Start for sports news, with many likely to follow and watch the summer games.

The Olympics, from July 26 to August 11, are expected to attract billions of viewers. NBCUniversal has already sold $1.2 billion in ads, and Peacock will stream all events. Hyundai is running a campaign for its electric vehicles during this period.

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WPP partnered with OpenAI competitor Anthropic, reports AdAge

General

May 23, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

WPP has integrated Anthropic’s Claude 3 models into its AI brand platform, Open, marking a significant addition to its existing collaborations with OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Google’s Gemini.

Anthropic, a rising AI firm, has seen significant investments from Amazon, enhancing its appeal due to its focus on safety and explainability. WPP values Anthropic’s models for their distinct capabilities and their integration with Amazon’s AI hub, Bedrock. Claude 3’s larger context window allows for more extensive data processing.

This multi-model approach reflects the trend of leveraging diverse AI tools for optimal performance across various marketing tasks.

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Netflix Will Wean Itself Off Microsoft's Adtech By 2025, reports AdWeek

General

May 23, 2024

Netflix will discontinue using Microsoft's adtech for digital ad serving and will develop its own adtech server, targeting a global rollout by 2025.

Brands buying ads directly from Netflix will have to use this new technology. Microsoft will continue as a programmatic partner, alongside The Trade Desk, Google’s Demand & Video 360, and Magnite.

Netflix's bespoke adtech will be tested in Canada in 2024, launching in the U.S. by mid-2025 and globally by the end of that year. This move allows Netflix to create unique ad units and maintain flexibility in ad delivery, further differentiating itself in the streaming market.

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Alphabet and Meta Offer Millions to Partner With Hollywood on AI, reports Bloomberg

General

May 23, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

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Paramount Adds Magnite And Programmatic Demand To Its Shoppable Ads Network, reports AdExchanger

General

May 23, 2024

Paramount is leveraging the popularity of its content to drive commerce through a partnership with Shopsense AI, which integrates shoppable elements like QR codes into TV shows. This enables viewers to buy products featured in shows via their smartphones.

Previously limited to direct deals, these ad placements are now available programmatically through Magnite.

Despite challenges in getting viewers to adopt shoppable TV, Paramount aims to capitalise on its content's influence on consumer behaviour. This strategy is part of a broader move to integrate shoppable TV with retail media, enhancing targeting and measurement for advertisers.

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Meta’s Zuckerberg Creates Council to Advise on AI Products, reports Bloomberg

General

May 22, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Meta Platforms Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has established a new product advisory council, called the Meta Advisory Group, to provide guidance on the company's advancements in artificial intelligence and technology.

The council comprises Stripe CEO Patrick Collison, former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman, Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke, and investor Charlie Songhurst. These members will not be paid. This group will offer insights on innovation and strategic growth, distinct from Meta’s board of directors.

The formation of this group aligns with Meta's intensified focus on AI, including products like Quest VR headsets and AI assistants, amidst competition from tech giants like Google and Microsoft.

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News Corp. strikes content licensing deal with OpenAI, reports Axios

General

May 22, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

News Corp, the parent company of The Wall Street Journal, has signed a multi-year deal with OpenAI to license its content, both archived and current, for use by ChatGPT. This agreement allows OpenAI to display News Corp's media content in user queries, enhancing its products with reliable information.

Unlike The New York Times, which has sued OpenAI for copyright infringement, News Corp has opted for collaboration.

The deal includes access to major News Corp publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and The Times. News Corp will also provide journalistic expertise to OpenAI to maintain high journalism standards.

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Liveramp Earnings For Q1 2024 Show +15.6% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Loss Down By -82.9% YoY

+ 16% YoY Opinions

Earnings

May 22, 2024

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Nebraska sues TikTok for allegedly targeting minors with addictive design and fueling a youth mental health crisis, reports CBS

General

May 22, 2024

Responsible Media

Nebraska is suing TikTok and its parent company ByteDance, alleging the platform's "addictive design" targets minors and fuels a youth mental health crisis.

Attorney General Mike Hilgers claims TikTok's algorithm exposes young users to harmful content, contradicting its family-friendly claims. The lawsuit states that Nebraska's investigation, using accounts of fictitious minors, revealed inappropriate content being directed at teens. TikTok refutes these allegations, citing its safety features and parental controls.

This lawsuit adds to TikTok's ongoing legal battles, including recent legislation that could force it to sever ties with its China-based owner or face a U.S. ban.

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Disney Is Said to Sell Stake in Tata’s India TV Platform, reports Bloomberg

M&A

May 22, 2024

Walt Disney Co. has sold its 29.8% minority stake in Tata Play Ltd. to Tata Group, valuing Tata Play at approximately $1 billion. This sale allows Disney to focus on merging its Indian unit with Viacom 18 Media Pvt, creating an $8.5 billion entertainment giant.

Tata Play, originally a joint venture between Tata Group and TFCF Corp., offers pay television and streaming services across India. Tata Group now holds over 70% of Tata Play after also acquiring Temasek Holding's stake earlier this year.

The deal highlights significant changes in India's media landscape. Representatives from Tata Group, Disney, and Temasek declined to comment.

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Warner Bros. Gets College Football Playoff Games in ESPN Deal, reports Bloomberg

General

May 22, 2024

Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. has secured a five-year deal with Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN to air some College Football Playoff games. TNT and the Max streaming service will broadcast two first-round games this season, with two quarterfinal matchups starting in 2026.

ESPN previously signed a six-year, $7.8 billion agreement to carry the tournament through the 2031-32 season.

Warner Bros. is expanding its sports coverage, having signed deals for NCAA's March Madness, Major League Baseball, and more. The company aims to promote the games through related programming and expects audience growth. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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Lawmakers Make Ad-Friendly Revisions To Privacy Bill, reports MediaPost

General

May 22, 2024

Federal lawmakers have revised the proposed American Privacy Rights Act to be more advertiser-friendly.

The new draft requires businesses to allow consumers to opt out of online behavioural advertising, rather than needing opt-in consent or banning such ads altogether. The bill also mandates data brokers to let consumers opt out of data collection and request data deletion. Additionally, it permits consumers to sue for violations.

The Association of National Advertisers expressed satisfaction with some changes but highlighted ongoing concerns about restrictions on third-party data providers and the potential for costly litigation due to private lawsuits.

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Reddit Names Kantar Brand-Lift Measurement Partner, reports MediaPost

General

May 22, 2024

Reddit has partnered with Kantar as its preferred brand-lift measurement partner, allowing Kantar to use Reddit's randomised control trial (RCT) tools for ad-exposure measurement. This collaboration enables advertisers on Reddit to utilise Kantar’s tools for creative optimisation, brand media measurement, and third-party validation, enhancing their understanding of ad impact on brand metrics such as awareness and action intent.

Reddit's global director of marketing sciences, Ryan Brendle, emphasised the importance of privacy-centric, effective measurement.

A Kantar analysis showed Reddit ads outperformed benchmarks for action intent by over 47%, with higher lifts achieved by combining conversation with in-feed posts.

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PubMatic Teams Up With Adsquare In Data Partnership, reports MediaPost

General

May 22, 2024

Technology firm PubMatic has partnered with Adsquare, a global location intelligence platform, to enhance value across the advertising ecosystem with a privacy-first approach.

This collaboration links PubMatic’s publishing partners and buy-side relationships with Adsquare’s data sets, offering media buyers access to demographics, interests, affinities, and purchase intent data. Publishers can more effectively package and sell their inventory and data, while advertisers benefit from PubMatic’s global ad inventory and audience targeting capabilities.

The partnership aims to improve performance metrics such as ROI, engagement, and brand affinity, ensuring compliance with global and local privacy regulations.

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TikTok plans global layoffs in operations and marketing, reports CNN

General

May 22, 2024

TikTok is planning significant layoffs in its operations and marketing workforce, affecting teams handling user support, communications, content, and marketing globally.

The current global user operations team will be dismantled, with remaining employees redistributed among trust and safety, marketing, content, and product teams.News of the layoffs was first reported by The Information and later confirmed internally by TikTok executives.

These layoffs, which have been planned for nearly a year, are unrelated to the legal and political challenges TikTok faces in the U.S. It remains unclear how many of TikTok's approximately 1,000 affected team employees will lose their jobs.

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TikTok moves toward performance automation vision with latest machine learning ad tools, reports Digiday

General

May 22, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

TikTok has introduced "Performance Automation," an AI-driven ad solution designed to simplify advertising on the platform by automating campaign creation and management.

Announced at TikTok's fourth annual product summit, this tool aims to keep marketers engaged despite recent legislative challenges. Performance Automation enhances the existing Smart Performance Campaign by fully automating processes including creative selection.

TikTok also launched a similar feature for TikTok Shop, currently being tested in the U.S. and South-East Asia. Additionally, TikTok unveiled new tools such as "TikTok One" and "TikTok Symphony" to aid advertisers in efficiently leveraging the platform’s capabilities.

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Meta AI chief says large language models will not reach human intelligence, reports FT

General

May 22, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Meta’s AI chief, Yann LeCun, has stated that large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT will never achieve human-like reasoning or planning capabilities.

Instead, he advocates developing AI systems through a novel approach called "world modelling" to achieve human-level intelligence. This method involves feeding AI systems with extensive video data to predict outcomes, mimicking human learning.

Meta’s significant investment in AI aims to create AI with common sense and advanced understanding. Despite some scepticism about this vision, LeCun remains a key advisor at Meta, focused on long-term goals rather than immediate commercial applications.

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Barb joins Media Rating Council, reports The Media Leader

General

May 22, 2024

Barb, the UK’s TV audience measurement body, has joined the US-based Media Rating Council (MRC).

As a member, Barb will join the MRC’s board of directors and collaborate on evolving audience measurement standards. This partnership allows Barb employees to access MRC’s confidential audit results and participate in accreditation processes for online platforms, enhancing Barb’s auditing programme. The MRC has praised Barb’s integration of streaming services into its measurement system.

This collaboration aims to improve data transparency and measurement standards across the industry. Barb members will not be directly affected by this agreement and do not need to be MRC-accredited.

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LinkedIn Begins Labeling AI-Generated Content, reports MediaPost

General

May 22, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

LinkedIn will start adding labels to content created by generative AI to help users understand its origins.

Partnering with the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), LinkedIn will place a small C2PA tag on AI-generated in-stream visuals. Tapping the tag will provide details about the content's source and authenticity. The tags, embedded in the image data, remain even after downloading.

While some AI-generated content may still bypass this process, LinkedIn is refining its methods and encourages users to report suspicious content. Other tech giants, including Microsoft, Google, Adobe, and OpenAI, have also adopted C2PA standards.

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Google rolls out more tools for advertisers, including new formats for AI-generated search, reports Digiday

General

May 22, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Less than a week after expanding AI-generated search, Google introduced ads to its AI Overview feature. This new format places ads above, below, and within AI-generated summaries of query results, using existing ad campaigns.

Launched during Google Marketing Live, these AI Overview ads are part of various new ad-related updates, including AI-assisted brand guideline tools, AI image editing, and animated ads from still images. Other companies like Meta and Microsoft are also developing AI-powered advertising tools.

Concerns remain about the impact on media companies and small businesses, especially as Google faces ongoing antitrust trials.

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Amazon is talking to marketers about Performance+, reports Digiday

General

May 22, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Amazon has launched Performance+, an AI-driven ad campaign tool designed to simplify campaign creation and management.

Using predictive models, Performance+ automates campaign setup, audience creation, and optimisation, targeting brands not selling on Amazon. Offered through Amazon's demand-side platform, it promises significant cost-per-acquisition reductions. Despite its potential benefits, concerns about transparency and manipulation remain.

Performance+ aims to expand Amazon's ad capabilities beyond its platform, reflecting a broader trend towards AI automation in digital marketing. Marketers can control brand safety, pacing, frequency, and viewability, ensuring some level of transparency and control over ad performance.

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Google Teases New AI-Powered Marketing Mix Model, reports MediaPost

General

May 21, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Google has announced a new marketing mix modelling platform called Meridian, set to be available later this year.

Unveiled at the Google Marketing Live 2024 conference, Meridian aims to modernise marketing mix models, which are regaining popularity as marketers navigate an expanding array of media channels. Although not explicitly stated, Meridian is expected to be AI-powered, reflecting Google’s broader integration of AI into marketing.

Marketing mix models, first prominent in the 1990s, were criticised for biases and latency issues. Meridian seeks to address these concerns, offering more accurate and timely media planning solutions in today’s fragmented media landscape.

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UK data protection watchdog ends privacy probe of Snap’s GenAI chatbot, but warns industry, reports TechCrunch

General

May 21, 2024

The UK’s data protection watchdog, the ICO, has concluded its investigation into Snap’s AI chatbot, My AI, satisfied that Snap has addressed concerns about children's privacy.

Snap’s chatbot, powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, includes safeguards like guideline programming, age considerations, and parental controls. The ICO warned the industry to assess risks to people's rights before launching generative AI tools. Snap responded positively, agreeing to improve documentation of their risk assessments.

The ICO will continue to monitor My AI's rollout and has emphasised the importance of data protection in AI development, as generative AI remains an enforcement priority. Further details are expected in the ICO’s final decision.

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Disney's Pixar Animation to lay off about 14% of workforce, reports Reuters

General

May 21, 2024

Pixar Animation Studios began laying off about 14% of its workforce, approximately 175 employees, as it scales back development of original streaming series.

This move, part of broader cuts at Walt Disney Co., comes as current CEO Bob Iger reduces spending on streaming content to make Disney+ profitable. Pixar will now focus exclusively on feature films, which will premiere in cinemas before being available on Disney+. Only one original series, "Win or Lose," will be released on Disney+ this year.

These layoffs follow previous cuts reported last year and earlier this year.

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Apple Takes Steps Toward Asking Court to Dismiss US Antitrust Case, reports Bloomberg

General

May 21, 2024

Apple Inc. plans to request the dismissal of the Justice Department's antitrust case against it, arguing that the government's complaint fails to allege anticompetitive conduct or monopoly power.

Apple's letter to the judge contends that accepting the complaint would harm innovation and consumer choice. The Justice Department will respond by 30 May, with the court's decision expected later this year or early next year.

The case, filed in March, accuses Apple of using its control over app distribution to stifle innovation and competition, and seeks changes to Apple's practices. Similar motions to dismiss have had mixed success in previous antitrust cases.

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Comcast Reveals Pricing for Netflix, Peacock, Apple TV+ Bundle, reports Variety

General

May 21, 2024

Comcast, facing a decline in its cable TV business, is launching StreamSaver, a discounted streaming bundle.

Available next week to Xfinity TV or broadband customers for $15 per month, it includes Peacock Premium, Netflix Basic, and Apple TV+. This price reflects a 35% discount compared to purchasing each service separately. Additionally, Comcast’s Now TV, which includes Peacock and 40 free channels, will offer Netflix and Apple TV+ for $30 per month. Comcast aims to boost its broadband business with this offer.

Similar bundles are being introduced by other companies, such as Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery, to reduce customer acquisition costs and churn.

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Google threatens to pause Google News Initiative funding in U.S., reports Axios

General

May 21, 2024

News Publishing

Google is warning nonprofit newsrooms that a new California bill could jeopardise its investments in the US news industry. This is the second such threat from Google this year.

Previously, Google paused investments in California newsrooms over a "link tax" bill. The new bill, introduced by State Sen. Steve Glazer, proposes taxing Big Tech for digital ad transactions to fund journalist hiring in nonprofit local news organisations. Google claims this could impact grants nationwide.

The bill has passed California's Senate tax committee and may reach the Senate floor soon. Opponents argue the tax burden would pass to consumers and businesses.

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Amazon, Google, Meta and OpenAI agree on AI safety commitments, reports The Media Leader

General

May 21, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

At the AI Seoul Summit, 16 global AI tech companies, including Anthropic, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI, agreed to new "Frontier AI Safety Commitments."

These companies will develop and publish safety frameworks to measure and combat AI risks, including misuse by bad actors, and take input from trusted sources, including their governments. They pledged not to deploy AI models if risks cannot be mitigated and to publicise their risk frameworks before the AI Action Summit in France next year.

This initiative, secured by the UK and South Korea, aims to set global AI safety standards. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called it a "world first" in AI safety.

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Apple Fights €1.8 Billion EU Antitrust Fine for Curbs on Spotify, reports Bloomberg

General

May 21, 2024

Apple Inc. is contesting a €1.8 billion fine from the European Union, imposed for allegedly hindering competition from music-streaming rivals like Spotify.

The lawsuit, filed at the EU’s General Court in Luxembourg, seeks to overturn the March decision. The EU also ordered Apple to stop blocking music-streaming apps from informing users of cheaper deals outside its App Store. The investigation began after Spotify's complaint about increased subscription costs due to Apple's App Store policies.

Apple, maintaining no consumer harm was proven, is also appealing other EU regulatory actions, including a €13 billion tax dispute and changes required by the Digital Markets Act.

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Global AI summit in Seoul aims to forge new regulatory agreements, reports Reuters

General

May 21, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Global leaders and officials at an AI summit in South Korea, co-hosted with Britain, are expected to agree on practical regulations for AI.

The summit aims to build on a previous agreement from the UK's first AI conference six months ago, addressing a broader range of risks. Key participants include British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. Discussions have shifted from long-term concerns to practical applications of AI in medicine and finance.

Industry leaders seek regulatory clarity and security for investments while ensuring interoperability between jurisdictions. Representatives from the G7, Singapore, and Australia will participate, with China attending the ministerial session.

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Europe sets benchmark for rest of the world with landmark AI laws, reports Reuters

General

May 21, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Europe's landmark AI Act will come into force next month after EU countries endorsed a political deal reached in December.

This comprehensive legislation sets a potential global benchmark for regulating AI, contrasting with the U.S.'s voluntary compliance approach and China's focus on social stability and state control. The Act addresses concerns about AI's role in misinformation, fake news, and copyright issues, heightened by the rise of generative AI systems like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.

Belgian digitisation minister Mathieu Michel highlighted the Act's emphasis on trust, transparency, and accountability, aiming to foster innovation while safeguarding society.

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Havas Expands In Middle East With Liquid Acquisition, reports MediaPost

M&A

May 20, 2024

Havas has acquired Dubai-based ecommerce and retail media firm Liquid as part of its Middle East expansion.

Liquid will be rebranded as Liquid Havas and integrated into Havas Market, the company's ecommerce practice launched in 2020, now active in over 30 markets globally.

Founded in 2016, Liquid has a team of over 100 employees serving clients like Nestle, PepsiCo, Beiersdorf, and Procter & Gamble. Liquid’s CEO, Sachinn J Laala, will remain in his role.

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