Ebiquity Transmit - Wires

Ebiquity Transmit

Tags

Ad Fraud

Advertising To Children

Agency Management

Antitrust

Artificial Intelligence

Attention Economy

Audio Advertising

Brand Safety

Carbon Emissions

Contextual Advertising

Cookie Deprecation

Digital Out-Of-Home

Disinformation

Diversity & Inclusion

Gaming / Metaverse

Hate Speech

Influencer Marketing

Investment Rounds

Lawsuits

Layoffs

Leadership Transitions

Made For Advertising

Marketing Effectiveness

Measurement

Media Spend

News Publishing

Pitches

Political Ads

Privacy

Recession

Responsible Media

Retail Media

Sports Marketing

Streaming Wars

Supply Chain

User Identifiers

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Companies

4A's

ANA

Adalytics

Adform

Alphabet

Amazon

Apple

Comcast

Comscore

Comvergence

Criteo

Dentsu

Disney

DoubleVerify

Ebiquity

Fox Corp

Havas

ISBA

Integral Ad Science

Interpublic Group

Jounce Media

Kantar

Kroger

Liveramp

Magnite

MediaMath

Meta

Microsoft

Netflix

News Corp

Nielsen

Omnicom Media Group

Outbrain

Paramount

Pinterest

PubMatic

Publicis Groupe

Reddit

Roblox

Roku

S4 Capital

Scope3

Snap

Spotify

Taboola

Teads

The Trade Desk

TikTok

Twitter (X)

WARC

WFA

WPP (GroupM)

Walmart

Warner Bros Disc.

Yahoo

eMarketer

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Spotify to Introduce More Expensive Subscription Tier for Music Lovers, reports Bloomberg

General

Jun 11, 2024

Spotify Technology SA plans to launch a higher-priced premium plan later this year, charging at least $5 more per month. This new tier, dubbed "Supremium," will offer better audio quality and advanced tools for playlist creation and library management. It will be an add-on for existing users, leading to a 40% price increase on average.

The plan follows global price hikes, including a recent $1 monthly increase in the US.

While the new tier aims to generate significant additional revenue, it remains to be seen how many users will opt for it, especially as competitors already offer high-quality audio in standard plans.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Four more states join US monopoly lawsuit against Apple, reports Reuters

General

Jun 11, 2024

Four more U.S. states—Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Washington—have joined the Justice Department's lawsuit against Apple Inc., alleging the company monopolises smartphone markets. Initially filed in March, the lawsuit now includes 19 states and the District of Columbia.

The suit claims Apple exploits its market power to extract more money from consumers and various business partners, including developers and content creators, by imposing restrictive contracts and hidden charges. Apple, accused of maintaining an illegal monopoly, plans to request the case's dismissal, arguing it faces significant competition from established rivals.

Apple has yet to comment on the recent developments.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

IAB Tech Lab Announces Ad Creative ID Framework to Improve Connected TV Advertising Experience for Consumers and Brands

General

Jun 11, 2024

IAB Tech Lab has introduced the Ad Creative ID Framework (ACIF) to enhance digital video and Connected TV (CTV) advertising by using unique creative IDs. This initiative aims to improve frequency capping, competitive separation, cross-platform reporting, campaign reconciliation, and ROI.

The framework, developed with support from AD-ID and ANA, includes a common specification for an Ad Registry Metadata API and a VAST Addendum for standardized creative IDs.

The public is invited to comment on the framework until July 12, 2024. ACIF aims to streamline ad management and enhance the overall consumer advertising experience.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Advertisers can now buy media on the Uber Rides app via their favorite DSP, reports The Drum

General

Jun 11, 2024

Uber Advertising is expanding its Journey Ads platform, launched in 2022, to enable programmatic media buying within the Uber Rides app.

The platform, which offers targeted display and video ads, will now work with Google's Ad Exchange and leading demand-side platforms like Google's Display & Video 360, The Trade Desk, and Yahoo DSP. This allows programmatic buyers to purchase ad inventory within the app.

Uber’s affluent and young user demographic is notably receptive to ads. Early campaigns have shown increased favourability and purchase intent. Uber collaborates with top measurement vendors to ensure ad performance and legitimacy.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Photo-sharing app BeReal acquired by Voodoo for €500mn, reports FT

M&A

Jun 11, 2024

French video game and app developer Voodoo has acquired photo-sharing platform BeReal for €500 million. BeReal, known for promoting authenticity without filters, has seen stagnant user growth since 2022. The sale, advised by JPMorgan, was deemed wise amid the rise of AI investments.

Aymeric Roffé, head of Voodoo-owned app Wizz, will become BeReal’s CEO, with founder Alexis Barreyat remaining involved.

Voodoo plans to introduce paid advertising on BeReal to boost profitability and expand its user base. Despite slowed growth, BeReal's active users remain engaged, making it a promising prospect for monetisation and expansion.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

The New York Times And Instacart Integrate For Shoppable Recipes, reports AdExchanger

General

Jun 11, 2024

The New York Times and Instacart have partnered to make NYT Cooking recipes shoppable via Instacart and embed cooking videos in the Instacart app. This collaboration aims to enhance user experience by allowing easy grocery ordering from recipes.

NYT readers get a 50% discount on the first year of Instacart+ and a free Peacock subscription. Unlike typical PR stunts, all recipes will be shoppable. Instacart’s algorithms select in-stock items, and users confirm choices. No sponsored elements are involved.

The partnership focuses on media and audience engagement rather than direct revenue generation, expanding Instacart’s reach to NYT readers.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Musk warns that he will ban Apple devices if OpenAI is integrated at operating system level, reports Reuters

General

Jun 11, 2024

Elon Musk announced on Monday that he would ban Apple devices at his companies if Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, calling it an "unacceptable security violation." Musk stated that visitors would need to check their Apple devices at the door, where they would be stored in a Faraday cage.

This follows Apple's announcement of new AI features across its apps and platforms, including a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT technology.

Apple claims its AI prioritises privacy, using a mix of on-device processing and cloud computing to power these features.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Yahoo releases Blueprint Performance: Yahoo's More Transparent Answer to Set-It-and-Forget-It Tools, reports AdWeek

General

Jun 10, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Yahoo has launched Blueprint Performance, an AI-powered media buying tool designed to enhance transparency, similar to Google Performance Max and Meta Advantage+.

The tool, part of Yahoo's Blueprint AI engine, can now execute media buying recommendations, showing significant performance improvements. Over 50 advertisers in early tests reported a 30% improvement in campaign performance. Blueprint Performance, leveraging Yahoo's first-party data, provides transparency on savings and performance enhancements, a feature advertisers appreciate.

Available to all Yahoo DSP buyers, the tool promises higher conversions at lower costs and increased return on ad spend, positioning Yahoo favourably against competitors like The Trade Desk.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

States Take Up A.I. Regulation Amid Federal Standstill, reports NYT

General

Jun 10, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

California lawmakers have advanced about 30 new measures aimed at regulating artificial intelligence (AI) to protect consumers and jobs, seeking the toughest restrictions in the nation.

The proposed "Digital Competition Bill" would apply to significant digital companies with substantial turnover and a large user base. The law aims to ensure fair practices, prevent discrimination in housing and healthcare, and protect intellectual property and jobs.

This move follows California's history of setting tech regulations, and other states have also proposed similar laws. The measures will now proceed to further legislative scrutiny, with a final vote expected by August 31.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Facebook parent Meta Platforms working on AI technology for Europe, reports Reuters

General

Jun 10, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Meta Platforms is developing artificial intelligence technology tailored for Europe, considering linguistic, geographic, and cultural factors. The AI will be trained using publicly shared content from Instagram and Facebook within the EU, excluding private posts to respect user privacy.

Meta's top policy executive confirmed this approach in a September interview. The company began informing users in the European region and the UK about the use of their public data to enhance AI.

This move reflects Meta's commitment to creating region-specific AI while maintaining privacy standards.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

US Supreme Court to hear Facebook bid to scuttle shareholder lawsuit, reports Reuters

General

Jun 10, 2024

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear Meta's appeal to dismiss a securities fraud lawsuit against Facebook. The lawsuit, led by Amalgamated Bank, accuses Facebook of misleading investors in 2017 and 2018 about user data misuse, especially in connection with the Cambridge Analytica scandal. This breach exposed data from up to 87 million users, affecting stock prices.

Initially dismissed in 2021, the lawsuit was reinstated by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Facebook argues that disclosing past incidents with no current threat is unnecessary. The Supreme Court will hear the case in its next term starting in October.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Google TV introduces FAST advertising options, reports StreamTV Insider

General

Jun 10, 2024

Google TV has introduced new advertising options, allowing brands to add Connected TV (CTV) inventory to media buys from its free live TV experience. Advertisers can now target 20 million monthly active devices with in-stream video ads via the Google TV network, including live sports, TV shows, and movies.

This new network, accessible through Google Ads and Google Display & Video 360, simplifies CTV ad buying. The platform supports various ad formats and plans to introduce more.

Google aims to enhance the CTV ad experience by leveraging AI to optimise ad breaks, extending reach, and improving audience targeting.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Edgar Bronfman Eyes $2 Billion-Plus Bid for Company That Controls Paramount, reports WSJ

M&A

Jun 10, 2024

Former media executive Edgar Bronfman Jr., backed by Bain Capital, is interested in buying National Amusements, which controls Paramount Global, for $2 billion to $2.5 billion. This interest arises as Shari Redstone is negotiating to sell a majority stake in National Amusements to Skydance Media.

Meanwhile, Steven Paul is preparing a $3 billion bid. The Skydance deal would merge Paramount with Skydance, providing $1.5 billion to reduce Paramount's debt and $4.5 billion to buy out non-voting shares.

Advisors are addressing final deal hurdles, while Bronfman and Bain would require due diligence and approval before formalising a bid.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Apple Unveils AI for the Rest of Us in Bid to Retake Spotlight, reports Bloomberg

General

Jun 10, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Apple has unveiled new AI features, including a partnership with OpenAI, at its Worldwide Developers Conference. The new AI platform, Apple Intelligence, will offer text summarisation, image creation, and improved Siri capabilities. This move aims to help Apple catch up with rivals in the AI market, leveraging its user base and streamlined interface.

Apple also introduced updates to iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, enhancing customisation and productivity. Additionally, Vision Pro headset updates and new AirPods software were announced.

CEO Tim Cook highlighted AI as crucial for Apple's future, aiming to increase user loyalty and encourage more frequent upgrades.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Global Ad Revenue Will Hit $1 Trillion Faster Than Expected, GroupM Forecast Says, reports WSJ

General

Jun 10, 2024

Global advertising revenue is projected to grow by 7.8% in 2024, reaching nearly $990 billion, according to a revised forecast by GroupM.

This increase, up from a previous estimate of 5.3%, suggests the industry will surpass $1 trillion in revenue by 2025, a year earlier than expected. Improved economic conditions and revised modelling of certain sectors, particularly digital and out-of-home advertising in China, have influenced this optimistic outlook.

GroupM now estimates U.S. ad revenue to hit $365.9 billion and China's to reach $199.4 billion this year. Additionally, AI is expected to inform 69.5% of advertising revenue in 2024, growing to 94.1% by 2029.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Turkey competition board fines Google 482 million lira over hotel searches, reports Reuters

General

Jun 10, 2024

The Turkish competition authority has fined Google approximately 482 million lira ($14.85 million) for not meeting obligations related to hotel searches.

The fine was imposed due to Google's failure to address concerns about fair competition with other local search engines.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Apple Is Under Pressure to Deliver on AI at Monday’s WWDC Event, reports WSJ

General

Jun 10, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Apple is set to unveil significant AI features at its Worldwide Developers Conference, addressing investor concerns over its stagnation compared to rivals. Expected announcements include enhancements for Siri and partnerships for advanced AI capabilities.

Amidst regulatory scrutiny and declining sales in China, investors are hopeful that these innovations will reinvigorate Apple’s market position. Despite spending over $100 billion on R&D in the past five years, Apple's growth has lagged behind competitors like Microsoft and Google.

AI integration could boost iPhone sales and service revenues, potentially positioning Apple to reclaim its market leadership.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

New York lawmakers pass measure to protect youths on social media, reports Reuters

General

Jun 8, 2024

Responsible Media

New York state lawmakers have passed legislation barring social media platforms from exposing users under 18 to "addictive" algorithmic content without parental consent. A companion bill also restricts online sites from collecting and selling the personal data of minors.

Governor Kathy Hochul is expected to sign both bills into law, which she describes as crucial for addressing youth mental health and creating a safer digital environment. The legislation, dubbed the SAFE for Kids Act, mandates parental consent for minors to view algorithmically recommended content.

The industry group NetChoice has criticised the measures as unconstitutional.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

United Launches Airline Industry's First Media Network

General

Jun 7, 2024

Agency Management

United Airlines has introduced Kinective Media, the first airline media network leveraging travel behaviour insights to deliver personalised advertising and experiences.

The adtech platform uses anonymised audience segments based on United's data, reaching customers via the airline's mobile app and inflight entertainment screens. Partners include Norwegian Cruise Line, Macy's, and Dentsu. A commercial launch is set for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Kinective Media aims to enhance customer loyalty through tailored offers while maintaining privacy. The initiative reflects a strategic shift towards personalised, effective consumer engagement in the adtech sector.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Google Pays $2.3 Million for Trial by Judge, Not Jury, in US Antitrust Case, reports Bloomberg

General

Jun 7, 2024

A federal judge ruled that Alphabet Inc. will face a bench trial instead of a jury in the US Justice Department’s antitrust case alleging monopolisation of the advertising technology market.

This decision followed Google paying $2.3 million to satisfy damages claimed by federal agencies. With damages resolved, Judge Leonie Brinkema determined a jury was no longer needed. The Justice Department had alleged Google overcharged for online ads, claiming damages of $750,000. Google’s payment was triple this amount plus interest.

Google faces multiple antitrust suits, including one for monopolising the search market and another for the Android app distribution market.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

LinkedIn disables tool for targeted ads to comply with EU tech rules, reports Reuters

General

Jun 7, 2024

Microsoft's LinkedIn has discontinued a tool that allowed the use of sensitive personal data for targeted advertising to comply with the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). This decision follows a complaint by civil society organisations and a subsequent request for information from the European Commission.

The DSA prohibits using sensitive personal data, such as race or political opinions, for targeted ads.

LinkedIn's Vice President, Patrick Corrigan, announced the removal of the tool to prevent targeting based on special data categories. The move has been welcomed by the EU industry chief and civil society groups, who urge broader application globally.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

US sets stage for antitrust probes into Microsoft, OpenAI and Nvidia, reports Reuters

General

Jun 7, 2024

The U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission have agreed to divide potential antitrust investigations into Microsoft, OpenAI, and Nvidia due to their dominant roles in the AI industry. The agreement reflects growing regulatory scrutiny over Big Tech's control in AI, including concerns about data access and potential anticompetitive practices.

The Justice Department will investigate Nvidia, while the FTC will examine Microsoft and OpenAI.

This move follows the FTC's demand for information on AI investments from major tech firms and ongoing probes into Microsoft's $650 million deal with Inflection AI, which raised merger disclosure concerns.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Albertsons Takes Its First Steps Into Non-Endemic Advertising, Retail Media’s Next Frontier, reports AdExchanger

General

Jun 7, 2024

Retailers like Albertsons are expanding into non-endemic advertising to attract ad revenue from brands not sold in their stores.

This involves using data-driven ad platforms to target consumers post-purchase with offers from unrelated brands. Albertsons, for instance, partners with Rokt to serve ads from brands like Hulu and AARP on order confirmation pages.

A challenge in this new strategy is the high cost of retail data, which can be more expensive than the media itself in campaigns. However, this cost reflects the data's value. Successful non-endemic advertising requires brands to understand and utilise their own data effectively.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

AI’s energy needs conflict with media agencies’ carbon reduction efforts, reports Digiday

General

Jun 7, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

AI's massive energy needs present a significant challenge, counteracting media agencies' efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The International Energy Agency projects a doubling in global data centre electricity demand by 2026.

Agencies are yet to fully address this issue, with only some like Dentsu starting to consider the environmental impact of AI. Early reactions indicate bespoke solutions are being explored, but comprehensive strategies are still lacking.

The high energy consumption of AI, particularly generative AI, is prompting companies to seek optimisation solutions, with the hope that future technology will reduce AI’s power demands, aligning with sustainability goals.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Ad industry insiders say the vibe has soured on verification giants DoubleVerify and Integral Ad Science, A broken system, reports Business Insider

General

Jun 7, 2024

DoubleVerify and Integral Ad Science (IAS) are facing scrutiny from investors, publishers, and advertisers over ad misplacement scandals and keyword blocking issues. Advertisers question their effectiveness, while publishers criticize the use of brand safety technology that impacts ad revenue.

Both companies' share prices have halved in the past year. They aim to expand into social media, connected TV, and AI.

Despite these challenges, DoubleVerify and IAS are investing in new technologies to maintain their leadership in the ad verification space. Industry experts suggest the need for radical changes to address these issues.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Silicon Valley in uproar over Californian AI safety bill, reports FT

General

Jun 7, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Silicon Valley is opposing a Californian bill requiring tech firms to implement a "kill switch" for powerful AI models. The legislation mandates safety assurances and reporting, targeting major AI start-ups like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere, as well as larger firms like Meta.

Critics argue it stifles innovation and could force start-ups to relocate. Proponents claim it addresses significant risks posed by advanced AI. The bill, set for an assembly vote in August, includes amendments to limit its impact on open-source models and smaller companies.

The debate reflects broader global efforts to regulate AI technology.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Disney is sold out of ads in the first 2 games of the NBA Finals, reports Marketing Brew

General

Jun 6, 2024

The NBA Finals are proving highly lucrative for Disney, which has sold out advertising inventory for Games 1 and 2 between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics. Game 3 is expected to sell out soon, with limited availability for Games 4 and 5.

With 95 brands across almost 40 categories, tech and financial services are prominent, and new advertisers include Chime and ESPN Bet.

Increased demand in the scatter market has driven prices up. Despite slightly lower playoff ratings, high advertiser interest is attributed to compelling storylines and Boston's large market size.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Turkey launches probe into Apple on limitations over payment systems, reports Reuters

General

Jun 6, 2024

The Turkish Competition Board announced on Thursday it has initiated an investigation into Apple’s contracts with application developers and its refusal to permit alternative payment systems on the App Store.

This investigation is part of a broader review of mobile smart devices and related software, the Competition Board stated.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Amazon slammed with GBP1.1B data abuse lawsuit from UK retailers, reports TechCrunch

General

Jun 6, 2024

Amazon has agreed to a settlement with the UK competition watchdog to adopt fairer practices for Marketplace sellers.

However, the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) is filing a £1.1 billion damages claim against Amazon, accusing it of misusing sellers' data for competitive advantage and manipulating the "Buy Box" algorithm. BIRA claims Amazon's actions have harmed small retailers, who are forced to use its platform despite high commissions and risks.

The case, related to a 2022 CMA probe into Amazon’s market practices, is the largest collective action by UK retailers and aims to recover damages for affected businesses.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Meta faces call in EU not to use personal data for AI models, reports Reuters

General

Jun 6, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Meta's plan to use personal data for AI model training without consent has drawn criticism from the advocacy group NOYB.

The group urged European privacy enforcers to act against Meta's privacy policy changes, effective June 26, allowing use of personal posts, images, and tracking data. NOYB filed 11 complaints across Europe, challenging Meta’s compliance with privacy laws.

Meta defended its approach, citing legitimate interest and industry norms, but NOYB's founder Max Schrems argued that the European Court of Justice had previously rejected similar claims, emphasising the need for explicit user consent.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Walmart testing AI shopping assistant, instant drone delivery, reports AdAge

General

Jun 6, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Walmart is testing a generative AI shopping assistant for natural conversations, helping customers find products like the best gifts for children. This feature follows Walmart's AI-enabled search and product reviews.

Unveiled during Associates Week in Bentonville, Arkansas, other innovations include drone deliveries in Dallas-Fort Worth and an expansion of the Walmart InHome delivery program. This service, costing $19.99 a month, will cover 50 markets and 45 million households.

Walmart also plans to introduce digital shelf labels in 2,300 stores by 2026, allowing instant price updates, enhancing efficiency and reducing paper use.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Amazon buys Indian video streaming service MX Player, reports TechCrunch

M&A

Jun 6, 2024

Amazon has agreed to acquire key assets of Indian video streaming service MX Player from Times Internet. The deal values MX Player at under $100 million, significantly lower than its previous $500 million valuation.

Amazon aims to enhance its presence in smaller Indian cities and towns, leveraging MX Player's popularity among these demographics. Many MX Player executives will join Amazon post-transaction, and the MX Player brand will be retained. This acquisition follows nearly two years of negotiations.

Amazon continues to expand its video streaming offerings in India, including low-cost and ad-supported services. Times Internet bought MX Player in 2018 for $140 million.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Meta’s AI Project Faces Privacy Complaints in Europe, reports WSJ

General

Jun 6, 2024

Meta Platforms' new AI project is facing complaints from the Noyb-European Center for Digital Rights in eleven European countries. The NGO has urged data-protection authorities to stop Meta's project before its privacy policy changes on June 26.

The complaints highlight the challenges big tech companies face regarding data privacy as they develop AI tools. Meta claims its approach complies with privacy laws.

The complaints focus on Meta's plan to use both public and non-public user data from Facebook and Instagram, collected since 2007, without offering users an opt-out option.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

FTC Opens Antitrust Probe of Microsoft AI Deal, reports WSJ

General

Jun 6, 2024

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating if Microsoft structured its recent deal with Inflection AI to avoid antitrust review.

Microsoft hired Inflection AI's co-founder and most employees, agreeing to pay $650 million as a licensing fee. This arrangement might bypass the $119 million reporting threshold for acquisitions. The FTC, concerned about tech giants monopolising AI, is scrutinising the deal's impact on competition.

Microsoft did not acquire Inflection outright but focused on hiring its specialised AI workforce. Inflection continues as an independent company with new investors. The investigation could lead to fines and transaction suspension if reporting requirements were evaded.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Meta's WhatsApp launches new AI tools for businesses, reports Reuters

General

Jun 6, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Meta has launched AI-driven ad targeting tools for businesses on WhatsApp. The tools were announced by CEO Mark Zuckerberg at a conference in Brazil. This marks a significant change for WhatsApp, which has traditionally avoided targeted advertising.

The new tools will use behaviour on Facebook and Instagram to target messages to users who have opted in with the same phone number.

WhatsApp will also introduce an AI chatbot for handling business inquiries and add Brazil’s PIX digital payment method to its payment tool. These efforts aim to enhance WhatsApp's revenue generation.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Costco is building out an ad business using its shoppers’ data, reports Marketing Brew

General

Jun 6, 2024

Costco, the third-largest US retailer, is developing an ad network using its loyalty membership data. With 74.5 million household members, the company aims to enhance targeted advertising on and off its website.

Currently testing these capabilities and seeking ad-tech vendors, Costco plans to use its vast membership data to attract advertisers. Other major retailers like Walmart and Target have already established successful retail media networks. Costco’s ad revenues will be reinvested to maintain low prices.

Despite being late to the retail media market, Costco sees significant potential in leveraging its member data to drive advertising revenue growth.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

US antitrust enforcer says urgent scrutiny needed over Big Tech’s control of AI, reports FT

General

Jun 6, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

The US antitrust enforcer, Jonathan Kanter, has stressed the urgent need for scrutiny in the AI sector due to concerns about major tech companies dominating the market. Kanter is examining the competitive landscape, including computing power, data, cloud services, and engineering talent.

Regulators are focused on ensuring dominant companies like Google and Apple do not monopolise services, such as search engines and digital advertising. Highlighting Microsoft's investment in OpenAI, Kanter also mentioned concerns over partnerships that may affect competition.

Nvidia's control over GPUs and their allocation is another area under review to maintain fair market conditions.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Australia drops case against Elon Musk’s social media platform X over church stabbing footage, reports CNBC

General

Jun 5, 2024

Australia has dropped its legal battle against Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) to remove graphic footage of a Sydney church stabbing. This case tested Australia's ability to enforce online safety standards on social media platforms.

Julie Inman-Grant, Australia’s online safety commissioner, decided that ending the proceedings would better ensure online safety, especially for children. X welcomed the decision, emphasising the importance of free speech.

The footage showed a stabbing during a livestreamed sermon in April, which led to a temporary legal injunction against X. The dispute sparked a public argument between Musk and Australian officials, with Musk criticising the government’s approach.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Australia should force Meta to pay for news, News Corp executive says, reports Reuters

General

Jun 5, 2024

News Publishing

Australia should mandate that Meta Platforms pay news companies for content on Facebook and implement broader social media regulation, said News Corp Australia executive chairman Michael Miller.

Meta stopped paying Australian news publishers in March, leading the government to consider enforcing a 2021 law requiring such payments.

Miller argued that Meta should honour previous agreements and accused them of walking away from their obligations. He also criticised social media's impact on mental health and the spread of misinformation. Miller proposed regulations for tech firms, including liability for content, competition laws for digital advertising, improved consumer complaint handling, and contributions to mental health programmes.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Alphabet brings on Eli Lilly’s Anat Ashkenazi as CFO, reports TechCrunch

General

Jun 5, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Alphabet has appointed Anat Ashkenazi, formerly CFO at Eli Lilly, as its new finance head. She will start on 31 July, succeeding Ruth Porat, who will become Alphabet and Google’s president and chief investment officer.

Ashkenazi joins Alphabet after 23 years at Eli Lilly, an $800 billion pharmaceutical company. Her experience aligns with Alphabet's interests in healthcare through subsidiaries like Verily and Calico, and the AI-enabled drug-discovery firm Isomorphic Labs.

CEO Sundar Pichai expressed enthusiasm for Ashkenazi’s strategic focus on innovation and growth, highlighting the opportunities in the AI era.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Starcom lays off two top US executives, reports AdAge

General

Jun 5, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Starcom has dismissed two top U.S. executives, Chief Operating Officer Karla Knecht and Chief Client Officer Maureen Glure, both longstanding employees since the 1990s. The Publicis media agency confirmed the changes, stating the move aims to better serve clients and staff.

Knecht, COO since 2022, joined in 1995, while Glure, CCO since 2020, started in 1999. Their departure follows a series of significant account losses for Starcom U.S., including clients Kraft Heinz, Grupo Bimbo, and Lowe’s Home Improvement.

The agency expressed gratitude for their contributions and wished them well for the future.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Publicis hires Renato Fernandez to lead creative across its US agencies, reports AdAge

General

Jun 5, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Renato Fernandez, a longtime creative leader at TBWA\Chiat\Day, is joining Publicis Groupe as the chief creative officer for Publicis Creative U.S. Starting on 1 August, he will report to CEO Susie Nam, who aims for Fernandez to enhance creativity across Publicis' U.S. agencies, including Leo Burnett and Saatchi & Saatchi.

Fernandez is enthusiastic about Publicis’ innovative approach and Nam’s support for creativity. Both intend to work with agency CCOs to boost their potential without imposing mandates.

Fernandez’s hire aims to elevate agency standards while preserving their unique identities. His past work includes campaigns for brands like Gatorade and Adidas.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Google Ads inviting some advertisers to join Advisors Community, reports Search Engine Land

General

Jun 5, 2024

Google Ads is inviting select customers to join its Advisors Community, allowing them to influence product development.

This initiative aims to address advertisers' concerns over ineffective updates by involving them early in the process. Members provide monthly feedback through brief surveys and receive quarterly updates on how their input is used.

The move is seen as a way for Google to better align its tools with user needs and maintain its position in the ad tech space.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Price hikes hit Max ahead of House of the Dragon sophomore season, reports Marketing Brew

General

Jun 5, 2024

Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming service, Max, has raised its ad-free subscription prices.

As of June 4, new subscribers will pay $16.99 monthly, a $1 increase, and $169.99 annually, up by $20. The Ultimate Ad-Free plan now costs $20.99 monthly, a $1 increase, and $209.99 annually, up by $10. The ad-supported tier remains $9.99 monthly or $99.99 annually.

This price hike precedes the release of "House of the Dragon" season two and reflects industry trends of making ad-free viewing more expensive to drive users to ad-supported plans. Max aims for $1 billion in streaming profits and 125 million subscribers by 2025.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

NBA Nears $76 Billion TV Deal, a Defining Moment for Media and Sports, reports WSJ

General

Jun 5, 2024

The NBA is nearing deals with NBC, ESPN, and Amazon worth around $76 billion over 11 years. This follows negotiations with Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney, who were initially hesitant due to financial issues.

NBC is set to pay $2.5 billion annually for 100 games, half on Peacock. Amazon's $1.8 billion package includes regular-season and playoff games. Disney will retain its NBA package and the Finals, paying $2.6 billion yearly.

The deals will take effect after the 2024-2025 season and include WNBA rights. Warner may still match offers or seek new sports content, but faces significant challenges and criticism.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

OneTrust Integrates with the IAB Diligence Platform, Powered by SafeGuard Privacy

General

Jun 5, 2024

OneTrust has announced its integration with the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Diligence Platform, powered by SafeGuard Privacy, becoming the first company to do so.

This integration allows OneTrust users to incorporate IAB Diligence Platform vendor assessments into their system, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and compliance in digital advertising. The IAB Diligence Platform, launched in January, facilitates secure sharing of compliance information among digital advertising entities.

This partnership helps OneTrust streamline compliance with global privacy laws and IAB Europe’s Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) 2.2. IAB plans to expand the Diligence Platform across the industry, with OneTrust leading this initiative.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Google sued by top textbook publishers over ads for pirated e-books, reports Reuters

General

Jun 5, 2024

Educational publishers Cengage, Macmillan Learning, McGraw Hill, and Elsevier have filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing it of promoting pirated copies of their textbooks.

The lawsuit, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claims Google ignored thousands of copyright infringement notices and profited from the sale of pirated digital textbooks advertised through its search engine. The publishers allege Google prioritises ads for pirated e-books over legitimate ones and has ignored their complaints since 2021.

They are seeking unspecified monetary damages for copyright and trademark infringement and deceptive trade practices.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

X officially allows consensually produced adult content, reports Campaign

General

Jun 5, 2024

X, formerly Twitter, has formalised its policy to permit consensually produced and labelled adult content, including nudity and pornography.

This move aims to provide clarity and ensure posts containing adult content are properly marked to avoid "not safe for work" issues. The new policy also prohibits content that promotes exploitation, non-consent, harm to minors, or obscene behaviours.

Users posting adult content must adjust their settings to place warnings on their media. This policy differs from those of other major social media platforms like Meta, TikTok, and YouTube, which have stricter guidelines on adult content.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

$17 bln UK adtech lawsuit against Google can go ahead, tribunal rules, reports Reuters

General

Jun 5, 2024

The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has ruled that a £13.6 billion ($17.4 billion) lawsuit against Alphabet can proceed. The lawsuit, led by Ad Tech Collective Action, accuses Google of abusing its dominance in the online advertising market, causing losses for UK publishers.

Google attempted to have the case blocked, labelling it incoherent and rejecting the allegations. However, the CAT has certified the case for trial.

This follows other significant cases at the CAT, including lawsuits against Meta and Apple. The outcome of this trial could have major implications for Google's business practices.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Italian watchdog fines Meta for unfair commercial practices, reports Reuters

General

Jun 5, 2024

Italy's antitrust regulator, AGCM, has fined Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, €35 million for unfair commercial practices. The watchdog found that Instagram users were not adequately informed about the use of their personal data for commercial purposes.

Additionally, both Facebook and Instagram users lacked proper information on contesting account suspensions.

Meta stated that it disagrees with the decision but has made changes since August 2023 to address the regulator's concerns, including improving transparency on data use for advertising on Instagram.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Matalan’s AI search ads are performing better than ones written by humans, reports Digiday

General

Jun 5, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

UK retailer Matalan has found that AI-generated product descriptions for Google Shopping ads outperform human-written ones, increasing impressions by up to 16%.

Using AI, Matalan's ads for men's suits saw more visibility due to keyword optimisation preferred by Google's algorithms. This success has led Matalan to test AI-written copy for other product categories.

Havas Media UK, Matalan's agency, reported that AI ads drove 11,900 more impressions per week during a four-week test. This approach highlights AI's potential in improving ad performance and efficiency in digital marketing.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

LinkedIn’s publisher revenue share program is entering its next phase, reports Digiday

General

Jun 5, 2024

News Publishing

LinkedIn is launching the beta phase of its Wire Program, which allows media companies to sell pre-roll ads on editorial videos. Major publishers like Barron’s, Bloomberg, and Forbes are participating. The program includes a 50-50 revenue split, with prices moving to an auction model.

LinkedIn's auction, part of its Campaign Manager, integrates various ad types. Publishers are optimistic about the potential for monetisation, leveraging LinkedIn's targeting capabilities.

The Wire Program is seen as a way to maximise revenue and drive efficiency, despite the lack of revenue guarantees from LinkedIn.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

OpenAI and Google DeepMind's current and former employees warn about AI risks, reports Reuters

General

Jun 4, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

A group of current and former employees from AI companies, including OpenAI and Google DeepMind, have raised concerns about the risks posed by emerging AI technology.

In an open letter, they argue that financial motives hinder effective oversight and that current corporate governance structures are insufficient. They warn of dangers such as misinformation, loss of independent AI systems, and deepening inequalities, which could potentially lead to "human extinction."

The letter highlights the weak obligations of AI companies to share information with governments and urges these firms to allow employees to raise risk-related concerns without enforcing restrictive confidentiality agreements.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Scope3 Tool Shows How Reducing Carbon Impacts Media Performance, reports AdWeek

General

Jun 4, 2024

Carbon Emissions

Green adtech firm Scope3 has launched a Media Reporting dashboard to show how reducing carbon emissions impacts campaign performance. The dashboard features a simulator to forecast changes in metrics like click-through rate and cost per acquisition when high-emitting publishers are removed.

Developed earlier this year, it is used by four brands and connects to buying platforms to calculate real-time campaign emissions. The tool aims to encourage greener media planning by highlighting the relationship between emissions and performance.

Scope3 charges a per-impression fee or a flat software-as-a-service fee, aiming to meet the industry's need for integrating sustainability with advertising effectiveness.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Paramount mulls streaming joint venture, job cuts as merger talks loom, reports Axios

M&A

Jun 4, 2024

Paramount's co-CEOs unveiled a transformation plan, including a potential joint venture or strategic partnership to expand Paramount+. This comes as Paramount approaches a merger with Skydance Media and faces an unprofitable streaming business.

The plan aims to streamline operations, reduce non-content costs, and achieve $500 million in near-term savings, including job cuts. Paramount also plans to license more content to other platforms and divest some businesses to reduce debt.

The board approved Skydance's revised offer, allowing some non-voting shareholders to cash out at $15 per share, pending approval from controlling shareholder Shari Redstone.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

X CEO Linda Yaccarino Loses Top Lieutenant, reports WSJ

General

Jun 4, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Joe Benarroch, Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino’s right-hand man and head of business operations at X Corp., is leaving the company. Benarroch, a trusted adviser to Yaccarino from their time at NBCUniversal, was significant in overseeing corporate communications at X.

X, formerly Twitter, has struggled financially, heavily reliant on advertising revenue which dropped sharply after Elon Musk's takeover. Yaccarino has been working to rebuild the ad-sales business. Benarroch, known for his confrontational style, was involved in the rollout of X’s adult-content policy this week.

The company has experienced significant executive turnover since Musk acquired it in late 2022.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Canada says online streaming services must hand over 5% of their domestic revenues, reports Reuters

General

Jun 4, 2024

Major online streaming services in Canada will be required to contribute 5% of their Canadian revenues to support the domestic broadcasting system, raising approximately C$200 million annually.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced this measure to boost funding for local and Indigenous broadcasting.

The decision, effective from September, follows a law passed last year ensuring companies like Netflix and YouTube contribute to Canadian culture. The funds will support local news, French-language content, and Indigenous programming, and will not apply to services affiliated with Canadian broadcasters.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Roku's New Ad Sales Leader Expands Team With First Major Hires, reports AdWeek

General

Jun 4, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Roku has appointed Sarah Harms and Sal Candela as VP of Advertising Marketing and VP of Global Agency Partnerships, respectively. These are the first major hires by Jay Askinasi, who became Roku’s ad sales leader in February.

Harms, formerly of Microsoft, will handle marketing and measurement strategy, while Candela, previously with Spotify, will strengthen partnerships with major ad clients. The appointments aim to boost Roku’s ad sales amid the TV upfront season.

Additionally, Roku has partnered with The Trade Desk, iSpot.tv, and NBCUniversal to enhance programmatic buying, measurement, and create a hub for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Keith Enright is leaving Google after 13 years as the tech giant restructures its privacy and compliance teams. Matthew Bye, director of competition law, is also departing, reports Forbes

General

Jun 4, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Google's chief privacy officer, Keith Enright, will leave after 13 years, with no replacement planned. His departure, announced in mid-May, surprised staff due to his respected tenure. Enright guided Google through scrutiny over its data practices. Matthew Bye, Google's head of competition law, will also leave during a crucial antitrust period for the company.

Google's spokesperson confirmed the departures and stated that the company is restructuring its privacy and compliance teams. Enright will stay until September, having been with Google since 2010 and becoming chief privacy officer in 2018.

This change is part of broader company restructuring and layoffs.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Google leak reveals a list of past privacy mishaps, from recording children's voices to exposing user addresses in Waze, according to new report, reports Insider

General

Jun 4, 2024

A leaked Google database revealed thousands of privacy incidents from 2013 to 2018, according to a 404 Media report. The incidents, flagged by employees, included issues like exposed YouTube images and Waze sharing home addresses. All incidents have since been resolved, with private information deleted, according to Google.

Some incidents involved internal security simulations or third-party issues, not actual data breaches. This leak follows another recent leak that exposed Google's web organisation methods, causing distrust among SEO experts. The latest leak raises concerns about Google's handling of user privacy and its reputation.

Google stated it has implemented numerous protections and independent verifications to ensure security and privacy, including updated YouTube policies for children's data in 2019.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

The pros and cons of publishers’ AI licensing deals, reports Digiday

General

Jun 4, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI has entered content licensing and tech development agreements with major publishers like Vox Media and The Atlantic, compensating them for content used to train large language models.

This trend addresses publishers' concerns over unauthorised content scraping. Benefits include monetisation of archives and access to advanced AI tools for content optimisation. However, critics argue that compensation might be insufficient and deals could compromise publishers' control over their content.

There is also concern about long-term impacts and transparency, as smaller publishers may lack negotiating leverage. Additionally, these deals might inadvertently support the development of tools that could replace traditional publishing.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Ad market braces for M&A surge, reports Digiday

M&A

Jun 3, 2024

Investment Rounds

The media landscape is poised for a surge in mergers and acquisitions. Recent deals include Publicis buying Spinnaker SCA, Mediaplus acquiring Target Media, and MediaSense buying PwC’s U.K. consultancy.

Companies like Inspire Brands, Skydance Media, and Sony Pictures are eyeing media giant Paramount. Consolidation is driven by the need to manage ad repetition and slim profit margins in ad tech.

Higher interest rates push dealmakers to act swiftly. The U.S. market leads this trend, with Europe cautiously following. Influencer marketing and ad tech companies are prime targets, with significant deals expected in the latter half of the year.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

TV’s Upfront Ad-Sales Talks Start to Heat Up, With Some Rollbacks Expected, reports Variety

General

Jun 3, 2024

TV networks and advertisers are engaging in early negotiations in the annual "upfront" marketplace. Media agencies are focusing on Disney and NBCUniversal due to their extensive entertainment portfolios.

During the "upfront," media companies aim to sell 70-80% of their commercial inventory. Disney is pushing digital volume with favourable rates for Hulu and Disney+. Pricing for streaming is crucial, with media buyers seeking to reduce the cost per thousand viewers (CPM).

Advertiser budgets remain uncertain, mirroring last year's delayed start. If agreements are made, it will mark the second consecutive year of TV networks conceding ground to advertisers, with previous years showing declines in ad commitments.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

X tweaks rules to formally allow adult content, reports TechCrunch

General

Jun 3, 2024

X (formerly Twitter) has officially updated its rules to permit users to post adult and graphic content, provided it is consensually produced and clearly labelled as NSFW. This change includes AI-generated content and aims to respect adult autonomy while restricting exposure to minors.

Although X has never explicitly banned porn, this formalisation could lead to the development of services similar to OnlyFans. The platform still disallows excessively gory content and sexual violence.

With 13% of posts in 2022 containing adult content, regulators will closely monitor X to ensure the removal of non-consensual and child sexual abuse material.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Spotify to increase premium pricing in the US to $11.99 per month, reports TechCrunch

General

Jun 3, 2024

Audio Advertising

Spotify has announced its second price increase in the U.S. within a year. From July, the Premium subscription will rise from $10.99 to $11.99, a 10% increase. Duo and Family plans will increase to $16.99 and $19.99, respectively, while the student plan remains at $5.99.

Despite Spotify's recent 20% revenue growth and 14% increase in premium subscribers, this new pricing makes it more expensive than rival Apple. The previous price hike was in July last year.

Existing subscribers will see the new prices on their July billing date, while new subscribers will be charged immediately.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Netflix Christmas NFL Games Could Meet Early Resistance From Advertisers, reports Variety

General

Jun 3, 2024

Netflix is set to air two NFL games on Christmas Day 2024, aiming to attract advertisers despite early resistance. Discussions suggest a 30-second ad could cost $400,000. Netflix plans to bundle these ads with other programming, which some executives believe won't be well-received.

The games, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Houston Texans, will stream after most holiday shopping is done, reducing advertiser demand. This move highlights concerns about oversaturation in sports broadcasting. Similar challenges have faced Major League Baseball and ESPN in selling game packages.

Netflix's NFL push underscores its investment in live content.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Paramount and Skydance agree to terms of a merger deal, reports CNBC

M&A

Jun 3, 2024

A Paramount special committee and David Ellison’s Skydance, backed by RedBird Capital and KKR, have agreed on a deal awaiting approval from Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone. Redstone would receive $2 billion, Skydance would buy nearly 50% of class B shares for $4.5 billion, and contribute $1.5 billion to reduce Paramount’s debt.

Post-deal, Skydance and RedBird would own two-thirds of Paramount, with class B shareholders holding the rest. The deal, valued at $8 billion, does not require a shareholder vote.

The agreement follows a competing offer from Apollo and Sony, and recent leadership changes at Paramount.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

Instagram confirms test of unskippable ads, reports TechCrunch

General

Jun 3, 2024

Instagram is testing unskippable ads that prevent users from browsing more content until they view the ad, similar to YouTube's model. This change aligns with Instagram's shift towards video-sharing features like Stories and Reels.

A Meta spokesperson confirmed the tests, stating they aim to drive value for advertisers. User reactions have been largely negative, with some threatening to stop using the app. The ad breaks appear in the app's Feed while watching videos.

The test indicates Meta's willingness to alter Instagram's user experience to boost ad revenue, but it remains uncertain if this feature will become permanent.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.

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.

Primary Source Earnings Report

🔗

Expert Opinions

No items found.