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Spain's antitrust watchdog opens investigation into Apple's app store, reports Reuters

General

Jul 24, 2024

Spain's antitrust regulator, CNMC, has opened an investigation into Apple's App Store for potential anti-competitive behaviour.

The regulator suspects Apple of imposing unequal commercial conditions on mobile app developers, which could violate competition law and lead to a fine of up to 10% of Apple's global revenue. Apple denies these allegations, claiming all developers compete on a level playing field.

This investigation follows two similar probes by the European Commission, including one related to the Digital Markets Act and another on new fees for app developers. In March, Brussels fined Apple €1.84 billion for limiting competition in music streaming.

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NBA Picks Amazon for Long-Term TV Deal, reports Bloomberg

General

Jul 24, 2024

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has signed a new long-term TV contract with Amazon, rejecting Warner Bros. Discovery's last-minute attempt to retain broadcast rights. The agreements with Amazon, Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN, and Comcast’s NBC will generate $76 billion over 11 years, with Amazon paying $1.8 billion annually.

The NBA aims to maximise game accessibility through these deals. Warner Bros., which tried to match Amazon’s offer, may now face a legal battle.

Comcast’s package includes 100 regular-season games, half of which will stream exclusively on Peacock.

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The New York Times' Granular Gen AI Tool Drives Campaign Performance, reports AdWeek

General

Jul 24, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

The New York Times has introduced BrandMatch, a generative AI tool, to enhance ad targeting by aligning brand campaigns with relevant articles and audiences. This tool uses large language models to decode advertiser briefs and match them with specific audience segments and suitable articles.

Initial tests with brands like Paramount+ and Ferragamo showed promising results, including higher click-through rates and increased brand lift. BrandMatch improves on traditional targeting methods by offering more granular audience insights.

The Times plans to expand access to BrandMatch in the fourth quarter of this year.

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Informa to Buy Cannes Lions Owner Ascential for GBP 1.2 Billion, reports Bloomberg

M&A

Jul 24, 2024

Informa Plc has agreed to acquire Ascential Plc, the owner of the Money20/20 and Cannes Lions conferences, for approximately £1.2 billion ($1.5 billion) in cash. Informa will pay 568 pence per share, a 53% premium on Ascential’s closing price on Monday.

The deal, pending shareholder approval, is expected to finalise in the fourth quarter. Informa aims to expand Ascential’s conference brands, particularly Money20/20 in the Middle East and Africa.

Additionally, Informa has raised its 2024 profit outlook to up to £1 billion, citing growth in international events and AI partnerships.

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AI In Digital Media Buying Shows Troubling Signs For Advertisers, reports AdAge

General

Jul 24, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

AI is increasingly influential in digital ad buying, with more advertisers adopting AI tools, especially on Meta. However, Google's AI Overviews platform may be reducing ad clicks.

Despite potential shutdown threats, TikTok ad spending rose 10% year-over-year last quarter but trailed other digital platforms. YouTube saw a significant surge in connected TV ad spending, driving Google's growth. Nexxen has introduced new tools for geo-targeting voters and optimising ad campaigns. Meanwhile, Walmart Connect's Sponsored Products saw a 45% increase in spending, outpacing Amazon's 8% growth.

The report indicates a trend towards greater AI adoption despite mixed results in ad performance.

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Google Is the Only Search Engine That Works on Reddit Now Thanks to AI Deal, reports 404 Media

General

Jul 24, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Google is now the exclusive search engine able to show results from Reddit, making its user-generated content accessible only through Google's platform. Other search engines like Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Mojeek can no longer display recent Reddit results due to a recent deal between Google and Reddit.

This agreement, reportedly worth $60 million, allows Google to scrape Reddit data to train its AI products. Reddit's stricter robots.txt file now blocks all bots except Google's.

This move highlights Google's dominance and poses challenges for smaller search engines, which cannot provide alternative search results for Reddit content.

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Colgate-Palmolive Hires WPP To Handle Its Amazon Business In Europe, reports AdAge

General

Jul 24, 2024

Colgate-Palmolive has appointed WPP as its "Amazon agency of record" for its European business, a rare and specific designation indicating a trend towards consolidating commerce and media accounts. WPP will support Colgate-Palmolive’s oral, personal, and home care businesses on Amazon through services such as Amazon Retail, Integrated Amazon Advertising, and Amazon’s clean room solutions.

This move shifts responsibilities from Omnicom-owned Flywheel. WPP will leverage its proprietary Amazon tech stack to provide Amazon-specific insights.

This follows a broader trend of consumer goods companies consolidating commerce duties with single holding companies, as seen with Unilever and Kimberly-Clark.

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IPG Earnings For Q2 2024 Show +1.6% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Down By -18.3% YoY

+ 2% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Jul 24, 2024

Reuters reports:

Interpublic Group exceeded market expectations for second-quarter profit, driven by increased marketing spend in the US and Europe. Despite this, shares fell 2.8% after the company revised its full-year organic growth forecast to about 1% from a previous 1-2%. The rebound in marketing investments is partly due to preparations for global events like the Paris Olympics.

Interpublic reported an adjusted profit of 61 cents per share, surpassing analysts' estimates of 59 cents, with net revenue steady at $2.33 billion. Revenue rose 1.3% in the US and 6.3% in Continental Europe.

Rival Omnicom also reported strong quarterly results.

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No, hashing still doesn't make your data anonymous

General

Jul 24, 2024

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) evaluates whether companies' privacy claims match their data handling practices. Often, companies mistakenly claim that hashed data is anonymous. Hashing converts data like emails or phone numbers into unique numbers, but these can still identify users.

The FTC warns that hashed data isn't truly anonymous and can be misused. Previous cases against companies like Nomi and BetterHelp highlight this issue, where hashed data still allowed user tracking and identification.

The FTC remains vigilant against misleading privacy practices, stressing that all user identifiers can track people and should be used responsibly.

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Group Black falls short, reports Insider

General

Jul 24, 2024

Diversity & Inclusion

Group Black's CEO, Travis Montaque, has taken a leave of absence, raising concerns about the company's future.

Founded in 2021, Group Black aimed to direct $500 million to Black-owned media within 18 months but has struggled to achieve its financial goals. Despite securing initial commitments, much of the pledged money has not materialised. Additionally, internal disorganisation and execution issues have led to several executives departing. Advertisers have questioned Group Black's value, and some publishers are dissatisfied with the partnership terms.

The company's founder, Richelieu Dennis, is reportedly focusing on expanding Sundial Media Group, potentially signalling a shift in priorities.

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Alphabet Earnings For Q2 2024 Show +13.6% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +28.6% YoY

+ 14% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Jul 23, 2024

Bloomberg reports:

Alphabet Inc. reported higher-than-expected second-quarter revenue, driven by demand for cloud-computing services and search engine advertising. Sales reached $71.36 billion, surpassing the projected $70.7 billion, with net income at $1.89 per share.

Google Cloud generated a profit of $1.17 billion, exceeding forecasts. However, concerns persist over Alphabet’s AI investment returns and higher-than-expected capital expenditures of $13.2 billion. Despite some setbacks with AI Overviews, search advertising revenue hit $48.5 billion. YouTube’s revenue was $8.66 billion. Alphabet’s Other Bets posted a $1.13 billion loss.

The company holds $100.7 billion in cash and will see a new CFO, Anat Ashkenazi, join soon.

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Comcast Says NBC Has 11-Year Deal in Place With NBA, reports Variety

General

Jul 23, 2024

NBCUniversal is set to finalise an 11-year rights deal with the NBA, commencing in the 2025-26 season.

This agreement will bring 100 NBA games per regular season to NBC and Peacock, more than any other media partner. NBC plans to broadcast NBA games on Sundays after "Sunday Night Football" and on Tuesdays, while Peacock will show two games each Monday. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts highlighted the deal as a significant growth driver for Peacock. NBCU will also air over 50 WNBA games annually from 2026.

Warner Bros. Discovery's matching rights claim is not expected to impact this deal.

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6 Ad Companies Accuse Pluto TV of Exploiting Programmatic Auctions, reports AdWeek

General

Jul 23, 2024

Six advertising firms have limited their clients' exposure to Pluto TV's streaming ads due to concerns over bid duplication. This practice, where multiple bids are sent for a single ad, inflates prices by creating the illusion of greater demand.

Despite this, Pluto TV claims the multiple bids are necessary to ensure a variety of ad content and avoid repetition. Data shows Pluto TV sends significantly more bid requests than competitors like Tubi and Roku.

Some buyers are reallocating budgets away from Pluto due to these inflated costs and non-transparent practices, indicating a broader issue in the programmatic advertising ecosystem.

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Meta given weeks to tell EU consumer protection authorities how it’ll fix pay or consent, reports TechCrunch

General

Jul 23, 2024

Meta has been given until 1 September to address consumer protection concerns in the EU. The Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPC) is investigating Meta's "pay or consent" model, which requires users to accept tracking for behavioural ads or pay a subscription for an ad-free service. This model is also under scrutiny by the European Commission and data protection authorities.

The CPC believes Meta’s consent mechanism could be misleading and aggressive, potentially violating EU laws. If Meta fails to resolve these concerns, enforcement measures, including sanctions, could follow.

Meta maintains that its business model complies with European regulations.

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Meta warns EU regulatory efforts risk bloc missing out on AI advances, reports FT

General

Jul 23, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Meta has warned that the EU’s approach to regulating artificial intelligence (AI) may cut the continent off from advanced services, as the EU seeks to control Big Tech's power.

Rob Sherman, Meta’s deputy privacy officer, confirmed that the EU’s privacy watchdog requested a voluntary pause on training future AI models on European data to allow regulators time to address generative AI issues. Sherman expressed concerns that regulatory uncertainty could limit the availability of advanced technologies in Europe.

Meta has already delayed launching certain AI products in the EU and UK due to data protection fears. Despite this, Meta released an updated AI model, Llama 3.1, available globally.

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US and European regulators sign joint statement on effective AI competition, reports Reuters

General

Jul 23, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Regulators in the US, EU, and UK have issued a joint statement to ensure effective competition in the artificial intelligence sector, outlining principles to protect consumers.

The rapid evolution of generative AI presents new opportunities for competition, innovation, and growth.

The watchdogs, including the European Commission, UK's Competition and Markets Authority, US Department of Justice, and Federal Trade Commission, aim to prevent tactics that undermine fair competition. They commit to fair dealing, preventing exclusionary practices, and closely scrutinising investments and partnerships between established companies and newcomers to maintain a fair market.

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Marla Kaplowitz Will Step Down as the CEO of the 4A's in May 2025, reports AdWeek

General

Jul 23, 2024

Leadership Transitions

When Marla Kaplowitz steps down as CEO of the 4A's in May 2025, she will have held the role for eight years, longer than her initial plan of three to five years.

Under her leadership, the 4A's improved its net promoter score, upgraded financial and management systems, launched a new website, and strengthened relations with the ANA. Kaplowitz also established the Advertiser Protection Bureau, enhancing brand safety.

The 4A's will begin searching for her successor, who will guide the industry through AI transformation and continue her collaborative efforts with the ANA to improve agency-client relationships.

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Spotify Earnings For Q2 2024 Show +19.8% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +190.7% YoY

+ 20% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Jul 23, 2024

Audio Advertising

Reuters reports:

Spotify reported a record quarterly profit in Q2 2024, exceeding analyst expectations and boosting its shares by over 14% in premarket trading. The company's cost-cutting measures, including layoffs and marketing budget reductions, alongside promotions and new investments in podcasts, contributed to this success.

Paying subscribers rose to 246 million, surpassing expectations. Profit increased by 45% to €1.11 billion, and revenue grew by 20% to €3.81 billion, slightly below estimates.

Although Spotify missed its target of 631 million monthly active users, reaching only 626 million, CEO Daniel Ek remains confident about future growth. The gross profit margin improved to 29.2%.

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Comcast Earnings For Q2 2024 Show -2.7% YoY Revenue Decline, Net Income Down By -7.5% YoY

-3% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Jul 23, 2024

Bloomberg reports:

Comcast Corp.'s Q2 revenue fell 2.7% to $29.7 billion, missing analysts’ estimates of $30 billion.

Revenue from its studios dropped 27%, while theme parks saw an 11% decline. The lack of a blockbuster comparable to last year’s hits, The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Fast X, contributed to the slump. Theme parks revenue fell to $1.98 billion, below the $2.21 billion expected.

Earnings rose to $1.21 per share, surpassing expectations of $1.12. The cable, internet, and phone segment saw a 1.6% rise in earnings. Comcast lost 120,000 broadband and 419,000 video subscribers, with Peacock reaching 33 million subscribers but missing the 34.7 million forecast.

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TikTok Targets Spain and Ireland to Revive Europe E-Commerce Push, reports Bloomberg

General

Jul 23, 2024

TikTok plans to launch its in-app shopping platform in Spain and Ireland in October, reviving efforts to expand its fastest-growing business in Europe.

ByteDance has informed partners, including merchants and creator agencies, to prepare for the TikTok Shop debut. The rollout will be smaller than initially planned, with future expansions to other European countries. TikTok has recruited about 40 workers in Spain and is hiring more in Madrid and London.

This strategic move aims to widen its reach without attracting regulatory scrutiny. TikTok Shop, combining video content with shopping, is the app’s fastest-growing feature and positions it to compete with Amazon.

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Ogilvy launches service to deal with rogue influencers, reports FT

General

Jul 22, 2024

Influencer Marketing

Ogilvy, the WPP-owned advertising agency, is launching "Influence Shield," a service to manage risks from rogue influencers. This service, debuting this week, highlights the increasing reliance on influencers in marketing, connecting brands with niche social media personalities.

However, the rise of influencers has also increased the potential for brand damage due to controversial behaviour. Influence Shield will provide 24/7 social media monitoring, crisis management, and vetting of potential influencers to prevent reputational issues.

Ogilvy's clients now invest up to 70% of their digital spend in influencer marketing, reflecting the sector's significant growth.

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Warner Bros. Offers to Match Amazon’s Bid for NBA TV Rights, reports Bloomberg

General

Jul 22, 2024

Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. has matched Amazon's bid for National Basketball Association (NBA) TV rights, leveraging a clause in its expiring contract. Despite the NBA indicating plans to accept other offers, Warner Bros. exercised its matching rights, submitting paperwork on Monday.

The NBA is close to finalising a new $76 billion, 11-year deal with current broadcaster ESPN, and new partners Comcast’s NBC and Amazon, with Amazon agreeing to pay approximately $1.8 billion annually.

Warner Bros., which has long broadcast the NBA on TNT and TBS, aims to retain its rights as the new contracts commence in autumn 2025.

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After years of uncertainty, Google says it won’t be deprecating third-party cookies in Chrome, reports Digiday

General

Jul 22, 2024

Cookie Deprecation

Google has decided to retain third-party cookies in its Chrome browser, reversing plans to phase them out. Instead, Google will introduce a new Chrome experience allowing users to manage their cookie preferences. This decision follows significant industry pushback and ongoing discussions with regulators.

Google will continue to develop Privacy Sandbox APIs and other privacy controls. Initial tests of Privacy Sandbox alternatives showed promising results, but the ad industry remains cautious.

Publishers, especially smaller ones, have expressed concerns about the practicality and performance of the Privacy Sandbox, with many ceasing to invest in testing due to previous delays in cookie deprecation.

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Kellanova agency review: IPG wins big, reports AdAge

General

Jul 22, 2024

Kellanova has expanded its partnership with Interpublic Group (IPG) following an agency review. IPG’s FCB won the Pringles account, previously with WPP’s Grey, and will also manage Cheez-It, Eggo, and Rice Krispies Treats.

Publicis Groupe’s Leo Burnett lost several accounts but retained Pop-Tarts and media duties in North America. Tombras secured U.S. creative work for MorningStar Farms, Nutri-Grain, and other brands, while Rethink retains RXBar. IPG’s Momentum will handle shopper marketing and promotions globally.

Kellanova cited the need for agencies with a digital-first approach and creative innovation to drive brand growth.

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Vivendi Picks LSE for Canal+, Amsterdam for Havas Post-Split, reports Bloomberg

General

Jul 22, 2024

Vivendi SE plans to list its Canal+ broadcasting business on the London Stock Exchange and the Havas advertising agency in Amsterdam, as billionaire Vincent Bolloré advances his strategy to dismantle his media empire.

The newly formed Louis Hachette Group, encompassing Vivendi’s publishing and distribution assets, will be listed in Paris. Bolloré Group will hold about 30.6% of shares in Canal+, Louis Hachette Group, and Havas, with over 40% voting rights in Havas.

Vivendi aims to boost its share price by addressing the "conglomerate discount" limiting growth. Shareholders will vote on the split in December, requiring two-thirds approval to proceed.

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Reddit strikes deals with sports leagues to attract more ad dollars, reports Reuters

General

Jul 22, 2024

Reddit is enhancing its sports content by partnering with leagues such as the NBA, NFL, MLB, PGA Tour, and NASCAR, aiming to attract more advertising revenue. This move, announced in a blog post, boosted Reddit's shares by 4%.

Users will access game highlights, behind-the-scenes videos, and other exclusive content. Reddit's sports communities saw a 26% increase in screen views over the past year, totalling 20.4 billion.

Seeking to diversify revenue, Reddit, which went public in March, has also partnered with OpenAI and Google for AI model training. The platform reported a 48% rise in Q1 revenue and anticipates an adjusted profit in Q2.

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Programmatic Companies Wrestle With ID Bridging And What Counts As Fraud, reports AdExchanger

General

Jul 22, 2024

User Identifiers

In January, Chrome’s test phase of removing third-party cookies for 1% of users sparked significant disruption among Demand-Side Platforms (DSPs). The test highlighted the controversial practice of "ID bridging," where new identifiers replace missing cookie data.

Publishers have defended this practice for its revenue benefits, while advertisers argue it is misleading. In response, the IAB Tech Lab is rolling out new protocols to ensure greater transparency around ID bridging.

While publishers may face revenue losses with these changes, the goal is to provide transparency and allow advertisers to choose trusted methods.

The new OpenRTB specifications are expected to improve transparency and address fraud concerns.

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X Launches Ads For Trending Events, reports MediaPost

General

Jul 20, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

X, formerly known as Twitter, is introducing "Trend Genius" ads, utilising AI to deploy hyper-relevant ads based on real-time conversation trends. This feature aims to help advertisers swiftly align with trending topics like the Olympics, sports, fashion, and AI.

When discussions on selected topics surge, preprogrammed ads are automatically deployed and switched off once the conversation wanes, maximising ad relevance and minimising waste. Trend Genius can also integrate third-party data for hyper-local targeting based on real-world events.

Despite potential benefits, the success of these ads depends on the accuracy of X's AI models, which have faced recent criticism.

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Meta Opens Door To Research On Instagram's Impact On Teens, reports MediaPost

General

Jul 20, 2024

Responsible Media

Meta has launched a pilot programme allowing academic researchers to access Instagram data to study its effects on the well-being of teens and young adults. This initiative follows years of criticism about the negative impacts of Meta's apps on younger users.

Researchers will access certain data, excluding user demographics and post content, under the oversight of the Center for Open Science. The programme aims to address concerns about social media's role in the mental health crisis among youth.

This move comes amid increasing scrutiny and legal challenges regarding Meta’s handling of younger users’ privacy and well-being on its platforms.

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Netflix's head of ad sales departs amid strong earnings report, reports Axios

General

Jul 19, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Netflix confirmed the departure of its VP of advertising, Peter Naylor, after 18 months. This follows the exit of Jeremi Gorman, highlighting turnover in Netflix's ad leadership. Naylor and Gorman were recruited from Snap Inc. to launch Netflix's ad business. Amy Reinhard replaced Gorman in 2023, and a new head of U.S. and Canada advertising will be hired.

Despite these changes, Netflix's ad-supported tier is growing, accounting for 45% of recent signups. The company is developing its in-house ad tech platform, aiming for significant ad revenue impact by 2025.

Netflix's recent earnings exceeded expectations, with notable growth in live programming and gaming investments.

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Netflix shifts focus to ad-supported tier as subscriber growth surges, reports Search Engine Land

General

Jul 19, 2024

Netflix is discontinuing its cheapest ad-free plan in Canada and the UK, with plans to do the same in the U.S. and France. In Q2, Netflix added 8 million global subscribers, with significant growth in its ad-supported plan, which now represents over 45% of new signups. The company is also testing pause ads.

Netflix's Q2 2024 results showed strong revenue, profits, and subscriber growth. Next year, Netflix will report growth based on revenue by region instead of subscriber numbers.

The company anticipates slower subscriber growth in Q3 2024 but sees increased ad revenue as a key business contributor.

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Meta Fined $220 Million by Nigeria for WhatsApp Data Sharing, reports Bloomberg

General

Jul 19, 2024

Meta Platforms Inc., owner of WhatsApp, has been fined $220 million by Nigeria’s antitrust agency for breaching data and privacy laws.

The Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission found WhatsApp's May 2021 privacy policy update unfairly imposed on Nigerian users. Despite Meta proposing remedies in April, the commission's concerns were not resolved.

Meta must now reinstate Nigerian users' control over their data, ensure compliance with data protection laws, and cease sharing WhatsApp user information with other Facebook companies and third parties. Meta has not yet responded to requests for comment.

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NBCUniversal Crosses Upfront Finish Line First With Modest Growth, reports AdWeek

General

Jul 19, 2024

NBCUniversal has successfully concluded its upfront talks, achieving modest growth across its portfolio, driven by audiences, live programming, and streaming. The company saw record-breaking commitments in sports, Peacock, and digital platforms.

NBCU did not disclose total volume or CPMs but expressed satisfaction with pricing. Highlights include significant year-over-year growth in sports digital, Hispanic sports investments, and direct-to-consumer advertising. The company experienced increases across various sectors, including auto, retail, and insurance.

Key future events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Super Bowl LX are expected to drive further opportunities. Over half of NBCUniversal’s business now involves broad and advanced audience transactions.

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Outbrain is closing in on a deal to merge with Altice-owned adtech company Teads, reports Insider

M&A

Jul 19, 2024

Outbrain is close to acquiring or merging with Teads, an adtech company owned by Altice, although the deal is not yet finalised. The acquisition would combine Outbrain's performance advertising focus with Teads' strength in video and brand advertising.

Outbrain, which has struggled in public markets, hopes this move will diversify its business. The deal is likely backed by a financial sponsor.

Altice, burdened by significant debt, is eager to sell Teads. Despite seeking €3 billion, the sale price may be influenced by the current market's lukewarm interest in adtech acquisitions.

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Europe’s new influencer marketing alliance aims to address ad disclosure concerns, reports The Media Leader

General

Jul 18, 2024

Influencer Marketing

A new European alliance, the European Influencer Marketing Alliance (EIMA), has been formed by influencer marketing bodies from the UK, France, and Germany to improve self-regulatory standards across the continent.

EIMA aims to share local expertise and present a unified voice to regulators, legislators, and the media amidst increased scrutiny and growth in the influencer marketing industry. It has joined the European Advertising Standards Alliance as an associate member.

EIMA plans to conduct large-scale assessments of advertising disclosure adherence and address key issues such as AI influencers, misinformation, and the protection of underage influencers, aiming for policy standardisation across Europe.

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Ad industry coalition targeted by conservatives, reports Axios

General

Jul 18, 2024

The Daily Wire, a conservative media company, has urged major corporations to reject the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), alleging it colludes to demonetise conservative outlets. This follows a House Judiciary Committee report claiming GARM silences conservatives.

Formed by the World Federation of Advertisers in 2019, GARM sets brand safety standards. The Daily Wire's letter supports free speech but accuses GARM of targeting conservative media. Evidence from emails suggests GARM and GroupM, an ad-buying giant, unfairly scrutinised conservative outlets.

Further Congressional investigations may follow, but changes to GARM's practices depend on the broader advertising industry's response.

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Proportion of UK businesses increasing marketing spend hits 10-year high, reports The Media Leader

General

Jul 18, 2024

UK businesses saw the highest increase in marketing budgets in over a decade in Q2, with a net positive balance of 15.9%, up from 9.4% in Q1. This growth follows years of economic challenges, indicating increased optimism for 2024. Events, direct marketing, and sales promotions saw significant budget increases, while main media advertising returned to growth, driven by online and video.

The survey, conducted before the 4 July general election, reflected positive sentiment due to Labour's pro-growth stance.

Despite ongoing financial strains for consumers, businesses expect declining interest rates to boost economic confidence further.

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Google and NBCU Surprisingly Partner to Power the Olympics With AI, reports AdWeek

General

Jul 18, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Google, Team USA, and NBCUniversal have announced a partnership for the 2024 Olympics, making Google the Official Search AI Partner of Team USA. This collaboration aims to enhance Olympic coverage by utilising Google's AI technology, including Search, Maps, and Gemini products, to tell athletes' stories dynamically.

NBCUniversal will use Google’s AI features to provide insights during broadcasts and social media. Highlights include Leslie Jones using Google Gemini for comedic segments and enhanced 3D broadcasts of Olympic venues.

This partnership supports NBCU’s strategy to engage audiences with innovative, tech-driven content during its extensive 7,000-hour coverage of the games.

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Advertisers have an image problem that ANA’s new ethics code seeks to address, reports AdAge

General

Jul 18, 2024

Responsible Media

The Association of National Advertisers (ANA) has released a new 82-page ethics code to improve trust in marketers. The "ANA Ethics Code of Marketing Best Practices" addresses areas such as AI, NFTs, cryptocurrency, and marketers' obligations for truth, transparency, and bias elimination. The code arrives amid declining public trust, with advertisers ranking low on ethical standards.

It includes guidelines on transparency, consent, and eliminating bias. The code also covers ethical AI use in media and data governance.

While aspirational, it aligns with current laws and aims to serve as a guide for best practices. Enforcement will involve ANA and other regulatory bodies.

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X Offers Misleading Engagement Numbers, Advertising Sees Drastic Drops, reports MediaPost

General

Jul 18, 2024

Despite Elon Musk's claims of record engagement on X, a report by Tracer indicates significant declines in user engagement and advertising.

In June, X's advertising metrics plummeted, with click-through rates dropping 78% month-over-month and cost-per-thousand decreasing 17%. This contradicts Musk's reported high engagement figures, which appear inconsistent with previous data.

While X struggles, competitors like Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest have seen substantial increases in user engagement, driven by new video features. TikTok and LinkedIn have also shown strong performance, with TikTok experiencing increased CPMs and CTRs, and LinkedIn becoming more costly for advertisers due to rising CPMs and decreased CTRs.

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Video spending to grow to $63 billion in 2024, according to research, reports Marketing Brew

General

Jul 18, 2024

Digital video ad spend is projected to grow by 16% to $63 billion in 2024, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). Digital video, which includes connected TV, online video, and social video, will surpass linear ad spend this year.

Advertisers prioritise "business outcomes" such as website visits or purchases. CPG and retail brands are the biggest spenders, projected to invest $12.6 billion and $7.4 billion respectively. Three-quarters of connected TV buys are done programmatically, with 89% of advertisers exploring alternative currencies.

In 2023, digital ad spend reached a record $225 billion, growing 7.3% year-over-year.

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Ad Tech Leans On SMBs To Oppose The Next Attempt At A Federal Privacy Law, reports AdExchanger

General

Jul 18, 2024

Big Tech platforms like Google and Meta, along with trade organisations such as the IAB, oppose the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA), arguing it over-regulates data collection and harms advertisers and publishers. APRA aims to restrict data collection to only what's necessary for providing services.

A study commissioned by Google and the Connected Commerce Council (CCC) found that 82% of small businesses attribute revenue growth to personalised digital ads, with 20% potentially closing if APRA passes.

Critics argue that APRA doesn't balance consumer privacy with business needs, threatening the viability of personalised advertising essential for small businesses to compete.

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Microsoft Advertising introduces Performance Max brand lists, reports Search Engine Land

General

Jul 18, 2024

Microsoft Ads has introduced "brand lists" for Performance Max (PMax) campaigns, giving advertisers greater control over brand image and ad placement. This feature allows advertisers to exclude their ads from appearing alongside specific brands, potentially enhancing ad relevance and return on ad spend (ROAS).

Advertisers can create up to 20 brand lists, adding brands from a predefined list or requesting new ones. Brand exclusions apply to branded search queries, covering misspellings automatically and undergoing an editorial review process.

This move aims to help advertisers mitigate risks and display ads with relevant content, enhancing Microsoft Ads' competitiveness with Google Ads.

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Italy's antitrust takes aim at Google over personal data usage, reports Reuters

General

Jul 18, 2024

Italy's antitrust agency has launched an investigation into Google and its parent company Alphabet for alleged unfair commercial practices related to users' personal data.

The agency claims Google's request for user consent to link multiple services may be misleading and aggressive, failing to clarify the impact on personal data use. This practice could restrict user freedom by encouraging consent for combined data usage across Google services.

Google stated it will cooperate with the investigation. Companies found breaching consumer rights in Italy face fines from 5,000 to 10 million euros.

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Netflix Earnings For Q2 2024 Show +16.8% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +44.3% YoY

+ 17% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Jul 18, 2024

CNBC reports:

Netflix reported strong second-quarter earnings, adding global subscribers and seeing significant growth in its advertising business.

The ad-supported memberships grew 34% year-on-year, bolstering Netflix's stock. For the quarter ended 30 June, Netflix earned $4.88 per share, surpassing expectations of $4.74, with revenue at $9.56 billion. Total memberships reached 277.65 million, exceeding forecasts. Netflix projects full-year revenue growth of 14-15%. Net income rose to $2.15 billion.

Despite password-sharing crackdowns and a cheaper ad-supported tier, Netflix plans to focus on scaling and monetising its ad inventory. It will discontinue quarterly membership updates from 2025, emphasising revenue and operating margins.

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NBA sends media terms to Warner Bros. Discovery, officially starting five-day match period, reports CNBC

General

Jul 18, 2024

With NBA media rights nearing finalisation, Warner Bros. Discovery has received terms for a new media rights contract. The company has five days to match a broadcasting rights package initially set for Amazon.

The deal includes agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon, totalling $76 billion over 11 years, starting in 2025-26, and includes WNBA games. Warner Bros. Discovery, a partner with the NBA for nearly 40 years, plans to match Amazon's $1.8 billion per year package, which includes playoff games and an in-season tournament.

The outcome remains uncertain, potentially leading to legal action. Warner Bros. Discovery shares have fallen 23% this year.

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Apple Is in Talks to License More Films from Hollywood, reports Bloomberg

General

Jul 18, 2024

Apple Inc. is in discussions to license more films from major Hollywood studios to enhance its Apple TV+ streaming service. Traditionally focused on original productions, Apple aims to offer a mix of new series and classic films, mirroring competitors like Netflix.

This shift follows the successful licensing of around 50 movies earlier this year, including classics like Mean Girls and Titanic. Despite a few hits like Ted Lasso, Apple TV+ has a lower user base and higher cancellation rates compared to Netflix.

Hollywood studios are open to these deals, as they seek to boost revenue through licensing.

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Publicis Groupe Earnings For H1 2024 Show +5.9% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +24.1% YoY

+ 6% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Jul 18, 2024

Bloomberg reports:

Publicis Group SA has raised its annual net revenue growth guidance to 5%-6%, up from 4%-5%, following robust growth in the first half of the year, particularly in China and the US. CEO Arthur Sadoun attributed this to the company gaining market share even in declining markets.

For the upper range of growth, the advertising industry's macroeconomic context must improve in the year's second half.

Publicis' strategy includes investments in data analysis and AI, with plans to spend €300 million over three years to enhance campaign personalisation and audience targeting. Shares rose 5.5% following the announcement.

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Meta decides to suspend its generative AI tools in Brazil, reports Reuters

General

Jul 18, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Meta Platforms has suspended the use of generative AI tools in Brazil following the government's objections to its new privacy policy concerning personal data and AI.

Brazil, a significant market for Meta with over 200 million people, has the second-largest user base for WhatsApp after India. Earlier this month, Brazil's National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) halted Meta's new privacy policy regarding AI training.

Meta stated it will suspend the tools while negotiating with ANPD to resolve concerns over generative AI.

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For Olympic activations, brands are turning to platforms beyond broadcast, reports Marketing Brew

General

Jul 17, 2024

The Olympics is expected to be a major broadcast event this summer, but many younger viewers may engage more through social platforms like TikTok. Consequently, both the organising committee and advertisers are focusing on a significant social media presence alongside NBC's broadcast.

This marks a shift towards an interconnected ecosystem, involving athletes and social media throughout the event. National teams and brands, such as Team Great Britain and Coca-Cola, are increasing their social media efforts.

Emerging media platforms like podcasts and newsletters are also capitalising on Olympic interest, providing alternative ways for brands to connect with audiences beyond traditional broadcasting.

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InMobi eyes $10 billion valuation in 2025 India IPO, reports TechCrunch

General

Jul 17, 2024

Adtech startup InMobi is planning an initial public offering (IPO) in India next year, aiming for a valuation of around $10 billion, sources told TechCrunch.

InMobi, which will relocate from Singapore to India, will list at the group level, including its advertising arm and ownership in Glance. The company, expected to generate over $700 million in annual revenue by March, aims to be one of India's biggest software listings. Founded in 2007, InMobi serves clients like Mastercard and Coca-Cola.

Glance, installed on over 450 million smartphones, will soon incorporate generative AI for personalised user experiences without collecting personal data.

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Amazon Prime Day: Ad Spend Contributes To An Estimated $14B Consumer Spend Online, reports MediaPost

General

Jul 17, 2024

On the first day of Amazon Prime Day, consumers spent $7.2 billion, reflecting an 11.7% year-over-year growth, marking it as the largest ecommerce day of 2024. Mobile shopping contributed $3.5 billion, representing 49.3% of total online spend.

Adobe Analytics highlighted significant revenue lifts across marketing channels: social networks (16%), display ads (12.5%), and affiliates/influencer marketing (9.8%). Paid search rose by 6.2%. Key product sales included electronics, up 33%, with significant increases in headphones, Bluetooth speakers (164%), and video games (134%).

Adobe forecasts a record $14 billion spend over the two-day event, continuing strong ecommerce growth throughout 2024.

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Microsoft’s AI-powered, Canva-like Designer app lands on iOS and Android, reports TechCrunch

General

Jul 17, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Microsoft announced the official release of its AI-powered Designer app, previously in preview, now available on iOS and Android. The app, similar to Canva, enables users to create images and designs using text prompts for items like stickers, greeting cards, and collages.

Available in over 80 languages, Designer features "prompt templates" to inspire creativity and allows users to share templates. It also offers tools to edit and restyle images, including a soon-to-be-added "replace background" feature.

Additionally, Designer is integrated into Word and PowerPoint through Copilot and Microsoft Photos on Windows 11 for enhanced photo editing capabilities.

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Meta won't offer future multimodal AI models in EU, reports Axios

General

Jul 17, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Meta will withhold its upcoming multimodal AI model from the European Union due to regulatory uncertainties. This decision, mirroring Apple's recent move, highlights the growing tension between U.S. tech giants and EU regulators.

Meta's new models, capable of processing video, audio, images, and text, will be unavailable to EU customers. Although a larger text-only version of the Llama 3 model will be available in the EU, Meta's broader plans are hindered by compliance challenges with GDPR.

The UK, despite having similar laws, will receive the new models, reflecting a disparity in regulatory interpretation and response times.

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Elon Musk Wants His AI Bot to Deliver the News. It Is Struggling With the Job, reports WSJ

General

Jul 17, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Elon Musk's AI model, Grok, available on the X platform, aims to provide news summaries based on user posts. However, Grok has displayed inaccuracies, notably after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, where it generated erroneous headlines.

These errors, stemming from Grok's misinterpretation of sarcastic posts, highlight the pitfalls of relying on AI for real-time news aggregation. Despite Musk's promotion of Grok's real-time capabilities, the tool's inaccuracies suggest a need for human oversight.

This underscores the challenge of using humour-inclined AI in serious news contexts, as evidenced by its missteps in summarising recent events.

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EU antitrust regulators want to know if Google and Samsung's chatbot deal hinders rivals, reports Reuters

General

Jul 17, 2024

EU antitrust regulators are investigating whether Google's multi-year AI deal with Samsung restricts rival chatbots on Samsung smartphones.

According to an EU document seen by Reuters, the European Commission is gathering information to assess the impact of Samsung embedding Google’s Gemini Nano in its Galaxy S24 series. The inquiry aims to determine if this pre-installation limits other generative AI systems or affects interoperability with other chatbots and apps.

he Commission's questionnaire asks if competitors have struggled to secure pre-installation deals and seeks detailed reasons for any rejections. Responses to the eight-page questionnaire are due this week.

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Paramount’s new self-serve ad platform aims to bring smaller marketers to TV, reports AdAge

General

Jul 17, 2024

Paramount has launched a self-serve ad platform in the U.S. to attract new TV advertisers, particularly small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs), tapping into growing digital ad budgets.

This platform allows advertisers to access Paramount's streaming inventory on Paramount+ and Pluto TV with a minimum commitment of $500, enabling campaigns to start the next day. Advertisers can target ads by location, demographic, and content genres. The platform also includes creative AI tools for generating TV ads from text and imagery.

Paramount aims to make TV advertising more accessible, providing performance metrics and future business attribution tools to measure ad impact.

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GroupM names Brian Lesser global CEO, reports AdAge

General

Jul 17, 2024

Leadership Transitions

GroupM Global CEO Christian Juhl is stepping down from his role, with Brian Lesser set to replace him, WPP announced on Wednesday. Juhl will become president of corporate development at WPP.

Lesser, former CEO of InfoSum, returns to GroupM, having led its North American business from 2015 to 2017. Juhl, CEO since 2019, departs as GroupM undergoes significant restructuring in North America to provide integrated, data-driven solutions for clients.

Despite GroupM's strength in scale, it has faced challenges with account losses, leadership changes, and layoffs. Juhl succeeded Kelly Clark as GroupM Global CEO in 2019.

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Barb completes major expansion of panel, reports The Media Leader

General

Jul 17, 2024

Barb has significantly expanded its nationally representative TV audience measurement panel from 5,150 to 7,000 UK households, now covering around 16,000 people. This development includes new metering technology and supports Barb’s reporting on four-screen viewing, on-demand services, video-sharing platforms, and dynamically served advertising.

The Barb Panel Plus initiative will integrate the new panel members, allowing the incorporation of return path and first-party data from various media owners.

Caroline Baxter, Barb’s chief operating officer, emphasised the importance of this expansion to ensure robust and high-quality panel-based measurement for delivering independent insights to the UK TV and advertising industry.

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Amazon Advertising Portal Crashes, Disrupting Prime Day Sale, reports Bloomberg

General

Jul 17, 2024

Amazon.com Inc.’s marketing portal for merchants crashed on Tuesday night, disrupting one of the year's biggest sales events, Prime Day. The self-service advertising portal, crucial for merchants to manage their ad budgets and keywords, went offline, leaving brands without control over their ad spending.

Prime Day sales initially surged, with a 12% increase in the first seven hours compared to last year. However, the crash left many sellers unable to adjust their advertisements.

Amazon has not yet provided a comment on the issue. Sellers discussed the problems extensively on private channels and LinkedIn.

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TikTok Loses First Court Challenge to EU’s Big Tech Crackdown, reports Bloomberg

General

Jul 17, 2024

TikTok lost its initial legal challenge against the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which targets Big Tech companies like Google and Apple. The EU's General Court ruled that TikTok, owned by ByteDance, meets the thresholds to be regulated under the DMA.

This act, effective since March, aims to prevent powerful tech firms from engaging in anti-competitive practices. TikTok, along with Apple and Meta, contested this designation. The court's decision can be appealed to the European Court of Justice.

Additionally, TikTok faces scrutiny over its influence and potential harmful features for children under the EU’s Digital Services Act.

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Trump says I'm for TikTok as potential US ban looms, reports Reuters

General

Jul 17, 2024

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has expressed support for TikTok, despite a potential ban if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, does not divest its U.S. assets. Trump argued that competition is necessary, contrasting TikTok with Facebook and Instagram.

Previously, Trump tried to ban TikTok and WeChat in 2020, but the courts blocked the move, and President Biden later withdrew the ban orders. Trump himself recently joined TikTok and criticised Meta Platforms for suspending him after the Capitol Hill riot.

A U.S. appeals court will hear challenges to the law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. assets by January 19, 2024.

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Apple revamps App Store search layout, emphasizing ads and suggestions, reports Search Engine Land

General

Jul 16, 2024

Apple has updated the App Store's Search tab by removing the Discover section and prominently placing suggested apps, including ads, below the search bar. This change is expected to increase ad exposure and click-through rates for app install ads.

Key updates include the removal of the Discover section, the addition of suggested apps and an ad, expandable suggestions, direct category browsing, and moving Top charts to the Browse section.

The new layout aims to streamline the search experience while boosting visibility for paid app promotions, potentially impacting app discovery patterns and ad performance metrics for developers and advertisers.

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Omnicom Earnings For Q2 2024 Show +6.8% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Down By -9.1% YoY

+ 7% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Jul 16, 2024

Reuters reports:

Omnicom Group exceeded Wall Street expectations for second-quarter profit and revenue, driven by strong growth in its advertising and media segment.

Brands increased their ad spending ahead of the U.S. presidential election and events like the Paris Olympics. The advertising and media segment grew by 7.8% compared to the same period last year. Omnicom's revenue for the quarter was $3.85 billion, surpassing the expected $3.82 billion. The precision marketing segment, including the Flywheel e-commerce cloud platform, grew by 1.4%.

Omnicom launched ArtBotAI, an intelligent content platform, to create scalable, high-quality content. The adjusted earnings per share were $1.95, slightly above the $1.93 expected.

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Meta expands overlay ads to Instagram Reels, reports Search Engine Land

General

Jul 16, 2024

Meta has introduced overlay ads to Instagram Reels, allowing advertisers to place banner ads at the bottom of the screen during Reels playback. This update, following the earlier addition of overlay ads on Facebook Reels, aligns with Meta’s strategy to monetise Reels across its platforms.

Advertisers can use single-image or image carousel ads, accessible via Meta Ads Manager through Advantage+ or manual placements.

As Instagram Reels continues to grow in user engagement, this feature provides a flexible way for advertisers to reach a broader audience. The rollout of these features is gradual, so availability may vary among advertisers.

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N.B.A. Board Backs TV Rights Deals, but Steps Remain, reports NYT

General

Jul 16, 2024

The NBA’s Board of Governors has approved new agreements for broadcasting rights, signalling a major shift in how the sport will be viewed over the next decade. Though financial details and company names remain undisclosed, Disney, Comcast, and Amazon are reported to be close to deals, potentially paying the NBA around $76 billion over 11 years. ESPN, NBC, and Amazon are expected to pay approximately $2.6 billion, $2.5 billion, and $1.8 billion annually, respectively.

Warner Bros. Discovery, currently broadcasting NBA games on TNT, may match Amazon's offer to remain a broadcaster.

The new agreements, starting in the 2025-26 season, will significantly increase the NBA’s broadcasting revenue, influenced by the growing importance of streaming services.

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Disney Is Trying to Be as Addictive as Netflix, reports WSJ

General

Jul 16, 2024

Disney is focusing on increasing viewer engagement on its streaming services, Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+.

To reduce subscriber churn and boost ad revenue, Disney is developing features like personalised content recommendations, custom promotional art, and reminders to finish watching shows. The company plans to introduce pop-up live channels to streamline viewing experiences.

CEO Bob Iger is driving this initiative, aiming to make the streaming business profitable by the end of the fiscal year. Disney's efforts include integrating Hulu content into Disney+ and improving recommendation algorithms to compete with Netflix, which is considered the "gold standard" in streaming.

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IAB: Digital video advertising KPIs shift, with business outcomes on top, reports MarketingDive

General

Jul 16, 2024

Advertisers are increasingly prioritising business outcomes, such as sales and store visits, as key performance indicators (KPIs) for digital video campaigns, diverging from video’s traditional focus on reach, according to an IAB report. However, two-thirds of buyers find current measurement tools for performance advertising in video lacking.

With 89% of advertisers testing or using new measurement solutions, there is a shift towards performance-driven marketing. Digital video ad spending is predicted to rise 16% in 2024, driven by social video.

Despite growth, measurement issues persist, particularly for small advertisers targeting niche audiences, underscoring the need for better data and transparency.

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GroupM hires Flywheel executive to bolster retail media credentials, reports The Media Leader

General

Jul 16, 2024

Leadership Transitions

GroupM, WPP’s media-buying division, has appointed Sandy Welsch as Executive Director, Global Partnerships and Enablement, starting 23 July. Welsch, formerly of Flywheel, will lead GroupM’s global commerce partnerships strategy, working with retailers, technology, and platform partners to benefit clients.

His appointment underscores WPP’s focus on enhancing retail media capabilities and continuing to centralise key functions under GroupM CEO Christian Juhl. Welsch will collaborate closely with Choreograph's commerce product team, aiming to drive innovation and client growth in the evolving commerce landscape.

GroupM is also developing strategic partnerships to place retail data and technology at the core of media and marketing approaches.

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Taboola to sell ads for Apple, reports Axios

General

Jul 16, 2024

Ad tech giant Taboola has secured a deal with Apple to power native advertising in the Apple News and Apple Stocks apps, marking significant validation for Taboola’s business, which generated over $1.4 billion in 2023. This collaboration highlights Apple's need for a robust sales operation to grow its ad business.

Taboola, which works with over 9,000 publishers and 18,000 advertisers globally, will now sell ads within these apps in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia.

This partnership reflects a broader trend of major companies building ad businesses to enhance service affordability and accessibility.

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Amazon Prime Day Sales Rise 13% in First Six Hours of Event, reports Bloomberg

General

Jul 16, 2024

Amazon's Prime Day sales rose by about 13% in the first six hours compared to last year, indicating a strong performance, according to Momentum Commerce. The event, which began in 2015, aims to attract new Prime subscribers and deepen relationships with existing ones.

Analysts expect shoppers to buy items like headphones and chargers rather than high-ticket electronics. Prime Day can predict holiday shopping trends, with Adobe estimating $14 billion in online sales during the two-day event.

Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Sanders released a report suggesting the sales surge increases injury risks for Amazon workers, claims which Amazon disputes.

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FTC seeking details on Amazon deal with AI startup Adept, source says, reports Reuters

General

Jul 16, 2024

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has requested more details from Amazon regarding its hiring of top executives and researchers from AI startup Adept. This request forms part of a broader review of Big Tech partnerships with AI startups.

Amazon's recent recruitment of Adept CEO David Luan and others, alongside the licensing of Adept's technology, is under scrutiny. The inquiry aims to understand how these AI deals are structured.

Similar FTC investigations are ongoing, including one into Microsoft's acquisition of leadership from Inflection AI. The FTC's broader study examines how Big Tech's AI investments influence market strategies and competition.

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Microsoft Investigated by UK Over Ex-Inflection Staff Hires, reports Bloomberg

General

Jul 16, 2024

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is launching a phase one merger probe into Microsoft Corp.’s investment in Inflection AI, focusing on the hiring of the startup's former employees. The CMA has expressed concerns about large tech firms' investments in AI startups, suggesting they might be aiming to control emerging markets.

Microsoft’s $650 million investment, which included hiring Inflection's co-founder and most employees, is under scrutiny. Microsoft asserts that hiring talent promotes competition and should not be seen as a merger.

The CMA's decision on whether to escalate the probe is expected by September 11.

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Disney and Mecenas Renew Agreement to Build Multicultural Content, reports AdWeek

General

Jul 16, 2024

Diversity & Inclusion

Mecenas, a minority-owned media brand, and Disney Advertising have renewed their strategic content and distribution agreement, continuing their commitment to multicultural content. This follows the success of the Hulu series "Talking Sabor," which resonated with multicultural audiences.

The renewed deal expands their collaboration to include short-form content and enhanced ad opportunities on Hulu, particularly in the Hispanic and Latin American Stories Hub. Mecenas will create custom long-form series for Disney platforms, retaining all intellectual property rights.

Disney aims to further engage multicultural audiences, emphasising storytelling that reflects diverse communities. The partnership underscores Disney's strategy to integrate multiculturalism into mainstream advertising.

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Platforms struggle with misinformation and exploitation amid Trump assassination attempt, reports Digiday

General

Jul 16, 2024

The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has highlighted the ethical challenges platforms face as the presidential race intensifies.

Following the incident, political advertisers on Meta platforms began selling assassination-related merchandise and spreading conspiracy theories. Ads include items with images of Trump and text such as “Legends Never Die” and “Fight For America.” Meta’s ad library shows that these ads, although small in media spend, indicate opportunistic behaviour. The platform faces criticism for potentially profiting from such ads while trying to balance free speech, safety, and business interests.

This incident underscores the broader challenge platforms face in moderating content and maintaining trust during election cycles.

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Amid AI reality check, agencies navigate data security, stability and fairness, reports Digiday

General

Jul 15, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

The future of generative AI is uncertain, with a Goldman Sachs report questioning its value.

Despite this, AI tools have flooded the market, leading agencies to test them in controlled environments. Generative AI promises to make marketing more efficient but faces challenges like hallucinations, biases, and data security issues. Agencies are cautiously adopting AI, ensuring secure environments and legal protections. The industry lacks consensus on AI regulation, so brands and agencies must establish guardrails for data security and scalability.

As AI evolves, it’s essential to differentiate genuine AI innovations from overhyped claims.

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Hershey hands US media duties to Publicis, adding to agency’s win streak, reports MarketingDive

General

Jul 15, 2024

The Hershey Company has appointed Publicis Groupe to manage its U.S. media duties, forming a dedicated unit named MiltonOne. This decision follows a review conducted by MediaLink and excludes Hershey's international business.

Publicis was chosen for its expertise in strategic planning and data-driven marketing capabilities. The appointment aligns with Hershey's goal to centralise media operations and enhance its diversified snacking business amid rising marketing expenditures. Publicis will leverage AI to boost media efficiency, especially during key periods like Halloween.

This move marks another significant win for Publicis, which recently secured The Lego Group's global media account.

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Google and TikTok Fight Potentially Harmful Video Claims, reports MediaPost

General

Jul 15, 2024

Google and TikTok have requested a federal judge dismiss a lawsuit alleging they failed to remove harmful user posts, including videos promoting dangerous activities. They argue that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act shields web companies from liability for user-uploaded content, including decisions about removing such content.

The lawsuit, filed by parents and the Becca Schmill Foundation, claims children were harmed or killed due to content on the platforms.

Google and TikTok assert that Section 230 bars the claims and that they can't be sued for offering dangerously defective products, as these claims apply only to physical goods.

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Pernod Ricard Consolidates $120 Million EMEA Account With Carat, reports MediaPost

General

Jul 15, 2024

Pernod Ricard has consolidated its media account in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region with Dentsu’s Carat, which will handle an estimated $120 million in annual media spend. Incumbents included GroupM, Havas, Omnicom, and MG. Dentsu’s iProspect will retain and strengthen its existing assignment in Spain.

Eric Benoist, Pernod Ricard’s Global Chief Marketing Officer, announced that Carat will progressively onboard across markets from July 2024, aiming to enhance media strategies and audience engagement for their brands.

Pernod Ricard is the second largest spirits and wines marketer after Diageo.

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OpenAI working on new reasoning technology under code name Strawberry, reports Reuters

General

Jul 15, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI is developing a new AI project named "Strawberry" to enhance its models' reasoning abilities, Reuters reports. The project, still in progress, aims to enable AI to navigate the internet autonomously for "deep research." Strawberry models will perform tasks requiring advanced planning and decision-making.

The initiative follows a recent internal demonstration showcasing new human-like reasoning skills. OpenAI aims to refine its AI using a specialised post-training process, similar to Stanford's "Self-Taught Reasoner" method.

The development is part of OpenAI's strategy to significantly improve its AI's capabilities in reasoning and complex problem-solving.

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Ad execs sound the alarm over Google’s risky Privacy Sandbox terms, reports Digiday

General

Jul 15, 2024

Cookie Deprecation

Marketers are increasingly concerned about Google’s Privacy Sandbox due to contractual risks. Recent technical glitches highlighted the financial vulnerability for companies testing this cookie alternative, as Google disclaims liability.

The updated terms of service lack guarantees on data accuracy and operational reliability, shifting legal risks to third parties. Additionally, Google’s terms omit a crucial data processing agreement, posing GDPR compliance issues.

Despite assurances from Google about the sandbox’s reliability and openness, ad execs remain wary, feeling compelled to adapt to Google’s standards while fearing potential negative impacts on their businesses. This situation underscores Google’s dominant influence in the advertising industry.

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Spotify trims ad sales team as it focuses on smaller clients and programmatic, reports AdAge

General

Jul 15, 2024

Spotify is restructuring its ad sales team, resulting in the layoff of 40 global positions from account and campaign management, and the removal of 17 planned roles. The reorganization will merge account and campaign management teams under Pete Finnecy, head of account management in the Americas, forming a new "customer success team."

Spotify is also expanding its partnership with Accenture for additional support. This move aims to enhance Spotify's self-serve programmatic advertising business and cater to more small- and medium-sized clients.

The reorganisation follows a broader trend among tech companies to focus on smaller businesses.

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Volkswagen Group confirms media agency deal details, reports Campaign

General

Jul 12, 2024

Volkswagen Group has awarded its global media account to Omnicom Media Group (OMG) and PHD, confirming a three-year contract from 2025 to 2027. The decision follows a global pitch that began in 2021, paused, and restarted in 2023. Ebiquity managed the review to develop a new media operating model for VW.

PHD, the incumbent since 2016, retained the $2.2bn account (£1.7bn). The EMEA portion, worth $631.7m, places PHD at the top of the EMEA new-business league for 2024.

Other Omnicom agencies retained parts of the account in France, Poland, and Switzerland, while independent Space retained the Belgian portion.

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India antitrust probe finds Apple abused position in apps market, reports Reuters

General

Jul 12, 2024

India's antitrust body, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), found that Apple abused its dominant position in the iOS app store market, forcing developers to use its proprietary payment system. The confidential report indicates Apple significantly influences digital product distribution through its App Store, imposing unfair terms on app developers.

Apple, which faces similar scrutiny in the EU, denied wrongdoing, claiming a small market share in India dominated by Android.

The CCI's findings, following a 2021 investigation, could lead to fines and business practice changes. Apple, along with other parties, can respond before a final decision is made.

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Australia to bring anti-scam law targeting internet giants this year, regulator says, reports Reuters

General

Jul 12, 2024

Australia plans to introduce a law by year-end mandating internet companies to proactively prevent hosting scams or face significant fines, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The ACCC and the treasury department are consulting with internet, banking, and telecom firms to develop an enforceable anti-scam code.

This follows a surge in scam losses, tripling to AUD 2.7 billion from 2020 to 2023. Companies failing to comply could face fines up to AUD 50 million or 30% of turnover.

This law may create tensions with Big Tech, echoing past conflicts over media content payments.

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Elon Musk’s X Hit by EU Charges Over Blue Checkmarks, reports WSJ

General

Jul 12, 2024

Responsible Media

The European Union has charged Elon Musk's X, formerly Twitter, with breaching the Digital Services Act (DSA), potentially facing fines up to 6% of its global annual revenue.

The European Commission identified issues with X's blue checkmark feature, advertising transparency, and data access for researchers. The blue checkmark, now available via subscription, was criticised for potentially deceiving users. CEO Linda Yaccarino defended the verification system.

The EU is also probing X’s measures against illegal content and disinformation, and investigating other platforms like TikTok, Meta (Facebook and Instagram), and AliExpress for similar DSA compliance concerns.

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Amazon Brings Rufus AI Shopping Assistant to All US Customers, reports Bloomberg

General

Jul 12, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Amazon’s AI shopping assistant, Rufus, is now available to all US customers after five months of testing.

Accessible via Amazon’s smartphone apps, Rufus can assist with various queries such as finding durable outdoor speakers, comparing running shoes, or providing order updates. Additionally, Rufus can offer celebrity biographies, recommend lakes in Maine, or even write short stories.

This generative AI, trained on Amazon’s catalogue and the web, marks Amazon’s most significant consumer product utilising AI. The company also employs AI for summarising product reviews, developing tools for businesses, and enhancing its Alexa voice assistant.

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YouTube tempts creators with a half dozen new features for Shorts, reports TechCrunch

General

Jul 11, 2024

Influencer Marketing

As competition with TikTok and Reels intensifies, YouTube announced new features for YouTube Shorts, aiming to enhance its appeal.

Chief Product Officer Johanna Voolich introduced six tools, including automatic transformation of longer videos into Shorts and an "Add Yours" sticker to inspire content sharing. New features include auto-generated captions with customisation options, multiple voice narrations, and Minecraft-themed effects. Additionally, the auto-layout tool will simplify converting regular videos into Shorts by dynamically panning, zooming, and cropping. Another tool allows remixing from existing remixes.

YouTube Shorts now receives 70 billion daily views, and YouTube may test extending Shorts beyond 60 seconds.

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Hershey selects bespoke Publicis group for US media, reports AdAge

General

Jul 11, 2024

Hershey Co. has appointed a custom Publicis team, MiltonONE, as its new U.S. media account partner, consolidating media duties previously managed by multiple agencies. MiltonONE will handle media for Hershey’s candy, mint, gum, salty snacks, and protein units. The decision, aimed at centralising integrated media responsibilities, followed a two-month review led by MediaLink.

Hershey's advertising spend has grown recently, reaching nearly $604.9 million globally in 2023.

Vinny Rinaldi, Hershey’s head of U.S. media, praised Publicis for its expertise in strategic planning, integrated investment, and data and technology enhancements, which will support Hershey’s internal media capabilities.

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Walmart builds wide lead among US retail media networks, report finds, reports MarketingDive

General

Jul 11, 2024

Walmart's retail media network outperformed U.S. peers in Q1 2024, delivering 11 billion advertising impressions, according to Sensor Tower. Target followed with under 7 billion impressions, while Chewy, The Home Depot, and Kroger completed the top five.

Walmart led in onsite media impressions, thanks to its robust ad-tech infrastructure and data-sharing partnerships with platforms like TikTok and Disney. Offsite media is driving growth in the retail media sector as owned channels reach saturation.

Various industries, including personal care, food and beverage, and pet supplies, contributed to high impression levels, with co-branded ads boosting performance for networks like Chewy.

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Axel Springer and KKR in talks to break up media empire, reports FT

M&A

Jul 11, 2024

German billionaire Mathias Döpfner and private equity group KKR are negotiating a break-up of media conglomerate Axel Springer. The proposed deal would separate Axel Springer’s media assets, including Politico, Business Insider, Bild, and Die Welt, from its digital classifieds business, such as StepStone and Aviv.

Döpfner and Friede Springer would gain more control over the media properties, while KKR and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board would take over the classifieds portfolio. This separation could facilitate KKR’s exit from Axel Springer.

Although discussions are ongoing, no final deal has been reached. Axel Springer and KKR declined to comment on market rumours.

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Amazon expands ad offerings for non-Amazon sellers, reports Search Engine Land

General

Jul 11, 2024

Amazon has introduced a new beta feature for businesses not selling products on its platform, enabling them to generate leads via display ads across Amazon's extensive network. This allows advertisers to leverage Amazon's data-rich environment to expand their customer base.

The ads, which enable users to sign up for information directly within the ad creative, appear across Amazon’s properties, including Twitch and IMDb. This move aims to democratise access to Amazon’s data ecosystem for businesses of all sizes and signifies Amazon’s intent to compete more aggressively in the wider digital advertising market.

Interested businesses can contact their Amazon Ads Product Development Manager for access.

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Vivendi explores London listing for streaming service Canal+, reports FT

General

Jul 11, 2024

French media conglomerate Vivendi is considering a London listing for its Canal+ streaming service as part of its plan to split into four separate business units, including Havas advertising. This move could potentially revitalise the UK’s capital markets.

Vivendi’s largest shareholder, billionaire Vincent Bolloré, is evaluating various listing options, including Amsterdam. A final decision has not yet been made.

The split aims to address the disparity between Vivendi's share price and the value of its businesses. The company has also committed to a secondary listing in South Africa for Canal+ as part of its acquisition of MultiChoice.

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Criteo Collaborates with Microsoft Advertising to Drive Retail Media Growth

General

Jul 11, 2024

Criteo has announced a strategic collaboration with Microsoft Advertising to integrate Microsoft's extensive demand with Criteo's global network of 225 retailers. Microsoft Advertising will also adopt Criteo's monetisation technology for its retailer clients, aiming to create a unified retail media ecosystem.

Retail media, projected to exceed $150 billion in global ad spend by 2026, faces significant fragmentation challenges. This partnership aims to simplify the buying experience for global advertisers and enhance campaign performance for Microsoft's 500,000+ advertisers.

The collaboration, set to roll out in late 2024, will also explore leveraging Microsoft's generative AI innovations to optimise ad creatives.

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House grills Unilever and GroupM execs, alleging collusion against X, right-wing sites, reports AdAge

General

Jul 11, 2024

The House Judiciary Committee questioned executives from Unilever and WPP’s GroupM regarding allegations that the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) violated antitrust laws by coordinating actions to demonetise disfavoured media content.

GARM, comprising major advertisers, agencies, and media platforms, is accused of colluding to silence conservative voices and cut ad revenue to certain platforms. Unilever and GroupM executives defended their practices, stating that advertising decisions are not politically motivated but based on brand safety and consumer interests.

The report raised concerns about the impact of these practices on free speech and called for further scrutiny, although significant antitrust action is unlikely under the current administration.

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US Republican lawmakers concerned over Microsoft-G42 AI deal, letter says, reports Reuters

General

Jul 11, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Republican lawmakers are seeking an intelligence briefing from the Biden administration regarding Microsoft’s $1.5 billion investment in UAE-based AI firm G42, due to concerns about sensitive technology transfer and G42’s links to China.

In a letter to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Congressmen Michael McCaul and John Moolenaar requested the briefing before the deal's second phase. They cited risks of intellectual property transfer to China and G42's history of digital surveillance. The lawmakers urged an Intelligence Community assessment of G42's ties to China’s government and military.

G42, Microsoft, and U.S. officials have yet to comment.

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US House seeks to boost DOJ defense of TikTok crackdown law, reports Reuters

General

Jul 11, 2024

A U.S. House committee voted to release a transcript of a closed March hearing on TikTok's threats, aiding the Justice Department's defence of a law requiring its Chinese owner ByteDance to divest U.S. assets.

ByteDance, TikTok, and creators have sued to block the law, which could ban TikTok if divestment isn’t done by January 2025. Committee chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers highlighted national security risks posed by foreign-controlled apps. TikTok criticised the legislative process as secretive and rushed.

The Justice Department will respond to lawsuits by July 26, with court arguments set for September 16.

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Snap opens walled garden to VideoAmp for cross-media planning, reports AdAge

General

Jul 11, 2024

Snap has integrated its first-party data with VideoAmp’s identity system, enabling advertisers to target advanced audiences on Snapchat, connected TV networks, and other platforms. This partnership allows for cross-platform planning and measurement, responding to agency demands for integrated tools.

While Snap's move doesn't match the scale of larger platforms like Google or Meta, it surpasses X, Pinterest, and Reddit in daily audience size.

This initiative aims to enhance cross-channel video planning and may encourage other social platforms to follow suit. VideoAmp’s cookieless solution facilitates this integration, potentially boosting AR advertising.

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Google makes changes to privacy oversight, worrying policymakers, reports Politico

General

Jul 11, 2024

Several top privacy and regulatory officials at Google have recently left the company, and a key oversight team has been disbanded, raising concerns among policymakers.

These changes come amidst fears that Google may be launching new AI products without adequate user protections.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has previously required Google to maintain a comprehensive privacy programme. Although Google claims it has maintained its privacy standards and restructured teams for greater efficiency, critics argue that the new hires lack the expertise of their predecessors and may not challenge privacy concerns effectively. This has sparked calls for the FTC to investigate.

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Amazon could face probe over treatment of UK grocery suppliers, watchdog says, reports Reuters

General

Jul 11, 2024

Britain's grocery regulator has warned Amazon to improve its adherence to the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) or face a formal investigation.

The Groceries Code Adjudicator's (GCA) 2024 survey revealed that less than half of Amazon's direct suppliers believe the company consistently complies with the Code, which ensures fair treatment of suppliers. Amazon's compliance score dropped to 47%, placing it last among the 14 largest grocery retailers.

The GCA demands "swift and comprehensive action" from Amazon to comply, with potential financial penalties of up to 1% of UK turnover if standards are not met. Amazon claims it has made improvements and plans further changes.

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