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US Justice Department Seeks to Unwind Google’s Anthropic Deal, reports Bloomberg

General

Nov 21, 2024

The US Justice Department has proposed that Google unwind its partnership with AI startup Anthropic as part of remedies in an antitrust case over its search monopoly. The filing suggests banning Google from investments or collaborations with firms that control query-based AI or search products, including Anthropic, in which Google pledged $2 billion. The proposal also calls for Google to divest its Chrome browser, deemed critical to its dominance.

Google criticised the plan, warning it could hinder AI innovation.

The UK recently declined to review Google’s Anthropic deal further, despite concerns over Big Tech’s influence in the AI sector.

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Justice Department Seeks Google Chrome Sale to Curb Monopoly, reports Bloomberg

General

Nov 21, 2024

The US Justice Department and several states have proposed measures to address Google's illegal online search monopoly, including forcing the sale of its Chrome web browser and potentially the Android operating system. The government argues that divesting Chrome would end Google’s dominance of a key internet gateway, promoting competition. Additional remedies include licensing Google’s search data and results to rivals, allowing websites to opt out of Google’s AI products, and giving advertisers more control over ad placement.

Google criticised the proposal as harmful to consumers and businesses.

The court will review the remedies in hearings scheduled for April 2024.

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Australia launches landmark bill to ban social media for children under 16, reports Reuters

General

Nov 21, 2024

Advertising To Children

Australia's government has proposed a bill to ban social media for children under 16, imposing fines of up to A$49.5 million for breaches. The law mandates platforms, not parents, to enforce age verification using biometrics or government IDs, with no exemptions for parental consent or existing accounts. Children will still access essential services like messaging and educational tools.

The bill aims to address social media's impact on children’s mental and physical health, citing harmful content exposure. Privacy protections will require platforms to delete collected data.

If passed, this would establish some of the world's strictest social media regulations for minors.

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Mediaocean Buying Adtech Company Innovid for $500 Million, reports WSJ

M&A

Nov 21, 2024

Mediaocean is acquiring ad tech company Innovid for $500 million, with plans to merge it with Flashtalking, another company it acquired in 2021. Mediaocean provides widely used software for managing ad deals, while Innovid specialises in connected TV and ad measurement, having acquired TVSquared in 2022.

The deal, expected to close in early 2024, aims to enhance Mediaocean's ability to offer brands greater control over data and ad spending, challenging "walled gardens" like Google. Mediaocean's CEO Bill Wise emphasised the need for independent, neutral ad tech.

Analysts regard Mediaocean as an essential system in the advertising industry.

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Bluesky Is Having a Moment, But Most Brands Aren't Ready to Jump In Yet, reports AdWeek

General

Nov 21, 2024

Bluesky, a decentralised social media platform, has gained popularity as a controlled alternative to X (formerly Twitter), but it lacks advertising options and scale to attract brands significantly.

Although user numbers have surged to over 21 million, Bluesky remains dwarfed by rivals like Meta's Threads and X. Brands like Duolingo and Netflix are reserving handles but are hesitant to invest further.

Bluesky's ad-free ethos, supported by its customisable algorithms, challenges traditional advertising models. The platform's growth depends on creators and quality content to draw more users, potentially offering brands indirect opportunities via creator collaborations in the future.

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Publicis Sapient, Google Cloud Unveil Global Partnership, reports MediaPost

General

Nov 21, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Publicis Sapient has partnered with Google Cloud to advance generative AI adoption and scale AI solutions for enterprise clients. A dedicated Google Cloud business unit will focus on planning, deploying, and managing AI projects.

The collaboration aims to enhance efficiency and innovation through joint sales efforts, marketing solutions, and AI talent development. Publicis Sapient will leverage Google’s Gemini models to modernise client operations, with one banking client already seeing efficiency improvements of up to 40%.

This partnership builds on Publicis Groupe's broader transformation into an "intelligent system company" with AI integrated across its operations.

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Google faces call from DuckDuckGo for new EU probes into tech rule compliance, reports Reuters

General

Nov 20, 2024

DuckDuckGo has urged the European Commission to launch further investigations into Google's compliance with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA requires major tech companies, including Google, to make it easier for users to switch to rival services and prohibits favouritism towards their own products.

DuckDuckGo claims Google is circumventing its obligations by offering anonymised search data that excludes most queries and making it difficult for users to switch search engines.

Google, already under investigation for its app store rules and alleged discrimination in search results, insists it complies with the DMA while protecting user data.

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News Corp Shareholders Reject Activist Bid to End Dual-Class Share Structure, reports WSJ

General

Nov 20, 2024

Leadership Transitions

News Corp shareholders voted to retain the company's dual-class share structure, rejecting activist investor Starboard Value's proposal to equalise voting power across all shares. Currently, Class B shares, largely owned by the Murdoch family, hold greater voting rights.

Starboard argued the structure posed governance risks and cited legal disputes involving the Murdoch family. Proxy-advisory firms supported the proposal, advocating equal voting rights, but News Corp maintained that the dual-class structure ensured stability.

Following the annual meeting, News Corp expressed satisfaction with the shareholder decision, which also confirmed the election of the company’s full slate of directors.

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Elon Musk’s xAI Startup Is Valued at $50 Billion in New Funding Round, reports WSJ

General

Nov 20, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI has raised $5 billion, increasing its valuation to $50 billion. Key investors include Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, Sequoia Capital, and Andreessen Horowitz.

xAI plans to use the funds to expand its Memphis data centre and acquire 100,000 additional Nvidia chips to develop its AI models.

The company’s Grok chatbot, launched in late 2023, is available to premium subscribers of Musk’s X platform and business clients. Musk aims to compete with OpenAI, which he has sued for alleged fraud. xAI will launch its third Grok language model in December, claiming it will be the most powerful AI.

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40% of an Ecommerce Brand’s Pmax Buys Were Served on AI-spun MFA Sites and Dead Domains, reports AdWeek

General

Nov 20, 2024

Made For Advertising

Advertisers using Google’s Performance Max (Pmax) campaigns are facing challenges with ads being served on low-quality, AI-generated "Made for Advertising" (MFA) sites, according to industry reports. Third-party analyses revealed that up to 40% of Pmax ad placements occur on questionable sites, some of which don’t even exist.

While Google offers tools like dynamic exclusion lists, blocking MFA sites is a reactive and labor-intensive process. Transparency issues persist, with vague placement reports and unaccounted ad spend, particularly within Google’s Video Partner inventory.

Critics argue that Google’s lack of robust inventory control undermines performance and trust in its advertising ecosystem.

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Google workers to DOJ: we need protections to make your breakup effective, reports The Verge

General

Nov 20, 2024

Google employees from the Alphabet Workers Union (AWU-CWA) met with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division to advocate for worker protections ahead of potential remedies to end Google’s search monopoly. They emphasised the need for safeguards against retaliation and encouraged empowering workers to voice compliance concerns.

The DOJ is considering remedies, including breaking up Google’s Chrome browser and Android OS, or implementing less drastic measures. The AWU-CWA criticised Google for discouraging discussions about the case.

Workers stressed that remedies must involve employee input, expressing concerns about potential job changes and a lack of transparency from Google management.

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Media Matters Urges Appellate Court To Block Texas AG's Investigation, reports MediaPost

General

Nov 20, 2024

Media Matters urged a U.S. appellate court to uphold an injunction preventing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from enforcing a subpoena against the watchdog group. The subpoena followed Media Matters' report alleging ads from brands like Apple and IBM appeared next to pro-Nazi posts on X (formerly Twitter).

Media Matters argued the subpoena violated its First Amendment rights, chilling its journalism. In April, a judge ruled in its favour, citing retaliation concerns. Texas countered that the subpoena hadn’t yet been enforced, questioning its prematurity.

The court questioned Texas’ justification and the broader implications of issuing subpoenas to news outlets.

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The Trade Desk is building a CTV operating system called Ventura, reports Axios

General

Nov 20, 2024

The Trade Desk is developing Ventura, a connected TV operating system (OS) set to launch in 2025, aiming to improve transparency in the CTV advertising ecosystem. CEO Jeff Green argues that current OS providers like Roku, Amazon, and Google have conflicts of interest due to their content ownership. Ventura will partner with hardware companies, avoiding direct competition with these platforms.

The Trade Desk’s privacy tool, Unified ID 2.0, will be integrated.

While not aiming for direct OS revenue, Ventura seeks to drive pricing transparency and stronger ad measurement. CTV is a growing ad channel, forecasted to reach $38.3 billion in 2024.

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Google prosecutors to propose cure for search monopoly, reports Reuters

General

Nov 20, 2024

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will outline remedies for Google’s illegal search monopoly, as ruled in August. Proposals include ending exclusive agreements with companies like Apple and potentially divesting businesses such as its Chrome browser or Android operating system. Google argues these measures would harm consumers and U.S. competitiveness in AI.

The case’s trajectory could shift with Donald Trump’s return to office, as he has expressed conflicting views on breaking up the company.

Google plans to appeal the final ruling, expected by August 2025, and will submit its own proposals in December ahead of a trial in April.

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Disney+ joins AudienceProject ad measurement platform in Europe, reports The Media Leader

General

Nov 20, 2024

Disney+ has partnered with AudienceProject to provide advertisers with independent audience measurement in Europe.

Starting in the UK, Germany, and the Nordics, the service will expand to other markets later. AudienceProject’s cross-media measurement platform allows Disney+ ad campaigns to be evaluated alongside linear TV, connected TV, online video, social media, and web campaigns. This collaboration supports advertisers in optimising investments across streaming and traditional channels.

AudienceProject, which also measures YouTube, has noted growing demand for Disney+ ad insights. Disney+’s ad-supported tier and strong user growth, surpassing 122 million subscribers, have boosted its profitability and advertiser interest.

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Apple to urge judge to end US smartphone monopoly case, reports Reuters

General

Nov 20, 2024

Apple is seeking to dismiss a U.S. Department of Justice antitrust case accusing it of dominating the smartphone market by restricting third-party app and device interoperability. Apple argues its practices are reasonable and foster innovation.

The lawsuit, filed under President Biden, targets Apple’s restrictions on app developers and barriers to competing devices and services. Apple cites similar failed claims in cases against Meta and Google as precedents.

U.S. District Judge Julien Neals will decide if the claims are plausible, allowing the case to proceed, in the latest antitrust push against Big Tech.

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UK open to social media ban for kids as gov’t kicks off feasibility study, reports TechCrunch

General

Nov 20, 2024

The UK government is considering stricter online safety rules, including a potential social media ban for under-16s, following concerns about its influence on minors. The Online Safety Act (OSA), prioritising child safety, targets harms like cyberbullying and disinformation. Enforcement will begin next spring, with fines of up to 10% of global turnover for non-compliance.

A new feasibility study will assess social media’s impact on children’s mental health. Recent updates include making intimate image abuse a “priority offence,” requiring platforms to proactively block such content.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle emphasised evidence-based decisions and strong enforcement to protect vulnerable users.

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Amid a chaotic year, Paramount is scaling its ads business, reports MarketingBrew

General

Nov 20, 2024

Paramount Advertising hosted an event in New York, highlighting collaborations with partners like Amazon, iSpot, and Shopsense AI to merge content and commerce, focusing on trends like shoppable streaming.

Amazon showcased its data capabilities, enabling ad impact tracking from initial exposure to eventual purchase. iSpot emphasised growing demand for attribution tools for smaller advertisers and integrating first-party data from buyers and sellers. Shopsense AI demonstrated consumer targeting through media-driven shopping experiences, such as QR codes during live events.

E-commerce expert Rachel Tipograph noted that native checkout remains niche, primarily benefiting limited-edition product launches rather than everyday consumer goods.

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Comcast Confirms Plan to Spin Off Cable Channels MSNBC, USA, reports Bloomberg

General

Nov 20, 2024

Comcast is spinning off cable-TV channels, including MSNBC, CNBC, and USA, into a new publicly traded entity, separating them from its NBC broadcast network and Peacock streaming business. The spin-off, which includes digital assets like Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes, is expected to generate $7 billion in revenue.

This move reduces Comcast's exposure to declining traditional TV markets while positioning the new company for growth and potential mergers. Mark Lazarus will lead the new entity, and Comcast shareholders will receive stakes.

The spin-off, planned for completion within a year, aims to adapt to the shifting media landscape and bolster growth.

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Meta forms product group to build AI tools for businesses, reports Axios

General

Nov 19, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Meta is launching a new business AI product unit, led by Clara Shih, former CEO of Salesforce AI, to develop AI tools for the 200 million businesses using its apps. The unit will create and monetise tools like business-specific AI chatbots for customer interactions and transactions on WhatsApp and Messenger.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlighted a 7% increase in conversions for businesses using its AI ad tools.

The initiative aims to simplify AI adoption for businesses and expand beyond ad-focused solutions to strengthen customer relationships. Meta’s AI chatbot, powered by its Llama language model, already has 500 million active users.

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Apple is selling Apple News ads directly for the first time, reports Axios

General

Nov 19, 2024

Apple has begun selling its own advertising inventory for Apple News, marking a significant step in its ad business expansion. It is introducing premium ad units, including sponsorships for events like the Met Gala, and banner and video ads in various formats. Publishers will receive 70% of ad revenue from Apple-sold ads in their articles and variable revenue for feed ads based on engagement.

Apple is ending its partnership with NBCUniversal for ad sales, shifting to in-house efforts supported by a growing ad sales team.

With advertising estimated to contribute $10 billion to its $100 billion annual services revenue, Apple aims to boost publisher participation by increasing ad revenue potential.

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Walmart Earnings For Q3 2024 Show +5.5% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +633.1% YoY

+ 6% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Nov 19, 2024

Reuters reports:

Walmart has raised its annual sales and profit forecast for the third time this year, driven by strong growth in grocery and e-commerce sales, particularly among higher-income households. For Q3, U.S. comparable sales rose 5.3%, surpassing analyst expectations, while total e-commerce sales increased 27%.

Walmart has benefited from inflation easing, capturing market share ahead of the holiday season. The company has invested heavily in automation to improve delivery and reduce costs. Walmart has also slashed Walmart Plus membership fees to boost its appeal.

Concerns remain over potential tariffs under Donald Trump's presidency, which could raise consumer prices.

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Roblox taps former Roku executive Parampath to aid advertising push, reports Reuters

General

Nov 19, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Roblox has appointed Louqman Parampath, a former Roku executive, to lead its advertising and commerce product development as it diversifies revenue streams. The platform, with over 89 million daily active users—primarily Gen Z—has seen a 49% increase in brand activity year-over-year. Roblox offers advertising formats like video ads, digital billboards, and search ads, attracting marketers from platforms like TikTok.

Notable campaigns include Warner Bros Discovery's "Beetlejuice" game, which garnered 25 million visits.

Roblox aims for advertising to become a significant revenue driver by 2025–2026, benefiting both the platform and developers through new monetisation opportunities.

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Adtech Firm Criteo Lays Out Its Plan to Win In Retail Media, reports AdWeek

General

Nov 19, 2024

Criteo is solidifying its position in retail media, targeting a $50 billion market outside Amazon and China by 2027. Retail media currently accounts for 22% of Criteo’s business, generating nearly $250 million annually.

The adtech firm powers retail media for 225 retailers, including Target and Walgreens, and handles $1.5 billion in ad spend. Criteo is leveraging its neutrality, technology, and partnerships, such as a recent deal with Microsoft, to stand out in a competitive market.

With 63% of brands shifting national ad budgets into retail media, Criteo aims to capture growing demand for scalable, high-performing advertising solutions.

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X Corp. Amends Ad Boycott Suit, Adds Twitch, reports MediaPost

General

Nov 19, 2024

X Corp., formerly Twitter, has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon's Twitch, alleging it participated in a boycott to reduce X's advertising revenue following Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform. This amended complaint adds Twitch to an earlier suit against the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) and the now-defunct Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), claiming they orchestrated a “massive advertiser boycott,” causing significant financial losses.

X had previously dropped claims against Unilever after reaching an agreement.

The lawsuit follows a Republican-led House report accusing GARM of colluding with companies to demonetise platforms like X deemed unfavourable.

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Senator says Trump cannot ignore law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok by next year, reports Reuters

General

Nov 19, 2024

Senator Richard Blumenthal has warned President-elect Donald Trump he cannot ignore a law mandating ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, to divest the app by 19 January or face a U.S. ban. Passed in April over security concerns, the law aims to prevent Chinese access to American user data.

Trump, who opposes the ban, could attempt to amend the law, but Blumenthal stressed strong bipartisan support for it. He also raised concerns over U.S. tech firms' ties to China, including Tesla, SpaceX, and Apple, citing national security risks.

TikTok and ByteDance are legally challenging the divestiture requirement.

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Meta disagrees with India antitrust ruling on WhatsApp, to mount legal challenge, reports Reuters

General

Nov 19, 2024

Meta Platforms plans to legally challenge an order from India’s Competition Commission (CCI) restricting data-sharing between WhatsApp and other Meta-owned apps. The CCI fined Meta $25.4 million for antitrust violations linked to WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy, which allowed data sharing and sparked global criticism. The CCI ruled that data sharing for purposes beyond WhatsApp’s service cannot be mandatory for access in India.

Meta disputes the ruling, asserting the 2021 update did not compromise personal message privacy or user account functionality.

The investigation began in March 2021, following backlash over the policy’s implications for user data privacy.

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Dentsu Uses Microsoft AI For Campaign Posts, Reduces Analysis Time 80%, reports MediaPost

General

Nov 19, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighted AI advancements at the Ignite conference, noting over 85% of Fortune 500 companies use Microsoft AI, with 70% adopting Microsoft 365 Copilot. Generative AI usage rose from 55% in 2023 to 75% in 2024, with ROI reaching $3.7 per $1 invested.

Companies like Dentsu and Toyota leverage Microsoft AI tools, such as Azure OpenAI, for tasks including media optimisation and knowledge retention. Dentsu reduced analysis time by 80%.

Microsoft aims to enhance AI’s role across industries, despite criticism from competitors.

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Microsoft Signs AI-Learning Deal With News Corp.’s HarperCollins, reports Bloomberg

General

Nov 19, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Microsoft has partnered with HarperCollins to use select nonfiction titles to train its AI models, while ensuring authors retain rights and royalties. The deal allows limited use of HarperCollins’ backlist, with authors given the choice to participate. HarperCollins emphasised the agreement includes strict guardrails to protect intellectual property.

Microsoft seeks high-quality licensed text to improve AI accuracy and expertise. The arrangement follows similar AI content licensing deals between publishers and companies like OpenAI and Microsoft. However, the practice has drawn criticism, with The New York Times suing OpenAI and Microsoft over alleged copyright infringement.

Microsoft declined to comment further.

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Google’s Anthropic AI Investment Cleared by UK Antitrust Agency, reports Bloomberg

General

Nov 19, 2024

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has determined that Google's $2 billion investment in AI startup Anthropic does not warrant a full investigation under merger rules.

The CMA concluded that Google has not acquired "material influence" over Anthropic.

The deal, which also includes a significant cloud services agreement, had prompted initial scrutiny earlier this year but will not face further regulatory action.

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Elon Musk's X has signed up a new adtech partner as it looks to boost advertising revenue, reports Insider

General

Nov 19, 2024

X has partnered with adtech firm PubMatic to boost ad revenue by expanding its reach beyond traditional social media budgets. PubMatic, a supply-side platform, allows X to tap into the $26 billion open internet native display and video ad market.

Historically, X (formerly Twitter) only brokered direct deals with advertisers, but it now permits third-party vendors to sell its ads, potentially increasing its advertiser pool at lower prices. Despite an 800% post-election revenue spike from top advertisers, ad spending remains 64% lower than in 2022.

X faces challenges, including advertiser concerns over platform safety and ongoing lawsuits against alleged boycotts.

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From strategy to CEO: Ruben Schreurs to lead Ebiquity through industry change, reports Digiday

General

Nov 19, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Ruben Schreurs has been promoted to CEO of media management firm Ebiquity, succeeding Nick Waters. Schreurs takes over as the company transitions to offering always-on solutions for media management and analytics.

While revenue dropped 6.7% in the first half of the year due to reduced client budgets, Schreurs remains optimistic, focusing on growth in the US, Asia-Pacific, and retail media. His mandate centres on “Effective and Responsible Advertising” (ERA), ensuring ad spend drives business impact and aligns with ethical principles.

Schreurs aims to strengthen Ebiquity’s role as a trusted advisor, combining effectiveness with responsibility for CMOs navigating complex challenges.

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Meta Loses German Court Fight Over Global Data Leak in 2021, reports Bloomberg

General

Nov 18, 2024

Meta Platforms faces potential compensation claims from thousands of German users after Germany’s top civil court ruled over the 2021 data leak affecting 533 million Facebook users. The Federal Court of Justice determined users need only prove their data was leaked, not specific harm, to seek compensation, typically around €100.

This overturns a prior ruling favouring Meta, and a Cologne court will retry the case under these guidelines. The 2021 leak involved scraped personal data, leading to a €265 million EU fine.

Meta disputes the ruling, asserting its systems weren’t breached and expects to succeed in further litigation.

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Perplexity Rolls Out Its AI-Powered Ecommerce Experience in the US, reports AdWeek

General

Nov 18, 2024

Perplexity has launched its AI-powered ecommerce feature, Buy with Pro, allowing U.S. Pro users to purchase products directly through its app. Integrated with Shopify’s API, the platform offers free shipping and estimates taxes, acting as an intermediary for transactions. Complementing this is Snap to Shop, a visual search tool enabling users to upload photos to find similar items.

While not currently monetising the shopping feature, Perplexity aims to drive search queries and grow its ads business. Merchants can join the Perplexity Merchant programme to improve product visibility.

However, the platform faces legal challenges from publishers over copyright infringement claims.

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Google’s Chrome Worth Up to $20 Billion If Judge Orders Sale, reports Bloomberg

General

Nov 18, 2024

The U.S. Justice Department is urging a judge to consider breaking up Google’s Chrome browser, valuing it at up to $20 billion, following a ruling that Google illegally monopolised the search market. Chrome, used by over 3 billion users, is pivotal to Google’s ad revenue and AI strategy.

The government proposes licensing search data, unbundling Android from other Google products, and offering advertisers greater control. Critics argue such measures could harm innovation, with Google planning to appeal.

A final decision on remedies is expected by August 2025, with broader implications for competition and AI development in the tech sector.

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Young Americans Rely on Social Media Influencers for News, Pew Says, reports Bloomberg

General

Nov 18, 2024

News Publishing

A Pew Research Center study reveals nearly 40% of Americans under 30 rely on social media “news influencers,” most lacking traditional journalism training, for updates on current events and politics. Platforms like TikTok and YouTube host influencers who monetise content through merchandise, tips, and subscriptions.

Unlike journalists, they face no editorial checks, blending opinions with facts. Despite concerns over bias, 65% of users find influencers’ insights helpful.

As traditional media faces declining relevance, outlets like Yahoo News are experimenting with influencer collaborations to boost engagement, reflecting the growing shift towards non-traditional news sources in a changing media landscape.

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Early Adopters Are Snapping Up Attention-Based Inventory Before Everyone Else Drives Up The Costs, reports AdExchanger

General

Nov 18, 2024

At Adelaide's Business of Attention event, industry stakeholders explored whether attention metrics could become a programmatic currency. Publishers like The Wall Street Journal and The Guardian are leveraging attention guarantees to attract hesitant buyers, while advertisers such as LinkedIn are using custom bidding to capitalise on high-attention, low-cost inventory.

However, challenges remain, including inconsistent pricing, lack of standardised metrics, and limited DSP capabilities to integrate attention signals. While some advocate for standardisation, others argue it may lead to market manipulation.

Despite these hurdles, attention-based strategies show promise, with opportunities for arbitrage and innovative targeting approaches through private marketplaces.

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Warner Bros. Discovery, NBA Settle Legal Battle Over TV Rights, reports WSJ

General

Nov 16, 2024

Warner Bros. Discovery has settled its lawsuit with the NBA, securing rights to develop NBA content in the U.S. and abroad for the next decade, despite losing live game rights on TNT.

The deal grants international rights in Northern Europe and Latin America and includes $350 million in revenue for digital partnerships via Bleacher Report and House of Highlights.

Warner Bros. Discovery will license its popular show Inside the NBA to ESPN and ABC. The company also secured sublicensed Big 12 college sports content and a Nascar deal to offset the NBA’s departure, maintaining its TNT subscriber fees.

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TikTok Parent ByteDance’s Valuation Rises to About $300 Billion, reports WSJ

General

Nov 16, 2024

Investment Rounds

ByteDance, parent company of TikTok, is valuing itself at approximately $300 billion in a recent share buyback, despite the threat of a U.S. ban unless TikTok is divested by mid-January under a law signed by President Biden.

ByteDance's valuation has steadily increased, up from $225 billion in October 2023, as its global growth continues.

President-elect Trump’s return is seen as a potential positive for TikTok’s U.S. prospects, despite prior support for a ban. ByteDance, which owns other Chinese internet services, remains committed to retaining TikTok, disputing claims of national security risks and challenging the law in federal court.

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Facebook is changing its primary metric to views, reports The Verge

General

Nov 15, 2024

Facebook is adopting "views" as its primary performance metric for all content, aligning with Instagram's approach. Views will count how many times content appears on a user’s screen, including photos, text posts, and videos, with repeat views by the same user also included.

Meta has extended this metric to Threads, aiming to provide creators with greater transparency. While brands may find the data useful, its relevance to individual users is less clear.

The shift mirrors Elon Musk’s focus on "views" for X (formerly Twitter) and highlights how platforms often prioritise metrics that drive user engagement and benefit their business strategies.

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Google tests removing news articles from search in EU, but it’s already backfiring, reports TechCrunch

General

Nov 15, 2024

News Publishing

Google is conducting a test in eight EU countries to evaluate the impact of paying for news reuse under EU law. The experiment involves removing article previews from EU-based news publishers for 1% of users in Google Search and Google News.

However, the Paris Commercial Court ruled that the test violated Google’s agreement with the French Competition Authority, threatening fines of €900,000 per day unless France was excluded. Google complied, removing France from the trial.

The experiment, now scaled back to eight countries, aims to assess the actual effect on traffic and the potential payment obligations to publishers.

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Elon Musk Ramps Up Legal Fight With OpenAI, Microsoft, reports WSJ

General

Nov 15, 2024

Elon Musk has expanded his lawsuit against OpenAI, Microsoft, and venture capitalist Reid Hoffman, alleging anticompetitive behaviour and collusion to dominate artificial intelligence development.

Musk accuses OpenAI CEO Sam Altman of self-dealing and facilitating a "de facto merger" with Microsoft, which holds a significant stake in OpenAI. He claims OpenAI misled donors and violated its original nonprofit mission. Musk also alleges OpenAI and Microsoft discouraged investors from funding competitors like his own AI venture, xAI.

OpenAI dismissed Musk’s claims as baseless, linking them to his regret over leaving the company. The lawsuit reflects ongoing tensions in the competitive AI sector.

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TikTok pushes to attract SMBs and its latest advertising tool might just do the trick, reports Digiday

General

Nov 15, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

TikTok has globally launched Symphony Creative Studio, an AI-powered tool within its Symphony AI suite, to streamline ad creation for small and medium businesses (SMBs). The tool generates videos using brand inputs like website URLs or assets, enables translation into 10 languages, and refreshes content with the latest trends. It aims to lower barriers for SMBs lacking video production resources.

Case studies show increased return on ad spend and reduced costs per acquisition.

The tool integrates copyright-compliant assets from Getty Images and others, offering marketers creative flexibility while competing with platforms like Meta and Google to capture advertisers focused on ROI.

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Brands Are Planning to Shake Up How They Pay Media Agencies, reports AdWeek

General

Nov 14, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

A study by the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) and MediaSense reveals that only 27% of global advertisers consider their current media agency pay structures future-proof, with 75% planning changes within three years. Hybrid payment models dominate, but transparency concerns and the rise of AI are driving calls for reform.

Aligning compensation with business performance (74%) and improving talent access (42%) are key motivators, while cost-cutting is less significant (15%). Challenges include agency resistance to transparency and a lack of data for aligning media with KPIs.

AI is viewed as both cost-saving and requiring investment in specialised talent.

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Amazon was questioned by House China committee over dangerous and unwise TikTok partnership, reports CNBC

General

Nov 14, 2024

Amazon representatives met with the House China Committee in September to address concerns about its partnership with TikTok. The deal, announced in August, allows TikTok users to make Amazon purchases directly within the app.

Lawmakers expressed concerns over the national security risks posed by TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance. Under U.S. law, ByteDance must divest TikTok by January 19, or the app could face a ban.

President-elect Donald Trump, who previously sought to ban TikTok, has since promised to "save" the platform. TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain as the deadline approaches.

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Disney Earnings For Q3 2024 Show +6.3% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Down By -18.7% YoY

+ 6% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Nov 14, 2024

FT reports:

Disney's earnings rose in the fourth quarter, driven by the box office success of Deadpool & Wolverine and Inside Out 2, as well as a $321 million profit from its streaming services, including Disney+ and Hulu.

Despite strong film and streaming results, theme park profits declined due to weaker performance at Disneyland Paris and Shanghai Disney, though U.S. parks and cruises rebounded. Disney plans to invest $60 billion in its parks and cruise lines over the next decade.

Quarterly revenue rose 6% to $22.6 billion, beating expectations. The company announced share buybacks and dividend growth in 2025.

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Amazon Questioned by Congress Over Growing TikTok Relationship, reports Bloomberg

General

Nov 14, 2024

Amazon faced scrutiny from the US House Select Committee on China over its recent partnership with TikTok, a Chinese-owned app facing a potential US ban due to national security concerns. The partnership enables TikTok users to purchase Amazon products directly within the app, linking accounts for future transactions.

Critics argue the collaboration undermines US security efforts and bolsters TikTok's US presence ahead of a January deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban.

Despite bipartisan concerns, other US organisations, including the NFL and UnitedMasters, have also partnered with TikTok, reflecting doubts about the likelihood of the ban proceeding.

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Bluesky attracts millions as users leave Musk's X after Trump win, reports Reuters

General

Nov 14, 2024

Bluesky has gained 2.5 million new users in a week, reaching 16 million total users, as discontent grows over Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) following Donald Trump's U.S. presidential election win and upcoming terms-of-service changes. Bluesky’s growth coincides with a surge in controversial content and dissatisfaction with X's handling of misinformation. Notable figures and organisations, including The Guardian and Don Lemon, have left X, while over 115,000 users deactivated accounts.

X's new terms require legal disputes to be filed in Texas courts, raising concerns about biased rulings.

Despite this, X retains 317 million monthly active users, outpacing Bluesky and Threads.

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Meta Fined €798 Million by EU Over Abusing Classified Ads Dominance, reports Bloomberg

General

Nov 14, 2024

Meta Platforms Inc. has been fined €798 million by the European Union for antitrust violations, its first penalty of this kind in the bloc. The EU found Meta unlawfully tied its Facebook Marketplace service to its social network and imposed unfair conditions on rivals.

Meta, which plans to appeal, argued the penalty disregards market realities and favours larger incumbents.

The case marks a significant move under Margrethe Vestager, a leading critic of Silicon Valley. The EU is ramping up oversight with its Digital Markets Act, investigating compliance by Meta, Google, and Apple, and exploring structural remedies for antitrust issues.

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Disney-Reliance Indian media giant says TV is not dead following $8.5bn merger, reports FT

General

Nov 14, 2024

Uday Shankar, vice-chair of Jio Star, the newly merged $8.5bn Disney-Reliance Indian entertainment venture, plans to revitalise television in India despite global trends favouring streaming. He believes traditional TV in India is far from dead, predicting double-digit revenue growth driven by innovative content and rising middle-class adoption of TVs.

Jio Star dominates Indian media with over 100 TV stations and 50 million streaming subscribers, aiming for profitability within five years.

While critics highlight its sports-focused strategy, Shankar downplays its dominance, noting short-term sports rights. Rival Zee Entertainment sees limited competition due to Jio Star’s emphasis on sports over entertainment.

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Google says it will stop serving political ads in the EU, reports The Verge

General

Nov 14, 2024

Google plans to halt political advertising in the European Union next year, citing challenges with complying with the bloc’s new Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulations, set to take effect in October 2025.

Google argues that the TTPA’s broad definitions create legal uncertainties and operational difficulties in identifying restricted content across EU regions. The rules require clear labelling of political ads, disclosure of funding details, and user consent for targeted ads, while banning the use of minors’ data. Similar concerns have previously led Google to suspend political ads in France, Canada, and Brazil.

Further updates are expected.

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Comcast, Disney, and IBM Are Among Advertisers Returning to X After Ad Freeze, reports AdWeek

General

Nov 14, 2024

Major brands, including Comcast, IBM, Disney, and Warner Bros. Discovery, have resumed advertising on X (formerly Twitter) in 2024, but their combined spend dropped 98% year-over-year, from $170 million to $3.3 million, following concerns over hate speech and antisemitic content. Challenger brands like Karma Shopping and Canles Shoes are emerging as top advertisers, capitalising on reduced competition.

X’s ad revenue fell 29% to $1.8 billion through Q3 2024. Trust in X for brand safety remains low, with only 4% of marketers expressing confidence.

The platform faces declining user numbers but high election-related traffic, attracting advertisers targeting politically engaged audiences.

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Google is getting ready to unveil how Chrome’s cookie opt-in model will work, sources say, reports Digiday

General

Nov 14, 2024

Google’s decision in July to retain third-party cookies in Chrome has disrupted the digital media industry, leaving advertisers and tech firms in a holding pattern. Instead of removing cookies, Chrome will provide users with adjustable cookie consent options, while Google continues developing Privacy Sandbox APIs.

The industry awaits clarity on Google’s cookie consent prompts, which are under regulatory review and expected in 2025.

Publishers and ad tech firms express concern over the absence of viable alternatives and regulatory uncertainty. Many stakeholders stress the need for active Privacy Sandbox tools to justify further investment and adapt to the evolving ad landscape.

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YouTube unveils new tools to help brands tap into creator content and Shorts ads, reports Search Engine Land

General

Nov 13, 2024

Influencer Marketing

YouTube is introducing new features to enhance its advertiser appeal, focusing on its growing Shorts format. Updates include customisable format buying controls, interactive ad formats like stickers and animated images, improved viewer data for better targeting, and streamlined tools for brand-creator collaborations.

Shorts now attract 40% of YouTube viewers who don’t use TikTok or Instagram Reels, with creator-led ads driving up to 20% higher conversions.

These initiatives aim to maximise engagement and reach through short-form and creator-driven content, solidifying YouTube’s position in the competitive digital video advertising landscape.

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Perplexity AI Is Testing Ads In Search With Brands Indeed and Whole Foods Market, reports AdWeek

General

Nov 13, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Perplexity AI has begun testing ads in its AI-driven search results, partnering with brands like Indeed and Whole Foods Market. Ads, including sponsored follow-up questions, will be labelled and generated by AI, ensuring user queries remain unbiased.

The company aims to establish a sustainable revenue model through advertising rather than subscriptions. With 230 million monthly queries, it targets key categories like finance and technology, offering a CPM model with rates over $50.

Despite criticisms from publishers over content usage, Perplexity prioritises transparency and plans to introduce "Pro Shop," a feature enabling direct product purchases through its platform.

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Integral Ad Science Earnings For Q3 2024 Show +11.0% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +217.0% YoY

+ 11% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Nov 13, 2024

AdExchanger reports:

Integral Ad Science (IAS) reported an 11% year-over-year revenue increase in Q3 2024 to $133.5 million, with a $16 million net profit. However, lower-than-expected ad spend in September and October, particularly from CPG and retail clients, led to softened Q4 guidance, causing a 10% drop in IAS shares.

While retail media and CTV performance lagged, IAS highlighted growth in social media partnerships, including Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and Google Ads Manager. Social media now accounts for 22% of IAS’s revenue, growing 21% year-over-year.

CEO Lisa Utzschneider emphasised social media optimisation as a key focus alongside retail media and gaming opportunities.

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Meta to introduce ads on Threads in early 2025, the Information reports, reports Reuters

General

Nov 13, 2024

Meta plans to introduce advertisements on its Threads app in early 2024, allowing select advertisers to create and publish ads, according to reports.

Threads, launched in July 2023 as a competitor to X (formerly Twitter), has rapidly grown to 275 million monthly active users. Meta’s Instagram advertising team is leading the initiative, but the company does not expect Threads to significantly impact revenue by 2025.

Meta prioritises building consumer value and currently lacks monetisation features on the app. Threads could appeal to advertisers dissatisfied with X, where ad revenue has declined due to concerns over brand safety under Elon Musk’s ownership.

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X Names New CFO as Musk Shifts Focus to Trump Administration, reports WSJ

General

Nov 13, 2024

Leadership Transitions

X Corp. has appointed Mahmoud Reza Banki as its first chief financial officer under Elon Musk’s ownership.

Banki, formerly CFO at Tubi, joins during a challenging financial period for the company, including declining ad revenue and a $13 billion debt from Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in 2022. Banks involved in the deal face losses, with debt stuck on their balance sheets due to X's weak financial performance.

Banki, who was pardoned by Donald Trump in 2021 after serving prison time related to overturned sanctions charges, is part of a broader effort to stabilise X's leadership and financial operations.

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Meta Wins Limits to FTC Instagram, WhatsApp Antitrust Suit, reports Bloomberg

General

Nov 13, 2024

A US federal judge has narrowed the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust case against Meta Platforms Inc., dismissing some allegations while allowing others to proceed. The FTC accused Meta of illegally dominating the US social networking market through acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.

Meta argued that its actions had legitimate business justifications and that the FTC could not prove consumers would benefit without these acquisitions.

The lawsuit, filed in 2020, will now move forward with a reduced scope. A trial date will be scheduled during a hearing later this month.

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Paramount-Nielsen Standoff Escalates With Media Buyers Split Over VideoAmp Shift, reports AdAge

General

Nov 13, 2024

Paramount's decision to drop Nielsen in favour of VideoAmp for TV and streaming ad measurement has created industry tension. Paramount claims Nielsen's fees are too high, while Nielsen defends its pricing as fair for its accredited services.

Media buyers face challenges adapting to VideoAmp's data, citing inconsistencies and additional workloads. While VideoAmp shows promise, its lack of historical data and accreditation for key metrics raises concerns. Paramount argues the shift aligns with streaming's growth and cost-cutting priorities, but advertisers worry about accuracy and transparency.

The dispute highlights broader challenges in transitioning from traditional measurement to emerging data-driven models.

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Guardian will no longer post on Elon Musk’s X from its official accounts, reports The Guardian

General

Nov 13, 2024

The Guardian has stopped posting on Elon Musk’s social media platform X, citing a rise in “disturbing content” such as far-right conspiracy theories and racism, as well as concerns over the platform's handling of the US presidential election. The Guardian will still allow article sharing on X and permit reporters to use it for newsgathering, though readers are encouraged to visit its website directly.

Musk dismissed the Guardian as “irrelevant.”

Other organisations, including NPR, PBS, the Berlin film festival, and North Wales police, have also recently left X, citing similar concerns over the platform's content standards and values.

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Spotify Earnings For Q3 2024 Show +18.8% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +361.5% YoY

+ 19% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Nov 12, 2024

Audio Advertising

Reuters reports:

Spotify forecasts strong fourth-quarter profits, exceeding Wall Street estimates, driven by cost-cutting measures, price increases, and subscriber growth.

The company expects operating income of €481 million, surpassing the forecasted €445.7 million, with monthly active users (MAUs) anticipated to reach 665 million and premium subscribers increasing by 8 million to 260 million. Third-quarter MAUs rose 11% to 640 million, and premium subscribers grew 12% to 252 million.

Despite revenue missing expectations at €3.99 billion due to a weak digital advertising market and a strong dollar, gross profit surged 40% to €1.24 billion, with margins improving to 31.1%.

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PubMatic Earnings For Q3 2024 Show +12.7% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Down By -151.4% YoY

+ 13% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Nov 12, 2024

AdExchanger reports:

PubMatic reported 13% year-over-year revenue growth in Q3 2024, reaching $71.8 million, driven by strong performance in omnichannel video (+25%) and political advertising on connected TV. However, a significant revenue dip linked to a change in Google’s DV360 bidding logic, which shifted to a first-price auction, remains a challenge.

CFO Steve Pantelick assured investors that the impact has stabilised and is expected to resolve by mid-2025. Political ad demand surged, with PubMatic’s AI tools enabling over 250 publishers to monetise political ads programmatically.

Excluding the DV360 impact and political ads, PubMatic’s revenue grew 17% in the quarter.

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Freevee To Shut Down As Amazon Consolidates Subscription & Free Content Under Prime Video, reports Deadline

General

Nov 12, 2024

Amazon has announced the phase-out of its free, ad-supported streaming service, Freevee, over the coming weeks. Its content, including originals like Jury Duty and Bosch: Legacy, will remain on Prime Video, available for free to non-Prime users under a "Watch for Free" label.

This move aligns with Amazon's strategy to consolidate Freevee into Prime Video, which already offers hybrid access for Prime and non-Prime members. Freevee's content team had already integrated into Amazon MGM Studios.

Launched in 2019 as Freedive, Freevee helped Amazon enter the ad-supported streaming market but saw reduced prominence following Prime Video’s shift to an ad-supported model.

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Growing number of advertisers plan to shift focus to performance marketing in 2025, reports MarketingWeek

General

Nov 12, 2024

Half of global advertisers plan to increase 2025 media budgets, prioritising performance marketing, especially in retail media and connected TV, according to a survey by Ebiquity and the WFA.

The survey shows 42% of brands will boost performance marketing, while only 24% will increase branding efforts. There’s strong focus on addressable TV (78%) and retail media (75%), while linear TV and digital display are expected to decline.

AI is anticipated to drive change, with 70% expecting shifts in campaign optimisation. Meanwhile, sustainability and transparency will grow in importance.

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Mars Launches Global Agency Review, Includes Media, Ecommerce, reports MediaPost

General

Nov 12, 2024

Mars has announced a global agency review for media, ecommerce, social media, and influencer marketing following its proposed $35.9 billion acquisition of Kellanova in August. Spending $1.7 billion on media in 2023, Mars aims to ensure robust brand-building partnerships.

Mediacom, part of GroupM, is the current global media partner, and incumbent agencies, including Kellanova’s Publicis Media, are invited to participate in the RFP.

Known for brands like M&M’s and Pedigree, Mars expects both the agency review and Kellanova acquisition to conclude in 2025, enhancing its position in snacks, pet care, and food sectors.

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TikTok launches integration with Lemon8, as US ban looms, reports TechCrunch

General

Nov 12, 2024

ByteDance has enabled users to access its photo-sharing app Lemon8 via their TikTok accounts, allowing seamless content sharing between the two platforms. Though remaining separate, Lemon8, similar to Instagram and Pinterest, will benefit from this unified login feature, supporting cross-platform photo sharing.

Launched in Japan in 2020, Lemon8 has since expanded to the U.S. and Southeast Asia, offering creative tools and filters for users. ByteDance’s move may aim to shift users onto Lemon8 amid potential U.S. bans on TikTok.

Former U.S. President Trump’s stance on a TikTok ban has shifted, now questioning its impact on competition with Meta.

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In Europe, Instagram Ads Are About to Get Less Personal, reports WSJ

General

Nov 12, 2024

Meta plans to offer European Instagram and Facebook users a “less-personalised ads” option in response to EU regulatory pressure, potentially impacting revenue in a major market. These contextual ads, based on in-session browsing rather than broader activity history, aim to comply with EU privacy laws without requiring a subscription fee. This shift follows a previous “subscription for no ads” model, which allowed users to avoid targeted ads by paying a monthly fee.

Meta warns that the change could harm small businesses due to less efficient advertising.

EU regulators continue investigating Meta’s compliance, with results expected by March.

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Disney Explores Wider Field of Candidates to Succeed Iger, reports WSJ

General

Nov 12, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Disney is expanding its CEO succession search to external candidates, including Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson, signalling incoming board chairman James Gorman’s intent to broaden the candidate pool. Disney’s initial internal candidates included Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, Josh D’Amaro, and ESPN’s Jimmy Pitaro. Wilson has longstanding ties with Disney, previously discussing both ESPN and potential partnerships.

Gorman, who begins in January, aims to ensure a structured succession.

Current CEO Bob Iger is set to step down by the end of 2026. The decision on Iger’s successor will shape Disney’s future and solidify Iger’s legacy.

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French newspapers seek legal action against social media platform X, reports Reuters

General

Nov 12, 2024

News Publishing

Several major French newspapers, including Le Monde and Le Figaro, have filed a lawsuit against X (formerly Twitter), alleging the platform used their content without compensating them under French ancillary rights, which require digital platforms to pay for news distribution.

Unlike Google and Meta, X has refused to negotiate with French publishers and has not complied with a court order to release financial information needed to calculate payments. The newspapers argue these payments are essential to support media independence, plurality, and quality.

A court hearing is set for May 15, 2025.

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Netflix ad-supported tier has 70 million monthly users two years after launch, reports CNBC

General

Nov 12, 2024

Netflix’s ad-supported tier has reached 70 million monthly active users globally, two years after its launch. Over half of new sign-ups in markets offering this option choose ad-supported plans, contributing to Netflix’s recent strong subscriber growth, with 5.1 million new members in Q3, totalling 282.7 million globally.

Next year, Netflix will shift investor updates to financial metrics rather than subscriber numbers.

It’s expanding its own ad platform, launched in Canada, with U.S. rollout by mid-2024 and global reach by 2025. Netflix has also sold out ads for two NFL Christmas Day games, securing FanDuel and Verizon as sponsors.

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The CMA Wants Updated Privacy Sandbox Commitments From Google By Next Month, reports AdExchanger

General

Nov 12, 2024

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is scrutinising Google’s Chrome Privacy Sandbox, particularly after Google’s decision to retain third-party cookies with a user choice mechanism rather than removing them entirely.

While the CMA acknowledges Google's compliance with existing commitments, competition concerns persist, notably about Google’s potential advantage in using first-party data via its Topics API for interest-based targeting. The CMA collaborates with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which remains disappointed by Google’s reversal on cookie removal.

Updated commitments from Google are expected by year-end as discussions continue to balance competition and privacy requirements.

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Google Executive Picked to Supercharge News Efforts Has Resigned, reports WSJ

General

Nov 11, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Shailesh Prakash, a key Google News executive responsible for liaising with publishers, has resigned amid ongoing tensions between Google and news outlets over content use and compensation.

Prakash, who joined Google two years ago from the Washington Post, understood publishers’ concerns around traffic declines and content value. During his tenure, he oversaw product and engineering for Google News and worked on deals, including Showcase, that pay publishers to feature their content.

Recently, discussions focused on compensating publishers for content used in Google’s generative AI summaries, which answer search queries while only linking to source articles.

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Google Lifts the Lid a Little on AI Buying Tool Pmax, Giving Buyers More Ways to Test, reports AdWeek

General

Nov 11, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Google’s A/B testing feature for Performance Max (Pmax) now enables advertisers to measure changes like creative assets and landing page adjustments, improving campaign insights. While welcomed for providing more transparency, some buyers remain sceptical about reliability.

Previously, Pmax’s “black box” nature limited ongoing optimisation, but split testing now shows real-time impact by dividing traffic equally between test groups. Advertisers can test bidding strategies, audience signals, and other elements.

However, some agencies report concerns over lack of test separation, potential cannibalisation of search volume, and “overperformance” in results, questioning the tool’s transparency and efficacy.

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Amazon Has Slashed Its US Ad Spend by $700 Million This Year, reports AdWeek

General

Nov 11, 2024

Amazon reduced its U.S. ad spend by 20%, or $700 million, between January and August 2024, as part of wider cost-cutting measures under CEO Andy Jassy. Despite this, Amazon’s operating income rose by 55% in Q3.

Meanwhile, Temu increased its ad spend by 13%, focusing heavily on digital ads to boost brand awareness. Shein cut its ad spend by 49%, leveraging its established brand recognition to drive organic sales.

Across major U.S. retailers, total ad spending dropped by 11% year-over-year, with Walmart increasing spend by 9% and Target reducing by 9%.

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As programmatic rises on Roblox, in-game studios are feeling the competition, reports Digiday

General

Nov 11, 2024

Gaming / Metaverse

Marketers are increasingly adopting programmatic ads on Roblox, complementing traditional bespoke brand activations. Roblox’s programmatic ad business, launched in May, offers the platform a direct revenue stream and has been encouraged by partnerships and agency roadshows.

Although Roblox studios may face short-term competition, they view programmatic ads positively, as they lower barriers and encourage more brands to explore Roblox. Established studios are educating marketers on the strengths of immersive integrations versus programmatic ads.

Industry leaders foresee brands ultimately blending both methods, akin to YouTube’s ecosystem, as Roblox evolves into a broader virtual life platform.

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Government to scrutinise future of linear TV amid shift to digital, reports The Media Leader

General

Nov 8, 2024

The UK government will review the future of linear TV as a Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) report predicts only 25% of TV viewing will be via traditional broadcasts by 2040. While 95% of households are expected to use internet-based TV, 5%—primarily older, rural, and lower-income audiences—will still rely on linear TV.

Media Minister Stephanie Peacock announced a forum with key industry leaders to ensure accessible British content. Concerns include maintaining public-service broadcasters' prominence on digital platforms and addressing the costs of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) as viewership declines.

DCMS will decide on DTT licence renewals by 2034.

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The Trade Desk Earnings For Q3 2024 Show +27.3% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +139.3% YoY

+ 27% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Nov 8, 2024

AdExchanger reports:

The Trade Desk reported 27% year-on-year growth in Q3, with revenue at $628 million, driven by connected TV (CTV), now its largest and fastest-growing channel.

CEO Jeff Green highlighted digital audio and live sports as emerging ad channels, with potential for programmatic expansion in areas like on-the-fly sports ads.

Green also discussed how Google’s declining focus on third-party ad tech and its ongoing antitrust trial present opportunities for The Trade Desk, which has consistently outperformed Google’s DSP. He expressed confidence that, regardless of trial outcomes, The Trade Desk will benefit from shifts in Google’s market position.

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Paramount Earnings For Q3 2024 Show -5.6% YoY Revenue Decline, Net Income Down By -99.7% YoY

-6% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Nov 8, 2024

Deadline reports:

Paramount Global reported a mixed Q3, with total revenue down 6% to $6.73 billion, despite strong performance in its direct-to-consumer (DTC) segment.

Paramount+ added 3.5 million subscribers, reaching 72 million globally, and DTC revenue rose 10% to $1.86 billion, contributing to a $49 million profit, driven by price hikes and higher ad revenue on Paramount+ and Pluto TV. However, TV and film divisions saw declines, with TV revenue down 6% and film revenue down 34%.

Paramount anticipates $500 million in annual cost savings amid ongoing restructuring and a merger with Skydance Media expected in early 2025.

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Amazon mulls new multi-billion dollar investment in Anthropic, the Information reports, reports Reuters

General

Nov 8, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Amazon is reportedly negotiating a second multi-billion-dollar investment in AI startup Anthropic, following a $4 billion investment in 2022, which granted its customers early access to Anthropic’s technology. Amazon has requested that Anthropic use Amazon’s servers, especially those powered by its proprietary AI chips, although the startup reportedly prefers Nvidia-powered servers.

Founded by former OpenAI executives Dario and Daniela Amodei, Anthropic also secured $500 million from Alphabet, with a pledge for an additional $1.5 billion.

Both Amazon and Anthropic declined to comment on the potential new investment.

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Google Asks Judge To Nix Search Users' Antitrust Suit, reports MediaPost

General

Nov 7, 2024

Google has asked a U.S. judge to dismiss a lawsuit by web users claiming Google’s search monopoly results in poor search quality and weak privacy protections. Google argues that the plaintiffs failed to provide evidence that its practices led to lower quality results or inadequate privacy features.

The case, brought in 2022, alleges Google stifled competition by securing default search engine status on Apple and Android devices. Despite revisions incorporating findings from a related case highlighting DuckDuckGo’s competitive limitations, Google contends users still have access to alternatives like DuckDuckGo.

A hearing is set for December 10.

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Magnite Earnings For Q3 2024 Show +7.9% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +129.8% YoY

+ 8% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Nov 7, 2024

AdExchanger:

Magnite’s CTV revenue grew 23% year-over-year in Q3, driven by increasing programmatic adoption from major industry players, according to CEO Michael Barrett. The company’s CTV partnerships, including those with Disney, Roku, Amazon Ads, and TF1 PUB, are significant growth contributors, with Netflix potentially becoming a major customer by 2025.

Magnite’s total revenue rose 8% YOY to $162 million, with ex-TAC revenue up 12% to $149.4 million.

Curation, a growing trend in ad tech, contributed to Magnite’s growth, with audience aggregation revenue doubling YOY. Barrett anticipates further gains as the industry shifts to first-party data over third-party cookies.

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Warner Bros. Discovery Earnings For Q3 2024 Show -3.6% YoY Revenue Decline, Net Income Up By +134.6% YoY

-4% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Nov 7, 2024

Reuters reports:

Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav expects more merger opportunities under Donald Trump’s administration, potentially easing strict antitrust policies that have hindered industry consolidation. Zaslav believes mergers could enhance streaming services for consumers.

Warner Bros Discovery posted a surprise profit, driven by cost-cutting and a surge in streaming subscribers from Olympics coverage on its Max platform. The platform’s European expansion and a bundling partnership with Disney+ and Hulu contributed to its success. However, the studio segment struggled without major hits, with total revenue at $9.62 billion, slightly below expectations of $9.80 billion.

Shares rose 11% post-announcement.

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DoubleVerify Earnings For Q3 2024 Show +17.8% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +36.4% YoY

+ 18% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Nov 7, 2024

AdExchanger reports:

DoubleVerify (DV) is capitalising on Oracle’s recent exit from the ad business, rapidly onboarding former Moat clients. CEO Mark Zagorski highlighted Moat’s limited functionality, positioning DV as a superior alternative. Since June, DV has won 70% of Moat-related RFPs, including notable clients like P&G, Google, and Kellogg’s. However, the onboarding process was unusually fast, taking six weeks rather than the typical three to six months.

CFO Nicola Allais noted that full revenue impact from these wins will emerge over one to three years.

DV aims to upsell performance solutions like Scibids, which could generate $100 million by 2028.

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Pinterest Earnings For Q3 2024 Show +17.7% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +353.8% YoY

+ 18% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Nov 7, 2024

CNBC reports:

Pinterest shares fell 15% after the company’s Q4 revenue forecast came in below expectations, despite strong Q3 results. Pinterest reported $898 million in revenue, beating the $896 million expected, and adjusted earnings per share of 40 cents. However, the Q4 guidance midpoint of $1.135 billion trailed the $1.143 billion estimate.

CFO Julia Donnelly attributed weaker sales to a slump in food and beverage advertising, impacting Q4 as well. The board also authorised a $2 billion share buyback.

Pinterest’s Q3 revenue rose 18% year-over-year, with monthly active users at 537 million, while net income surged 354% to $30.56 million.

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Liveramp Earnings For Q3 2024 Show +16.0% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Down By -64.4% YoY

+ 16% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Nov 7, 2024

AdExchanger reports:

LiveRamp’s Q3 revenue rose from $160 million to $185 million, driven by the exit of Oracle’s ad business, growth in digital advertising, and rising demand in CTV and commerce media.

CEO Scott Howe emphasised LiveRamp’s unique positioning as a data connectivity company, not an ad tech firm, with substantial growth potential in its clean room network for CTV and commerce clients, including partnerships with Netflix and Disney. The company is focusing on cost-cutting and offshoring, aiming to become a “Rule of 40” company by mid-2024.

LiveRamp’s integrated identity and data marketplace are seen as critical competitive advantages.

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Australia to Ban Social Media for Children Under Age 16, reports Bloomberg

General

Nov 7, 2024

Australia will ban children under 16 from social media to protect mental health, with social media firms required to enforce the restriction or face fines, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced. The government will introduce the legislation this month, aiming to place responsibility on platforms, not parents or young users.

This measure is part of broader actions against tech companies, which are also facing potential misinformation regulations.

Meta expressed support for age limits but urged further discussion on practical protections, while TikTok, Google, and X have yet to respond. Albanese admitted the rules might not entirely solve the issue.

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Some Brands Turned Off TikTok Smart+ After Inconsistent Performance, reports AdWeek

General

Nov 7, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Some brands report mixed results from TikTok’s Smart+, launched in October, due to limited transparency and inconsistent performance. While some direct-to-consumer brands saw a 10% lift in return on ad spend (ROAS) and new audience reach, others turned off the AI-powered tool after noticing declining results.

TikTok lacks controls like those of Meta, such as budget allocation for new versus existing customers, leading to repeated targeting of prior engagers.

Despite its efficiency gains, Smart+ often incurs higher costs per thousand impressions without comprehensive revenue data to confirm the value of its audience quality, leaving brands cautious about investment.

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Paramount+ launches cheaper ad tier in the UK, reports The Media Leader

General

Nov 7, 2024

Paramount+ will launch an ad-supported tier in the UK on 20 November, with Sky Media managing ad sales alongside Paramount's international team. This launch extends Paramount's multi-tier strategy, already successful in Canada and Australia, where non-standard plans account for nearly half of sign-ups.

The service, which will offer diverse content including Yellowstone and Special Ops: Lioness, gives UK viewers a choice of subscription options.

According to Paramount, the new tier supports growing demand for ad-funded streaming in Europe, providing advertisers with access to Paramount’s content via its digital platform, EyeQ, for wide-reaching campaigns.

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Private equity giant KKR is in talks to acquire the adtech company Integral Ad Science, reports Insider

General

Nov 6, 2024

Investment Rounds

KKR is in talks to acquire adtech firm Integral Ad Science (IAS), though the stage of negotiations is unclear, and other potential buyers have shown interest. Founded in 2009, IAS provides ad verification tools for advertisers and publishers and recently partnered with companies like Google and Amazon.

It reported $129 million in Q2 revenue and raised its 2023 guidance. A private equity deal could shield IAS from Wall Street pressures. IAS, a competitor of DoubleVerify, has faced criticism over its brand safety tools but claims advancements in AI have improved its offerings.

KKR manages over $600 billion in assets.

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Isba launches quarterly Origin Media Landscape Study, reports The Media Leader

General

Nov 6, 2024

Isba has launched the Origin Media Landscape Study and a new audience segmentation tool, providing Isba members with a robust data source. Updated quarterly, the study, conducted by Differentology, tracks UK demographics, media usage, subscription services, and consumer preferences, based on a sample of over 80,000 individuals.

Origin’s new cross-tabbing analytics tool and media dashboards, created with DataTile, enable brands to build audience segmentations for cross-media planning. This follows Origin’s beta launch, which includes 35 UK advertisers testing campaign data.

Brands like Boots and Tesco see Origin as a valuable asset for enhanced audience insights and cross-media strategy.

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Barb to reveal TV co-viewing data for linear and streaming, reports The Media Leader

General

Nov 6, 2024

Barb has introduced co-viewing measurement in the UK, reporting on household viewing factors such as the average number of viewers watching together across TV, VOD, and streaming services with over 0.5% viewing share. Concurrently, Barb has launched a Trustmark for companies in its Trusted Data Delivery Network, indicating adherence to industry measurement standards.

This co-viewing data is crucial as advertisers seek reliable metrics across linear and connected TV (CTV).

The Trustmark and co-viewing data aim to reinforce Barb’s role in setting standards, especially as platforms like YouTube face scrutiny over transparency in their own co-viewing metrics.

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TikTok Ordered to Close Canada Unit on National Security Risk, reports Bloomberg

General

Nov 6, 2024

Canada has ordered ByteDance to close its subsidiary, TikTok Technology Canada, following a national security review, though this won’t prevent Canadians from using TikTok. Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne announced the decision, which aligns with previous bans on TikTok from government devices in Canada, the US, and EU.

University of Ottawa law professor Michael Geist criticised the move, noting it may limit accountability over TikTok’s operations in Canada.

Meanwhile, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is facing US pressure to divest its TikTok stake or risk a ban, a move TikTok is currently contesting in court.

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Trump expected to shift course on antitrust, stop Google breakup, reports Reuters

General

Nov 6, 2024

Donald Trump may scale back some of President Joe Biden’s antitrust policies, including the push to break up Alphabet's Google. While he might continue certain cases against Big Tech, Trump’s recent scepticism about breaking up Google suggests he may favour more moderate measures, aiming for fairness without dismantling companies.

Trump may also reverse Biden-era merger guidelines that are hostile to acquisitions, making deal approvals easier. Additionally, the FTC’s noncompete ban could face legal challenges under Trump’s administration, depending on appointments.

However, Trump is expected to maintain substantial antitrust enforcement overall, similar to his first term.

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Apple set to face fine under EU's landmark Digital Markets Act, sources say, reports Reuters

General

Nov 6, 2024

Apple is set to receive an EU fine this month for breaching the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), becoming the first company sanctioned under these new tech regulations, sources say. This follows a €1.84 billion penalty in March for restricting competition on its App Store.

Under the DMA, Apple must allow alternative app stores and device integration with iPad OS features. Additionally, Apple recently lost a €13 billion tax dispute with the EU.

The fine could reach 10% of Apple’s global turnover if it does not comply with the rules. Apple and the EU Commission declined to comment.

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Advertisers grow spending in Amazon DSP as adoption increases, reports Digiday

General

Nov 6, 2024

Amazon's ad revenue reached $14.3 billion last quarter, driven by financial incentives making its Demand-Side Platform (DSP) increasingly attractive for marketers.

While cheaper than competitors like Google and The Trade Desk, Amazon’s DSP primarily benefits larger advertisers due to high costs and platform complexity. Big brands have ramped up DSP spending, with Tinuiti clients increasing ad spend by 27% this year, while smaller advertisers remain cautious.

Amazon's recent improvements, including AI-driven features, aim to attract smaller marketers. Meanwhile, larger brands gain advantages with low-fee options for broad ad reach, enhancing Amazon’s influence in the ad tech space.

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Perplexity Dove Into Real-Time Election Tracking While Other AI Companies Held Back, reports Wired

General

Nov 6, 2024

AI search engine Perplexity has launched an Election Information Hub to provide US election updates, promising reliable, sourced information through partnerships with trusted data providers like Democracy Works and the Associated Press. This tool, developed to reduce the risks of “hallucinations” or AI-generated errors, aims to provide more accurate results while summarising content responsibly.

However, Perplexity has faced criticism for bypassing web-scraping rules and allegedly copying news content, with recent lawsuits from News Corp over copyright breaches.

Unlike cautious approaches by Google and OpenAI, Perplexity’s bold strategy continues to blur the line between verified and AI-generated information.

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Paramount Gave Up on Warner Bros. Merger After Months of Talks, reports Bloomberg

M&A

Nov 5, 2024

Paramount Global held months-long merger discussions with Warner Bros. Discovery but abandoned the idea after Warner Bros. failed to make a concrete offer, according to a recent filing.

Paramount’s CEO Bob Bakish and Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav began talks in December 2022, but by February, Paramount ceased sharing financial information with Warner Bros. due to lack of progress. Paramount explored options with other bidders, including Comcast, Byron Allen, and Apollo Global Management, before finally agreeing to a merger with Skydance Media in July.

Skydance’s backing by Larry Ellison added pressure, securing exclusive negotiations in April.

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AI Startup Perplexity to Triple Valuation to $9 Billion in New Funding Round, reports WSJ

General

Nov 5, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Perplexity, an AI-powered search startup, is raising $500 million, valuing it at $9 billion, tripling its recent worth. The round, led by Institutional Venture Partners, reflects ongoing investor enthusiasm for AI.

Perplexity, which provides web-based answers, faces criticism from news organisations for using their content without compensation. Despite legal challenges, CEO Aravind Srinivas aims to establish revenue-sharing deals with publishers. Competition is rising as OpenAI and Google enhance their search AI.

Founded in 2022, Perplexity’s rapid growth has led to projected annual revenue of $50 million. Key investors include Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, and New Enterprise Associates.

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Ziff Davis study says AI firms rely on publisher data to train models, reports Axios

General

Nov 5, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Research by Ziff Davis shows AI firms, including OpenAI, Google, and Meta, rely heavily on premium publisher content to train their language models, though they rarely disclose this.

Ziff Davis executives found that a significant portion of training datasets, like OpenWebText, feature material from top media outlets. The company argues this reliance gives publishers leverage to seek copyright protection and compensation for their content.

Unlike some publishers, Ziff Davis has not secured major licensing deals with AI companies, but its findings support ongoing copyright cases, including a lawsuit by The New York Times against OpenAI and Microsoft.

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