Today's Advertising Pulse
X’s ad revenue plummets to $2.3 bn, far below Twitter’s peak
X reported advertising revenue of $2.3 bn in 2023 and projects $1.7 bn for 2024 and $1.8 bn for 2025, a sharp decline from the $4.7 bn generated in Twitter’s final public year. Its share of the U.S. digital‑ad market slipped to roughly 1% in Q1 2026, down from a near‑10% peak in 2016, and former NBCUniversal sales chief Linda Yaccarino exited the CEO role in July 2025 after modest performance.
Amazon Brings Content-To-Commerce Technology Into Publisher Services
Amazon Publisher Services has added Shopsense, an AI‑driven content‑to‑commerce platform, to its Connections Marketplace. Shopsense analyzes images in articles, videos and photos, automatically generating product‑listing ads that link to more than 1,000 retailers. The integration requires no code and promises incremental revenue without increasing ad density, giving publishers a new monetization path as search‑driven traffic declines. The move underscores Amazon’s push to embed commerce tools deeper into publisher ecosystems.
How IAB Sweden Expelled Meta—And Why It Might Not Happen in Other Chapters Anytime Soon
Meta has been expelled from IAB Sweden after a year‑long campaign by Swedish publishers over a surge of fraudulent advertisements on its platforms. The move follows a Reuters investigation that accused Meta of earning billions from scam ads and a...
PubMatic’s Agentic AI Is Going Beyond Direct Deals
PubMatic announced that its AgenticOS platform has run more than 30 fully autonomous, end‑to‑end campaigns and over 1,000 direct publisher deals, signaling a shift from agentic ad tech being limited to direct buys. The AI‑driven product helped lift emerging‑revenue growth...
Amazon Data Will Be Available on Netflix Inventory in the UK May 18
Amazon’s demand‑side platform will let UK and EMEA advertisers overlay Amazon shopping data onto Netflix’s connected‑TV inventory starting May 18. The feature, first rolled out in the United States on April 13, enables Amazon Audiences to be applied to Netflix campaigns via...
HMH Names Jessica Naeve CMO to Drive Data‑Driven Global Marketing
HMH announced Jessica Naeve as its new chief marketing officer. Naeve will steer the publisher's global, data‑informed digital marketing across curriculum, assessment and professional learning solutions. The hire signals HMH’s push to modernize outreach to educators worldwide.
Meet Stan, Caitlin Clark's New Teammate
State Farm has transformed its long‑standing stanchion‑pad logo into a animated robot mascot named Stan, pairing him with WNBA star Caitlin Clark in a new advertising campaign. The spots debut with the opening night of the WNBA season and will...
SEO’s New Goal in 2026: Recognition, Not Rankings
The search ecosystem has shifted from ranking‑centric tactics to a recognition‑first model as AI overviews, large language models and zero‑click answers now dominate user journeys. Traditional #1 SERP positions no longer guarantee visibility because generative AI draws on brand citations,...
Week in Review: CTV and AI Dominate Ad Tech Earnings, Major Distributors Back Microdramas, and Kraft Heinz Ramps Up Ad...
Ad‑tech leaders The Trade Desk, PubMatic and Magnite all highlighted CTV and AI in their Q1 earnings, with mixed market reactions. The Trade Desk’s shares dropped 15% despite 12% revenue growth, while PubMatic and Magnite posted modest revenue gains driven...
Google Ads Expands Out‑of‑stock Display Options
Running Google Ads? This is a good change -> Out-of-Stock Product Landing Page Requirements Updated It used to be a single requirement for a grayed-out button... Advertisers can now indicate out-of-stock products with several options: *Display text such as “Sold Out” or “Item...
Google Ads To Require Passkey For Certain Sensitive Actions After July 15
Google announced that, beginning July 15, 2026, Google Ads will require advertisers to use passkeys for certain sensitive actions. The policy shift follows a recent spike in account hijacks targeting the platform. Passkeys are password‑free credentials that rely on device‑based cryptography, making...
AI Companies Are Selling Heartwarming Ads – They’re Racing To Automate Your Job via @Sejournal, @Gregjarboe
OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic are running heart‑warming consumer ads that portray their AI as friendly household helpers, while simultaneously developing agentic systems that automate complex professional workflows. Their latest models—OpenAI’s GPT‑5.5, Google’s Gemini 3.1 Pro, and Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.7—are being positioned to replace...
Campaign Trail: Tecate Empowers Repatriated Mexicans
Mexican beer brand Tecate launched the "Welcome Back, Paisano" campaign to spotlight the labor void created by the recent deportation of roughly 170,000 Mexican workers from the United States. The satirical ads depict U.S. employers lamenting the loss of Mexican...
The New York Times Grew Digital Ad Revenue 32% in Q1. Here’s How to Copy It
The New York Times posted a 31.6% year‑over‑year rise in digital advertising revenue in Q1 2026, reaching $93.3 million. The growth follows a 24.9% increase in the prior quarter, marking two straight quarters of outsized ad performance. Chief advertising officer Joy Robins credits a clear...
Advertising Week’s Tech Editorials Spotlight Agency Debt, Martech Overload and Quantum Marketing
Advertising Week’s tech editorial series this week highlighted five key themes: cultural roots of agency tech debt, the paradox of 15,000 martech tools, mid‑market programmatic complexity, collaborative data as a competitive edge, and a quantum‑marketing mindset. The pieces, authored by...
CTV Evolves Into Guaranteed Performance Channel with LG Partnership
Last week at Possible Miami, I had the pleasure of hitting the stage with Serge Matta, President of LG Ad Solutions ((@LG_Ad_Solutions). Serge made the points that CTV is no longer just about "awareness" - it’s officially a performance channel. In fact...
Himalaya BabyCare’s New Ad Focuses on Emotional Milestones of Motherhood
Himalaya BabyCare launched a Mother’s Day digital campaign featuring a short film set to the lullaby “Chanda Hai Tu.” The ad follows a mother preparing her daughter for school, recalling earlier milestones such as massages and bath times to underscore...
Radio Nails ROI for Home Improvement Brands that Digital Can’t
Audacy’s new research shows radio outperforms digital channels for home‑improvement retailers, with 56% of ad‑exposed consumers recalling radio ads versus lower rates for display, social and CTV. A Nielsen Marketing Mix Model ranks radio second in overall ROI, delivering $2...
Who What Wear on How Publishers Can Think Like Retailers
Who What Wear, a fashion publisher owned by Future, is applying retailer‑style tactics to monetize its editorial content. The brand, which attracted over 12 million visits in April and converts more than $252 million in sales each quarter, relies on affiliate commissions...
A Love Letter to Hong Kong, a Fictional Country Star, and Thierry Henry in a K-Drama
Ad5’s latest roundup spotlights five standout campaigns across Asia and Europe. Cathay Pacific marked its 80th anniversary with a 10‑minute film that weaves Hong Kong nostalgia into brand storytelling. Thailand’s insurance‑driven road‑safety sign flips conventional messaging, while Woodstock Bourbon introduced a...
The Stack: AI’s Next Phase
The U.S. administration is weighing a Pentagon‑led safety framework for advanced AI, signaling a shift toward tighter security oversight. At the same time, visual AI models are driving a 6.5‑fold surge in app downloads, outpacing traditional chatbot updates. OpenAI removed...
Organic Tattva’s New Ad Explores How Food Connects Indians Abroad to Home
Organic Tattva has launched a new digital campaign starring chef Vikas Khanna that spotlights how Indian expatriates use familiar meals to stay connected to home. The film showcases dishes such as sambar and chole bhature, positioning the brand’s organic ingredients as...
Netflix Awards India Media Mandate to Omnicom Media Group
Netflix has transferred its India media planning and buying mandate from Wavemaker to Omnicom Media Group after a multi‑agency pitch. The new contract covers both traditional and digital media channels, reflecting Netflix’s broader strategic overhaul of its Indian market approach....
Roku Delivers Upfront Dinners With A Side Of Full-Funnel
Roku has replaced traditional TV upfront presentations with a series of intimate client dinners, gathering about 70 marketers per event. The company uses the gatherings to promote its full‑funnel advertising proposition, emphasizing programmatic options, custom brand integrations, and measurable performance....
WTF Is a Unified Ad Platform?
Unified Advertising Platforms (UAP) are emerging as end‑to‑end ad‑tech solutions that combine demand‑side and supply‑side capabilities in a single system. The concept, coined by analyst Karsten Weide, promises 100 % data‑match rates by sharing a common data layer between buyers and publishers....
Video Futures Collective & Omnicom Launch Research Initiative As Ad Industry Hits ‘Inflection Point’
The Video Futures Collective (VFC) has teamed with Omnicom Media Australia to launch a research initiative that will modernise streaming‑video ad planning, measurement and optimisation in Australia. The first phase will focus on establishing evidence‑based frequency guidance that aligns with...
WOOH Board Member Warns Of Advertising Ban ‘Domino Effect’
World Out of Home Organization (WOOH) board member Dr. Kai‑Marcus Thäsler warned that a cascade of advertising bans is spreading globally, likening it to a domino effect. He cited recent moves such as Berlin’s proposed total outdoor‑ad ban, new gambling‑ad...
Google Captures Intent; Meta Builds Demand
Google Ads capture existing intent—people already searching for a solution. Meta Ads create demand by putting your offer in front of people before they even start searching.
Predicting Meta's Friday Performance for U.S. Investors
The perks of being in the future is I can safely predict how Meta performance will be for Americans here on Friday.
Allianz Debuts Fully Generative AI Campaign
Allianz Australia has launched its first fully generative AI‑created advertising campaign for its car insurance line. The short‑form videos, outdoor and social assets were produced by Howatson and Company’s new Unicorn studio, with every frame generated by AI. The agency...
Oktopost Deploys Claude AI Plugin to Automate B2B Social Campaigns
Oktopost announced the general availability of its Claude Plugin, the first Claude Code skill built for B2B social media execution. The open‑source tool lets marketing and revenue teams create, approve, and analyze multi‑network campaigns entirely within Claude, tightening the link...
OpenAI Rolls Out ChatGPT Ads to UK, Brazil, Japan and Five More Markets
OpenAI announced that its ChatGPT advertising pilot will begin testing in the United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Mexico and other regions, joining the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The move follows strong advertiser interest and a $109 million average...
OpenAI Expands ChatGPT Ads Pilot to UK, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, and Mexico Just Two Days After Launching Self-Serve Ads
OpenAI is expanding its ChatGPT ads pilot to the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Brazil and Mexico, following the launch of a self‑serve ad platform in the United States two days earlier. Users in the new regions will encounter sponsored...
The Trade Desk Revenue Rises 12 per Cent
The Trade Desk posted March‑quarter revenue of A$953 million (about $630 million), a 12% year‑on‑year increase, while net income slipped to A$55 million ($36 million). Operating income rose to A$92 million ($61 million) but diluted EPS fell to A$0.11 from A$0.14. The company retained over 95%...
Google Analytics Data API Gains Cross‑Channel Conversion Reporting in Alpha
Google announced an alpha release of cross‑channel conversion reporting for its Analytics Data API, enabling marketers to pull conversion data across paid, organic, and other channels via programmatic calls. The feature aims to streamline measurement, attribution and automation for digital...
Agencies Push Video Futures Collective to Simplify Buying and Unify Data
The Video Futures Collective (VFC), a coalition of eight streaming and ad platforms including Amazon Prime, Disney Advertising, Foxtel Media, Netflix, Samsung Ads, SBS, Vevo and YouTube, is under pressure from agencies to simplify the buying process and deliver consistent,...
RC Cola Zero Sugar Film via GIGIL Philippines Shows Zero Doesn’t Mean Less
RC Cola launched its Zero Sugar variant with a cinematic film crafted by GIGIL Philippines. The spot follows a man who discovers a "zero" coin that transforms his surroundings into zeros, culminating in him drinking the new product. The creative...
The Trade Desk Has A Grand Vision, But Needs A New Breed Of CMO To Make It A Reality
The Trade Desk posted Q1 2026 revenue of $689 million, a 12% year‑over‑year increase, while net income slipped to $40 million and profit margin to 6%. Shares tumbled 15% in after‑hours trading as investors reacted to cautious macro‑economic outlooks. CEO Jeff Green outlined...
The Trade Desk Has A Grand Vision, But Needs A New Breed Of CMO To Make It A Reality
The Trade Desk posted Q1 2026 revenue of $689 million, up 12% YoY, while net income fell to $40 million, delivering a 6% profit margin. CEO Jeff Green cited macro headwinds but unveiled a bold forecast that the open internet will become...
ANZ NZ Appoints MBM as New Media Agency; Ends Long-Standing Partnership with PHD + Omnicom
ANZ New Zealand has appointed MBM, the Publicis Group’s media arm, as its new media agency, ending a 15‑year relationship with PHD and Omnicom. The decision followed a competitive RFP that evaluated five agencies on strategy, technology and marketing effectiveness. MBM...
AI-Driven Cost Surge Forces B2B SaaS to Rethink Paid Acquisition Budgets
New benchmark data shows AI‑powered marketing is driving paid‑acquisition costs higher for B2B SaaS firms, pushing CAC payback periods to up to two years. Companies are scrambling to redesign go‑to‑market budgets and focus on customer quality to protect growth.
Microsoft Ads Expands Custom Columns to Include All Conversion Metrics
Microsoft Ads has upgraded its custom columns feature to accept every conversion metric available on the platform, including both primary and all‑conversion counts. The change lets advertisers construct bespoke columns that combine ratios, blended CPA, cost per qualified lead, and...
Viant Buys TVision Insights for $40 M to Embed AI‑driven Attention Metrics in Its DSP
Viant has completed a $40 million cash‑and‑stock acquisition of attention‑measurement firm TVision Insights, integrating second‑by‑second eye‑tracking data into its AI‑powered demand‑side platform. The move aims to shift advertisers from impression‑based buying to attention‑adjusted outcomes and to compete more directly with Google...
BidVid Hires Priya Bhatia as CRO to Spearhead Asia‑Pacific Expansion
BidVid, the Singapore‑based programmatic video‑ad platform, announced the appointment of Priya Bhatia as chief revenue officer for the Asia‑Pacific region. The move underscores the company’s strategic drive to capture a rapidly expanding APAC ad spend market.
Genesis Launches First-Ever Hispanic Campaign
Genesis Motor America is rolling out its first culturally centered campaign aimed at Hispanic consumers, titled “El Lujo Está en Ti” (“Your Purpose is the Ultimate Luxury”). The campaign spotlights the GV70 SUV and will run 30‑ and 15‑second bilingual...
Pattison Media Brings Programmatic Radio Options To Canada
Pattison Media, Western Canada’s largest multimedia firm, launched "Resonate," a programmatic platform that lets advertisers purchase over‑the‑air radio inventory through DSPs such as Google DV360. The company demonstrated the first confirmed programmatic‑bought ad delivered via broadcast radio at Radio Days...
The Hidden Cost of Friction
The article reveals that mobile‑first campaigns often stumble after the tap, not because of creative or targeting, but due to hidden after‑click friction such as in‑app browsers, consent prompts, and redirect chains. These micro‑obstacles break session continuity, inflate acquisition costs,...
ContinuumGlobal Launches Campaign Optimizer to Improve Messaging Performance
ContinuumGlobal introduced Campaign Optimizer, an AI‑driven add‑on to its Smart Marketing Engine that promises to boost email engagement by over 15 %. The tool lets marketers refresh existing copy or draw inspiration from other brands, automatically generating brand‑compliant, production‑ready HTML in...
Live Sports Streaming Ads Plagued by Fraud, Victims Identified
Over the last few months, several advertising experts have told @FOS that the live sports streaming ad market is rife with fraud. This is what is happening and who it hurts the most: https://t.co/dPEZBOGlUX
Live Sports Streaming Ad Market Rife With Fraud, Experts Say
The rapid shift of live sports to streaming platforms has created a fragmented ad marketplace where third‑party aggregators resell inventory they don’t directly control. Experts from Good Karma Brands and Digital Remedy warn that these middlemen often misrepresent placement guarantees,...
AI Max vs DSA: Advertisers Question Control as Google Responds
Google is transitioning advertisers from legacy Dynamic Search Ads (DSA) to its AI‑driven Max campaigns, sparking concerns over lost URL‑level targeting granularity. Marketers argue that DSA’s ability to align ads with site architecture via categories, URL paths, and page rules...