Vax Selects The7stars Following Six-Agency Pitch
Vax has appointed the UK agency the7stars to run its 2025 media account, valued at $36.5 million (approximately £26 million). The decision came after a six‑agency pitch, highlighting the7stars’ ability to deliver integrated brand solutions. COMvergence projects the account to surpass $40 million by 2026, underscoring Vax’s growth trajectory in the consumer‑goods sector. The partnership will see the7stars manage TV, digital, and retail media for the carpet‑cleaner brand.
Poetry Month Feature: Tupelo Press
Tupelo Press is spotlighting two new titles for National Poetry Month: the Arabic/English anthology "Other Paths for Shahrazad," featuring contemporary Arab women poets, and Carrie Olivia Adams' "The Book of Marys and Glaciers," a collection that weaves desert, consumerism and...
How to Get More Views on TikTok (Proven Strategies That Work in 2026)
TikTok’s algorithm now rewards videos that keep users watching, making watch time and completion rate the top ranking signals. Creators who hook viewers in the first three seconds, keep videos short (8‑20 seconds), and encourage high‑value engagement such as comments,...
StreamTV Europe: FAST Channel Operators Advised to Keep It Local
At the StreamTV Europe forum, leading FAST operators—including Samsung TV Plus, TCL, Your Channels, and France 24—emphasized that European success hinges on localized content. Panels highlighted that dubbing, subtitles, and region‑specific genres drive higher engagement than generic feeds. Real‑world cases such as...
Why the Inbox Is the New Algorithm
At Adweek’s Social Media Week 2026, brand leaders argued that newsletters are experiencing a renaissance as a reliable alternative to algorithm‑driven social feeds. Executives from Rare Beauty, Betches, and UTA highlighted that owned email lists give brands direct access to...
Pinterest Turns to Real Life Amid Social Media Backlash
Pinterest is shifting focus from purely digital inspiration to tangible, real‑world experiences after facing criticism over algorithm changes and perceived over‑commercialization. The company announced a series of pop‑up retail events in major U.S. cities, partnering with brands to let users...
Bauer Media Taps Experian to Boost Audience Targeting
Bauer Media has partnered with Experian to embed its Mosaic consumer‑insight data into the company’s digital audio platform audioXi and publishing platform Illuminate. The integration gives advertisers access to consistent audience segments across Bauer’s 120 radio stations and more than...
Meghan to Appear as Guest Judge on MasterChef Australia
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, will appear as a guest judge on the upcoming season of MasterChef Australia, with the episode filmed in Melbourne and set to air on 19 April. The appearance comes during the couple’s four‑day private tour...
This Monkey Selfie Will Protect You From AI Slop
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the Copyright Office’s refusal to register works created solely by artificial intelligence, cementing the view that such output has no copyright protection. The ruling echoes a decade‑old dispute over a...
Spotify Launches the Ability to Purchase Physical Books in the US and UK
Spotify has rolled out a new feature that lets users buy physical books through its app in the United States and United Kingdom. The service, powered by a partnership with Bookshop.org, is live on Android now, with iOS support slated...
Content Arms Race over as Streaming Shifts to Profit-First Model
The early‑stage streaming "content arms race" has given way to a profit‑first model, analyst Ben Keen said at Stream TV Europe. After a 2022 peak of $108 billion in non‑sports programming, global investment has slipped, with English‑language TV spending down 8%...
New Econometrics Data: OOH Delivers Exceptional ROI for Luxury Brands
New econometric analysis from Independent Marketing Sciences shows out‑of‑home (OOH) advertising generates a 12.8× return for luxury brands—roughly $16.4 in revenue for every $1.3 spent—far outpacing the sector‑wide average of 4.7× across 24 channels. OOH spend by luxury firms almost...
Countdown to NAB Show 2026: Quu’s Steve Newberry
Quu CEO Steve Newberry previewed the company’s third In‑Vehicle Visuals Report ahead of NAB Show 2026, highlighting a surge in radio’s visual display opportunities inside cars. He warned that automakers considering the removal of traditional radio must address public‑safety concerns...
How Independent Media Builds Loyalty Amid Russia’s Telegram Blocking
In February 2026 Russia began blocking Telegram to force users onto the state‑run messenger MAX, crippling a platform that independent outlets rely on for audience reach. While the national‑level outlet ASTRA retained its 280,000‑strong subscriber base by already using bypass...
‘Bloodhounds 2’: What Does It Actually Mean to Be a ‘Bloodhound’ Now
Netflix’s “Bloodhounds 2” redefines the series’ signature term, turning the “bloodhound” from a street‑level slur into a state‑controlled weapon. The sequel follows former debt‑collector boxers Geon‑woo and Woo‑jin as they rise to a pro title, only to be targeted by...
Brita’s Unhinged Shark Reveals 4 Lessons About Winning Over Gen Z
Brita partnered with VaynerMedia to launch a surreal social campaign featuring a cartoon shark singing “At Least I’m Hydrated.” The chaotic, meme‑ready video went viral, capturing Gen Z attention and spilling over to older audiences. At AD Week, senior marketers outlined four...
ICE Detainees’ Deaths Raise Questions About News Coverage of Asian Communities
Two Asian American immigrants—Tuan Van Bui, 55, from Cambodia, and Lorth Sim, 59, from Vietnam—died while detained at Indiana's Miami Correctional Facility, marking the 48th ICE custody death under the current administration. Their deaths have sparked calls from Rep. André...
How the Streaming Dream Turned Sports on TV Into a Costly Maze
The sports‑broadcast landscape has splintered as dozens of streaming services vie for MLB, NBA and NFL rights, turning what once promised simple, pay‑per‑view access into a costly maze. A die‑hard Yankees fan, for example, could spend roughly $800 to see...
Ad Tech’s Bielefeld Problem: What If None of It Is Real?
Shirley Marschall likens today’s ad‑tech ecosystem to the Bielefeld conspiracy, arguing that AI‑generated supply, bidding, measurement and optimisation have become a self‑reinforcing loop that no longer needs external reality. The system validates itself through plausibility rather than truth, eroding the...
Google Is Migrating Dynamic Search Ads to AI Max
Google is migrating its Dynamic Search Ads (DSA) into AI Max, the AI‑driven hub for Search advertising, and has taken AI Max out of beta for worldwide use. Voluntary migration begins this week, with an automatic upgrade of all DSA,...
Microdrama App Uses AI to ‘Reimagine’ Chaplin’s The Kid
British microdrama platform TattleTV has leveraged its own artificial‑intelligence pipeline to transform Charlie Chaplin’s 1921 classic *The Kid* into a 9:16 vertical video series. The AI not only crops but hallucinates new top and bottom visual information, preserving the original...
How Livano Agency Cold Started Fryaway on TikTok Shop
Launching a brand on TikTok Shop without an existing store, creator network, or playbook creates friction that often leads to under‑performance. The article explains why traditional influencer assumptions—ample samples, simple briefs, and discount codes—fail in a commerce‑driven social platform. It...
44% of Web Inventory Fails Quality Standards, Picnic Finds
Picnic’s Inventory Quality Report 2026 finds that 44.4% of web domains fall below accepted quality thresholds, up from prior years. Analyzing over 120,000 domains, the study links the decline to a surge in AI‑generated content that adds little value. The...
Why Your ROI Isn’t Just About Creatives: Insights From Makeberry Affiliates
Makeberry Affiliates highlights that identical ad creatives can deliver wildly different ROI across iGaming platforms, with one campaign achieving +65% ROI and a $158 cost per sale, while another posts -13% ROI and $340 CPS. The disparity stems not from...
Google Changes Hit Revenue at The Sun as Losses Grow to £53m
News Group Newspapers, the publisher of The Sun, reported FY2025 revenue of $347 million, an 8% decline from the prior year, while pre‑tax losses surged to $68 million. The company blamed the drop on algorithm changes at platforms like Google, which cut...
MasterChef Australia Lands MEGHAN MARKLE for Guest Judging Stint
MasterChef Australia announced that Meghan Markle will appear as a surprise guest judge in season 18, filming her segment during her current Australian visit. The Duchess’s cameo follows previous royal appearances, such as King Charles III’s 2015 kitchen visit, and is...
Phyron Brings AI-Powered VIN-Level Video Ads to TikTok
Phyron is launching an AI-driven solution that generates video ads for every vehicle in a dealer’s inventory, targeting TikTok’s automotive audience at the VIN level. The product, integrated with TikTok’s new Automotive Ads for Inventory, is currently in a closed...
CinemaCon 2026: Social Media Can Help Movie Theaters, Not Hurt Them
Cinema United and TikTok unveiled a report at CinemaCon showing that TikTok activity drives theater attendance, not the opposite. Analyzing four diverse releases—*The Housemaid*, *Sinners*, *Wicked: For Good* and *Zootopia 2*—the study found week‑over‑week TikTok engagement rose in lockstep with box‑office...
How AAC Increased Revenue by 75%, ROI by 55% with WhatsApp Marketing
Arabian Automobiles Company (AAC), Nissan’s exclusive distributor in the UAE, partnered with Omnicom Media MENA and 360Dialog to replace traditional website lead forms with click‑to‑WhatsApp ads. The conversation‑led approach fed authenticated leads directly into AAC’s CRM, enabling real‑time engagement and...
BE Introduces AMX Transmitter for AM
Broadcast Electronics (BE), now under new ownership, announced the AMX, a next‑generation 5 kW AM transmitter. The five‑rack‑unit chassis boasts ultra‑high efficiency thanks to silicon‑carbide MOSFET amplifiers, a modular design, and a reduced footprint that can be shipped via UPS or...
Digest: Meta to Overtake Google in Ad Revenue; Publicis Marks 20th Growth Quarter; Freely Launches FAST ‘Spotlight Channels’
Meta is projected to generate $243.46 bn in ad revenue in 2026, surpassing Google’s estimated $239.54 bn and taking the lead in global digital advertising spend with a 26.8% market share versus Google’s 26.4%. The shift is driven by AI‑enhanced tools and...
Philippines Digital Boom Fuels Disinformation Targeting Indigenous Peoples: Study
The Asia Centre’s new report warns that the Philippines’ rapid digitalisation is amplifying climate‑related disinformation targeting Indigenous Peoples. With 78% of the population online and digital media now generating 42% of the country’s $6.5 billion media revenue, smear campaigns and red‑tagging...
Mark Allen Group Posts Pre-Tax Loss and Writes Off £5m From Bonhill Purchase
Mark Allen Group posted a pre‑tax loss of £1.4m ($1.8m) for the year to 31 March 2025 after writing off £5m ($6.3m) of its £6.5m ($8.3m) Bonhill acquisition. Revenue rose 4% to £72.1m ($91.6m), but EBITDA fell 12% to £9.3m ($11.8m). The...
The Voice Coach Confirms Season 30 Return After Season 29 Finale
Adam Levine confirmed his return as a coach for The Voice’s Season 30, marking his 19th season on the hit music competition. The announcement came immediately after the Season 29 finale, where Levine’s team member Alexia Jayy was crowned winner. While the...
TiVo Ads Brings Independent ACR Data Licensing to the UK
TiVo Ads has introduced its automatic content recognition (ACR) data licensing product to the UK, offering an independent, measurement‑first dataset drawn from a range of smart‑TV brands. The offering provides deterministic insight into both linear and streaming content and ad...
Stu Thomson Announces The Closure Of Cut Media
Stu Thomson, founder and CEO of Glasgow‑based Cut Media, announced the company’s closure after nearly two decades of producing iconic mountain‑bike content. The firm’s collaborations with Danny MacAskill generated viral videos such as *Imaginate* (94 million views), *The Ridge* (82 million) and *A Wee Day Out* (44 million),...
Channel 4 Hits Record Q1 Streaming High as Youth Viewing Grows
Channel 4 reported its largest ever first‑quarter streaming audience, delivering more than 20 billion minutes – a 22% year‑on‑year rise. The broadcaster’s share of commercial impacts among 16‑34‑year‑olds grew 18%, with streaming accounting for 56% of that demographic’s viewing and 61%...
The Voice Crowns Season 29 Winner
NBC’s The Voice wrapped its 29th season on April 14, 2026, crowning Alexia Jayy of Team Adam Levine as the champion. The finale featured finalists Lucas West, Liv Ciara and Mikenley Brown, with Jayy delivering standout renditions of “Lady Marmalade” and “One and Only.” As part of...
Should Affiliates Trust Google’s AI Ad Tools?
Google posted a record $400 billion revenue in 2024, with Q4 ad earnings of $82.28 billion and YouTube contributing $11.38 billion. The company touts AI‑driven ad tools like AI Max, citing an 80% revenue lift for Aritzia and early pilots with brands such...
Créo Global Strengthens Performance and SEO Capabilities with Senior Hires
Créo Global announced senior hires to boost its performance marketing and SEO capabilities. Salman Plasterwala joins as Performance Lead, bringing over a decade of experience with brands such as Emirates, Philips and Mercedes‑Benz. Jayesh Jain comes aboard as SEO Lead, known for...
Hong Kong Journalists Association Warns Stalking of Journalists Has ‘Chilling Effect’ on Press Freedom
The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) warned that recent stalking and harassment of reporters, including those from independent outlet InMedia, creates a chilling effect on press freedom. The association demanded the Security Bureau clarify whether law‑enforcement agencies have conducted surveillance...
Major Doc Actor Leaves, More Cast Changes, Additions & Returns Revealed
The medical drama "Doc" is undergoing a major cast reshuffle ahead of Season 3. Charlotte Fountain-Jardim’s character Katie will shift from series regular to occasional guest as she heads to college, while Felicity Huffman’s Dr. Joan Ridley exits completely after a...
Inside American Eagle’s Latest Bet on Sydney Sweeney for Its Summer Campaign
American Eagle has launched "Syd for Short," a summer campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney to promote denim shorts and new custom styles. The 15‑second spot, backed by social‑listening data, targets Gen Z’s craving for calm amid a noisy cultural climate. The partnership...
Forecast: V to Overtake LG’s webOS in Europe
Omdia forecasts that Hisense’s V (formerly VIDAA) will overtake LG’s webOS in European smart‑TV shipments this year. The surge is fueled by Hisense’s aggressive pricing, expanding distribution and high‑profile sponsorships such as the FIFA World Cup. While Android TV remains...
Forbes Creates Wine Vertical, Commerce Shop and Membership Business as AI Squeezes Traffic
Forbes is launching a wine‑focused vertical that combines a quarterly club, an e‑commerce shop, and an ad‑supported editorial site to diversify revenue as AI‑driven search cuts its traffic. The publisher saw a 37 percent YoY traffic decline in Q1 2026, while...
DFB and Sportainment to Launch Pay-TV Football Channel DFB.TV
The German Football Association (DFB) is launching DFB.TV, a 24/7 pay‑TV channel, in partnership with Sportainment Media Group. The linear service debuts on 22 May 2026 with live coverage of the DFB Cup final and will feature senior, junior, futsal, beach‑soccer, e‑Cup...
Why Optimum Launched In2 Network
Optimum is rolling out in2, a new national channel that aggregates News 12’s original series such as “Crime Files” and “Down the Shore.” The network, originally a tri‑state offering, will be available across Optimum’s 21‑state footprint and on Verizon Fios...
Five Ways Conversational AI Can Turn Your Content Library Into a Customer Experience Engine
Australian firms are rapidly embedding chatbots, co‑pilots and data assistants, yet many content teams see limited ROI. The article argues that the real value lies in repurposing existing content libraries—blogs, FAQs, whitepapers—through conversational AI to create an always‑on knowledge engine....
YouTube to Hold Back Ads During Peak Livestream Moments
YouTube introduced a suite of livestream enhancements aimed at preserving viewer engagement and boosting creator revenue. The platform will automatically hold back ads when live chat spikes, expand gifting to horizontal streams across several new markets, and grant ad‑free windows...
TV Ratings (14/4/2026): Survivor & Australian Idol Go Head-To-Head In GF Showdown
Seven’s Australian Idol grand final became the night’s most‑watched entertainment program, pulling 1.9 million viewers and an average audience of 1.088 million. Winner Kesha Oayda walked away with roughly US$66 k, a recording deal, marketing support and other perks. Across the dial, Network 10’s...