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News•Feb 23, 2026
Podcast Advertising Fell In January From Holiday High
Podcast advertising spend plunged 21% in January, falling to $59.8 million for the top 15 advertisers from a December peak of $75.9 million. The decline follows a holiday‑driven surge and signals a market correction. Despite the overall drop, brands such as T‑Mobile and BetterHelp continued to allocate sizable budgets to podcast campaigns. In parallel, advertisers are pressing for standardized retail‑media measurement, a demand voiced at the IAB Annual Leadership Meeting by Dollar General’s DG Media Network head.
By MediaPost
Deals•Feb 23, 2026
Experian Acquires AtData to Boost AI‑Driven Email Identity Insights
Experian announced the acquisition of AtData, a provider of real‑time email insights on over 10 billion addresses, to strengthen its AI‑driven identity, fraud and analytics capabilities. The deal adds email‑signal data to Experian’s platform and follows a long‑term partnership between the...
MediaPost
News•Feb 20, 2026
Facebook Users Petition Court To Revive Antitrust Claims
Meta users have asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to revive antitrust claims that Facebook monopolized the personal social network services market. A district judge dismissed the lawsuit after ruling the plaintiffs lacked expert testimony proving harm. The plaintiffs argue...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 20, 2026
Subscription Exodus: Consumers Are Fleeing 'Digital Overload'
Consumers are increasingly abandoning digital subscriptions, with email leading the exodus, according to Profit Engine’s analysis of the most Googled “how to unsubscribe” queries. The top ten services—ranging from Amazon Prime and Disney Plus to ChatGPT and HelloFresh—are cited for fee...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 20, 2026
Roku Remains Top CTV Open Ad Platform With 32% Share
Roku retained its position as the leading connected‑TV (CTV) platform for open programmatic ads in Q4 2025, commanding a 32% share of impressions. Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV followed with 16% and 15% respectively, while LG surged 79% quarter‑over‑quarter to reach 10%...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 20, 2026
The New Performance Metric: Curiosity
A study by Audio Visual Nation examined Google search activity for all 67 Super Bowl advertisers and found that curiosity‑driven ads generated the highest return on attention. AI search startup Genspark led the pack with a 5,852% search spike, far...
By MediaPost
Deals•Feb 19, 2026
Epic Games Acquires 3D Human Creation Firm
Epic Games announced the acquisition of a company that specializes in creating 3D human avatars. The deal, disclosed on Feb. 19, 2026, expands Epic's capabilities in immersive gaming and virtual experiences. Financial terms were not disclosed.
MediaPost
News•Feb 18, 2026
Marketers Starting To Identify First ChatGPT Ads
Expedia ads have been spotted as one of the first sets of sponsored ads on ChatGPT in the U.S.
By MediaPost
News•Feb 18, 2026
Paramount In Real Life Options: Cable At The Table
Paramount Global is exploring strategic combinations, with NBCUniversal (or its Versant Media spinoff) and Disney emerging as leading candidates. Analysts note that a tie‑up with NBCU could leverage Versant’s ad‑tech assets, while a Disney partnership would create a content powerhouse....
By MediaPost
News•Feb 18, 2026
Guess What: I Discovered Podcast Advertising Works!
The author confirms that podcast advertising delivers tangible results. Listeners typically consume podcasts while engaged in other activities, creating a captive audience. Skipping an ad interrupts this multitasking flow, making ads less likely to be dismissed. Consequently, brands are seeing...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 16, 2026
Meta Renews Battle With FTC Over Teens' Data
Meta has filed a fresh legal brief asserting that the Federal Trade Commission lacks the authority to modify its 2020 settlement concerning the collection of teen data. The FTC’s recent motion seeks to impose additional limits on how Meta can...
By MediaPost
Deals•Feb 16, 2026
Ocean State Media (Rhode Island PBS) Acquires FM Station WVEI From Audacy
Ocean State Media, the organization behind Rhode Island PBS, announced the acquisition of FM station WVEI from Audacy. The deal will relocate the station to PBS studios and expand its signal to cover the entire state. The acquisition follows the...
MediaPost
News•Feb 13, 2026
AMC Plan: Make 'The Walking Dead' Run Again
AMC announced a strategic push to revive "The Walking Dead" franchise, aiming to recapture audience attention and advertising dollars. The move follows a double‑digit drop in key revenue streams, with U.S. ad revenue falling 10% to $124.8 million in Q4. Affiliate‑fee...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 13, 2026
Super Bowl Ads That Actually Sold Stuff, Not Just Vibes
During this year’s Super Bowl, several brands turned their high‑profile ads into measurable sales drivers. Pringles saw the largest lift in purchase intent, outperforming rivals. Hellmann’s Mayonnaise and Ritz crackers also posted significant gains. The findings suggest that creative storytelling...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 13, 2026
Pinterest Reduces Q1 Expectations
Pinterest warned that first‑quarter revenue will fall short of analyst forecasts, citing heightened competition from TikTok and Meta. The guidance prompted a sharp decline in the stock price. To counter the pressure, Pinterest is rolling out an AI‑powered Performance+ advertising...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 13, 2026
CEO Switch At Dentsu, Sano Succeeds Igarashi
Japanese advertising giant Dentsu announced that Hiroshi Sano will succeed Junichi Igarashi as chief executive. The leadership change was disclosed alongside a projected goodwill impairment of roughly $2 billion for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. Dentsu plans to release its...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 13, 2026
Roku Claims Strong Q4, Revenue +16%
Roku reported a robust fourth‑quarter performance, with platform revenue climbing 18% to $1.2 billion, driven largely by advertising. Advertising now represents 70‑80% of the platform’s revenue, boosting gross profit 15% to $646.7 million. Overall company revenue rose 16% year‑over‑year, highlighting the effectiveness...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 12, 2026
TikTok Begins Targeting Film, Book Lovers Via New 'Fandom' Ads
TikTok has introduced a new "Fandom" ad suite aimed at European users who identify as fans of movies and streaming series, extending the Smart+ ad model it recently launched for streaming brands. The platform also added an in‑app list that...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 12, 2026
Future Of TikTok U.S.: A Conversation With Keen's Bradley Keefer
TikTok’s U.S. platform, now under new ownership, suffered early outages and a 150% surge in uninstalls, yet ad spend remained steady. Sensor Tower data shows ad costs fell roughly 36% while ROI climbed 60% year‑over‑year, according to Keen Decision Systems’...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 12, 2026
California Fines Disney For Alleged Privacy Violations
Disney agreed to pay $2.75 million to settle California Attorney General claims it breached the state’s privacy law by not honoring user opt‑out requests. The settlement requires Disney to create a consumer‑friendly, easy‑to‑execute opt‑out process and to cease cross‑context behavioral advertising...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 12, 2026
Albertsons Companies Signs On To Test OpenAI ChatGPT Ads
Albertsons Companies has entered OpenAI’s ChatGPT Ads pilot, joining Target, Williams‑Sonoma and Omnicom in testing conversational advertising. The retailer will run Valentine’s Day‑focused ads that appear when users ask for gifts, recipes or party ideas. Ads will be clearly labeled...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 12, 2026
Mediassociates Expands Senior Management Team
Mediassociates announced two senior‑level hires, naming Drew Corry vice president‑strategy and Abby Niziankiewicz vice president‑strategic media investment. Both roles are newly created at the independent media services firm based in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Corry arrives from his AI advisory practice...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 12, 2026
PQ: Global Ad Spend Will Climb 8.8%, Composite Rises Three-Tenths Of A Point
PQ Media’s 2026 Global Advertising & Marketing Spending Forecast projects worldwide ad spend to climb 8.8% and total marketing spend to rise 9.8% this year. The new data have been incorporated into MediaPost’s composite forecast, lifting the average industry growth...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 12, 2026
IAB Sends 'Direct Buy Addendum' To Public Comment
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) released the Direct Buy Addendum v1.0 along with updated General and Special Terms for digital advertising agreements, opening a 45‑day public comment window that runs through March 31. The framework is designed to replace bespoke contracts with...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 12, 2026
Ryan Media To Buy KBest Media's Radio Properties
Ryan Media, a subsidiary of OneRyan Global LLC, announced the acquisition of KBest Media's radio portfolio, including KBST‑FM, KBTS, KBST‑AM, and translator K280GW at 103.9 FM. The deal consolidates three full‑power stations and a translator under one owner, expanding Ryan Media's...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 12, 2026
Is Decency The Next Competitive Moat?
The article argues that the internet’s long‑standing focus on outrage‑driven engagement is reaching its limits, as users hit a tolerance threshold. AI‑powered platforms now amplify cynicism, turning noise into a trust‑eroding force. In this new landscape, scarcity has shifted from...
By MediaPost
Deals•Feb 12, 2026
Ryan Media to Acquire KBest Media's Radio Properties
Ryan Media, a subsidiary of OneRyan Global LLC, announced it will acquire KBest Media's radio stations KBST‑FM, KBTS, KBST‑AM and translator K280GW, expanding its broadcast portfolio.
MediaPost
Deals•Feb 11, 2026
Salt XC Acquires Media Shop Craft & Commerce
Toronto-based Salt XC announced the acquisition of Media Shop Craft & Commerce, expanding its media services portfolio. The deal, disclosed on February 11, 2026, underscores Salt XC's strategic push into the media and digital marketing space.
MediaPost