Why Jetblack Was Doomed All Along

It’s time to pour one out for Walmart’s exclusive text-to-shop service Jetblack, which launched in May 2018 for consumers in Manhattan and Brooklyn and “ended [its] current operations” last week. According to a post on the Jetblack site, parent company Walmart plans to roll the technology into the broader organization “to power its conversational commerce…

The Broadband Industry Is Suing Maine Over a Web Privacy Law

Groups claim the state law, scheduled to take effect in July, violates First Amendment protections and the Supremacy Clause of the constitution.

Olay Will Stop Retouching Advertisements by the End of 2020

Olay, the skincare brand owned by Procter & Gamble, will no longer retouch photos in its advertisements, it announced today at an event in New York City. The plan is to end all retouching in Olay’s advertising imagery–in print, digital, TV and out-of-home–by the end of 2020. Coinciding with the announcement is a release of…

The New York Times Expands Its London Team

In a move to further expand its international presence, The New York Times is growing its breaking news team in London. The announcement comes on the heels of an excellent quarter for the Times, which broke records last year in terms of digital subscribers when it reached a total of 5.3 million print and digital…

Redbox Launching Free, Ad-Supported Streamer

Redbox, which had a short-lived SVOD offering six years ago, now hopes to expand its revenue base by attracting physical DVD renters to ad-sponsored content and digital rentals.

Authentic Brands CEO Jamie Salter on His Company’s Global Ambitions as It Buys Forever 21

Authentic Brands Group’s acquisition of Forever 21 is the latest in a series of deals that have transformed Authentic Brands into the second largest brand management company in the world, behind only Walt Disney. The $81 million transaction, in which Authentic Brands (ABG) partnered with mall operators Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners, increases…

Q&A: The Circle’s Joey Sasso Preaches the Gospel of Being Real Online

The Circle is as endearing a story of social media that exists. It’s one where authenticity online triumphs over fraudulence, where catfishes have good reasons to fool you and first impressions give way to deeper connections. It’s a popularity contest, but one where the most real, genuine and generous participants are voted to the top….

Netflix and Amazon Will Make First-Ever Cannes Lions Presentations in June

Netflix and Amazon will each make their first-ever official appearances as presenters during the 2020 Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity this summer, festival schedulers said today. Jean Tanis, global creative marketing lead for Netflix, will discuss how the streaming service builds excitement for its upcoming programming at a session during the festival, which will be…