Limited Ad-Supported Streaming Will Drive More Competition: Zaslav

Limited advertising on premium streaming services may seem like a hindrance to growth of the business, but Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav believes it can be a sustainable growth business.

Why Brand-Creator Partnerships Are Prioritizing Expertise and Diversity Over Fame 

The practice of brands tapping online content creators to boost their reach and forge relationships with customers famously took off with celebrities. When the average shopper thinks of influencers, they likely still picture a reality TV star making millions to flash a handbag for a second in an otherwise brand-agnostic video. But the focus of…

Google Extends User Controls for Limiting Ads in Categories like Pregnancy and Parenting

In response to high demand from its users, Google is extending categories for users to control what ads they do and don’t want to see. Now, people using YouTube or Google can go to their Google Account dashboard and lower the volume of ads in categories like pregnancy, dating, parenting and weight loss in Ad…

Spotify Meets Expectations, Despite Its Split from Russia

Streaming platform Spotify released its Q1 2022 results and managed to exceed its performance goals–despite having to cut Russia’s access to the platform last month, where the market accounted for nearly 1.5 million subscriptions. The platform’s premium subscribers grew 15% year-on-year, adding 182 million subscribers in Q1–2 million more compared to Q4 2021. Founder and…

Anderson .Paak Makes an Anthemic Banger for Budweiser and Creators Everywhere

A creator’s path to success can be a bumpy one filled with roadblocks, rejection and a ton of self doubt. But a new campaign from Budweiser, Wieden+Kennedy and eight-time Grammy-winning artist Anderson .Paak is here to assure emerging creatives that the impending rewards that follow the hustle–a finished project or finding your audience, for instance–are…

SVOD Honeymoon Over? Penetration Down Despite Rise In Streaming-Only Viewers

Even as pay-TV subs decline, SVOD penetration is starting to be impacted by price hikes, free competitors, other factors, according to new research.

When Does a Celebrity Hit the Oversaturation Threshold for Advertising?

Was that Kevin Hart in another ad? What was he hawking this time? Is that Melissa McCarthy again, and what’s she selling? How many times can I see Peyton Manning in ads before I zone out completely? Using a celebrity in an ad can be a boon to a brand and agency, with facial and…

BuzzFeed Inc. Introduces Vertical Video Ad Format and Creator Ad Network

At its first event tied to the Upfronts season in five years, a recently expanded BuzzFeed Inc. unveiled a number of new offerings, including ad products, events and editorial initiatives, several of which were made possible by its December acquisition of Complex Media. Speaking to a room of marketers, chief executive Jonah Peretti touted the…