Author: rssmasher

Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Facebook are investing in AI-enhanced devices that provide answers when we ask questions. We’re at the beginning of a big year for voice-based marketing as these companies double down on these investments and brands experiment with new customer experiences powered by voice. According to our recent survey of 1,000 consumers, 73…

In this week’s Rundown, we examine why digital publishers may not find quick profits in TV, why publishers are investing in Instagram Stories and what’s happened to Facebook’s Campbell Brown.

The pivot to TV will be hard
Over the past few years, top digital publishers such as BuzzFeed, Vox Media and Refinery29 have been building out entertainment divisions in an effort to create movies and TV shows. Some of this has been driven by the desire for more revenue, as the ability to create hit movies and TV shows can lead to streams of revenue that aren’t tied to digital advertising. And to these publishers’ credit, some have hired experienced entertainment folks to build these new businesses.

But as one veteran producer, who’s made dozens of TV shows and movies, told me recently: TV is a terrible business if you’re looking for quick profit. When asked how much it would cost to build a successful TV studio, he said, “$200 [million] to $300 million, to start.” Even if networks, streaming services and other content buyers are willing to fund productions in exchange for licenses, the reality is that most studios have to spend some of their own money to get a show made. And most shows need two or three seasons — or, in some cases, five seasons — to turn a healthy profit for the studio.

And that’s if you don’t sell an original show or movie to Netflix, which is increasingly fronting full production costs — and a bit “extra” on top, said another producer — to buy global distribution rights. In these cases, all a producer has is the margin. — Sahil Patel

What’s the (Instagram) Story?
Publishers widely acknowledge that there’s no easy replacement for Facebook referral traffic, but many of them see Instagram Stories as a promising growth area. What started out as a Snapchat knockoff has grown into a powerful traffic driver for some publishers. For some, Instagram Stories hasn’t just become the third-biggest source of referral traffic — in its best months for some publishers, it can drive more traffic than Facebook. Publishers are drawn to the format because it’s easy to update a Story that isn’t performing well, and the competition hasn’t yet gotten as fierce as the news feed has long been. Whether that stays true as publishers cast about for new referral sources remains to be seen. — Max Willens

The post The Rundown: The pivot to TV isn’t easy appeared first on Digiday.

Get ready for your mind to be blown by all the wonderful things you can put guacamole on (we’re talking toast, sandwiches, tacos and more) thanks to Avocados From Mexico. The trade group released a teaser for its 30-second Super Bowl spot, which will focus on the versatility of guacamole. GSD&M is handling the creative….

PepsiCo’s Super Bowl LII ad for Mountain Dew and Doritos just got a lot more epic. The snacks and beverage company announced today that hip-hop legends Missy Elliot and Busta Rhymes will appear in the ad alongside actors Morgan Freeman and Peter Dinklage. In a second teaser (below), Elliot is paired with Freeman for Mountain…

Uber is beginning 2018 by focusing more on celebrating its drivers, beginning with a pair of documentary-style spots–timed to National Compliment Day today–profiling two drivers who’ve gotten some of the most in-app compliments from passengers. “A compliment can go further than you think,” says onscreen copy at the beginning of the spots, which were made…

AdExchanger |

Although video header bidding is still nascent, early adopters are starting to see results. Social-heavy publisher Diply has been using AppNexus’ video header bidding solution Prebid Video since the end of last year to allow programmatic auctions to compete alongside its ad server –  Google’s DoubleClick for Publishers (DFP). Customizing its header bidding wrapper helps… Continue reading »

The post Publishers Tap AppNexus’ Prebid Video To Pump Up Programmatic Yield appeared first on AdExchanger.

AdExchanger |

Just six weeks into her new role as CMO of Kentucky Fried Chicken, Andrea Zahumensky is hitting the market Sunday with her first big campaign launch for the quick-serve restaurant’s new Smoky Mountain BBQ flavor. Zahumensky, who joined KFC from Procter & Gamble, where she was brand director for baby care products in North America,… Continue reading »

The post KFC’s New CMO Hits The Ground Running appeared first on AdExchanger.

AT&T’s CEO, in an open letter, called on Congress to clarify the repeal of net-neutrality rules while also imposing new regulations on tech titans such as Google and Facebook.

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“Data-Driven Thinking” is written by members of the media community and contains fresh ideas on the digital revolution in media. Today’s column is written by Adam Schenkel, vice president of programmatic at GumGum. The end of the fourth quarter and the start of Q1 are full of planning conversations with brands, agencies and publisher partners.… Continue reading »

The post As 2018 Gets Under Way, Digital Ad Execs Are Worried About These Five Issues appeared first on AdExchanger.

The customers subjected to the “Whopper Neutrality” experiment expressed confusion, frustration, and in some cases, considerable anger — but also said the experience helped them better understand
the somewhat complex net neutrality issue.