Key stat: NCAA football collected 37.9% of its season's linear TV ad spending in November alone, according to an August EMARKETER analysis of iSpot data.

In today’s podcast episode, we discuss what would happen if an extended MLB lockout led to a death spiral for regional sports networks (RSNs), the BBC started carrying advertising, and Meta’s Muse flopped. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Analyst Ross Benes, and Principal Analysts Bill Fisher and Max Willens. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.

Organic engagement rates on brand YouTube channels fell between 26% and 38% YoY in all seven video categories tracked, according to a June report from Pixability.

As more healthcare orgs restrict drug rep access, pharma marketers must adopt more targeted, data-driven outreach to sustain their influence on doctors.

In today’s podcast episode, we discuss how insufficient measurement is preventing advertisers from investing more in digital, the role mobile-grade measurement plays in shaping digital transformation strategies across channels, why AI isn’t fixing your measurement problems, and how organizations are responding to the growing pressure to prove ROI. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Analyst Chris Wood and AppsFlyer Chief Marketing Officer Ran Avrahamy. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.

As the economy continues to put a strain on many household budgets, a number of consumers are planning to use annual holiday sales to stock up on everyday essentials, as well as buying gifts.

Marketers, creators, and brands descended on midtown Manhattan this week for Advertising Week New York (AWNY), and the conversations kept circling back to three themes: fandom, trust, and street activations. Brands came to make news: TikTok announced new tools to expand the reach of TikTok Shop, Meta launched an upgrade for its Ads Manager business assistant, and Olyzon rolled out an agentic orchestration platform. But beyond the reveals, trends emerged from session topics, panel discussions, word-of-mouth, and private conversations. They revealed the growing importance of fandom's audiences, looking for trust, and IRL activations.

Delta can pass along higher fuel costs for now, but weaker carriers may respond with fewer flights and higher fares.

Social content can turn interest into purchases, even as stores and shopping sites remain key discovery channels.

Strong reviews outweigh repeated ads, making trust and post-purchase satisfaction critical.

Checkout flexibility can attract lower earners, while bigger-ticket financing can capture affluent shoppers.

Sponsored health content on social media is competing for attention—brands can differentiate by sharing balanced patient experiences that go beyond product benefits.

The effort aims to speed drug development by pooling research resources and clinical trial infrastructure.

Chipotle, Gap, and E.l.f. are creating music and content designed to earn attention rather than interrupt it.

Centralizing staffing, SEO, reviews, and marketing can reduce costs and reliance on multiple tools.

A packed event calendar drove Q2 engagement, reinforcing the value of premium inventory and multichannel campaigns.

Post-game recaps and daily shows offer brands a cheaper way to connect with fans beyond live events.