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The news: ChatGPT’s referral traffic to websites plummeted 52% in a single month after a fundamental shift in how the AI model operates. OpenAI manually reweighted its system to prioritize sources that provide direct, helpful answers, per Search Engine Land. Our take: Declining web traffic means declining revenues. For marketers and publishers, the mandate is to adapt to GEO or risk invisibility in a world where AI answers, not clicks, dominate. Reshaping web content to be more answer oriented could help surface it in ChatGPT, but that’s easier said than done for publishers with legacy content. Companies that move early to understand and influence AI citation patterns will secure a competitive edge as this new content distribution landscape takes shape.
The news: YouTube TV may drop Fox News, Fox Sports, and Fox Broadcast Network this week if Google and Fox Corporation don’t agree on renewal terms. A blackout removing seven Fox channels could ding YouTube TV’s engagement—especially during live sports and election season, when Fox’s properties pull massive audiences, per CNBC. Our take: Fox Sports specifically drives real-time viewership. Losing it weakens YouTube TV’s live-programming value proposition. For streaming platforms like YouTube TV, it’s a warning—content gatekeepers are no longer willing to share access without premium payouts. YouTube can negotiate partial or sports-only rights to minimize disruption, but the cost will likely be passed on to subscribers. If Fox goes dark on YouTube TV, advertisers must reallocate spend or risk diminished ad performance.
The news: Perplexity added a standalone subscription tier for its Comet agentic AI browser that will fund a $42.5 million publisher revenue-sharing program. Comet Plus costs $5 per month and gives users access to “premium content from a group of trusted publishers and journalists.” The browser is included in Perplexity Pro and Max subscriptions. Our take: Brands should actively monitor how their content is used across AI platforms and consider usage-based deals for fair compensation, especially if content is regularly surfaced by AI tools. They should also examine the real revenue potential of partnerships like Comet Plus and scrutinize audience size, payout structures, and long-term sustainability before committing.
The news: Elon Musk tried to enlist Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a $97.4 billion takeover of OpenAI in February, per court filings in OpenAI’s ongoing countersuit against Musk. The failed bid was Musk’s response to OpenAI’s potential shift to a for-profit model, which he claims broke its founding mission. Our take: The initial phase of the AI boom, defined by research breakthroughs and experimentation, is giving way to a more aggressive era of market consolidation, legal entanglements, and power politics. Litigation is emerging as the last resort when innovation stalls or acquisition paths close—an indicator that the AI industry could be entering a defensive phase where court battles stand in for competitive breakthroughs.
Out-of-home (OOH) ads prompt an average 13.3% growth in US ad awareness, outpacing TV (10.2%), digital (3.9%), and connected TV (2.2%), according to a July report from Clear Channel Outdoor and Kantar.
32% of US connected TV (CTV) users find traditional TV ads useful/helpful for holiday gift info, while 34% say the same about streaming TV ads, according to June 2025 data from LG Ad Solutions.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss if the death of the Late Show is “the canary in the linear coal mine” and the biggest takeaways from the landmark NFL and ESPN deal. Join our conversation with Senior Director of Podcasts and host, Marcus Johnson, Senior Editor, Daniel Konstantinovic, and Vice President of Content, Paul Verna. Listen everywhere you find podcasts and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
MS NOW rebrand targets broader news reach: MSNBC aims to scale beyond its niche as TV audiences fragment globally.
The news: Upfront spending on primetime TV declined for the third year in a row as viewers shift to streaming and advertisers follow suit, per Media Dynamics. Our take: Though linear still commands more ad spending than streaming for now, money and viewership are becoming more entrenched within streaming.
The news: Google is turning search results into a customizable, algorithmic feed. The search giant is rolling out Preferred Sources, which allows users to select their favorite blogs or news outlets to appear the most in the “top stories” section. The feature aims to help users see more content from their favorite sites, per Google. Our take: If search results become a more limited discovery engine, news sites and blogs may need to rely more heavily on traffic through alternative sources. Joining blogging sites like Medium and Substack could help maintain visibility and surface new readers who will add them as preferred news sources, considering the platforms’ focus on content discovery.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss what to make of Meta’s ‘Superintelligence Labs’ unit, the unconventional ways young people are using Instagram, and the potential sleeping giant of WhatsApp’s ads. Join our conversation with Senior Director of Podcasts and host, Marcus Johnson, Vice President and Principal Analyst, Jasmine Enberg, and Senior Analyst, Minda Smiley. Listen everywhere you find podcasts and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Live Nation expects 2025 to be another record year for concertgoing, as global tours from superstars like Oasis, Coldplay, and Beyoncé fuel attendance and ticket sales. While it may seem counterintuitive for concert demand to be so strong even as other areas of discretionary spending, like travel and restaurant meals, falter, it’s clear that a sizable number of consumers view entertainment as a necessary splurge in an era of uncertainty. That could help give the US hospitality industry a much-needed boost as it grapples with declining international demand.
Marketers have long associated connected TV (CTV) with big-budget national campaigns, but that’s rapidly changing. As CTV technology becomes more sophisticated and accessible, local businesses are entering a new era of precise, data-driven advertising that blends digital accountability with TV’s scale.
Over half of Gen Z, millennial, and Gen X consumers open to pause ads say the ability to save offers/reminders would make the ads better, according to April 2025 data from MAGNA Media Trials and DIRECTV Advertising. Nearly as many (46%) baby boomers say the same.
The news: Amazon’s Prime Video overtook Netflix in Brazil’s streaming market in Q2 2025, leading with 22% of user interest and edging out Netflix at 21%, according to JustWatch, per Meio & Mensagem. Prime Videos’ ascent presents new advertising opportunities in the country, while Netflix’s decline suggests potential audience fragmentation Our take: Brazil’s streaming war is shifting from subscriptions to hybrid models, and Prime Video wins on bundled utility. Netflix can catch up by scaling its ad tier and investing in local hits. The next battleground? Premium reach at a lower cost in a market where cultural relevance drives loyalty.
The news: Meta is axing political ads in the EU as of October, citing an uncertain regulatory environment with “unworkable requirements.” The company stated in a blog post that the pullback will include ads related to political, electoral, or social issues, and specifically pointed to conflicts with the EU’s Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulation. Our take: Meta's decision signals how fast platforms can change ad policies and how little time marketers have to react. If labeling systems or ad review processes change for the EU—or broadly apply to topics adjacent to social issues—advertisers may need to recalibrate campaigns to avoid triggering enforcement.