On today’s podcast episode, we discuss advertising around the 2026 Winter Olympics: how marketers tackled fragmentation across media channels, how creators were used by Olympic broadcaster NBCUniversal, and which campaign was the best — and why. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Senior Analyst and Editor Peter Allen Clark and Senior Director of Content Jeremy Goldman. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Streaming consolidation takes a surprise turn: Netflix’s deal exit hands WBD to Paramount, preserving a more diversified studio and ad model.
Excludes early voters in real time as $10.8B midterms loom and 60% vote early
The Salvation Army is setting up shop in Roblox, using the gaming platform to introduce its users to thrifting and win their loyalty at an early age. The new Roblox experience “Thrift Score” models a real Salvation Army store and is stocked with player donations, original designs from players and content creators, as well as digital replicas of the physical stores' actual merchandise.
What began as an audio-only medium now spans video formats, connected TV screens, and creator-driven content that rivals traditional television.
Esports and gaming creators represent two distinct but overlapping opportunities for marketers seeking to reach engaged audiences.
The signal that’s fueling a surge in digital audio is getting clearer. US podcasts are set to capture close to an additional $1 billion per year by 2029, according to EMARKETER’s December 2025 forecast.
HubSpot, Canva, and Semrush build publisher arms to secure first-party reach as AI disrupts search.
AWS' new AI tool reformats live broadcasts for TikTok and Reels in seconds, unlocking scalable ad inventory.
Netflix and peers drive 33% more co-viewing and longer sessions than YouTube, boosting ad impact.
Podcast skipping may be overstated, as playback data shows many shows retain 90% or more of listeners through ad breaks.
Paramount+ rose 17%, but TV ads fell 10% as cord-cutting eroded linear’s base.
Paramount's richer amended bid for WBD intensifies pressure on Netflix, adding political and planning risk to streaming’s future.
It turns TV home screens into performance media, nudging budgets beyond in-stream video.
Milano Cortina delivered the strongest Winter Olympics viewership in over a decade across streaming and linear TV, proving the value of live sports.
For the Winter Olympics, NBCUniversal paired broadcast scale with streaming, CTV, and creator integrations to drive monetization in a major way.
Streaming sports programs soared 52% YoY in Q1 2026, forcing brands to chase growth beyond linear with balanced media planning.