Pause ads command attention: New data shows programmatic pause-screen placements draw nearly double the attention of standard CTV ads.

Sports has long been the go-to for high-intent connected TV (CTV) audiences, but that strategy is starting to plateau. Lifestyle content is emerging as a more consistent driver of engagement, attention, and purchase behavior.

Why live sports still wins the attention game In a fragmented media environment, live sports remains one of the few places where audiences gather in real time and stay actively engaged. As fandom extends across apps, highlights, fantasy, and social platforms, advertisers are gaining new signals into how sports fans behave beyond the broadcast.

Audience planning has long relied on stable segments, but consumer behavior is becoming more fluid. Signal-based approaches are helping marketers interpret real-time engagement and identify intent as it develops.

AI is reshaping brand safety by amplifying risks around placement, accuracy, and authenticity while offering new tools to control them. As automation scales, marketers face a growing tradeoff between performance gains and trust.

In today’s podcast episode, we discuss what’s most responsible for consumers’ current ad fatigue, why there’s an opportunity to capture attention immediately after a purchase, and what agentic commerce is—and isn’t—doing to the shopping journey. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Principal Analyst Nate Elliott, and Senior Vice President of Rokt Ads at Rokt, Ashley Firmstone. Listen anywhere, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.

In a crowded digital environment, 80% of advertisers say audio delivers higher audience attention and less distraction, according to new Spotify research. As trust and focus become harder to capture, audio is emerging as a more reliable way to reach listeners.

Netflix and peers drive 33% more co-viewing and longer sessions than YouTube, boosting ad impact.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the redefining of “attention,” what neuro-contextual research actually measures, and how it could reshape media planning for brands that traditionally buy based on reach or demographics rather than emotional resonance. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Director of Content Jeremy Goldman, and Brian Gleason, CEO of Seedtag. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Premium streamers beat YouTube on attention as Netflix and HBO Max scored an attention rate of 26% vs. YouTube’s 18%, challenging spend priorities.

Dentsu forecasts the global advertising market will surpass $1 trillion for the first time in 2026, growing 5.1% and powered by digital channels that will capture nearly 69% of total spend. Retail media leads with projected 14%–16% growth, while online video and social also expand double digits. Major global events—including the Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and a packed political calendar—will drive attention and pricing pressure across markets. APAC remains the fastest-growing region, led by India and China, while the US will represent about 40% of worldwide spend. For marketers, algorithm-first planning, advanced measurement, and early tentpole buying will be critical.

Publicis Groupe’s 100th-anniversary film, “A Lion Never Gives Up,” blends live action with 4,500 AI-generated images to retell the company’s evolution and project its future. With more than half its workforce now in data, engineering, and AI, leadership says the next era will reward companies that fuse creativity with machine-driven operational scale. The film lands as Omnicom’s acquisition of IPG reshapes the competitive field, and Publicis argues its AI maturity gives it an edge in a more concentrated market.

Uber partnered with ad measurement firms Kantar and Adelaide to launch a custom attention metric for in-ride ads and Uber Eats checkout screens, the companies announced Tuesday. The partnership is Adelaide’s first custom, platform-specific attention metric partnership. As the ad industry inches toward universal standards, Uber’s launch shows the challenges in creating a one-size-fits-all approach. Even post-standardization, advertisers will have to navigate an ecosystem with multiple platform-specific offerings.

Premium media delivers measurable value: Ads that integrate smoothly into trusted environments boost purchase intent by 40% and trust by 85%.

Connected TV (CTV) attention metrics (AUs) declined between 2024 and 2025, but remain strong overall, according to our industry KPI data provided by Adelaide. Even with slight declines in effectiveness, Adelaide’s findings prove that CTV is relatively unmatched in capturing audience interest, cementing its position as a key touchpoint for brands looking to connect with broad audiences.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss Reddit’s most interesting recent development, if Snap’s emphasis on attention can help it bounce back, and whether Reddit can earn a permanent seat at the table for bigger brand budgets. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host, Marcus Johnson, Vice President and Principal Analyst, Jasmine Enberg, and Senior Analyst, Minda Smiley. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Instagram is currently testing a picture-in-picture (PiP) viewing option for Reels that will allow users to watch the short-form service outside of the Instagram app. Instagram is reportedly prompting a small number of users to test the option, which includes a toggle for PiP in Instagram’s playback settings. While it’s a late move for Instagram, PiP Reels will extend the platform’s role beyond active scrolling, letting advertisers reach consumers during passive moments, unlocking a critical advantage in a crowded social landscape.

The news: Two-thirds (66%) of consumers in the Southeast Asia (SEA) region ignore repetitive ads when they are shown on a single platform, per a report from The Trade Desk. Gen Z respondents were over twice as likely (57%) to feel irritated when exposed to repetitive ads compared with other demographics. Our take: Ads often need to be repeated to boost brand recall, putting advertisers in a tricky position of balancing brand recognition while not frustrating consumers. But there are approaches marketers can take to address the fatigue issue.

The news: A Snapchat, WPP Media, and Lumen study unveiled key insights on the growth of attention-based metrics as key indicators of ad success. Even 5% more attention can double brand perception. Attention was 8 times more effective than view-through rates for predicting brand recall and 4 times more effective at determining brand favorability. Our take: Snap is looking to be a leader in a metric that advertisers are increasingly paying attention to—but on the back of a lukewarm quarter, can Snap’s emphasis on attention help it bounce back?

Snap’s attention metric shows the measurement maturing: The platform aims to capitalize on advertiser demand for new ad effectiveness signals.