Contextual placements lifted purchase intent 20 points, making a combined strategy worth testing.

As FAST audiences expand, brands can connect social and streaming campaigns to reach ad-receptive viewers.

Marketers should use creator shoutouts, interactive chat, and stream sponsorships to tap Twitch's purchase influence.

Microdrama audience growth in China is slowing, but the industry’s biggest opportunity is just beginning. AI, premium storytelling, and branded content are transforming the format into a serious media and marketing platform.

Microdramas have moved from a Chinese app phenomenon to a mainstream US media habit. This FAQ covers what microdramas are, how big the market is, and where the advertising opportunities sit in 2026.

Facebook tries to close its creator gap: AI Creator Studio tackles weak creator tools as its US influencer spending share keeps slipping.

For years, AliExpress has competed in the US largely on one promise: low prices. But its recent Summer Sale suggested the company is looking to broaden that proposition.

In today’s podcast episode, we discuss the most interesting conversations we expect to hear at Cannes this year: how brands can stay true to their values while operating at a global scale, why marketers should stop advertising and start entertaining, and why you should (perhaps) stop listening to the customer in order to build a brand that lasts forever. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Principal Analysts Nate Elliott and Max Willens. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.

CTV has sizable and growing media time in Canada, but ad spending still lags. As viewing habits shift across digital channels, marketers face growing pressure to realign budgets before attention moves further ahead of investment.

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.

The systems measuring behavior record steady progression, but people don’t always move in straight lines. As customer activity becomes more fragmented, the gap between measured growth and reality is getting harder to ignore.

OpenX pipes TVision panel data into bids, favoring verified engagement over cheap reach.

57% of ad buyers will prioritize creator ads in 2026—but success will be driven by repeat partnerships with genuine brand advocates.

Creator partnerships are increasingly a necessity for driving strong marketing results, according to a TikTok report on influencer-led campaigns. Even as influencer marketing proves its value, consumers are becoming more inundated with influencer ads. This makes it paramount that advertisers tailor their strategies for the best results as the influencer marketing space becomes highly saturated.

CMOs are confronting AI fatigue by refocusing on human creativity and trust. As automation accelerates, leaders are rebalancing efficiency with authenticity to restore credibility and performance.

The advertising industry is moving from “opportunity to see” to “proof of impact.” The new IAB and MRC Attention Measurement Guidelines formalize a shift long visible in audience behavior in which people respond to what they feel, not what they scroll past, per MarTech. Attention standards raise the bar so it’s no longer enough for an ad to be seen—it needs to elicit an emotional response. Brands targeting specific demographics should design creative around their emotional triggers, measure attention as a quality metric, and build media plans that prioritize resonance over reach.

Connected TV (CTV) engagement is growing steadily, with engagement per impression reaching 1.94% in Q2 2025, up from 1% in Q2 2024, per our industry KPI data provided by BrightLine. Consistent growth in audience engagement with interactive CTV ads means advertisers who haven’t jumped on the interactivity bandwagon risk losing an opportunity to make positive impressions on vast CTV audiences.

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