Netflix seeks new viewing habits: Live channels and bundles aim to lift viewing time as originals lose staying power and engagement cools.

Cloudflare challenges Google: New crawler defaults give publishers more control over AI scraping and could prompt Google to split search and AI crawling.

OpenAI ads open in European markets: OpenAI is seeking proof that ads can fuel revenues before its IPO.

Meta lawsuits could alter digital advertising: Four states seek $1.4 trillion from Meta—nearly its market cap—in a case that could prompt marketers to diversify ad spend.

Spotify expands podcast buying: Amazon DSP now reaches Spotify podcasts, making it easier to add high-attention audio to broader media plans.

World Cup draws record US audiences: US-Belgium set a 42 million viewer soccer record, reinforcing live sports as a rare source of mass reach for brands.

Profound brings AI search ads into focus: New visibility and relevance metrics could help marketers size up rivals as AI search remains tough to measure.

AI accelerates agencies: Efficiency gains are clear, but lasting value depends on pairing AI with human creativity and strategic judgment.

Sky builds TV scale: An ITV deal creates a UK ad powerhouse as legacy TV seeks scale while streaming draws viewers and ad budgets.

US adults back youth social media bans: 56% support blocking under-16s, making tougher rules more likely and youth marketing plans riskier.

Entertainment apps hold attention: App sessions hit a period high while music apps lost engagement, reflecting consumers' preference for active media.

Nielsen's math gets challenged: TVB questions Nielsen’s ad-supported TV figures, saying flawed inputs overstate streaming and undercount linear viewing.

AI bypasses search: Nearly 1 in 5 consumers have bought from an AI recommendation without searching first, according to exclusive Fractl data.

Omnicom secures Adidas: Omnicom is set to win Adidas’ $512M global media account as data, AI, commerce, and scale outweigh media buying alone.

TikTok turns microdramas into ad inventory: Growth Max lets brands build or sponsor episodic content as viewers watch ads to unlock more episodes.

UK review could alter the Paramount-WBD deal: Regulators may force asset sales, weakening the merger’s streaming and CTV ad advantages.

Media splits test marketers: Comcast and NBCU’s breakup could alter premium video buying, putting upfronts and bundles under scrutiny.

iHeartMedia expands Amazon ties: iHeart taps Amazon’s DSP and shopper data, making audio easier to buy, target, and measure across channels.

AI changes creator playbooks: Cannes Lions showed platforms weaving AI into creator tools as marketers balance scale with credibility.

Google adds a search trust cue: A new “strongest match” test could reward relevance, but advertisers are left looking for clearer rules.