On today's podcast episode, we discuss the details and regulatory headaches surrounding Microsoft’s attempts to acquire the video game company Activision Blizzard. "In Other News," we talk about how Meta is allowing EU users to turn off their algorithms, and YouTube’s current issues around violating children’s privacy through tracking-based advertising on "made-for-kids" content. Tune in to the discussion with our guest host Bill Fisher and analysts Daniel Konstantinovic and Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf.

Toy sales growth can be attributed to kids’ shifting interests, the influence of online platforms, and expanding into older audiences. In our recent “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast episode, we dive into trends impacting toy retail sales and how marketers can reach new consumers.

B2B digital ad spending will continue to grow at a slower pace across key industries in 2023. More B2B buyers are millennials and Gen Zers, shifting ad buys from search to display, from Google to social media, and from desktop to mobile.

Key stat: About 98% of creators use Instagram feed posts, Instagram Stories, and Instagram Reels, putting the platform above TikTok, Facebook, and other popular social networks for creator use, according to Mavrck.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss the current state of the affiliate space, bringing new light to influencer activity through "performance branding," the impact of programmatic ads coming to movies theaters, and how retail media aids affiliate marketing. "In Other News," we talk about the impact of programmatic ads coming to the movies and what YouTube's next anti-ad blocking measure will be. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Max Willens and Alexandra Forsch, president of Awin Americas.

Here's how people in South Korea spend their time and money online, represented in 10 charts.

YouTube moves away from third-party measurement for co-viewing: The platform’s decision to use its own data for trading purposes has advertisers worried.

This month’s ad platforms update is all about analytics, with Google, TikTok, and Microsoft announcing improved reporting tools. Plus, Amazon announced on-site and off-site retail media innovations. And we saw some interesting ad network updates from Lyft and Intuit. Here’s a breakdown of what’s new.

Holiday retail sales will grow 4.5% to reach $1.317 trillion this year, according to our forecast. Retailers who want to carve out a share of that spend will need strong promotional strategies and a seamless digital-physical experience. It’s also not a bad idea to have a plan ready for when the returns start rolling in.

Share of viewing time between cable and broadcast TV in the US fell to a combined 49.6% last month, according to Nielsen.

Google issues refunds for misplaced ads: A June report claiming 80% of its third-party video ad positions didn’t meet standards raised a firestorm in the industry.

Daily social network time is reaching a plateau, as the explosive growth in social video is approaching a saturation point. Even growth in time spent with TikTok is slowing, a sign that there’s a limit to how much social video people want to consume daily.

YouTube has expanded its affiliate shopping capabilities and eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program in order to maintain the strength of its creator relationships. But livestream commerce may factor more into YouTube’s future.

On today's episode, we discuss what Google's Q2 ad growth is telling us, what to make of YouTube's recent performance, and how Google will fair in the second half of the year. "In Other News," we talk about Google rolling out the first step of third-party cookie replacement and what Microsoft is betting on for the future. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf.

With the rise of TikTok and all its copycats, there’s a lot to keep track of in terms of paid advertising. Creators frequent TikTok, Reels, Shorts, and Spotlight in some capacity, but the ad ops on each platform vary. Here’s a quick guide to what’s available on each platform.

Meta accounts for 19.5% of US digital ad spend, despite US adults spending only 7.6% of their time with digital media on the platform, according to our forecasts.

YouTube has a head start in CTV ad spending: Viewers and media companies are pivoting to digital, but spending shows YouTube is well in the lead.

Meta is one of the two most successful ad publishers in history (along with its duopoly rival, Google), but its ad dominance does not come in tandem with an equally dominant hold over consumers’ time. In fact, Meta’s share of ad revenues is surprisingly out of step with how much time people actually spend on its platforms, particularly when compared with competitors like YouTube and TikTok

Over one-third (37.7%) of US consumers’ time spent with TV is with streaming services, per Nielsen. Cable is not far behind, with a 30.6% share of consumers’ TV time.