The Current Report

The return of big stars like Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg, Kevin Hart and Reese Witherspoon signaled that this year’s upfront presentations were already different from last year’s, which took place during the actors’ and writers’ strikes.NBCUniversal made a big show of its live sports offerings, from more NFL games on Peacock, to 5,000 hours of Olympics coverage. Chris Brooklier and Travis Clark go inside the presentation, including why one of the company’s ad executives called out walled gardens and transparency.Plus, Netflix officially announced it would carry two NFL games on Christmas for the first time ever. And we cover Fox, Disney and Amazon’s upfronts news._______To read the full stories included in this episode:‘We did not create another opaque walled garden’: NBCU touts transparency (and sports) at upfronts: https://www.thecurrent.com/nbcu-transparency-sports-upfrontsStreaming takes over the upfronts with Netflix's NFL news and the Great Rebundling: https://www.thecurrent.com/streaming-upfronts-netflix-sports-news-amazonNetflix Says Ad Tier Has 40M Users, Plans to Bring Ad Tech In-House in Shift From Microsoft: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/netflix-ad-tier-update-40m-users-shift-from-microsoft-1235900301/Appointment TV isn’t dead. It’s making a comeback on streaming platforms: https://www.thecurrent.com/appointment-tv-streaming-platforms Inside the Amazon Upfront: An A-List Gauntlet Is Thrown: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/reese-witherspoon-legally-blonde-series-amazon-upfront-road-house-1235898610/Amazon VP Alan Moss Tells Advertisers At Tech Giant’s First Upfront That Putting Ads On Prime Video “Connected The Dots Across Our Universe”:  https://deadline.com/2024/05/amazon-upfront-mike-hopkins-paul-kotas-streaming-advertising-1235915381/FOX UPFRONT—BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM ITS PITCH TO ADVERTISERS: https://adage.com/article/special-report-tv-upfront/fox-upfront-super-bowl-fox-news-and-tubi-ad-tech-focus/2560281?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D89208624261719825302994803284811687283%7CMCORGID%3D138FFF2554E6E7220A4C98C6%2540AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1715759528&CSAuthResp=1%3A%3A5845844%3A150997699%3A24%3Asuccess%3A2BCE6ADF5CE781A1B82431616F540DC8Inside the Fox Upfront: Tom Brady, the F-Word and Jamie Foxx in the Flesh: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/tom-brady-jamie-foxx-f-word-fox-upfront-1235898098/The Current Report is our weekly news roundup of what’s happening in the world of digital media. We headline topical stories every edition — everything from connected TV to retail media networks to new initiatives around identity — offering our fresh take on why it's relevant for the marketing community. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/45HIaXH

It’s upfronts week, with many of the big TV networks, from Fox to Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCUniversal hosting their annual presentations. Streaming giants Netflix and Amazon are also joining the festivities.Measurement is emerging as an important part of this upfronts season, as advertisers are searching for more than just scale — they want to tie measurement and attribution data back to business results — meaning there is a bigger focus on the full loop from reach to conversion. Add in Nielsen, Comscore, VideoAmp and ISpot all jockeying to be the dominant measurement currency and there’s a lot to talk about.Blockgraph co-founder and CEO Jason Manningham joins The Current Report to break it all down, plus how identity fits into the conversation and if there will ever be dominant walled gardens within the streaming space._______To read the full stories included in this episode:Retail data is entering the upfronts as measurement gets more important: https://bit.ly/3U7a1gYHow streaming consolidation could impact future upfront deals: https://bit.ly/4biGeZ1Future of TV Briefing: Upfront ad sellers prep performance-based pitches to address ad buyers’ ROI obsession: https://bit.ly/3UV0EkVNBA Hunger Games Enter the Fourth Quarter: https://bit.ly/4dCyCCkTV upfronts and Newfronts calendar: https://bit.ly/4dyoRVD_______The Current Report is our weekly news roundup of what’s happening in the world of digital media. We headline topical stories every edition — everything from connected TV to retail media networks to new initiatives around identity — offering our fresh take on why it's relevant for the marketing community. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/45HIaXH_______Each week, The Current gives you the most critical innovations in advertising that are happening on the open internet — identity, the future of TV, retail media, and beyond. Born inside The Trade Desk, The Current is a news platform dedicated to covering the latest in modern marketing — all from the front lines. Speaking to the marketing world’s most influential players, we explain what these seismic shifts mean, how they are happening, and why they are taking place: https://bit.ly/3SAM0wR

It's an election year in the U.S., meaning ad dollars will be flowing in.Past news just being a cornerstone of our society, news publishers and the IAB are making the case that advertising alongside news has positive business consequences.This week on The Current Report, IAB CEO David Cohen dives into why that message resonates with marketers._______To read the full stories included in this episode:The IAB NewFronts puts a spotlight on news publishers and women's sports in a critical year for both: https://bit.ly/3WpW0NfFord's Chief Futurist imagines how AI could grow the relationship between drivers and their cars: https://bit.ly/3JL5ivIIPG Media Brands, U.S. Ad Forecast Spring 2024: https://bit.ly/3UMFVQgMAGNA Raises its growth forecast for US ad market: https://bit.ly/3yfpoLS_______The Current Report is our weekly news roundup of what’s happening in the world of digital media. We headline topical stories every edition — everything from connected TV to retail media networks to new initiatives around identity — offering our fresh take on why it's relevant for the marketing community. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/45HIaXH_______Each week, The Current gives you the most critical innovations in advertising that are happening on the open internet — identity, the future of TV, retail media, and beyond. Born inside The Trade Desk, The Current is a news platform dedicated to covering the latest in modern marketing — all from the front lines. Speaking to the marketing world’s most influential players, we explain what these seismic shifts mean, how they are happening, and why they are taking place: https://bit.ly/3SAM0w

If journalism isn't around, how will generative A.I. models feed new information? In part two of our interview with former LA Times journalist Matt D Pearce on the future of journalism and the California Journalism Preservation Act, we break down why it makes business sense for A.I. models to keep reporters around. "Google should pay its fair share for the work of journalism, even if only not out of charity. Not because Google needs to feel good about itself. Google needs quality information to continue grounding its A.I. models."_______To read the full stories included in this episode:Big Tech and journalism battle over proposed legislation in California: https://bit.ly/49WZhXsWith AI looming as a threat to news sites, publishers push back: https://bit.ly/4dgOkTlAs Meta tightens the traffic tap, where will news publications turn for audiences?: https://bit.ly/3UxAEfsMarketers unfazed as Google delays cookie deprecation for third time: https://bit.ly/49Xrc9JUpdate on the plan for phase-out of third-party cookies on Chrome: https://bit.ly/3wcPZbY_______The Current Report is our weekly news roundup of what’s happening in the world of digital media. We headline topical stories every edition — everything from connected TV to retail media networks to new initiatives around identity — offering our fresh take on why it's relevant for the marketing community. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/45HIaXH

Big tech is battling journalism over proposed legislation in California that would force companies like Google to pay to carry links to news articles. In response, Google is removing links from news outlets in the state. We break down the consequences this week on The Current Report with journalist Matt Pearce._______ To read the full stories included in this episode:Google blocking links to California news outlets from search results: https://bit.ly/49NA4hYCan Legislation Save Journalism in California?: https://bit.ly/3Uad3QsWhy the California Journalism Preservation Act is putting support of the news ecosystem at risk: https://bit.ly/49QBcScA new bill could help save California journalism. Google wants it dead: https://bit.ly/3W8LhGHWhy video game platforms are adopting programmatic ad buying: https://bit.ly/4aIspTA

On this edition of The Current Report, Dave Solomon, Ampersand's director of sports partnerships, and Chris Brooklier break down the surging popularity of women's basketball after South Carolina beat Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the national championship. Advertising demand skyrocketed as brands wanted to be a part of the moment._______To read the full stories included in this episode:March Madness just proved the power and scale of women’s sports. Advertisers are watching. https://www.thecurrent.com/march-madness-womens-sports-advertisers-basketballInside Nielsen's push to incorporate streamers' first-party data into measurement: https://adage.com/article/measurement/nielsen-wants-streaming-first-party-data-measurement/2551621Paris Olympics on track to hit NBC ad sales record after pandemic: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/paris-olympics-track-hit-nbc-ad-sales-record-after-pandemic-2024-04-09/The ‘crème de la crème’: 2024 Paris Olympics goes programmatic on Peacock: https://www.thecurrent.com/2024-paris-olympics-programmatic-peacock-nbcuniversalWhy are so many B2B firms sponsoring the Olympics? https://www.thecurrent.com/b2b-sponsorship-2024-olympics-marketing-live-sportsWhy streamers like Disney, NBCUniversal and Paramount are courting small businesses: https://www.thecurrent.com/streaming-disney-nbcuniversal-paramount-ctv-programmatic

On this edition of The Current Report, we're joined by Brian Mandelbaum, CEO of Attain, to discuss how Attain is harnessing commerce data from 7 million users to help marketers fully leverage being data-driven. Plus, in news across the internet, women's elite sports are projected to generate more than $1 billion in revenue this year._______To read the full stories included in this episode:Just for conversions? Why marketers may be missing the bigger picture on retail data: https://bit.ly/3PQQ9fJRetail data is entering the upfronts as measurement gets more important: https://bit.ly/3U7a1gYData strategy is crucial to crushing the retail media game: https://bit.ly/43Me45GAdvertisers are on an ‘inevitable path’ toward quality, thanks to commerce data: https://bit.ly/4cNUytCWomen's March madness ad revenue doubled this year, Disney VP says: https://bit.ly/3vN5fvOWomen's basketball is central to this year's March Madness ad campaigns: https://bit.ly/4aIBqLLBreaking the billion-dollar barrier: Women’s elite sports to generate more than $1 billion in revenue in 2024: https://bit.ly/4cL36Bp_______The Current Report is our weekly news roundup of what’s happening in the world of digital media. We headline topical stories every edition — everything from connected TV to retail media networks to new initiatives around identity — offering our fresh take on why it's relevant for the marketing community. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/45HIaXH_______Each week, The Current gives you the most critical innovations in advertising that are happening on the open internet — identity, the future of TV, retail media, and beyond. Born inside The Trade Desk, The Current is a news platform dedicated to covering the latest in modern marketing — all from the front lines. Speaking to the marketing world’s most influential players, we explain what these seismic shifts mean, how they are happening, and why they are taking place: https://bit.ly/3SAM0wR

As 2023 marked a year of brands hitting the big screen, brands are seeing the value in streaming partnerships that subvert traditional advertising. In this episode of The Current Report, we're joined by McCall Gridley, Tastemade head of sales & partner experience, to explore why brand-funded shows are getting bigger on streaming. Plus, the NFL is adding more exclusive games on streaming platforms, and why we'll see more B2B company sponsorships for the upcoming 2024 Paris games._______To read the full stories included in this episode:Breaking down the 'Barbie' marketing machine - from the plastic to fantastic: https://bit.ly/3xcZIPvBarbie unboxed: Brands are having their Hollywood moment: https://bit.ly/49gfvKHPinterest launches first-ever streaming TV show with Tastemade: https://bit.ly/3PHNdlpStreaming must innovate past the 30-second ad to help unlock its true potential: https://bit.ly/3T316vgThe NFL Tightens Its Grip on Christmas, Adds Peacock Game: https://bit.ly/49hYXCjNFL's Marissa Solis on the Taylor Swift effect and how she's helping the league maintain its legacy while staying relevant: https://bit.ly/4abruuvWhat Peacock's NFL playoff game and Netflix's WWE deal signal for the future of sports streaming: https://bit.ly/3SBaUwmWhy are so many B2B firms sponsoring the Olympics?: https://bit.ly/4atypzv

In this edition of The Current Report, we dive into another way AI is changing our world. Michelle Castillo, a contributor to The Current, joins us to discuss her recent article on how AI has the potential to reduce the time it takes to pick a show to stream. Plus, we explore how ESPN foresees its streaming future playing out.To read the full stories included in this episode:Don’t know what show to stream next? AI can help: https://bit.ly/494A4tEMaking sense of the momentous new sports streaming bundle from Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery: https://bit.ly/3UA6lFtDisney harnesses AI to drive streaming and technology: https://bit.ly/4ctP8nqAxios What's Next Summit: https://bit.ly/4a9Cjxi

Goodway Group's Mike Wolk, VP of growth and partnerships, breaks down how the media agency is building its strategy around the biggest screen in the house - the TV. Plus, eMarketer projects that retail media CTV ad spend will be approximately 3.6 billion in 2024 with even more growth projected by 2027.To read the full stories included in this episode:To advertisers' delight, the latest trend in TV is toward 100-inch screens: https://bit.ly/43gEJYfCTV and Retail Media: How They Are Working Together to Drive Results for Brands: https://bit.ly/3wVnD64TV vs Smartphone: How Netflix Viewing Changes by Device: https://bit.ly/3TfKLUsMeet the Analyst: Retail Media Measurement—Closing the Loop Across Media Formats and Sales Channels: https://bit.ly/3Pmxb02Insider Intelligence October 2023, Retail Media Ad Spending, US: https://bit.ly/3IzWtEq

Jennifer Lewis, chief client officer at Carat Canada, joins The Current Report to explore how changing demographics in Canada influence advertisers' strategies, and how she's approaching solutions for measurement in the fragmented TV market. In other news, we also highlight Meta's decision to shut down Facebook News in the U.S. and Australia next month.To read the full stories included in this episode:Programmatic Ad Spending Forecast Q1 2023: https://bit.ly/3T5XAR3Canada Connected TV: https://bit.ly/3TpCKxpCanada's biggest broadcasters on the future of CTV: https://bit.ly/49ZZ5XKAs Meta tightens the traffic tap, where will news publications turn for audiences? https://bit.ly/48NY44fAn Update on Facebook News: https://bit.ly/49G9c4pPaying for News: What Google and Meta Owe US Publishers: https://bit.ly/4cgSuu6Google, Meta should pay at least $14B per year to news publishers to account for ad revenue: study: https://bit.ly/4c7mXe4Meta bailing from Australian news to have 'absolutely disastrous' impact': https://bit.ly/3VfdeMN

Steve Ellis, COO of Paramount Advertising, joins The Current Report to discuss earnings, advertising opportunities on Paramount + and how Paramount is using live sports as an entryway for other content._______ To read the full stories included in this episode:- Streaming to Overtake Pay TV Subscription Revenue in the U.S. This Year: https://bit.ly/3ViLkj1- Streaming must innovate past the 30-second ad to help unlock its true potential: https://bit.ly/3T316vg

In this edition of The Current Report, we break down Google's Privacy Sandbox and takeaways from IAB Tech Lab's critical assessment of the initiative. We're joined by digital advertising space veterans John Donahue, partner at up and to the right, and Rob Norman, digital advertising advisor, to discuss their overall thoughts on Privacy Sandbox, platform transparency issues, and what the landscape might look like in a year._______To read the full stories included in this episode: 'The industry isn't ready yet': A new report highlights flaws in Google's Privacy Sandbox': https://bit.ly/3SOLADs IAB Tech Lab Privacy Sandbox: https://bit.ly/49Hk1Th Walmart Agrees to Acquire VIZIO HOLDING CORP.: https://bit.ly/3Ib954I Walmart will derive more profit from services, ad sales in the next 5 years - CFO: https://bit.ly/3SRob41On chocolate and politics: What CPG brands and political campaigns have in common: https://bit.ly/3ST49GA

On this edition of The Current Report we're joined by Snopes' chief revenue officer, Justin Wohl to discuss authentication. In a small test, Snopes saw a 200% increase in CPMs for ads that were served to a logged in, or authenticated, audience compared to readers tracked via third party cookies. As the cookie continues to crumble and publishers search for future identity solutions, experimenting with authentication could provide publishers a better picture of who they're trying to reach. Plus, NFL's Brian Rolapp believes Netflix could have a bigger role in the sports game in the future._______To read the full stories included in this episode:A reset button’: How publishers are prepping for a cookie-free future: https://www.thecurrent.com/reset-button-publishers-cookie-free-futureEarly Tests Of Cookieless Chrome Ads Are Encouraging, But Don't Get Too Excited: https://www.adexchanger.com/online-advertising/early-tests-of-cookieless-chrome-ads-are-encouraging-but-dont-get-too-excited/Some publishers are starting to see revenue lift from alternative IDs: https://digiday.com/media/some-publishers-are-starting-to-see-revenue-lift-from-alternative-ids/NBA can shift the balance of power in media with its next rights deal: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/06/nba-can-shift-balance-of-power-in-media-with-rights-deal.htmlSBJ Media: Netflix’s NBA plan: https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/SB-Blogs/Newsletter-Media/2023/11/13.aspxBrian Rolapp speaks to Lightshed about Netflix in sports: https://lightshedtmt.com/ls_live/lightshed-live-chief-media-and-business-officer-at-nfl/

In honor of yesterday's Big Game, we're discussing recent landmarks in live sports streaming. Just last week, Disney, Fox, and Warner Brothers Discovery announced that they're combining forces to create a new sports streaming bundle, and Peacock saw huge success with the first-ever NFL playoff game to be exclusively streamed. These events could mark a change in the fragmentation of streaming sports. In other news, The Athletic's Richard Deitsch explores whether the Big Game will ever be exclusively streamed._______To read the full stories included in this episode:Making sense of the momentous new sports streaming bundle from Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery: https://www.thecurrent.com/sports-streaming-disney-fox-warner-bros-discovery  Making sense of the momentous new sports streaming bundle from Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery: https://bit.ly/3UA6lFtSuper Bowl XLVI Live Stream Sets Traffic Records: https://bit.ly/49xvaGlNew sports streaming bundle could be a 'monster' — or a dud: https://bit.ly/42wvRx2The ESPN-Fox-WBD sports venture is a counterstrike against Big Tech and rights fees inflation: https://bit.ly/3P0IFqfWhat Peacock's NFL playoff game and Netflix's WWE deal signal for the future of sports streaming: https://bit.ly/3SBaUwmWill the Super Bowl ever be behind a streaming paywall? Here's what it'd take: https://bit.ly/3SypF35Disney CEO Bog Iger on new streaming bundle partnership: https://bit.ly/3HQUbR1

This month on The Current Report we're spotlighting the future of TV. As Upfront season is on the horizon, brands and agencies are preparing their strategies for the U.S. presidential election and the Summer Olympics. We're also joined by Andrea Kwiatek, director of strategic partnerships at Goodway Group, to discuss the future of TV, CTV and the election cycle, and streaming partnerships._______To read the full stories included in this episode:Amazon is poised to boost its revenue by millions with the flip of a switch: https://bit.ly/3SHo4JAU.S. political ad spend on digital projected to jump 156 percent over last presidential election year: https://bit.ly/3SEW9dmUS political ad spending to soar in 2024 with TV media the biggest winner - report: https://bit.ly/42oJLRZThe Current Podcast: https://bit.ly/47Y5FN1

This week, we discuss all things privacy and identity-related as Google continues to deprecate cookies and the EU adds to developing data legislation. We sit down with Evan Hills, SVP of strategy and partnerships at Dstillery, to discuss how marketers are navigating this transition. Plus, in news across the internet, Paramount will not return to Upfront Week, and mixed reality devices could be the next technological innovation._______ To read the full stories included in this episode:The next step toward phasing out third-party cookies in Chrome: https://bit.ly/3vN4rGZCMA Q3 2023 update report on implementation of the Privacy Sandbox commitments: https://bit.ly/3Uar6ax'A reset button': How publishers are prepping for a cookie-free future: https://bit.ly/48MIab4Some publishers are starting to see revenue lift from alternative IDs: https://bit.ly/48KtuchParamount Confirms It Won't Return to Upfront Week: https://bit.ly/48OdWUTMixed reality is the next shiny thing for marketers, but some remain cautious: https://bit.ly/494Gaus 

This week, we sit down with Dan Larkman, CEO of the programmatic agency Keynes Digital, to break down the hype around AI. Larkman shares his thoughts on the evolution of AI over the past year and where he thinks the innovation is headed. Plus, we spotlight The Current Podcast's interview with Hilton CMO David Weinstein._______To read the full stories included in this episode:Simplifying the streaming experience and AI fatigue: 5 major insights from CES 2024: https://bit.ly/41V57GiGoogle is finally killing cookies. Advertisers still aren't ready: https://bit.ly/48H4WR1'We can do more and do it faster': How AI will transform the cookie-free future: https://bit.ly/42kQRHjWhat the new Diamond-Amazon deal means for MLB, NBA, NHL: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39333324/diamond-amazon-streaming-mlb-nba-nhlAmazon will invest in Diamond Sports as part of a bankruptcy restructuring agreement: https://apnews.com/article/bally-sports-amazon-e44313c4491798f1f825a8c4e174f096Prime Video Ad Tier CPMs 'Far More' Competitive Than  Netflix's at Launch:https://www.adweek.com/convergent-tv/prime-video-ad-tier-cpms-far-more-competitive-than-netflixs-at-launch/ Hilton's Mark Weinstein on driving loyalty and inspiring wanderlust: https://bit.ly/48F2xa7

This week on The Current Report, we explore what topics and trends marketers are gambling on at this year's Consumer Electronics Showcase (CES). We connect with IAB Tech Lab's Anthony Katsur and Full Throttle's Amol Waishampayan to discuss AI and the privacy landscape. Plus, we break down which streaming service is forecasted to have the highest percentage of U.S. viewers on an ad plan.To read the full stories included in this episode:Simplifying the streaming experience and AI fatigue: 5 major insights from CES 2024: https://bit.ly/41V57GiThe ‘unrivaled’ move you might have missed from Disney’s early upfront at CES: https://bit.ly/3SiSxh3Insider Intelligence, Subscription OTT Video Viewers, US, 2023: https://bit.ly/3HBlqPr

Google is finally starting to remove third-party cookies from Chrome, a plan four years in the making. Chris Brooklier and Sarah Polli, director of marketing technology at Hearts & Science, break down how this will impact the future of digital advertising. With marketers looking for answers on how to move forward, Polli shares her wisdom, including how first-party data will only become more crucial.Plus, Polli goes in-depth on data privacy, both from a regulatory standpoint and alternative identity solutions.