The Digiday Podcast

David Campanelli, President of Global Investment at Horizon Media, shares his insights on the TV and streaming upfront ad marketplace. Sam Bradley, a senior reporter at Digiday, provides a European perspective on the upfront market. They discuss the recent Charter-Cox merger amidst declining pay-TV audiences and Microsoft's shutdown of its demand-side platform. The duo sheds light on the challenges in ad tech, the evolving dynamics of advertising measurement, and the urgent need for brands to adapt their strategies in a fast-changing landscape.

Elena McGurn, SVP of Search at Digitas and an expert in AI-driven search strategies, dives into the evolving landscape of SEO. She discusses how AI is reshaping traditional search behaviors and the implications for brands. OpenAI's recent talent acquisition is explored, highlighting its impact on the advertising landscape. Additionally, the redesign of Netflix's home screen is examined, focusing on personalization and user engagement, which could revolutionize content recommendations and ad interactions for viewers.

Michael Bürgi, Senior Media Buying Editor at Digiday, joins the hosts to dive deep into the dynamics of the TV and streaming advertising upfront market. They dissect the troubling Q2 earnings from giants like Meta and Amazon, exploring how this impacts ad revenue. The episode highlights exciting innovations in AI ads and Roku's strategic acquisition of FrndlyTV, reflecting on its potential to reshape streaming. Lastly, they unpack the evolving programmatic advertising landscape and the pressing challenges in achieving diversity within the ad space.

On this week’s episode of the Digiday podcast co-hosts Kimeko McCoy, senior marketing reporter, and Tim Peterson, executive editor of video and audio, talk about Google’s U-turn, keeping its third-party cookies in Chrome after all and the ripple effects of its anti-trust case fallout. Also on this episode, Hillary Kupferberg, vp of performance marketing at Exverus Media, breaks down the art of the JBP (joint business plan) deal in retail media (18:58).

On the Digiday Podcast this week, hosts Kimeko McCoy, senior marketing reporter and Tim Peterson, executive editor of video and audio, discuss the ripple effects of President Donald Trump's tariffs on the marketing and advertising industry (18:20). To make sense of all the tariff talk, they are joined by senior marketing editor Kristina Monllos and senior reporter Sam Bradley. Also on this episode, Peterson and McCoy discuss big tech’s antitrust trials, including the long-awaited ruling in Google’s ad tech antitrust battle with the Justice Department, OpenAI’s rumored X-like social media network and Netflix’s latest earnings.

In this engaging discussion, TikTok creator Alyssa McKay shares her insights on the potential impact of TikTok bans and the rise of platforms like Instagram Reels and Snapchat as alternatives. She delves into strategies for diversifying content and the importance of adaptability for creators in an ever-changing digital landscape. The conversation also touches on the complexities of retail media with Walmart's growing demands and the ongoing antitrust challenges faced by Meta, emphasizing the broader implications for advertisers and the social media ecosystem.

Amy Owen, Chief Commerce Officer at Kinesso, dives into the complexities of retail media networks and the impact of economic uncertainty on spending negotiations. She discusses the challenges of joint business planning amidst shifting market dynamics and the confusion caused by industry jargon. Owen also highlights the critical role of first-party data in navigating advertising strategies and the necessity for flexible agreements between brands and retailers to enhance effectiveness. Overall, it’s a candid look at the current state of retail media and its evolving landscape.

Delve into the gloomy ad market outlook, where economic trends spark turmoil for advertisers. Discover Apple’s App Tracking Transparency troubles and the rising costs that challenge marketing budgets. Explore the world of digital advertising, focusing on bot traffic and ad placement. Hear how OpenAI enhances contextual ad targeting with innovative tools. Uncover consumer behavior patterns through first-party data, linking kitchen content to teen dating insights. Finally, see how AI and data integration boost engagement strategies.

Sara Jerde, managing editor at Digiday, along with reporters Alexander Lee and Sara Guaglione, dive into the rapidly changing publishing landscape. They discuss the integration of AI in paywalls and innovative strategies for subscriber acquisition. The trio also explores the impact of recent shifts in Google's algorithm on publishers and the economic challenges they face. Additionally, they touch on the uncertain future of TikTok amid acquisition talks, raising questions about advertising dynamics and brand authenticity in a polarized world.

This week's episode of the Digiday Podcast covers recession fears and signals, and their impact on the market, how streaming networks are looking to scoop up YouTube creators for shows and Scope3’s plans to pivot, bringing the ad tech company into the AI era. Also on this episode, Digiday platforms reporter Krystan Scanlon walks through the ever-looming TikTok ban, and how it could impact marketers, users and creators alike.