The Digiday Podcast

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.

This week's episode of the Digiday Podcast covers T-Mobile and Publicis Groupe's ad tech acquisitions amidst the "everything's an ad network" narrative, the TikTok ban tug-of-war and YouTube's new subscription service, Premium Lite. Also on this episode, Pinterest's chief revenue officer Bill Watkins walks through the platform's play for more ad dollars this year with AI-powered tools, a focus on performance marketing and balancing more ads with the user experience. 

Sarah Personette, CEO of Puck, shares her insights on transforming the newsletter business with a creator-centric model. She discusses how Puck has evolved from focusing solely on individual journalists to creating sub-brands that operate like franchises while highlighting the successes of notable newsletters. Personette also emphasizes growth strategies for subscriber retention, the importance of engaging audiences through diverse content, and innovative compensation models. The podcast reveals the adaptability and future potential of Puck in the rapidly evolving media landscape.

In January, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission finalized an updated version of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. And for as much attention as the update may have received, it probably merits more.“It is a big deal. And I think because there’s been so much other activity in the news, people haven’t really paid attention to it,” Debbie Reynolds, a privacy expert and founder, CEO and chief data privacy officer at Debbie Reynolds Consulting, said on the latest Digiday Podcast episode.The primary reason the COPPA update warrants attention is that it requires companies to receive verifiable parental consent before they can target ads to children. Clear cut as that requirement may appear to be, complying with it may be more complicated.“Part of the confusion around privacy and the challenge companies will have with the update of COPPA is trying to figure out how to do things like how do you get verifiable quote-unquote parental consent beyond just having someone click a button to say, ’Hey, yeah, my parents said, “Yes,“’” said Reynolds.Case in point: Will ad-supported streaming services start asking for parents to share copies of their driver’s licenses before their families can sit down to watch a show? And will parents be willing to do that?“Anything that you give to these companies, they’re collecting, they’re storing. And then that brings up, do I trust this company enough to give them my ID, especially seeing the rash of data breaches,” Reynolds said. “It’s just going to be challenging going forward to see how companies really try to handle this issue.”

Kirk McDonald, CEO of Sundial Media Group, shares his expert insights on the shifting landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in media. He discusses the pushback against DEI initiatives and its effects on multicultural brands like Essence and Refinery29. McDonald highlights the complexities of managing DEI budgets amidst societal debates and the impact on ad effectiveness. He also reflects on the rise of YouTube on TVs and the critical need for companies to maintain genuine connections with diverse audiences. A thought-provoking dive into a crucial industry topic!

Rankin Carroll, Global Chief Brand Officer at Mars Snacking, dives into the future of marketing in a cookie-less world. He discusses innovative strategies to leverage first-party data for brands like M&Ms and Snickers. Carroll also highlights the importance of partnerships and the role of AI in enhancing audience engagement. Additionally, he reflects on Mars' eye-catching Super Bowl marketing campaign, emphasizing how adaptability and creativity are crucial in the evolving digital landscape.

Amy Astley, Global Editorial Director at Architectural Digest, discusses the magazine's bold shift in e-commerce strategy. They moved from embedding affiliate links on YouTube to directing viewers to their own site, enhancing the shopping experience. This change led to a remarkable four-times revenue increase from the 'Open Door' series. Astley also teases an upcoming relaunch of AD Shopping, which will showcase curated selections and products, further boosting their commerce revenue.

Anthony Katsur, CEO of IAB Tech Lab, dives into the evolution of digital advertising in the face of the post-cookie era. He discusses the uncertainty surrounding third-party cookies as Google delays their removal. Katsur argues for the continued use of alternative identifiers like IP addresses while emphasizing the importance of privacy-friendly solutions. The conversation highlights a shift toward identity-less solutions and the complex landscape of consumer consent and privacy laws that will shape the future of digital marketing for years to come.

Over the last year, marketers have been shelling out dollars to show up in sports, the supposed last bastion of monocultural moments and opportunity to get ads in front of a massive audience. There's been an uptick of interest in unconventional sports like pickleball, and women’s sports. Streaming platforms like Netflix bet big on live sports in hopes to bring in more money from advertisers. Finally, since the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) approved its name, image and likeness (NIL) policy back in 2021, the lines between influencers and athletes is becoming more blurred.That said, it’s getting more difficult for brands to stand out from one another as more advertisers flock to the space. That’s true even for a brand as big as Verizon, according to Nick Kelly, Verizon’s vp of partnerships. “We have to find something that we can own,” Kelly told Digiday.In this episode of the podcast, Kelly sits down with co-host Kimeko McCoy, senior marketing reporter at Digiday, to talk about its revamped sports marketing strategy, venturing into NIL deals and this year’s Super Bowl plans.Interview begins at 19:16.