Marketing M&A stalls as pandemic disrupts deal-making

While a rebound in H2 is possible, deals have mostly come to a halt except for ad tech, location data and potential bargain buys.

By Robert Williams • April 21, 2020

NBA teams with Microsoft on gamified streaming service

Borrowing some concepts from video games, the platform will reward viewership and use AI to deliver personalized content to sports fans at home.

By Dianna Christie , Natalie Black (Koltun) • April 20, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Consumer Packaged Goods

If CPGs can adeptly adjust to emerging mandates, they have an opportunity to strengthen their brands.  

By Marketing Dive staff

Report: Google plans debit card to rival Apple Card

The card would connect with the Google app, letting people see their purchases, check balances or lock their accounts.

By Robert Williams • April 20, 2020

Facebook launches gaming app to rival Twitch, YouTube

The app has a mix of casual games and access to gaming communities, along with a Go Live button that lets people see streams of other mobile games.

By Robert Williams • April 20, 2020

BMW's esports marketing undergoes 'major expansion' amid coronavirus

The automaker is deeply integrating its marketing and innovation efforts with five top teams from around the world as esports continue to thrive.

By Dianna Christie • April 17, 2020

Recent CTV ad fraud scheme could be biggest ever

At its peak, the Icebucket bot network impersonated more than 2 million people and generated 1.9 billion ad requests.

By Robert Williams • April 17, 2020

Verizon buys Zoom rival BlueJeans for reported $400M

As the carrier rolls out its high-speed mobile connectivity nationwide, Verizon plans to integrate the videoconferencing platform with its 5G services.

By Robert Williams • April 17, 2020

Report: Amazon cuts affiliate commissions across categories

Amid upheaval in retail sales, the e-commerce giant is tightening its affiliate marketing program in a way that could hurt publishers and bloggers.

By Dianna Christie • April 16, 2020

ChowNow, Instagram launch commission-free online food ordering

The online ordering platform launched a free feature enabling restaurants to add "Order Food" buttons and stickers to their profiles and Stories.

By Alicia Kelso • April 16, 2020

Spotify tops ranking of brand intimacy during pandemic, study says

Pinterest and Apple Music also received high marks among U.S. consumers.

By Robert Williams • April 16, 2020

Measure twice, cut what?

Downturns don't always doom your bottom line. Building strong measurement strategies through data can help you base decisions on adjusting spend while helping your company adapt and thrive, writes Analytic Partners' Nancy Smith.

By Nancy Smith • April 16, 2020

Direct publishers hit harder by coronavirus than programmatic specialists, study finds

Even as news consumption soars, 77% of publishers report clients have asked to cancel campaigns, delivering a blow to revenue.

By Peter Adams • April 15, 2020

Instagram spotlights creators with IGTV redesign

The 2-year-old video platform is now more integrated with Instagram, letting users post their IGTV videos in the core app's Stories feature.

By Robert Williams • April 15, 2020

Pinterest touts sustainable brands for Earth Day

Lauren Conrad's The Little Market, fashion brand Siizu and Prosperity Candle are selling eco-friendly products on Pinterest Shop as consumers look to support small businesses.

By Robert Williams • April 14, 2020

Report: Facebook's ad rates dip as pandemic curbs demand

The social network wants to recoup ad dollars that were set aside for TV sports, The Wall Street Journal reported.

By Robert Williams • April 14, 2020

Walmart's grocery app downloads reach record highs

The retailer saw 460% growth in daily downloads, according to App Annie, while Amazon's growth by comparison was 20%. 

By Jessica Dumont • April 13, 2020

Quibi premieres livestreamed show on 'Fortnite'

The first episodes of "Punk'd" starring musician Chance the Rapper were first available in the game's virtual drive-in section.

By Robert Williams • April 13, 2020

Pinterest adds new 'shop' tabs and curated style guides

The social platform made several upgrades to encourage shopping through its search function, as well as through user pins and boards.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 9, 2020

PlaceIQ buys FreckleIOT as location data industry consolidates

The acquisition will help PlaceIQ expand location data services to Canada.

By Robert Williams • April 9, 2020

Twitter tweaks privacy policy to share more user data with advertisers

Before the change, users had a setting to prevent Twitter from providing non-public personal information such as a smartphone's device identifier and ad engagement data.

By Robert Williams • April 9, 2020

Spotify expands self-serve ad platform worldwide

As part of the global expansion, the platform updated its interest-based and real-time ad targeting and expanded its menu of calls to action.​

By Robert Williams • April 9, 2020

Snapchat supports COVID-19 relief with AR Lens

The augmented reality feature lets people scan a dollar bill or other currency to donate to the World Health Organization's COVID-19 relief fund.

By Robert Williams • April 8, 2020

Chinese mobile users delay buying 5G phones, study says

Uncertainties about COVID-19 have dampened plans for big-ticket purchases, signaling how the pandemic may dent global 5G adoption this year.

By Robert Williams • April 8, 2020

CNN acquires Canopy, maker of personalized news app Tonic

The deal comes as the cable news network has reportedly been working on a fresh digital content platform.

By Dianna Christie • April 8, 2020

Quibi hits only 300K downloads on first day

According to Sensor Tower, the total was a fraction of the 4 million downloads Disney+ racked up on its release day in November.

By Robert Williams • April 8, 2020