Walmart ad sales pop as more brands buy into retail media

The big-box store could further extend its hot streak on the tails of its Vizio acquisition and a new streaming deal with Disney.

By Peter Adams • May 20, 2024

Samsung swipes at Apple over controversial ‘Crush!’ ad for iPad Pro

A spot pulled together in days shows a musician wandering through what appears to be the wreckage of Apple’s ad and plugs the Galaxy Tab S9.

By Peter Adams • Updated May 17, 2024

YouTube pitches advertisers on streaming dominance, unskippable video ads

The company’s Brandcast upfront featured a new take on branded QR codes and an expanded creator takeover program.

By Peter Adams • May 16, 2024

Netflix plans to in-house ad tech, adds measurement partners as ad tier surges

The streaming platform announced during its upfront that its ad-supported plan now has 40 million global monthly active users — up from 5 million a year ago.

By Chris Kelly • May 16, 2024

Amazon’s first upfront promises full-funnel advertising at scale for all

Proving it could deliver the same Hollywood wattage as its competitors, Amazon worked to separate itself from the pack by offering scale and results.

By Chris Kelly • May 15, 2024

Pepsi stakes claim as superior soft drink for grilling season with Bobby Flay

The “Grills Night Out” campaign spans in-store displays, digital content shorts and a partnership with Instacart for a giveaway running through May 19.

By Peter Adams • May 14, 2024

Welch’s Fruit Snacks debuts largest-ever campaign with Gordon Ramsay

The celebrity chef serves as Welch’s “CFO,” or chief fruit officer, and stars in the first TV commercial in the brand’s history to promote its clean ingredients.

By Jessica Hammers • May 14, 2024

Thomas’ revives breakfast with first brand character in 144-year history

Thom, billed as a “proper young man with a strong British accent,” is meant to remind consumers to savor breakfast amid the hectic morning shuffle.

By Jessica Hammers • May 13, 2024

Not crushing it: Apple’s new iPad Pro ad met with wave of backlash

Apple has issued an apology for the “Crush” spot and scrapped plans to run the ad on TV, saying the video “missed the mark.”

By Peter Adams • Updated May 10, 2024

Legacy media makes new bets on CTV and retail media convergence

Disney’s new partnership with Walmart Connect and Amazon’s latest streaming TV ad formats demonstrate how the growing channels can work together.

By Chris Kelly • May 8, 2024

Digital’s media-buying bonanza wrestles with an industry at crossroads

Cookie deprecation and a potential TikTok ban cast this year’s NewFronts in a different light while attendees noticed fewer pitches centered on content.

By Peter Adams • May 6, 2024

TikTok makes bigger bet on publishers with ads tied to buzzy content, events

The threat of a U.S. ban hasn’t thrown cold water on the app’s NewFronts showcase, which is focused on contextual advertising.

By Peter Adams • May 2, 2024

Amazon’s Prime Video ads rollout gains traction ahead of upfronts debut

Advertising remained on a tear in Q1, with executives touting encouraging early results from a change that has been controversial with users.

By Peter Adams • May 1, 2024

Why video is key to Roblox’s evolving advertising strategy

The wide rollout of immersive video ads is accompanied by measurement partnerships that underpin the platform’s growing advertising ambitions.

By Chris Kelly • May 1, 2024

Inside Google’s CTV pitch: A lot of AI and a push to avoid privacy stumbles

At the NewFronts, the tech giant emphasized that streaming can be the basis for a better ecosystem without the baggage of third-party cookies.

By Peter Adams • April 30, 2024

Warner Bros. Discovery unveils first-party data platform to unify video

OMG, RPA and Wayfair are early partners for the company’s new Data-Driven Video offering, with IPG Mediabrands to begin testing in Q3.

By Aaron Baar • April 29, 2024

Google enters its ‘Gemini era’ as search, YouTube ride healthy ad demand

While robust ad spending and generative AI bolstered the tech giant’s biggest moneymaker in Q1, analysts cautioned the future isn’t assured.

By Peter Adams • April 26, 2024

Toyota pulls into NFL draft with ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ Brock Purdy

Along with the unlikely NFL star, the automaker’s new campaign features content from 13-year-old creator Jazlyn “Jazzy” Guerra.

By Sara Karlovitch • April 25, 2024

Stella Artois kicks off summer-long marketing push as official ‘Hot Ones’ beer

A special episode of the popular YouTube show featuring brand ambassador and rapper Ludacris is already available.

By Sara Karlovitch • April 22, 2024

Why Sprite is heating up its lifestyle pitch with new Chill soda

As part of a Gen Z-focused push, a Sprite Chill Cam on Snapchat allows users to upload pictures of themselves to real-life billboards.

By Peter Adams • April 22, 2024

Southwest finds its swagger again with ‘The Big Flex’ campaign

Confident new ads from Spark Foundry and GSD&M follow a year where the carrier was in recovery mode from a 2022 holiday meltdown.

By Peter Adams • April 19, 2024

AT&T reunites ‘The Office’ cast members for sleep-inducing business pitch

Several actors from the workplace sitcom try to get an outlandish idea off the ground with help from AT&T Business in new ads.

By Peter Adams • April 18, 2024

Why CeraVe is using its Super Bowl playbook for a fake rom-com trailer

The L’Oréal skincare brand is playing off genre tropes and double entendres in its influencer-backed "The One Under the Sun" campaign.

By Chris Kelly • April 12, 2024

Applebee’s taps NFL star as undercover server to promote new burger

To promote the menu item, the chain partnered with Team Whistle on an episode of “Undercover Athlete” that features wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

By Jessica Hammers • April 11, 2024

Quaker illustrates the power of mornings with interactive photo series

“100 Reasons to Rise” portrays how mornings can unite people, with the stories of 100 “humble heroes” detailed via an interactive digital experience.

By Jessica Hammers • April 11, 2024