In December, we published our first forecast for Pluto TV ad revenues. Pluto TV, a free streaming service operated by ViacomCBS, will receive $786.7 million in net US ad revenues in 2021, a 77.7% increase over the previous year. In 2022, Pluto TV’s net US ad revenues will surpass $1 billion annually for the first time.

YouTube eases up on its ad rules: Though advertisers may not be happy about it, the platform’s move to relax its monetization policies is likely necessary to keep creators from jumping ship.

Elevated screen time is here to stay: Last year, US adults spent about 1 hour extra per day with digital media—and that boost will have lasting effects on consumption habits, even after the pandemic ends.

A new type of Amazon store: The ecommerce giant reportedly considered opening a chain of discount stores; existing networks of brick-and-mortar locations have been a key advantage for Amazon’s competitors amid the click-and-collect boom.

The digital divide has widened, particularly over the past year, and left seniors worldwide in the lurch. This issue takes on added urgency in China, where gender imbalance, delayed marriage, and a declining birthrate only exacerbate the rapid aging of its population. In November, the government urged tech companies to cater to the elderly, and China’s digital giants are now tapping into the so-called silver market.

The direct-to-consumer (D2C) model has been making waves over the past few years, as a greater emphasis on owned and operated online channels has been placed. In 2020, this model became even more attractive as brands and retailers faced disrupted supply chains, delayed orders, and store closures.

On today's episode, we discuss how stores will likely shape-shift, what happens to curbside pickup going forward, and how "virtual" shopping experiences are about to get. We then talk about whether "buy now, pay later" is sticking around, Amazon's emerging national grocery chain, and how Walmart+ is doing six months after launch. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer director of forecasting Cindy Liu and analyst at Insider Intelligence Daniel Keyes.

Instacart teams up with Michaels: As the grocery delivery app expands into new industries, so will the appeal of its ad platform, set to be one of the strongest retail media ad networks by the end of this year.