YouTube is toying with its ad strategy. The platform is beefing up Shorts by including ads; it tested users’ ad tolerance by running as many as 10 unskippable ads before videos. The experiment has been a headache for users, but the central question isn't new: How many ads and ad breaks will users put up with?
All eyes on TikTok: The social video network says it’s banning political ads and fundraising on its platform, but a poor enforcement record and ties to the Chinese government raise doubts that it can remain neutral.
Cost of the tech cold war: The FCC’s list of potential security threats grows longer with ComNet and China Unicom’s inclusion. The cost to rip and replace equipment and services may adversely affect smaller telecoms.
Spotify makes play for hip-hop devotees on Roblox: New virtual experience focused on genre that draws 44 billion monthly streams
More repairable iPhones: Easier repair earns the iPhone 14 a 7/10 score from iFixit, revealing that Apple is complying with right-to-repair, a feature other smartphones should definitely copy.
Smarter subsidies and incentives for EV adoption: Global EV adoption targets require a monumental shift for consumers. The shift can be accelerated by incentives to help bring down initial costs.
Streaming’s next big act may be consolidation: Disney looks to gain full ownership of Hulu by early 2024, and other deals could be in the offing.
Audiobooks make Spotify an “all-in-one” audio destination: Despite some hiccups, audiobooks complete Spotify’s listening super-app goal.
Walmart has big plans to grow its ad business: Its ad tech platform is working with TikTok, Snap, and Roku to measure how social media and CTV advertising affect sales.
Regulators ramp up efforts on Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard buy: Inquiries into the $68.7 billion blockbuster deal are intensifying, and momentum could carry over to similar gaming mergers.
A tech cold war intensifies: A federal order protecting US tech interests highlights anxiety over China surpassing the US as a global tech superpower. Some weaknesses are closer to home.
Acast banks on layoffs to speed path to profitability: Podcast hosting service to let go 15% of staff to cut costs in softening ad market.
Streamers won't sacrifice their brands for sports rights: Disney is keeping gambling at arm’s length while Apple and Amazon run from a Saudi golf deal.
According to video game developers, streaming will grow the most of any gaming platform by 2025, cited by 40% of those surveyed. Another 24% said mobile will grow the most, while fewer pointed to the metaverse or consoles.
Meta faces new challenges: ByteDance and Sony are building their VR ecosystems. This could be the perfect time for Meta to double down on its productivity and collaboration-focused metaverse
As political ads boom, so do transparency concerns: The growing impact of CTV and programmatic advertising calls for transparency—but it’s not an easy problem to solve.
Influencer marketing and local advertising collide in college sports: Changes to name, image, and likeness rules have helped brands reach brand new markets.
Is there user demand for social audio? Results are mixed, but Amazon is pressing on with a creator fund for audio app Amp.
On today's episode, we discuss what to note about TikTok's ascent, how much time on social media is spent watching video, and the discrepancy between TV and connected TV ad spend. "In Other News," we talk about how Instagram Reels' engagement stacks up against TikTok's and whether ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) ad spending can overtake traditional TV ad spend by 2025. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Jasmine Enberg and Paul Verna.
Rejigging Google Cloud for Europe, APAC: Google Cloud is scrambling to cash in on a potential $100B overseas market but may have to completely remodel existing infrastructure to lean into data sovereignty.