Sports

Publicis simplifies women’s sports advertising: The initiative aggregates ad inventory and sponsorships across major leagues and networks.

Super Bowl LIX sets new all-time viewership record: The game averaged 126 million viewers across TV and digital platforms, a 2% increase from last year, with streaming playing a major role in its success.

Key stat: 19% of US adults play team sports, up from 11% in 2020, according to CivicScience, signaling that people aren’t only watching sports, they’re participating as well.

NFL maintains DEI efforts as Trump rolls back policies: The league reaffirms its diversity commitment, arguing it benefits both competition and business despite shifting political winds.

Taking chances versus playing it too safe: Brands like Snickers and Nationwide have faced backlash for polarizing commercials, proving that shock value can be a double-edged sword.

The future of Super Bowl advertising is multi-platform: Brands are investing in second-screen engagement and digital-first campaigns to maximize impact beyond the game.

Super Bowl viewership likely slipped: Taylor and Trump probably weren’t enough to top last year’s 123.7 million viewers.

OpenAI hopes the Super Bowl can boost usage: Its first-ever spot coincides with a rebrand and rollout of ChatGPT search.

Grammys’ viewership miss emphasizes Super Bowl power: The awards show ended a three-year streak of viewership bumps ahead of this weekend’s Super Bowl.

With Super Bowl ads costing around a whopping $7 million for a 30-second spot this year, viewers can expect some memorable commercials while watching the Chiefs and the Eagles face-off.

Super Bowl LIX ads showcase humor, nostalgia, and star power: Brands like Taco Bell, Budweiser, and Michelob Ultra aim for cultural impact with high-energy, social-driven campaigns.

Nostalgia meets innovation: Super Bowl advertisers mix legacy campaigns and tech-focused storytelling to connect with diverse demographics.

Connected TV (CTV) and streaming services will make new inroads this year to further capture audiences and enhance offerings to marketers. Precise measurement and predictable buys are giving those that opted out of linear TV the confidence to invest in streaming.

Auto brands will largely be absent from the Super Bowl: Once a stalwart of TV ad spending, carmakers are prioritizing cheaper ad channels.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss what the verdict is on Netflix's sports streaming experimentation and how small and mid-sized advertisers are spending more on CTV ads. Tune in to the conversation with Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Analyst Ross Benes and Vice President Paul Verna. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Disney+ Hotstar to stream Coldplay’s record-breaking India concert: The event signals its push beyond sports to premium live entertainment.

Tubi will get a big boost from a free Super Bowl broadcast: Fox is looking to grow its FAST service with free access to the big game.

NBC launches early NBA campaign: $2.4 billion annual rights deal includes WNBA games, Peacock exclusives, and 'Sunday Night Basketball' debut in 2026.

DirecTV wants a piece of the post-Venu streaming world: The pay TV provider is repositioning itself, but pricing could be a hurdle.

Venu Sports is officially dead: Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox are scrapping the controversial sports streaming service to focus on existing products.