Advertisers are discovering new value in niche women’s sports: NCAA volleyball, gymnastics, and lacrosse offer passionate audiences, low ad clutter, and high engagement, per EDO.
This week, in-person events bring consumers closer to brands, agencies face creative challenges, and TikTok’s troubles highlight Pinterest’s potential.
Women’s sports advertising is thriving: TV viewership is up 140%, ad spend has doubled, and in-game ads drive 40% more engagement than primetime TV.
Dick’s Sporting Goods had its best holiday quarter on record: While Q4 comparable sales soared past expectations, the retailer is tempering its outlook due to geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty.
Netflix sells out WWE Raw sponsorships: Ad inventory is booked for months, proving brands see value in wrestling.
This week, marketers look beyond Google Search to YouTube, ChatGPT, and Amazon, while dealing with an influx of consumer data. Meanwhile, women’s sports are on the rise as advertisers invest more in leagues, teams, and athletes.
NWSL secures key women-led sponsorships: E.l.f. Cosmetics and Unwell partner with the soccer league, marking a shift in how beauty and lifestyle brands invest in sports.
Modelo’s college basketball ad spend grows 48%: The investment highlights the lucrative opportunity of advertising during live sporting events.
Hulu’s technical breakdown at the Oscars sparks backlash: Subscribers missed key moments as the stream crashed early, exposing the platform’s struggles with high-profile live events.
Sports drives growth for Disney and Fubo: Both saw success in recent months, largely attributed to their merger and emphasis on sports content.
Who will be the MLB’s new streaming partner? As MLB’s partnership with ESPN is ending, Apple TV+ could eye a deal to expand its sports catalog.
Warren urges DOJ to investigate Disney’s Fubo acquisition over competition concerns: The senator warns the deal could eliminate a key streaming rival, raising prices and reducing consumer choice.
News and magazine apps have the highest engagement score in North America, with 29% of monthly active users coming back daily, according to a September 2024 Airship survey.
Amazon expands Prime Video’s sports portfolio with NBA deal: The addition will boost its live sports offering and create new opportunities for advertisers to run cross-league campaigns.
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.