The Current Report

Steve Ellis, COO of Paramount Advertising, joins The Current Report to discuss earnings, advertising opportunities on Paramount + and how Paramount is using live sports as an entryway for other content. _______   To read the full stories included in this episode: - Streaming to Overtake Pay TV Subscription Revenue in the U.S. This Year: https://bit.ly/3ViLkj1 - Streaming must innovate past the 30-...

In this edition of The Current Report, we break down Google's Privacy Sandbox and takeaways from IAB Tech Lab's critical assessment of the initiative. We're joined by digital advertising space veterans John Donahue, partner at up and to the right, and Rob Norman, digital advertising advisor, to discuss their overall thoughts on Privacy Sandbox, platform transparency issues, and what the landscape...

On this edition of The Current Report we're joined by Snopes' chief revenue officer, Justin Wohl to discuss authentication. In a small test, Snopes saw a 200% increase in CPMs for ads that were served to a logged in, or authenticated, audience compared to readers tracked via third party cookies. As the cookie continues to crumble and publishers search for future identity solutions, experimenting w...

In honor of yesterday's Big Game, we're discussing recent landmarks in live sports streaming. Just last week, Disney, Fox, and Warner Brothers Discovery announced that they're combining forces to create a new sports streaming bundle, and Peacock saw huge success with the first-ever NFL playoff game to be exclusively streamed. These events could mark a change in the fragmentation of streaming sport...

This month on The Current Report we're spotlighting the future of TV. As Upfront season is on the horizon, brands and agencies are preparing their strategies for the U.S. presidential election and the Summer Olympics. We're also joined by Andrea Kwiatek, director of strategic partnerships at Goodway Group, to discuss the future of TV, CTV and the election cycle, and streaming partnerships. _______...

This week, we discuss all things privacy and identity-related as Google continues to deprecate cookies and the EU adds to developing data legislation. We sit down with Evan Hills, SVP of strategy and partnerships at Dstillery, to discuss how marketers are navigating this transition. Plus, in news across the internet, Paramount will not return to Upfront Week, and mixed reality devices could be the...

This week, we sit down with Dan Larkman, CEO of the programmatic agency Keynes Digital, to break down the hype around AI. Larkman shares his thoughts on the evolution of AI over the past year and where he thinks the innovation is headed. Plus, we spotlight The Current Podcast's interview with Hilton CMO David Weinstein. _______ To read the full stories included in this episode: Simplifying the str...

This week on The Current Report, we explore what topics and trends marketers are gambling on at this year's Consumer Electronics Showcase (CES). We connect with IAB Tech Lab's Anthony Katsur and Full Throttle's Amol Waishampayan to discuss AI and the privacy landscape. Plus, we break down which streaming service is forecasted to have the highest percentage of U.S. viewers on an ad plan. To read th...

Google is finally starting to remove third-party cookies from Chrome, a plan four years in the making. Chris Brooklier and Sarah Polli, director of marketing technology at Hearts & Science, break down how this will impact the future of digital advertising. With marketers looking for answers on how to move forward, Polli shares her wisdom, including how first-party data will only become more crucia...

That's a wrap! In the final The Current Report of 2023, we ask marketers their thoughts on one of the hottest topics in the advertising world - streaming. Strategus’ Joel Cox join us to discuss their main insights in streaming, from live sports to Amazon launching an ad plan for Prime Video, joining several other streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+ and Max who have done so. In news across th...

This week on The Current Report, we discuss why flexibility has been the name of the game for some marketers this holiday season. With brand awareness and performance media no longer separate operations, Chris Brooklier and Damian Fowler break down why the marketing funnel is collapsing. Plus, podcast companies are starting to advertise like Hollywood studios, and TikTok expanded its partnership w...

On this edition of The Current Report, we discuss the future of holiday advertising as advertisers prepare for the impending deprecation of third-party cookies. We break down why first-party and retail data may be the bow on top of future holiday campaigns as advertisers prepare for this change in landscape. In news across the internet, 18 countries have signed an agreement that aims to make AI "s...

This week on The Current Report we discuss the emergence of ad-free social media plans. We dive into the events around Meta's introduction of paid plans and how marketers are responding to the news. In other news, Amazon and Snap are partnering to let U.S. Snapchat users purchase products directly from the app. _______ To read the full stories included in this episode: Social platforms are testing...

On this edition of The Current Report, Damian Fowler and Chris Brooklier break down the importance of retail data and the complexity around retail data strategy. In other news, Walmart and Peacock are teaming up to offer AI-powered shoppable ads and the NBA agreed to a one season deal with regional sports rights partner Diamond Sports. _______ To read the full stories included in this episode: Dat...

This week on The Current Report, we dig into the value of online grocery data and discuss how GenAI is revolutionizing podcasts, with Spotify set to offer AI-translated versions of some of its top shows. In other news, Omnicom bought Flywheel Digital, and Biden released an executive order providing rules around AI. _______ To read the full stories included in this episode: 'A living, breathing pul...

This week on The Current Report, Damian Fowler and Travis Clark break down the explosion of retail media and explain why retail data and connected TV (CTV) are a dynamic duo. Plus, some major streaming services have introduced "pause ads" and how the iconic McDonald's jingle came to be "one of the most recognizable jingles in the world," according to Marketing Brew. _______ To read the full storie...

Bringing you the biggest news from Advertising Week New York, The Current Report's Damian Fowler discusses the recent formation of VML, which merges Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R, with the new company's Global CEO Jon Cook. Plus, we explore hot topics from the annual event with Butler/Till's Chief Strategy Officer Scott Ensign. To read the full stories included in this episode: WPP Merging VMLY&R...

On this edition of The Current Report, we ring in the holiday season early with some shopping. We explore why the holiday shopping season is starting earlier than ever with the help of retail media. Next, big, bold marketing campaigns are evolving into a new form thanks to performance marketing and personalized ads. In other news, State Farm saw huge returns by capturing a viral moment at an Eagle...

This week on The Current Report, we examine the growing popularity of Nigerian film and contemporary West African pop music. Plus, Pumpkin Spice Latte season has arrived earlier than ever. We discuss the influence of the seasonal item as more and more retailers capitalize on the opportunity. In other news, multiple Wall Street analysts believe Amazon may introduce an ad model on Prime Video and br...

On this edition of The Current Report, we explore the key points of the writers' agreement and discuss the potential impact of the double strike on advertisers. Plus, we explore takeaways from DMEXCO, Europe's leading ad conference where AI took center stage. In other news, CNN Max hub launched this week, and Spotify is testing an AI-powered tool that can translate podcasts into other languages. ...

This week on The Current Report, Damian Fowler and Chris Brooklier break down Disney and Charter's new carriage agreement and what the partnership might mean for the next evolution of TV and streaming. Plus, luxury giants in Europe are pushing to programmatic advertising as the global personal luxury market is expected to grow. In other news, the writers' strike might be coming to a close and Max...

This week on The Current Report, we tackle advertising on live sports. As football season is upon us and streaming viewership grows, advertisers are equipped with better tools to advertise on live sports streaming platforms. Plus, recent crackdowns on password sharing are paying off for streaming giants and advertisers. In other news, Google's trial with the U.S. Department of Justice is underway,...

On this edition of The Current Report, Ilyse Liffreing and Travis Clark explore the potential of gaming on the open internet and why advertisers should be aware of walled ecosystems in the video game space. Plus, drone advertising is taking off in China as an innovative approach in a competitive market. In news across the internet, Charter, the second largest cable operation in the U.S., dropped D...

This week on The Current Report, we dive into the strategies studios are using in movie promotion as the writers' and actor's strikes continue in Hollywood. Next, how brands can achieve brand love by using behavioral data to develop campaigns that resonate on an individual level. Plus, Warner Bros. Discovery named Mark Thompson as its' next CEO and chairman of CNN and X, formerly known as Twitter,...

This week on The Current Report, Damian Fowler and Zac Wang discuss the emergence of ride-hailing and food-delivery services like Uber and Deliveroo as strong competitors in the retail media space. Plus, we break down how interactive, shoppable TV ads may be the next frontier of e-commerce. Finally, in other news across the internet, elements of Europe’s Digital Services Act are now in effect, and...