MediaPost.com: MediaDailyNews

Trade Desk Goes Agentic, Simplifies Programmatic Buying - Just Ask Koa

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:51:21 -0400

The Trade Desk unveiled new agentic capabilities to make its demand-side platform simpler for planning, buying and measurement. The overhaul follows agency backlash and stock downgrades.

What YouTube's Shorts 'View' Rules Reveal About The Limits Of Attention

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:30:51 -0400

Views still have a role. They tell marketers whether content is reaching people and whether audiences are watching. The problem comes when that becomes the verdict on whether creator media worked.

Ace Hardware Media Arm Unveils Measurement, Audience Features

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:00:00 -0400

RedVest Media, the company's retail media network, announced measurement, audience, social and influencer capabilities ahead of its debut later this week at its 2027 upfront.

Gracenote Strikes First DSP Deal, Provides Show-Level CTV Data To Trade Desk

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Gracenote, a unit of Nielsen that identifies media content, will work with The Trade Desk to provide "content-level precision to programmatic connected TV (CTV) buying."

Funding Democracy Unfiltered, CSPAN Taps First Chief Development Officer

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400

A 15-year nonprofit vet, Adele Hixon-Day joins from the Smithsonian and will be vital to C-SPAN's continuing coverage of Congress, the White House and SCOTUS.

TikTok Focuses On Europe In Off-Platform Ad Expansion

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 23:41:57 -0400

TikTok is bringing new partners to its multi-screen ad experience across billboards, in-store displays, cinema promos and more, expanding user-generated content viewership to the European market.

FCC Chief Criticizes Addition Of Groups That Qualify For Ad Discounts

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 23:07:10 -0400

FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez has sharply criticized the Media Bureau guidance that expands the types of political entities that can qualify for discounted broadcast advertising rates, TVTechnology reports. The Media Bureau is now allowing joint fundraising committees and party committees to purchase airtime at steep discounts weeks before voting begins for the midterm election, she contends.

Meta Focuses On Becoming An AI Company As It Settles Case

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 22:57:59 -0400

The settlement of social-media addiction charges by Meta for $18 million will not have a material impact on its bottom line, given the $200.97 billion in revenue it made last year, Mother Jones writes in an analysis. Other recent losses in legal actions will also have no effect. And they will have no impact on Meta’s effort to become an AI company. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has released an essay stating that Meta should be able to build data centers wherever it wants.

Microdrama Downloads Are Soaring, As Is Advertising

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 22:53:04 -0400

Microdrama downloads grew y 95.5% YoY in the first half of 2026, surging to a total of 1.45 billion, Marketing Dive reports. And the number of active advertisers on short drama apps rose by 132% while create output increased 151%. Brands incuding Marc Jacobs and Dr. Pepper are serving up microdrama content that resonates with Gen Z: absurd love triangles and antics inspired by soap operas.

Leaders Must Make Plans To Usher In AI, Bill Gates Warns

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:47:51 -0400

The Microsoft cofounder sees no plan or evidence that leaders, experts and communities are confronting the challenges of AI, mainly because many people underestimate the impact AI will have.

Home Depot Hires Kroger Exec To Lead Retail Media

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:42:31 -0400

Christine Foster joins Orange Apron Media from Kroger Precision Marketing.

Dick's Gets Clobbered With Nike Fallout

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:45:38 -0400

A rocky reset at recent acquisition Foot Locker, along with clearance-rack Nikes, are clouding the retailer's near-term prospects.

Google Launches Flexible Billing To Manage Exploding AI Costs

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:15:29 -0400

Google is changing its billing and resource allocation for AI-driven developer platforms -- specifically Google Antigravity in Gemini Enterprise -- to help brands and agencies control costs.

Creators Aren't Just A Simple Line Item These Days

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 12:38:45 -0400

Nowadays brands are increasingly tying creator pay to actual outcomes such as sales lift, conversion, and attribution back to the store or the site.

Navigating 'Mind-Blowing' New Media Challenges

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 12:31:36 -0400

As AI agents begin to request content directly, publishers and platforms will need systems that expose enough metadata for discovery while protecting paid content.

Meta Settles Child Exploitation For $17.1B, Structural Remedies Too

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:44:28 -0400

The structural remedies include limiting kids' usage to two hours per day with nighttime blocks from 12am-6am, which are likely to impact user engagement and advertising load.

Better Brand-Sport Deals: 'Throwing A Dime' Is Needed

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:33:30 -0400

CIMM says: "Live sports audiences fluctuate substantially throughout broadcasts depending on game competitiveness, score margin, timing, narrative tension, and other contextual factors."

3-Year Streaming Outlook: Slowing Down Pricing Hikes

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Higher-priced ad-free options have seen greater price increases over the last three years vs. those for ad-supported tiers - at $1.62 per month vs. $1.21 per month.

For Heaven's Sake, Get This Deal Done Already

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Statements from California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the man leading the lawsuits from 12 states to block the Paramount-WBD merger, reveal he doesn't know what he's talking about.

Stonyfield Offers Spa Life, Complete With Cows

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400

To build organic yogurt loyalty, the brand wants you to cuddle cows, get a pasture pedicure and down a grass-green smoothie.

We Will Always Love Her: Dolly Was Marketing Icon, Too

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:32:32 -0400

"Parton's business acumen extended beyond the entertainment industry. Her empire included hotels," fragrances, beauty products and other ventures, according to "USA Today."

Appeals Court Says Lower TV Ad Rates Cannot Go To Political Parties

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:01:04 -0400

The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that political parties are not entitled to greatly lower candidate TV advertising rates, Politico reports. The Supreme Court recently allowed political parties to spend unlimited amounts, working with campaigns. The decision is being appealed, but will significantly erode the advantage Republicans believe they got from the SCOTUS ruling if it holds. ““The [lowest unit charge] requirement and campaign finance statutes are clear that neither political parties nor joint fundraising committees with non-candidate members can be entitled to the LUC,” the majority opinion states.

Ads Created By AI Could Cause Compliance Issues For Alcohol Brands

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 23:54:35 -0400

Alcoholic beverage marketers face new compliance issues, resulting from the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), Regulatory Oversight reports. AI tools do not understand federal regulations. They cannot tell the difference between a permissible lifestyle image and a graphic that implies a health benefit. And state regulations add a second layer of compliance risk.

Crooked Media Acquires The 'FivethirtyEight Politics' Podcast, Renames It

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 23:49:46 -0400

Crooked Media is acquiring and reviving the “FivethirtyEight Politics” podcast, Variety reports. The podcast, which is hosted by Nate Silver, Clare Malone and Galen Druke, will be renamed as “Stil Counting.” The weekly will premiere on September 9 on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and other platforms. The “FivethirtyEight Politics” blog was launched by Silver in 2008. It has since had different owners, including ESPN and ABC News. Earlier, it was a licensed New York Times feature.

People Inc.'s Investment in MGM Now Exceeds Its Own Market Cap

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 22:32:51 -0400

People Inc., publisher of People and numerous other publications, is a strong stock buy, Seeking Alpha advises. People Inc. now owns 66.8 million shares of MGM, giving it a 26.8% equity stake ss. This equity is now larger than People Inc’s market capitalization. “People Incorporated's asset disposals have strengthened the balance sheet, and, with cautious assumptions about the digital publishing business, our NAV indicates that the company trades at an approximately 40% discount,” Seeking Alpha writes.

AI Tool Uses Human Emotion To Predict Ad Outcomes

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 21:27:02 -0400

AI can now predict how an ad will match human emotions based on millions of possible responses and hundreds of pieces of content, to identify how an ad will connect with humans.

Massive 25th Anniversary 9/11 Campaign Calls To 'UNIITE For Good'

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 16:21:51 -0400

A key goal: to get 1 million Americans committing to good deeds in commemoration of the tragic day's 25th anniversary.

TikTok Allows Users To Preserve Their Account After Death

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:57:38 -0400

TikTok is prompting users with the ability to "Choose someone you trust to manage your account after you pass away" - naming a "legacy contact," according to various screenshots shared by app researchers on Threads.

Kiwi Bill To Enforce Teen Restrictions For Social Media, AI Companions

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:51:48 -0400

New Zealand is the latest country to introduce a bill banning younger teens from a range of social-media platforms and AI companions in response to addiction concerns.

Google Agentic AI Meets Verified Data For Finance

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:29:20 -0400

Dun & Bradstreet is bringing its "Commercial Graph" into Google's Gemini Enterprise for financial services via Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations.

Canada Is The Canary In America's Coal Mine

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 13:55:13 -0400

When your next-door neighbor is saying you can't be trusted, you should listen.

U.S. Political Ad Buys Reach $6.1B To Date

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 10:56:13 -0400

The biggest TV station group to benefit from the spend is Gray Television at $434 million, followed by Nexstar Media Group at $416 million, Fox TV stations ($363 million), Tegna ($350 million) and Sinclair ($319 million).

Meta Hires Thinking Machines Lab Co-Founder For 'Superintelligence' Efforts

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 10:43:04 -0400

Metz is Meta's latest notable AI hire as the company carries out its three-year plan to spend over $600 billion in the U.S. on the development of AI superintelligence.

It's The Salience, Stupid

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:44:26 -0400

The economy may or may not be the No. 1 issue for some voters. Candidates now have a way to target them in media buys based on how salient it is vs. other issues.

Regal Regales New Loyalty Film Program: No Streaming Worries

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Regal Entertainment Group says it is adding to its monthly membership options - 'Regal Rewards+' - which offers more flexibility. The price is in line with lower-cost premium streamer options which include limited advertising in TV and movie programming.

Weight Is Over For Return Of TLC '1,000-lb' Shows

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400

TLC is putting on the pounds on Tuesday nights with the return of a ton of content.

Netflix May Offer Third-Party Streaming Services

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:24:53 -0400

Netflix, which has more than 325 million subscribers across the globe, may market third-party streaming services on the platform, Media Play News reports. It adds that NBCUniversal’s Peacock service and Fox’s upstart Fox One platform are in discussions that could result in a distribution deal similar to those of Prime Video Channels, a service that handles 60% of all specialty niche subscriptions.

Sony Music Sues Kroger Over Alleged Use Of Recordings In Social Ads

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:20:13 -0400

Sony Music has filed suit against the Kroger Co., alleging that the retailer used its sound recordings in social media ads without permission, Music Business Worldwide reports. Sony claims it has discovered at least 392 unauthorized uses of its music on Kroger’s social media accounts and on those of influencers promoting the brands. "Kroger's decision to devote substantial resources to advertising while refusing to pay for the sound recordings that made those advertisements more engaging further confirms that the Kroger Parties’ infringement was knowing and willful,” the complaint argues.

Trump's Truth API Claims More Sign-Ups For Service

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 23:06:01 -0400

Trump Media’s Truth API service now has paying customers numbering in the “mid-teens,” compared to 10 roughly two weeks ago, Kevin McGurn, interim CEO of Trump Media and Technology Group, said on Monday, Quartz reports. McGurn spoke on CNBC’s “Squawk Box. The Intercept Media and the Freedom of the Press Foundation filed a lawsuit to block the service, charging that it violates the First and Fifth Amendments by giving those paying customers privileged access to official communications.

Fired 'Washington Post' Columnist Karen Attiah Ordered Reinstated

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 23:00:10 -0400

Karen Attiah, a columnist fired by The Washington Post over social media posts following the killing of Charlie Kirk, has been ordered reinstated by arbitrator Sarah Miller Espinosa, Associated Press reports. The arbitrator also ordered that Attiah, the last Black full-time member of the Post’s opinion desk, receive full back pay and lost benefits. The Kirk posts discussed violent white men.