Streaming Monetization, CTV Advertising & Ad Tech News

Ad tech rebuilt itself around identity resolution and clean rooms once third-party cookies disappeared. Coverage here spans SSAI, programmatic CTV, ad-supported tier economics, frequency capping, and the measurement approaches replacing the old playbook.

Jun 1•MicrosoftAds: Microsoft shifts buy-side spend to one Advertising Platform in 2026
Microsoft Advertising is exclusively focusing its buy-side advertising technology investments on the Microsoft Advertising Platform starting in 2026, driven by an increased emphasis on generative AI capabilities for conversational, personalized, and agentic advertising. As a result, the company will no longer support media buying through its DSP, Microsoft Invest, starting February 28, 2026, but will continue to support access to Microsoft and partner inventory via third-party DSPs. This strategic shift aims to leverage AI to simplify audience targeting complexities and enhance monetization for publishers through platforms like Microsoft Monetize and Curate.
Jun 1•Jiostar: JioHotstar adds commerce-signal ads with Instamart as first partner
JioHotstar has launched a new "commerce signal-led advertising capability" designed to connect brands with high-intent audiences on its streaming platform. This new offering leverages real purchase intent signals for sharper audience identification and engagement, with Instamart as its first partner. The capability aims to transform advertising by seamlessly connecting content consumption to product exploration and is going live during the current cricket season.
Jun 1•businesswire: GMS launches ads that answer questions in real time
GMS has launched Generative Response Ads, an AI-powered ad format enabling real-time, natural language conversations within ad spaces. This innovation, which allows users to ask questions and receive answers directly in the ad, was first adopted in the Philippines by AdSpark for its client Globe Platinum. The new format aims to create dynamic, two-way dialogues between brands and consumers.
Jun 1•Mediaweek: Specsavers Renews Seven's Home and Away Sponsorship, Adding Audiology Focus
Specsavers has renewed its sponsorship with Seven's 'Home and Away' through 2026, expanding its advertising campaign across TV, streaming, and social platforms. The renewed partnership introduces hearing-related storylines for the first time, integrating Specsavers' audiology business into the campaign. This initiative leverages in-show advertising and bespoke content to engage the show's audience.
Jun 1•Cablefax: Versant Boosts Deal Management Platform with 24-Hour Support
Versant has enhanced its platform with 24-hour support for managing and monitoring distribution deals, aiming to assist cable networks. This update helps programmers ensure compliance and optimize revenue from various affiliate agreements.
Jun 1•Beet.TV: Publicis Health Media Balances Healthcare Marketing Personalization with Privacy
Publicis Health Media's EVP Diana Bernstein outlined how the agency leverages AI and cross-device signal gathering in fragmented CTV environments for healthcare marketing. The strategy focuses on data privacy compliance and moving measurement beyond standard media metrics to real-world outcomes like physician consultations and prescription lift. This approach aims to deliver personalized, non-linear messaging across patient journeys.
Jun 1•Beet.TV: Criteo Go Self-Service Campaigns Outperform Managed Service by 28%
Criteo Chief Customer Officer Ed Dinichert detailed the advertising industry's challenges with measurement fragmentation and excessive AI noise at the POSSIBLE conference. Criteo is addressing this with its new Criteo Go self-service platform, which utilizes agentic technology and product catalog ingestion to achieve 28% better performance than traditional managed-service campaigns. Dinichert emphasized Criteo's historical focus on performance marketing and its large commerce data assets, including a shopper graph reaching 750 million users daily.
Jun 1•Advanced Television: UK Brands Underinvest £32 Billion in Ads, Doubling Spend Remains Profitable
A study by WPP Media and Thinkbox indicates that UK brands could double their average annual media advertising spend from £15 million to £30 million and still generate profitable returns, leaving £32 billion in profit growth on the table by underinvesting. The report, titled "The Growth Gap," analyzed 624 brands and over 7,400 campaign scenarios across 10 media channels, challenging the prioritization of short-term 'performance' channels by proving brand investment delivers in the first year with optimal media planning.
Jun 1•AdExchanger: Meta AI Support Flaw Led to Instagram Account Hijacks; Agency Transparency Concerns Persist
Meta's AI support chatbot reportedly had a security flaw that allowed hackers to gain admin access to high-profile Instagram accounts, which Meta has since patched, while advertiser concerns about agency transparency and principal media deals persist. A survey by ANA indicated that 43% of its members are concerned about lack of transparency from agency partners, though principal media deals generated $713 million for WPP in 2024. Separately, luxury marketing agency Interluxe Group acquired data-driven performance marketing agency adMixt.
Jun 1•AdExchanger: Ad Industry Needs Guardrails for Autonomous AI Due to Scaling Failure Risks
This article discusses the risks of autonomous AI systems in digital advertising, emphasizing that accidental failures and regulatory exposure could arise from AI making commercial decisions without human oversight. It advocates for implementing formal control layers above AI systems, including clear configuration authority, defined risk thresholds, and auditability. The piece suggests that human operators will become more crucial in managing these AI systems rather than less.
Jun 1•PPC Land: 3D DOOH ads lift top-of-mind brand awareness 67%
Vistar Media's 'Science in Motion' report indicates that 3D Digital Out Of Home (DOOH) advertisements increase top-of-mind brand awareness by 67% compared to static ads. This finding is based on a study involving 7,513 respondents.
Jun 1•Travel And Tour World: Agoda teams with The Trade Desk on APAC traveler targeting
Agoda announced a partnership with The Trade Desk to utilize first-party data and digital media to engage travelers across the APAC region. This collaboration aims to reach potential customers before they finalize booking decisions.
Jun 1•Adweek: Disney, Netflix, Amazon flag four TV upfront trends
Adweek spoke with ad leaders from Disney, Netflix, and Amazon regarding their expectations for the upcoming TV Upfront season. The article will outline four trends that industry leaders are focusing on during this period.
Jun 1•ExchangeWire: MarkApp and VIZIO Ads widen premium CTV access across smart TVs
MarkApp has announced a strategic collaboration with VIZIO Ads to expand access to premium Connected TV (CTV) advertising opportunities. This partnership aims to increase the reach of MarkApp's CTV advertising capabilities across VIZIO's smart TV environments.
Jun 1•JWX: Publishers widen monetization beyond pageviews and display ads
This article discusses how modern publishers are moving beyond traditional display ads on pageviews to capture revenue across various audience touchpoints, including on-site, on-platform, and within branded content. It highlights the importance of a unified view of every dollar generated through these diverse monetization strategies. The piece is framed as an informational piece about monetizing audience attention.
Jun 1•TripleLift: TripleLift frames Thanksgiving as a key advertiser tentpole
The TripleLift article provides an overview for advertisers on leveraging the Thanksgiving holiday period for advertising campaigns, offering insights and opportunities relevant to ad tech. It details strategies for reaching audiences during this specific tentpole event. The content focuses on ad monetization and planning related to consumer behavior during Thanksgiving.
Jun 1•AdsWizz: UK podcast ads gain ground as measurement improves
AdsWizz states that podcast advertising is growing in effectiveness within the UK. This is attributed to increasing UK audiences, improved measurement techniques, and brands leveraging the trust relationship with content creators.
Jun 1•MediaBrief: Khushboo Mulani says OTT ads are closing the measurement gap
Khushboo Mulani, Founder & CEO of Slay Media, discusses how data, attribution, connected TV (CTV), and clean-room partnerships are advancing measurement in OTT advertising. The article explains how these elements contribute to closing the measurement gap in the sector.
Jun 1•The Hindu Business Line: Raj Mishra flags compliance pressure in India’s influencer economy
Raj Mishra, head of Chtrbox, discussed the growth and challenges within the influencer economy, focusing on compliance and monetization. He also highlighted the role of AI in marketing strategies within this sector.
May 31•Beet.TV: FreeWheel Partners With Stagwell, Walmart for CTV Outcome Optimization
FreeWheel has partnered with Stagwell and Walmart Connect to advance outcome-based optimization for CTV advertising, linking ad exposure to retail purchase data and consumer actions. These collaborations aim to enhance publisher yields and CPMs by integrating traditional television buying signals into programmatic ecosystems. FreeWheel is working to translate traditional TV metrics like ad load and production quality into programmatic signals.
May 31•PPC Land: Koddi SSP opens Wolt Ads inventory to brands in Germany
Koddi's SSP has integrated with Wolt Ads in Germany, providing brands and agencies with programmatic access to in-app commerce media inventory. This integration marks the first time such programmatic access is available in the region.
May 31•PPC Land: EasyPrivacy and AdGuard now flag server-side GTM subdomains
Ad blocker filter lists, specifically EasyPrivacy and AdGuard, are now explicitly targeting server-side Google Tag Manager (GTM) subdomains and first-party tracking paths by name. This development challenges the assumption that server-side GTM would bypass ad blockers by appearing as first-party tracking.
May 31•PPC.land: Google posts 41-minute Ads Decoded finale from GML 2026
Google published the season one finale of Ads Decoded, a special recorded backstage at Google Marketing Live 2026. This episode featured discussions with product leaders about Gemini, AI Max, and measurement strategies.
May 31•Quiver Quantitative: Rothschild Redburn cuts The Trade Desk to sell
Analyst firm Rothschild Redburn issued a 'sell' rating for The Trade Desk stock (TTD), citing intensifying competition in the digital advertising market. This rating projects potential market share challenges for the company.
May 31•PPC land: Spain’s social users average 7.2 platforms, TikTok Shop jumps 25 points
A study by IAB Spain reveals that Spanish social media users now average 7.2 platforms, with 33.1 million users overall. The research highlighted a 25 percentage point surge in TikTok Shop's usage and indicated that 87% of users demand AI functionalities.
May 31•PPC Land: TripleLift finds advertisers use AI for optimization, not creative
TripleLift's global research report reveals that most ad professionals utilize AI for optimization purposes in campaign workflows but not for the creation of advertising content. The findings indicate a split in AI adoption for different stages of the advertising process.
May 31•PPC.land: US programmatic CPMs jump 34% as display outpaces CTV
A DataBeat report for May 2026 indicates that US programmatic CPMs have increased by 34% year-over-year. This surge is primarily driven by a 24% rise in display advertising, while Connected TV (CTV) CPMs experienced a 25.8% decline due to increased supply.
May 31•PPC Land: Omnicom Media Italy taps AudienceProject for cross-media measurement
AudienceProject and Omnicom Media Italy have formed a partnership to provide unified cross-media measurement for advertisers in Italy. This collaboration will cover linear TV, CTV, and digital channels. The deal marks Omnicom's first cross-media measurement agreement in Italy.
May 31•Chosun Biz: LG Uplus pairs YouTube Premium with Google AI Pro in Korea
LG Uplus is introducing a subscription bundle in Korea that includes YouTube Premium and Google AI Pro. This marks the first time such a bundle combining these services will be available in the country.
May 31•afaqs!: Indian D2C brands test shoppable TV from the living room
The article discusses the emergence of shoppable TV in India, outlining how direct-to-consumer (D2C) and retail brands can leverage this technology for sales directly from the living room. It highlights the potential for seamless purchase experiences via QR codes and interactive overlays on CTVs, moving beyond traditional e-commerce. The piece serves as a guide for Indian brands on adopting this interactive advertising model.
May 31•PPC Land: Pharma Rx brands shift TV spend up 53% after FDA letters
Pharma Rx brands increased their multiscreen TV spending by 53% over six months. This surge followed FDA enforcement letters issued in September targeting deceptive digital drug advertising. The shift indicates a move of advertising spend from digital to TV platforms due to regulatory scrutiny.
May 31•CNBC: Disney sells 2027 ads around Super Bowl, Oscars, Grammys
Disney is preparing to increase its advertising revenue by selling ad placements for high-profile events like the Super Bowl, Oscars, and Grammys in 2027. This push is being led by Disney's global ad president, Rita Ferro.
May 31•PPC Land: Bell Media and TELUS launch Canada’s first live ad swap
Bell Media and TELUS have partnered to launch live ad replacement capabilities on TELUS TV+ across TSN and CTV channels. This marks the first live linear inventory deal between a broadcaster and BDU in Canada. The initiative enables dynamic ad insertion into live linear streaming content.
May 31•Beet.TV: Travel search data gives The Trade Desk a retail intent signal
The article from Beet.TV discusses how consumer search data, specifically travel-related searches for flights, provides insight into consumer intent such as income and spending habits. This data can be leveraged by companies like The Trade Desk to inform retail advertising strategies.
May 31•Beet.TV: Cuebiq’s Zora Senat questions ad fit for streaming audiences
Cuebiq's Zora Senat raises the question of whether media publishers truly understand which ads resonate with their targeted streaming audiences. The discussion highlights the significant investments made by media companies in identity infrastructure and first-party data capabilities to improve consumer targeting.
May 30•LiveRamp: LiveRamp expands cross-media measurement across TV, CTV, social
LiveRamp offers comprehensive cross-media measurement and analytics solutions designed to help brands optimize advertising decisions across various formats. These solutions encompass traditional TV, connected TV (CTV), social media, and programmatic advertising. The company highlights its role in enabling strategic decision-making for advertisers using its technology.
May 30•LiveRamp: LiveRamp pitches marketing impact tools for revenue growth
LiveRamp promotes its marketing impact solution, aiming to help businesses maximize marketing investments, drive revenue, and achieve growth and efficiencies. The solution focuses on improving return on marketing investment through the company's identity platform.
May 30•Equativ: Equativ says video lifts retail media conversions 20%
Equativ discusses the increasing importance of video in retail media, highlighting its ability to capture attention, boost engagement, and drive stronger business results across the shopper journey. The article emphasizes that video is becoming a performance engine, demonstrating higher conversion uplifts on product pages and increased recall and shopping intent. It concludes that successful brands will leverage video for both storytelling and measurable impact in the evolving retail media landscape.
May 30•Index Exchange: Bedrock deploys first containerised DSP on Index Cloud
Bedrock Platform has debuted the first containerized demand-side platform (DSP), deploying its bidder on Index Exchange's Index Cloud infrastructure. This integration aims to enable more efficient and scalable programmatic buying by operating the DSP's custom models and bidder closer to the impression, reducing infrastructure costs and expanding participation across available opportunities. Independent agencies like InterMedia Group and Bay Street Media are among the first to test this new model for AI-driven programmatic decisioning.
May 30•Pdistack: Primer’s AiTD centralizes DSP workflows across video and CTV
PDI's blog post details Primer's AiTD (Artificial Intelligent Trading Desk) platform, a meta-DSP utilizing custom AI/machine learning to centralize and streamline digital advertising campaigns. The platform integrates multiple DSPs and ad tech software via global-first APIs, aiming to simplify programmatic advertising by optimizing execution, management, and reporting across various channels including video (OLV) and CTV. AiTD offers cross-platform integration, consolidated reporting, and AI-enhanced campaign management based on historical performance data.
May 30•Jwx: JWX and AWS Elemental map CTV programmatic ad infrastructure
JWX and AWS Elemental are hosting a webinar titled "CTV's Programmatic Moment" on June 4, 2026, to discuss how modern streaming operators can optimize their infrastructure for programmatic CTV advertising. The webinar will cover topics such as quantifying revenue gaps from render rate leakage and fill rate gaps, demonstrating Just-in-Time ad insertion with real-time auctions, and detailing future trends in Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI). The event aims to help streaming companies improve ad revenue and reduce SSAI costs by updating infrastructure built on outdated assumptions.
May 30•Simply Wall St: Genius Sports tests ad timing with biometric sports research
Genius Sports' biometric research with MediaScience, released in May 2026, indicates that advertisements shown immediately after emotionally intense moments in live sports enhance ad effectiveness. This research supports the utility of their Moment Engine product in optimizing ad timing. The Moment Engine aims to leverage this timing to provide a competitive edge in sports advertising.
May 30•BBN Times: TikTok launches £3.99 ad-free subscription in the UK
TikTok has introduced a paid ad-free subscription option priced at £3.99 per month for its users in the UK. This new offering allows subscribers to use the platform without advertisements.
May 30•Kavout: Taboola trades below targets after first profitable AI-driven growth
Kavout's analysis suggests that ad-tech firm Taboola (TBLA) is undervalued, currently trading below analyst targets. The company recently achieved profitability, attributed to its AI platform and growth within the Connected TV (CTV) sector. Aggressive share buybacks further indicate the company's potential.
May 30•Insider Monkey: Claude AI adds Magnite to its 2026 portfolio
Magnite, a digital advertising company specializing in connected TV and online ad sales, has been added to Claude's investment portfolio. This indicates a positive outlook on the company's financial prospects by an AI-driven investment strategy. The article highlights Magnite's focus within the digital advertising sector.
May 30•Beet.TV: Walmart Connect widens retail media reach through Yahoo DSP
Walmart Connect is expanding its retail media business by partnering with Yahoo DSP and Magnite. This collaboration will allow advertisers to access Walmart audiences beyond its own platforms. The move aims to broaden the reach of Walmart's retail media offerings.
May 30•MSN: Disney lowers Super Bowl LXI ad asks to $9 million
Disney is reportedly negotiating Super Bowl LXI commercial prices, having initially sought $10 million for a 30-second spot and an additional $10 million for other inventory. The company has now sold some commercials for $9 million, indicating a willingness to adjust pricing.
May 30•Traders Union: PubMatic extends DIRECTV Advertising live sports reach
PubMatic is collaborating with DIRECTV Advertising to expand the reach of live sports advertising campaigns. This partnership is designed to increase audience reach across both traditional linear television and streaming platforms.
May 30•TipRanks: Optable doubles down on identity and AI ad workflows
Optable has reinforced its position in identity, data collaboration, and AI-driven advertising workflows. The company highlighted its activities and developments in these areas over the past week.
May 30•KuCoin: The Trade Desk holds 95%+ client retention despite market noise
The article from KuCoin highlights The Trade Desk ($TTD) as a significant entity in programmatic ad-tech, noting its market presence. It states that the company maintains over 95% client retention despite recent market fluctuations.

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Streaming Monetization, CTV Advertising & Ad Tech News