The Big Story
Episodes
Measuring Muck - E293
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Made-for-advertising sites are roosting in reputable publishers' subdomains. IDs are declared inconsistently. And the established third-party measure...
Data Dazzles Ahead Of The Upfronts
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Will data dazzle media buyers at this year's TV upfronts? Plus: Why recent changes to Google search results have decimated traffic for some digital p...
Privacy Sandbox Yellow Flags - E291
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Debrief on the CMA's biggest issues with the Privacy Sandbox highlighted in its latest report. Then, a vibe check on the Newfronts.
The Third Delay For Third-Party Cookies Leaves Ad Tech In Limbo
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cookies aren't going anywhere. Behind Google's third missed deadline to remove third-party cookies from Chrome and what it means for ad tech.
Retreat To MMM
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One side effect of signal loss? Media mix modeling is coming back in fashion. Google's Meridian is the latest entrant in the MMM space, which is be...
Hidden Made-For-Advertising (MFA) - E288
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Inside Forbes' hidden MFA site, and the industry reactions to the ad-crammed subdomain. Plus: a dispatch from the Global Privacy Summit in Washington...
Ad Tech's Performance Review
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
TV ad buying platform Cadent acquires AdTheorent, setting its sights on omnichannel. Also in this episode: The less-than-kosher attribution game that...
Bot Or Not?
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Inside the Nubai Ventures lawsuit against Outbrain. Plus: The broadcaster-backed joint industry committee and the Media Rating Council clarify their c...
Goodbye, Outstream: The Digital Video Classification Shakeup - E285
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
More granular video classifications are replacing outstream video. But the move may devalue some inventory. Plus: GPTs are coming for contextual.
MFA: The A Is For Arbitrage … And Adalytics - E284
14 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why the 4A's is hosting secret meetings to redefine MFA from "made for advertising" to "made for arbitrage." Plus, a new report from Adalytics reveals...
Privacy Sandbox Isn't Passing The Test - E283
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In a world without cookies, ads aren't viewable and yield goes down. But it's still early days. Mediavine SVP Amanda Martin shares early results from ...
When Generative AI Makes The Ad
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Need ad creative? Here's what you need to know about using a generative AI startup to make your ad. Plus: Reddit opens its books before a planned IPO.
When Walled Gardens Collide - E281
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Walmart bought Vizio for a foothold in streaming – a move that will take the retailer's ads business to new levels. Then, a deep dive into the "sky ...
The Temu Bowl - E280
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After Temu's 5+ Super Bowl ads and billions in ad spending, will people shop like a billionaire? We discuss the strange profligacy of the discount sh...
Finding Holes In The Privacy Sandbox - E279
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The gap analysis of the Privacy Sandbox is out. And the gap is…large. Then, a case for why hype about first-party data hasn't been matched in realit...
The Stages Of Cookie Grief - E278
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After going through denial and anger over the death of third-party cookies, the ad tech industry enters the bargaining stage. Plus, top takeaways from...
Personalization Put-Offs - E277
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Getting personalization right remains tricky, and AI will only make it trickier. Then, inside Privacy Sandbox testing and the rise of curation tech.
Programmatic Excess, From Bid Duplication To VideoAmp's Reckoning - E276
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week's theme is programmatic excess. We start with bid duplication and end with VideoAmp's fall back to Earth.
Streaming Services Take On CES - E275
11 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the ad world descends upon Vegas for CES, streaming services from Netflix to Amazon to Disney are turning out in force. Then, all the intrigue une...
The Cookieless Expanse Ahead - E274
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The end of third-party cookies is upon us, and independent ad tech is diverging on the best approach for cookieless targeting. Meanwhile, agencies an...
Recapping The Year In SPO And Data Privacy
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 2023, supply-path optimization took off, brands took their scalpels to made-for-advertising websites and DSPs and SSPs launched SPO products to cut...
The Alternative Currency Slowdown - E272
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Marketers are choosing either Nielsen or alternative currencies (or both) for TV measurement. Learn what's ahead for alternative currencies in 2024. ...
Programmatic Fog - E271
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Marketers are wasting 25% of their ad spend on inefficiencies and made-for-advertising websites, and the ANA thinks consolidation and education are t...
The Dark Corners Of Google Search - E270
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Google search ads appear on a host of unsavory and offensive sites, according to recent Adalytics research. And without any transparent reporting fro...