Ad Tech
Netflix says live events bolster ads but affect viewer engagement
Netflix reported Q2 2026 earnings with revenue up 13% year-over-year to $12.6 billion, in line with expectations. The company reaffirmed its full-year ad revenue target of $3 billion, noting that while live sports content drove ad and subscription growth, its limited time window contributed less to total viewing time than regular series.
CTV ad spending climbs, but advertisers still doubt inventory trust: IAB report
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) released the second part of its video ad spending report, noting that while US connected TV (CTV) ad spending is expected to grow 11% to $29.3 billion this year, advertisers' trust in CTV inventory quality remains low: 43% of buyers express 'partial or complete distrust' in inventory under trusted purchasing methods such as programmatic guaranteed, while distrust in open exchange and real-time bidding exceeds two-thirds. The report attributes the trust gap to invalid traffic and opaque inventory sourcing, and reveals even lower trust in retail media networks (59% distrust). Meanwhile, targeting capabilities and live content are emerging as new focal points influencing purchasing decisions.
The logic behind Cornell Company's accelerated embrace of AI-driven video advertising
Cornell Company's Cuisinart brand used Amazon's AI tool Creative Agent to generate video ads for food processors. Test results showed increased engagement, reduced costs, and significantly shortened production timelines. The company plans to expand the use of this technology but emphasizes that human input remains indispensable.
Walmart Acquires Vibe.co: A New Milestone in the Convergence of CTV and Retail Media
Walmart announced last week its plan to acquire Vibe.co, a connected TV advertising platform targeting small and medium-sized businesses, in a deal reportedly worth $1.2 billion in cash, marking its largest investment in advertising since acquiring Vizio for $2.3 billion in 2024. The move aims to catch up with Amazon, whose annual advertising revenue is roughly ten times that of Walmart. Industry experts believe the deal lowers the barrier to entry for CTV advertising and drives the convergence of retail media and streaming TV.
From Foot Traffic to Sales: Streaming Ads Go Beyond Reach
Streaming advertising has long been viewed as a brand reach tool, but Tubi's performance benchmark study shows it is equally effective in the lower funnel: QSR category saw a 26% lift in store visits, retail a 21% lift, and automotive a 25% lift in purchases. Through measurement orchestration and third-party partnerships, Tubi is transforming streaming from a reach channel into a performance channel.
Agentic Ad Wave Sweeps Cannes as Amazon Pushes Alexa Advantage
At the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, AI took center stage as Amazon unveiled Alexa+ Agentic Ads, a new ad format enabling users to complete purchases through voice conversations. Amazon executives stated the product is now live, leveraging its DSP, measurement capabilities, and transaction data to build a competitive moat. Papa Johns and The Orchard are the first partners, with testing currently in beta.
Albertsons integrates branded products into AI search tools, deepening retail media presence
Albertsons Media Collective announced on Tuesday that it has integrated sponsored product display features into its AI-driven conversational search tool. The feature, powered by commerce intelligence platform Criteo, enables brands to influence consumers as they plan meals, search for products, and build their shopping carts. This move marks another innovation in grocery retail media and reflects the continued penetration of AI in the retail industry.
LiveRamp CEO on OpenAI Partnership and Upcoming Publicis Acquisition
Data collaboration platform LiveRamp has been active recently, including reaching a measurement partnership with OpenAI and planning to be acquired by Publicis Groupe for $2.2 billion. At the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, company CEO Scott Howe was interviewed on these hot topics, elaborating on the company's positioning in the AI advertising era, a new partnership with Adobe, and a commitment to maintaining platform neutrality after the acquisition.
Gap leverages AI to upgrade its brands' owned marketing channels
Gap Inc. announced the launch of an AI-driven marketing modernization initiative covering its Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta brands. The company will leverage its existing partnership with Google Cloud to build a unified data foundation and collaborate with Zeta Global and Publicis Sapient, starting with owned marketing channels to deliver personalized experiences at scale, optimize customer engagement, and accelerate campaign delivery.
OpenAI Explains ChatGPT Ad Positioning at Cannes: Targeting Users with 'Clear Intent'
OpenAI made its official debut at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, pitching its ChatGPT advertising platform, launched just four months ago, to brand marketers. It emphasized a shift from the attention economy to an 'intention economy' and disclosed ad testing data and trust principles.