Video Roku becomes first streaming platform to optimize ads using iSpot outcomes Roku integrates iSpot's Outcomes at Scale for outcome-based optimization on January 6, 2026, with SimpliSafe test showing 23% lead increase and 31% website visit boost.
Video Magnite builds seller agent into SpringServe for AI-driven ad buying Magnite launched its first seller agent in SpringServe during December 2025, testing AI-driven advertising transactions with Scope3 as buyer agent partner.
Video YouTube creators get TV-style measurement as Spotter partners with Comscore Spotter and Comscore announced January 6 a partnership bringing broadcast-caliber audience measurement to long-form YouTube content, addressing a gap in creator monetization infrastructure.
Display Google opens prediction markets to advertising, but only for CFTC-regulated platforms Google Ads will permit prediction market advertising starting January 21, 2026, exclusively for platforms authorized by CFTC as Designated Contract Markets or NFA-registered brokerages.
Video UK bans junk food ads: why marketers now face jail time (just kidding) England implements sweeping restrictions on high fat, sugar and salt food marketing starting January 2026, drawing mixed reactions from industry stakeholders and health experts.
Video Comscore unveils daily TV program tracking powered by AWS AI Measurement company launches program-level reporting for linear and streaming with AWS-powered content unification, ending walled-off audience data on January 6, 2026.
Video YouTube's demonetization system silences journalism while fraud thrives Content creator's Epstein investigation was demonetized despite 98.9% approval rating, while deepfake scams using his likeness remain on platform.
Video Chris Pratt gambles everything on AI judge in 90-minute trial thriller Amazon MGM Studios positions theatrical-exclusive crime film for streaming advertising play as AI justice themes target premium inventory during critical January release window.
Video Microsoft kills free Prebid Cache publishers rely on for video ads Microsoft deprecates public Prebid Cache on April 30, 2026, affecting 60% of configured endpoints as publishers scramble for alternatives to maintain video delivery.
Video Smart TV home screens now drive more movie decisions than trailers LG Ad Solutions study finds 96% of viewers say home screen ads influence theater decisions, while 67% rent movies after seeing promotions on TV screens.
AI One-third of YouTube Shorts feed now consists of AI-generated slop New research reveals 33% of YouTube Shorts shown to new users are brainrot content, while 21% are AI-generated slop, as machine-made videos flood the platform.
Video YouTube's home feed quietly kills long-form video discovery Platform data shows browse recommendations dropped from six long-form videos per row to just two, redirecting 80% of available slots toward Shorts content.
Video Lionsgate hands FreeWheel exclusive control of its FAST channel advertising Lionsgate partnered exclusively with FreeWheel on December 18, 2025, to manage its 30 U.S. FAST channels, giving ad buyers unified access to premium content.
Video Nielsen and Roku deepen ties with Roku Channel becoming #2 in ad-supported TV Nielsen and Roku expand strategic partnership on December 22, integrating streaming data while revealing The Roku Channel ranks #2 in ad-supported TV time.
Video Paramount climbs to third despite losing ground year-over-year Paramount captured 8.9% of TV in November 2025 with strong monthly gains, though down from 9.3% in 2024. Netflix grew to 8.3% while YouTube leads at 12.9% share.
Data Google slashes audience targeting thresholds to 100 users across all networks Google reduced minimum audience size requirements to 100 active users across Search, Display, and YouTube networks for all segment types, marking a substantial expansion of remarketing accessibility for smaller advertisers.
Video YouTube's TV interface gets its first major makeover in years YouTube redesigns television playback interface with repositioned controls, new description button, and improved subscriber experience across TV screens.
Video Amazon DSP adds content exclusion categories for brand suitability control Amazon DSP introduces content exclusion categories enabling advertisers to block specific topics across Twitch and third-party inventory through unified controls.
Video YouTube gives creators an AI image editor to jazz up posts YouTube integrates Nano Banana, Google's Gemini 2.5 Flash image editing model, into Posts feature for creators in four countries starting December 2025.
Video Sports documentaries fuel Gracenote's push into streaming hub technology Gracenote expands On Sports platform with documentary linking and athlete imagery as viewing minutes surge 260% since 2021, targeting deeper fan engagement beyond live games.
Video NBCUniversal unveils live sports ad tools that measure real-time ROI NBCUniversal launches LIVE Total Impact, AI contextual targeting, and Performance Insights Hub on December 17, 2025, introducing cross-platform measurement and attribution.
Video The Trade Desk cut 39 jobs during employee meeting a year after its biggest reorg The Trade Desk dismissed approximately 39 employees on December 17, 2025, during an all-hands meeting, marking the second significant workforce adjustment in 12 months at the programmatic advertising platform.
Video YouTube Create finally arrives on iPhone after year-long Android exclusivity YouTube brings its free video editing app to iOS on December 15, 2025, offering creators automated captions, royalty-free music, and AI-powered tools.
DOOH Search budgets shift to social and CTV as B2B targeting enters new precision era Intentsify executive forecasts search dollars flowing to paid social, audio, CTV, and DOOH while B2B targeting sophistication increases and AI tools face reality check in 2026.
Video IAB Australia's video framework aims to fix measurement chaos IAB Australia releases comprehensive video measurement framework on December 11, addressing fragmentation across viewability, attention metrics, and brand effectiveness.
