News

Media Briefing: The case for and against markdown for AI bots

Markdown is becoming publishers’ latest AI optimization tactic, raising questions about the scraping tradeoff.

OpenAI brings product carousels to ChatGPT ads

It builds on OpenAI's product feed campaigns, bringing a Google Shopping-style carousel format to ChatGPT ahead of the Q4 holiday period.

Why brands like Gap Inc. and Staples are inviting their employees to be creators

Companies are scrambling for creators. Turns out they already employ them.

Kroger’s AI shopping assistant has ads at launch

Kroger has made advertising part of its AI shopping assistant, following the implementation of advertising features on competitors’ chatbots.

A Retarget On Their Back; FuboTV Touts Its Tie-Up With Disney

Criteo shares dropped by 24% after reporting sluggish, down-trending Q2 earnings. And sports streaming distributor FuboTV’s earnings for last quarter are a mixed bag. The post A Retarget On Their Back; FuboTV Touts Its Tie-Up With Disney appeared first on AdExchanger.

Arena Club - Join the Chase - 90s

‘Work in Progress’: Martin Sorrell’s Plan to Turn S4 Around

Despite continued falling revenue, S4’s stock popped 26% after reporting H1 earnings

Creators Are Quietly Becoming Media Conglomerates

As ad dollars and capital pour in, top creators are building diversified businesses that increasingly resemble old-media empires.

Magnite Doesn’t Want To Be A DSP. It Just Wants To Own The Decisioning Layer

In ad tech, everything is everything. Demand-side platforms are building supply-path optimization tools and direct publisher integrations, while supply-side platforms are rolling out their own buyer agents and proclaiming that they want to be the orchestration layer for agentic transactions. On Magnite’s Q2 earnings call Wednesday evening, CEO Michael Barrett painted a picture of a […] The post Magnite Doesn’t Want To Be A DSP. It Just Wants To Own The Decisioning Layer appeared first on AdExchanger.

AppLovin Asks For Patience As It Grows Its Ecommerce And Consumer Ads Business

AppLovin made $1.9 billion in Q2, almost $1.3 billion of which was recorded as net income, the company reported in its quarterly earnings on Wednesday. Both the total revenue and profitability metrics were up by more than 50% compared to the same time last year. That sounds impressive. However, AppLovin shares fell by more than […] The post AppLovin Asks For Patience As It Grows Its Ecommerce And Consumer Ads Business appeared first on AdExchanger.

The force is with TikTokers as they get the usage rights to Disney characters

A cry is echoing across TikTok and Disney+: Avengers, assemble! The superheroes of Marvel are one cast of characters who will become more present on TikTok thanks to a deal between the video app and Disney. In a landmark agreement, the Mouse House has given TikTokers the right to use the memorable likenesses and scenes from franchises like Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, and FX. According to a Disney press release, TikTok creators will get access to "hundreds of films and series from Disney’s vast library of enduring franchises and beloved IP." That content will be available for use in short-form videos. Visit Tubefilter for more great stories.

Reddit posts go viral on other platforms. Can that traffic be brought in-house?

On my YouTube Shorts, a certain type of video has become a frequent sight. By taking a text-to-speech recitation of a popular Reddit thread and pairing it with irrelevant footage from a video game or oddly satisfying compilation, creators haul in millions of views. The popularity of that format has raised a burning question at Reddit HQ: Can the #redditstories genre move from Shorts and TikTok to Reddit itself? With an upcoming experiment, the social platform will test the validity of that idea. During Reddit's Q2 2026 earnings call, CEO Steve Huffman revealed that his product team is hard at work on a "video Reddit" experience that would let users listen to posts and comments as a form of background engagement. Visit Tubefilter for more great stories.

Xbox Celebrates 25 Years With New Community Designs, Updates and FanFest Tour Dates (Gaming News Roundup)

Xbox is celebrating 25 years of play with new updates, community designs, curated Game Pass collections and the FanFest Tour schedule. Xbox’s 25th anniversary is Nov. 15. In partnership with community creators Klobrille and Ben Kenobi, Xbox is publishing a collection of gamerpics, backgrounds and a dynamic console theme. The collection is available today. Beginning […]

Google Loses The Engineer Who Helped Build Search And Modern AI via @sejournal, @martinibuster

Google loses Jeff Dean, who helped build Google Search and AI, replaced by DeepMind's Demis Hassabis as Chief Scientist. The post Google Loses The Engineer Who Helped Build Search And Modern AI appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

‘PUBG’ offers $95,000 in prizes as it drops into the creator sandbox world led by Roblox and Fortnite

In the world of battle royale video games, PUBG: Battlegrounds has fallen a long way from its 2018 high point, but in the world of creator experiences, the game once known as PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is just getting started. As PUBG developer Krafton builds a world-creation engine called PUBG: Playgrounds, it is launching a contest that will see it give away a $95,000 prize pool to creators who launch experiences within PUBG. For what it's calling the PUBG: Battlegrounds UGC Contest, Krafton is teaming up with CurseForge, a company best known as a distributor of video game mods. Contest entrants can submit their worlds across three categories: Combat modes that feature stipulations like "one v. one" or "snipers only," Survival builds that pit players against larger attacking forces, and Creative experiences that bring PUBG into new genres like racing and puzzles. Visit Tubefilter for more great stories.

Connectivity issues can hamper IRL streams. Streamlabs has a solution.

A spotty Wi-Fi signal can bring a promising live stream to an abrupt end, so Streamlabs is taking steps to address that situation. The Logitech-owned purveyor of streamer overlays and data tools has announced Network Boost, a product that improves connectivity for streamers who are broadcasting on the go. Streamlabs Ultra subscribers can enable Network Boost through the Streamlabs mobile app. Primary streaming devices are connected to "relay devices," allowing Streamlabs to synchronize Wi-Fi connections, cellular data, and hotspots. Whenever one source lags, Network Boost switches the stream to a more stable connection. Visit Tubefilter for more great stories.

Speed zooms into Zumiez with some Killer Merch

There's a new apparel partnership that just makes sense: A creator who goes by the name Speed has brought a clothing line to a store called Zumiez, and as you'd expect from such a fleet-footed team-up, you'll need to act fast if you want to beat the rush. iShowSpeed, who has emerged as one of the world's premier creators, joined forces with Killer Merch to bring his new collection to more than 500 Zumiez locations in the U.S. Items on sale include five t-shirt designs (which retail for $34.95) and a hoodie that sells for $84.95. The launch of the range is well-timed, since Speed is fresh off his star turn at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Visit Tubefilter for more great stories.

Spotify says podcasts are having a “favorable” impact on its revenue, and that it’ll spend $230 million more on marketing and AI this year

Spotify shares rode a rollercoaster during its Q2 earnings call, dropping 5% early but, by the end, rising 0.5% above pre-call share prices. What clicked shareholders into their coaster cars? Probably AI. CFO Christian Luiga told analysts that marketing and AI-related investments will drive roughly €200 million (~$230 million USD) in incremental operating expense for […] Visit Tubefilter for more great stories.

The Future Of Discoverability

Articles alone stopped being a viable product. A discoverability framework for publishers: passive, active, owned – plus the intent-led journalism that gets you there. The post The Future Of Discoverability appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

AI Referrals Are Recreating The Oldest Mistake In Conversion Optimization via @sejournal, @slobodanmanic

If you run CRO or SEO, the oldest mistake in your discipline just came back wearing a new referrer string. Here's the fix. The post AI Referrals Are Recreating The Oldest Mistake In Conversion Optimization appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

Spider-Man Swings to Box Office Records While Ditching Traditional TV Strategy

Spider-Man: Brand New Day's record-breaking box office came after superpowered social marketing.

Week of July 27 Evening News Ratings: ABC News and CBS News Don’t Shed Viewers

CBS Evening News had growth in both total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo.

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. changes corporate name again, relocates headquarters

The rebrand to Neighborhood Intelligence underscores the company’s ambitions to move beyond retail and into home services.

Microsoft Advertising Adds AI Visibility Insights, PMax Testing, And Creative Preview Updates via @sejournal, @brookeosmundson

Microsoft Advertising expands AI Visibility, Performance Max testing, and Ad Preview Hub with new reporting, experimentation, and creative review capabilities. The post Microsoft Advertising Adds AI Visibility Insights, PMax Testing, And Creative Preview Updates appeared first on Search Engine Journal.