Weekly episodes featuring marketing leaders of the world’s most influential brands and agencies

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Universal measurement standards for carbon emissions are set to be released by GARM and Ad Net Zero this year at Cannes Lions.

Sustainability could get a boost when universal standards come out at Cannes Lions

The former LA Times journalist breaks down the future of journalism after Google removed news links in response to the California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA).

5 minutes with journalist Matt Pearce

If journalism isn't around, how will generative A.I. models feed new information?

Why it makes business sense for A.I. models to keep journalism around

Starting next year, Netflix plans to no longer report quarterly subscriber numbers; experts say the path forward lies in ad revenue over subscriber growth.

Netflix’s latest move shows how streaming TV is tipping toward ads

The Trade Desk's Stuart Colman shares why the world of digital advertising is bigger than the Chrome browser.

The world of digital advertising is bigger than the Chrome browser

Marketers are not surprised. Many are preparing for a post-cookie future already.

Marketers unfazed as Google delays cookie deprecation for third time

Is interoperability the key to winning the cookieless race?

The open web vs. the walled garden: Is interoperability the key to winning the cookieless race?

What’s at stake? Only the future of European media.

European broadcasters are reinventing themselves for the future of TV

Political media buyers need to think beyond microtargeting that simply matches the voter file and embrace a more layered approach to programmatic to reach new voters.

How political media buyers misuse programmatic

Streaming services can build audience engagement through content, leveraging machine learning and data, and by improving the advertising experience on their platforms.

Streaming platforms have attracted vast audiences. Now we need data to keep them engaged.

The distance between marketing to a consumer and their ultimate purchase is getting shorter thanks to retail media.

Delivering on customer experience demands deep data insights

Creative ad technology can help marketers both optimize campaigns and inform high-level brand strategy.

Amid cookie deprecation, we need creative signals more than ever

Ad tech innovation is fundamental to the way the open internet works, with the power to level the playing field for consumers, advertisers and publishers.

Ad tech has the power to democratize the open internet

New data suggests an opportunity for streaming services to focus their attention on winning back those who canceled, at a time when the metrics of success are shifting.

32% of U.S. streaming cancellations are ‘won back’ after 6 months

Streaming’s premium environment lifts brand impact and outperforms social media across all points along the purchase decision journey, according to a new report by Magnite.

71% of TV viewers in Southeast Asia watch ad-supported streaming

Viewers are increasingly turning to smaller streamers to satisfy their appetite for original programming.

Smaller streamers’ share of global demand for originals increased 36% in a year

A new report surveying 150 U.S. agency and brand leaders reveals the industry is tipping further toward connected TV (CTV).

63% of U.S. advertisers are prioritizing CTV at least as much as linear TV during upfronts

Over-the-top (OTT) users in India are up 13.5% as of the end of 2023; however, the rate of growth seen during the pandemic has since subsided.

Post-pandemic, 34% of people in India — 481 million consumers — are now streaming content

Connected TV (CTV) and other digital platforms are poised to take 28 percent, or approximately $3.5 billion, of U.S. political ad spending in 2024.

U.S. political ad spend on digital projected to jump 156 percent over last presidential election year

The biggest reason people share personal information with brands and retailers is for access to deals and exclusive perks, according to a new study.

74 percent of U.S. consumers are willing to share personal information with brands and retailers

According to GroupM’s annual global end-of-year forecast, retail media continues its emergence as a critical lever for marketers.

Retail media is expected to grow 8.3 percent in 2024, continuing its rapid rise

Political advertising experts say there’s a lot that brands across sectors can learn from how political campaigns operate.

Taking a page out of the political playbook: What marketers can learn from 2024 presidential campaigns

Bully Pulpit Interactive's Mike Schneider shares his take on where innovation throughout this election cycle will be focused.

A brand marketer’s guide to victory in a U.S. presidential election year

Publishers and ad-tech platforms are making it easier for political ad buyers to reach audiences wherever they’re watching.

For political campaigns, candidates opt for an increasingly digital campaign trail

Tracing back the evolution of political advertising, from Eisenhower to Biden. Political campaigns have swung from radio ads to big data and connected TV.

For Context: The Evolution of Political Media

As political ad spending hits record highs in the U.S. for the 2022 midterm election, a new study by The Trade Desk and Morning Consult shows the impact of targeted steaming ads in battleground states.

How a surge in targeted political ads during the midterms impacted battleground states

Of the record $9 billion being spent on political ads for the midterm election, roughly $1 billion is being directed toward connected TV.

From sea to streaming sea: CTV to reach 17 percent of U.S. midterm ad spend

NBCUniversal and the Olympics are evolving with viewers. Advertisers are responding with $1.2 billion in ad commitments and counting.

The Olympics’ role in culture is evolving, and advertisers are moving with it

Record March Madness ratings is putting women’s basketball in the spotlight, and advertisers are taking notice by increasing their media spend.

March Madness just proved the power and scale of women’s sports. Advertisers are watching.

DRAX Direct streamlines access to Disney’s streaming advertising business with The Trade Desk, as advertisers increasingly lean into connected TV (CTV).

Disney streamlines access for advertisers, aiming to automate 75% of ad revenue

NBCUniversal is opening up Peacock ads to be purchased programmatically for all streamed 329 Olympic events this year.

The ‘crème de la crème’: 2024 Paris Olympics goes programmatic on Peacock

A recent survey suggests many sports fans in the U.S. care more about their favorite sport than anything else on TV, even in the offseason.

How streamers are keeping sports fans satisfied even in the offseason

Even in a year when Barbie dominated the box office, new data shows how women are still underrepresented in Hollywood, both in front of and behind the camera.

Hollywood is leaving money on the table by not marketing more movies to women

Super fans shape much of their identity around their favorite movies, music and more. Advertisers could benefit from getting to know their fandoms.

Understanding fandoms could be key for streaming and advertising strategies

Some ad industry forecasters just increased their projections for this year, suggesting optimism around political spend, the Olympics, CTV, and other factors.

What’s driving the rosy outlook for the U.S. ad industry this year?

Premium streaming services are showcasing their benefits for advertisers with authenticated audiences as Generative AI surges on the likes of YouTube and TikTok.

As AI junk floods YouTube and TikTok, premium content could prove its value for advertisers

Thanks to advances in AI’s analytical power, the technology has the potential to cut down browsing time for viewers on streaming platforms.

Don’t know what show to stream next? AI can help

Or, how some news publications are looking to the future by turning to advertising and niches.

The great restructuring of digital news media

The electronics giant saw a major improvement in online to offline sales attribution after implementing a custom solution leveraging Unified ID 2.0 (UID2).

How Samsung Electronics Canada is 'future-proofing' its business with UID2 as cookies crumble

PepsiCo’s strategic use of decisioned buying boosts brand presence and finds success in India’s CPG marketplace.

PepsiCo boosts brand presence and finds success in India’s diverse CPG market

Connected TV (CTV) is picking up steam as a way to get more small, local and regional businesses to advertise, especially programmatically.

Why streamers like Disney, NBCUniversal and Paramount are courting small businesses

As retail media evolves beyond retail networks, many in the audio industry see an opportunity to strike a harmonious relationship that could benefit both parties.

Audio and retail are getting in tune with one another

Measurement is becoming a bigger factor in the upfronts as networks’ authenticated ad space matches up with retailers’ verified buyers.

Retail data is entering the upfronts as measurement gets more important

A wave of retail data is sweeping Europe, with advertisers increasingly relying on it amid cookie deprecation and an evolving regulatory landscape.

Retail data has taken over Europe. Now what?

More and more people are engaging with sports around the world, and brands can capitalize on these fans’ newfound interest.

It’s not just Swifties: There are more sports fans, and brands see a way to score

Advertisers lean on first-party data, retail data, shoppable ads and more to earn a spot on Christmas wish lists.

First-party and retail data will be tested this holiday season as cookie sunsetting approaches

From connected TV to digital out-of-home to audio, DTC brands are finding new ways to reach their customers.

DTC brands increasingly see the advertising opportunity on the open internet

Marketers are zeroing in on Gen Z this holiday shopping season, as Adobe estimates record discounts and spending on smartphones.

2023’s top holiday shopping trends: Record discounts, mobile spending, and the Gen Z effect

Chief marketing and digital officer for L’Oréal in South Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa, Bradshaw-Zanger is focused on brand equity in a mobile-first marketplace.

L’Oréal’s Lex Bradshaw-Zanger on brand-building in a mobile-first marketplace

At Ford, Jennifer Brace’s role is to prepare the automaker for all the potential scenarios and consumer trends that could impact the company’s success in the future.

Meet Ford’s Chief Futurist, who prepares for at least 4 futures at once

General Motors’ lead of diverse media strategy and investment says that one day, she would like diversity ad spend to simply be part of how companies look at their overarching media strategies, instead of existing as a line item.

GM’s Brianne Boles-Marshall is on a mission to support Black-owned media

The Guardian US has increased its ad revenue 42 percent year over year. Luis Romero, the head of sales in North America, shares insights into his strategy: branded content, green ad dollars, and leaning into lifestyle/sports coverage.

The Guardian U.S.' SVP of ads on brand strategy, green ad dollars, and soccer

The Guardian US' SVP of ads on brand strategy, green ad dollars, and soccer

Marketers should be asking themselves the hard questions as they consider new channels, says Johnson & Johnson’s Andrew Jude Rajanathan.

Johnson & Johnson's EMEA media lead on how the consumer health giant is approaching marketing as inflation bites

Lee Walsh, Uber’s global head of media, offers insights on the company’s brand marketing around its new membership program Uber One, and explains why the company is embracing the upfronts as it moves media spend to connected TV.

Lee Walsh, Uber’s global head of media, on marketing across 10,000 cities

One of the innovators of programmatic advertising talks about the importance of measuring emissions in digital advertising.

5 minutes with Brian O’Kelley

Here’s what it takes to be an award-winning trader

Why traders are the rock stars of programmatic campaigns

We rounded up leaders from across the industry to break down some of the most pressing issues for marketers.

The Current Report Special Edition: Connecting streaming, retail data and live sports

Marlow Nickell, co-founder and CEO of Grocery TV, joins Asking for a friend to discuss in-store lift.

Asking for a friend: What is in-store lift?

President and CEO of Volta, Brandt Hastings, joins Asking for a friend to explain place-based media.

Asking for a friend: What is place-based media?

Unilever Head of U.S. Media Investment and Partnerships, Aaron Sobol explains green media and what the industry can do to increase sustainability efforts.

Asking for a friend: What is green media?

McDonalds' Alison Ciccione joins The Current's Asking for a friend to explain the magic behind leveraging first-party data

Asking for a friend: How do I activate first-party data?

Mark Jablonowski, CTO and president of politics and public affairs at Optimal, explains the basics of geofencing and how it allows for specific measurement.

Asking for a friend: What is geofencing?

Scott Ensign, chief strategy officer at Butler/Till, discusses building a digital-first strategy and the advantages to digital media.

Asking for a friend: What is digital-first strategy?

Ander Lopez Ochoa, EMEA head of Kenvue, breaks down supply path optimization (SPO) and its importance for marketers.

Asking for a friend: What is SPO?

Big tech is battling journalism over proposed legislation in California that would force companies like Google to pay to carry links to news articles.

Big Tech and journalism battle over proposed legislation in California

Advertisers felt ‘March Madness’ after the intense demand for women’s basketball. We're breaking down why the game is breaking through.

Advertisers are taking notice of the power and scale of women’s sports after March Madness

Advertisers take notice of the power and scale of women’s sports after March Madness

On this edition of The Current Report, we're joined by Brian Mandelbaum, CEO of Attain, to discuss how Attain is harnessing commerce data.

How quality commerce data is changing the landscape for advertisers

As 2023 marked a year of brands hitting the big screen, brands are seeing the value in streaming partnerships that subvert traditional advertising

Why brand-funded shows are getting bigger on streaming

In this edition of The Current Report, we dive into another way AI is changing our world.

How AI can help combat streaming indecision

Goodway Group's Mike Wolk, VP of growth and partnerships, breaks down how the media agency is building its strategy around the biggest screen in the house - the TV.

Advertisers build their strategy around the TV screen

Major League Soccer’s VP of Brand Marketing, Jesse Perl, joins The Current Podcast to discuss how young people are growing more interested in soccer.

How MLS plans to capitalize on 2026 World Cup fever

Green media is all about delivering digital advertising more efficiently toward a carbon neutral future

What the Tech is green media?

How timing, placement, and sound can determine an ad’s designation.

What the Tech are in-stream vs. out-stream video ads?

How seed audiences form the basis for targeted ad campaigns.

What the Tech are seed audiences?

Chief Commercial Officer, The Trade Desk

Tim Sims

Not Found

Read hot takes and in-depth perspectives from the industry’s eminent leaders, thinkers, and influencers.

Opinion

Premium

Exploring the latest in consumer data, including innovations in first-party data and Unified ID 2.0.

Data Privacy

How streaming is transforming how we watch television.

Streaming

How marketers are adapting their strategies to societal shifts and industry trends.

Culture

Everything digital marketers need to know to make their jobs easier.

Office Hours

Get the latest news, trends, and insights shaping the future of digital marketing and programmatic advertising.

The Latest

Stories about the emerging retail media market, including the latest brand partnerships.

Retail

Keep up to date with all our video content — from thought leadership to industry perspectives to educational series.

Video

The most critical innovations in advertising are happening on the open internet — identity, the future of TV, retail media, and beyond. Born inside The Trade Desk, The Current is a news platform dedicated to covering the latest in modern marketing — all from the front lines. Speaking to the marketing world’s most influential players, we explain what these seismic shifts mean, how they are happening, and why they are taking place.

Stay up to date

Bite-size articles and infographics featuring the latest data every marketer should know.

The Readout

VP Product, The Trade Desk

Co-founder and CEO, ID5.io

CEO, Founder & Chairman, The Trade Desk

Managing Director, Uplift Campaigns

In this election year, discover the latest topics and trends in political marketing as a new era of digital-first advertising is emerging.

Political

Learn about the latest trends in digital advertising, and the brands and agencies that are pioneering them.

Marketing Strategy

A spotlight on leaders from across the advertising industry

Leaders

The latest news and perspectives on the internet outside the walled gardens.

Open Internet

You’ve reached the end of the open internet! <br/> (Or at least the end of our search results.)

As Generative AI rises and Google deprecates third-party cookies, digital news outlets have an opportunity to create more direct relationships with readers.

With AI looming as a threat to news sites, publishers push back

During this year’s Forward ’24 event, advertisers shared how they are leveraging live sports as it moves into streaming.

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