ITV Sees Advertising Slowdown Continuing on Brexit Weakness

ITV | May 08, 2019

ITV Plc forecast a 6 percent decline in advertising sales in the first half of the year as a Brexit-induced slowdown continues to bite. Britain’s largest free-to-air commercial broadcaster gave the outlook while releasing first-quarter results that showed a 7 percent drop in total advertising for the period, in line with its previous guidance. Chief Executive Officer Carolyn McCall is combating near- and long-term trends hitting ad sales, which make up about half of ITV’s revenues. U.K. companies are diverting spending to Brexit planning, while digital players like Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google steadily draw more of their advertising dollars. McCall is seeking to reduce the broadcaster’s reliance on advertising by expanding ITV’s production unit, maker of hit shows like “Love Island” and “Coronation Street,” and growing its direct-to-consumer division. ITV is also turning to the subscription model that helped make Netflix Inc. into a formidable rival. BritBox, ITV’s new streaming platform with the British Broadcasting Corp. is on track to start in the second half of 2019, ITV said on Wednesday.

Spotlight

With over 215 million gamers in the U.S. and with the average gamer being in their early 30s, the term “gamer” now encompasses a broad and diverse demographic spectrum. Two out of every three Americans play video games through various platforms, and gaming is third only to TV and social media in terms of how audiences spend their time—yet gaming captures less than 5% of advertiser budgets.

Spotlight

With over 215 million gamers in the U.S. and with the average gamer being in their early 30s, the term “gamer” now encompasses a broad and diverse demographic spectrum. Two out of every three Americans play video games through various platforms, and gaming is third only to TV and social media in terms of how audiences spend their time—yet gaming captures less than 5% of advertiser budgets.

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ADVERTISER CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT

Marin Software Integrates Yahoo Platform to Enhance Programmatic Ad Campaign

Marin Software | February 06, 2023

Marin Software has recently announced its integration with Yahoo's platform to enhance its ad campaign optimization and purchase for advertisers, offering Yahoo DSP campaigns inside its MarinOne platform. This integration will make it easier for advertisers to measure, manage, and optimize channel campaigns in one place. Yahoo's demand-side platform (DSP) offers access to premium inventory from the industry's top publishers, ad exchanges, supply-side platforms (SSP), and Yahoo's SSP authorizing advertisers for programmatic advertising. So, brands can learn what customers want and reach them on their preferred device and medium, such as mobile, desktop, digital platforms, out-of-home, connected TV, video, and immersive experiences. CEO of Marin Software, Chris Lien, said, "We are excited to renew our partnership with Yahoo and continue providing our customers with best-in-class advertising solutions that enable them to reach their target audiences more efficiently and effectively than ever before." He added, "Our goal is always to provide brands and their agencies with industry-leading technology to manage and optimize their digital marketing programmes on a single platform and give them a competitive edge in today's digital marketplace. Working closely with Yahoo, we will be able to jointly develop even more innovative products that deliver on this goal." (Source – Business Wire) About Marin Software Marine Software, one of the leading software development companies, is focused on authorizing digital agencies and advertisers for optimization, enhanced efficiency, and transparency of paid marketing programs. MarinOne is a unified software as a service (SaaS) advertising management platform of Marin Software that offers advertising optimization for search, social, and eCommerce programs to convert audiences into valued customers, enhance finances, and help digital marketers make better decisions. Its MarineOne Budget Optimizer maximizes the return on investment from advertising. In addition, it automates key workflows to save time and relieve the team's workload, allowing them to focus more on advertising strategies.

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BRAND MARKETING

Augeo Acquires Brand Networks for Engagement Solutions

Augeo | February 20, 2023

Augeo, an enterprise engagement platform technology, has recently acquired Brand Networks, a social media marketing pioneer, for increasing engagement over social media platforms. In addition, its data collection and engagement solution, Valor Siren Ventures, participated with Augeo in this transaction. Brand Networks offers AI-powered tools to enhance advertising investments, media buying, and authentic employee advocacy through software solutions and clean room collaboration technology to turn audiences and first-party data over social media platforms into monetization. These services will help marketers, advertising companies like Augeo and creator communities with the creation, publication, and measurement of organic content in real-time on behalf of the organization. It leverages AI and machine learning algorithms for building brand relationships with customers through social media platforms like Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Meta. Garros Group, an investment bank in the advertising sector, served as a financial and strategic advisor for Brand Networks. Founder and CEO of Augeo, David Kristal, said, "We are eager to cultivate Brand Network's innovative paid social solutions that optimize cross-platform advertising budgets with data-driven strategies. Moreover, there is not a more authentic and inspired strategy to advance brand experiences than through the passion and advocacy of that brand's employees, customers, and partners. We recognize the power of synthesizing brand advocates across social media to deepen the connection to stakeholders and local communities." He added, "Augeo's acquisition of Brand Networks extends opportunities for our clients to leverage genuine employee advocacy—creating a unique and inevitable intersection of marketing and HR. Every day, thousands of employees are activated on behalf of major brands through Brand Networks, and we are excited to scale their efforts and accelerate the power of their solutions for our respective clients." (Source – Cision PR Newswire) About Augeo Headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Augeo, an advertising solutions provider, has been offering services for enterprise-level loyalty and engagement platforms and experience design since 1999. In addition, it serves solutions for loyalty programs, channel loyalty, employee recognition, sales incentives, web3 experiences, strategic gifting, event production, customer loyalty, experiential marketing, workplace engagement, digital agency services, employee engagement, card-linking experiences, B2B loyalty, membership benefits, employee recognition and rewards, insurance and voluntary benefits, custom solutions, and affinity partner networks.

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ADVERTISER CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT

Hello Sunshine Launches In-House Social Agency - Helping Brands Connect With Women Through Story-Driven Advertising

Hello Sunshine | March 21, 2023

Hello Sunshine, a part of Candle Media, announced today the launch of Solar, an in-house social agency helping brands connect with women through story-driven advertising. Overseen by Maureen Polo (Hello Sunshine’s Head of Direct to Consumer), Solar is being led by agency veteran Jennifer Wiener (SVP, Solar) in close collaboration with new creative leadership, Teneille Craig (VP, Creative, Solar). Hello Sunshine has a rich history of partnering with advertisers to shape female-focused commercial messaging that truly resonates. With Solar, brands will now have the opportunity to partner more deeply with Hello Sunshine and to drive story-led marketing that shapes culture, drives impact, and ultimately makes the world a better place for women and diverse audiences. Solar empowers brands to tell more inclusive and representative storytelling that ultimately brings more underrepresented voices into modern media offerings. The agency also serves as the internal marketing engine that fuels Hello Sunshine’s content, commerce, and community model. “Hello Sunshine has proven time and time again that we know women – what inspires them, connects them, and drives them to action. We're thrilled to formally launch Solar, an innovative in-house social agency that leverages Hello Sunshine's creative expertise to help brands authentically communicate with women,” said Maureen Polo, Head of Direct to Consumer at Hello Sunshine. “Our incredible team of marketers, creatives, strategists, and producers will work seamlessly with partners to drive story-led marketing that moves the needle.” “Solar presents a more formal offering that operationalizes Hello Sunshine’s trust, influence, and deep expertise with female consumers,” added Sarah Harden, CEO of Hello Sunshine. “Leveraging our heritage in premium storytelling that centers women, we’re partnering with brands with full-service capabilities across the modern media landscape.” More than a traditional agency, Solar teams up with mission-aligned brands to go beyond their standard strategy and creative needs. The agency’s collaborative model provides deep insight, intelligence, and credibility among women consumers. Solar’s work with brand partners includes extensive brand partnerships through Hello Sunshine IP and DTC brands, social marketing services, influencer marketing, licensing, product development, co-marketing, and women-centered consumer insights. The agency has already been working with a range of renowned brands, including Oui by Yoplait, P&G, Diageo, Pure Leaf, Stacy’s Pita Chips, Buick, Biossance, Lavazza, Anheuser Busch, Epson, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Fidelity. “We approached Hello Sunshine because of their like-minded audience with Oui yogurt,” said Susan Pitt, Brand Experience Director for Cereal and Yogurt brands at General Mills. “We really wanted to reach women who are passionate about saying yes to making time for themselves. Hello Sunshine built out a strategic multi-channel program that has helped catapult our shared creative purpose messaging and ultimately help drive double digit increase in sales velocity.” Along with Maureen Polo, Hello Sunshine’s Head of Direct to Consumer, Solar is led by SVP Jennifer Wiener. Wiener previously worked at Fullscreen, where she led sales and integrated marketing teams and re-positioned Fullscreen with Fortune 500 clients as trusted, insight-led marketing solutions and social services experts. Prior to Fullscreen, she worked at Dentsu Aegis, where she and her team led award winning branded content efforts for Microsoft and focused on business development for the agency. Before joining Hello Sunshine, Wiener ran the Entertainment Marketing Solutions team at WarnerMedia, leading all brand marketing, brand positioning, creative, brand partnerships and go to market storytelling for HBO Max, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, DC Comics and Theatrical. Along with a cross-disciplinary agency team, Polo and Wiener are joined by VP, Creative, Teneille Craig, an award-winning creative with over 15 years of experience in publishing, advertising, digital media, and fashion. Prior to joining Hello Sunshine, Teneille has made an impact in senior creative roles at ESSENCE Magazine, Dentsu McGarrybowen for American Express, and TikTok. Hello Sunshine will continue to focus on long-form branded entertainment with Zoe Fairborn, Head of Brand Business Development and Branded Entertainment, continuing to lead those efforts. About Hello Sunshine Founded by Reese Witherspoon, Hello Sunshine puts women at the center of every story it creates, celebrates and discovers. Hello Sunshine tells stories across all platforms – from scripted and unscripted television, feature films, podcasts, audio storytelling, and digital series – all shining a light on where women are now and helping them chart a new path forward. Hello Sunshine is also home to Reese’s Book Club. Fast growing in reach and influence, this community is propelled by meaningful connections with stories, authors and fellow members. Hello Sunshine is part of Candle Media, an independent, creator-friendly home for cutting-edge, high-quality, category-defining brands and franchises. By bringing together elite talent operating at the intersection of content, community, and commerce, it helps to position leading entertainment businesses for accelerated, sustainable growth in the current market and beyond. Candle is run by its Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs, leading entertainment executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, and backed by investment capital from funds managed by Blackstone’s flagship private equity business.

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