The Current Report

The landmark adtech trial of the century has now officially come and gone. Google and the Department of Justice wrapped up their cases with closing arguments last week.

Next up – a decision in the case from the Judge presiding in the case, Judge Leonie Brinkema. Judge Brinkema said she expects to have a decision by the end of the year, but that could get pushed out to the start of next year.

To get a better sense of what the closing arguments were like in person I’m bringing on Jason Kint, who has followed the case closely throughout. Kint is the CEO of Digital Content Next, a trade group for digital content providers.

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To read the full stories included in this episode:

• Google and the DOJ spar in court on the last day of the ad tech trial: https://www.thecurrent.com/google-doj-court-ad-tech-trial-data-privacy
• Closing Arguments, November 25: Once, Twice, Three Times a Monopolist: https://www.usvgoogleads.com/trial-updates/closing-arguments-november-25-once-twice-three-times-a-monopolist
• Exclusive: Threads adds 35M new sign-ups this month: https://www.axios.com/2024/11/26/exclusive-threads-adds-35m-new-signups-this-month

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The Current Report is our weekly news roundup of what’s happening in the world of digital media. We headline topical stories every edition — everything from connected TV to retail media networks to new initiatives around identity — offering our fresh take on why it's relevant for the marketing community.

Subscribe: https://bit.ly/45HIaXH

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Each week, The Current gives you the most critical innovations in advertising that 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: https://bit.ly/3SAM0wR

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Department of Justice is proposing big remedies in the Google antitrust search case, after a landmark ruling in August found Google held a monopoly over search. These remedies could reshape the future of the internet.

The headline: the Justice Department wants Google to sell its Chrome browser and share data. Plus it’s leaving the door open for Android to be sold as well.

Search advertising accounted for over $49 billion in revenue last quarter in Alphabet’s latest earnings report, 75% of its total ad sales. The DOJ says it aims to level the playing field to correct the search monopoly Google maintains. Google calls the DOJ’s proposal, “unprecedented government overreach.”

Ultimately Judge Amit Mehta will rule on the official remedies, which he’s expected to do next summer.

There is a lot to talk about with this search case and how it ties into the other Google antitrust trial focused on adtech, where closing arguments begin today. Arielle Garcia, director of intelligence at ad watchdog Check My Ads has been following both cases and joins the show to break down her top takeaways and what the future could hold.

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To see the full stories included in this episode:

• DOJ urges Google to sell Chrome and give advertisers more control: https://www.thecurrent.com/doj-google-chrome-advertisers-data
• Google’s Chrome Worth Up to $20 Billion If Judge Orders Sale: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-18/doj-will-push-google-to-sell-off-chrome-to-break-search-monopoly
• Why the US forced sale of Google's Chrome faces legal hurdles: https://www.reuters.com/technology/legal-hurdles-ahead-googles-forced-sale-chrome-2024-11-21/
• Alphabet shares rise on earnings beats boosted by cloud revenue: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/29/alphabet-to-report-q3-earnings-after-the-bell.html
• DOJ’s staggering proposal would hurt consumers and America’s global technological leadership: https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/public-policy/doj-search-remedies-nov-2024/

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The Current Report is our weekly news roundup of what’s happening in the world of digital media. We headline topical stories every edition — everything from connected TV to retail media networks to new initiatives around identity — offering our fresh take on why it's relevant for the marketing community. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/45HIaXH

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Each week, The Current gives you the most critical innovations in advertising that 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: https://bit.ly/3SAM0wR

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The holiday season is fast approaching and Americans are ready to spend. Adults in the US plan to spend an average of $2,100 dollars, up 7% from last year, according to Bank of America’s holiday shopping survey. And six figure earners, those who make between $100,000 and $199,000 a year and say they’re gonna spend more, is up 17% from last year.

Here’s a number you might not recognize – small businesses make up 99% of all businesses in the U.S., consistently accounting for around 40% of America’s GDP. How should small businesses be approaching the holiday season marketing wise? Choozle CEO Adam Woods joins The Current Podcast to share how brands and agencies can leverage retail data and omnichannel to power their shopping strategies.
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To read the full stories included in this episode:

• Netflix Says Ad Tier Has Surged to 70M Users, Christmas Day NFL Games Sold Out: https://bit.ly/40Urb5D
• 2024 Consumer Spending and Saving Behaviors:
• Holiday Shopping Season https://bit.ly/4exzbwt
• Shop Small: Everything You Need to Know About Small Business Saturday: https://bit.ly/3OccwLy

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The Current Report is our weekly news roundup of what’s happening in the world of digital media. We headline topical stories every edition — everything from connected TV to retail media networks to new initiatives around identity — offering our fresh take on why it's relevant for the marketing community. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/45HIaXH

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Each week, The Current gives you the most critical innovations in advertising that 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: https://bit.ly/3SAM0wR

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Donald Trump was once again elected as the President of the United States last week, becoming the first president since Grover Cleveland in 1892 to win back the presidency after losing a re-election bid.

One tech company is 3 for 3 in successfully predicting who would become the president in the last 3 elections. That company, Resonate, relies on consumer data and intelligence to deliver data-driven insights.

So, what’s the secret to its success? Resonate uses AI modeling to analyze 15,000 data points across 250 million profiles.

Those data points could include anything from what news sources people read to what streaming services they subscribe to or whether they’re in the market for a car.

To dive more into how Resonate made the call, the company’s CEO Bryan Gernert, chief data scientist Daniel Scantlebury and CMO Ericka McCoy joined The Current Report.

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To read the full stories included in this episode:

• Presidential ads mark a divide as both candidates spend big in battleground states: https://bit.ly/3YJZ7z5
• Election night is Calm's 'Super Bowl,' so it's buying 30 seconds of silence on CNN and ABC: https://bit.ly/3AAzFUI
• Fans declare Calm ad 'winner of the US election': https://bit.ly/4epewuu
• The Calm app's election day TV ad blitz by the numbers: Datacenter weekly: https://bit.ly/4ekkqwN

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Each week, The Current gives you the most critical innovations in advertising that 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: https://bit.ly/3SAM0wR

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the eve of election day in the U.S, the number of news outlets reporting on the races is continuing to dissipate. A recent report from Northwestern University found 127 newspapers across America closed down in 2023, leaving nearly 55 million Americans with limited or no access to local news.

This continues the expanding trend of news deserts we’ve seen over the years, as now more than half of counties in the U.S. have one or zero local news outlets.

Still, the report finds there is some room for optimism. 81 standalone digital local news sites opened in 2023, increasing the total number of those sites to 740.

A persistent challenge for news publishers has been capturing advertisers dollars. Multiple recent studies are hoping to turn that tide, showing it’s safe and valuable to advertise alongside news coverage.

The latest success story comes up north in Canada, where Dentsu found some big time results for the effectiveness of local news.

The holding company's VP of performance and platforms, Fil Lourenco, shared those results with me during our conversation. 

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To read the full stories included in this episode:

• Medill report shows local news deserts expanding: https://bit.ly/48E4LYa
• Most U.S. counties have little to no local news sources: https://bit.ly/48ygFT4
• US Sports Streaming 2024. Women’s Sports and Gambling Drive Viewership Gains: https://bit.ly/48zxInP
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The Current Report is our weekly news roundup of what’s happening in the world of digital media. We headline topical stories every edition — everything from connected TV to retail media networks to new initiatives around identity — offering our fresh take on why it's relevant for the marketing community. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/45HIaXH

_______

Each week, The Current gives you the most critical innovations in advertising that 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: https://bit.ly/3SAM0wR

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

More and more, brands are under pressure to figure out if they should attach to cultural or social issues, or stay out of those issues all together.

Some of that pressure comes from consumers themselves. A recent survey from sustainability consultant BSR and Morning Consult found that U.S. consumers are four times more likely to say companies need to do more to promote social justice.  

There are examples of brands successfully leaning into so called 'corporate social responsibility', but also examples that resulted in backlash, like Bud Light’s campaign from last year. 

Ben Grossman, CEO of the ad agency Doner, says it all comes down to a brand being in sync with the culture in an authentic way. With many of Doner biggest campaigns being mission driven…he’s got a lot of credibility. 

On this week’s episode, Grossman explained why it’s all about a brand connecting with a story and not just a message. 

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To read the full stories included in this episode: 

• New Research Reveals Strong Support for Social Justice by US Workers and Consumers, Challenging Business to Take Action: https://www.bsr.org/en/news/research-reveals-strong-support-for-social-justice-us-workers-consumers#:~:text=Washington%2C%20DC—October%201%2C,more%20to%20promote%20social%20justice

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The Current Report is our weekly news roundup of what’s happening in the world of digital media. We headline topical stories every edition — everything from connected TV to retail media networks to new initiatives around identity — offering our fresh take on why it's relevant for the marketing community. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/45HIaXH

_______ 

Each week, The Current gives you the most critical innovations in advertising that 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: https://bit.ly/3SAM0wR

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

More non-traditional advertising companies have entered the ad game recently with their own media networks, from Uber to United Airlines leveraging their deep amounts of consumer data.

Now PayPal is the latest entrant, led by the architect of Uber’s ad business Mark Grether.

With over a trillion dollars of digital transactions running through PayPal every year, 400 million active accounts, and 35 million merchants on the platform, Grether believes this 360° view differentiates PayPal from the rest of the retail media network market.

Grether joined The Current Report to talk about why the moment is right for PayPal Ads to launch and lessons he’s bringing over from Uber.

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To read the full stories included in this episode: 

• PayPal enters the ads game, led by an architect of Uber's $1 billion advertising business https://bit.ly/3Nq44rn
• Live from Advertising Week New York: Google, commerce networks and quality media: https://bit.ly/3A43mgu
• Exclusive: 62% of consumers find new brands or products through TV: https://bit.ly/3UgM9ax
• Digital transactions running through PayPal: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dgrether_paypal-advertising-activity-7201194087289344000-eZ-m/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
• PayPal and Venmo Unveil Six New Innovations to Revolutionize Commerce: https://about.pypl.com/news-details/2024/PayPal-and-Venmo-Unveil-Six-New-Innovations-to-Revolutionize-Commerce/default.aspx

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The Current Report is our weekly news roundup of what’s happening in the world of digital media. We headline topical stories every edition — everything from connected TV to retail media networks to new initiatives around identity — offering our fresh take on why it's relevant for the marketing community. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/45HIaXH

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Upfront deals are now being activated now that the fall season is underway – the traditional moment when TV networks launch their prime shows.

But as we’ve seen in recent years, streaming platforms and companies have become an emerging force in the upfronts market.

One of the main players in the streaming market is Roku, which has seen big growth in revenue recently. The company’s overall revenue was up 14% year over year, according to its latest earnings report.

On this episode of The Current Report, Jay Askinasi, Roku's SVP, Head of Global Media Revenue and Growth, breaks down how how much importance the upfronts have now. Plus he dives into Roku's success airing MLB games, the DirecTV and DISH merger and consolidation in the streaming and traditional TV market.

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To read the full stories included in this episode: 

• Roku–MLB partnership marks a first for live sports on FAST platforms: https://www.thecurrent.com/roku-mlb-live-sports-fast-streaming
• DirecTV to Acquire Dish in Merger of Satellite TV Rivals: https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/directv-acquires-dish-merger-1236159244/
• PayPal just opened a new ad business. The exec leading it unpacks the plan to link advertisers with its trove of transaction data.: https://www.businessinsider.com/paypal-is-launching-a-retail-media-ad-network-plan-2024-10

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The Current Report is our weekly news roundup of what’s happening in the world of digital media. We headline topical stories every edition — everything from connected TV to retail media networks to new initiatives around identity — offering our fresh take on why it's relevant for the marketing community. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/45HIaXH

_______ 

Each week, The Current gives you the most critical innovations in advertising that 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: https://bit.ly/3SAM0wR

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Current is on the ground at Advertising Week in New York, speaking to top-level marketers about the industry's biggest topics, from the future of streaming to retail media networks and potential impending fallout from the Google antitrust adtech trial.

On this episode of The Current Report, UM Worldwide's chief product officer Andy Littlewood breaks down why he thinks AI is advancing past being simply a buzzword, moving into an age of intelligence, how the definition of being a large agency has changed today and what keeps him up at night.

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To read the full stories included in this episode: 

• Where ‘60 Minutes’ and ‘Call Her Daddy’ Fit Into Kamala Harris’s Unorthodox Media Strategy: https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/where-60-minutes-and-call-her-daddy-fit-in-kamala-harriss-unorthodox-media-strategy-8d8a0cd9
• What Going on Call Her Daddy Did for Kamala Harris: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/10/kamala-harris-call-her-daddy-podcast/680181/
• Harris talks about marijuana and racial identity in 'All the Smoke' interview: https://www.npr.org/2024/09/30/nx-s1-5133963/kamala-harris-marijuana-racial-identity

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The Current Report is our weekly news roundup of what’s happening in the world of digital media. We headline topical stories every edition — everything from connected TV to retail media networks to new initiatives around identity — offering our fresh take on why it's relevant for the marketing community. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/45HIaXH

_______ 

Each week, The Current gives you the most critical innovations in advertising that 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: https://bit.ly/3SAM0wR

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Now that the Google antitrust trial focused around digital advertising has ended, the next move will be the Department of Justice and Google coming back to the courtroom November 25 for closing arguments.

Marketecture's Ari Paparo, who has covered the entire trial, dives into what he thought of Google's defense, what the ruling might be and what the next steps could be for the digital advertising industry.

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To read the full stories included in this episode: 

• ‘They were holding us hostage’: Inside the groundbreaking Google ad tech trial: https://www.thecurrent.com/whats-happening-at-the-google-ad-tech-trial
• Beyond Day 15: What's next for Google? https://monopoly.marketecture.tv/p/beyond-day-15-d0ef
• Day 13: The end is nigh! https://monopoly.marketecture.tv/p/day-13-the-end-is-nigh
• Readers Are Flocking To Political News, Says WaPo – And Advertisers Are Missing Out: https://www.adexchanger.com/publishers/readers-are-flocking-to-political-news-says-wapo-and-advertisers-are-missing-out/

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The Current Report is our weekly news roundup of what’s happening in the world of digital media. We headline topical stories every edition — everything from connected TV to retail media networks to new initiatives around identity — offering our fresh take on why it's relevant for the marketing community. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/45HIaXH

_______ 

Each week, The Current gives you the most critical innovations in advertising that 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: https://bit.ly/3SAM0wR

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.