Agency & Consulting
Roku adds outcome-based optimization tools for CTV ad buyers
eMarketer’s Asa Hiken reports that Roku is rolling out new optimization tools designed to let advertisers buy connected TV ads against outcome-based metrics rather than just reach and frequency.
Why the NYT is circling Letterboxd for $330 million
Simon Owens’s Media Newsletter argues the New York Times’ late-stage talks to buy Letterboxd, reported at $330 million, aren’t about ads or subscriptions but about interactivity, the same logic behind its Wordle acquisition for widening its subscription funnel.
Creators question Instagram’s long-form push without a monetization plan
Digiday’s Alyssa Mercante reports that Instagram’s new 90-minute video feature, aimed at pulling YouTube creators onto the platform, pairs select six-figure payouts with no stated ad revenue model.
Pharma TV ad spending fell 14.5% YoY in October
eMarketer’s Beth Snyder Bulik reports that prescription drug TV ad spending dropped 14.5% year-over-year in October, as the category saw a smaller seasonal lift than in prior years.
Nielsen: 31.2 million watched 2026 midterm election coverage
Nielsen is reporting that 31.2 million viewers watched 2026 U.S. midterm election coverage, though the underlying article is password-protected and withholds the network-by-network breakdown, viewing platforms and methodology details behind that headline total.
Retail media buyers drop ROAS as top ask, IAB Europe finds
PPC Land’s Luis Rijo reports that IAB Europe’s Attitudes to Retail Media Report 2026 finds just 49% of European buyers now ask retail media networks for return on ad spend, down from 89% a year earlier.
Ogilvy names Liam Parker US CEO, effective January 2027
Campaign US’s Will Russo reports that Ogilvy has named Liam Parker, former global category lead of WPP Open X, as U.S.
NBC turned Steve Kornacki into an election-night streaming juggernaut
StreamTV Insider’s Alan Wolk reports that NBC’s “Kornacki Cam” livestream drew 29 million views across platforms, including 6.1 million on YouTube, while NBCNews.com page views jumped 247% versus 2022.
Cable news ad spend jumped 47% ahead of midterms
Tvnewscheck’s Mark K. Miller reports that iSpot estimates show the big three national cable news networks saw average ad spending surge 47% in the 30 days before Tuesday’s midterm elections, driven by heavy political-news viewing.
Endemol Shine Brasil, Podpah bring Banijay formats to YouTube
C21Media reports that Grupo Podpah, one of Brazil’s largest digital creator companies, has partnered with Endemol Shine Brasil to develop new versions of Banijay formats, including Temptation Island, for Podpah’s YouTube channels.
The Ankler: HBO’s spending spree has a catch behind the headlines
The Ankler’s Alison Brower rounds up the week’s reporting, flagging a TV in 3 piece that digs into the smoke and mirrors behind HBO’s splashy spending headlines, alongside Lesley Goldberg’s look at Disney TV’s org chart ahead of looming layoffs.
DOJ clears Fox-Roku deal, binds Fox to open platform for 3 years
Variety’s Todd Spangler reports that the DOJ’s Antitrust Division closed its probe into Fox’s $22 billion Roku acquisition, finding the deal unlikely to harm competition.
Fox News tops cable election night ratings and social engagement
The Desk’s Matthew Keys reports that finalized Nielsen data show Fox News drew 4.661 million total viewers on midterm election night, trailing only NBC News and ABC News overall.
Supreme Court asks Cumulus to respond in Nielsen ratings antitrust fight
TheDesk.net’s Matthew Keys reports the Supreme Court has asked Cumulus Media to respond to Nielsen’s petition challenging a Second Circuit ruling that restricts how Nielsen bundles national and local radio ratings sales.
Digiday recap: AI now touches every corner of agency media work
Digiday’s Michael Bürgi recaps the Digiday Media Buying Summit, reporting that AI has spread across agency functions from internal efficiency tools to planning, measurement and creative production. He notes agencies are now also expected to consult clients directly on how to deploy AI themselves.
RTVE Play hits record 12 million users in fifth anniversary month
Advanced Television reports that RTVE Play logged more than 12 million unique users in October, up 26.2 per cent year over year, marking its best month ever and cementing its lead as Spain’s top BVoD platform in its fifth anniversary month.
Amazon puts Sponsored Products inside its texting shopping agent
Digiday’s Krystal Scanlon reports that Amazon’s Alexa for Shopping now takes orders by text, with Sponsored Products appearing among the agent’s suggested replies, free to advertisers for now.
Out-of-home ad growth is reshaping retail media strategy
eMarketer’s Christopher Wood reports that out-of-home advertising keeps expanding as retailers and brands look beyond digital channels to reach shoppers, with retail media networks increasingly extending into physical, in-store and outdoor placements.
NYT closes in on $350 million Letterboxd deal as A24 drops out
Deadline’s Jill Goldsmith reports the New York Times Company is in advanced talks to buy Letterboxd for $350 million after rival bidder A24 exited the process.
Agency Brief: Mirimar eyes Chicago expansion, Duke’s Mayo hires Acadia
Ad Age’s Ewan Larkin reports that Mirimar is planning a Chicago expansion led by “The Nicks,” two Ogilvy creative veterans, while Terri & Sandy lands a new agency-of-record assignment.
M&W roundup: 3Q26 ad sellers post mixed results as CPG marketers rework spend
Madison and Wall reports that its weekly roundup covers 3Q26 earnings across dozens of ad sellers, from Snap and AppLovin to Fox and Nexstar, alongside a look at Unilever and Estée Lauder cutting CPG marketing amid sluggish sales.