Two99 Appoints Vishnu Kanth Gokul as Chief Growth Officer
Vishnu Kanth Gokul has been appointed as the new chief growth officer of Two99, an agency that specializes in digital innovation and strategic growth. Gokul brings to the team a background spanning nearly three decades in digital and media sales across a number of platforms and businesses in the sector.
Gokul’s portfolio of brand growth
Gokul’s professional background is exemplified by his positions at Rediff, Sify, Sulekha, Rajshri, 123greetings, Percept, Times Internet (Cricbuzz), Qoruz, and Zoo Media Network. His achievements in securing major brands and onboarding top-tier agencies resulted in a significant increase in revenue and market share.
Key player at Two99
Vishnu is going to be a key player at Two99, helping to lead the company to unprecedented levels of innovation and teamwork. His appointment is evidence of Two99’s dedication to quality, fostering interpersonal relationships, and defending essential concepts and ideals.
Here’s what they said
As reported by Afaqs,
Agam Chaudhary, CEO, Two99 (e-commerce, tech marketing, cyber security) said,
We are excited to welcome Vishnu to our team. His exceptional track record, deep understanding of the digital landscape, and commitment to growth align perfectly with our vision at Two99. With Vishnu’s leadership, we are poised to revolutionise the digital ecosystem, enhancing user experiences, cultivating dynamic communities, and optimizing distribution efficiency.
Read More: Havas Names Joji Jacob as Regional CCO for SEA and North Asia
Sameer Poonja Appointed as Head of Experiences and Platforms at Merkle MENA
Sameer Poonja has been appointed Head of Experience and Platforms at Merkle MENA, Dentsu’s technology-enabled customer experience management company. With Poonja joining the team, Merkle is about to start a new phase of growth and development, with an emphasis on creating omnichannel content-driven experiences.
In his new role as Head of Experiences and Platforms
Poonja will advocate for the use of headless content and digital asset management systems to provide personalized experiences. It illustrates Merkle’s dedication to remaining at the forefront of technical developments in the field of customer experience management. Through tying together Merkle’s pillars of analytics, data, CX, UX, creative, and performance marketing, he will spearhead the delivery of these results.
A Man of Multiple Achievements
Highlights of Poonja’s career include introducing the first consumer-facing application for Emirates Airlines, collaborating with Coca-Cola to create Canada’s first wireless machine, and leading the introduction of the country’s first cloud-based hotel management system. He also co-founded Spades, a contactless web-based dine-in solution. He was driven by an entrepreneurial spirit to meet the growing demand for frictionless payment experiences.
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Poonja’s role in developing strategies
Poonja worked as a Senior Advisor at Roland Berger before joining Merkle. In this capacity, he was instrumental in developing growth strategies for several prominent organizations. It included Entertainer and several Saudi government agencies. Additionally, he has led Innovation, Partnerships, and Design for Visa CEMEA. Furthermore, he mentored, incubated, and accelerated new entrants on the Fintech Fast Track Program, demonstrating a dedication to innovation and achieving measurable results.
His appointment, which completes the growing Merkle MENA executive team, comes after the previous announcements of Andreas Skopal as Managing Director, Omar Khan as Head of Data & Analytics, and Stacy Anderson as Deputy Managing Director.
Here’s what they said
Sameer Poonja said,
I am thrilled to join Merkle MENA and embark on this exciting journey of shaping transformative digital experiences. By focusing on the ‘why’ I believe we can redefine the boundaries of what’s possible in the region’s digital landscape. Merkle holds a distinctive position in the market, offering our clients a comprehensive blend of strategic insights, creative ingenuity, design and technical proficiency, and effective commercial strategies to advance their growth agendas.
Andreas Skopal, Managing Director at Merkle MENA added,
Sameer brings unparalleled experience and a proven track record in strategy, experience platforms and innovation. I have no doubt that under his guardianship we will be able to set new standards in digital experience delivery by harnessing platforms and fostering collaboration across UX, business upskilling, performance, and cross-channel connectivity to facilitate seamless interactions across digital touchpoints for our clients and their customers.
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Deciphering Big Tech Giants’ Quarterly Results: Here’s What They Say!
The Big Techs recently disclosed their fourth-quarter results. For those who are interested in the industry, these are a few key findings and insights from the quarterly reports.
ALPHABET
Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, exceeded Wall Street forecasts with its fourth-quarterly earnings report. Ad sales, however, failed to expand quickly enough to keep up with experts’ predictions. YouTube, which has been contributing to increased growth, came up barely short of projections. With over 2 billion monthly users and an average of 70 billion views per day, YouTube Shorts continues to be a top priority for Google.
The cloud division, which was losing money for years while it attempted to compete with Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services, is where the company makes its money. Google Cloud continued to be a growth engine in the fourth quarter, expanding by 26%. The primary driver of revenue growth continues to be search. While brand and direct response advertising drove YouTube advertising, growth in retail was the main driver of Google Search and other forms of advertising revenue.
By the numbers
- Revenue reported was $86.31 billion, up 13.5%.
- Google Search and other advertising revenues rose to $48 billion, up 13% Yo-Y.
- Google cloud computing revenue was $9.19 billion up 26% Yo-Y.
- Advertising revenues reported were $65.52.
- YouTube advertising reported $9.2 billion, up 16% Yo-Y.
- Network advertising revenue was $8.3 billion, down 2%.
- Traffic acquisition costs were $13.9 billion.
Google is beginning to provide generative AI to an increasing number of companies to assist them in creating more effective campaigns and advertisements. Google unveiled Gemini, a large language model that it claims to be its most powerful AI model, in December. The business intends to license Gemini to users via Google Cloud so they can utilize it in their apps. Additionally, Google plans to test the usage of Gemini in Search, where it will speed up consumers’ Search Generative Experience (SGE).
Sundar Pichai, CEO, said in the conference call,
We are pleased with the ongoing strength in Search and the growing contribution from YouTube and Cloud. Each of these is already benefiting from our AI investments and innovation. As we enter the Gemini era, the best is yet to come.
Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer, CFO said,
We ended 2023 with very strong fourth quarter financial results, with Q4 consolidated revenues of $86 billion, up 13% year over year. We remain committed to our work to durably re-engineer our cost base as we invest to support our growth opportunities.
Read More: Google Integrates Gemini AI Into Search Ads Platform
META
Meta exceeded Wall Street expectations and had a positive fourth quarter. The positive outcomes show that digital advertising has recovered well from its 2022 decline. It was a significant year for both the business and the community. According to Meta’s estimation, over 3.1 billion individuals use at least one of the Meta applications daily. The already enormous social media company keeps on adding new users across all platforms.
Overall, Meta’s Q4 revenue increased by 25% over the previous year. Threads, the business’s Twitter-like social app that launched in July 2023, now has over 130 million monthly active users, according to the company. As is usual, almost all of Meta’s revenue came from sales of digital advertising. Chinese retailers have increased their spending to reach customers worldwide, which has contributed to Meta’s financial turnaround during the past year. They have been heavily investing in Facebook and Instagram ads.
By the numbers
- Revenue was $40.11 billion, an increase of 25% Yo-Y, and $134.90 billion, an increase of 16% Yo-Y for the full year.
- Facebook DAUs were 2.11 billion on average, an increase of 6% Yo-Y.
- Facebook MAUs were 3.07 billion, an increase of 3% Yo-Y.
- Family DAPs were 3.19 billion on average, an increase of 8% Yo-Y.
- Family MAPs were 3.98 billion, an increase of 6% Yo-Y.
- Ad Impressions delivered across all Meta apps increased by 21% Y-o-Y and the average price per ad increased by 2% Yo-Y.
Strong sales of the company’s Quest device during the holiday season drove record sales of $1.1 billion for the metaverse-focused Reality Labs division. Additionally, Zuckerberg stated that the ad business, which is expanding more quickly than Google, has benefited from advancements in artificial intelligence. By the end of the year, Meta plans to completely launch Meta AI assistant and further AI chat experiences in the United States using generative AI.
Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said in a news release,
We had a good quarter as our community and business continue to grow. We’ve made a lot of progress on our vision for advancing AI and the metaverse.
Susan Li, CFO, stated that Meta’s big areas of focus in 2024 will be working towards the launch of Llama 3, expanding the usefulness of Meta AI assistant, and progressing on our AI studio roadmap to make it easier for anyone to create an AI.
AMAZON
For the fourth quarter of 2023, Amazon reported better-than-expected revenues, exceeding sales forecasts thanks to new generative AI capabilities in its cloud and e-commerce businesses, which drove strong growth throughout the Christmas season. The e-commerce behemoth had a great holiday season. Over 1 billion items were bought on the site in the course of the company’s 11-day Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Additionally, the events helped bring in new Prime members and save consumers billions of dollars.
With 26% Yo-Y growth in worldwide advertising, Amazon had a great result. Because machine learning has improved ad relevancy, sponsored products have been the main driver of advertising strength. The shift in customer attention towards encouraging innovation and introducing new workloads to the cloud was attributed to the increase in AWS revenues.
By the numbers
- Revenue was reported at $169.9 billion versus expectations of $166.2 billion, up 13.9% Yo-Y.
- AWS Revenue 13% increase in sales over the prior year to a total of $24.4 billion.
- Advertising sales of $14.7 billion.
- Subscription services were up 13%, reporting $10.4 billion in revenue.
Amazon has launched Rufus, a new AI shopping assistant trained in Amazon’s product catalog and other web-based information. The tool, driven by generative AI, may provide product recommendations and respond to queries from users of the Amazon mobile app. The corporation believes that advancements in AI might bring in tens of billions of dollars for its cloud computing division.
Chief Executive Andy Jassy said in Amazon’s press release
This Q4 was a record-breaking holiday shopping season and closed out a robust 2023 for Amazon. While we made meaningful revenue, operating income, and free cash flow progress, what we’re most pleased with is the continued invention and customer experience improvements across our businesses.
Amazon’s Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky added,
We’re coming off a period where we’ve done a lot of hiring. There’s a general feeling in most teams that we’re trying to hold the line on headcount.
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MICROSOFT
Microsoft had a record-breaking quarter, mostly due to Microsoft Cloud’s ongoing growth. Strong executions in the commercial areas and device advancements were credited for the anticipated growth in its quarterly results. The robust demand for Microsoft Cloud offerings, particularly AI services, led to enhancements in Azure, which in turn drove revenue growth.
On October 13, 2023, Microsoft completed the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. With the acquisition, the business expanded its player base by hundreds of millions. It broke previous records for MAUs on Xbox, PC, and mobile devices with over 200 million MAUs in a single month. The business has been integrating AI into every aspect of the IT stack, bringing in new clients and fostering increased efficiency. Additionally, the business reported increased revenue from Windows OEM sales and improved performance in consumer markets.
By the numbers
- Revenue recorded was $62.0 billion, an increase of 18%.
- Intelligent Cloud unit $25.9 billion, increasing 20% ahead of expectations.
- Azure revenues increased by 30%.
- LinkedIn’s revenues increased by 9%.
- Microsoft Cloud Revenue was $33 billion, up 24%.
- Search and news advertising revenue excluding traffic acquisition costs increased by 7%
AI is helping to drive revenue in the Azure consumption business. Over the past year, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google have all invested billions of dollars in artificial intelligence (AI) in an attempt to overtake one another as the leading providers of AI software.
Satya Nadella, chairman and chief executive officer of Microsoft said,
We’ve moved from talking about AI to applying AI at scale. By infusing AI across every layer of our tech stack, we’re winning new customers and helping drive new benefits and productivity gains across every sector.
Amy Hood, Chief Financial Officer added,
While it’s early days for Microsoft 365 Copilot, we’re excited about the adoption to date and continue to expect revenue to grow over time.
Read More: Vodafone and Microsoft Sign 10-year Strategic Partnership for IoT, Cloud, AI and More
APPLE
In its first-quarterly report, Apple exceeded analysts’ projections for both revenue and profits, but it revealed a 13% drop in sales in China, one of its most significant regions. The tech giant surpassed 2.2 billion active devices, setting a new milestone for its installed base. Apple attributes this to extremely high levels of customer satisfaction and unmatched customer loyalty.
According to projections, Mac sales increased by less than 1% throughout the quarter. Nonetheless, this is a noteworthy comeback for the product line, which had an annual decline of about 34% in the September quarter. iPad sales are still declining. For the first time in iPad history, Apple did not introduce a new model in 2023.
By the numbers
- Revenue was $119.6 billion, up 2% Yo-Y.
- iPhone Revenue was $69.70 billion 6% up.
- Mac $7.78 billion 1% up Yo-Y.
- iPad $7.02 billion down 25% Yo-Y.
- Wearables, home, and accessories revenue was $11.95 billion, down 11%.
- Service Revenues $23.13 billion up 11% Yo-Y
Additionally, Apple unveiled the Apple Vision Pro, their most sophisticated personal electronics gadget to date. Customers in the United States will be able to purchase it via Apple stores; later in the year, it will also be available in other countries. It is considered a groundbreaking gadget that is years ahead of anything else and is based on decades of Apple ingenuity. Additionally, the company announced that customers may select any Apple Watch model that is carbon neutral for the first time.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO said in the conference call,
Today Apple is reporting revenue growth for the December quarter fueled by iPhone sales, and an all-time revenue record in Services. We are pleased to announce that our installed base of active devices has now surpassed 2.2 billion, reaching an all-time high across all products and geographic segments. And as customers begin to experience the incredible Apple Vision Pro tomorrow, we are committed as ever to the pursuit of groundbreaking innovation — in line with our values and on behalf of our customers.
SNAP INC
Snap Inc. released a forecast that was slightly below Wall Street expectations. The company has now recorded six consecutive quarters of single-digit growth or revenue contraction. Snap Inc. struggled to recover from the downturn in the digital ad sector.
Snap Inc. has announced a new publisher partnership with Spotify in the United States, which will bring short-form highlights from Spotify’s podcasts to Spotlight and Stories. Additionally, the social media giant revealed new AI-powered tools for Snapchat+ users, enabling them to edit and share Snaps as well as create and send AI-generated images in response to text prompts.
By the numbers
- Revenue was $1,361 million, an increase of 5% Yo-Y.
- DAUs were 414 million, an increase of 39 million or 10% Yo-Y.
- MAUs increased 8% Yo-Y and surpassed 800 million in Q4.
- Subscriptions for Snapchat+ have reached over 7 million
Snapchat made a large investment in its augmented reality system. On average, almost 300 million Snapchat users use its augmented reality feature every day. Additionally, it has invested in automation and technology, used generative models, and optimized the ML Lens generation workflow.
Evan Spiegel, CEO said in the announcement,
2023 was a pivotal year for Snap, as we transformed our advertising business and continued to expand our global community, reaching 414 million daily active users. Snapchat enhances relationships with friends, family, and the world, and this unique value proposition has provided a strong foundation to build our business for long-term growth.
OMNICOM MEDIA GROUP
Omnicom exceeded analyst forecasts with impressive Q4 and full-year 2023 results. The growth in advertising and media during the quarter was driven once again by the performance of global media, with softer results from Omnicom’s advertising agencies serving as a partial offset.
Additionally, Omnicom completed the acquisition of Flywheel Digital, which will contribute to the introduction of scaled capabilities in the retail, media, and digital commerce sectors—the fastest-growing areas of the business. Furthermore, Omnicom disclosed that it has partnered with Getty Images as a first mover, giving them early access to a new generative artificial intelligence tool.
By the numbers
- Revenue reported increased $192.7 million or 5% organically, to $4,060.9 million.
- Advertising and media were up 9.3%.
- Public Relations was 2.9% down.
- Third-party service costs increased by $97.5 million or 12.4% to $884 million
Omnicom has reportedly spent tens of millions of dollars developing artificial intelligence over the past ten years, according to CEO John Wren. With the recent June 2023 launch of Omni Assist, a generative AI-powered virtual assistant that organizes, carries out, and produces advertising campaigns through cooperation with Microsoft, Omnicom became the first agency holding company to get access to the most recent Open AI GPT models.
John Wren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Omnicom commented,
Omnicom finished 2023 with 4.4% organic revenue growth in the fourth quarter and 4.1% for the year. Looking out to full year 2024, we are set up well with solid fundamentals, tremendous opportunities in digital commerce and retail media from our Flywheel acquisition, and momentum in new business wins. Our accelerated investments in analytics and AI will enhance our ability to drive the best outcomes for our clients, while shareholders remain supported by our profitable operations and balanced deployment of capital through dividends, acquisitions, and share repurchases.
Read More: Decoding Big Tech Giants Quarterly Results: Insights Await!
ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery Form a Joint Venture for New Streaming Sports Platform
FOX, Warner Bros. Discovery, and ESPN, a division of the Walt Disney Company, have come to an agreement on the main terms of forming a new joint venture. They will develop an inventive new platform to house an exciting new streaming sports service. Major college and professional games that are typically only broadcast on traditional TV will be available on the sports-focused streaming service.
New streaming sports service
The platform combines the sports networks, select direct-to-consumer (DTC) sports services, and sports rights portfolios of the companies, which include college and professional sports content from all the major leagues. Final agreements between the parties must be negotiated before the pay service can be formed. The product will be offered to customers directly through a new app. It is slated to go on sale in the fall of 2024. Additionally, subscribers have the option to bundle the product with Disney+, Hulu, and/or Max. The service would be rebranded and run by a separate management group.
Key Features of the new standalone streaming service
Each company will own one-third of the service. We still need to decide on the service’s name and price. The objective is to entice viewers who do not have a pay TV subscription. They will provide them with access to all the sports included in that package. All three companies’ standalone subscription streaming services will feature an unparalleled quantity of live sports programming from their respective sports networks. Its main source of income will be from user subscription fees. On its own networks, each network will still sell advertisements that conflict with its content. For the joint venture, there will be equal board representation for each of the three participating companies. Each of them will grant the joint venture a non-exclusive license to use their sports content.
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Service catered specifically towards sports fans
To give sports fans a fresh and unique experience, the platform would compile content to provide a wide variety of dynamic sports content. Fans could access linear networks, such as ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ABC, FOX, FS1, FS2, BTN, TNT, TBS, truTV, and ESPN+, by subscribing to this targeted, all-in-one premium sports service. Among the most watched programs that will be included in the package, it will also include Monday Night Football.
Along with NASCAR, the PGA Tour, Grand Slams of tennis, and more, the new service will also broadcast games from the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL). Users of Max, Hulu, and Disney Plus will also be able to bundle the new service.
Sports streaming landscape
As some leagues choose to keep broadcasting games on conventional cable networks and others have negotiated agreements with streaming services, the landscape of sports streaming has grown more fragmented. The live sports add-on for Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max streaming service debuted last year and costs an additional $9.99 per month. By combining some of the biggest sports networks, viewers may have access to even more streaming options that aren’t restricted to a smaller number of sports and leagues. It might produce the kind of incredible sports streaming service that fans of sports would love to have in the terrible current climate. Or it might just be a more costly, unfinished, and glitch-filled version of what we already had with cable TV.
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Here’s what they said
Bob Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company said,
The launch of this new streaming sports service is a significant moment for Disney and ESPN, a major win for sports fans, and an important step forward for the media business. This means the full suite of ESPN channels will be available to consumers alongside the sports programming of other industry leaders as part of a differentiated sports-centric service. I’m grateful to Jimmy Pitaro and the team at ESPN, who are at the forefront of innovating on behalf of consumers to create new offerings with more choice and greater value.
Lachlan Murdoch, Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer of FOX added,
We’re pumped to bring the FOX Sports portfolio to this new and exciting platform. We believe the service will provide passionate fans outside of the traditional bundle an array of amazing sports content all in one place.
David Zaslav, Chief Executive Officer of Warner Bros. Discovery, stated,
At WBD, our ambition is always to connect our leading content and brands with as many viewers as possible, and this exciting joint venture and the unparalleled combination of marquee sports rights and access to the greatest sporting events in the world allows us to do just that. This new sports service exemplifies our ability as an industry to drive innovation and provide consumers with more choice, enjoyment and value and we’re thrilled to deliver it to sports fans.
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Asian Granito India (AGL) and Ogilvy Partner for New Brand Campaign
AGL, a significant player in the bathware sector, is collaborating with Ogilvy India on a brand campaign. AGL hopes to change the narrative in the dynamic home décor industry with this move.
Asian Granito India and Ogilvy are teaming up brand campaign
AGL prides itself on its commitment to excellence, creativity, and beautiful design. By combining style and functionality in their array of tiles, quartz, engineered marbles, and bathware, the brand aims to continuously set high standards in the industry. The brand claims that AGL’s collaboration with Ogilvy India demonstrates its dedication to designing retail spaces that speak to customers’ desires and inclinations. In addition to showcasing AGL’s superior products, the upcoming advertising campaign aims to build a strong emotional connection with consumers by presenting a picture of living spaces that are unique and sophisticated.
Here’s what they said
Kamlesh Patel, CMD, AGL said,
We are excited about our collaboration with Ogilvy India, a powerhouse renowned for creativity and strategic insight. This partnership represents a significant milestone as AGL aims to elevate its brand presence and engage with our audience on a profound level.
Hirol Gandhi, president and head of office at Ogilvy West added,
We’re thrilled to join forces with AGL on their quest to become the most preferred brand in the fiercely competitive ceramics category, specifically in tiles and bathware. We look forward to this partnership and hope to make the right impact.
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Havas Names Joji Jacob as Regional CCO for SEA and North Asia
Havas, the international communications agency, has strengthened its position as a leader in North and Southeast Asia (SEA). Joji Jacob has been named Regional Chief Creative Officer for both regions. The choice is consistent with Havas’s aggressive and updated growth plan. Jacob will continue to serve as BLKJ Havas Singapore’s creative partner and co-founder in addition to his new role. It will guarantee that Havas’ artistic pursuits combine innovation and continuity.
Havas appoints Joji Jacob as SEA and North Asia CCO
Jacob will take on full responsibility in his new position for directing the creative direction and making sure it integrates seamlessly into client engagements throughout the region. Jacob is an established figure who chairs Havas’ APAC board and is on the Global Creative Council. Along with other council members, he will work closely to advance creative excellence in local offices and investigate fresh, cutting-edge approaches to storytelling, all with the primary goal of forging deep connections.
Having worked in the advertising industry for over two decades, Jacob’s highlights include major contributions to well-known agencies in Singapore and India. BLKJ, which was co-founded in 2016 and joined the Havas family in 2021, has amassed a distinguished clientele that includes prestigious companies like Great Eastern, the Republic of Singapore Air Force, the Economic Development Board of Singapore, JLL, and many more.
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Career Highlights
Jacob spent nine years at DDB as Group Executive Creative Director before joining BLKJ Havas. The agency became one of the most decorated at major industry shows under his direction, winning multiple awards. Jacob has been named Singapore’s Most Influential Creative Director by the Institute of Advertising Singapore. He has also been named Southeast Asia’s Creative Person of the Year by Campaign for the past two years in a row. Additionally, he has been a member of important juries for prestigious international and regional award shows. These include Spikes Asia, One Show, Cannes, D&AD, and LIA. Havas is taking a major step toward enhancing its creative capabilities. Moreover, it is expanding into Southeast and North Asia with this leadership enhancement.
Here’s what they said
Rana Barua expressed his views stating,
As a network, our united focus is consistently directed towards delivering clients a meaningful experience through exceptional work, achieved by investing in the best talent. Joji, with his extensive experience and creative strength across the region, will enhance our overall creative output, and play a universal role in fostering positive momentum for all markets, building towards the goal of One Asia. This appointment underscores Havas’ commitment to cultivating top-tier creative leadership, driving the creative mandate and signifies a significant stride toward achieving our growth objectives in these dynamic markets.
Joji Jacob on his appointment said,
I’ve spent 20 years as a creative, with the last ten years spent leading a creative business. So, I step into this role not just with experience but also with a beginner’s mindset. Rana and I have been discussing the many plans and ambitions and my job is to help create the conditions that enable our people make the best work of their lives for our clients, and I find myself at the right place and at the right time. Havas is a place where the entrepreneurial spirit thrives, meaning it’s not set in its ways. We can respond to a rapidly changing marketplace with agility which I find exciting. And Rana’s energy is infectious, that’s one bug I’m happy to catch.
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Expedia and Netflix Collaborate for First-of-its-kind Global Advertising Campaign
Expedia and Netflix have collaborated on a one-of-a-kind advertising campaign. It is intended for Netflix’s global monthly active users (MAUs) on the ad-supported tier. The goal of the campaign is to seamlessly integrate contextually appropriate ads into the Netflix viewing experience, improving the platform for users and providing partners with a global advertising platform. Furthermore, through this partnership, Netflix will be able to provide marketers and members with better multi-country advertising options while also supporting Expedia Group’s efforts to expand globally.
First-of-its-kind global advertising campaign
For 2024, Expedia will be the first worldwide advertising partner of Netflix to launch a multimarket campaign on the streamer’s ad-supported plan. The collaboration serves as evidence of why companies are placing their bets on Netflix’s emerging ad-supported tier. It offers global reach and the ability to engage specific audiences where they are watching TV when linear TV usage declines. A range of advertisements tailored to language and culture in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, and Brazil will be displayed on the travel booking website. In the United Kingdom and Brazil, Expedia will also serve as an Alpha measurement partner.
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Tailored advertising
With campaigns targeted at the more than 23 million global monthly active users of the streamer’s ad-supported tier, Netflix and Expedia are showing their international strength. Netflix will start running localized creative in the respective markets this month as part of the partnership. The content was created by an internal creative team and is part of Expedia’s “Made to Travel” brand platform. Expedia will use the agreement to run a range of nationalized advertisements, including 15-, 30-, and 60-second spots.
The first execution will debut on Netflix in Japan with the 60-second anthem spot “Two Step.” It was directed by Hiro Murai (“Atlanta,” “The Bear”). In the commercial, a group of friends from Japan travel to the United States to follow their love of line dancing.
Netflix to remain the hub for the campaign
In each of the markets, advertisements will also be displayed on platforms other than Netflix. However, the streamer will serve as a hub for the entire campaign. Advertisers have been eager to capitalize on Netflix’s global reach, which sets it apart from other leading streaming services. Since its ad-supported tier’s launch just over a year ago, the streamer claims 23 million users worldwide have used it. U.S. ad subscribers, however, make up a very small portion of that total.
Here’s what they said
Amy Reinhard, President of Advertising at Netflix said,
This first of its kind partnership will offer our engaged ad-supported members contextually relevant ads creatives, making the viewing experience even more enjoyable, while also making Netflix a global destination for our advertising partners.
Jon Gieselman, president of the Expedia Group added,
As global consumer habits rapidly evolve, we are always looking for innovative opportunities to showcase our brands and story-tell locally. Netflix’s sophisticated product allows us to target relevant audiences with impressive reach. We aren’t afraid to be first and I look at this partnership as just the beginning.
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IAS Announces AI-Powered Brand Safety and Suitability Expansion to Meta
Integral Ad Science, a leading global media measurement and optimization platform, has announced that its AI-powered Total Media Quality (TMQ) Brand Safety and Suitability Measurement product is now widely available on Facebook and Instagram Feeds and Reels. Advertisers may feel secure knowing that their media is showing up alongside content that is consistent with their brand’s objectives and values thanks to the availability of Brand Safety and Suitability Measurement for Meta on all Meta platforms.
IAS’s Brand Safety and Suitability Measurement
IAS’s collaboration with Meta to enhance post-bid brand safety and suitability measurement aims to give advertisers more information about where their campaigns are placed concerning appropriate and safe content. Advertisers have access to:
AI-powered categorization
IAS uses multimedia technology to measure posts that are close to an advertiser’s campaign. By analyzing images, audio, and text frame-by-frame, it can provide the most accurate measurement possible at scale. This allows for unique insights into video content.
Transparency and trust
With their transparent and reliable industry metrics, the measurement framework is in line with the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), giving advertisers third-party validation.
Third-Party verification
Marketers can assess how well their Meta Inventory Filters are serving their campaign objectives and make necessary optimizations.
Read More: DoubleVerify Includes YouTube Shorts in its Brand Safety Measurement Expansion
IAS and Meta partnership
IAS Signal is a unified reporting platform that advertisers can use to get the information and understanding they need to manage their digital campaigns with ease. The collaboration between IAS and Meta started in 2016 when IAS introduced Facebook viewability verification. IAS increased the scope of its viewability reporting and measurement in 2017 to include Instagram, Facebook, and the Facebook Audience Network. IAS began providing Facebook with its brand suitability offering in 2019. It added viewability and invalid traffic (IVT) measurement for Facebook and Instagram Reels to its measuring repertoire in 2023.
Here’s what they said
Lisa Utzschneider, CEO, IAS said,
IAS is steadfast in delivering solutions to help marketers measure and optimise performance in dynamic, user-generated social environments like Facebook and Instagram. This expansion allows brands to identify higher-quality media and scale across these platforms, signifying another important milestone in helping brands enhance brand equity across the entire digital ecosystem.
Samantha Stetson, Vice President Client Council and Industry Trades at Meta commented,
IAS’s release of Brand Safety and Suitability Measurement across Facebook and Instagram is a meaningful step forward in our continued work to provide transparency and trust across our advertising ecosystem. Responsible marketing is a top priority at Meta – and we are pleased with our continued partnership to bring this important solution to our advertisers.
Karyn Johnson, Vice President of Digital Marketing at Verizon added,
One of the most important things for us as an advertiser is maintaining the gold standard of brand suitability, and IAS plays a key role in protecting our advertisements from being placed in environments where it’s not safe or doesn’t align to our company values. It’s great to see IAS implementing this additional third-party measurement so we can use their tools to ensure we can reach those objectives across all platforms.
Read More: Vevo and Publica by IAS Announce Partnership for CTV Ad Serving
Amazon and Reach Partner for Targeted Ads Ahead of Third-Party Cookie Phase-Out
Amazon has signed a historic contract with Reach, the UK’s largest publisher, to access customer data for targeted advertising. The collaboration occurs as the media landscape struggles to respond to Google’s move to remove tracking cookies from its browser. Reach will share “contextual” first-party data with Amazon under the terms of the agreement, including details about the articles users are viewing. Amazon will then make use of this information to improve targeted ads on the websites of U.K. publishers, giving advertisers more effective and relevant advertising options.
The agreement benefits in ad data for targeted ads
The agreement is a reaction to Google’s plans to phase out third-party cookies later this year. It is among the first of its kind in Europe. Google plans to turn off all third-party cookies by the end of the year, matching Apple’s similar action to prohibit them in Safari. Its goal is to compensate for the disappearance of cookies, which monitor users’ online activities and gather data about them to better target advertisements. However, the agreement’s financial details were kept secret. Reach announced that it would collaborate with Amazon to share first-party data that is “contextual,” such as what articles users are viewing, with the American tech company utilizing the data to offer more specialized advertising on the U.K. publisher’s sites.
Beyond third-party cookies for targeted ads
This deal inspires other ways to reach high-value consumers online as advertisers look beyond third-party cookies for targeted advertising. To make sure that advertisements appear next to content that users are interested in, Reach intends to make use of Mantis. It is a brand safety and contextual advertising tool for publishers. By working together, Amazon can more effectively target audiences with relevant advertising in Reach’s magazines, including the Mirror, Daily Star, and OK! Magazine.
Read More: Amazon Prime Video Estimated to Generate $1B From Ad-Supported Tier in Debut Year
U.K.’s CMA raises safety concerns
While Reach and Amazon were announcing their partnership, the U.K. Competition and Market Authority (CMA) sent out a statement stating Google cannot move forward with third-party deprecation. The CMA raised issues that might cause Google’s third-party cookies phase-out to be delayed. In its most recent report on Google’s Privacy Sandbox, the tech giant was found to have complied with commitments. However, there are still several issues that need to be resolved before third-party cookies are removed from Chrome. If Google doesn’t take further action to address the concerns expressed about the proposed changes to the Privacy Sandbox, it won’t be able to remove third-party cookies from Chrome in the second half of 2024, as it is currently scheduled, at least not in the U.K.
Demands laid out by CMA
Before the removal of third-party cookies, the CMA laid out several demands for Google. However, the regulator stated that this does not preclude Google from moving forward with its plans. In a report outlining its ongoing concerns about Google’s Privacy Sandbox:
- The CMA states that Google might keep profiting from user activity data while preventing rivals from accessing the same information.
- Google’s ad tech services may benefit from its ability to manage which of its competitors’ ad tech companies are listed here.
- It is possible that publishers and advertisers won’t be as good at spotting fraud.
The CMA is collaborating with Google to find solutions to these problems. By the end of April, it will provide an update on each engine’s development in its upcoming quarterly report.
Accessing customer data for targeted ads
Other media companies are also considering deals involving customer data. A growing number of publishers are experimenting with paywalls and registration pages. However, it requires users to provide first-party information, like email addresses and login credentials. Reach is already working to collect additional reader data of this kind.
Read More: Google’s Third-Party Cookies Deprecation Rolls Out Today
Dentsu Announces Extension of Mandate with TTK Healthcare
Dentsu Creative India has announced the extension of its mandate with TTK Healthcare, a well-known healthcare products company. Now, the agency will oversee media and social media responsibilities for Skore, Eva, and MsChief, three of its brands. The agency’s Mumbai office will handle account management.
Dentsu Creative India expands mandate for 3 TTK Healthcare brands
It is important to highlight that Dentsu Creative has long been a dependable partner of TTK Healthcare, beginning with cutting-edge brands of sexual wellness and pleasure, such as Eva, a pioneer in the field of female personal enhancement, and Skore. The agency has proven its excellence and commitment by taking on another brand with ease: MsChief, TTK Healthcare’s most recent entry into the sexual pleasure market, specifically aimed at women. The agency’s ability to produce exceptional results for each brand—demonstrating exceptional capabilities that have earned them an expanded role and responsibilities—was the driving force behind this decision.
End-to-end social media and performance media mandate
Dentsu Creative India will supply the three brands with comprehensive social media and performance media solutions following the mandate. The agency will use its knowledge of digital to produce compelling digital ads. The range of work involves creating aesthetically pleasing digital creatives, managing social media platforms, strategically planning and acquiring media, and carrying out content marketing plans for the brands.
Read More: Dentsu Expands Partnership With AWS To Scale GenAI Capabilities
Here’s what they said
Speaking on the win, Arjun Siva, DGM – Digital Marketing & eCommerce, TTK Healthcare said,
We are delighted to extend our relationship with Dentsu Creative and add MsChief to the set of brands that we partner on with them. We’re confident their proven expertise and consolidated creative and media strengths will help us enhance our digital presence and drive business for our brands.
Sahil Shah, President – Digital Experience, Dentsu Creative India added,
With this consolidation, we have further solidified our position in strengthening TTK Healthcare’s digital efforts. And, for us, the most exciting part is that we are able to see through end-to-end digital – creative, media, and data included – for these ambitious challenger brands. I am extremely confident that we will deliver both brand and business results through the power of integrated digital for TTK Healthcare brands.
Manika Juneja, Managing Partner – Digital Experience, Dentsu Creative commented,
We are ecstatic to strengthen our collaboration with TTK Healthcare! Our journey began with Skore & Eva, and now, with the addition of MsChief, we are truly grateful. Our team is poised to inject integrated digital excellence into these brands, ensuring they not only stand out but thrive. The ongoing partnership promises exciting success, and we look forward to achieving new heights with TTK Healthcare as our valued partners.
Read More: Dentsu Creative India Wins Digital Mandate For 4 Sony Channels
