Well, that was quick. About 12 hours after TikTok went dark – “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now,” read a message from the company as a January 19 ban went into effect – service was being restored. The reversal came after then-president-elect Trump said he would issue an executive order to delay enforcement of the ban. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that he plans to “extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security.” And also, so TikTokers could watch Trump’s swearing-in. “Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations,” posted Trump.
Before the repeal the TikTok ban, AI search engine startup Perplexity AI submitted a bid to ByteDance to merge with TikTok US. The new structure would enable most of ByteDance’s existing investors to retain their equity stakes and would bring more video to Perplexity, reported CNBC.
OpenAI is making it easier for users to customize how ChatGPT responds to them. A new user interface allows users to tell ChatGPT the traits they want it to have, how it should to talk to them, and the rules they want it to follow. The new feature will roll out first on ChatGPT.com and the Windows desktop app. |
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Cynopsis Awards and Events
Kick Off 2025 with Big Wins and Bigger Savings!
Good news! We’ve extended the deadline for our exclusive savings through January 31st. Save up to $2,500 on Cynopsis events and awards—your chance to celebrate achievements, showcase success, and connect with top industry leaders. Don’t miss this extended opportunity to start the year strong.
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ADVERTISING |
Most brands can achieve significant efficiencies by reallocating just 6.3% of their total TV impressions from linear to CTV, according to new LG Ad Solutions study, The Efficiency Curve, conducted with iSPot. Top-performing brands, the study notes, have allocated an average of 23.7% of their TV impressions to CTV compared to 17.4% for other brands. “Modern marketers and media planners need to make every invested dollar work harder, now more than ever before,” said Tony Marlow, CMO at LG Ad Solutions. “This study underscores the need for precision in media planning—finding the optimal efficiency point where CTV and linear TV work in harmony to deliver maximum performance while minimizing ad exposure wastage.”
Sinclair Broadcast Group announced the launch of two initiatives: AMP Sales & Marketing Solutions, and AMP Media. Beginning next month, Sinclair’s sales division will become AMP Sales & Marketing Solutions, a unified advertising sales and integrated marketing team, delivering tech-forward campaigns for brands. AMP Media will serve as the umbrella for Sinclair’s non-news original content, including podcasts as well as social verticals, with more in the works. “As Sinclair continues its transformation from a traditional broadcast company to a multi-platform media organization, the launch of AMP Sales & Marketing Solutions and AMP Media signals our commitment to reshaping how we engage with consumers and deliver value to clients across all media touchpoints,” said Rob Weisbord, Chief Operating Officer and President of Local Media. “These bold initiatives reflect our ongoing efforts to innovate, drive growth, and enhance our impact across the evolving media ecosystem.”
AdOmni unveiled new video advertising capabilities with its new program, Smart Video Everywhere. The AdOmni Ads Platform now enables brands to reach audiences throughout their daily journey, from in-home streaming to moments across DOOH and online video environments. “By rolling out the Smart Video Everywhere program, we’re solving the complex challenge of reaching consumers across their entire video journey – whether they’re streaming at home, commuting, shopping, or consuming content on-the-go,” said Jonathan Gudai, CEO of AdOmni. “Our platform now enables brands to create cohesive stories that resonate at every touchpoint.”
TV outcomes company EDO has partnered with AI-powered adtech company Chalice to enhance the effectiveness of CTV and digital ad campaigns through advanced data integration and AI-driven optimization. “Our partnership with Chalice marks a transformative moment for advertisers that connects the dots between ad-driven engagement and broader campaign goals in an automated way,” said Joshua Lee, CTO and Head of Product, EDO. “By integrating our data with Chalice’s platform, advertisers can now seamlessly realize the benefits of immediate, data-driven decisions.” |
MEASUREMENT |
Ampersand unveiled a new measurement platform that combines streaming and traditional TV data, aimed at providing buyers with actionable insights utilizing aggregated viewing exposure data from its MVPD owners, Charter Communications, Comcast, and Cox. “The fragmented media landscape has made true cross-platform measurement a fundamental challenge,” said Ethan Heftman, Ampersand Chief Revenue Officer. “Our new suite of capabilities doesn’t just report on campaign delivery; we measure its full impact, offering deduplicated, authenticated insights that reflect the most comprehensive audience view possible.” |
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CTV Connect
Streaming Live Sports: The Future is Now
Streaming live sports is growing rapidly and shows no signs of slowing down. Discover the latest trends during our “From Rookie to MVP: The Future of Streaming Sports” session. Hear from industry leaders at Mindshare, Fubo, and NBC Universal about the challenges and opportunities in delivering live sports through CTV. With the most iconic events now streaming, what’s next for the future of sports media?
Don’t miss out – register today! |
DEALS |
T-Mobile has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Vistar Media, provider of technology solutions for digital-out-of-home advertisements. Through the T-Mobile Advertising Solutions business, T-Mobile will acquire Vistar’s marketplace and technology solutions for buying, selling and managing media campaigns across a global network of more than 1.1 million digital screens. “We see a tremendous opportunity to provide more relevant and personalized advertising,” said JP Colaco, SVP & Chief T-Ads Officer, T-Mobile. “Combining T-Mobile’s customer-centric approach and its expertise as one of the nations most scaled marketers, with Vistar’s leading out-of-home technology means advertisers can easily place their ads where they know their audience will be, improving every step of the customer journey.”
DirecTV has acquired majority ownership of Invidi Technologies, a provider of addressable television advertising solutions including a consolidated campaign management and order distribution platform; a supply-side solution for distributors and programmers; and the ability to manage, serve, and optimize ad delivery across direct and programmatic sales channels for streaming services in a single interface. “The deal underscores our commitment to continue to invest in the future of addressability and leans into Invidi’s industry-leading solutions to deliver outcomes for brands of all sizes and across all categories,” said Amy Leifer, DirecTV Chief Advertising Sales Officer.
Viamedia has signed agreements to manage advertising sales for six new service providers, expanding its total reach to 93 service providers across 74 designated market areas (DMAs) in 28 states. “These new agreements highlight Viamedia’s focus on empowering local businesses to take control of their advertising potential through innovative, adaptable solutions that address the complexities of today’s media landscape,” said David Solomon, CEO of Viamedia. |
AI |
OpenAI is underwriting four new Axios newsrooms as part of a broader content-sharing and technology deal. As part of the three-year agreement, OpenAI will fund Axios’ expansion into Pittsburgh; Kansas City, Missouri; Boulder, Colorado; and Huntsville, Alabama. ChatGPT will use Axios journalism to answer user queries with attributed summaries, quotes and links to Axios stories, and Axios can access OpenAI’s technology to build its own AI products, processes, and systems.
While over 70% of respondents are familiar with the term “generative AI,” and 57% say they’ve used a generative AI product like ChatGPT, according to Hub study AI in Entertainment, only 18% are “very confident” they could explain to someone else what generative AI is or how it works. The majority of people have at least some concerns about AI, with two thirds very worried about undetectable “deepfakes” and potential loss of privacy, and 57% worried about people losing their jobs to AI. It’s a mixed bag when it comes to creative tasks. Respondents strongly preferred human creativity for tasks like writing scripts, dialogue, and music, but are equally or more comfortable with AI handling technical tasks such as creating CGI effects and writing subtitles or descriptions. |
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When it comes to AI and content discovery, 76% of respondents said they were somewhat or very interested in AI applications to analyze their viewing across platforms to give better recommendations, recommend shows for particular situations like watching with others (77%), or to summarize all the reviews of a show before they decide to watch (74%). “Consumers don’t understand AI yet, but they know enough to feel concerned about the impact on society and on entertainment in particular,” said Jon Giegengack, principal at Hub and one of the study authors. “Studios and distributors should prioritize tasks viewers are comfortable with (like better discovery), and tread lightly on creative tasks where they prefer real humans.” |
SALES LEAD – AGENCY PARTNERSHIPS
UPWAVE
NEW YORK, NY
Build and manage relationships with our agency partners – mostly targeting media buyers and planners – and help them see the value of adding Upwave measurement to The Trade Desk campaigns. You will both leverage your existing network and open new doors to achieve aggressive but achievable sales targets. Full info HERE
VICE PRESIDENT, POLITICAL SALES >>
NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC./WASHINGTON, DC: Lead the company’s political advertising revenue across its dynamic portfolio of broadcast stations. Responsible for developing sales strategies tailored to the fast-paced, high-stakes political advertising market. You will possess an understanding of the political advertising landscape, and the ability to forge strong relationships with campaigns. Full info HERE
COUNSEL, LEGAL & BUSINESS AFFAIRS >>
MLB NETWORK/SECAUCUS, NJ: Responsible for a variety of matters, including services agreements, production related agreements, talent agreements, software and other technology related agreements, licensing and programming agreements, third party rights clearances, distribution agreements, contract summaries, confidentiality, and general contract matters. Full info HERE
DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MEDIA
CSI SPORTS
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY
Proven track record of monetizing digital assets on various social media platforms. Work closely with our production team in creating content and comprehensive marketing plans to increase market share. Full info HERE
INTERNATIONAL SALES EXECUTIVE
CSI SPORTS
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY
Create and execute sales strategies and proposals- generating new sales from past, current and future leads by networking, building relationships and identifying valuable sales opportunities. Manage existing accounts and excel at identifying clients’ needs. Requires a self-driven individual who is passionate about the sports and media industry. Full info HERE
NATIONAL SALES EXECUTIVE
CSI SPORTS
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY
Looking for another self-motivated, highly disciplined National AD Sales Executive that enjoys the sales process from beginning to close. If you bring the enthusiasm and determination we will supply the opportunity to make this the best position you’ve ever had. Full info HERE
LEAD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE >>
CASTIFY.AI/HYBRID: Expand our client base in the digital advertising industry and focus on business development, securing new clients and partnerships, and negotiating contracts with leading advertising brands and agencies as well as experience in the digital advertising sector, showcasing a proven track record of achieving targets and excelling in business development. Full info HERE
ACCOUNT REP: MPT NATIONAL CORPORATE SALES
MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION
REMOTE
Call on current and prospective sponsors, providing high-quality customer service, in a manner consistent with standard industry practice, for the customer/client accounts for which they have cultivated or have been assigned as well as build sustainable, long-lasting relationships with existing clients. Full info HERE
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF AD SALES >>
HAYSTACK NEWS/NYNY, LA, CHICAGO: Responsible for developing large, meaningful partnerships to drive strategic and creative solutions for clients. You relish the opportunity to help advertisers build their brands by supporting the world’s most premium news publishers. Full info HERE
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
INTERSECTION
LOS ANGELES, CA
Drive new revenue for our media around Los Angeles and beyond as well as building relationships with prospects and clients. Full info HERE |
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