 TOP MEDIA TECH NEWS |
| And that’s a wrap on the 2026 NewFronts. From Comcast and Google to Meta and TikTok, TV and digital companies alike gathered in New York City last week to flex their data and advertising muscles in hopes of wooing advertisers. Ad performance, interactive formats and AI are the top themes that took over this year’s NewFronts. Here are a few examples of how those themes showed up throughout last week:
· During their first combined NewFront event as a fully integrated company, Walmart and Vizio announced that unified account logins are coming to smart TVs using Vizio’s operating system. The unified login experience establishes a “secure identity framework across devices, connecting streaming engagement directly with retail interaction,” according to the company blog post published early on Monday. And that identity framework creates a major advertising and data opportunity for advertisers. For more details, read the full story here.
· Google used its NewFront stage to tout how it’s using Gemini to drive more value for streaming and video media buyers. For one, Google will use Gemini to better manage ad frequency within its buy-side platform DV360 at the household level, aiming to cut down the ad repetition that continues to plague the streaming user experience. Gemini is also behind a new AI-powered function within YouTube’s Creator Partnerships Hub, designed to help marketers more easily find influencers who create relevant content via prompts related to tone, topic and aesthetic. To learn more, read the full story here.
· Also during the NewFronts, Samsung Ads announced Amazon’s interactive video ad technology is coming to Samsung TV Plus over the summer through the company’s integration with Amazon DSP. Viewers will see “add to cart” buttons near products on-screen that are also sold on Amazon. Brands without Amazon listings can advertise their products with other calls to action such as “sign up today” or “send to phone.” Amazon says Samsung is the first device company besides Amazon to have access to its interactive video ad tech. But given how the performance TV hype is pacing, it’s logical to assume that exclusivity won’t last forever. |
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| BEST OF THE REST |
| OpenAI decided to discontinue Sora, the company’s AI-based video generation product. The decision came just a day after OpenAI and Disney teams were actively working on a project related to Sora, following Disney’s agreement late last year to allow many of its famous characters to be used in short, AI-generated videos. OpenAI unveiled Sora in 2024, kickstarting a trend among other AI companies to build technology that can create high-quality videos in seconds. Now, Sora’s discontinuation comes at a time where AI – and AI-generated video content in particular – is facing heightened consumer scrutiny, mistrust and backlash. OpenAI says it aims to reallocate resources to more pressing priorities, including a so-called super-app.
Spectrum Reach joined forces with DoubleVerify to boost streaming TV ad performance and transparency – arguably media buyers’ biggest demands from their CTV ad partners. Through this collaboration, Spectrum Reach will provide show-level data across its programming, including news and live sports, available via direct or programmatic buying. This data and insights will feed into DoubleVerify’s streaming TV reporting to give advertisers post-bid visibility into the exact programs their ads are running in. While this announcement was timed to the NewFronts, it also addresses an industry pain point that marketers and media buyers have been bemoaning for years.
Data collaboration platform InfoSum, a WPP company, announced a strategic partnership with AI ad targeting company Dstillery to advance predictive audience targeting without sacrificing privacy. The collaboration aims to help brands and buyers build and activate what they consider to be high-value audiences by using first-party data without moving – and potentially exposing – sensitive information. The announcement speaks to the continued trend of data clean rooms moving to more privacy-friendly infrastructure that keeps data in one place, including cloud-based models, to minimize risk of potential data leakage.
Entertainment media publisher Future Today’s NewFront event also underscores significant trends emerging within the CTV ad industry – especially the continued demands for transparency. Future Today, which has several brands that distribute free ad-supported TV and family-friendly content, focused its NewFront presentation on its ability to deliver the show-level data and transparency that buyers need. “We won’t hide where you’re running,” execs told the media buyers in the audience at the IAB’s NewFront conference. Future Today also made a claim that two of its streaming services, Fawesome and HappyKids, combined have more than five times the volume of content titles than Netflix – apparently hoping to tout scale as a competitive differentiator, in addition to transparency.
Also at the IAB NewFronts, Comcast Advertising unveiled Outcomes+, a new solution designed to drive stronger performance through a suite of AI-powered products fueled by Comcast’s data and attribution capabilities. The company also announced a partnership with Amazon Ads, expanding access to Prime Video inventory for local and small-to-medium sized businesses. This announcement speaks to two trends that took center stage during the NewFronts: ad performance, and tapping Amazon Ads for expanded access to its advertising capabilities. |
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| A new report from AdRoll notes a widening gap between retargeting and prospecting price. The Q1 2026 edition of State of Digital Advertising Report reveals Display retargeting CPMs jumped 18% in January and February compared with the same period last year, while display prospecting CPMs declined 11% year over year. According to AdRoll, this gap can be explained in part by declining publisher traffic due to AI search. Which could be addressed by a heightened focus on full-funnel campaign strategy and performance marketing tactics, according to the report. In other words, media buyers should focus on demand and channel diversification to increase their odds of reaching their intended audience in a manner that could lead to action.
Media measurement platform VideoAmp is teaming up with O-N-X, an automated infrastructure platform for local broadcast television. The collaboration involves the O-N-X platform incorporating VideoAmp’s audience and measurement dataset to power predictive ad delivery intelligence. The tie-up could help both broadcasters and buyers better predict audience delivery and, in turn, execute more stable guaranteed impressions. The partnership speaks to the industry’s continued efforts to modernize and digitize broadcast television in order to sustain stable advertiser commitments.
Programmatic media platform MiQ plans to acquire the Latin America business of digital advertising provider, Adsmovil. The combined company will form the region’s largest independent programmatic solution for brands and agencies. The acquisition should lead to more sophisticated ways for brands to resonate with Hispanic audiences. And, considering that Adsmovil launched a streaming service in 2022, the acquisition also points to a trend of ad tech companies apparently trying to embed themselves within streaming TV advertising workflows.
Despite representing a third of the US TV population, smaller markets are outperforming major markets, according to AdImpact’s Local CTV Ad Trends Report. Markets outside of the top 50 were found to deliver a 52.5% share of local CTV impressions, while accounting for 33% of the U.S. TV population. Additional data, analyzing over 51,000 local CTV advertisers, found:
· Q4 delivered 29.6% of local CTV impressions, the highest of any quarter, with October alone delivering 10.8%.
· Q1 carried more spending share (26.5%) than impression share (25.2%) where buyers paid a premium to start the year.
· Q4 inverted that as impressions outpaced spend, which was 28.1% of all spend in 2025, driving an estimated CPM decline of nearly 10% versus Q1.
· Q3 is the efficiency sweet spot, as spend and impression shares converged at 22.5%.
· Q2 was similarly balanced, as impressions were 22.7% and spend was 23%. |
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EXECUTIVE >>
TBS INTERNATIONAL/LOS ANGELES, CA: Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of entertainment and media agreements, with a primary focus on unscripted television, format licensing, and intellectual property distribution. Handle development, production, and co-production agreements, including situations where TBS is designated as the production entity providing production services. More info HERE
PRINT TRAFFICKER AND TECHNICAL COORDINATOR >>
FILM FEST DC/WASHINGTON, DC: Coordinate direct communication between print sources and the festival to ensure the on-time inbound and outbound delivery of all film materials and work with venue staff to deliver and test each film and KDM. Request and collect KDMs for all encrypted DCPs and maintain a spreadsheet that contains all the aspects of the film. Full info HERE
MANAGER, MEMBER ENGAGEMENT AND ANALYTICS >>
TELEVISION ACADEMY/NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA:
Lead the execution of initiatives such as the Peer Circle program and Your Voice Matters, reviewing data to enhance program participation and ensure metrics are achieved; collaborate with the Senior Director of Engagement and Retention and stakeholders across marketing to manage delivery and optimization of the Member Benefits Perks newsletter. Full info HERE
BROADCAST ENGINEER >>
HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY/HIGH POINT, NC: Ensure high-quality production environments and provide technical leadership to faculty, staff, and students in live and recorded productions and play a role in supporting the school’s mission to provide industry-standard production experiences for students and will have opportunities to contribute to the development of emerging media technologies. More info HERE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE, MULTI-EPISODE TELEVISION PRODUCING >>
BOSTON UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION/BOSTON, MA: Develope, produce, and manage scripted and unscripted multi-episodic series for linear television and/or streaming. Qualified applicants will be distinguished multi-platform practitioners with a significant body of “boots on the ground” work in the TV and streaming industry. The position will require in-class instruction and on-set exercises. Full info HERE
PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE: STUDIO AND/OR FIELD DIRECTING; MULTIPLE CAMERAS >>
BOSTON UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION/BOSTON, MA: We seek a colleague with a significant body of practical work in television directing using multiple cameras for linear television and/or streaming platforms. Familiarity with visual effects and AI-supported tools is considered a plus. This position includes teaching directing of scripted and/or unscripted content using multiple cameras at many levels. Full info HERE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE: VERTICAL FILMMAKING/CONTENT CREATOR >>
BOSTON UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION/BOSTON, MA: We seek a colleague with a professional track record in the creation and development of original short-form content aimed at promoting, activating, and motivating young people through social activism, experimentation, entertainment, brand building, and audience engagement across today’s leading content platforms and social media ecosystems. More info HERE
SALES MANAGER – AP AD INSIGHTS HUB >>
ADVERTISER PERCEPTIONS/NEW YORK, NY: Drive direct sales of the platform offering, focusing heavily on new client acquisition. Reporting to and working closely with the GM of the Ad Insights Hub, this individual contributor will partner cross-functionally with Sales, Business Intelligence, Operations, and Client Services teams to build awareness and engagement with new clients. Full info HERE
SALES DIRECTOR – OMG
MOONBUG ENTERTAINMENT
NEW YORK, NY
Deliver and exceed sales revenue targets as well as build, manage and grow a strategic account list with a focus on Omnicom agencies and their clients directly, within the northeast. Ability to navigate holding company structure and negotiate strategic partnerships with key stakeholders (ratecards, preferred programmatic deals, content deals, etc.). More info HERE
DIRECTOR OF PERFORMANCE MARKETING >>
ATHLETE TO ATHLETE/SANTA MONICA, CA: Lead the performance marketing team across Meta Ads and new paid digital channels (TikTok, YouTube, Google, etc.) as well as build and execute a roadmap for channel expansion and profitable scale. Develop and run structured testing frameworks. Partner with Creative Strategist on ad briefs, testing priorities, and creative feedback loops. Full info HERE
NATIONAL SALES MANAGER>>
HEARST MEDIA PRODUCTION GROUP/CHARLOTTE, NC: Oversee daily sales pipeline operations focused on national sponsorships, integrations, and branded content tied to unscripted programming. Manage and coach the Business Development team, drive outbound activity, shape proposals and pricing, and lead CRM strategy, reporting, and optimizations via Salesforce. Full info HERE
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER >>
NTD/WASHINGTON, DC: Pitch story ideas and write scripts/segment outlines as well as research guests and interview topics. Book guests and coordinate interviews. Help with logistics and sometimes field production. Support shoots and ensure production runs smoothly. Review footage and work with editors to shape final episodes. Write headlines, teasers, and social posts. Full info HERE
DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES AND ADMINISTRATION >>
THE JIM HENSON COMPANY/HOLLYWOOD, CA: Responsible for all HR functions and oversight of administrative and management needs. This strategic role is charged with operating from a customer service driven viewpoint that prioritizes employee satisfaction as well as enforce legally compliant policies, increase efficiency by implementing administrative and record-keeping best practices. Full info HERE
SR. DIRECTOR OF SALES, KSTU & KUPX >>
THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY/SALT LAKE CITY: Leverage our suite of advertising solutions to unlock growth opportunities for local and national businesses. Play a role in driving the station’s revenue goals as well as serving as the home station for Utah’s new NHL team. Collaborate with our production team to create campaigns that connect our clients with their customers in meaningful ways. Full info HERE
DIGITAL MEDIA BUYER >>
FURMAN ROTH ADVERTISING/NY(HYBRID): Plan, launch, and optimize digital marketing campaigns across various paid media channels (including Display, Google products, Paid Social, CTV, and Programmatic, etc.) while managing budgets effectively. Support the execution of media plans across platforms, overseeing targeting, budget allocation, and performance tracking to drive campaign success. Full info HERE
ACCOUNT DIRECTOR; CTV BRAND PARTNERSHIPS – MID WEST/WEST COAST
FUTURE TODAY
REMOTE
Build, maintain and expand a pipeline of sales targets, contacts, and sales opportunities leveraging your relationships with a heavy focus on new business revenue. Build/nurture relationships with the investment, strategy, precision and digital agencies as well as clients. Also maintain an ongoing knowledge of the streaming media landscape. Full info HERE
DIRECTOR, AD MARKETING & SALES >>
THE SHADE ROOM/REMOTE: Develop and execute a revenue growth strategy to drive direct advertising, branded content, and sponsorship sales as well as lead the development of compelling advertising and branded content offerings tailored for TSR’s audience and cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key advertisers, media agencies, and brand partners. Full info HERE
PROFESSIONAL LECTURER OF COMMUNICATION/SPORTS BROADCASTING >>
MARIST UNIVERSITY/ POUGHKEEPSIE, NY: Teach studio and field broadcasting and new media courses in sports media and journalism as well as be able to teach a studio course on producing a newscast and help students live stream a podcast or produce short-form feature content suitable for social media streaming. Also demonstrate through their teaching, professional activity, and service. Full info HERE
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 |
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