You Tube ad revenue during 4Q19 jumped 33%, to $4 billion, reported Alphabet to investors. “YouTube results were the quarter’s stand out,” wrote Pivotal Research Group analyst Michael Levine in a note to investors. “This was far better than feared and we combine our views about TV advertising into the second half of 2020 and 2021, so we think the set-up is quite favorable.” Alphabet’s Google Cloud, which includes Google Cloud Project and G-Suite, brought in $2.78 billion in revenue in the first quarter, up 52% increase over the same quarter a year ago.

Altice USA, provider of Optimum-branded internet, TV, and mobile services in the New York tri-state area, announced that through network investment and the continued deployment of fiber technologies, one gigabit broadband service is now available in more than half of its footprint. “Now more than ever, consumers need access to fast, reliable broadband service as more households and businesses turn to remote learning and work solutions. With the continued expansion of our one gigabit internet offering, we are giving more and more Optimum customers the ability to upgrade to faster broadband service to fuel their growing data usage for education, work, health, entertainment, and so much more,” said Hakim Boubazine, Altice USA Chief Operating Officer and President of Telecommunications.

Google is looking to swipe Zoom-ers by making its video conferencing software, Meet, free. Anyone with an email address can sign up for and use Meet, no charge. Free meetings, which can hold up to 100 people, will be limited to 60 people, but the company said that won’t be enforced until September 30.

Speaking of Zoom, the video-conference company adjusted its user numbers, saying it does not have the 300 million daily active users it said it did, but 300 million participants. Daily active users are counted once a day; participants are counted as often a day as they participate in a conference. “This was a genuine oversight on our part,” said Zoom.

WarnerMedia acquired Dutch technology provider The Widget Co., via its subsidiary, Turner Broadcasting System Europe. The Widget Co. develops tech solutions across connected TVs, game consoles, set-top boxes and mobile apps.

Video software provider Synamedia has partnered with Google Cloud to expand its video network portfolio with new OTT “as a service” offerings. “As the live TV landscape shifts toward OTT delivery, the industry needs technology that matches what viewers have become accustomed to with premium digital TV services,” said Julien Signes, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Video Network, Synamedia. “Thanks to our partnership with Google Cloud, we are enabling the Infinite Entertainment viewers expect, without delay and with the highest quality.”

Adobe is working on solutions for customers adapting to remote working environments. Adobe Certified Service Partner for Video and Audio program is designed to give system integrators knowledge and tools to improve their video and audio services so they can better support customers on their hardware and infrastructure needs, workflow design, and software integration. Adobe is currently working with MoovIT in Germany and Support Partners in the UK and US to design the certification experience, and is looking to expand to more partners in the future. Additionally, Adobe has put together a list of resources from their partners including best practice guides, blog posts, webinars for on-demand viewing, and special offers to help teams maintain continuity while working remotely.

Video management platform Imagen unveiled a monetization tool to simplify the process of bringing content to market and generating revenue. Imagen’s new feature closely mirrors typical e-commerce purchasing habits, to accommodate customer demand for a simpler, less prolonged copyright transaction. “Content monetization has always been a complex issue and pain point for our customers, taking unnecessary time and additional steps in the license purchasing process. This in turn could result in being underpaid for content copyrights and a loss of revenue,” said Ryan Rolf, Imagen’s Chief Revenue Officer of the Americas.

Facebook is celebrating the Class of 2020 with a special event on the Facebook app and Instagram. #Graduation2020: Facebook and Instagram Celebrate the Class of 2020. On May 15 at 2p, a commencement address will be given by Oprah Winfrey. Awkwafina, Jennifer Garner, Lil Nas X, Simone Biles, and more, will also share words of wisdom, and Miley Cyrus will do a special performance of her hit song, “The Climb.” The ceremony will acknowledge high schools and colleges in the US by name, including photos and videos of the class of 2020 and messages from deans and principals across the country. Graduates can also host their own virtual graduation ceremony and party via Facebook, with special features including a virtual graduation hub, custom filters, family and friends celebrations enabled by Messenger Rooms.

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The virtual version of the IAB’s NewFronts is on course, says the IAB. Originally scheduled for April, but postponed to June 22-26 due to the coronavirus outbreak, the event has a new theme: “Insight. Inspiration. Transformation,” focused on shifting consumer behaviors and media habits, with presentations scheduled for Hulu, YouTube, Conde Nast, Crackle Plus, Ellen Digital, Roku, The Recount, The Wall Street Journal | Barron’s Group, Tubi, Vibenomics, and 3BLACKDOT for June 22-26, and “program contributions” expected from Facebook, GSTV, Samsung Ads, Tremor Video and Xandr. “I’ll be honest: When we first confronted the need to hold the NewFronts entirely online back in March, it was exciting but daunting,” said IAB president David Cohen. “Already, working with publishers, brands and tech companies to pull it all together feels much more natural. Just look around at the innovation we are seeing in production, storytelling and building immersive virtual experiences. That’s how fast things have changed. This is one NewFronts no one should miss.”

FreeWheel and White Ops, specialist in bot mitigation and fraud protection, announced the expansion of their partnership enabling programmatic impressions passing through FreeWheel platforms to be verified as human before any transaction is made. Ad inventory flowing through the FreeWheel system will be verified across all platforms, including CTV. “As an industry connector of buyers and sellers, building trust and transparency across all parties is our number one priority. Premium video requires an extra level of inventory quality assurance, which is why this enhanced partnership is so important,” said Jon Whitticom, Chief Product Officer at FreeWheel. “Our relationship with White Ops enhances our platforms to ensure that our clients can continue to detect, report on, and eliminate any fraud in their supply chain.

The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement announced the launch of a new study with Pre-Meditated Media and Janus Strategy & Insights to develop best practices in the emerging approach to building large scale, granular data sets to measure all forms of TV viewing by combining the anonymous viewing data from both Smart TVs and Set Top Boxes in privacy-compliant ways. “STB data are currently being made available to some media measurement vendors (and also to audience-based planning and buying platforms); however, none of the vendors analyzing such data have a nationally representative footprint,” said Jane Clarke, managing director and CEO, CIMM. “This study aims to examine how Smart TV data can complement STB data to increase the value of the combined datasets.”

Verizon Media announced the launch of its expanded DSP, bringing programmatic, premium and now its full native marketplace inventory, formats, targeting and measurement together in a single platform. The DSP gives advertisers a unified solution to control planning, buying and management, insights and optimization, across all formats and inventory opportunities. “Given the current climate, brands want simplicity, flexibility and performance,” said Iván Markman, Chief Business Officer, Verizon Media. “Our expanded DSP is purpose-built for that landscape. It goes well-beyond programmatic and makes it easier to reach audiences wherever they are. From performance to branding, it’s built to evolve with the needs of today’s advertisers.”

STREAMING

For its “The Best Bundle” survey, taken while stay-at-home restrictions were in effect, Hub Entertainment Research found the pandemic has had a profound effect on media consumption. The percentage of respondents with at least one streaming service rose to 78% (up from 72% in 2019), and the average consumer now accesses TV from nearly five different sources (up from 3.7). Among those not self-isolating with no kids at home, 61% of respondents were streamers; the number jumps to 94% for those self-isolating with school kids at home. Separately, Hub answered some questions exclusively for Cynopsis about preferences on ad load and placement – you’ll find those results here.

Monthly average use of Spotify rose 31% last quarter, to 286 million. In the US, listening through TV and game consoles jumped over 50% during the quarter versus the year earlier. The streaming music service said 1 in 6 respondents to an exit survey in the US said COVID-19 was a reason for canceling, with 80% saying they were likely to renew once the economic situation improves.

Tubi announced a multi-year partnership with LG Electronics to have its app preloaded on LG mobile phones in the US and Canada. The deal marks the first-ever AVOD service to be preloaded by LG on mobile devices in the US. LG phones with Tubi are available now at T-Mobile, and will soon be coming to MetroPCS, and US Cellular, and in Canada on Rogers, Bell, and Telus, among others. Additional carriers will be announced soon. “We’re excited to be the streaming video pioneer to be preloaded on premium LG devices,” said Andrea Clarke-Hall, VP of Business Development, Tubi. “Now more than ever is a time to make content accessible to everyone, and Tubi’s partnership with LG further delivers on our mission to democratize content.”