What’s the buzz at Advertising Week New York?
“As is typical at industry conferences, we’re hearing a lot about innovation and new frontiers in streaming TV at Advertising Week, from things like contextual targeting to new ad formats. All of that’s exciting for the future of the industry, but my biggest takeaway is the need for balance between innovation and the basics. To unlock more ad dollars in streaming, we have to get the ‘bread and butter’ fundamentals right first – fixing bidstream inaccuracies, improving transparency, and making it easier for marketers to buy with confidence.” – Dave Bernath, CEO at Wurl
“What I kept hearing at AWNY is that currency debates only matter if they improve outcomes. Buyers want measurement that reconciles linear and streaming, exposes the math, and holds every impression to the same standard. Trust comes from transparent methods, stable big data, and results you can verify.” – Bryan Goski, CRO of VideoAmp
“While the buzz at Advertising Week New York centered on AI and automation, the takeaway for me was simpler: innovation means nothing without clarity, craft, and purpose. As we adopt new tools, we can’t lose sight of what truly moves audiences — authentic creative, consistent storytelling, and work that serves a greater good. Technology should enhance creativity and amplify impact, not replace the human purpose behind it.” – Kris Johns, CEO at AdGood
“At AWNY the conversation around CTV felt different. People are tired of hearing about scale without proof. The expectation now is simple. If CTV cannot perform like search and social, it will not earn its share of budgets.” – Jason Fairchild, CEO of tvScientific
“Search is going down, but AI still hasn’t replaced the value of real community. Brands are realizing that human connection and trust can’t just be automated. At the same time, the advertising industry is entering a fascinating period, with new measurable ad formats emerging across audio, in-game, and other digital experiences. These formats aren’t just creative but they give marketers real data on engagement and effectiveness. It’s an exciting moment for advertisers willing to rethink how they reach and connect with audiences.” – Elad Stern, President and Co-Founder of Odeeo.
“What I kept hearing at AWNY is that marketers are done with one-size-fits-all creative. Dynamic creative optimization is being recognized as the engine for omnichannel campaigns, whether it’s CTV, audio, display, or DOOH. The breakthrough is AI fine-tuning creative in real time, so a single campaign can evolve into thousands of variations that truly connect with consumers.” – Ryan Nelsen, CMO of StackAdapt
“At AWNY I kept hearing that complexity is killing progress. We don’t need new labels or complex middle layers. We need straightforward ways for buyers and sellers to work together with transparent signals that drive outcomes. The real opportunity is in minimizing the noise so more value flows between the people creating and investing in premium content.”–- Mike Laband, Group SVP, US Revenue at Magnite
“What we’re hearing at AWNY: the audio landscape is growing, but scaling it globally is still a major pain point. We’re seeing more international briefs from advertisers as the programmatic market continues to evolve and they’re no longer market-by-market, they’re global from the start. Marketers want the same reach, consistency, and ease they get in digital and video. Audio can travel but now the industry needs to catch up and make global activation just as seamless.” – Brian Conlan, President, DAX US
“Across Advertising Week New York, one theme was clear: first-party data only delivers when it’s consented, portable, and fast. Marketers want trusted data they can move across commerce media, CTV, and digital campaigns without losing control or transparency. The bar is clear, prove the data is real, protect privacy, and make activation effortless where it counts.”- Ali Mack, VP of AdTech at Experian
“At Advertising Week New York, the theme wasn’t just about chasing performance – it was about optimizing it. The smartest marketers are rethinking their entire supply paths to turn ROAS from a reporting metric into a true growth engine. Every decision along the path, from data quality to partner transparency, determines whether spend is wasted or working harder. Optimization isn’t just operational anymore; it’s strategic.” – Cort Irish, VP, Marketing & Communications at Claritas
“Advertising Week was more alive than ever – every session packed, every conversation centered on what’s next for marketing. AI was everywhere, but so was out of home. There’s a growing recognition that OOH delivers what brands and people are most craving: authentic, physical connections that cut through the clutter and drive real impact.” – Anna Bager, CEO of OAAA
“It’s clear from the panels at Ad Week that advertisers are using advanced audience data to move beyond traditional demographics, targeting viewers based on behaviors, interests, and purchase intent. This shift is transforming TV from a reach-based channel into a precision marketing tool and allowing advertisers to deliver relevance at scale.” Bill Carney, Ampersand, Director National Sales
