Section

Advertising

Analysis of the latest advertising campaigns and trends in the media and entertainment sectors.

A dynamic depiction of a Nigerian city street at night, with citizens engrossed in their smartphones, showcasing the dominance of digital and social media advertising.

Nigeria's $1.1B Online Ad Market Booms Amidst Social Media

Over 120 million Nigerians now access the internet, making social media advertising the leading segment in the nation's $1.

Leo Hartmann· Jul 1· 3 min
Media and retail leaders finalize a major deal, symbolizing the convergence of traditional media and digital advertising platforms in the CTV era.

Retail Media's CTV Pivot: Fox's $22B Roku Acquisition

Fox acquired Roku for $22 billion, a move that fundamentally reshapes how media companies and retailers battle for advertising control.

Leo Hartmann· Jun 30· 4 min
A diverse group of individuals, including people with disabilities, actively collaborating and brainstorming in a modern advertising agency meeting room.

Disability Inclusion in Advertising: Current State and Importance

In February 2021, only 1% of nearly 450,000 primetime ads on broadcast and cable TV included representation of disability-related themes, visuals, or topics, despite one in four US adults living with

Leo Hartmann· Jun 17· 5 min
A towering, impenetrable digital wall symbolizing advertising walled gardens, with frustrated advertisers attempting to access valuable data streams within.

What Are Advertising Walled Gardens and How Do They Limit Data?

In 2022, Amazon generated a staggering $38 billion through its Amazon Ads service, revealing the immense financial power of digital advertising's closed ecosystems.

Leo Hartmann· Jun 9· 5 min
Abstract representation of AI and cloud computing powering ad tech, with glowing data streams and a central processing unit.

Independent Ad Tech Leverages Cloud Hardware and AI

A small ad tech startup, leveraging only public cloud AI, recently outbid a major agency on a complex programmatic campaign.

Leo Hartmann· Jun 8· 4 min
Futuristic control room with holographic displays visualizing programmatic advertising data for film trailer placement in 2026.

Programmatic Advertising's Entertainment Marketing Impact in 2026

A major film studio recently cut ad waste by 30% on a blockbuster, not by slashing budgets, but by letting algorithms dictate trailer placement, according to a Studio X Internal Report.

Leo Hartmann· Jun 7· 4 min
A vibrant city street at dusk with large outdoor advertisements, illustrating the resurgence of OOH advertising in the face of social media fatigue.

Social Media Fatigue Fuels Unexpected Outdoor Advertising Boom

In a surprising reversal, consumers are now 38% more likely to recall an outdoor advertisement than a social media ad, a stark contrast to a decade ago when digital reigned, according to the Global Ad

Leo Hartmann· Jun 6· 4 min
Split image showing AI generating ad visuals on one side and human creatives brainstorming on the other, symbolizing the balance between technology and artistry in advertising.

AI in-house ad production slashes costs, but can it capture hearts?

AI video generation can cost as little as $0.

Leo Hartmann· May 29· 4 min
A visual representation of advertising budgets shifting from traditional TV to short-form video platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts.

Short-Form Video's Rise Reshapes TV Ad Budgets

In 2023, a major CPG brand shifted 30% of its Q4 TV ad budget to TikTok and YouTube Shorts, a move unthinkable just three years prior, according to AdAge .

Leo Hartmann· May 14· 4 min
A dynamic, futuristic cityscape illustrating the integration of digital commerce media advertising into physical retail environments.

What is Commerce Media and How Does It Impact Advertising?

Global commerce media advertising spend is projected to hit $158 billion this year, already capturing over 20% of total digital ad spend, fundamentally reshaping how brands reach consumers.

Leo Hartmann· May 4· 5 min
Cinematic visualization of an AI system optimizing global advertising campaigns with real-time data streams and holographic displays.

Agentic AI Surges in Ad Optimization, Challenging Traditional Roles

In just one year, Google's AI Max, its fastest-growing AI search product, has onboarded hundreds of thousands of advertisers, while rival ChatGPT's ad platform counts a mere 600, according to AdExchan

Leo Hartmann· May 3· 4 min
A media buyer intensely focused on multiple digital screens displaying advertising campaign data, charts, and analytics in a fast-paced environment.

What is the role and responsibilities of a media buyer in advertising?

A media buyer's day can involve negotiating complex digital ad rates and completing critical tasks within a 24-48 hour window, directly impacting millions in ad spend.

Leo Hartmann· Apr 23· 6 min
Futuristic cityscape with holographic ads and an abstract AI entity, representing AI's role in ad creative generation and the launch of the Agent Registry.

AI Trends Reshape Ad Creative Generation Amidst Agent Registry Launch

At a major industry body, the IAB Tech Lab has launched an Agent Registry, a vetted list of agentic tools.

Leo Hartmann· Apr 23· 3 min
Journalist in a newsroom trying to distinguish between editorial content and disguised native advertisements, symbolizing the challenge of media transparency.

What are native advertising benefits and ethical considerations?

A study found that 71% of native ads on the home pages of the top 100 news websites failed to provide adequate disclosures, making it nearly impossible for readers to distinguish them from editorial c

Leo Hartmann· Apr 22· 5 min
A visual representation of creator marketing's rapid growth, showing creators on digital platforms and a rising ad spend graph, symbolizing the $37 billion projection by 2025.

Creator marketing to hit $37B in US ad spend by 2025

Individual creator videos on TikTok can generate over $200,000 in sales for a brand.

Leo Hartmann· Apr 21· 3 min
Futuristic cityscape with digital billboards showing upward trends and e-commerce symbols, representing the surge in digital advertising revenue.

Digital Ad Revenue Surges 13.9% Amidst E-commerce Growth

In 2025, internet advertising revenue climbed to US$294.

Leo Hartmann· Apr 20· 3 min
Abstract digital landscape visualizing the $8.4 billion digital audio ad market, highlighting an undervalued opportunity for advertisers.

Digital audio ad spend hits $8.4 billion, an undervalued opportunity

In 2025, podcast advertising revenue surged by 17.

Leo Hartmann· Apr 17· 4 min
Futuristic cityscape with digital billboards and a TV screen showing a graph of soaring CTV ad spend, representing the dominance of programmatic buying.

CTV Ad Spend Soars as Programmatic Buying Dominates

By 2030, 75% of Disney's non-linear TV ad business will be automated, reports StreamTV Insider .

Leo Hartmann· Apr 16· 3 min
Split image showing a social media influencer creating authentic content alongside a clear FTC disclosure document, symbolizing the balance between engagement and legal compliance.

How to Disclose Influencer Marketing Connections Clearly and Ethically

Vague language like 'collab' or '#spon' is considered insufficient by the FTC, potentially leading to fines and legal action for influencers and brands.

Leo Hartmann· Apr 15· 5 min
An intricate, glowing network of digital connections and data streams representing the complex, high-speed ad tech stack behind modern digital advertising.

What Is an Ad Tech Stack? A Guide to Its Key Components

The ad tech stack is the complex, high-speed system behind digital advertising, connecting advertisers and publishers. Understanding its components is crucial for navigating the modern media environment.

Leo Hartmann· Apr 10· 8 min
A digital shield protecting a brand logo from a chaotic swirl of inappropriate online content, symbolizing brand safety in advertising.

What Is Brand Safety in Digital Advertising and Why It Matters

More than 70% of consumers would feel less favorable toward a brand whose ads appear near inappropriate content. This article explains what brand safety is, why it matters, and how to implement effective strategies.

Leo Hartmann· Apr 9· 10 min
A futuristic cityscape with glowing digital billboards, neural networks, and data streams symbolizing AI and data optimizing programmatic advertising campaigns.

What Is Programmatic Advertising? How AI and Data Fuel Modern Ad Campaigns

Programmatic advertising, fueled by AI and data, is revolutionizing how digital ads are bought and sold. Discover how this automated system optimizes targeting, adapts to privacy shifts, and is evolving with agentic AI.

Leo Hartmann· Apr 7· 9 min
Family watching a sports game on a transparent screen, with virtual ads seamlessly integrated into the stadium background, illustrating modern media's future.

What Are Virtual Advertising Services and How Do They Impact Modern Media?

Virtual advertising services are transforming modern media by seamlessly integrating ads into content, enhancing viewer engagement and opening new revenue streams. Discover how AI, computer vision, and AR power this non-disruptive approach.

Leo Hartmann· Apr 7· 8 min
Abstract digital representation of marketing data streams converging, highlighting the concept of incrementality and true ad campaign impact in a complex media landscape.

What Is Incrementality in Advertising and Why Does It Matter?

Incrementality in advertising measures the true, causal impact of marketing efforts, moving beyond correlation to prove an ad campaign's real value. It's essential for optimizing budgets and making data-driven decisions in today's complex media landscape.

Leo Hartmann· Apr 4· 8 min
A marketer analyzing a holographic data visualization of marginal ROI, showing optimized ad spend and future growth in a high-tech office.

What Is Marginal ROI in Advertising? A Guide for Marketers

Marginal ROI in advertising is key for marketers to optimize future investments, moving beyond historical averages to pinpoint where the next dollar spent will be most effective. This guide explores its importance, how it differs from average ROI, and methods for effective measurement.

Leo Hartmann· Apr 2· 8 min
Diverse audience actively engaging with compelling video storytelling content on multiple digital screens, showcasing strong brand connection and online presence.

How to Leverage Video Storytelling for Your Brand's Online Presence: A Complete Guide

Discover how to effectively leverage video storytelling to build a stronger online presence for your brand. This guide covers strategic approaches, common pitfalls, and key elements for creating compelling video content.

Leo Hartmann· Apr 2· 9 min
Diverse individuals in a bustling city, each engaged by a luminous narrative thread, illustrating the power of brand storytelling to connect and captivate audiences amidst advertising noise.

What Is Brand Storytelling in Advertising? A Comprehensive Guide to Crafting Engaging Narratives

With consumers seeing over 10,000 brand messages daily, what is brand storytelling in advertising if not a vital tool for cutting through the noise?

Leo Hartmann· Apr 1· 8 min
Abstract digital landscape illustrating programmatic advertising, with data streams, glowing screens, and automated ad placements targeting various media and entertainment platforms.

What Is Programmatic Advertising? A Comprehensive Guide to its Mechanisms and Importance

Programmatic advertising is transforming how digital ad space is bought and sold, moving from manual negotiations to automated, data-driven transactions. This guide explores its core mechanisms and critical importance for the media and entertainment industry.

Leo Hartmann· Mar 30· 9 min
Futuristic digital advertising landscape with interactive, privacy-conscious ads and engaged consumers interacting with transparent screens.

Top 3 Emerging Ad Formats and Platforms Marketers Need in 2026

Marketers who fail to embrace interactive, privacy-first ad formats by 2026 risk becoming invisible in a fragmented digital landscape where user attention is fiercely guarded.

Leo Hartmann· Apr 25· 4 min
Cinematic visualization of AI-driven advertising, showing digital networks and consumer interaction with glowing ads, highlighting the future of marketing technology.

Top 6 Emerging Ad Tech & Strategies to Watch

Samsung's AI-generated social ads reportedly lack consistent disclosures about their reliance on AI technology, leaving consumers unaware of their digital origins, according to Ad Age .

Leo Hartmann· Apr 24· 3 min