Our media experts provide context and analyses on the latest search and social news in this monthly roundup.
At Centro, we know that keeping up with the trade pubs and latest trends can be tough and time-consuming. To make that easier, we’ve compiled all the articles, reports, and other bits of awesomeness you may have missed, but should definitely read. Enjoy our latest list below!
Apple Reveals a News Service and Shows Its Ambivalence to Ads [:03]
The announcement of Apple News Plus may have sounded like another win for subscription models and a loss for ad-supported publications. However, the big publishers will not only receive a portion of the subscription fees and increased subscriber numbers—they’ll also be able to run digital versions of their print ads.
Walmart partners with Google on voice-enabled grocery shopping [:03]
In an effort to go head-to-head with Amazon, Google and Walmart are continuing their collaboration to make it even easier for people to add items to a digital cart and order groceries for pick-up or delivery. Powered by Google Assistant, which runs across all Google devices, the new service has been dubbed Walmart Voice Order. Fear not - there is still an opportunity to explore the in-store experience from home!
Kantar Data Reveals Behavior Patterns Of Amazon, Google Smart Speaker Owners [:02]
With continued anticipation in the marketing community for all the advertising possibilities to come from voice search, Kantar conducted a study highlighting how people are commonly using some of the most popular smart speakers, identifying some of the most common uses for Google Home and Amazon Echo, and offering behavioral insights worth noting for future ad strategies.
Domino's Adds In-Car Ordering via Touchscreen [:03]
Domino’s continues its path of pizza innovation—this time, with a connected car app. Connected cars offer advertisers an abundance of opportunity when it comes to location data and brands like Domino's are wading into the space.
Worldwide Streaming Subscribers Surpass Cable Subscribers For First Time [:01]
A new study by the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) based on 2018 data found that for the first time ever, more people are subscribing to streaming services online, than traditional cable TV services worldwide. Unsurprisingly, the study also found that transactional home entertainment (DVD and other digital copy sales) are down 5% over last year and subscription services have risen nearly 30% YOY.
Agency ad buyers say there isn’t enough addressable TV inventory [:03]
Despite massive improvements from a technological perspective with buying and targeting households, addressable TV advertising continues to be challenged, due to issues with scale. Only one-eighth of the 65 million U.S. households that could be served addressable ads are actually able to be served. Despite numerous media partners looking to expand offerings including AT&T’s Xandr and NCC Media, they all continue to struggle with the limitation of the two-minute inventory allotment available for addressable ads.
Sizmek Files For Bankruptcy And Faces An Uncertain Fate [:02]
Integrating companies is hard, but integrating them into an ad tech stack seems to be even harder. Last week, Sizmek filed for bankruptcy protection as it looks to work through debt repayment and company restructuring.