DIAL: Digital Innovations Awesome List (August)

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!

The Rise of Self-Service in Ad-Tech
As media buyers call for more transparency, the media planning and buying ad tech industry is moving toward a self-service model. This shift allows media buyers to have their own bidding tool and manage their data in-house. The appetite is there from the buy side, but it seems many technology companies have been hesitant to fully develop the platforms and are instead relying on recent acquisitions to create an end-to-end solution. #BasisFTW

Outbrain Acquires Native DSP Zemanta
This deal comes after months of speculation of an Outbrain and Taboola merger. Instead, it will bring together Outbrain's native recommendation ad products and Zemanta's native DSP, which has access to 30 native supply platforms, including Outbrain and their competitors.

Discovery Aims for Content Clout with Scripps Network Bid
This $11.9 billion deal will bring together Scripps' largely female-focused lifestyle channels such as HGTV, Travel Channel, and Food Network with Discovery's Animal Planet and Discovery Channel, whose viewers are primarily male. With more viewers watching shows and movies on their phones, tablets, and phablets, U.S. TV networks and cable providers are feeling the pressure. The hope is this will give Discovery & Scripps an advantage in skinny bundle negotiations and economy-priced cable packages. One thing is for sure: The Puppy Bowl and Property Brothers tie-in is going to be adorable.

Adobe Finally Kills Flash Dead
Adobe has announced 2020 as the end-of-life date for Flash. For a guy who taught himself Flash in 2000 and spent the early part of his career designing ads in Flash, this is the end of an era.

Experimenting with VR Ad Formats
Gaze Here Now: From Area 120, Google's internal workshop for experimental ideas, comes the early stage experiment of what a native, mobile VR ad format might look like. Check out a couple of examples created by developers experimenting with the forthcoming ARKit from Apple.

With Echo, Amazon is Emerging as a Friend to Publishers
Publishers say Amazon has given them significant freedom to create skills for the Echo — and has even been willing to make accommodations publisher requests. In this honeymoon stage, Amazon has also allowed some publishers to monetize Echo without asking for a cut. “Alexa – how long will this last?"

For the Wealthiest Americans, Amazon Prime has Become the Norm
82% of households with annual incomes above $112,000 have access to free two-day shipping and both seasons of Man in the High Castle — whereas only about half of households making under $41,000 have an Amazon Prime membership. Recognizing the opportunity for growth, and in an attempt to woo Walmart shoppers, Amazon announced a half-price pay by the month ($5.99) option for low-income shoppers.

Android and iOS Updates Pump the Brakes on Location Data
With the looming mobile operating system updates, Apple will make changes that give consumers more control and insight into when apps are using their location. Android is making changes to limit the amount and frequency of background data available for developers. Their intention is to eliminate apps that capture a user's location, but don't provide the value associated with that exchange.

August's DIAL is also available as a PDF. Download here!