蘑菇AV

Peacock is joining Prime Video鈥檚 ecosystem, giving viewers access to the service as an add-on with Prime subscriptions, per an Amazon announcement. The ad-free version of Comcast鈥檚 streaming platform will cost the same on Prime Video as it would individually. Peacock joins the likes of Paramount+, Apple TV+, and HBO Max in becoming part of Prime鈥檚 ecosystem. Peacock鈥檚 integration into Prime Video turns a mid-tier streamer struggling with profitability into part of a premium bundle, giving advertisers access to a larger, more engaged audience part of Amazon鈥檚 high-value ecosystem.

Snap debuted a new ad suite for marketers and developers, offering an 鈥淎pp Power Pack鈥� that includes new bid strategies, ad formats, optimization strategies, and targeting capabilities to boost ROI, per MediaPost. Snap鈥檚 ad suite is an important step in the company鈥檚 efforts to cement its strength in advertising and curb slowing growth. We forecast the platform鈥檚 ad revenues will continue falling in the low single digits through 2027. But with competitors already offering similar products, Snapchat needs to go a step further to stand out.

Google鈥檚 AI-powered video creation platform, Vids, has surpassed 1 million monthly active users, fueled by a new free tier and updates that simplify production. Features include motion effects for product photos, AI transcript editing, Google Meet integrations, and expanded social formats. Paid users retain advanced options like multi-style AI avatars. The adoption highlights rising demand for scalable video workflows鈥�46% of professionals already use AI for images or videos, per 蘑菇AV. With ideation and personalization ranking as top genAI use cases, Vids is positioning itself as a daily creative tool, potentially joining Docs and Slides in Google鈥檚 productivity suite.

Instagram is currently testing a picture-in-picture (PiP) viewing option for Reels that will allow users to watch the short-form service outside of the Instagram app. Instagram is reportedly prompting a small number of users to test the option, which includes a toggle for PiP in Instagram鈥檚 playback settings. While it鈥檚 a late move for Instagram, PiP Reels will extend the platform鈥檚 role beyond active scrolling, letting advertisers reach consumers during passive moments, unlocking a critical advantage in a crowded social landscape.

Nearly three-quarters (73.5%) of US adults at least sometimes check prices or inventory online before visiting a store, according to a May survey from Locala and 蘑菇AV.

Google staff are quietly preparing Ad Manager for life as a potential stand-alone company, per The Information. Employees recently met with ad agencies鈥攁n unusual move for a publisher-facing business鈥攁s a federal court considers whether Google must divest its ad tech unit. Ad Manager generates an estimated $5 billion in annual revenues but faces declining demand and complaints from streaming players and publishers about slow innovation. With DOJ regulators pressing for a spinoff and rivals like Magnite and PubMatic gaining ground, Google鈥檚 outreach underscores how seriously it views the threat of breakup and the need for buyer-side relationships.

The summer boom for marketing interns was more of a thud: A report found that the number of ad industry internships has sharply declined since 2022.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will publish its final print edition on December 31, 2025, before becoming a digital-only outlet on January 1, 2026. Publisher Andrew Morse said the move will allow resources to flow into newsletters, podcasts, video, and a new mobile app. The 157-year-old paper has already posted double-digit digital subscription growth and expanded statewide reach. The shift mirrors broader industry trends: nearly half of US adults never read print newspapers, while digital ad spend continues to climb. AJC鈥檚 farewell to print underscores the inevitable math: audiences and advertisers are digital, and adaptation is survival.

On today鈥檚 podcast episode, we discuss the biggest discrepancy by device with regards to where we spend our time versus how many ad dollars are aimed there, why social players want to take a page from YouTube鈥檚 CTV playbook, and why sub OTT鈥檚 unusual path to advertising has created major misalignments. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host, Marcus Johnson, Principal Forecasting Writer, Ethan Cramer-Flood, and Senior Analyst, Minda Smiley. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

US beauty shoppers are becoming more price conscious, even as overall spending continues to increase. The lipstick effect may have lost some of its punch, but it continues to support steady beauty sales. We expect US cosmetics and beauty sales to grow a relatively sedate 2.4% this year on strength in the hair and skincare categories.

The trend: Retail layoffs have surged 249% in the first seven months of the year, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas鈥攁nd more cuts are likely to come as tariffs squeeze margins. Our take: Layoffs at large prominent retailers like Nike, Kroger, and Best Buy are a clear signal of what鈥檚 ahead. Staff cuts at these industry leaders suggest the sector is bracing for weaker consumer demand and persistent margin pressure. If the strongest players are retreating, weaker chains are likely to follow. These moves may prove the canary in the coal mine for a broader retail reset.

The situation: Dollar General, Amazon, and Walmart are on a collision course as each races to speed up rural ecommerce deliveries and win loyalty in a market ripe for growth. Our take: Dollar General, Amazon, and Walmart are pushing hard into rural ecommerce because the growth potential is too big to ignore. The retailers that can pair speed with convenience will be best positioned to lock in lasting loyalty.

If social media is a digital shopping mall, genAI assistants are personal shoppers. As AI gains ground, it could disrupt established social shopping behaviors.

The news: Citi Wealth has launched AI-driven tools for employees aimed at improving client communication, per a press release. Our take: AI platforms will deliver the greatest impact when banks shift them from passive information repositories to active drivers of business growth. This will require integrating the tools with other systems. For example, an AI assistant could automatically draft personalized client emails in response to a market event identified by Advisor Insights. A human advisor could then review and send the emails. This level of integration would increase the speed of personalized outreach, giving banks a competitive edge in maintaining and growing client relationships.

Historically, search engines and social platforms acted as gateways, linking to other sites for consumers to continue reading, researching, or shopping. Now, those platforms are answering queries directly within their own ecosystems, resulting in a 鈥渮ero-click search.鈥�

The news: IDC has nearly doubled its worldwide smartphone forecast for 2025. Once projected at 0.6%, growth is now expected to hit 1%, fueled by iOS momentum, replacement demand, and a premium-device push, per 9to5Mac. Our take: Smartphones are entering a new cycle of innovation and moving upmarket. AI-first features and foldables will reset consumer expectations, open premium price tiers, and change which brands consumers choose and build loyalty toward. Advertisers and marketers should plan for richer, device-native experiences. Build campaigns that tap into AI-driven personalization, visual search, and generative content creation.

The trend: Neurologists don鈥檛 recall specific brand names of drugs. They think of medication in broader terms, like the type of conditions they treat (e.g., autoimmune disease drugs), or which class of drug category they belong to (e.g., anticonvulsants), according to a July 2025 survey of 57 US neurologists. The big takeaway: Marketing that leads with the product鈥檚 name works well for some drug categories. That鈥檚 the case for blockbuster cancer drugs such as Merck鈥檚 Keytruda and Bristol Myers Squibb鈥檚 Opdivo鈥攂oth of which have strong unaided recall rates with oncologists, per previous ZoomRx research. Neurology is a broad category that treats a diverse range of conditions, however. Most HCP marketing strategies in this space should detail how their product tops others in the same drug category or for a particular indication (e.g., 鈥渁 leading anti-seizure drug), supplemented with peer-reviewed efficacy and safety data, as well as physician prescribing patterns and patient testimonials.

Fubo is launching Fubo Sports, a 鈥渟kinny鈥� standalone sports streaming bundle with a lower cost than its existing plans and pay TV competitors. The bundle offers access to more than 20 sports-focused channels, including ESPN Unlimited, per Variety. If Fubo leans into being a low-cost, high-intensity sports hub, it can carve out a profitable niche, even if it lags behind in subscriber count and scale. But without more exclusive rights or differentiation, Fubo Sports could risk being seen as a less complete version of other bundles.

The situation: Best Buy鈥檚 comparable sales rose 1.6% in Q2, its fastest pace in three years, driven by gains in gaming, computing, and mobile phones. A major boost came from the high-profile launch of Nintendo Switch 2, which pushed June sales up nearly 10%鈥攖he retailer鈥檚 best month since March 2021, per Bloomberg Second Measure, which tracks US debit and credit transactions. Our take: Best Buy is experimenting to reignite growth. Earlier this month it rolled out a third-party marketplace to broaden its assortment and began testing a store-within-a-store partnership with Ikea, positioning its appliances inside Ikea kitchens and laundry rooms. While neither move is likely to be a game-changer, in today鈥檚 tough environment, even small wins matter. Still, to spark lasting growth, Best Buy may need to augment these moves with bolder bets in services and subscriptions.

The news: Netflix鈥檚 heavy use of algorithms to shape recommendations and even greenlight shows is facing criticism for stifling originality. The platform tracks what viewers watch, how long they stay, and when and where they tune in. Algorithms then predict which shows to produce and promote, prioritizing scale and retention over creative risks. Our take: Netflix鈥檚 algorithm-first strategy may boost retention in the short term, but it risks long-term brand erosion in an oversaturated market. With viewers favoring platforms that deliver originality and cultural impact, rivals investing in originality and prestige programming have a clear opening to capture Netflix鈥檚 fatigued subscribers.

The news: Revolut is exploring paths that can help it expand in the US banking industry. The company recently held talks with investment bankers about hiring them to advise on a potential bank acquisition, per Bloomberg. What it means for banks: Nationally chartered banks could see more interest from fintechs or international firms that want to follow Revolut鈥檚 path. And more licensed banks means more competitors鈥攁rmed with not only the agility and digital innovation of a fintech, but also the physical footprint of the banks they鈥檙e acquiring. To combat the threat, banks will need to double down on their biggest strengths, including longstanding reputations, customer-centricity, and the personalized products and services that customers want most, like those we highlight in our 鈥淯S Mobile Banking Emerging Features Benchmark 2025鈥� report.

Shoppers鈥� search for value is steering them to budget-friendly retailers鈥攐ff-price chains, dollar stores, and other discounters鈥攖hat benefited from a surge in sales and traffic in Q2. Value is top-of-mind for today鈥檚 consumer, regardless of income level. That鈥檚 good news for discounters and dollar stores, which are ideally placed to benefit from consumers鈥� financial anxieties. However, risks such as renewed tariffs or dips in consumer confidence mean retailers need to carefully manage their assortments and pricing.