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In H1 2024, US connected TV (CTV) ad impressions served by FreeWheel grew 14% YoY. In Q3 2024, US free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) ad impressions increased 38% YoY, and global FAST impressions increased 41% YoY, according to Amagi. Total ad spending on CTV is growing. While increased inventory contributes to lower ad prices, it also elevates ad spending.

The news:** Amazon has quietly doubled the ad load on Prime Video, now serving 4 to 6 minutes of ads per hour鈥攗p from 2 to 3.5鈥攑lacing it alongside Hulu and Paramount+ in volume. This aligns with Amazon鈥檚 effort to scale its connected TV inventory and offers buyers greater reach. Our take: The added ad time could shift Prime Video鈥檚 role in media planning, attracting performance-focused advertisers if CPMs soften, or reinforcing a premium stance if PMP rates hold. Weekly user engagement remains high, making the platform a reliable environment for consistent exposure. Amazon is quietly positioning Prime Video as a leading CTV ad player.

New data reinforces this shift: 41% of US retail media/brand professionals say retail media鈥檚 top use is reaching high-intent audiences. But a third of respondents also cite lookalike audience building, suppression list targeting, and remarketing鈥攑roof that brands are viewing these platforms as tools for segmentation, not just conversions. Why it matters:.

(We forecast US mobile game ad revenues will reach $7.96 billion by the end of this year.) By analyzing in-game behavior, the company offers advertisers precise user segmentation and targeting鈥攕omething that consumers increasingly see as less obtrusive. How does AppLovin compare with competitors like Google and Meta? AppLovin now commands a notable share of mobile ad spending.

The news: Rewards app Fetch and measurement platform Kochava teamed up to offer loyalty rewards to streaming users, per Marketing Brew. Loyalty+ users can earn points from streaming movies or series, watching specific episodes, or downloading streaming apps. Video on demand (SVOD) services can offer incentives based on their chosen KPIs. Our take: Little treats from big streamers can add up and boost loyalty, provided the incentives are worthwhile and requirements aren鈥檛 burdensome. Watching TV for several hours for a fraction of a Starbucks drink, for example, won鈥檛 likely improve platform stickiness.

Click here to view our full forecasts for US programmatic direct nonsocial digital display ad spending and US real-time bidding (RTB) nonsocial ad spending. But PMPs have also gained share of programmatic budgets. In 2020, PMPs and the open exchange each accounted for about half of nonsocial RTB ad spending.

The news: Dick鈥檚 Sporting Goods鈥� retail media arm, Dick鈥檚 Media, is partnering with Roku to bring its shopper data to connected TV, per Adweek. Our take: Dick鈥檚 sees retail media as a long-term growth engine, and its partnership with Roku should enhance its ability to compete with larger players by combining rich loyalty data with precise streaming insights. While Dick鈥檚 Media already offered brands a robust mix of in-store and digital ad opportunities, the expanded Roku partnership enables more targeted, measurable, and high-impact campaigns鈥攅specially as connected TV becomes a core pillar in the modern advertising mix.

The news: Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) plans to split into two separate public companies by 2026, one focused on streaming and studios and the other on global cable networks, the company announced. Its streaming company will include HBO Max and WBD鈥檚 movie properties, while the global networks company will include TNT Sports, Discovery, and CNN. Our take: WBD鈥檚 move emphasizes that sticking with a one-size-fits-all model is no longer viable given traditional TV declines and the rise of streaming. Managing decline while pursuing growth requires two fundamentally different playbooks.

The shift in spending aligns with viewing habits: Time spent with CTV is increasing, and nearly three-quarters of the US population will be CTV users by 2029, per our forecast. And for the first time this year, time spent with CTV is projected to outpace time spent with traditional TV鈥攊ndicating that CTV provides an increasingly lucrative opportunity for advertisers to reach target audiences.

The news: Amazon鈥檚 Private Auction is quietly reshaping the CTV landscape by introducing more flexible buying on Prime Video. The format allows smaller advertisers and performance marketers to compete for inventory through open bidding, bypassing the need for costly guaranteed placements. As CPMs decline and the demand for agility rises, this move gives brands better control over pricing and access. Our take: While big brands may still favor premium guarantees, Amazon鈥檚 shift reflects broader momentum toward programmatic efficiency. By inviting direct-response buyers into the Prime Video ecosystem, Amazon is not just monetizing scale鈥攊t鈥檚 redefining what CTV access looks like in 2025.

Find us at Cannes: Marzano will be participating in two in-store retail media events hosted by Stratecache, sitting down with CVS, Albertsons, and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) to explore in-store retail media鈥檚 evolution, measurement, and influence on customer experience.

LinkedIn鈥檚 CTV Ads鈥攏ow available for buyers in the US and Canada鈥攄eliver four times better targeting than linear TV, according to iSpot, and now include expanded access to Paramount鈥檚 streaming inventory. New integrations with Adobe Express, Innovid, and Sprinklr simplify campaign creation and cross-screen delivery for video ads.

The news: The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) gave a glimpse of the TV (CTV) advertising鈥檚 future at its IAB Tech Lab event鈥攁nd proved that pause ads are leading the way. Advertising leaders said they offer the best user experience, were most likely to scale with standardization, and provided the greatest increase in ad spend. Our take: The future of CTV advertising will rely on whether advertisers can implement non-intrusive formats that capture attention. Pause ads are positioned to drive action鈥攂ut advertisers must reimagine their creative strategy to capitalize on this potential.

There are now more than 80 retail media networks (RMNs) in the US. The volume of RMNs, combined with the dominance of Amazon and other established competitors, makes it challenging for new and niche RMNs to capture share.

At CES 2025, AI demonstrated its potential as a force multiplier, transforming everything from living rooms to daily commutes.