蘑菇AV

New subscription links inside the iOS app are already driving Premium spikes, showing how much Apple鈥檚 restrictions held developers back.

This sponsored article by FreeWheel will explore ad-supported streaming.

Dozens of ads with AI voices found marketing illegal drugs on Spotify: The incident highlights the struggle to keep up with AI鈥檚 rapid development.

YouTube introduces new offerings for ads, podcasts: The platform aims to highlight its ability to reach audiences with unmatched versatile content options.

TikTok brings DMs directly to livestreams: The update is part of TikTok鈥檚 broader livestream push, designed to keep brands and creators around.

TikTok debuts AI Alive, an image-to-video generation tool: The feature is part of TikTok鈥檚 push to maintain dominance in a competitive short-form market.

The news: What shouldn鈥檛 get lost in the shuffle during Spotify鈥檚 earnings report this week was that the streaming giant has paid out over $100 million to podcasters and publishers worldwide since January. The payouts are fueled by the newly launched Partner Program, which incentivizes creators to upload video podcasts and boost engagement.

Competitive streaming: Despite Netflix鈥檚 dominance in paid streaming, YouTube still leads watch time, and its content is more broadly accessible. YouTube claimed a record 12% of all streaming watch time in March, per Nielsen, up from 10.8% in January. Netflix鈥檚 share of watch time fell to 7.9% from 8.6%.

Under Google鈥檚 stewardship since its 2006 acquisition, it has expanded into all things video: YouTube鈥檚 portfolio now includes digital pay TV via YouTube TV, ad-free subscriptions, music streaming, short-form video, and an expansive creator economy that attracts more than half of US marketers.

Claude鈥檚 new tool offers developers a way to skip the browser and run real-time, cited searches鈥攖hreatening ad models and SEO strategies alike.

By 2026, nine streaming services will generate over $1 billion in ad revenue, up from just two in 2020, according to 蘑菇AV鈥檚 forecast. To build that revenue, players across the connected TV (CTV) space are eyeing more ad dollars, which will have a significant effect on marketing budgets and consumer experiences.

By Q2 2025, Netflix and Max will be the only streaming services to have average CPMs higher than $30, per our September 2024 forecast.

Discovery, and Disney鈥攔un streaming services of their own that carry some of their linear content, leaving Netflix with limited potential partners. However, owning a streaming service doesn鈥檛 mean a deal is impossible: TF1 has its own free, direct-to-consumer offering with 35 million viewers, but the canyon between its use and Netflix鈥檚 is a clear indication of where viewers are.

LinkedIn rebrands its Wire Program as BrandLink: The move reemphasizes its pivot toward creator-led B2B video.

The unscripted advantage: Netflix is well ahead of other streaming platforms, used by 59% of US adults, dominating in total viewership for subscription OTT platforms, and leading in ad revenue growth.

Podcasts are easily accessible on free platforms like YouTube and Spotify, meaning they aren鈥檛 subject to consumer budget cuts in the way other mediums, like paid streaming services, are. Zooming out: The findings align with the broader trend of brands increasingly investing in podcasting. We forecast that overall podcast ad spending will reach $2.51 billion in 2025 and exceed $3 billion by 2028.

Campaign strategies for linear should be about brand awareness and building, while drug ads on streaming platforms will have a more direct aim based on the targeted audience.

TikTok makes a bid to encourage creators, agencies to livestream: The push is part of the platform鈥檚 strategic effort to avoid a US ban.

Linear losses: Radio and linear TV news are on the decline for both news consumption and general viewership as audiences switch to on-demand streaming and podcasts.

Ad budgets are slowly migrating from terrestrial radio to digital platforms, but the shift is stymied by slow platform subscriber growth and by YouTube.

Nearly three-quarters (71%) of US Gen Zers find new media content on YouTube, per Toluna, compared with 72% on social platforms like TikTok and Instagram and 60% via streaming playlists. In 2025, 50.2% of US marketers will use YouTube for influencer marketing, per our forecast. While that鈥檚 still behind 84.5% for Instagram and 61.2% for TikTok, YouTube is gaining ground.

The industry is shifting accordingly: Streaming services like Netflix and Amazon are emphasizing interactivity via ad formats like QR codes and quizzes. Wide availability via programmatic buying channels has also become a priority as platforms attempt to integrate with familiar processes.

Revolut reached over $1 billion in profits with strong subscription and wealth performance.