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Twitch expands sponsorship opportunities: While the change might attract creators, whether brands will buy in is debatable.

While many users sell products via Twitch livestreams, Amazon has yet to position the platform as a rival to other social video commerce sites like TikTok Shop.

Despite financial troubles among some esports and gaming video platforms, ad revenues will continue to grow for both media.

Its community鈥攔ooted in video games but expanding into esports, music, talk shows, and even cooking鈥攁ttracts a diverse base of creators, resulting in high watch-time numbers. We forecast that Twitch will have 36.4 million users by the end of 2024, accounting for 10.6% of the US population. By the numbers:.

On today's episode, we discuss the significance of Netflix saying it has 5 million monthly active users on its ad tier, the biggest impacts of the new streaming service Max, and how much noise a combined Paramount+ and Showtime offering can make. "In Other News," we talk about the current state of esports and what the best connected TV (CTV) ad formats are. Tune in to the discussion with our director of Briefings Jeremy Goldman.

YouTube brings side-by-side ads to livestreams: The move could help convince creators and advertisers that YouTube is the go-to livestream choice.

鈥淥ther video鈥� will account for 17 additional minutes, mainly going to esports (Twitch, etc.), YouTube competitors (Vimeo, etc.), news videos, educational videos, and adult content. We have broken out FAST for the first time, and it is growing quickly. Over 19 minutes per day will go to FAST services this year, a 10.0% increase over 2024.

On today's episode, we discuss the significance of the recent deal between Microsoft and OpenAI, whether TV is changing streaming back into TV, if the esports bubble has officially burst, whether Apple Maps' upgrades can start chipping away at Google's search dominance, some interesting facts about monarchies around the world, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our director of reports editing Rahul Chadha, director of forecasting Oscar Orozco, and analyst Max Willens.

Inside Amazon鈥檚 partnerships with InfoSum and Magnite: The new integrations highlight Amazon鈥檚 goal to be an essential platform for advertisers.

YouTube has more users than Facebook, Netflix, or Spotify. But its advertising revenues do not match its vast reach. This report contextualizes the opportunities and scope for growth in various media spheres.

This year鈥檚 festival highlighted a maturing creator economy, a reality check for AI, and bigger and bolder brand activations and marketing trends.

Digital gaming is popular across generations. But Gen Zers and millennials are more likely to game on multiple platforms, seek community around the hobby, and pass the habit on to their children.

Perplexity鈥檚 new ad makes Google a target: The company鈥檚 biggest ad yet, led by 鈥淪quid Game鈥� star Lee Jung-jae, could continue the push toward a more divided AI market.

Gen Z is driving the vertical video revolution: Platforms and marketers must meet them where they are鈥攐n mobile and with creators.

Latin America鈥檚 digital revolution is marching full steam ahead, with consumers spending more than a third of their day online. As social commerce and retail media propel the region鈥檚 digital economy to new heights, the runway for growth remains long.鈥�

The news: WhatsApp will begin showing ads for the first time since Meta鈥檚 2014 acquisition, starting with the Updates tab鈥檚 Status feature. Sponsored search placements and optional paid subscriptions will also be added to WhatsApp Channels. Ads won鈥檛 appear in encrypted chats or groups, and targeting will rely only on minimal metadata unless users opt in to link accounts. Our take: Meta is threading a careful line鈥攎onetizing WhatsApp while keeping privacy promises intact. With over 3 billion global users and deep consumer trust, the platform鈥檚 subtle shift into ads and subscriptions could deliver big returns if Meta avoids sparking user backlash over commercialization.

The news: Global ad spend growth is slowing but staying positive, with WARC projecting a 6.2% rise to $1.16 trillion in 2025 and MAGNA forecasting a 4.9% climb to $979 billion. Retail media is outpacing linear TV for the first time, and Alphabet, Meta, and Amazon continue to control the majority of digital revenues. Measurable channels like short-form video, retail media, and ad-supported VOD are gaining ground. Our take: Amid economic pressures and trade concerns, advertisers are prioritizing performance, shifting budgets geographically and platform-wise. With elections, AI, and major global events on the horizon, platforms that prove outcomes鈥攏ot impressions鈥攚ill shape the next era.