Some News Influencers Have Already Lost Ad Revenue As TikTok Ban Nears

Back in the 2010s, journalists and the legacy media outlets that employed them famously pivoted to video on digital platforms like Facebook and Twitter. In 2020, they pivoted to TikTok. As the world went into lockdown amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the platform saw its audience skyrocket. And those incoming viewers proved particularly hungry for news–a…

As Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Ban, Creators Fret About The Future

On Friday (Jan. 17), the Supreme Court upheld a law that will see TikTok banned in the U.S. on Sunday (Jan. 19). The decision leaves creators searching for other platforms to reach their audiences. For creators like Gigi Robinson, TikTok’s silence on how to prepare for a ban has left them feeling uninformed. Robinson said…

GroupM U.S. Chief Investment Officer Matt Sweeney to Exit

Longtime GroupM executive Matt Sweeney has stepped down from his role, ADWEEK has learned. Sweeney has been with GroupM since 2014, when he joined the company as senior vice president of client engagement at programmatic trading desk Xaxis. Over his decadelong tenure with the group, he succeeded to CEO of Xaxis and then to chief…

NFL and Bleacher Report Team Up for Content Rights and Super Bowl Coverage

The NFL is adding Bleacher Report to its team this offseason with a multiyear deal that hopes to turn the Warner Bros. Discovery digital platform’s audience and content, as well as the league’s highlights and sponsors, into a dynasty. The partnership, which began on NFL Wild Card weekend, gives Bleacher Report and House of Highlights…

Mischief Has Been Quietly Building a Media Department

Buzzy creative shop Mischief @ No Fixed Address has entered the media planning and buying space. The agency exclusively revealed to ADWEEK that it has been quietly building a media department for the past year, led by executive director of media Kristie Lee. The group has roughly 15 people and works with brands including Duolingo,…

Snapchat Lures in Creators in New Ad Campaign Amid TikTok Drama

Snap is reminding creators that its app is a central place to build a community in a new ad campaign. The company’s campaign comes as rival TikTok faces a potential ban in the U.S. this week. The Supreme Court is set to rule on a looming ban that would wipe the app from the U.S….

LA Stations Saw Audience Increase During Wildfire Coverage

Los Angeles’ local stations saw a spike in viewership when the fires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena started on Tuesday. Stations went wall-to-wall with coverage. Variety said the local stations saw their normal viewership double and even triple in some cases, especially as the fires began to spread. According to Nielsen data, market leader KABC…

Indeed Vet Jessica Jensen is LinkedIn’s Latest CMO

Jessica Jensen, who served as Indeed’s CMO since March of 2021, has been named Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for LinkedIn, the company announced today. Charged with overseeing global marketing, brand and corporate strategy, Jensen will report to COO Dan Shapero when she assumes her new role on January 21. Jensen replaces Melissa Selcher, who…

How the Viral Fake Birkin Bag Is Likely to Change Luxury Brands’ Marketing and Trademarking

A version of the famous Hermes Birkin bag sold at Walmart took off on social media, marking a big shift in how luxury marketers think about cheaper versions of their products. In recent weeks, a bag that looks like the Birkin bag went viral on social media. According to Sotheby’s, a genuine leather Birkin bag…

Disney, Fox, and WBD Surprisingly Kill Their New Sports Streamer

Venu Sports is officially out of the game. Today, Disney-owned ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery announced in a joint statement that Venu Sports, their proposed virtual MVPD service, will be discontinued. The decision is effective immediately. It comes the same week that Disney announced a deal to combine its Hulu + Live TV business…

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Disney Reveals 157 Million Global Monthly Active Users for Ad-Supported Tiers

Disney is giving advertisers tiers of joy thanks to its latest ad-supported streaming numbers. Today, at its 5th annual Tech and Data Showcase at CES, the company’s president of global advertising, Rita Ferro, announced that the company reached an estimated 157 million monthly active users globally, including 112 million domestically, on average per month over…

Why Disney’s Major Fubo Deal Is About More Than a Sports Streaming Legal Battle

The Mouse House is expanding, with Disney combining its Hulu + Live TV business with Fubo, but the streaming TV deal may be about way more than settling a legal battle over Venu Sports. Today, Disney announced its deal to combine its Hulu + Live TV business with Fubo, creating a combined virtual multichannel video…

Nikki Glaser-Hosted Golden Globes Is ‘Pope-ular’ With 10 Million Viewers

The 82nd annual Golden Globes ratings are in, and they’re Wickedly good. According to VideoAmp data, Sunday’s Golden Globes, which went up against NBC’s Sunday Night Football matchup of the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions, averaged 10.1 million viewers, which was on par with final numbers from 2024. The show’s live-streaming audience was up…

Influencer Marketing Firm Later Acquires Mavely for $250 Million to Help Marketers Track Sales

Private equity-backed Later said that it plans to acquire influencer marketing firm Mavely in a cash and equity deal valued at $250 million. Later manages social media and influencer campaigns where creators receive commissions for posting sponsored content. Mavely runs a network of 120,000 creators that work with 1,400 brands and retailers like Nike and…

Judge Won’t Lower Bail for Man Accused of Assaulting Colorado Springs Reporter

The judge overseeing the case against Patrick Egan, the man accused of a racially tinged assault against a Colorado Springs reporter, said Egan proposes “a significant community safety risk.” She refused to lower Egan’s bail and expressed concern about Egan’s willingness and ability to appear in court. Egan is accused of assaulting KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ronn…

Toledo Station Announces New Anchor Lineup

WTVG in Toledo, Ohio is making changes to its anchor lineup for the New Year. Starting Monday, longtime morning anchor Sashem Brey will be joining Lee Conklin at the anchor desk for the ABC affiliate’s 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. newscasts. Claire Mitchell will join James Starks for Action News Good Morning on the weekdays. Alexandria…

TikTok Communities Like BookTok and MovieTok Need a New Home

A TikTok ban appears imminent, and members of TikTok’s thriving communities, like #BookTok, #PerfumeTok, and #MovieTok, will need to find new platforms to connect. BookTok is not just a thriving community, but a space where people can build careers. For example, Eli Rallo is a published author who gained popularity on TikTok along with creator…

Fox Super Bowl Special Reunites Bill Belichick and Tom Brady

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are reuniting for a Super Bowl, and Michael Strahan’s presence won’t spoil it, for once. Strahan’s SMAC Entertainment is teaming up with Fox Sports Films, BZ Entertainment and NFL Films on a pre-Super Bowl special, “The Madden Cruiser: A Bayou Adventure With Bill Belichick.” Airing at 12pm ET ahead of…

IPG’s Initiative Wins Volvo’s $500 Million Media Account

Volvo is shaking up its media agency roster for the first time in 25 years. IPG Mediabrands’ Initiative has won Volvo’s global media review, ADWEEK has learned. The account spans all regions outside of China, with key markets including the U.S., U.K., Germany, Sweden, Japan, Australia, Korea. Work will begin in 2025 after a brief…