Partnership Empowers Podcast Publishers With Advanced Forecasting Solutions and Groundbreaking Audio Intelligence

Sounder, the leader in AI-powered brand safety and contextual intelligence for audio, and Flightpath, the leading provider of podcast ad inventory management solutions, today announced a partnership that will drastically improve impression availability forecasting for podcast publishers using Sounder's contextual targeting and brand suitability solutions.

The partnership will give publishers access to Flightpath's Trusted Nine Month View of Available Inventory, which provides a real-time view of podcast ad inventory across all supported podcasting platforms. This will allow publishers to see and maximize the available reach on Sounder-targeted inventory in a matter of seconds, helping them find relevant and highly sellable inventory for their buyers.

"Sounder and Flightpath are both committed to building world-class technology to help podcast publishers grow their businesses," said Kal Amin, CEO and co-founder of Sounder. "By combining Sounder's groundbreaking audio intelligence with Flightpath's innovative forecasting tools, we provide publishers a more comprehensive solution to help them scale and reach their full potential."

"We are thrilled to partner with Sounder," said Sean Howard, CEO of Flightpath. "Sounder's contextual targeting gives real-time packaging and brand safety options upon which we can now layer in reach and availability, giving publishers the tools to find, package, and sell significant opportunities to their buyers."

The partnership between Sounder and Flightpath is a significant step forward in the evolution of podcast advertising. By providing publishers with the best available contextual targeting solution paired with the fastest and most accurate forecasting tools, publishers and advertisers will have safer, relevant and more effective campaign targeting tools without sacrificing reach or ease-of-use.

UK-based NGS boosts its cutting-edge security strategy by integrating ConcealBrowse to protect against ransomware and credential theft with a novel AI engine

Conceal, a forerunner in defending against web-based attacks, proudly announces its partnership with NGS, the UK's leading transformative cybersecurity solution provider. Through this collaboration, NGS clients will benefit immensely from Conceal's patented zero-trust browser solution, fortifying their web protection like never before.

As the cyber threat landscape evolves, it's crucial for businesses to be equipped with the most advanced tools to prevent potential breaches," said Jonathan Lassman, Founder and Director of NGS. "Integrating with Conceal allows us to provide our clients with a first-rate security solution that halts threats at the browser's doorstep, preventing data compromise and ensuring optimal user experience. We are thrilled about this partnership and ready to set new industry standards."

Gordon Lawson, CEO of Conceal, shared, "NGS has proven its mettle in the cybersecurity arena, focusing on driving value and prioritizing user experience. This partnership will enable us to jointly address the sophisticated browser-based threats and challenges that modern businesses face. Together, we'll redefine web security for countless organizations."

ConcealBrowse stands as a game-changer in the realm of web-browser security. Seamlessly integrating with existing security infrastructures, it offers minimal setup hassle and supplies invaluable telemetry data compatible with SIEMs and popular analytical tools.

• SoPa officially launches Thoughtful Media Group (TMG), the leading digital advertising platform in Southeast Asia, in the Philippines market.

• TMG will present its Philippines executive team and disruptive influencer advertising business model at a media presentation in Manila on Thursday, 17 August 2023.

• TMG has expanded its ecosystem of multi-platform advertising services through a network of more than 10,000 talented creators across multiple industries in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Philippines, assisting brands maximise marketing budgets and achieve significant revenue generation.

Society Pass Incorporated , Southeast Asia (SEA)’s next generation, data-driven, loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem, today announces the official launch of its digital advertising platform, Thoughtful Media Group Inc (TMG), in the Philippines market. With the theme of “The Power of Influence”, TMG will introduce its new Manila-based executive team and its disruptive influencer advertising business model at a media presentation at 4 pm on Thursday, 17 August 2023 at Mansion Sports Bar & Lounge, OPL Building, 100 Don Carlos Palanca, Legazpi Village, Makati, 1229 Metro Manila, Philippines.

Established in 2010 and acquired by SoPa in 2022, TMG’s growth trajectory has been impressive. In just 12 months, TMG has grown from operating exclusively in its headquarters of Bangkok, Thailand, to expanding to Vietnam in 4Q 2022, to Indonesia in 1Q 2023 and now to Philippines in 3Q 2023. In addition, TMG’s employee count has increased from just 15 professionals in July 2022 to over 75 staff today. With an influencer network of more than 10,000 talented creators, an integrated roster of digital advertising products and services including influencer marketing and brand campaigns, social commerce, and sports marketing, and 13 years of experience serving more than 100 brands, TMG's market entry into the  Philippines market offers a significant value proposition to advertisers, merchants, and influencers in SEA's fourth largest economy. Well positioned to benefit from Philippine' forecast soaring digital advertising revenues over the next decade as increasingly more consumers make direct purchases on social media platforms, TMG collaborates with social media platforms, advertisers and influencers to develop the entire creator economy in Philippines.

Mr. Dennis Nguyen, SoPa Founder/Chairman/CEO and TMG Chairman, states, “We are very pleased to bring the Philippines market into the TMG ecosystem. TMG’s disruptive advertising platform, combining over 10,000 talented creators, market-leading design/branding capabilities, influencer advertising-focused social commerce services, will generate massive storytelling capabilities and revenue generation opportunities for local, regional and international advertisers seeking to market in Philippines. By leveraging our local knowledge of market trends from other offices in Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, TMG provides international quality advertising products and services for our brand partners as well as a significant revenue generating opportunities for Philippines creators.”

Mr Nguyen continues, “I am very excited to hire Billy Soo to head our TMG Philippines operations. Billy brings a wealth of experience in gaming and advertising from his time at Gushcloud International, Nixgen Entertainment and Powerplay Inc. I look forward to seeing Billy and his team create the most unique and powerful advertising platform here in Philippines.”

Although currently at a nascent stage, the Philippines creator economy is experiencing a dynamic surge, driven by a tech-savvy population and widespread internet access. According to Datareportal, Philippines's internet penetration rate stood at 73.1 percent of the total population at the start of 2023 with the number of internet users increasing by 10 million between 2022 and 2023. Furthermore, Filipinos spend a combined 3 hours and 43 minutes a day on social media. INSG forecasts the value of SEA's influencer marketing industry to reach US$2.59 billion in 2024, up from US$638 million in 2019 alone.

Responsible for driving sales and onboarding Philippines clients onto TMG’s regional digital advertising platform, Mr. Billy Soo, Country Head of Thoughtful Media Group Philippines, comments, “Bonding through the power of influence, we want to create a genuine connection for brands and content creators, tapping onto TMG's broad advertising network and extensive ecosystem to open new doors towards more business opportunities, capitalising on digital-first and fully integrated advertising networks. Mr. Nguyen hired me to turbocharge TMG’s expansion here in the land of the Kabayan. In just five weeks’ time, we have already built a staff of 10+ Manila-based advertising professionals. TMG Philippines will offer premium branded campaigns, MCN, sports marketing and e-sports verticals and we look forward to serving the creator and advertiser communities.”

Comprehensive Report on State of Shoppable TV Ads Presents Insights Analysis, Custom Research Findings, Case Studies, Future Outlook and Opportunities For Marketers

What does the shoppable TV ad landscape look like in 2023? And in what ways are there more opportunities for marketers than ever before? The Video Advertising  Bureau (VAB) examines those questions and more in its new report, Shortening the Path to Purchase: How new opportunities in Shoppable TV are igniting viewer engagement and brand performance.

"As consumers' viewing habits and buying preferences continue to evolve towards digital experiences, more TV platforms are introducing ad formats featuring shoppable experiences to connect them directly to brands and stimulate conversions and sales," said Jason Wiese, Senior VP, Director of Strategic Insights, VAB. "These interactive ad formats further enhance TV as a high-performance channel that ignites full-funnel outcomes while also providing marketers with innovative ways to increase engagement with customer prospects."

Among the insights outlined by and elaborated on in the report:

• Viewers who interact with a shoppable ad are inherently more likely to then make a purchase. (Source: Aluma Insights)
  
• Outside of purchases, viewers interact with different shoppable ad formats in various ways to further engage with, or learn about, brands and products. As examples: 36% of audiences have interacted with shoppable ad QR Codes, and 67% have interacted with the "click to receive info to your email or device" ad format. (Source: VAB custom research)
• Consumers show a clear interest in making purchases through shoppable ads on their TV set, indicating a ripe opportunity for brands. (Source: Samba TV & HarrisX data)
  
• Younger audiences are more likely to recall seeing shoppable ads, which provides marketers an opportunity to connect with this valuable segment. (Source: VAB custom research)

Custom Research Methodology:  
VAB custom research fielded by Hub Entertainment Research. Data collected June 2023 and sourced from Hub's survey of 1,602 TV consumers, ages 16-74.

Vistar Media, the leading global provider of programmatic technology for digital out-of-home (DOOH), announced today the launch of its Vistar Academy certification program, "Accelerate: Foundations of Digital Out-of-Home." This certification is designed to empower agency and brand marketing teams, in addition to media owners, with the knowledge and expertise needed to effectively conceive, produce and run programmatic DOOH advertising campaigns.

“The Accelerate certification program provides advertising practitioners with a comprehensive curriculum covering the fundamentals and benefits of DOOH advertising, as well as key innovations brought about by programmatic technology,” said Leslie Lee, SVP of Marketing at Vistar Media. “With interactive training, reviews of essential tools, valuable tips and best practices, participants gain the confidence and skills to manage programmatic DOOH campaigns, and to effectively plan for DOOH as part of omnichannel campaign strategies.”

Vistar Academy’s new program will accelerate participants’ knowledge of DOOH through sessions covering the fundamentals and benefits of the channel:

• Explore the foundations of programmatic technology and its role in innovating the out-of-home industry
• Navigate the roles and responsibilities of buyers and sellers in the programmatic OOH ecosystem
• Understand targeting strategies, including audiences, triggers and points of interest (POIs)
• Master the data landscape by unraveling data sources, impression mechanics and the importance of targeting and measurement in DOOH
• Receive comprehensive insights into DOOH creatives, including dynamic creative, transcoding, approvals, best practices and more
• Leave with real-world tools and best practices for success in the programmatic world

Upon completion of the program, attendees will receive an official certification, denoting their mastery of the channel and enhancing their competitive edge. Vistar Academy also offers certifications for existing customers using the DSP and SSP systems.

• Opera adds Aria to Opera for iOS, first browser-maker to bring free AI tool to all major platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS

• Aria, a free service, is a result of the company's collaboration with OpenAI and has access to real-time information from across the web

Aria, Opera's new browser AI, is now available for all users of the Opera browser for iOS, making it accessible across all major platforms. A product of Opera's collaboration with OpenAI, Aria offers users a cutting-edge generative AI service for free. This service is enhanced by Opera's own Composer architecture, granting users access to real-time web results. Seamlessly integrated into the browser, Aria introduces an innovative paradigm for the future of web browsing.

"Aria, our newly-introduced and free AI solution, has already exceeded 1 million users," shared co-CEO Lin Song. "We're witnessing enthusiastic user engagement with AI tools, especially Aria. As a result, we are delighted to extend Opera's AI tool to our iOS users."

Aria amplifies users' creativity and productivity by leveraging the potential of AI. Based on Opera's own Composer infrastructure, Aria connects to OpenAI's GPT technology – further enhanced by additional capabilities, such as adding live results from the web. As an expert in both web navigation and browser functions, Aria facilitates AI collaboration in tasks such as information retrieval, text or code generation, and product inquiries.

With successful launches on Opera for desktop and Opera for Android, Aria's accessibility now extends to all major platforms, encompassing Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and now iOS.

As AI arrives on Opera for iOS, it's essential to emphasize that the AI experience within Opera is entirely user-controlled. Users have the autonomy to opt in based on their preference for engaging with AI services. Once activated, Aria offers intelligent insights, innovative ideas, and responsive voice commands.

To use Aria – available in more than 180 countries worldwide, including the EU and the US – users must log in using their Opera account. If they do not have one, they can register here for free. Once done, users simply have to open the browser AI in the main menu and start exploring the new way of browsing.

Award winning design and personalized browsing

The Opera browser for iOS is an award-winning browser that is enjoyed by millions of users worldwide. Featuring an interface that has garnered multiple design awards, the browser affords an unparalleled user experience. Designed to be used on the go, Opera's Fast Action Button puts the full range of navigation tools within a thumb's reach. Users can additionally keep photos, articles, recipes, travel ideas, and links with them at all times with My Flow, which allows for seamless and secure file sharing between phones, tablets, and computers. To personalize the experience at every angle, Opera has recently added the functionality of wallpaper customization to the browser.

Providing a fast and secure online experience for iOS users

Apart from its convenience, the Opera browser for iOS also offers unrivaled speed and security. It features, for example, a built-in ad blocker – speeding up the loading process as well as shielding users from unwanted advertisements – plus the Apple Intelligent Tracking Prevention, which blocks third party tracking cookies and cookie dialogue. Additionally, the free built-in VPN service has recently completed the package, affording users protection as they browse the internet.

EDGEX, celebrated a significant milestone on August 1st with the commencement of its eagerly anticipated soft launch. The platform's introduction to the market heralds a new era in the advertising and video industries, as it harnesses the power of blockchain, artificial intelligence, and WEB3 technologies to reshape the landscape.

EDGEX's cutting-edge offering is centered around AI-powered video advertising, a pioneering approach that promises to revolutionize how users engage with advertisements. By leveraging the capabilities of AI, the platform aims to provide users with precisely targeted and captivating ad experiences, making content consumption a more personalized and engaging endeavor.

To achieve this ambitious goal, EDGEX has assembled a dynamic team of advertising experts and seasoned IT professionals. This collaborative effort underscores the company's commitment to driving the digitalization and intelligent transformation of the advertising industry, bridging the gap between traditional marketing approaches and emerging technological trends

The launch strategy is further enriched by the platform's unique rewards system. During the soft launch phase, users engaging with EDGEX's content will be eligible to earn EDX coins, a cryptocurrency exclusive to the platform. Watching advertisements and completing challenges are avenues through which users can accumulate these coins, establishing an interactive and gamified relationship with the platform. This not only boosts user engagement but also opens the door for a more immersive content consumption experience.

For developers, the soft launch of EDGEX serves as a strategic masterstroke. It presents an invaluable opportunity to glean insights and feedback from a carefully selected group of users, paving the way for refinements and enhancements prior to the platform's full-scale release. By taking a phased and iterative approach, developers can fine-tune the user experience, address any potential glitches, and ensure a seamless transition to the broader market.

Users also stand to benefit greatly from this soft launch strategy. By engaging with the platform during this phase, they have the chance to experience its features firsthand, gaining an understanding of its functionalities and potential benefits. Moreover, the rewards system not only incentivizes participation but also offers users an exclusive opportunity to accumulate EDX coins, fostering a sense of ownership and investment in the platform's success.

Complimentary event will discuss an integrated approach to leveraging customer data for business intelligence.

Service Objects, the leading provider of real-time Customer Data Validation, invites businesses to participate in an informative webinar entitled "Customer Data Validation: Making Better Decisions About the Customers You Serve" which will be held on August 29, 2023, at 11am PST/ 2pm EST. Attendees will learn how leveraging accurate and up-to-date customer data enables businesses to make informed business decisions.

The webinar will discuss how Service Objects' industry-leading Customer Data Validation improves the accuracy and depth of customer data while providing valuable insights that drive better decisions that benefit both businesses and their customers.

Participants from the webinar can expect to learn the mechanics of Customer Data Validation, encompassing contact verification, data augmentation, cross-checking and deriving an actionable quality score for each contact record, as well as the role accurate customer data plays in market intelligence, personalization, compliance, fraud risk mitigation and delivering a superior customer experience.

"Accurate and genuine customer data is the foundation for strategic decision-making, and our customers look to us as their trusted partner to keep this data up-to-date and verified," said Geoff Grow, CEO of Service Objects. "This webinar will demonstrate how Customer Data Validation leverages our comprehensive and authoritative data sets and powerful AI to enable businesses to make more informed business decisions."