Strategic acquisition will enhance Pathlab’s services to midsize agencies through MiQ's best in class partners, technology, and people

Global programmatic media partner MiQ has announced its plans to acquire Pathlabs', a Media Execution Partner (MEP) known for delivering end-to-end digital media execution services to independent agencies. This acquisition marks a significant milestone in MiQ's growth, enhancing its ability to deliver programmatic excellence across the digital advertising ecosystem.

1. Pathlabs: An Overview

• Founded in 2021, headquartered in Missoula, Montana.
• Offers end-to-end digital media execution services for independent agencies.
• Supported by a 100-person team, managing planning to reporting of performance-based, paid advertising campaigns.

2. Strategic Fit and Opportunities

• MiQ’s technology and agnostic partnerships blend with Pathlabs' market expertise.
• Enhanced programmatic capabilities for clients of all sizes across the U.S.
• Unlocks opportunities for midsize independent agencies.

3. Addressing Industry Challenges

• Importance of innovative and reliable managed services providers in a fragmented digital advertising landscape.
• MiQ's expertise and technology investments help advertisers navigate complexities and achieve their goals.

4. Leadership Insights

• Charlie Neer, co-CEO of MiQ, U.S.: Sees tremendous opportunity in the independent agency market with over $25 billion in digital ad spend.
• Erin Madorsky, co-CEO of MiQ, U.S.: Emphasizes the enhancement of client offerings, insights, and success through this acquisition.
• William Lapointe, CEO of Pathlabs: Highlights the empowerment of clients with advanced tools and talent through the partnership with MiQ.

5. Integration and Future Prospects

• Pathlabs retains its brand identity and operates as an independent business unit under MiQ.
• Follows MiQ's previous acquisitions of Grasp, Samba, and AirGrid.
• Reinforces MiQ’s commitment to enhancing the programmatic experience.

The acquisition of Pathlabs by MiQ signifies a strategic move to enhance programmatic media services for independent agencies. By combining Pathlabs' deep market expertise with MiQ's cutting-edge technology and global partnerships, this partnership aims to deliver unmatched programmatic capabilities, driving success and extraordinary results for clients.

Beamr and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) to Demonstrate Optimization of High-Quality, High-Resolution Videos Rendered from 3D models at SIGGRAPH 2024

Beamr Imaging Ltd., a leader in video optimization technology, has announced a collaboration with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) to demonstrate the optimized production of large, high-quality videos rendered from 3D designs. The demonstration will take place at SIGGRAPH 2024, the premier conference on computer graphics and interactive technologies, held in Denver, Colorado, from July 28 to August 1, 2024.

Subtopics and Pointers

1. Importance of High-Resolution Videos for 3D Designs

• Essential for capturing intricate details, textures, and geometries.
• High-resolution necessary for accurate light and shadow representation.
• Challenges with large video file sizes for delivery and viewing.

2. Beamr’s Optimization Solution

• Beamr Cloud video optimization service supported by OCI.
• Demonstration showcases reducing a large video file to one-fourth of its original size.
• Optimization of a video from an OpenUSD-based scene developed on NVIDIA Omniverse.

3. Technology and Demonstration Details

• Beamr’s patented content-adaptive-bitrate technology (CABR).
• Efficient optimization without compromising video quality.
• High-performance video services accelerated by NVIDIA L40S GPUs.
• Available for OCI customers in the Oracle Cloud Marketplace.

4. Benefits for Users

• Easy connection of video libraries.
• Automatic optimization of videos at scale.
• Improved efficiency in sharing complex 3D visualizations with stakeholders.

5. Event Information

• Demonstration at Oracle booth at SIGGRAPH from July 30-August 1, 2024.
• Overview of the collaboration between Beamr Imaging and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
• Expected impact and future implications for video optimization in 3D design workflows.

Beamr Imaging and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure's demonstration at SIGGRAPH 2024 highlights the cutting-edge capabilities of video optimization for high-resolution 3D designs. By reducing file sizes without compromising quality, this collaboration offers an efficient solution for delivering detailed and high-quality visualizations.

New feature lets publishers manage all affiliate relationships in one place, securing highest EPCs

Sovrn, a leading publisher technology platform, has launched Unified Optimization, a groundbreaking feature designed to enhance revenue generation for content creators. This new tool maximizes earnings by automatically routing affiliate clicks to the highest available earnings per click (EPC). Unified Optimization is now available to publishers using Commerce Unified, Sovrn's comprehensive affiliate commerce management tool.

1. The Need for Unified Optimization

• Challenges faced by affiliate marketers: manual checking of merchant rates and lost revenue.
• The importance of efficient and automated revenue optimization.

2. How Unified Optimization Works

• Continuous learning system: Analyzes optimal rates and conversions from all affiliate networks and 50,000 merchants.
• Real-time traffic routing to the most profitable affiliate path.
• Integration with Commerce Unified for seamless management and optimization of affiliate businesses.

3. Key Features of Unified Optimization

• Automatic routing: Ensures maximum earnings on every click without manual intervention.
• Comprehensive integration: Unifies all affiliate networks and merchant relationships on a single platform.
• Real-time decision-making: Adapts to changing rates and budgets of multiple affiliate networks.

4. Benefits for Publishers

• Increased revenue: Maximizes EPC by leveraging the best available affiliate paths.
• Time-saving: Eliminates the need for manual rate checking and optimization.
• Enhanced control: Offers manual control settings for excluding specific merchant traffic if desired.

5. Industry Impact and Future Implications

• Revolutionizing affiliate marketing: Streamlined processes and increased precision for publishers.
• Potential for growth: How Unified Optimization sets a new standard for affiliate revenue maximization.

Sovrn's Unified Optimization represents a significant advancement in affiliate marketing technology, empowering publishers to maximize their earnings with minimal effort. By integrating every affiliate network and merchant relationship into a single, automated platform, Sovrn is helping content creators achieve unprecedented control and efficiency in their affiliate commerce operations.

Frequence, a leader in advertising sales automation and workflow software, has announced the launch of a new suite of features specifically designed for advertisers targeting live and streaming sports programming. These features include comprehensive reporting, omnichannel campaign tactics, and zip code-level targeting, allowing advertisers to reach engaged sports audiences with precision.

1. The Growing Importance of Streaming Sports Audiences

• Statistics from Parks Associates: 89% of U.S. households subscribe to at least one streaming video service.
• 30% of sports fans have paid for a streaming service to watch sports in the past 12 months.
• The increasing significance of streaming platforms in reaching sports fans.

2. Frequence’s New Features for Sports Advertising

• Comprehensive reporting: Detailed insights into campaign performance.
• Omnichannel campaign tactics: Integration across multiple digital channels such as display and social.
• Zip code-level targeting: Precise audience targeting based on geographical location.

3. Benefits of Targeting Sports Fans

• Highly desirable audience: Natural enthusiasm and engagement with sports content.
• Best-performing industries: Auto, healthcare, education, physical therapy, and hospitality.
• Enhanced ROI: Higher engagement and recall when advertising is paired with other digital channels.

4. Industry Insights and Expert Opinions

• Matt Robles, VP of Product at Frequence: “With our new features for reaching sports fans, marketers can target, engage, and optimize their campaigns to drive best-in-class ROI.”
• Tom Cheli, CEO of Frequence: “The unique relationship between fans and their favorite athletes drives awareness and ROI. Our new features provide powerful tools to reach audiences at their moment of greatest awareness and recall.”

5. Future Implications for Advertisers

• Strategic advantage: Leveraging advanced targeting and reporting to stay ahead in the competitive advertising landscape.
• Potential growth: Expanding reach and effectiveness of campaigns targeting sports fans on streaming platforms.

Frequence’s new suite of features for targeting live and streaming sports audiences represents a significant advancement in advertising technology. By providing comprehensive reporting, omnichannel tactics, and zip code-level targeting, Frequence empowers advertisers to maximize their reach and ROI, effectively engaging a highly desirable and enthusiastic audience.

53% of Australia Social Media Users Prefer Content Created by Influencers Over Marketing Professionals

IZEA Worldwide, Inc., alongside its Australian-based subsidiary Hoozu, has released the 2024 edition of its research report, “Trust in Influencer Marketing.” This study provides a deep dive into Australian consumer sentiment towards influencer marketing, highlighting its growing influence over traditional advertising methods.

1. Influence of Social Media Influencers

• Consumer Trust: 59% of Australian consumers trust influencer-sponsored posts more than those from A-list celebrities.
• Purchase Behavior: 70% of 18-to-29-year-olds have purchased products after seeing them used by an influencer.

2. Key Insights for Influencers and Consumers

• Trust vs. Celebrities: 59% prefer influencers’ sponsored content over that of celebrities.
• Purchase Influence: 46% of respondents have bought products promoted by influencers.
• Youth Engagement: 70% of younger consumers have acted on influencer promotions.

3. Key Insights for Marketers

• Content Preference: 53% of social media users favor content by influencers over marketing professionals.
• Platform Use: 51% of 18-29-year-olds research products on TikTok more often than seeking recommendations from friends and family.
• Social Media Purchases: 54% of 18-29-year-olds have made purchases directly through social media apps.
• Traditional vs. Digital: 61% of those over 60 prefer TV ads, while 52% of 18-29-year-olds find influencer posts more compelling.

4. Insights for Social Media Audiences

• Platform Usage: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok are the most popular platforms in Australia.
• Influencer Followings: 48% of 18-to-29-year-olds follow more than 21 influencers, and 33% follow AI or virtual influencers.
• Social Media Time: Younger Australians spend an average of 5.8 hours a day on social media.

5. Methodology and Future Implications

• Survey Details: Results are based on responses from 1,006 Australian social media users aged 18 and over.
• Research Series: This report is part of an ongoing series studying influencers' impact on consumer behaviors and trends.

The 2024 “Trust in Influencer Marketing” report by IZEA and Hoozu underscores the growing trust and influence of social media influencers in Australia. With a significant portion of consumers, particularly younger demographics, prioritizing influencer recommendations over traditional marketing methods, businesses are encouraged to integrate influencer-led content into their marketing strategies to enhance engagement and drive sales.

Dash Hudson has unveiled its newest Social Media Trends Report, "AI and Creators: Shaping the Next Era of Social Marketing," highlighting the pivotal role of creators in today’s social media landscape. In collaboration with NielsenIQ, this study demonstrates how entertainment-focused content on TikTok significantly boosts brand sales and engagement.

1. Impact of Entertainment-Driven Content

• Sales Growth: Beauty brands saw a 67% average increase in sales when their TikTok Entertainment Score was 5 or higher over a 52-week period.
• Engagement Metrics: Entertainment-driven content on TikTok has increased its impact by 16 percentage points in two years, from 51% to 67%.

2. Creator vs. Brand-Generated Content

• Engagement Rates: Creator content achieves 12x higher engagement rates compared to brand-generated content.
• Effectiveness Rates: Creator content is 14x more effective, receiving twice as many likes and comments as brand-generated content.

3. Key Performers and Platform Growth

• Standout Brands: Sol de Janeiro, Rare Beauty, and Starface have leveraged entertainment-focused TikTok content for positive sales growth.
• TikTok Shop: As of 2024, TikTok ranks as the #2 beauty e-commerce site in the UK and #9 in the US, reflecting its growing role in direct sales.

4. Evolution of Creator Partnerships

• Long-Term Collaborations: 51% of creator posts are now Reels, indicating a preference for raw, authentic content over other formats.

5. AI-Driven Performance Enhancements

• Vision AI Tool: Dash Hudson’s Vision AI tool provides predictive insights that boost content performance.
• Performance Increases: ‘Star Performer’ content identified by Vision AI showed significant improvements: +66% in engagement, +30% in effectiveness, +29% in video views, and +40% in reach compared to lower-performing content.

Dash Hudson’s 2024 Social Media Trends Report underscores the transformative impact of AI and creator-driven content on social marketing. As brands continue to embrace entertainment-focused strategies and long-term creator partnerships, leveraging tools like Vision AI will be crucial in optimizing content performance and achieving superior results in the evolving social media landscape.

Vistar Media, a leader in technology solutions for out-of-home (OOH) media, has officially expanded its services into Brazil, in partnership with PRODOOH, its programmatic OOH activation team in Latin America. This expansion aims to simplify and enhance programmatic digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising for both media owners and advertisers in Brazil.

1. Expansion Overview

• Partnership and Goals: Vistar Media and PRODOOH team up to bring advanced programmatic DOOH solutions to Brazil, providing tools, support, and expertise for seamless campaign execution.
• Market Potential: Brazil's growing advertising market presents new opportunities for brands to reach diverse local audiences through premium DOOH screens.

2. Vistar Media’s Supply-Side Platform (SSP)

• Tools for Media Owners: Vistar’s SSP offers media owners efficient inventory management and access to a global network of marketers.
• Enhanced Reach: Media owners can now connect their screens to a broader market, optimizing inventory and revenue opportunities.

3. Vistar Media’s Demand-Side Platform (DSP)

• Advanced Solutions: The DSP provides advertisers with intelligent tools for hyper-contextual storytelling, audience targeting, and dynamic creative capabilities.
• ROI Measurement: Advertisers can access third-party measurement studies to understand the true return on investment of their campaigns.

4. Activation Tools & Support

• Auction Packages: Advertisers can package DOOH inventory into single Deal IDs, integrating DOOH into omnichannel marketing strategies.
• Client Support: Comprehensive account support and guidance are provided to streamline media planning and activation.

5. Educational Resources

• Vistar Academy: An engaging platform offering interactive courses on programmatic DOOH, from basics to advanced topics, helping clients maximize their success.

Key Industry Reactions

1. Eugenie Chen, SVP, Strategy & Partnerships at Vistar Media

• Emphasizes Brazil’s untapped advertising potential and the benefits of Vistar’s technology for targeted and impactful DOOH campaigns.

2. Guillermo Cuadrado, Partner and Country Manager of Brazil at PRODOOH

• Highlights the importance of Vistar’s technology for both local media owners and global advertisers, enhancing campaign activation across Brazil.

3. Rafael Krausz, Head of Agencies and Programmatic at JCDecaux

• Points out the strategic advantage of integrating with Vistar’s SSP for expanding business opportunities and campaign efficiency.

4. Ricardo Hilsdorf, Head of Programmatic Media at Helloo

• Discusses the enhanced business volume and advanced advertising delivery model provided by Vistar’s SSP for programmatic DOOH.

5. Eduardo, Head of Marketing at adMooH

• Praises Vistar’s solutions for their ability to deliver contextually relevant ads to diverse Brazilian audiences through high-impact displays.

Vistar Media's expansion into Brazil marks a significant advancement in the programmatic DOOH landscape. By offering a comprehensive suite of tools, support, and educational resources, Vistar Media and PRODOOH are set to revolutionize the way advertisers and media owners manage and execute DOOH campaigns in Brazil.

In the dynamic landscape of digital content, content owners are often disillusioned by the results from traditional FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channels and AVOD (Advertising Video on Demand) services. These models can leave content owners feeling over-promised and under-delivered, particularly when faced with multiple technology providers and minimal returns. View TV’s FASTer platform offers a revolutionary solution, combining the best aspects of FAST and AVOD while delivering superior control and revenue potential.

1. The Limitations of Traditional FAST and AVOD Models

• Technology Costs: Content owners frequently face high technology expenses with minimal revenue returns under traditional FAST models.
• Revenue Discrepancies: The FAST model often leaves content owners with a fraction of the revenue they deserve, while platforms like YouTube offer a more straightforward, yet less lucrative, revenue-sharing model.

2. The YouTube Model

• Revenue Split: YouTube’s revenue-sharing model provides a 55/45 split but lacks premium revenue potential and restricts brand control.
• Brand Concerns: Premium broadcasters may avoid YouTube due to concerns over brand dilution and content monetization limitations.

3. View TV’s FASTer Platform: A Game Changer

• Revenue Potential: View TV’s FASTer platform delivers over five times the revenue of traditional FAST and more than double that of YouTube.
• Control and Reporting: The platform provides the same level of control and reporting as traditional TV with lower risk and commitment.

4. Key Features of View TV’s FASTer Platform

• Live Revenue Reporting: Real-time revenue reporting dashboards within Kapang and across all distributed platforms.
• 28-Day Payments: Advertising revenues are paid on YouTube terms.
• 100% Ad-Fill: Guaranteed full ad-pod fill rates for linear FAST.
• AI-Powered Ad-Exchange: Advanced AI tech optimizes ad services and metadata, enhancing revenue.
• Direct CPM: Higher ad-CPM rates with fewer middlemen.
• No SSAI Fees: SSAI fees charged to advertisers, not content owners.
• Integrated In-Video Advertising: Includes overlay, squeeze back, and side-by-side ads.
• Content and Channel Sponsorships: Built-in sponsorships for additional revenue.
• No Distribution Fees: Distribute to global CTV platforms with no extra fees.
• Self-Service Ad-Buying Platform: Allows brands to buy directly on channels.
• Quick Channel Launch: Launch FAST channels in 7 days with no review needed.

5. Comparison and Benefits

• Revenue Comparison: Traditional FAST delivers <15% of gross revenues, YouTube offers more than double, while View TV provides over two-thirds of gross revenues.
• Unified Solution: View TV’s platform combines multiple services into a single cloud SaaS product, simplifying operations and maximizing revenues.

View TV’s FASTer platform offers a transformative approach to FAST and AVOD channels, providing content owners with greater control, higher revenues, and streamlined operations. By integrating advanced features and eliminating the need for multiple technology providers, View TV empowers content owners to invest confidently in FAST and streaming distribution.