Agora, Inc., a pioneer in real-time engagement APIs, introduces its latest innovation, Adaptive Video Optimization™ (AVO), alongside support for the AV1 video codec. This cutting-edge technology leverages machine learning to dynamically enhance every aspect of live video streaming, ensuring optimal performance regardless of network conditions or device capabilities.

1. Challenges in Live Video Streaming:

   • Instabilities like network fluctuations and limited bandwidth often disrupt live video experiences, leading to freezing, stuttering, and dropped connections.
   • Agora's AVO addresses these challenges through advanced machine learning algorithms, optimizing video quality in real time.

2. Enhanced Streaming Experience:

   • AVO optimizes image quality, ensuring crisp frames with vibrant details for a clearer and more engaging viewing experience.
   • Unmatched video fluency eliminates buffering and stuttering, delivering a smooth and natural flow to viewers.
   • Ultra-low latency enables real-time interaction among users and quick loading times for seamless transitions between video streams.

3. Comprehensive Machine Learning Approach:

   • AVO optimizes every stage of the video processing pipeline, from capture to playback, through a comprehensive machine learning approach.
   • Agora's Coding Technology (ACT) dynamically selects the best video codec, such as AV1 or VP9, based on device capabilities and interoperability requirements, ensuring efficient bandwidth utilization and crisp visuals.

4. Continuous Adaptation and Mitigation:

   • AVO continuously adapts to changing network conditions and device capabilities, ensuring a seamless streaming experience from capture to playback.
   • Any imperfections during transmission are swiftly mitigated, providing lifelike clarity and superior real-time video experiences.

5. Customer Testimonial:

   • KUMU, a social live streaming app, witnessed a 30% increase in session length and engagement after implementing AVO.
   • Users experienced smooth, high-quality video streaming, even on slow connections and older devices, enhancing overall user satisfaction.

Agora's Adaptive Video Optimization™ (AVO) technology, coupled with support for the AV1 video codec, sets a new standard in real-time engagement APIs. With AVO, Agora ensures a seamless and superior live video streaming experience, empowering businesses to deliver unparalleled user engagement across various applications, from telehealth consultations to social live streaming.

Shutterstock, Inc., a prominent global creative platform, announces its acquisition of Envato Pty Ltd., a leader in digital creative assets and templates. This transformative move aims to enrich Shutterstock's creative offerings and extend its reach to a wider audience through Envato's flagship product, Elements.

1. Envato's Strengths and Contributions:

   • Envato, founded in 2006, offers a diverse array of digital creative assets and templates, notably its Elements subscription providing unlimited downloads.
   • With a global presence and a focus on enhancing creativity, Envato has facilitated over $1.3 billion in earnings for its author community and amassed 650k subscribers.

2. CEO Statements and Vision:

   • Shutterstock CEO Paul Hennessy expresses enthusiasm for the acquisition, highlighting Envato's alignment with the growing demand for multi-asset subscriptions and its emphasis on various content types.
   • Envato CEO Hichame Assi underscores the shared commitment to empowering the creative community and achieving growth together with Shutterstock.

3. Strategic Highlights of the Acquisition:

   • The acquisition complements Shutterstock's offerings with Envato Elements, expands its audience reach to freelancers, small businesses, and agencies, and adds 650k subscribers to its base.
   • Shutterstock's content revenue is expected to grow with the inclusion of Envato's diverse content library, spanning images, videos, audio clips, templates, and graphics & fonts.

4. Transaction Details:

   • The acquisition involves a $245 million cash purchase of 100% of Envato Pty Ltd, expected to close in the third quarter, subject to customary conditions.
   • Financing is facilitated through a $375 million credit facility, aiming to accelerate Shutterstock's long-term targets and maintain favorable leverage ratios.

Shutterstock's acquisition of Envato marks a significant milestone in expanding its creative offerings and audience reach. With Envato's Elements subscription and diverse content library, Shutterstock strengthens its position as a premier destination for creative professionals worldwide, fostering innovation and empowering creators to realize their visions.

Innovid, a leading software platform for advertising across connected TV, linear TV, and digital, announces its membership in Ad Net Zero, reaffirming its dedication to sustainability in the advertising industry. Through collaborative efforts and a 5-Point Action Plan, Innovid aims to manage and reduce carbon emissions while driving progress across the advertising landscape.

1. Ad Net Zero Membership and Commitment:

   • Innovid joins Ad Net Zero, a trade association focusing on sustainability in advertising, to prioritize eco-friendly practices and reduce carbon footprint.
   • Committed to implementing the Ad Net Zero 5-Point Action Plan, Innovid pledges to measure progress annually and actively participate in leadership and working groups.

2. Innovid's Environmental Initiative - Harmony:

   • Innovid launches Harmony initiative, addressing challenges in CTV advertising while promoting sustainability at the infrastructure level.
   • Harmony aims to optimize efficiency, transparency, and ROI while reducing carbon emissions across advertising processes.

3. Introduction of Harmony Direct:

   • As part of the Harmony initiative, Innovid introduces Harmony Direct, a product innovation streamlining the CTV supply path.
   • Harmony Direct eliminates delivery friction in guaranteed, non-biddable CTV media, reducing platform usage and electricity consumption.

Innovid's commitment to sustainability reflects its proactive stance towards reducing carbon emissions in advertising. By joining Ad Net Zero and implementing the 5-Point Action Plan, Innovid aims to drive tangible progress while promoting eco-friendly practices across the advertising industry. Through initiatives like Harmony, Innovid strives to optimize efficiency and transparency while significantly reducing its environmental impact, marking a significant step towards a more sustainable advertising ecosystem.

GSTV, the leading on-the-go video network, unveiled groundbreaking findings from a study conducted with Lumen Research at the 2024 NewFronts. The study, a first in the industry, quantifies viewer attention to real ads on the GSTV platform, demonstrating unprecedented levels of engagement surpassing industry benchmarks across digital, CTV, and linear television.

1. High Viewer Attention:

   • 95% of impressions on GSTV command visual attention, exceeding norms for digital, CTV, and linear television.
   • Ads on GSTV yield 2.7x and 2.5x more attention compared to CTV and linear TV ads respectively.

2. Increased Viewing Time:

   • Attention per 1000 impressions on GSTV surpasses Dentsu's norms for online display, online video, and social media by significant margins.
   • Despite shorter ad durations, GSTV ads deliver more attentive viewing time than :30 spots on CTV and linear TV.

3. Cost-Efficient Advertisements:

   • GSTV proves to be 5x more efficient than online display ads and 3x more efficient than CTV on a cost per 1000 seconds of attention basis.

4. Exceptional Brand Recall:

   • Brand recall following ad exposure on GSTV exceeds Dentsu’s norms for online video and CTV by over +50%.

Expert Insights:

• Mike Follett, Managing Director at Lumen Research, highlights GSTV's leadership in delivering attention to ads on its platform.
• Kate Shannon, EVP at Carat US, emphasizes the importance of transacting on attention to drive better outcomes.
• Eric Z. Sherman, EVP Insights & Analytics at GSTV, underscores the natural viewer attention inherent in the GSTV experience.

Methodology:

• Lumen Research conducted an eye-tracking study capturing real-world viewing behavior at GSTV-supported locations in Atlanta, Georgia.
• Participants were fitted with eye-tracking glasses to assess attention to GSTV screens, followed by a survey to evaluate brand recall.

The study provides compelling evidence of GSTV's effectiveness in capturing viewer attention, setting new standards for advertising engagement in the industry.

Brightcove, a leading streaming technology company, has integrated Amazon Q Business, a generative AI assistant on Amazon Web Services (AWS), to enhance its customer support capabilities. By leveraging AI technology, Brightcove aims to streamline internal processes and provide quicker, more efficient support to its global customer base in the media and entertainment technology sector.

1. Implementation of Brightcove Expert Bot: Brightcove has launched the "Brightcove Expert Bot," an AI-powered chatbot embedded into internal tools, to assist customer and product support teams. The bot enables employees to find relevant information, solve technical cases, analyze support requests, and recommend solutions more effectively.

2. Empowering Customer Success Team: The utilization of Amazon Q allows Brightcove's customer success team to automate tasks, access information faster, and enhance the quality of support provided to global customers. This initiative reinforces the company's commitment to excellence in customer service.

3. Commitment to Innovation: Brightcove's adoption of Amazon Q reflects its dedication to innovation and efficiency. By collaborating with leading experts in AI and leveraging AWS infrastructure, Brightcove aims to enhance its product portfolio and elevate the overall customer experience.

4. Strategic Collaboration with AWS: AWS has been instrumental in enabling Brightcove to implement Amazon Q seamlessly. The partnership emphasizes mutual commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions.

Expert Insights:

• Deb Richards, EVP of Global Customer Success at Brightcove, highlights the importance of empowering the customer success team with AI technology to deliver unparalleled support.
• Scott Levine, Chief Product Officer at Brightcove, emphasizes the potential of generative AI to improve internal processes and enhance the Brightcove experience.
• Matt Garman, SVP of Sales, Marketing, and Global Services at AWS, underscores the collaborative efforts between Brightcove and AWS to innovate and improve customer experiences.

Brightcove's integration of Amazon Q Business underscores its dedication to leveraging AI technology to optimize internal operations and elevate customer support standards. By harnessing the power of AWS, Brightcove aims to drive innovation and deliver superior services to its global customer base.

Merkle, a leading customer experience management (CXM) company under dentsu, and Celebrus, a disruptive data platform, have unveiled CXM Signals. This innovative solution empowers businesses to harness first-party data for superior customer experiences, driving efficiencies and fostering long-term loyalty.

1. Comprehensive Data Access: CXM Signals offers real-time, comprehensive data access across devices, domains, and channels, facilitating identity resolutions. By addressing industry pain-points related to incomplete customer profiles, the solution ensures businesses have more forensic customer insights to anticipate and adapt to consumers' needs.

2. Advanced Capabilities: The collaboration between Merkle and Celebrus enables brands to identify new customer segments, create tailored interactions, enhance paid media & CXM conversions, and improve sales conversion rates. Leveraging tagging-free data capture and machine learning, CXM Signals drives relevant targeted messaging and offers in real-time.

3. Efficiency and Revenue Generation: Timely and personalized experiences strengthen customer engagement, driving revenue growth. CXM Signals enables brands to increase efficiencies by reducing spend on underperforming campaigns and maximizing marketing efforts through enhanced targeting.

4. Streamlined Implementation: Thanks to Celebrus' tagging-free data capture methodology, CXM Signals offers a streamlined implementation process measured in days or weeks. Deployments occur in the chosen cloud environment, ensuring full control, security, and data protection.

Expert Insights:

• Anne Stagg, CEO UK&I at Merkle, emphasizes the importance of CXM Signals in addressing industry challenges related to data gaps and the depreciation of third-party cookies. The solution enables organizations to proactively understand their customers' needs and future-proof their businesses.
• Bill Bruno, CEO at Celebrus, underscores the mission to improve brand-consumer relationships through better data. By combining identity verification, compliant consumer profile management, and machine learning, CXM Signals delivers a unique solution to joint customers.

Merkle and Celebrus' launch of CXM Signals marks a significant advancement in leveraging first-party data to enhance customer experiences. This collaboration reflects dentsu's commitment to driving innovation and creating meaningful differences for clients by addressing industry challenges and fostering long-term customer relationships.

Acxiom, the global leader in customer intelligence, has forged a strategic partnership with ActionIQ, a Visionary in Gartner's 2024 Magic Quadrant for Customer Data Platforms (CDP). This collaboration aims to reshape how brands aggregate, analyze, and activate customer data, facilitating smarter data-driven marketing and personalized customer experiences.

1. Modern Customer Data Management: ActionIQ's cloud-native, composable architecture revolutionizes CDP technology, offering businesses a modular approach to data management. This approach accelerates deployment, democratizes access to sophisticated solutions, and allows for tailored technology components without complex implementations.

2. Enriched Customer Insights: Integrating Acxiom's top-ranked consumer data into ActionIQ's CDP enhances customer profiles with granular demographic, behavioral, and preference data. This integration enables precise audience segmentation and ultra-personalized marketing strategies.

3. Cohesive Identity Resolution: Acxiom Real ID™ technology seamlessly integrates into ActionIQ's platform, providing a holistic view of customers across channels and touchpoints. This integration enhances the platform's ability to manage complex identities at scale, improving marketing precision.

4. Optimized Platform Performance: Acxiom collaborates with joint clients to customize and streamline the ActionIQ platform, ensuring alignment with marketing strategies and driving performance forward.

5. Advanced Predictive Insights: Leveraging Acxiom's AI-driven analytics, ActionIQ's platform is equipped with predictive insights that enhance engagement and scale campaign efficiencies.

6. Data Security and Compliance: Acxiom's Privacy-by-Design framework, combined with ActionIQ's robust security measures and composable architecture, ensures the platform remains secure and compliant amidst tightening global data privacy regulations.

Expert Insights:

• David Skinner, Head of Strategic Alliances at Acxiom, emphasizes the partnership's significance in driving customer data platform innovation, providing clients with scalable solutions to deeply understand and connect with their customers.

• Michael Trapani, Head of Product Marketing at ActionIQ, highlights the synergy between Acxiom's actionable customer intelligence and ActionIQ's adaptable platform. Together, they set a new benchmark for CDP technology, empowering data-driven strategies and fostering lasting customer loyalty.

The collaboration between Acxiom and ActionIQ represents a transformative shift in customer data management and marketing. By combining Acxiom's rich customer intelligence with ActionIQ's innovative CDP platform, businesses can unlock deeper insights, deliver personalized experiences, and drive long-term customer loyalty in the digital age.

GumGum, a global digital advertising platform focusing on contextual-first advertising, announced a significant 38% reduction in bidstream carbon emissions in 2023 through its partnership with Assertive Yield (AY), a leader in AI-driven traffic shaping solutions for supply-side platforms (SSPs) and publishers.

1. Efficient Bidstream Optimization: The collaboration between GumGum and AY aims to assist platforms and publishers in achieving more efficient bidstreams, leading to decarbonization and sustainability in digital advertising.

2. Traffic Shaping Technology: AY's Traffic Shaping technology optimizes relationships with demand-side platforms (DSPs) by applying Query Per Second (QPS) thresholds tailored to each partner's specific needs, resulting in a reduction of bid requests.

3. Measurable Impact: Leveraging Cedara's enterprise software, GumGum accurately measures, reduces, and reports on its carbon emissions. Analysis of bid requests pre- and post-throttling in 2023 revealed a 38% reduction, avoiding an average of 7 tons of CO2 emissions daily.

4. Environmental Impact: The reduction in CO2 emissions is equivalent to 17,903 miles driven by an average gas-powered vehicle or 1.4 homes' electricity use for one year, contributing to environmental sustainability efforts.

5. Positive Revenue Impact: AY's Traffic Shaping system dynamically adjusts outgoing requests, leading to significant decreases in bid requests without negative revenue impacts. GumGum observes improved performance and reduced environmental impact.

6. Promoting Sustainability: The partnership between GumGum and AY aims to promote sustainability within the digital advertising ecosystem, striving for a carbon net-zero future by optimizing bidstreams and reducing the digital footprint of online advertising.

Expert Insights:

• Nils Lind, CEO of Assertive Yield, highlights the effectiveness of the Traffic Shaping system in reducing outgoing bid requests while maintaining revenue streams, leading to positive impacts on performance and environmental sustainability.

• Kara Petrocelli, Senior Director of Platform Operations at GumGum, emphasizes the transformative impact of the Traffic Shaping solution in enabling informed decisions, optimizing performance, and reducing environmental impact.

• David Shaw, Co-Founder and CEO at Cedara, underscores the importance of transparent updates and emission reduction capabilities in managing traffic effectively while delivering meaningful results for ad platforms and publishers.

The partnership between GumGum and Assertive Yield signifies a significant step towards reducing bidstream carbon emissions in digital advertising. By leveraging innovative traffic shaping technology, the collaboration aims to promote sustainability and drive towards a carbon net-zero future in the digital advertising ecosystem.