Robert Williams

The absence of live sports during the onset of the pandemic challenged sports leagues and broadcasters to provide programming that partly filled the void. For Disney’s ESPN, that meant getting creative with its approach to providing everything from documentaries like “The Last Dance” about NBA legend Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to reformatting events […]

Audiences can access a wider variety of content on digital platforms and gain more control over the viewing experience as they connect their TVs directly to the internet. That change in viewing habits creates a win-win situation for viewers and the marketers that seek to reach them. “For viewers right now, it’s the Golden Age […]

PHILADELPHIA – The absence of fan attendance at sporting events for most of last year led advertisers, broadcasters and teams to develop other ways to reach fans who were stuck at home. Virtual signage that was only visible to TV viewers became more prominent as marketers shifted some spending away from in-stadium campaigns. “We’ve spent […]

Sports fans will find a way to watch their favorite players and teams, giving advertisers a way to participate in programming among a wider variety of devices. Amid the fragmentation of the media market, audience-based targeting is central to reaching those fans, especially younger consumers. “Whatever you’re a fan of today, you can find that […]

DETROIT – Live sports are a key part of Rocket Mortgage’s strategy to reach a broad group of consumers, whether they’re looking to buy their first home or refinance an existing loan. The lender is active in its sports marketing programs throughout the year, and quickly revamped its plans as the pandemic led to the […]

The growing audience for advertising-supported streaming audio is driving a shift in media spending as marketers seek to reach listeners of music and podcast programming. The portability of smartphones and the popularity of unlimited mobile data plans help to reach consumers wherever they are, while smart speaker ownership is rising among connected households. “I’ve been […]

The temporary suspension of live sports last year dramatized the importance of audience-based targeting for advertisers. As sports leagues resumed operations without fans attending games during the pandemic, viewership jumped in the second half of the year and marketers sought to reach them more effectively. “There became huge pent-up demand for these loyal sports viewers,” […]

The new year shows signs of bringing back more traditional scheduling of live sports, though the Summer Olympics is still uncertain amid the global pandemic. A “new normal” in viewing habits is emerging, challenging sports leagues, advertisers and broadcasters to adapt to disruptions that started last year. “There were a lot of unknowns from the […]

As the biggest screen in the house, television serves as the main way that most sports fans watch live games, but ancillary digital content can’t be ignored. Younger consumers are ready to engage with sports, using social media as a platform to gather with other fans and to see highlight clips. With sports fans spending […]

Bringing live sports back to television last year was a herculean effort that challenged broadcasters, sports leagues and advertisers to pivot quickly to engage with fans. Turner Sports, the division of AT&T’s WarnerMedia whose network brands include TBS, TNT, TruTV and AT&T SportsNet, pushed through the pandemic’s disruptions as a major provider of sports entertainment. […]

Sports programming is an important anchor for advertisers in reaching audiences, not only when fans watch their favorite teams, but also when they consume other kinds of content. Reaching them takes an audience-based approach — and that become much more apparent last year when the pandemic capsized the sports calendar. “What we’ve found is that […]

The streaming audio market is growing as consumers spend more time listening to music and podcasts from on-demand platforms. Technological innovation also is putting audio advertising into mobile games, making them less intrusive than that video or display ads that can be a turnoff to gamers. “Audio is a market that has been exploding, in […]

Brands seeking to reach a mass audience will keep partnering with broadcasters that offer unrivaled reach amid the fragmentation of media channels. The Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which were delayed by a year because of the pandemic, will showcase the power of live sports to drive viewership. “The bulk of that consumption is going to […]

The shift in viewing habits from linear TV to newer digital video platforms comes as advertisers seek a more unified approach to their media buying. The pandemic sped up that change in viewing habits, making it more imperative for advertisers to better understand the best ways to reach unduplicated audiences. “When we think about the […]

Sports viewership just went through one of the most volatile periods in recent memory, with the pandemic having a significant effect on sports leagues and consumer behavior. Amid limitations on fan attendance, sports entertainment became a more virtual experience that’s likely to have a lasting effect on reaching younger consumers. The National Basketball Association, National […]

“Necessity is the mother of invention” is an enduring phrase with special meaning for broadcasters of live sports during the coronavirus pandemic. The health crisis forced sports leagues, their sponsors and their broadcast partners to come up with new ways to work together as fans hungered for live entertainment. “History proves that people need sports […]

The pandemic has been a catalyst for innovation as businesses find new ways of doing things to help customers, many of whom are stuck at home and rely more than ever on digital connections with the outside world. Creating a positive customer experience (CX) in a website or mobile app is crucial when consumers are […]

BOSTON –  The convergence of traditional linear TV and digital video has accelerated as more households connect their TVs directly to the internet. The shift has created more opportunities for advertisers to improve their targeting by harnessing consumer data. “In recent years, there have been certain concepts that have come to TV in terms of […]

Advanced TV has grown more significant to advertisers aiming to reach consumers who are watching video on a broader variety of platforms. Audience fragmentation presents another challenge for brands that want a unified view of the entire landscape, including linear TV and digital video services. “Buyers are looking for reach and frequency measurement across all […]

LOS ANGELES — When Kylie Jenner posts a picture on photo-sharing app Instagram, as many as 208 million of her followers get a glimpse into her glamorous lifestyle and the products she endorses — including her own cosmetics line. The reality-TV star provides a notable example of the power of influencer marketing to raise brand […]