Robert Williams

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 […]

This year promises to bring a return to traditional seasonal play for sports leagues that had scrambled to revamp operations because of the pandemic. The National Football League and National Basketball Association were among the sports leagues that implemented procedures to protect players, coaches and support staff from infection. Fox Sports is among the broadcasters […]

As disruptive as the pandemic has been for live sports, the possibility of ending the health crisis with vaccines has lifted hopes that 2021 will help to fill stadium seats and restore a less crowded calendar of televised sports. Higher fan attendance helps to support engagement with players and teams, while traditional schedules spread spots […]

SAN FRANCISCO – The interactive nature of online media has made click-through a common way to measure the performance of advertising campaigns. While more people are connecting their TVs directly to the internet, they don’t necessarily have a way to click on ads or even want to. In a “more old-fashioned digital world, it’s all […]

The Super Bowl this year will be especially significant as the capstone of the National Football League’s herculean effort provide live sports entertainment amid a global pandemic that threatened to upset its season. The health crisis has been enormously disruptive, but has shown the power of live sports to entertain millions of fans while helping […]

BOSTON – The advertising marketplace has grown more complex amid increased fragmentation among media channels, including various digital platforms on connected devices. Centro, a provider of trading and media operations software for digital advertisers, sees an opportunity for continued automation among buyer and sellers of advertising in a more omnichannel environment. “The biggest challenge is […]

Marketers next year will keep looking for ways to develop omnichannel media strategies that reach target consumers more efficiently. Advertisers want to move from planning and measurement of siloed media outlets toward a more holistic approach that avoids over-exposing viewers to the same ads too often. “There’s a lot of value for clients in being […]

The advertising marketplace has found multiple applications for artificial intelligence (AI) technology that handles more advanced problem-solving at higher speeds. Those uses include several parts of programmatic marketplace that brings together buyers and sellers of advertising in automated auctions. “Each of these will drive some sort of revenue lift yield, from the perspective of publishers,” […]

Addressable and advanced television advertising that lets marketers reach target audiences with more personalized commercials is on the verge of becoming more mainstream on national TV networks. This convergence of linear and digital media underscores the need for interoperable and transparent ways of doing business. “The TV industry is made up of hundreds, if not […]

First-party data about consumers are much more valuable to marketers as stricter privacy laws in several regions give people more control over how their personal information is shared. Amid the boom in ecommerce, retailers that sell advertising space on their websites are harnessing their first-party data to help marketers improve their targeting. That capability makes […]

Next year will bring more innovation in audience targeting, as artificial intelligence (AI) technology combined with first-party consumer data support programmatic buying among a wider variety of media channels. Advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning will make the technologies a more central part of reaching consumers among devices including smartphones, tablets and connected TVs. […]

CHICAGO – Smart speakers have a central role in connected homes, letting people use voice commands to control smart appliances, TVs, lighting, video doorbells and security systems. Smart speakers also provide a way for marketers to reach consumers who use the devices to listen to streaming music and podcasts, and to interact directly with brands […]

Television advertising is undergoing a period of significant upheaval as viewers watch their favorite programming on a broader range of devices, including smartphones and TVs connected directly to the internet. Because video is everywhere, advertisers are looking for a way to tell where and when their ads are reaching viewers most effectively — and that’s […]

Addressable advertising is on the cusp transforming national television as a variety of companies and coalitions develop ways for households to see different commercials while watching the same shows. For programmers like Discovery, the continued expansion of addressable advertising builds on its experience with delivering target audiences through linear and digital channels. “We’ve paid close […]

ATLANTA  — Automotive brands are seeing a major shift in radio advertising as the listener experience shift to on-demand streaming platforms. Instead of broadcasting to an entire region, dealerships can target the most likely vehicle buyers based on audience data and boost the performance of their campaigns. “There are key differences today from a broadcast […]