The ad channels expanding right now; Amazon’s new video ads partner

Plus: Search enhancements test retailers’ balance of ad revenues and customer experience [Insider Intelligence]( [Emarketer Daily]([Emarketer Daily]( Charts. News. Analysis DECEMBER 8, 2023 | By Sara Lebow, Arielle Feger, Becky Schilling, and Meaghan Yuen Hearst bought a [puzzle platform](. The puzzle wars are heating up as media companies aim to compete with what The New York Times has done so well with its crosswords, Spelling Bee, Wordle, and, most recently, Connections games. Trust us on this, we did the crossword mini in 34 seconds this morning. Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up [here](. TOP STORY [3 ad channels bolstering the growth of the US ad market]( Although inflation, a strong job market, and a positive economic outlook are at play, three dominant ad channels are contributing to upward US ad spend. October saw a 3.2% YoY growth for the US ad market, marking the fourth consecutive month of spending increases, according to the Standard Media Index ad market tracker. From the resonance of retail media networks to the resurgence of social ad spend and burgeoning subscription over-the-top platforms, the impact of these channels are being felt in the overall ad market. [Keep reading]( NEWS AND VIEWS [Amazon and IPG Mediabrands strike 3-year video advertising deal]( Our view: The IPG deal is a major vote of confidence in Prime Video advertising and could cause other major ad-supported streaming services still gaining a foothold to seek out similar partnerships. [Google admitted at least one Gemini demo wasn’t real]( Our view: Google is working from behind to create an AI product that gets users excited—and offers ad opportunities along the way. [Disney+ considers adding gaming and shopping experiences for advertisers]( Our view: As shoppable ads become more popular on connected TV, more streamers are launching “hubs” and other products that offer more experiences beyond streaming content. ANALYSIS [Search enhancements test retailers’ balance of ad revenues and customer experience]( Retailers, advertisers, and customers are at odds when it comes to retail search experiences. Retailers are looking to expand ad revenues. Advertisers need the ability to drive product sales by expanding visibility through keyword use and placements. And consumers don’t want the hassle of sifting through sponsored items that aren’t relevant to them. “[Retailers] have to make sure that they’re monetizing surface space, but the ads that are served still have to be very meaningful and tied to that particular search,” our analyst Jeremy Goldman said on an episode of the “Behind the Numbers” podcast. [Keep reading]( THINGS TO KNOW 🤖 [Report: 2024 AI outlook for digital agency leaders]( 👀 [Google rolling out programmatic bidding for limited ads]( ⚖️ [US Congress unlikely to take up TikTok legislation anytime soon]( 🧵 [Threads has hashtags now]( PODCAST [Behind the Numbers: The Weekly Listen]( How much can tech help the travel rebound, what the NFL + shopping equals, and ChatGPT in 2024. Tune in on [Apple Podcasts](, [Spotify](, [YouTube](, or wherever you listen to podcasts. [Follow us on Instagram.](Behind the Numbers is made possible by Affinity Solutions. [Listen in]( THE BIG QUESTION Make it snappy: Snap just announced its first digital makeup product, partnering with which big brand? A) Ulta Beauty B) Sephora C) e.l.f. Beauty D) Glossier [Get the answer]( Email sent to: {EMAIL} If you cannot view the HTML newsletter, [please read it in your browser here](. [Become a Premium Subscriber]( | [Advertise with us]( [Manage your email preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [Terms of Use]( | [Privacy Policy]( ©2023 Insider Intelligence, One Liberty Plaza 9th Floor, New York, NY 10006 [LiveIntent Logo]( [AdChoices Logo](