Break out the notebooks and pencils, because it’s back to school season, and not just for kids. With massive industry changes courtesy of post-pandemic behavior shifts and the advent of generative AI, successful marketers need to study up in order to stay ahead. So welcome to the August 2023 lesson plan, courtesy of tvScientific. This month’s roundup of CTV and marketing news digs deep into the neon-soaked marketing that powered the Barbie movie’s success, celebrates a $1B ad spend milestone, and checks in with industry leaders on how to best leverage AI. Let’s get to it.
Broadcasting + Cable
CTV ad spend hit a new milestone of $1 billion in the first half of 2023, according to Kantar Group’s ad tracking unit Vivvix. “This milestone validates the projections on CTV’s ascendency from experimental to a ‘table stakes’ medium,” said CEO Andrew Feigenson. Vivvix also noted that digital formats generated 70% of ad spend, with video as the fastest-growing format.
eMarketer
Mobile’s stranglehold on US adults’ screentime is waning and CTV is rising to close the gap, according to analysis from Insider Intelligence’s eMarketer. By 2025, expect viewers to spend more than 130 minutes per day with connected TV platforms and services.
LG Ad Solutions via Business Wire
We know connected TV offers potent new ways to engage with consumers, but how are the people watching CTV advertising responding? According to LG Ad Solutions, 84% of Canadian viewers said they like the type of enhanced ads brands can deploy on CTV, and more than half reported engaging with them. Location-based enhanced ads resonated particularly well, with 78% of respondents saying they like ads that provide the closest store locations.
CMSWire
As of this writing, Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” has earned more than $1.2 billion at the box office. And while the core of that accomplishment is undoubtedly simply a result of being a movie that people want to see, the film’s marketing made sure to capitalize on and extend that success into exciting brand collaborations, buzz-generating experiences, and stand-out ad creative. Barbie can be anything, and any marketer can learn from Barbie.
Harvard Business Review
The combined forces of inflation and rising cost of living are causing more marketers to focus on performance marketing, according to a recent survey. The survey indicates that 11.8% of marketers now center performance-driven marketing in their plans, compared to 8.6% last year. Pressure from leadership to hit targets was cited as a primary reason for the shift by 45.2% of respondents.
Forbes
It cannot be denied: Artificial intelligence (AI) is shaking up the world of marketing, whether it’s being used to draft copy for websites or combing through data to measure KPIs. It’s a time of uncertainty and excitement, anxiety and opportunity — so before you plug in, be sure to read what industry leaders think and how best to deploy and utilize this powerful tool.
That concludes our August 2023 news roundup! To stay informed on these and other news stories from the worlds of marketing and CTV, sign up for our newsletter today.