Right here’s right this moment’s AdExchanger.com information round-up… Need it by electronic mail? Enroll right here.
To The Core
Nielsen is trimming its workforce – once more – and by quite a bit this time, Advert Age reviews.
On Wednesday, the TV scores big introduced plans to chop its international personnel by round 9% “in an effort to carry prices consistent with revenues,” based on a Nielsen spokesperson.
Earlier than this spherical of layoffs, Nielsen had roughly 15,000 workers worldwide, which means about 1,300 folks had been affected.
Nielsen already laid off a couple of hundred staffers in January.
The most recent layoffs are doubtless associated to Nielsen’s acquisition by a non-public fairness consortium final 12 months. Non-public fairness is understood to squeeze advert tech corporations for as a lot money and revenue as doable by shaving them right down to their core enterprise and nixing nearly all the pieces else. In Nielsen’s case, the precedence now could be Nielsen ONE, its cross-media measurement platform.
Sources with information on the matter say this spherical of layoffs may additionally produce as a lot as $200 million in annual financial savings to assist offset an impressive $10 billion in acquisition-related debt.
Both method, Nielsen is underneath a ton of stress to turn into worthwhile regardless of intense competitors within the TV foreign money area.
Streaming Scuffle
Disney and Comcast have set a brand new date, September 30, to start out negotiating the possession of Hulu, CNBC reviews.
In 2019, Disney and Comcast struck a deal that gave Disney a two-thirds stake and Comcast a one-third stake in Hulu, which was then valued at $27.5 billion. The joint homeowners agreed that both social gathering may drive a sale in January 2024.
Tensions over Hulu have been working excessive. Comcast-owned NBCUniversal moved some Hulu exhibits to its streaming service, Peacock, whereas Disney added Hulu content material to Disney+. The “synergies” and “churn profit” Hulu brings to Disney may very well be value $30 billion, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts stated on the Goldman Sachs Communacopia and Expertise convention on Wednesday. That quantity is probably going far greater than Disney is prepared to pay.
However Disney may gain advantage drastically from proudly owning 100% of Hulu’s content material and advert tech. Hulu has been working focused promoting for the previous 15 years, and so it’s miles forward of Disney on the subject of strategic issues, comparable to tips on how to steadiness subscription pricing and churn whereas nonetheless turning a revenue.
One factor’s for positive, although: No matter Hulu’s last sale worth, issues are sure to get snippy on the negotiating desk.
NewTube?
YouTube broke the standard TV mannequin, however its new CTV advert expertise is taking cues from linear’s long-established playbook.
YouTube is lowering the variety of advert breaks that non-premium subscribers see in its CTV app in favor of longer advert breaks positioned in the midst of content material, The Verge reviews. The tip end result will doubtless resemble linear TV business breaks.
The brand new advert expertise is within the testing part. YouTube doesn’t know but how lengthy the advert breaks will final or when the expertise will roll out to a wider base of customers.
Very like the introduction of unskippable 30-second spots to its CTV app earlier this 12 months, YouTube’s shift to longer advert breaks feels just like the platform is attempting to place a tried-and-true technique as one thing new and thrilling.
However YouTube isn’t simply drawing on TV’s previous methods for inspiration. It’s additionally warming to Google’s unfulfilled online game ambitions.
YouTube started testing its new browser-based gaming portal, Playables, on Tuesday, 9to5 Google reviews. It’s a far cry from Google’s try and be a significant participant in video video games via its failed Stadia platform. However chalk it up as yet one more instance of Google packaging one thing previous as one thing new.
However Wait, There’s Extra!
Disney releases a brand new ad-free bundle that features Disney+ and Hulu. [CNET]
Roku to put off 10% of its workforce, totaling over 300 staffers. [Deadline]
Netflix shares extra particulars on its anti-password sharing plans. [Variety]
Vistar Media’s new retail media concentrating on software prompts campaigns on DOOH screens in main retailers. [release]
Instacart rolls out a Shopify app for CPG manufacturers. [release]
UK regulators pull again on plans to compel tech platforms to scan encrypted messages for dangerous content material. [FT]
You’re Employed!
TripleLift hires Bob Coon as SVP of US gross sales. [release]
GumGum appoints former Commerce Desk exec Michelle Hulst as president. [release]
