YouTube Acquire Simsim; Tencent Set to Buy Sumo
In today’s ExchangeWire news digest: YouTube acquire Indian social commerce startup Simsim; Tencent are set to buy UK games developer Sumo Group; and Xiaomi have overtaken Apple to become the second-largest smartphone maker. YouTube acquire Simsim YouTube have acquired Indian social commerce firm Simsim in a deal rumoured to be worth over USD $70m (£50.9m). The startup, which is based in the Gurgaon region, was valued at USD $50.1m (£36.4m) in a 2020 series B funding round. Founded two years ago, Simsim helps [...]
Google Fined by French Competitions Authority; Toqio Raised $9.4m Seed Funding
In today’s ExchangeWire news digest: Google are fined by the French Competition Authority for allegedly violating orders to negotiate payment deals with news publishers; fintech startup Toqio raise USD $9.4m in a seed funding round; and Apple face criticism for their low UK tax bill. French authorities fine Google over publisher deals Google have been hit with a USD $593m (£428m) fine from the French Competition Authority. The penalty is the result of allegations that the search leader had breached orders to [...]
Twitter Launch "Blue" Subscription Service; Apple Close Door to Fingerprinting
In this weekly segment, ExchangeWire sums up key industry updates in ad tech from around the globe. In this edition: Twitter launch a new consumer-focused subscription service called “Twitter Blue”; Apple announce “Private Relay”, a feature that will obstruct fingerprinting by preventing advertisers from accessing consumers’ IP addresses; the latest IIDEA census reveals that Italy’s gaming industry is on the rise; and Tesla agree to store their Chinese customers’ data within China. Twitter trial “Blue” subscription service Twitter have launched a paid subscription service [...]
Apple's "Private Relay" to Prevent Fingerprinting; Microsoft to Retire Internet Explorer
In today’s ExchangeWire news digest: Apple announce “Private Relay”, a feature that will obstruct fingerprinting by preventing advertisers from accessing consumers’ IP addresses; Microsoft will shut down Internet Explorer in mid-June 2022; and Snap ramp-up efforts to make Snapchat an ecommerce hub. Apple “Private Relay” clamps down on fingerprinting Apple have announced a new feature that will crackdown on fingerprinting by preventing advertisers from accessing consumers’ IP addresses. Named “Private Relay”, the tool will disguise a user’s IP address by redirecting traffic [...]
Time To Reframe The Industry: Digital Media & Commerce Ecosystem
Facebook, Amazon and Google are unbeatable; just go and work for them. This is what the evolved part of your brain tells you on a daily basis. And, to a certain extent, it’s not wrong given how many senior ad tech people are finding refuge with the monopolies. It’s an easy life with free food – a place where you can coast until you are ready for your retirement. Yawn. Now here is the counterpoint. Yes, in display advertising these three [...]
Why Lukewarm Responses to Apple’s Privacy Shift Shouldn’t Stop Preparations for a Future Without Third-Party Cookies
In this article, Asher Gordon, head of media at Tug explores how the industry is preparing for the post-cookie era, and sets out what brands can do to ensure that they’re ready for this monumental infrastructural shift. After months of hype, Apple’s iOS 14.5 update went live with surprisingly little fanfare. The long-awaited privacy features have arrived: now, users will be asked whether they want to opt in or out of in-app ad tracking. Some leading players have even started adjusting [...]
Gray Television Buy 17 Meredith TV Stations; BBG Set Out to Bring US Brands to Europe
In today’s ExchangeWire news digest: Gray Television acquire 17 of Meredith’s TV stations as the media firm focus on their publishing and digital assets businesses; Berlin Brands Group look for American sellers to bring to the European market; and Facebook report higher-than-expected revenues for Q1, but remain wary of the impact that ATT will have on their future ad sales. Gray Television acquire Meredith TV stations Gray Television have inked a deal to buy 17 of Meredith Corporation’s TV stations for USD [...]
FLoC, ATT, and Core Web Vitals: The Opportunities for Independents
Advertising technology has always been somewhat difficult to explain to those not in the industry. “What do you really do? What the heck is a programmatic?” Questions we have all had to field. The last couple of months will surely have intensified such queries when, over the dining tables and hastily-purchased desks of the ad tech home-office, loved ones have witnessed an outbreak of “FLoC”. A single word to convince partners and housemates that we have finally lost purchase from [...]
Colorado Consider New Privacy Bill; Apple Block Non-ATT Compliant Apps
In this weekly segment, ExchangeWire sums up key industry updates in ad tech from around the globe. In this edition: Colorado becomes the latest US state to consider implementing a new data privacy law; Apple have begun blocking apps that do not comply with their new App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework; and LinkedIn confirm that they’re working on an audio-only social feature. Colorado considers new consumer privacy law Colorado has become the latest US state to propose revamping its consumer privacy laws. State [...]
Apple Begin Blocking Apps that Fall Foul of ATT; Spotify Acquire Betty Labs
In today’s ExchangeWire news digest: Apple have begun rejecting apps who don’t comply with their new ATT privacy framework; Spotify acquire Betty Labs, the tech company behind live audio app Locker Room; and ViacomCBS put $3bn worth of shares up for sale to raise capital for content investment. Apple begin blocking non-ATT compliant apps on devices US tech giant Apple have begun blocking apps that do not comply with their new App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework from their devices. First spotted last [...]
