These are strange times, readers. COVID continues to tear away at the socio-economic fabric of the world. The once noble institutions of the ad tech ‘POWA’ breakfast, and the extended media lunch, have been reduced to sad Zoom/Google Meet/Microsoft Teams calls. And to top it all off, our industry is slowly being chewed alive in the cookie crunch.  I’ve always been a contrarian by nature. When things are going well, I am deeply sceptical and fearful of unseen disasters. When things [...]

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In today’s ExchangeWire news digest: Chinese regulators review a potential antitrust probe into Google; executives from a number of Indian start-ups discuss launching a competitor to Google’s Play Store; and AT&T loses its appeal over DirecTV ‘robocalls’.   China prepares antitrust suit against Google   China is gearing up for an investigation into Google over allegations of anticompetitive behaviour. According to sources close to the matter, China’s regulator has submitted a case to the State Council’s antitrust committee for review. The prospective probe comes after [...]

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In today’s ExchangeWire news digest: Amazon introduces contactless biometric payment system, Amazon One; Google seeks to reassure the EU Commission that its acquisition of Fitbit will not risk user privacy or harm market competition; and US TV advertising spend is projected to slip $5bn by 2023.   Amazon launches Amazon One biometric payment system   E-commerce giant Amazon has introduced a new payment system that will allow customers to use their palm to make purchases at its Go stores. Shoppers will initially have to [...]

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In this weekly segment, ExchangeWire sums up key industry updates in ad tech from around the globe. In this edition: the Australian government gives a $5m boost to struggling newswire AAP; Oracle announces that ByteDance will have no stake in TikTok Global; China slams Oracle and Walmart’s acquisition of TikTok’s US arm as “extortion”; and the EU extends its probe into Google’s planned acquisition of Fitbit.   Australian government commits $5m to AAP The Australian government has stepped in to provide financial support for [...]

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In today’s ExchangeWire news digest: EU antitrust regulators have had the deadline for their probe into Google’s purchase of Fitbit extended; research finds that Australian consumers are increasingly worried about the security and misuse of their data; and content marketing revenues are expected to decline by almost 7% in the US.   EU antitrust investigation into Google’s Fitbit acquisition extended   The European Union’s antitrust regulators have been given more time to decide whether or not to approve Google’s plans to acquire Fitbit. The [...]

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In today’s ExchangeWire news digest: Google is accused of anti-competitive behaviour in India after removing Paytm from its Play Store; TikTok’s interim CEO calls on Facebook and Instagram to support it against a fresh ban from the US government; and the Australian government bolsters AAP with a $5m cash injection.   Google pulls Paytm, sparking concerns of app store monopoly in India   Concerns over the monopolisation of the app stores have surfaced in India after Google removed mobile payment service Paytm’s app from [...]

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In this weekly segment, ExchangeWire sums up key industry updates in ad tech from around the globe. In this edition: Oracle wins the bid to become TikTok’s US partner, but it’s revealed that it won’t be given the app’s original source code; digital publishers in Australia unite to express their fear that the ACCC’s News Media Bargaining Code could threaten diversity in the sector; sources predict that the FTC could be ready to file an antitrust lawsuit against Google by [...]

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In today’s ExchangeWire news digest: the WFA announces the launch of a solution to help advertisers measure their campaigns’ effectiveness across different media; Apple draws the ire of app developers after announcing the launch of iOS 14 with less than a day’s notice; and Google faces probing questions at an antitrust subcommittee hearing on Tuesday.   WFA announces Cross Media Measurement Solution   The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) has revealed that it has developed a dual cross-media measurement framework and technical solution for [...]

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It is this time of year when we traditionally head to the BFI Southbank for ATS London; a day-long feast of madtech content. Most then hop on a plane the next day to Cologne for a 48-hour bonanza of networking and socialising.  Unfortunately due to Covid-19, both the Glastonbury of ad tech, namely ATS London, and the physical DMEXCO have been canceled.  Sure, virtual events fill a tiny slice of this empty void – but ultimately it’s a bit like eating dry [...]

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In today’s ExchangeWire news digest: Oracle wins the bid to take over TikTok’s US operations, but reports have surfaced that it will not be permitted to use the app’s original source code; Facebook lodges a fresh appeal to delay the termination of the EU-US Privacy Shield; and Google partners with CRA to integrate Australian radio into its Nest devices.   Oracle wins TikTok bid, but ByteDance guards source code   After weeks of speculation around the future of TikTok in America, parent company ByteDance [...]

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