sparrow advisers

Despite their perilous position, some companies still aren’t preparing for the end of third-party cookies. But the lack of testing isn’t because they aren’t concerned.

Pundits predicted Microsoft would use Xandr to create an ad-supported video game content fortress, with the ad tech business getting exclusive access to Microsoft’s gaming IP. Any ambitions in that direction may now be on hold.

The market is not being kind to digital media companies. The nearly 40% drop in BuzzFeed’s stock price on Monday and the decline of its valuation from $1.5 billion when it went public in December to roughly $300 million now is no doubt causing other digital-native publishers to rethink their IPO plans. But any doom and gloom about the long-term viability of digital publishers in public markets is likely overblown.

Even the experts at companies whose future depends on explaining the value exchange of personalized advertising to consumers struggle to make a convincing argument. Part of the problem is that the ad industry’s MO has been to “overcomplicate” matters, said Lauren Wetzel, chief operating officer at InfoSum, speaking at LUMA’s Digital Media Summit earlier this week.

Last week, a federal judge unsealed previously redacted portions of an antitrust lawsuit poking into Google’s allegedly monopolistic ad practices. Will these revelations actually change the way publishers and advertisers spend with Google, or is Google too entrenched? And how much ammunition do these disclosures give regulators in their quest to rein in Google? We asked the experts.

So, there’s an election or something happening in the United States right now? And, apparently, it’s also a workday. Sure. But there has to be a better strategy for getting through the day than repeatedly stress-refreshing the AP’s live election tallies. Here’s how the ad tech community is staying chill, if such a thing is […]

“Data-Driven Thinking” is written by members of the media community and contains fresh ideas on the digital revolution in media. Today’s column is written by Maja Milicevic, co-founder and principal at Sparrow Advisers. If you want to make an ad tech professional laugh, ask them about the resilience of advertising networks. While some may openly joke […]

“Data-Driven Thinking” is written by members of the media community and contains fresh ideas on the digital revolution in media. Today’s column is written by Ana Milicevic, co-founder and principal at Sparrow Advisers. The product management discipline owes its roots to marketing: To justify new headcount, Neil H. McElroy, a Procter & Gamble junior account […]