Amazon pushes a 12-month sales metric to capture credit it says it’s missing
Digiday’s Seb Joseph reports that Amazon found roughly a fifth of a brand’s sales value on its platform lands after the typical seven-to-30-day attribution window closes, based on studying over 2 million June campaigns.
Top media YouTube Shorts creators beat average views by 200x
TVREV’s John Cassillo reports that Chartbeat data shows U.S. media generated nearly 85 billion YouTube Shorts views this year, with average per-video views at 46,400 even as top performers exceed that by factors of nearly 200.
Sports ad costs soar as broadcasters seek returns on media rights
eMarketer’s Marisa Jones reports that broadcasters are pushing sports ad prices higher as they work to recoup soaring media rights fees.
Bloys set to head combined HBO Max-Paramount+ streaming after Holland exit
Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva reports Casey Bloys will likely lead the combined Paramount-WBD streaming operation once the merger closes October 6, after Paramount counterpart Cindy Holland exited this week.
Skydance names Kreiz co-CEO with $31.5M bonus amid layoffs
The Ankler’s Sean McNulty reports Skydance’s new co-CEO Ynon Kreiz lands a $31.5 million restricted stock signing bonus and a 5-year contract while overseeing “cost savings” layoffs across the newly merged studio.
Live Nation backs new creator-focused live events firm Creator Nation
Tubefilter’s James Hale reports that Live Nation is funding Creator Nation, a new venture led by Alexis and Scott Fisher that will connect digital creators with live events, brands, and management resources.
Jon Cook to exit VML and WPP Creative after 30 years
Adweek’s Christopher Cicchiello reports that Jon Cook is stepping down as global CEO of VML and WPP Creative after three decades, with Eric Campbell succeeding him while keeping his North America CEO title.
Netflix’s Sarandos can’t say how growth reaccelerates without WBD
nScreenMedia’s Colin Dixon reports that Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos, in a Bloomberg Screentime interview with Lucas Shaw, struggled to detail how Netflix reaccelerates growth after losing the Warner Bros. Discovery bid, and sounded cool on launching a free ad-supported tier.
Guy Raz buys ‘How I Built This’ from NPR, partners with Vox Media
Inside Radio reports that Guy Raz acquired full ownership of “How I Built This” from NPR and partnered with Vox Media to expand it with video episodes, double publishing volume in early 2027, and new live events.
AGC Studios launches creator-led IP division, AGC Digital
Variety’s Leo Barraclough reports that AGC Studios has launched AGC Digital, a division that will partner with digital creators to turn their ideas and audiences into film, TV and unscripted franchises.
Amazon blocks Meta’s Muse AI shopping agent from its marketplace
eMarketer’s Gadjo Sevilla reports Amazon blocked Meta’s Muse AI agent from its store last week, citing lack of notice about account access, while Meta has lined up Walmart, GameStop, Sephora, Expedia, OpenTable and Shopify as Muse partners.
Paramount’s Cardinale: $6B merger savings mostly won’t be layoffs
Deadline’s Dade Hayes reports that Gerry Cardinale, architect of Paramount’s imminent $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, says most of the promised $6 billion in cost savings will come from unifying tech stacks and real estate, not job cuts.
Judge approves Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger settlement
TheWrap’s Lucas Manfredi reports Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín signed off on Paramount’s settlement with 12 state attorneys general, clearing the last hurdle for its one hundred ten billion dollar merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
DAZN expands NBA local rights footprint ahead of hub bid
TVREV’s John Cassillo reports that DAZN has acquired local rights to over a third of NBA teams for 2026-27, including exclusive deals with the Pacers, Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Timberwolves and Spurs.
Local TV anchors now direct and produce their own streaming newscasts
TVREV’s Tim Hanlon reports that Fox and ABC affiliates in Houston are having anchors like KRIV’s Caroline Collins handle video switching, graphics and audio while anchoring streaming newscasts, with Fox 10 Phoenix now listing combined producing, directing and anchoring as a hiring requirement.
Netflix’s Sarandos hints at adding a ‘Channels’ program for rival streamers
The Ankler’s Sean McNulty reports that Ted Sarandos signaled Netflix may add a “Channels” feature letting subscribers access Disney+, Peacock and others inside its app. He also voiced frustration with current hours-watched engagement trends on the platform.
Amazon advertisers skip the AI hype, flock to new review-generation tool
The Drum’s Kiri Masters reports that at Amazon’s unBoxed expo, advertisers paid less attention to Amazon’s new AI agents than to a simple new tool built to generate customer reviews.
Publishers turn AI visibility optimization into a real revenue line
Digiday’s Sara Guaglione reports that GEO has moved from experiment to business, with Future signing more than thirty clients and securing renewals while Ziff Davis and a half dozen other large publishers now sell generative engine optimization services.
MoffettNathanson: agency media-buying fees under pressure as AI reshapes ad market
Inside Radio reports that MoffettNathanson now forecasts the U.S. ad market will grow fifteen percent in 2026 to $471.4 billion, with online advertising reaching $359.6 billion, or seventy-six percent of the total, as AI, streaming and sports drive the gains.
Independent shop Zambezi sells majority stake to private equity firm Manna Tree
Ad Age’s Brian Bonilla reports that Zambezi is selling a majority stake to private equity firm Manna Tree, an unusual deal that has the independent agency helping evaluate deals and bringing marketing expertise to Manna Tree’s portfolio companies beyond its usual client work.