Here’s today’s AdExchanger.com news round-up… Want it by email? Sign-up here.
The More Things Change…
Comedy is all about the timing. One week after Facebook’s video measurement snafu, comScore heralded its ability to report on Facebook video viewability. While agencies aren’t particularly fussed about the specific metric Facebook has been miscalculating for the past two years, some feel rightly vindicated after all the foot-stamping outside the walled garden. Facebook’s refrain (shared by Google, Apple and Amazon) is that it has a fundamental obligation to user privacy that eclipses marketer wish lists. But there are ways to add marketing transparency without exposing user data.
Called Up
Digital marketing tech is growing up, and the grownups are taking notice. Darren Herman, former Varick Media founder and Mozilla VP, is headed to Bain Capital where he’ll be the private equity firm’s first digitally focused operating partner. Aside from the public market, which has one new ad tech entrant and another waiting in the wings, private equity firms have significantly upped their interest in the space [AdExchanger coverage]. The pace of VC-fueled startup launches may be decelerating, but major investors have just hit their stride.
Look At It This Way
Salesforce’s interest in acquiring Twitter may seem strange to some, but CNBC “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer says the bluebird’s rich data could help enterprises with customer acquisition. Salesforce has a history of applying technology trends like social, mobile, cloud computing and AI to the specific needs of its accounts-driven customer base. But how will Twitter help it, precisely? Still unclear. “If you only look at Twitter as it is, then acquiring it would be a colossal mistake,” Cramer says. More.
Free Lunch
Verizon caused some confusion over its NFL streaming agreement – specifically data charges stemming from mobile ads. While subscribers don’t pay or sacrifice data to watch NFL games on their phones, a reader of MobileSportsReport.com sent in a bill showing charges for the game. Turns out the games were zero rated, but the ads weren’t. Verizon says it’s no harm, no foul, as subscribers were already being credited data or cash back for the ad charges. “We are monitoring this closely to make sure all customers do get a truly free NFL experience,” said a Verizon spokesperson. More.
But Wait, There’s More!
- Guardian Launches Audience Extension – press release
- Twitter Signs Upfront Advertising Deal With CW And Ford – CNBC
- Breaking The Black Box: When Algorithms Decide What You Pay – ProPublica
- Deezer And Feature.fm Bring Native Ads To Music Streaming – release
- The Athlete’s Foot Steps Into Programmatic TV – AdNews
- Carnegie Communications And Semcasting Partner On Higher Ed Tech – release
- Facebook Messenger Turns On End-To-End Chat Encryption – AppleInsider
- Google Has Its Own Phones. Now It Must Fix Its Retail Strategy. – Bloomberg
- MediaAlpha Expands Platform Programmatic And Vertical Search – release
- PushSpring And comScore Partner On Mobile Audience Segments – release
- Illegal Listings Flood Facebook’s Craigslist Competitor – Business Insider
- Netflix Will Start Screening Original Movies In Theaters – WSJ
- Airpush Launches Mobile Data Market For Non-Ad App Monetization – release
- Study: Twitter Customer Care Increases Willingness To Pay – Twitter
- Netflix, Dish And Others Oppose ISP Challenge To Net Neutrality Rules – MediaPost
