Streaming price hikes make consumers more receptive to ad-based plans
Streaming price increases are making viewers more willing to accept advertising in exchange for lower subscription costs, according to new Hub Entertainment Research data. Among Gen Z viewers, 72% said they are receptive to ad-supported plans, while nearly two-thirds would almost always choose one if it saved them $4 to $5 per month. Read more from The Desk.
What Google’s unsealed ad tech antitrust ruling reveals about AI, YouTube
The unsealed ruling in Google’s ad tech antitrust case shows why the court chose behavioral remedies instead of forcing a breakup. Google must make AdX and DFP more interoperable with rival systems, share more bid and auction data, avoid favoring its own tools, and operate under court oversight for six years. Read more from The Current.
Consumer AI use a boon for the holidays, as AI traffic doubles
AI is becoming a much larger part of the holiday shopping journey, with more consumers using tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to research products, compare prices, and discover gifts. Recent retail forecasts show that AI-assisted shopping is helping drive faster e-commerce growth, while a growing share of shoppers now say they plan to begin their holiday discovery process with an AI platform. Read more from Retail Dive.
Google rolls out September 2026 spam update
Google began rolling out its September 2026 spam update on September 24, marking the company’s fourth confirmed spam update of the year. The update applies globally and across all languages, and Google says it could take up to two weeks to complete. Read more from Search Engine Journal.
New college sports bill: benefits for brands and TV networks?
A new Senate bill aimed at reshaping college sports could bring more structure to NIL deals while significantly increasing the amount schools can share directly with athletes. The proposal would raise the revenue-sharing level to nearly $50 million while also curbing some booster-backed NIL arrangements that have inflated athlete valuations. Read more from MediaPost.
