Canon

DMEXCO 2025: Bold Moves in AdTech's Future

DMEXCO 2025 in Cologne posted record figures: more than 40,000 visitors, over 700 exhibitors and about 2,000 brands. Under the motto Be Bold. Move Forward., the event prioritized substantive industry exchange over glamour, with 1,000 speakers on 17 stages and roughly 100 from the BVDW. AI dominated across key sessions (CMO Summit, Thought Leaders’ Summit, Commerce Summit, Creativity Summit), with Tim Ringel of Meet the People predicting AI will follow a path similar to the Internet’s mass commercialization. Growth drivers identified include Retail Media, DOOH, and video, plus data flows from The Trade Desk into the programmatic ecosystem. Rossmann participated; DOOH players like Vistar Media, Displayce, Walldecaux, and Ströer showcased on multiple stages. The show signaled a positive outlook and a plan for DMEXCO 2026 in Cologne on September 23–24.

AdTech Faces Antitrust Heat: Major Platforms Under Fire

An AdExchanger daily roundup details regulatory scrutiny of major platforms and evolving seller policies across e-commerce. The FTC is probing Google and Amazon over transparency in search advertising pricing and placements, while the DOJ antitrust case against Google surfaces dynamics like rate adjustments described as 'shaking the cushions' by a former Google ad leader. The piece notes Amazon facing renewed antitrust scrutiny tied to previous actions that allegedly favored sponsored ads. Walmart is moving to restrict sellers to authorized ones for certain cosmetics and beauty brands, and Amazon is requiring European electronics sellers to prove products originate from authorized suppliers. The roundup also covers Perplexity’s ad business struggles, including the departure of Taz Patel, and Stagwell’s disclosed partnerships with Palantir and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, illustrating competitive and political pressures shaping the industry.

Masterclass Applications Open for OMR Festival 2025!

OMR opened applications for Masterclasses at the OMR Festival 2025 (Hamburg Messe, 6–7 May). The festival organisers expect roughly 67,000 visitors, more than 800 speakers and over 1,000 exhibitors/partners; the programme includes over 280 Masterclasses, 200 Guided Tours and 125 Side Events. The application window for Masterclasses runs from 26 March to 22 April 2025; applicants need a valid festival ticket linked to a My‑Festival account and can apply for up to eight Masterclasses/Guided Tours and six Side Events. This article lists the Masterclasses scheduled on Wednesday 7 May in the afternoon (start times between 13:45 and 15:15), covering topics such as YouTube/CTV, Google measurement, Salesforce AI agents, Amazon Ads, retail media, creator partnerships, AI in content supply chains, consent/preference management, Smart TV advertising studies and numerous vendor case studies and product-focused sessions.