illumin

BBC Tops YouTube in UK Reach; AI Hits Publishers

After Publicis advised clients to stop transacting on The Trade Desk following a fee audit that found the DSP had "improperly applied" its fee and auto-opted some clients into fee-based offerings, Omnicom said it will commission its own third-party audit. The Trade Desk denied the allegations but its stock fell about 18% after the disclosures. Competing adtech firms and mid-market TV platforms — including StackAdapt, Quantcast, Tatari and Illumin — have actively marketed to agencies and buyers in the wake of the controversy, emphasizing transparency and alternative buying models. Agencies Dentsu and WPP have also exited The Trade Desk’s OpenPath service. It remains unclear whether rivals will capture significant spend from The Trade Desk amid the audits and wider industry scrutiny over DSP fees and transparency.

Ad Tech Financials: Growth Amidst Challenges in November

November's Ad Industry Financials (A-M) surveys November results for ad tech firms from AdTheorent through Magnite. The edition shows a mixed picture of growth and headwinds as firms in the segment navigate budget pressures and privacy changes. Highlights include AdTheorent revenue up 9% to $40.9m with a $4.2m net loss, driven by earn-out liabilities, and 28% higher self-service revenue as advertisers rose 51%. AppLovin revenue up 21% to $864m and net income up 359% to $109m, supported by AXON 2.0. Criteo revenue up 5% to $469m, with retail media up 29% and Iponweb up 82%. Digital Turbine revenue down 18% to $143m, with a net loss of $161m and a $143.3m impairment. DoubleVerify revenue up 28% to $144m and net income up 29% to $13.3m, aided by international growth and Scibids integration. The report also covers Illumin, Innovid, Integral Ad Science, LiveRamp, and Magnite, noting a mix of growth, losses, and strategic updates.

illumin and Broadsign Unite to Revolutionize DOOH Advertising

Digital ad tech company illumin (formerly AcuityAds) and DOOH ad tech developer Broadsign announced on August 3, 2023 that they have integrated Broadsign's supply-side platform (SSP) with illumin's journey advertising platform. The collaboration brings premium global DOOH inventory to illumin for the first time, enabling brands and agencies in more than 15 countries to run ads across DOOH formats—retail, roadside, EV charging, transit, and other OOH—alongside TV, CTV, and other digital ads. The integration positions illumin as a true cross-channel marketing hub, letting advertisers plan, optimize, and measure across channels from brand awareness to loyalty within a single platform. Andrey Feldman, vice president of products at illumin, called the move a crucial expansion of DOOH in the platform. John Dolan, Broadsign’s vice president, global head of media sales & service, said the partnership simplifies access to premium DOOH inventory for illumin users as they move through their day.