Aditude vs Mediavine

Aditude Blog: New Posts on Ad Blindness, Google Ad Manager Impressions, PPID, and CPM vs. eCPM

Aditude published four new blog posts on Oct 15, 2026: 'Ad Blindness (Banner Blindness): Why Readers Ignore Ads and How to Fix It', 'Google Ad Manager Is Changing How It Counts Impressions — Here's What Publishers Need to Know', 'PPID Explained: Publisher-Provided IDs After Cookies', and 'CPM vs. eCPM: What Publishers Should Actually Track'.

Ad industry tallies early losses from Apple Safari tracking block

Apple's latest Safari update has blocked tracking technologies used by major ad tech vendors, causing early revenue losses for publishers. Aditude reported a 10.5% drop in eCPMs among updated users, with Safari accounting for 11.7% of ad impressions and 11.4% of ad revenue for its clients. The impact is currently limited as only 8% of users have updated, but fears grow ahead of Q4. Some publishers with subscription models are less affected, while others worry about dependencies on blocked vendors. Apple's lack of communication and perceived favoritism towards its own ad network have drawn criticism. Index Exchange remains unaffected but calls the move an overreach. The Trade Desk's ad server was blocked but temporarily restored in a test version after a bug report.

• Apple's Safari update blocked tracking technologies used by major ad tech companies.
• Aditude reported eCPMs fell 10.5% among users with the update, impacting publishers' revenue.
• Safari accounts for 11.7% of ad impressions and 11.4% of ad revenue for Aditude's clients.

Aditude Publishes New Blog Posts on Prebid Server Evaluation, Revenue Intelligence, and Publisher Infrastructure

Aditude added four new blog posts on September 25, 2026: 'How to Evaluate a Prebid Server Provider: The Questions Most Publishers Don't Ask', 'What Is Revenue Intelligence? Why Publishers Confuse It With Reporting?', 'Prebid Server Architecture for Enterprise Publishers: What Actually Works at Scale', and 'What Is Publisher Infrastructure? A Definition for Ad Tech Teams'.

Optable Launches Agentic Marketplace to Automate Direct Ad Deals

Optable unveiled its Agentic Marketplace at Optable Connect 2026 in New York City on October 8. The platform connects buyer and seller AI agents to automate discovery, packaging, and purchasing of publisher inventory. It aims to combine programmatic scalability with the customization of direct deals while reducing intermediary fees. According to eMarketer data, approximately 41% of US RTB digital display spending goes to programmatic fees in 2026. Optable will not charge transaction or activation fees for direct contracts, offering a paid service option for advanced features. The market for agentic media buying is projected to grow from $100 million in 2026 to $29.5 billion by 2028. Executives from Goodway Group, Mediavine, and Hearst discussed the potential and current limitations of agentic advertising.

• Optable launched its Agentic Marketplace on October 8, 2026 at Optable Connect 2026 in New York City.
• The platform connects buyer and seller AI agents to automate discovery, packaging, and purchasing of publisher inventory.
• eMarketer data presented indicates approximately 41% of US RTB digital display spending goes to programmatic fees in 2026.

Publishers Score Google's Ad Tech Remedies 5/10

Publishers and sell-side executives have given a mixed scorecard, averaging 5/10, to the remedies proposed in the DOJ's antitrust case against Google's ad tech dominance. They acknowledge progress in opening AdX to rival ad servers and banning first-look advantages, but express skepticism about practical impact and enforcement. The opening of AdX to non-Google ad servers received the highest average score (6/10), seen as a potential shift, though caveats remain about Google's own demand participation. Other remedies, like data portability and unbundling AdX/DFP, scored lower, seen as transparency or billing changes rather than true competitive resets. Concerns persist about the hollowed-out alternative ad server market and risks for publishers switching stacks. Executives like Amit Grover and Eric Hochberger highlight both potential benefits and caveats, noting that many practices Google already changed. The remedies are seen as steps forward but far from a complete win for publisher competition and revenue.

• Seven publisher revenue and sell-side executives rated Google's ad tech remedies, assigning an average total score of 5/10.
• The remedy to open AdX bidding to rival ad servers received the highest average score of 6/10, requiring Google to allow real-time AdX bidding on non-Google ad servers.
• A ban on Google's 'first look' and 'last look' auction advantages scored 6/10, though Google claims it already stopped these practices in 2019.

Google Launches Ad Detection Tool for Chrome Ad Load Assessment

Google has introduced four experimental metrics within the Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX) to quantify ad overload and its impact on user experience: ad count, ad density, ad weight by network usage, and ad weight by CPU usage. These metrics offer objective data on the number of ads in the viewport, screen coverage, bandwidth, and processing power, aiding advertisers and publishers in better evaluating ad opportunities and making informed product decisions. The metrics are accessible via the CrUX API, CrUX History API, and CrUX Vis, with future availability on CrUX BigQuery. No benchmarks or thresholds are set, and Google seeks community feedback through a Google Group. Independent ad platforms, including DV360 and Google Ads, will receive equal data access with Google's own ad businesses, ensuring no preferential treatment. Announced by Chrome developer advocates Barry Pollard and Alex Cone, the initiative has support from WPP, The Guardian, Mediavine, Index Exchange, and Adelaide. This move coincides with Google's antitrust challenges and the impact of AI Overviews on publisher traffic.

• Google added four experimental metrics to CrUX: ad count, ad density, ad weight by network usage, and ad weight by CPU usage.
• The metrics are experimental and no benchmarks or thresholds are set; Google is collecting community input through a Google Group.
• Independent ad platforms, including DV360 and Google Ads, will have equal data access with Google's own ad businesses.