Magnite vs Perion

Starling Launches CTV Supply-Side Platform from Stealth

Starling, a new supply-side platform (SSP) purpose-built for connected TV (CTV), has officially launched. The company emerges from stealth with backing from MBL Partners and strategic investors, aiming to address fragmentation, lack of transparency, and underutilized audience intelligence in CTV advertising. Starling offers content and program-level intelligence, down to show-level reporting, and supports emerging formats like pause ads and home-screen placements. The leadership team includes Michael Bassik as Executive Chair and Acting CEO, Sean Miller as COO/CFO, Reshmi Nair as CTO (formerly of Magnite), and Wil Danielson as CRO (formerly of Nexstar). Starling has secured publisher relationships including Xumo, to provide access to premium inventory such as live sports.

• Starling launched as a CTV-focused supply-side platform (SSP).
• The company is backed by MBL Partners and strategic investors.
• Reshmi Nair, formerly of Magnite, joins as CTO.

Magnite Named Primary Video Ad Server and Programmatic Provider for HP TV+

Magnite, the largest independent sell-side advertising company, has been selected as the primary video ad server and programmatic technology provider for HP TV+, HP's free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) environment for personal PCs. This partnership enables HP TV+ to connect advertisers with active PC audiences across various content categories. Through Magnite's omnichannel suite and ClearLine Curation, HP Media Network can offer consent-based audience intelligence for programmatic activation, with access to nearly 100 off-the-shelf audience segments and over 1,200 PC apps. The integration aims to streamline advertising access to HP TV+'s banner and video inventory, supporting the growth of HP's streaming advertising business.

• Magnite is named the primary video ad server and programmatic technology provider for HP TV+.
• HP TV+ is HP's native free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) environment for personal PCs.
• The partnership provides programmatic access to HP TV+ banner and video inventory.

8-K Financial Filing Analysis for Magnite (2026-09-21)

On September 18, 2026, Magnite, Inc. announced key leadership appointments effective October 1, 2026. Brian Gephart, who has served as the Company's Chief Accounting Officer since June 2021, has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Principal Financial Officer. Concurrently, Haas Sullivan, previously Vice President of Accounting, was appointed Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) and Principal Accounting Officer. In connection with the promotions, Gephart will receive an equity award valued at $2.25 million (70% RSUs and 30% PSUs) alongside an amended severance agreement, while Sullivan will receive an RSU grant valued at approximately $600,000 and a new executive severance agreement.

• Brian Gephart was promoted to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective October 1, 2026, receiving an equity award package of $2.25 million ($1.575M in RSUs and $675K in PSUs).
• Haas Sullivan was promoted to Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) effective October 1, 2026, receiving an RSU grant valued at approximately $600,000.
• Both executives entered into amended or new Executive Severance and Vesting Acceleration Agreements defining severance terms in standard and sale-transaction scenarios.

6-K Financial Filing Analysis for Perion (2026-08-26)

On August 26, 2026, Perion Network Ltd. announced via Form 6-K the acquisition of PRN, a prominent in-store retail media company. PRN maintains exclusive multi-year partnerships across major North American retail networks, significantly expanding Perion's digital out-of-home (DOOH) and retail media footprint. This strategic acquisition enhances Perion's omnichannel advertising capabilities, enabling advertisers and brands to reach high-intent consumers directly at the point of sale.

• Perion Network Ltd. announced the acquisition of PRN, a leading in-store retail media network provider.
• PRN brings exclusive multi-year retail partnerships across some of North America's largest retail chains.
• The Form 6-K report was signed and formally filed by Chief Financial Officer Elad Tzubery on August 26, 2026.

SQREEM Appoints New CEO, Touts Behavioral Model Over LLM

SQREEM, a behavioral intelligence company, appointed Stephen Yap as its new CEO. Yap, former CRO at Perion and a long-time Google executive, will lead the company's push to market its Large Behavioral Model (LBM) as a superior alternative to LLMs for predictive analytics. SQREEM's LBM uses state-space models to analyze behavioral correlations from real-time social media and open-web data, without relying on machine learning. The company claims this approach can generate audience personas and predict consumer behavior, citing examples like the correlation between green tea consumption and travel insurance purchases. SQREEM also demonstrated the model's practical use during the Cyclospora outbreak, helping a grocer client pivot its communication strategy based on audience insights.

• SQREEM appointed Stephen Yap as its new CEO on September 23, 2026.
• Stephen Yap previously served as CRO at Perion and spent nearly two decades at Google.
• SQREEM's Large Behavioral Model (LBM) uses state-space models, not machine learning or LLMs.

Perion Acquires PRN, a Leading In-Store Retail Media Company

Perion acquires PRN, adding in-store media to complete the customer journey, with exclusive multi-year partnerships across some of North America’s largest retailers, for up to $12 million.