Observed Signal · Jul 21, 2026 · Market Signal · Source: FreeWheel · Impact: 4/5
AI in TV Advertising: The Buyer, Seller, and Viewer Perspectives
Explore how media buyers, sellers, and viewers perceive AI’s growing role in TV advertising and what their perspectives reveal about the future of AI adoption.
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CTV Ad Consumption Grows Across Europe
FreeWheel, a Comcast company, released its Video Monetisation Report for the first half of 2026, revealing that Connected TV (CTV) now accounts for 53% of premium video ad views in Europe, up from previous periods. Premium video ad views overall increased 20% year-over-year, and programmatic CTV ad views grew 44%. Live programming's share of ad views rose to 32% from 25% in the second half of 2025. The report, based on aggregated data from the FreeWheel platform, highlights the shift toward streaming and programmatic buying, with broadcasters integrating linear and digital inventory. It also notes improvements in data availability and transparency, with enriched data increasingly incorporated into bid requests. Emmanuel Josserand, Senior Director at Comcast Advertising, emphasized the growing opportunity for advertisers and the need for broadcasters to evolve their streaming and programmatic strategies.
FreeWheel Video Monetization Report: 1H 2026
This VMR explores how streaming growth is delivering value for publishers, outcomes for advertisers, and relevant ad experiences for viewers.
FreeWheel Brings Attention, Quality and Emotional Resonance Signals into CTV Buying
FreeWheel, a global technology platform for the television advertising ecosystem, introduced new third-party inventory scoring capabilities within its Premium Signals Packaging. This feature creates dynamic inventory packages based on viewer engagement with premium CTV environments. By incorporating independent quality, attention, and engagement signals, FreeWheel enables buyers to evaluate supply through factors like ad experience and live moments, while publishers gain new ways to package, differentiate, and monetize premium inventory. Launch partners include Adelaide, Magid, and Mediaprobe, which provide signals on media quality, emotional intensity, and engagement. Research cited in the announcement indicates that lower ad loads lead to higher recall, underscoring the importance of these quality signals. FreeWheel's move aims to shift programmatic CTV buying beyond scale toward a more transparent, quality-informed marketplace.
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