Curated Guide to Research
MediaPost's comprehensive guide to current research in the marketplace.
- Meta is further restructuring its VR/AR hardware department by creating a new unit focused on developing AI-powered humanoid robots designed to assist with physical household tasks, according to an internal company memo.
- The portion of men who plan to celebrate grew to 55% this year, up from 51% in 2024.
- A lopsided score, forgettable commercials and boring halftime show didn't stand in the way of the Super Bowl's ability to reach 37.1 million households.
- Consumers want to see more immediate and relevant search results, including the right product information.
- Is something rewiring your brain? Microsoft Research finds that humans who increasingly rely on generative AI in their work use less critical thinking that can deteriorate their cognitive abilities.
- Turning awareness into purchase intent requires brands to influence consumer decisions through a process of fostering meaningful connections.
- The willingness to pay for games is associated with a preference for immersive experiences without intrusive ads.
- The evolution of online advertising and search has raised important questions about trust, privacy, and continued relevance of traditional performance methods across digital. Shoppable video content and niche platforms are predicted as top emerging channels for growth in the future - all tied to performance.
- The livestreamed boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul was most successful at driving signups for Netflix.
- Major gains in sponsorship deals came from ticketing, alcoholic beverages and telecommunications. The total number of actual deals for all the NFL teams grew to over 3,600.
- Almost three-quarters of Netflix viewers watched at least two programs during the second half of last year.
- About three-quarters of people surveyed in a study by Screenvision said ads in theaters are more memorable than ads on television.
- A study of Google searches for the Gen AI-powered app offers a sign of its popularity.
- Following Microsoft and Meta into the unknown, AI startup Anthropic - maker of Claude - has a new technique to prevent users from creating or accessing harmful content - aimed at avoiding regulatory actions against the company, gaining investment funding, and convincing advertisers and other types of businesses it is safe to adopt its models.
- It characterized a first-half marketing mix modeling effort as a "major new initiative" exploring how such models are being transformed "in the age of AI and big data and the implications for TV, video and premium content."
- More than half of consumers consider themselves very loyal to the brands they love.
- Largo.ai, an AI-driven analytics platform for the film, TV and ad industries, has secured $7.5 million in investment. Stallone is among the backers of the company, which just closed its Series A financing round.
- Depending on possible tariffs on consumer goods coming from certain countries, prices could figure into the equation.
- The dialog and commentary found in social media help to build online communities among others who share similar experiences.
- "Reimagining our orchestration strategy to get the best out of all of Mediabrands. That was our big 2024 bet," reflects Global CEO Eileen Kiernan.
- Study: 75% are looking to reduce online ordering fees, with the primary tactic being to drive order traffic to their own website.
- Nine percent of Black superfans are regular viewers of sports commentary, compared with 2% of the general population, according to Nielsen.
- Winterberry Group estimates investments in connected commerce and technology stacks will drive U.S. ad, marketing, and data expenditures to $585 billion.
- Kathryn Mazza's ascension highlights the growing importance of retail media as a driver of store growth.
- A combined performance and brand approach increases median revenue by 90%.
- A recent study finds 55% of marketers are concerned about data privacy, while 55% say they need to understand how platforms work and 49% are worried about keeping up with the pace of innovation.
- New research shows spending patterns had little to do with making brands "winners" or "losers." Ninety percent of "winning" companies were at least somewhat integrated to connecting brand and demand.
- The social-media platform known for user-led communities has more room for growth compared with some rivals.
- The National Retail Federation predicts record spending on all the usual suspects: candy, flowers, cards and restaurants.
- The broader view shows 77% using some digital media access throughout the day - from many activities during particular moments of the day, increasingly including wagering sites.
