BRANDS MAY ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM ADVERTISING NEXT TO AI CONTENT, PER STUDY

3. 3. 2026 Research from OM Media Trials and Zefr finds ads running next to some AI content perform well The rise of low-quality AI-generated online content, colloquially known as “AI slop,” has sparked backlash among many consumers. Some brands are virtue signalling with ad campaigns that mock AI. But the current state of AI-generated content is more… Continue reading BRANDS MAY ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM ADVERTISING NEXT TO AI CONTENT, PER STUDY

HBBTV ASSOCIATION FORMALLY INTEGRATES DRM INTO CORE SPECIFICATION

3. 3. 2026 HbbTV 2.0.5 is a major update in the specification for interactive TV services. The HbbTV Association, a global initiative dedicated to providing open standards for advanced interactive TV services via broadcast and broadband networks, has published version 2.0.5 of its core specification. HbbTV 2.0.5 is an update to HbbTV 2.0.4, published two years ago, and… Continue reading HBBTV ASSOCIATION FORMALLY INTEGRATES DRM INTO CORE SPECIFICATION

STUDY UK SAYS 28% EXPECT DISCOUNTS FOR WATCHING TOO MUCH TELEVISION

2. 3. 2026 New UK research from Bango suggests growing consumer frustration with fixed monthly streaming fees, with 28% of Brits saying services should introduce rewards or discounts for binge-watching. The findings come from a survey of 1,500 UK consumers published in Bango’s latest report, The Future of Bundling Waits for No One. According to the research conducted for… Continue reading STUDY UK SAYS 28% EXPECT DISCOUNTS FOR WATCHING TOO MUCH TELEVISION

SURVEY: 70% OF CTV ADVERTISERS PLAN TO BOOST SPENDING IN 2026

2. 3. 2026 They were planning to increase spending an average of 17% this year, according to Premion and Advertiser Perceptions. A new survey indicates that CTV advertisers are bullish on the medium in 2026, with seven in 10 CTV advertisers (70%) telling researchers that they expect to increase their CTV spending this year. The new 2026 CTV/OTT… Continue reading SURVEY: 70% OF CTV ADVERTISERS PLAN TO BOOST SPENDING IN 2026

THE RISE OF CONNECTED TV: RESHAPING ADVERTISING IN THE DIGITAL AGE

2. 3. 2026 The landscape of television has undergone a profound transformation over the past decade, driven by technological advancements and shifting consumer behaviors. What began as a simple broadcast medium has evolved into a sophisticated ecosystem where connected TV (CTV) plays a central role. This shift not only alters how viewers consume content but also revolutionizes advertising… Continue reading THE RISE OF CONNECTED TV: RESHAPING ADVERTISING IN THE DIGITAL AGE

VIEWERS CONTINUE TO ‘STRUGGLE’ WITH SPORTS PROGRAM DISCOVERY

25. 2. 2026 Sports program discovery — like that of overall TV/streaming discovery — continues to be a challenge for TV viewers, according to Reviews.org. Nearly half (45%) of viewers say they “struggle” to find a channel or streaming service for a specific game or to watch their favorite team, while 53% say they have missed a game… Continue reading VIEWERS CONTINUE TO ‘STRUGGLE’ WITH SPORTS PROGRAM DISCOVERY

TV ADS TOP THE CHARTS FOR PURCHASES, AND FOR ANNOYANCE

24. 2. 2026 TV ads drive purchase behavior for 49% of consumers, making them the most effective channel, even though 36% find them disruptive, according to a January report from DISQO. Beyond the chart: TV’s effectiveness has some science behind it. Across generations, 43% of US adults say TV is the most acceptable place for advertising, according to… Continue reading TV ADS TOP THE CHARTS FOR PURCHASES, AND FOR ANNOYANCE

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY: WHAT’S AHEAD FOR THE 2026 HOLIDAY SEASON

23. 2. 2026 It’s mid-February, which is actually when the full picture of the season comes into focus. “Returns are in, brands are sharing how the holidays really performed on investor calls, and before we know it, we’re going to start planning for the next cycle,” said our analyst Suzy Davidkhanian on a recent episode of “Reimagining Retail”.… Continue reading IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY: WHAT’S AHEAD FOR THE 2026 HOLIDAY SEASON

STUDY BY BARB: LIVE TV STILL ACCOUNTS FOR 45% OF VIEWING AS STREAMING HITS 38% IN 2025

19. 2. 2026 Barb has published a new report, What People Watched in 2025, arguing that UK viewing habits are better explained by adaptation than a clean break from linear television. The report spans live and on-demand viewing across broadcasters’ VOD services, subscription streamers and video-sharing platforms, bringing the different parts of the TV ecosystem into a single… Continue reading STUDY BY BARB: LIVE TV STILL ACCOUNTS FOR 45% OF VIEWING AS STREAMING HITS 38% IN 2025

END OF FREE BROADCASTING? EUROPE DISCUSSES THE FUTURE, THE CZECH REPUBLIC IS CAUTIOUS

19. 2. 2026 The debate on the future of terrestrial television and analogue radio is shifting towards regulatory decisions. While France is predicting the end of terrestrial broadcasting within ten years and Slovakia has already abandoned free-to-air commercial stations, Britain is retaining FM until at least 2032. Czechia is currently focusing on stability and gradual evolution. In recent… Continue reading END OF FREE BROADCASTING? EUROPE DISCUSSES THE FUTURE, THE CZECH REPUBLIC IS CAUTIOUS

SUPER BOWL LX ATTRACTS NEARLY 125 MILLION U.S. VIEWERS

18. 2. 2026 Viewing peaked at a record 137.8 million; 128.2 million in the U.S. viewed Bad Bunny’s halftime show, which also set records on social media. NBC Sports said its Super Bowl coverage Feb. 8 set an all-time media record for peak viewing, with 137.8 million watching in the second quarter as the Seattle Seahawks led the New England… Continue reading SUPER BOWL LX ATTRACTS NEARLY 125 MILLION U.S. VIEWERS

VAB STUDY: SOCIAL MEDIA HAS NO CHANCE OF HELPING SMALL BRANDS BREAK THROUGH WITHOUT ADVERTISING ON STREAMING TV

17. 2. 2026 Today’s VAB webinar showed that while social media is popular among advertisers, it is far from a silver bullet. It’s true that it is easy to buy, easy to measure, and allows for quick testing. But there is one major problem: new research shows that its effect on new brands is limited and absolutely insufficient… Continue reading VAB STUDY: SOCIAL MEDIA HAS NO CHANCE OF HELPING SMALL BRANDS BREAK THROUGH WITHOUT ADVERTISING ON STREAMING TV

ADVERTISING WORTHY OF THE BIG SCREEN. SQUARESPACE TEAMS UP WITH EMMA STONE AND YORGOS LANTHIMOS IN NEW COMMERCIAL

13. 2. 2026 American technology company Squarespace, which focuses on website creation, brought together Oscar-winning actress Emma Stone and acclaimed director Yorgos Lanthimos in its latest advert for Sunday’s Super Bowl. The result is a cinematic spot full of frustration. Emma Stone cannot register a domain with her name. This is the problem that Yorgos Lanthimos captures in… Continue reading ADVERTISING WORTHY OF THE BIG SCREEN. SQUARESPACE TEAMS UP WITH EMMA STONE AND YORGOS LANTHIMOS IN NEW COMMERCIAL

FROM DOORDASH TO CLASH OF CLANS, THESE ARE THE VALENTINE’S DAY CAMPAIGNS WE’RE LOVING

12. 2. 2026 From playful product truths to bromance-fueled gaming and culture-led stunts, this year’s Valentine’s Day campaigns show brands moving beyond traditional romance to celebrate connection in all its forms. Valentine’s Day marketing continues to evolve, with brands leaning into humor, cultural relevance and unexpected emotional insights to cut through the seasonal noise. This year’s standout campaigns… Continue reading FROM DOORDASH TO CLASH OF CLANS, THESE ARE THE VALENTINE’S DAY CAMPAIGNS WE’RE LOVING

WINTER OLYMPICS 2026 AD TRACKER: SEE THE BIGGEST COMMERCIALS FROM MILANO CORTINA

12. 2. 2026 The Winter Olympics ad tracker shows ongoing updates of the latest Milano Cortina commercials. NBCUniversal was going for gold with its Winter Olympics advertisers. The broadcaster sold out its Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics ad inventory with a month to go before the games, setting a new Winter Olympics ad sales record, with the highest… Continue reading WINTER OLYMPICS 2026 AD TRACKER: SEE THE BIGGEST COMMERCIALS FROM MILANO CORTINA

WHAT STOPPED WORKING IN MARKETING—AND WHAT LEADERS ARE DOING INSTEAD

11. 2. 2026 Across marketing, a quiet reckoning is underway. Practices that once felt settled are no longer delivering the same returns. As platforms evolve, audiences fragment and cultural cycles compress, many of the industry’s most familiar playbooks are starting to show cracks. With those questions already on marketers’ minds, Ad Age asked executives who are taking the… Continue reading WHAT STOPPED WORKING IN MARKETING—AND WHAT LEADERS ARE DOING INSTEAD

WHAT GIVES A SUPER BOWL AD SHELF LIFE IN 2026

10. 2. 2026 For decades, the price tag to advertise during the Super Bowl has been justified by access to a centralized audience. As attention disperses across platforms and star power extends to creators, marketers are rethinking how Super Bowl investments translate into consumer recall. To reach as wide an audience as possible, brands are now designing Super… Continue reading WHAT GIVES A SUPER BOWL AD SHELF LIFE IN 2026

DURING THE FIRST OLYMPIC WEEKEND, VIEWERS WERE MOST INTERESTED IN BIATHLON, SNOWBOARDING AND SPEED SKATING

9. 2. 2026 Sunday’s mixed biathlon relay race became the most watched biathlon broadcast in the history of Czech Television. The station announced this based on data from official electronic audience measurement provided by the Association of Television Organisations. During the first weekend of the Olympic Games, 1.759 million viewers watched the broadcast on television and via internet… Continue reading DURING THE FIRST OLYMPIC WEEKEND, VIEWERS WERE MOST INTERESTED IN BIATHLON, SNOWBOARDING AND SPEED SKATING