1. If you're an HBO fan who's been missing your favorite shows since the channel was pulled from Amazon Prime Video Channels, there's some good news on the horizon. Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly in negotiations with Amazon to restore HBO to the Amazon Prime Video Channels wholesale market, according to Bloomberg. So if you've been itching to catch up on "Game of Thrones" or "Westworld," it sounds like you may soon be able to do so through
Amazon Prime. Of course, nothing is official until it's official, so we'll just have to wait and see if these negotiations result in a deal. But in the meantime, it's nice to know that there's a possibility that HBO could soon be back on Amazon Prime Video Channels.
2. Netflix's choice of Microsoft to help it get into the advertising business came as a bit of a surprise, but Wall Street analysts and ad-tech industry insiders had mostly positive reactions to the choice. Microsoft isn't in the TV industry in a big way now, and that might be one of the reasons why it was attractive to Netflix: no point in getting in bed with a competitor. And Microsoft's decision to build its own TV service hasn't been going
very well, so maybe the company is looking for a new partner. One thing's for sure: Microsoft has a lot of data that it could use to help Netflix targets ads, and that could be valuable. But some people are wondering if this is just the beginning of a bigger move by Microsoft into the TV business. Only time will tell.
3. Netflix has long been the go-to choice for viewers looking to avoid commercials.. According to a recent report, Netflix will have to pay as much as 20% more in its program licensing deals to acquire the rights to integrate advertising. The pub adds that Netflix currently lacks the rights to put ads in most of its content. While it's still unclear how or if Netflix will choose to implement
advertising, the news is sure to be a disappointment for viewers who have come to rely on the platform for ad-free entertainment.
4. In Peloton's latest ad, actor Chris Meloni works out in the buff while expressing confusion at people who think the way he works out is strange. The release was timed for National Nude Day on July 14.
In the spot, the “Law & Order” star misinterpreted this commentary, believing they’re judging his use of the Peloton app versus being naked when he exercises. However, the ad ends with Meloni getting caught by his neighbor, resulting in an awkward exchange. Whether you think working out nude is weird or not, there's no denying that this ad is entertaining. It's also a clever way to get attention for Peloton during a slow news day. So kudos to Peloton for timing this release
perfectly.
5. Marriott's Moxy Hotels this week launched an augmented reality (AR) experience that offers guests a chance to win prizes by exploring their hotel using a smartphone. The game, called "Moxy Universe, Play Beyond," focuses on the Asia Pacific region. To play, guests simply need to download the Marriott Bonvoy app and point their phone at certain landmarks in the hotel. Doing so will unlock virtual creatures that they can then capture. The more
creatures they collect, the more points they'll earn. The top three scorers each day will win prizes like free stays at Moxy hotels or Marriott Bonvoy points. So if you're visiting a Moxy hotel in Asia Pacific, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for virtual creatures!
6. For years, Amazon has used private seller data to replicate best practices and gain an unfair edge over competitors. Now they're promising to level the playing field by: Not using seller data to sell branded goods, showing competing Buy Box offers instead of prioritizing Amazon's offers. That's not right...in their bid to avoid massive EU fees, Amazon has finally offered to limit its use of seller data. What took them so long?
competitor's offers. It's about time Amazon played fair! Hopefully this will level the playing field for all sellers.
7. In these days of Facebook, we all know that it isn't enough to have just one profile. You need at least three: one for your family, one for your friends, and one for that person you keep forgetting to block. And now, Facebook is letting users create multiple profiles with their accounts! This is great news for forgetful users and stalkers alike. With this new feature, you can finally keep track of all the people you're stalking in one place.
And if you're worried about getting caught, don't worry - Facebook will keep your profiles separate so that no one knows you're stalking them. So go ahead and add as many profiles as you want! Just remember to keep track of which ones are which.
8. Google is doing it again. The company is testing a new 'x-day returns' snippet that appears for some web pages in the US. This time, it's on both mobile and desktop. As usual, Google is tight-lipped about the whole thing. But we can speculate that the company is testing the new feature to see if it can improve its search results. After all, if people are looking for a product that they can return within a certain number of days, Google wants
to be able to give them that information. Of course, we don't know for sure how long the test will last or whether the feature will be rolled out to all users. But it's definitely something to keep an eye on. So if you're in the US and you see the 'x-day returns' snippet appearing in your search results, now you know what it is. And you can thank (or blame) Google for it.
9. If you want to know what the kids are into these days, just log onto Tumblr. The social media platform has seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to Gen Z’s hunger for 2010s nostalgia. From K-Pop to vaporwave, there’s no corner of the internet that hasn’t been exhumed and repurposed by the kids of today. And while some of it is admittedly baffling to anyone over the age of 25, there’s no denying the power of the web’s cultural memory. With
its vast archive of user-generated content, Tumblr is the perfect place to take a trip down memory lane. So whether you’re looking for fashion inspiration, music recommendations, or just a good laugh, there’s sure to be something on Tumblr that will appeal to you.
10. LEAD GENERATORS BEWARE: WEB SESSION DATA TECHNOLOGIES MAY PRESENT A LEGAL PROBLEM: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently held that use of certain technologies on a website to track and record web session data before obtaining affirmative consent may be a violation of California’s wiretap statute. Read More.
11. In the age of data privacy concerns, brands must get creative in their use of customer data to personalize shopper journeys. This is where non-personally identifiable information (non-PII data) comes in. Successful marketing in this new environment begins with objectives based on accurate insight into the customer journey. Non-PII data is information that cannot be used to identify an individual, such as ZIP code, gender, or age range. While
this type of data may seem limited, it can actually be quite powerful in helping to create personalized experiences. Learn more.