Welcome to The Refresh, your weekly download of what actually matters in advertising. Brought to you by Marketecture Media and written by AdTechGod. Every Thursday, we bring you the latest news, commentary, and memes that speak the truth about this industry. If it's happening in AdTech, media, or marketing and it’s interesting, it’ll be here.
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Mobile Adtech Giant Verve Lays Off Part of SSP Team (Adweek)
What’s in and what’s out in the Google ad tech antitrust reckoning (Digiday)
French AdTech startup Vibe.co raises €42 million to bring AI-powered, hyper-targeted advertising to TV (EU Startups)
NBA and AWS team up to bring AI-powered stats to basketball fans (AboutAmazon)
Media.net and Claritas Launch ELEVATE to Drive Outcomes Across the Open Web (Media.net)
Advertisers Need Easy Access To DSPs – But AI Is Changing What That Access Looks Like (AdExchanger)
AppsFlyer and Roku’s New SRN Integration Will Shed Light On CTV Campaign Impact (AdExchanger)
The CIO Perspective: Kelly Metz from Spark Foundry on AI, CTV, and Simplicity in Media
Kelly Metz, Chief Investment Officer at Spark Foundry joins me on the pod. We chat about the importance of relationships in the industry and the diverse clientele at Spark Foundry.
The Streaming Playbook: Agility, Partnerships, and Content with Philo’s Reed Barker
Reed Barker, head of advertising at Philo, discusses streaming TV. He emphasizes the importance of nimbleness, partnerships, and a focus on content. He shares insights on how Philo differentiates itself in the market and the strategies that have contributed to its success in the competitive streaming environment.
News summaries from AdTechGod
TTD Half-Time Speech
While I respect Jeff Green and TTD, the tone felt somewhat off with this op-ed in The Current. It felt a bit more like a half-time speech than the grounded, forward-looking perspective many in the industry hope for from the CEO of a public company. At a moment when clarity, pragmatism, and actionable direction are what the broader adtech community seeks, this piece felt a bit out of touch.
Also, to add some color, I decided to create a song. I probably deserve some sort of award for this one.
My Take on Sora 2
OpenAI launching Sora 2 as a social app is a big deal. Instead of being just a video tool, it’s positioning itself as a platform competing directly with TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Reels.
For short-form video, this could change things more than we think. Anyone can now generate high-quality clips without filming or editing, which lowers the barrier to entry but raises concerns about authenticity and trust.
For social media, it creates a new question: Will people actually spend time engaging with AI-generated feeds or stick with creator-driven platforms? If Sora 2 succeeds, it could reshape how we define content and creators. If not, it reinforces that distribution still matters more than generation.
Day 7 of Google Remedy Trial: What to Do About AdX?
The battle lines of the Google remedy trial have been drawn, and actually most of the fighting is over too. The trial is expected to wrap up on Thursday, and Ari Paparo will be able to move on from washing his underwear in the hotel sink back to his comfortable semi-retired existence.
AdTechGod Party on Oct. 6!
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