Welcome to The Refresh, a weekly newsletter from Marketecture Media. Every Thursday we’ll bring you the latest advertising news, commentary, and memes.

• Perion Acquires an Green Bids to Accelerate Market Share Expansion and Growth (Perion)

• Walled Gardens Are Winning Because Brand Marketers Want More Easy Buttons (AdExchanger)

• Adtech platform MNTN targets up to $1.24 billion valuation in US IPO (Reuters)

• AI and ad tech are safe from Trump's tariffs so far (Yahoo news)

• Quotes from the quarter: What CEOs and CFOs are saying about the state of ad spend (Digiday)

• HBO Max returns as Warner Bros Discovery drops the Max experiment and refocuses on quality (The Drum)

Sincera Just Gave the Open Web Its X-Ray Vision

What started as a little-known startup is now taking a sledgehammer to the black box of ad quality. Sincera has officially launched OpenSincera, a free, API-powered live data feed that brings long-overdue transparency to the ad supply chain. Nothing but raw, real-time signals on everything from ads-to-content ratios and page weight to ad refresh rates and average ads-in-view. Agencies can build smarter blocklists, publishers get clarity into how buyers view their inventory, and advertisers finally get the transparency they’ve been demanding. With OpenSincera, the open internet doesn’t have to play blindfolded anymore. It's a win for trust, signal clarity, and anyone tired of flying blind in programmatic. And yes, it really is free.

Read Businesswire

The Greatest Missed Opportunity in Advertising History

Why do people light up when asked about their favorite TV ad but draw a blank when asked about a digital one? This searing reflection, spurred by the POSSIBLE conference in Miami, argues that digital advertising has completely lost its way. Despite having every advantage, ubiquitous screens, rich data, targeting capabilities, and endless creative tools, we’ve built a system that delivers noise instead of narrative.

Yes, the article is harsh. Very harsh. But it’s not wrong. We can do better and in some channels, like CTV, we are doing better. But on mobile and web? The experience is often absolute shit. Spammy, intrusive, and devoid of any value to the user. If we want digital advertising to be something people remember we need to start caring again.

Read The Drum

The Burger Wars: A Flame-Grilled History of Fast Food Advertising (AdLand)

The real global trade war has always been the Burger Wars. AdLand.tv just dropped an epic retrospective tracing decades of fast food advertising battles, from Burger King’s wholesome 1980s jingles to Carl’s Jr.’s unapologetic food porn and Wendy’s timeless “Where’s the Beef?” punches. It’s a hilarious, smart, and slightly unhinged trip through the ad archives that shows how each brand brought a different weapon to the fight. If you’re into nostalgia, marketing strategy, or just weird old commercials, this is a must-click.

Read Adland

2025 Upfronts Gone Wild: From TV Schedules to Theme Parks and Blockbusters

The 2025 upfronts are officially underway in New York City, and they’re a far cry from the traditional network schedule reveals of yesteryear. Today, the weeklong showcase has become a cross-platform carnival of content, with entertainment titans like NBCUniversal, Disney, and Warner Bros. Discovery sharing the stage with streaming-era leaders including Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube.

What was is not what it is today. Its now a full ecosystem sales pitch from content to amusement parks and more. It’s more than just whIt’s no longer just about what’s airing this fall—it’s about selling the full ecosystem.

The Drum

Video Podcasts Take Center Stage at Upfronts

Video podcasts are officially the media world’s new favorite format. At this year’s Upfronts, everyone from Amazon to Sinclair spotlighted video-first shows with high-impact ad opportunities. With platforms like YouTube dominating podcast viewership and streamers like Amazon and Netflix exploring FAST channels and integrations, the once-audio-only medium is now a full-blown visual experience.

This is exactly why Marketecture Media is leaning in (HARD)into audio podcasts, video-first formats, and beyond. We’re building for where the audience is going, not where it’s been. Whether it’s a mic in a studio or a camera on set, we’re committed to delivering content that educates, entertains, and drives real value for advertisers and the industry alike.

Read CNBC

Meme of the week

OK, so I wasn’t sure if this would be a hit but… it was! Check out my barbie themed Memes on Instagram.

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