OpenAI Wants More, Paramount Owes More, and Newsletters Get More Programmatic

OpenAI appears to be exploring an ad network that could help publishers monetize their own inventory. The company removed related language from a recent job listing after Business Insider noticed it. In my opinion, ChatGPT’s new approach to search is impressive, but search alone does not create a complete advertising business. To truly compete, OpenAI will need to expand into display, video, or other formats beyond search.

Read Business Insider

Paramount’s proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is getting very expensive. If the deal fails to close by Sept. 30, Paramount must pay WBD shareholders roughly $7 million for every additional day, capped at about $650 million per quarter.

The merger is currently paused as California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 11 other state attorneys general pursue an antitrust lawsuit. A preliminary injunction could delay the deal for months and trigger the fee.

These provisions are rare and typically signal that both sides expect serious regulatory challenges. Paramount also faces a $7 billion breakup fee if the merger ultimately collapses. For now, the company appears prepared to continue fighting, potentially all the way to the Supreme Court. But after several quarters of fees, even David Ellison may become more interested in negotiating.

Read The Wrap

Beehiiv is bringing programmatic advertising to its network of 60,000 publishers, offering creators a scalable way to monetize beyond subscriptions and direct sales. Publishers control pricing and ad placement, with plans to expand beyond newsletters into websites and podcasts.

I also interviewed beehiiv CEO and co-founder Tyler Denk about the company’s expansion and programmatic strategy. The episode drops Tuesday on the AdTechGod pod.

Read AdExchanger

Senator Bernie Sanders’ proposed Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act would ban junk food advertising directed at children under 13 and require warning labels on unhealthy products. Advertising groups argue the bill is too broad, relies on subjective standards, and could restrict protected commercial speech.

Here is my straightforward, no-bullshit perspective: We are feeding children unhealthy food filled with questionable and often undisclosed ingredients, then acting surprised when chronic diseases increase. I rarely discuss politics, but improving food quality and reducing the promotion of junk food should have bipartisan support. Yes, lawmakers need clear and reasonable advertising standards. But whether it is this bill or another solution, America needs to take food quality far more seriously. From AdTechGod’s perspective, reducing the promotion of unhealthy food to children is a good step.

Read MediaPost

There’s no better place to discuss where advertising is headed than the city that helped lay its foundations. This fall, Marketecture Live is setting its clocks to Central Time and convening in the heart of brand building: Chicago.

The Windy City has long been a hub for world-class brand work, commerce, and innovation. Now, it serves as the backdrop for conversations shaping AI, retail media, connected TV, creator marketing, and the future of consumer engagement.

Meet the first wave of speakers and secure your seat at chicago.marketecturelive.com.