BASK Insights

Concerns of AI Chatbots Spreading Election Misinformation in the EU

Democracy Reporting International’s analysis reveals that AI chatbots are disseminating false information about the upcoming European Union elections, with incorrect dates and voting details. Due to the phenomenon of “hallucination,” where chatbots invent facts, developers caution against using them for crucial tasks like obtaining election information. We have been concerned about this issue ever since the initial release of ChatGPT and continue to monitor the ongoing effects of AI in the political landscape.

YouTube TV Booms with 48% Subscriber Growth

YouTube TV continues to implement new innovative strategies that expand possibilities and increase reach for advertisers. The key driver for their 48% growth this year was their purchase of NFL Sunday Ticket.

Where People are Watching TV

While both digital and linear TV remain essential to advertisers, digital video consumption continues to rise steadily and is anticipated to increase by 5.7% this year. As consumption increases, so does ad inventory on major streaming platforms.

Unlocking the 2024 Election: Dive into the Trends Shaping the Race

In the midst of a crucial election year in the US, where record-breaking political ad spend is anticipated, a few key trends are set to shape the political landscape. Among these trends, the prioritization of Connected TV (CTV) stands out prominently. As spending on CTV rises steadily, the competition for available inventory becomes more intense, underscoring the importance of strategic planning for placements in advance.

Industry Alert: ESPN, Fox, and WarnerBros. Discovery Join Forces With New Streaming Service

Three of the largest U.S. sports TV companies – ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery – just announced a joint venture to create a streaming service featuring all their linear sports TV content. This announcement carries considerable weight in the industry, given the established role of live sporting events in upholding the traditional cable bundle model. This new app is strategically positioned, offering sports enthusiasts a cost-effective alternative to prompt them to ditch their pricey cable bundles.

BREAKING: Potential Merger Among Streaming Giants

Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery CEOs have met to discuss a possible merger that would create a news and entertainment giant. Consolidation in the streaming landscape is exciting for advertisers, who would have access to more users across less streaming platforms, increasing the ways to reach elusive cord cutters.

Social Media Political Influencers – 2024 Paid Disclosure Requirements

As 2024 approaches, the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) is finalizing its technological modernization rulings. Notably, there are no new requirements for social media influencers when paid to promote political causes or candidates.

2024 Forecast: It’s Raining Political Ads 

Political ad spending continues to skyrocket, poised to hit a staggering $10.2 billion in ad expenditure in 2024, more than tripling since 2016.

New AI on the Block

Google announced its more sophisticated AI model called PaLM 2, which will be used in over a dozen products including search. Ads are slated to be included in the generative AI search results, although Google is still coming up with how that will look.

Ways to Use ChatGPT & Other Generative AI in Social Media Campaigns

ChatGPT and other generative AI can be used to create engaging and personalized content for social media campaigns. While social media managers will need to adjust and refine the deliverables, AI is a great way to kickstart ideas for content.

How Political Campaigns Can Benefit from ChatGPT

Are political campaigns ready for Artificial Intelligence? Testing ChatGPT’s features yield mixed results, but its speed can be a potentially powerful tool to springboard campaigners past writer’s block.

Social Media Is Evolving and Gen Z Is Driving the Change

Social media is in a transition phase and Gen Z is driving the change. Marketers should pay attention as Gen Z continues to reject old-school social media and turn to these newly-emerging platforms, opening up new opportunities to reach younger audiences.

Streaming Soars this Summer

Americans continue to shift their TV viewing habits, with streaming taking the top spot in terms of TV viewership in July, claiming 34.8% of total TV share in July, higher than broadcast and surpassing cable for the first time.

Major Facebook Changes Mirror TikTok’s Image

Major changes to the Facebook app will make it look and feel more like TikTok. Content from personal connections will be filtered out of the main Home page, transforming its experience into a more TikTok-like selection of algorithmically chosen videos.

The Summer of Streaming

Streaming viewership hit a new high this past May, claiming 31.9% of total TV time. Summer is typically known as a lull “season” for traditional tv, however,streaming services have found new ways to keep viewers engaged.

HBO Max and Discovery Plus Merging to One Platform

HBO Max and Discovery Plus will combine to be one platform with a user base of nearly 100 million. Once launched, this service will offer ad-free and ad-lite products, creating an incredible opportunity for advertisers.

Disney Plus Launching Ad-Supported Service in Late 2022

Disney Plus to add advertising opportunities in late 2022.

Streaming Continues To Rise

Streaming continues to make headway, now comprising 28.9% of TV usage, with this share of the pie to continue rising.

Solutions for the Cookieless Future

The future is bright for our industry. This we all know. And despite cookie deprecation and new privacy laws, there’s no doubt that our resilient industry will unquestionably arrive, as it always does, in a better place. A place where consumers – and their privacy – come first.

Google Turns to Topics as a Replacement for Cookies

Today, Google announced a new targeting solution for advertisers as the “death of the cookie” closes in, and the previously-announced plan FLoC (“Federated Learning of Cohorts”) crumbled prior to launch. Named Topics, this new proposal allows advertisers to place ads based on pre-determined topics pulled from a users’ browser activity.

With Over 200 Streaming Services, the Streaming Market Is Getting Crowded

With over 200 streaming services, the streaming market is getting crowded. Over the past year, the average number of streaming services per person has increased from 6.9 to 8.8, doubling since 2016. The increasing number of services is leading to increasingly fragmented audiences, amplifying the challenges advertisers face regarding planning and measuring.

Facebook Plans for the Future, Refocusing on Young Adults

Facebook is pivoting its focus towards young adults in a long-term strategy to adapt to the future, fighting against the significant threat its aging user base poses. This increased effort and shift in strategy is part of Facebook’s plan to combat Snapchat and TikTok’s growing popularity amongst teens and the decline in the number of teens signing up for its platforms.

Digital TV Predicted to Be a Major Player in the 2022 Midterm Elections

With privacy changes and the phaseout of internet tracking cookies on the horizon, political advertisers are brainstorming creative ways to target voters. As a result, CTV is predicted to surpass the combined mobile, desktop, and tablet ad spend for the first election.

YouTube Takes Over the Big Screen

YouTube viewers are moving more and more toward watching content on CTVs, with over half of YouTube viewers watching on the big screen in 2020. With time spent viewing YouTube on CTVs rivaling the likes of Netflix and other streaming giants, YouTube continues to solidify their position in the streaming world.

OTT Has Grown Exponentially From The Pre-Pandemic Era

The OTT market continues to strengthen, and it isn’t showing any sign of returning to pre-pandemic levels. The industry has grown immensely from January 2020 to now, with the number of OTT households and hours watched increasing as well as the average number of OTT services per household.