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TL;DR
In a hurry? Here's our pick of the top news items of the week.
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Donald Trump's presidency may impact major areas in Big Tech including Google, TikTok, and AI, focusing on deregulation and perceived competition with China. (Emarketer)
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In 2024, digital audio has become as popular as traditional TV in the U.S., with Spotify significantly leading its competitors by over 50M listeners. (Emarketer)
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Some of 2024's most effective marketing strategies and how they capitalized on trends in nostalgia, celebrity endorsements, purpose-driven initiatives. (Marketing Dive)
Audiences
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Streaming ratings for 2024 have been announced, with top performers including the season finale of 'Agatha All Along' and 'The Lincoln Lawyer'. (The Hollywood Reporter)
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Nielsen and TikTok have formed a partnership to integrate TikTok into Nielsen ONE for cross-media measurement, enabling advertisers to evaluate ad performance across all screens and platforms, including digital, CTV, and linear. (Advanced Television)
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Disney+ has partnered with AudienceProject to offer advertisers independent audience measurement across devices, initially available in the UK, Germany, and the Nordics, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of ad campaigns' reach and effectiveness on the platform. (Advanced Television)
Platforms
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Meta and X are expanding their data center operations aimed at advancing generative AI capabilities and strategic positioning in the AI technology race. (Social Media Today)
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TikTok's Black Friday sales reached over $100M, marking a threefold increase from the previous year, driven by live streams and celebrity appearances. (Business Insider)
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Predictions for Social Media Marketing in 2025 focus on advanced AI integration, AR and VR experiences, and evolving video and ad strategies. (Social Media Today)
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OzTAM is launching VOZ Streaming, a new service transforming how broadcaster video on demand (BVOD) advertising is traded in Australia. (AdNews)
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Instagram is testing new placements for the DM icon in its app interface to better reflect the increasing use of direct messaging. (Social Media Today)
Content
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"Wicked" is emerging as a strong contender for Best Picture at the Oscars, supported by guild endorsements, box office earnings, and its politically charged themes. (The Hollywood Reporter)
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Australia experienced its biggest cinema weekend in 18 months, with blockbuster releases "Moana 2," "Wicked," and "Gladiator II" driving a record $24M in box office sales. (Mumbrella)
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Australians are increasingly considering quitting traditional jobs to become full-time social media influencers, driven by the potential for higher earnings. (Nine)
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The Pokémon Company International set a Guinness World Record for the longest unboxing livestream video, during which influencers opened over 1.5K booster packs that will be donated to European charities. (PocketGamer)
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PlayStation announces "The Concert" World Tour for 2025-2026, featuring live music from iconic games like God of War and The Last of Us. (Playstation)
Tech &
AI-
OpenAI is exploring the most effective ad strategies for its platform, mirroring industry competitors like Google and Microsoft who integrate ads into their AI search engines. (MediaPost)
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OpenAI's newly released o1 model can deceive humans at a higher rate compared to its predecessor GPT-4o and other leading AI models. (TechCrunch)
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Microsoft has begun testing its new Copilot Vision feature, which allows the AI to interact with web content enhancing browsing by providing contextual assistance. (The Verge)
Location-based
entertainment-
Epic Resort Destinations plans to open six new properties in the U.S. by 2034, featuring brands like Hot Wheels and Barbie. (Attractions Magazine)
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Merlin Entertainments has announced the launch of 21 new accessibility projects across eight countries, such as sensory rooms and descriptive audio tours for visually impaired visitors. (blooloop)
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Universal Studios Japan will officially open its Donkey Kong Country expansion at Super Nintendo World, featuring a new roller coaster, interactive game, and character experiences. (Orlando Park Stop)
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The IAAPA Expo 2024 showcased trends such as the integration of immersive and interactive experiences into attractions, and a strong focus on inclusivity and accessibility across park designs and operational practices. (blooloop)
Travel &
hospitality-
Pizza Hut is piloting a new fast-food-style restaurant prototype with drive-thru, self-service kiosks, a ready-made menu, and mobile order pickup stations. (Restaurant Business)
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Google predicts a surge in consumer interest in luxury travel for 2025, with travelers seeking enhanced experiences like spas, Michelin-starred dining, and five-star accommodations. (Travel Weekly)
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The U.S. Transportation Security Administration reported a record high of 3.08M airline passengers screened on a single day, marking December 1st as the busiest travel day, linked to Thanksgiving. (Reuters)
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Some smaller eatertainment businesses are struggling with financial losses and sales declines, while a new music-themed venture raised $13.8M in an IPO to expand.
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Americans are seeking vacations focused on health and well-being, with 52% willing to invest in travel expressly designed to enhance their lifespan and improve health. (New York Post)
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Focus towards Gen X is shifting from Baby Boomers' due to Gen X's higher spending power, adventurous nature, and demand for luxury, sustainability. (Travel Weekly)
Gaming
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PlayStation celebrates its 30th anniversary with an emotional montage video, thanking fans and featuring a mix of recent and classic games. (Pushsquare)
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The majority of top-grossing mobile games in the UK fail to disclose the inclusion of loot boxes in their advertising, despite regulatory guidelines, leading to concerns about transparency. (BBC)
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Pokémon TCG Pocket mobile game generated $208M in revenue within its first month, with Japan being the largest market, contributing 42% of lifetime player spending. (Games Industry)
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Skydance's highly anticipated VR game, "Behemoth," will receive a day-one patch for PlayStation and a day-seven patch for Meta Quest headsets, with ongoing issues stemming from a recent hardware failure. (Upload VR)
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PlayStation NZ orchestrated a highly successful Sky Striker activation, transforming it into a playable landmark for an immersive, one-night event that drew over 400 participants. (Campaign Brief)
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Flickplay partners with Bandai Namco and the City of Shibuya to launch an interactive 'Pac-Man' experience, blending digital and physical realms with Web3. (Variety)
