Washington Post ad tech platform aims at Google-Facebook duopoly

The Washington Post on Tuesday unveiled a new ad tech platform touted as a way to help newspapers counter the loss in online revenue to major platforms Google and Facebook.

The daily, which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, said the new self-service ad-buying interface called Zeus Prime would be offered to other newspapers as part of its Arc Publishing platform.

"Through Zeus Prime, buyers will be able to easily execute an ad campaign by creating an ad format in a single click and targeting across a marketplace of trusted publishers," said Jarrod Dicker, vice president for commercial technology at the Post.

Dicker described the system as "a trusted alternative to platforms" that would be offered to newspapers and media companies starting in 2020.

The new system aims to give advertisers an alternative to the "duopoly" of Google and Facebook, which control some 60 percent of US online ad revenues, according to research firm eMarketer.

It also looks to give newspapers better monetization and ad targeting to free them from dependence on the large platforms.

"There has always been a rally cry to build an ecosystem that pulls everything together, but oftentimes ends in a stumble due to the fact that performance is just easier and cheaper on platforms at scale," Dicker said. "However, this time it's different."

Zeus Prime is the latest in a suite of tech services being offered by the Post since Bezos bought the daily as a personal investment.

One element is Zeus Insights, an ad-targeting system that aims to deliver more relevant ads but without the invasive online tracking methods used by rivals.

This deliver ads based on content readers see instead of using tracking "cookies" which may follow a user around the web.

Dicker said the Zeus technology allows for a better connection with readers and ads that are aligned with appropriate content, avoiding the embarrassing juxtapositions seen in recent years.

"The Zeus technology suite enables this connection with brands, bringing revenue back to publishers, through an ecosystem that demands premium performance, highly-targeted data capabilities and seamlessness in buying across the board," he said.

NBC streaming service to be called 'Peacock'
New York (AFP) Sept 17, 2019 - NBCUniversal said Tuesday its new streaming television service is being called "Peacock" and will include original shows including a new "Battlestar Galactica" along with programs from its own content library.

Peacock, using the longtime NBC logo, is set to launch in April 2020 and compete against streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon and upcoming services from Walt Disney Co. and Apple.

The company, a unit of Comcast, offered no details on pricing.

Shows will include a "reboot" of the science fiction series "Battlestar Galactica" as well exclusive rights to longtime programs such as "Parks and Recreation" and "The Office," according to an NBCU statement.

"The name Peacock pays homage to the quality content that audiences have come to expect from NBCUniversal -- whether it's culture-defining dramas from innovative creators like (Battlestar producer) Sam Esmail, laugh-out-loud comedies from legends like Lorne Michaels and Mike Schur, blockbusters from Universal Pictures, or buzzy unscripted programming from the people who do it best at Bravo and E!," said Bonnie Hammer, chairman of direct-to-consumer and digital enterprises at NBCU.

"Peacock will be the go-to place for both the timely and timeless -- from can't-miss Olympic moments and the 2020 election, to classic fan favorites like 'The Office.'"

Peacock, which will have both subscription and ad-supported options, will have over 15,000 hours of content and will be seeking to capitalize on the 2020 Summer Olympics.

The launch comes with consumers shifting away from "linear" TV on cable and satellite services to online streaming from on-demand providers, led by Netflix.

Analysts are expecting tough competition in a market where providers with large content libraries are taking on Netflix.

In November, the Disney+ service is being launched at a price of $6.99, undercutting Netflix, and Apple is set to debut its own service for just $4.99 per month.

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Google employees free to express views under settlement with US
San Francisco (AFP) Sept 12, 2019
Google said Thursday said it will remind workers they are free to express views on "workplace issues" as part of a settlement with a US government agency investigating the internet giant. Under the terms of the agreement with the US National Labor Relations Board, Google will post digital notices on its internal employee computer network and physical copies at its Silicon Valley headquarters reminding employees of their rights. The agreement comes in the wake of a labor complaint by a fired engi ... read more