Fox Phoenix Reporter Finds Sasquatch in Flagstaff Snowstorm
Phoenix Fox reporter Nicole Krasean found the creature it seems everyone's been looking for since, well, forever. Bigfoot or Sasquatch, as it is known, was in Flagstaff, Arizona during a winter snowstorm that shut down roads in the area. They told Krasean that their favorite thing to do in the snow was ski, snowboard or...
Ticker: Newsmax Paid $40 Million to Settle Smartmatic Defamation Lawsuit
Top of the Ticker: A recent regulatory filing by Newsmax revealed that the network paid $40 million to settle its defamation lawsuit with Smartmatic. The case was settled in September with the terms initially remaining undisclosed, Newsmax's filing also revealed that Smartimatic would be able to purchase 2,000 shares of preferred stock of the cable...
Consumers Are Protesting Retailers’ DEI Policies, but the Boycotts Aren’t Working
A nationwide boycott aimed at major retailers like Walmart and Amazon over their diversity, equity, and inclusion policies was meant to send a financial message. However, data from three separate sources shows that the impact was negligible. On Feb. 28, a grassroots group organized by John Schwarz, a self-described "mindfulness and meditation facilitator" with more...
Letter from the editor: Madwell and Ad Age’s A-List
Earlier this week, Ad Age named Madwell Comeback Agency of the Year as part of our 2025 A-List honors. However, new developments have since emerged that caused us to revisit this recognition. Following multiple reports and confirmation from agency leadership, Ad Age has learned that Madwell is facing significant financial issues, including delayed payments to employees, outstanding debts to vendors, and an eviction notice for its Denver office. The agency is also involved in a lawsuit with Bank of America over an unpaid $4 million loan. Ad Age has made the decision to revoke Madwell’s Comeback Agency of the Year title[...]
The WIR: Unilever Shifts Ad Budgets to Influencers, FAST Evolves Beyond the Archives, and Amazon Launches ‘Complete TV’
In this week's Week in Review: Unilever CEO plans a big shift of ad spend towards influencers, Gracenote data charts the evolution of FAST, and Amazon launches a new CTV product. Top Stories Unilever Plans Massive Shift of Ad Spend Towards Social Media and Influencers Unilever CEO Fernando Fernandez, who took the reins at the Read More
Southwest social post on baggage policy change draws backlash—how a joke backfired
Southwest is inviting controversy with a tone-deaf social media post amid consumer backlash to the end of its bags fly free policy.
Balancing Innovation, Authenticity, and Human Creativity With AI
This post was created in partnership with Kantar AI is transforming marketing, pushing brands to rethink not just strategy but also how they engage consumers and balance automation with authenticity. As AI evolves from a behind-the-scenes tool to a driver of real-time decisions, marketers face a critical challenge: How do they harness its potential without...
Streaming Ratings, Week of Feb. 10: Sweet Magnolias Climbs to No. 1
The power of friendship pushed the Netflix drama series Sweet Magnolias to the top of the chart of the most-watched streaming title for the week of Feb. 10, according to Nielsen Streaming Content Ratings. Season 4 of Sweet Magnolias, which debuted in second place the week of Feb. 3, enjoyed 1.162 million viewing minutes, dethroning...
How Interactive TV Is Reshaping Consumer Engagement
This post was created in partnership with IRCODE Television has long been a passive experience, but what if you could engage with your screen in real time? At the ADWEEK House Austin Fireside Chat, interactive technology took center stage as Matty Beckerman, founder of IRCODE, explored how AI-powered engagement is reshaping television. In conversation with...
Flau’Jae Johnson Drops Bars and Buckets in Powerade’s March Madness Ad
Powerade is the official drink of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and ahead of March Madness, the brand wants to land a slam dunk as the fans' bottle of choice. The Coca-Cola-owned label has rolled out "It Takes More to Get This Far," a two-ad campaign expanding on "It Takes More," which first debuted...
