Netflix's Ad-Supported Plan Boasts 40 Million Global Users
270 M
Netflix's ad-supported tier has surged to 40 million monthly users, nearly doubling from 23 million reported earlier. With 40% of signups opting for this plan, Netflix now boasts 270 million subscribers globally, further solidifying its dominance in the streaming landscape. This growth underscores Netflix's strategic pivot towards ad-supported models and its commitment to evolving its advertising infrastructure, now independently managed with partnerships from industry leaders like The Trade Desk, Google's Display & Video 360, and Magnite.
2.1%
In the dynamic landscape of U.S. retail, the first quarter of 2024 saw significant growth in e-commerce sales, reaching $289.2 billion, a 2.1% increase from the prior quarter and an impressive 8.6% increase from the same period in 2023. Despite a slight dip of 0.1%, totaling $1,820.0 billion, in total retail sales from the previous quarter, e-commerce maintained its strong foothold, representing 15.9% of overall retail activity. This underscores the continued shift towards online shopping and the enduring importance of e-commerce in the retail sector.
26%
Walmart's U.S. advertising arm, Walmart Connect experienced a robust 26% growth in Q1 of fiscal 2025, while its global advertising business saw a 24% year-over-year increase. The retailer's overall active advertiser counts surged by nearly 19%, with marketplace sellers, including smaller and emerging brands, driving over 50% of this growth. With a 22% increase in e-commerce sales, bolstered by store-fulfilled pickup and delivery, Walmart anticipates net sales growth between 3% to 4% for the full year.
7.7%
CMO spending on marketing has dropped from 9.1% of total company revenue in 2023 to 7.7% in 2024, well below pre-pandemic levels of 11%. This reduction reflects a shifting landscape where paid media now constitutes 27.9% of budgets, with digital channels taking the lion's share at 57.1%. However, as CMOs face resource constraints, marketing technology investment has hit a low, comprising only 23.8% of budgets this year, the lowest in a decade. This underscores the need for innovative approaches to maximize efficiency and effectiveness in marketing strategies.
8 M
YouTube showcased its dominance in streaming during its Brandcast upfront, unveiling new ad tools such as Video Reach Campaigns Non-Skips for connected TV bolstered by Google's AI. With over 8 million paid subscribers, YouTube TV offers premium sports programming, while YouTube Shorts saw CTV viewership double in 2023. Emphasizing its appeal to Gen Z, YouTube highlighted that one in three NFL Lineups viewers on the platform were new to the league.
0.3%
In April, U.S. inflation eased slightly, with the consumer price index rising 0.3% from March. Excluding food and energy, core inflation remained steady at 0.3% monthly and 3.6% annually, aligning with forecasts. Notably, real earnings for workers declined 0.2% when adjusted for inflation, reflecting the challenge of maintaining purchasing power amidst rising prices. This economic backdrop places the Federal Reserve in a dilemma, as policymakers weigh the need for further rate adjustments to manage inflation against the risk of slowing economic growth.
23%
Pinterest and Real Simple collaborated on the magazine's inaugural shoppable issue, featuring QR codes on almost every page, leading consumers to Pinterest boards with over 120 products for instant purchase. Pinterest reported a 23% year-over-year revenue increase in Q1 2024, reaching $740 million, credited to improved shoppability and AI, while also attracting over 40% of its users from Gen Z, its fastest-growing demographic.