Strata

June 2013

• June 4

  MEDIA BUYERS SEE 2013 AS GROWTH YEAR

  
  
  MANY ADDING STAFF THIS YEAR

  Originally appearing in CableSpots on May 31, 2013

  Media buying agencies are experiencing major business growth and expect that growth to strengthen throughout the rest of the year, according to the latest quarterly survey conducted by STRATA, maker of media buying and selling software. The survey revealed that 48% of agencies polled said business is increasing this year over the same time last year; while 39% expect to see more growth in the first half of 2013 than the second half of 2012. This growth has led to many shops expanding their business as 39% plan on hiring this year – the largest amount since the first quarter of 2012. This is fueled by the fact that 28% say their clients are increasing Marketing/Advertising budgets from last year.
  
  Even with more cash available, advertisers continue to spend >Read More

• June 3

  STRATA Survey: New Challenges Emerge As Advertising Economy Strengthens - Q1 2013

  
  
  Changes in Social Media Utilization and ROI Questions Linger
  
  Originally appearing in Yahoo! Finance on Wed, May 29, 2013
  
  CHICAGO, May 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/—Media buying agencies are experiencing major business growth and expect that growth to strengthen throughout the rest of the year, according to the latest quarterly survey conducted by STRATA, the leader in media buying and selling software.
  
  The recent study revealed that almost half (48%) of agencies polled said business is increasing this year over the same time last year; while 39% expect to see more growth in the first half of 2013 than the second half of 2012. This growth has led to many shops expanding their business as 39% plan on hiring this year (the largest amount since the first quarter of 2012). This is fueled by the fact that 28% say their clients are increasing their Marketing/Advertising budgets from last year.
  
  Even with more cash available, advertisers continue to spend >Read More

• June 3

  STRATA Survey: New Challenges Emerge As Advertising Economy Strengthens In 2013 - Q1

  
  
  Originally appearing on Bloomberg on May 29, 2013
  
  CHICAGO, May 29, 2013—  Media buying agencies are experiencing major business growth and expect that growth to strengthen throughout the rest of the year, according to the latest quarterly survey conducted by STRATA, the leader in media buying and selling software.
  
  The recent study revealed that almost half (48%) of agencies polled said business is increasing this year over the same time last year; while 39% expect to see more growth in the first half of 2013 than the second half of 2012. This growth has led to many shops expanding their business as 39% plan on hiring this year (the largest amount since the first quarter of 2012). This is fueled by the fact that 28% say their clients are increasing their Marketing/Advertising budgets from last year.
  
  Even with more cash available, advertisers continue to spend >Read More

• June 3

  STRATA Survey: New Challenges Emerge As Advertising Economy Strengthens In Q1-13

  
  
  Changes in Social Media Utilization and ROI Questions Linger
  
  Originally appearing on Boston.com May 29, 2013

  CHICAGO, May 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/—Media buying agencies are experiencing major business growth and expect that growth to strengthen throughout the rest of the year, according to the latest quarterly survey conducted by STRATA, the leader in media buying and selling software.
  
  The recent study revealed that almost half (48%) of agencies polled said business is increasing this year over the same time last year; while 39% expect to see more growth in the first half of 2013 than the second half of 2012. This growth has led to many shops expanding their business as 39% plan on hiring this year (the largest amount since the first quarter of 2012). This is fueled by the fact that 28% say their clients are increasing their Marketing/Advertising budgets from last year.
  
  Even with more cash available, advertisers continue to spend on >Read More

• June 3

  MEDIA BUYERS SEE 2013 AS GROWTH YEAR

  
  
  MANY ADDING STAFF THIS YEAR
  Originally appearing in Spots n’ Dots May 31, 2013
  
  Media buying agencies are experiencing major business growth and expect that growth to strengthen throughout the rest of the year, according to the latest quarterly survey conducted by STRATA, maker of media buying and selling software. The survey revealed that 48% of agencies polled said business is increasing this year over the same time last year; while 39% expect to see more growth in the first half of 2013 than the second half of 2012. This growth has led to many shops expanding their business as 39% plan on hiring this year – the largest amount since the first quarter of 2012. This is fueled by the fact that 28% say their clients are increasing Marketing/Advertising budgets from last year.
  
  Even with more cash available, advertisers continue to spend on core channels. Television was the most >Read More

• June 3

  The STRATA Survey Says the Ad Industry is in Good Shape

  

  Originally appearing on Beyond Madison Avenue by Dwayne W. Waite Jr.      
    
  The STRATA Survey came out recently, and with the data from over 900 agencies, it is able to paint a decent picture of the landscape of the advertising industry. Thankfully, the picture is a good one, for 52% of total respondents said that business has been increasing compared to the same time last year. As the economy looks to still be down, the survey highlights several elements in the ad industry that may point to as signs that the economy is picking up. It points out the obvious; for example, one of the biggest challenges for agencies is attracting new business (38%) while client spending comes in at second with 22% of respondents. New business and client spending will never cease to be causes for concern for agencies, so to have those problems be the biggest ones could be considered as a good thing. Sometimes it is better to have the pains you know rather than the ones you don’t, right? >Read More

May 2013

• May 31

  STRATA: More agency buyers want web radio ads

  

  Originally appearing in InsideRadio on May 30,2013

  More buyers are interested in buying web radio advertising.  That’s according to STRATA’s quarterly survey of ad agencies.  It found 54% of buyers said they’re more interested in streaming radio than they were a year ago.  And 47% say they will expand into new advertising areas like web radio.
  
  “Advertisers will continue to use newer channels and further expand the media mix moving forward,” STRATA president John Shelton predicts.  TV and digital sucked up three-quarters of client dollars in the first quarter, the survey of agencies using STRATA’s buying system shows. >Read More

• May 30

  STRATA SURVEY:  NEW CHALLENGES EMERGE AS ADVERTISING ECONOMY STRENGTHENS IN Q1 2013

  Changes in Social Media Utilization and ROI Questions Linger
  
  CHICAGO (May 29, 2013) – Media buying agencies are experiencing major business growth and expect that growth to strengthen throughout the rest of the year, according to the latest quarterly survey conducted by STRATA, the leader in media buying and selling software.
  
  The recent study revealed that almost half (48%) of agencies polled said business is increasing this year over the same time last year; while 39% expect to see more growth in the first half of 2013 than the second half of 2012. This growth has led to many shops expanding their business as 39% plan on hiring this year (the largest amount since the first quarter of 2012). This is fueled by the fact that 28% say their clients are increasing their Marketing/Advertising budgets from last year.
  
  Even with more cash available, advertisers continue to spend >Read More

• May 17

  Pandora’s Upside Has Already Panned Out

  
  
  Maxim Group downgraded the music streamer to Hold from Buy on valuation.
  Pandora Media (P: NYSE)
  Originally appearing on May 17, 2013 by Maxim Group - John Tinker and Nirav Modi
  
  Mobile monetization continues to grow for Pandora Media, albeit profitability is still a far sight. We are downgrading Pandora to Hold from Buy due to valuation and withdrawing our prior $17 price target.
  
  Pandora (ticker: P) is basically trading near our prior $17 price target which we had established in August 2011. The company over the last two years has done a terrific job at growing listener hour, active users and revenues based on recently improving mobile monetization. On the earnings call next Thursday, May 23, management should be updating us on the integration of the STRATA platform that radio buyers use. >Read More

• May 15

  Pandora Media Inc (P) News: Madison Avenue Integration, Streaming Data With Artists, Rivalry with Go

  
  
  Originally appearing on InsiderMonkey.com, May 15, 2013
  
  Opening Pandora’s Black Box, Becomes First Digital Publisher To Integrate With Madison Avenue’s Stack (MediaPost Communications) Popular Internet radio service Pandora Media Inc (NYSE:P) this morning announced that it has fully integrated into Madison Avenue’s media planning and buying software suite, including deals with both Mediaocean and STRATA, the two major media data processors for agencies.  Describing the integration as a “frictionless planning and buying”  system, Pandora Media Inc (NYSE:P) said its new platform is built on proprietary software designed specifically for its ad operations and billing processes, making it the “first and only digital publisher to integrate the planning, buying and billing phases of the buying process of digital advertising.” >Read More

• May 15

  Opening Pandora’s Black Box: Becomes 1st Digital Publisher To Integrate With Madison Avenue’s Stack

  
  
  Originally appearing in MediaPost by Joe Mandese on May 15, 2013
  
  Among other things, the technology will facilitate real-time audience data on Pandora’s more than 70 million active users into the hands of the media-buying community, which still frequently must rely on largely manual processes—even when dealing with digital media and audience suppliers.
   
  Pandora claims the new system will completely “automate” the buying process from “end-to-end,” and said the integration with Mediaocean and STRATA marks the “final stage” of its plans to fully integrate with Madison Avenue’s big media-buying processing platforms. >Read More

March 2013

• March 6

  Pandora Data Added to STRATA, Mediaocean

  

  Originally appearing on RadioInk, Mar 5, 2013
  
  Pandora audience data will appear in media-buying platforms STRATA and Mediaocean’s Donovan and Mediabank systems. That means radio buyers will be able to compare Pandora’s audience information side-by-side with data from broadcast radio. STRATA and Mediaocean will be importing data from Triton Digital’s Webcast Metrics Local.
  
  Pandora Chief Revenue Office John Trimble said, “It’s great to see STRATA and Mediaocean embrace innovation and respond to marketplace demand. With consumers shifting from broadcast to Internet radio, it’s important to have the industry adopt technology to help advertisers make smarter planning and buying decisions. The integrations will help advertisers understand the power of Internet radio and make the smartest buying decision at both the national and local levels.”
  
  STRATA President/CEO John Shelton said buyers’ response to the addition of Pandora data has been “overwhelmingly positive.” >Read More

• March 6

  Pandora targets radio’s biggest local advertisers.

  

  Originally appearing in Inside Radio, 3/5/13
  
  “We’re not going after the local restaurant and the local spa,” Pandora CEO Joe Kenney told analysts gathered yesterday at the Goldman Sachs Internet Conference in San Francisco.  Kennedy says the webacster’s growing sales force is enticing some of broadcast radio’s biggest clients, like regional auto dealer associations and retail chains.
  
  “There are local advertisers who we’re working with that are six-digit advertisers with us on Pandora,” he said.  >Read More

• March 6

  Pandora Teams With STRATA, Mediaocean To Simplify Ad-Buying

  
  
  Originally appearing March 5, 2013 by Mark Walsh in MediaPost News
  
  Online radio service Pandora confirmed Tuesday that it will integrate its audience data into the STRATA and Mediaocean media-buying platforms. The move will allow advertisers to compare Pandora’s audience ratings side-by-side with terrestrial radio stations nationwide.
  
  That in turn could bolster Pandora’s ad sales by making it easier for agencies and marketers to plan, buy and process digital radio advertising. Until now, radio ad buyers using Strata and Mediaocean had to manually research Pandora’s audience data.
  
  The two ad systems will now import Pandora’s local and national ratings information from Triton Digital into their software platforms. Without mentioning STRATA or Mediaocean specifically, Pandora CEO Joseph Kennedy discussed how the integrations would benefit the company, while speaking last month at an industry conference. >Read More

• March 6

  Pandora Integrates Data Into STRATA And Mediaocean Media Buying Platforms

  

  Originally appearing March 5, 2013 on AllAccess

  PANDORA announced that its audience data will appear in media buying platforms, including STRATA and MEDIAOCEAN’s DONOVAN and MEDIABANK stewardship systems, enabling radio buyers to compare PANDORA’s audience data side-by-side with broadcast radio stations across the country. STRATA and MEDIAOCEAN will import TRITON DIGITAL’s Webcast Metrics Local (WCML) data into their software platforms, allowing radio buyers to view PANDORA national and local audience ratings.
  
  “It’s great to see STRATA and MEDIAOCEAN embrace innovation and respond to marketplace demand,” PANDORA Chief Revenue Officer JOHN TRIMBLE said. “With consumers shifting from broadcast to Internet radio, it’s important to have the industry adopt technology to help advertisers make smarter planning and buying decisions. The integrations will help advertisers understand the power of Internet radio and make the smartest buying decision at both the national and local levels.” >Read More

• March 6

  Pandora Listener Data is Available from STRATA

  

  Originally appearing on The Wall Street Journal March 5, 2013 by Melodie Warner
  
  Pandora Media Inc. (P) said three popular media-buying platforms will offer automatic access to the Internet-radio operator’s audience ratings, a move that will allow advertisers to compare Pandora’s audience data more easily with those of broadcast radio stations.
  
  The company said radio buyers using STRATA and MediaOcean’s Donovan Data Systems and MediaBank stewardship systems previously had to research Pandora audience ratings manually.
  
  Pandora said STRATA and MediaOcean will now import Triton Digital’s webcast-metrics-local data into their software platforms, allowing radio buyers to view and compare Pandora’s audience data. >Read More

• March 6

  Pandora Announces Integration with STRATA and Mediaocean Media Buying Platforms

  

  Thousands of Radio Buyers Now Have Automatic Access to Pandora Audience Ratings
  
  OAKLAND, Calif.,  March 5, 2013  Pandora (NYSE: P), the leading internet radio service, today announced that its audience data will appear in the three most popular media buying platforms, including STRATA and Mediaocean’s Donovan and Mediabank stewardship systems. Radio buyers will be able to compare Pandora’s audience data side-by-side with broadcast radio stations across the country.
  
  With more than  $14 billion  spent on U.S. spot radio advertising annually according to the RAB, advertisers will have a more complete representation of the radio industry that includes both broadcast and internet radio. STRATA and Mediaocean will import Triton Digital’s Webcast Metrics Local (WCML) data into their software platforms, allowing radio buyers to view Pandora national and local audience ratings. 
  
  Prior to the integrations, radio buyers using STRATA and Mediaocean systems were required to manually research Pandora audience ratings. Radio buyers now have an easy and efficient way to evaluate Pandora audience size and rankings to make informed decisions about their media mix. >Read More

• March 5

  Pandora Opens Up Audience Data to Media Buyers

  
  
  By Billboard Staff, New York March 05, 2013
  
  In yet another sign of the changing media landscape, Pandora announced today that it will make what is perhaps their biggest resource other than music, their audience data, available to two media buying platforms, STRATA and Mediaocean’s “Donovan” and “Mediabank” products.
  
  Pandora’s chief revenue officer John Trimble was unsurprisingly torch-bearing for his company and industry, all but casting traditional radio aside in a statement released earlier today. “With consumers shifting from broadcast to internet radio, it’s important to have the industry adopt technology to help advertisers make smarter planning and buying decisions. The integrations will help advertisers understand the power of internet radio and make the smartest buying decision at both the national and local levels,” Trimble said.
  
  Customers are “extremely excited about this opportunity to offer Pandora to their advertising clients,” said STRATA president John Shelton. >Read More

• March 5

  Pandora Audience Segments Synced to Mediaocean, STRATA

  
  
  Digital radio player hopes data deals spark more ad sales
  
  Originally appearing on ADWEEK on March 5, 2013 by Christopher Heine
  
  Just as Nielsen wants to eventually broaden its TV ratings to include in-home views across electronic devices, the digital radio industry has designs on modernizing the way advertisers look at its audiences.
  
  Pandora has inked an undisclosed agreement with STRATA and Mediaocean that will allow clients of the media-buying software providers to view the digital radio player’s customer segments.
  
  Ad buyers will be able to contrast Pandora’s audience data against stats from broadcast radio stations. Prior to Pandora partnering with the software firms, brand marketers had to conduct manual research to have such comparisons at their fingertips. The digital radio data will be funneled through Triton Digital’s Webcast Metrics Local (WCML) product. >Read More

• March 5

  Pandora Integrates With 3 Media Buying Platforms - Quick Facts

  
  
  Originally appearing on NASDAQ.com by RTT News,  March 05, 2013
  
  (RTTNews.com) - Pandora ( P ), the internet radio service, said its audience data would appear in three media buying platforms, comprising STRATA and Mediaocean’s Donovan and Mediabank stewardship systems. This integration would enable the company to have both broadcast and internet radio, accessing the $14 billion spent on U.S. spot radio advertising annually. The company added that radio buyers can compare Pandora’s audience data side-by-side with broadcast radio stations country-wide.
  
  STRATA and Mediaocean would import Triton Digital’s Webcast Metrics Local or WCML data into their software platforms, allowing radio buyers to view Pandora national and local audience ratings. >Read More

• March 5

  Pandora Gains Access to $14 Billion Radio Ad-Sales Market

  
  
  Originally appearing on Bloomberg by Andy Fixmer - Mar 5, 2013
  
  Pandora Media Inc. (P), the music- streaming service, will compete directly with radio stations for the first time on the industry’s biggest advertising services, gaining better access to the $14 billion annual ad-sales market.
  
  By May, advertisers will be able to compare Pandora’s audience ratings alongside those of radio stations through services that account for 80 percent of local ad sales, Chief Executive Officer Joe Kennedy said in an interview.
  
  The change eliminates a hurdle for ad buyers and Pandora, which is opening sales offices in the 25 biggest U.S. media markets, Kennedy said. Buyers previously had to manually research Pandora ratings. While early adopters made the effort, the change simplifies the process and will expose Pandora to a larger group of marketers, he said. >Read More

• March 5

  Pandora Announces Integration with STRATA and Mediaocean Media Buying Platforms

  Thousands of Radio Buyers Now Have Automatic Access to Pandora Audience Ratings
   
  OAKLAND, Calif., March 5, 2013 (8:30 a.m. EST) – Pandora (NYSE: P), the leading internet radio service, today announced that its audience data will appear in the three most popular media buying platforms, including STRATA and Mediaocean’s Donovan and Mediabank stewardship systems. Radio buyers will be able to compare Pandora’s audience data side-by-side with broadcast radio stations across the country.
  
  With more than $14 billion spent on U.S. spot radio advertising annually according to the RAB, advertisers will have a more complete representation of the radio industry that includes both broadcast and internet radio. STRATA and Mediaocean will import Triton Digital’s Webcast Metrics Local (WCML) data into their software platforms, allowing radio buyers to view Pandora national and local audience ratings. >Read More

February 2013

• February 14

  Why cross-media buys are a challenge

  
  
  Finding the right mix of traditiional and digital can be frustrating
  
  Originally appearing at medialife.com Feb 12, 2013, by Diego Vasquez
  
  It seems that every day there’s an optimistic new forecast released about online ad revenue, at a time when traditional media are struggling. But what those outlooks don’t say is that the increasing number of media options can prove difficult for agencies to balance. A new study from STRATA, which produces media buying and selling software, finds that 76 percent of agencies surveyed use at least three media per ad campaign. Twenty-two percent of those agencies say that balancing that mix is a challenge. They cite questions >Read More

• February 11

  ePort Has Record 2012; Poised for Big 2013

  
  
  ePort, the electronic platform for TV buyers and sellers marked its biggest year ever in 2012. New records were set for the number of participating agencies, stations, transactions and of course, order value. Participating agencies shot up 86% last year.
  
  The number of stations swelled to 1500, as well. More than 1.1 million transactions (orders, revision, and makegoods) were handled online. >Read More

• February 8

  Digital media spend attracts marketers’ interests in Q1 2013

  
  
  Originally appearing on Brafton on February 6, 2013
  
  Traditional media enthusiasts claim that internet marketing is just a series of fads with no means for showing ROI. Nevertheless, brands invest large percentages of their overall marketing budgets year-over-year, and a new survey from STRATA, as reported by Online Media Daily, shows that new media could surpass traditional options in the near future. >Read More

• February 8

  STRATA Survey - Advertising Industry Concerns About Media Mix Hit A Four-Year High

  

  Originally appearing on Yahoo Finance, Feb 5, 2013
  
  Media Mix Challenges Weigh Heavy on Marketers in Increasingly Digital Landscape
  
  
  CHICAGO, Feb. 5, 2013—Advertising agencies are increasingly concerned with how to best utilize media mix, according to STRATA‘s most recent quarterly survey. Twenty-two percent of agencies surveyed indicated that media mix was a challenge. Tellingly, 76% of those polled advertise using at least three mediums per client campaign, indicating the need for multi-platform advertising.
  
  The STRATA survey of nearly 100 media buying agencies in the fourth quarter also shows the largest concern in 2013 is attracting new clients, with nearly one third of respondents citing the challenge.

    >Read More

• February 8

  STRATA Survey: Advertising Industry Concerns About Media Mix Hit A Four-Year High

  
  Originally appearing at reuters.com Feb. 5, 2013
  
  Media Mix Challenges Weigh Heavy on Marketers in Increasingly Digital Landscape
  
  CHICAGO, Feb. 5, 2013—Advertising agencies are increasingly concerned with how to best utilize media mix, according to STRATA’s most recent quarterly survey. Twenty-two percent of agencies surveyed indicated that media mix was a challenge. Tellingly, 76% of those polled advertise using at least three mediums per client campaign, indicating the need for multi-platform advertising.
  
  The STRATA survey of nearly 100 media buying agencies in the fourth quarter also shows the largest concern in 2013 is attracting new clients, with nearly one third of respondents citing the challenge. >Read More

• February 8

  STRATA Survey: Advertising Industry Concerns About Media Mix Hit A Four-Year High

  
  Originally appearing Boston.com on Feb. 5 2013
  
  Media Mix Challenges Weigh Heavy on Marketers in Increasingly Digital Landscape
  
  CHICAGO, Feb. 5, 2013—Advertising agencies are increasingly concerned with how to best utilize media mix, according to STRATA‘s most recent quarterly survey. Twenty-two percent of agencies surveyed indicated that media mix was a challenge. Tellingly, 76% of those polled advertise using at least three mediums per client campaign, indicating the need for multi-platform advertising.
  
  The STRATA survey of nearly 100 media buying agencies in the fourth quarter also shows the largest concern in 2013 is attracting new clients, with nearly one third of respondents citing the challenge. >Read More

• February 8

  STRATA Survey - Advertising Industry Concerns About Media Mix Hit A Four-Year High

   

  Originally appearing on MarketWatch, February 5, 2013
  
  Media Mix Challenges Weigh Heavy on Marketers in Increasingly Digital Landscape
  
  CHICAGO, Feb. 5, 2013—Advertising agencies are increasingly concerned with how to best utilize media mix, according to STRATA‘s most recent quarterly survey. Twenty-two percent of agencies surveyed indicated that media mix was a challenge. Tellingly, 76% of those polled advertise using at least three mediums per client campaign, indicating the need for multi-platform advertising.
  
  The STRATA survey of nearly 100 media buying agencies in the fourth quarter also shows the largest concern in 2013 is attracting new clients, with nearly one third of respondents citing the challenge. >Read More

• February 8

  TV is Still the Prime Ad Buy, but Agencies See a Changing Media Mix

  
  February 6, 2013 by MarketingCharts staff
  
  54% of advertising agencies say their clients are more interested in advertising on TV than any other medium, compared with 30% who feel the same way about digital, according to the latest quarterly survey from STRATA. But 22% find it a challenge to optimize their media mix, a 4-year high for the survey. And as seen elsewhere recently, traditional media appears to be losing the battle to digital: close to one-third of respondents believe they’ll be spending more on digital than traditional media within 1-3 years, as separate results indicate that interest in several traditional media is waning. >Read More

• February 8

  Digital Ad Spend May Surpass Trade Media In Near Future

  
  Originally appearing in MediaPost on January 5th, 2013
  

  A new survey of ad agencies indicates that digital media may eclipse traditional advertising in the near future, with nearly one-third of respondents expecting to spend more on digital than on traditional media within the next three years.
  
  That’s according to a survey conducted by ad transaction processor STRATA, which polled nearly 100 ad shops in the fourth quarter.
  
  The survey found that enthusiasm for spot TV and spot radio continues to decline. On a year-to-year basis, the survey found that 40% fewer respondents indicated their clients were interested in spot TV advertising, while 32% were less interested in spot radio. 
  
  >Read More

• February 6

  STRATA SURVEY: ADVERTISING INDUSTRY CONCERNS ABOUT MEDIA MIX HIT A FOUR-YEAR HIGH

  Media Mix Challenges Weigh Heavy on Marketers in Increasingly Digital Landscape
  
  CHICAGO (February 5, 2013) – Advertising agencies are increasingly concerned with how to best utilize media mix, according to STRATA’s most recent quarterly survey. Twenty-two percent of agencies surveyed indicated that media mix was a challenge. Tellingly, 76% of those polled advertise using at least three mediums per client campaign, indicating the need for multi-platform advertising.
  
  The STRATA survey of nearly 100 media buying agencies in the fourth quarter also shows the largest concern in 2013 is attracting new clients, with nearly one third of respondents citing the challenge. >Read More

January 2013

• January 18

  And now, a cheery take on 2013 spending

  
  First quarter is pacing 3 to 5 percent ahead of 2012
  
  First appearing in Medialife Magazine on Jan. 17, 2013 by Diego Vasquez
  
  A number of analysts have predicted either very small ad spending gains this year or slight declines, following a strong finish to 2012 with huge political and Olympic spending.
  
  But according to at least one forecaster, 2013 could be significantly better than 2012.
  
  STRATA, which produces media buying and selling software and monitors the deals that are made through it, says that the new year has started out stronger than many are forecasting. >Read More

• January 17

  STRATA Projects Ad Spending To Increase 3-5% In 2013

  
  Originally appearing in MediaPost on Jan 16, 2013
  
  Chicago-based advertising transactional services provider STRATA projects that ad spending will increase between 3% and 5% in 2013. The new projection is in line with forecasts made in December by some holding company-owned media shops. Publicis Groupe’s ZenithOptimedia for example estimated that U.S. ad spending this year would climb 3.5% to nearly $166.5 billion, >Read More

• January 9

  Dish Mulls Letting Advertisers Bid on Shows in Real Time

  
  Originally appearing on Bloomberg News by Alex Sherman - Jan 7, 2013
  
  Dish Network Corp. (DISH), the second- largest U.S. satellite provider, is developing a feature that would let advertisers see what people are watching in real time, setting the stage for last-minute auctions of ad space.
  
  The company is looking to build on a viewership-tracking service introduced in November on its Hopper set-top boxes. The feature, called “What’s Hot Now,” allows Hopper users to see what other Dish customers are watching and flip to the most popular programs.
  
  By collecting real-time data through set-top boxes, Dish may develop a new way for the industry to sell advertisements, Warren Schlichting, Dish’s senior vice president of media sales and analytics, said in an interview. The move also could improve the company’s relationship with advertisers, the victims of a technology that Dish introduced to skip commercials using a single button on a remote control. >Read More