AGM Magic

We're thrilled to announce that AGM's collaborative TV spot for Fareportal, "Travelers Wanted," has won gold at the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards. Our work on the entry "From Price to Purpose: How CheapOair Unlocked Aspirational Travel for All" earned the award for the "Travel Advisor Organizations, Marketing-TV Commercial for the Travel Advisor/Agency category" Congratulations to our Creative team for helping to bring Fareportal's vision to life!

TL;DR

In a hurry? Here's our pick of the top news items of the week.

Amazon and Google are enhancing their visual search tools to enable more intuitive product searches using images and videos, responding to consumer shifts toward visually-driven platforms. (Emarketer)
Adobe is launching a free Content Authenticity web app in early 2025, enabling creators to apply attribution and AI opt-out tags to digital content, enhancing protection and transparency using metadata about the content's origins. (The Verge)
Apple TV+ will join Amazon’s Prime Video as an add-on subscription, allowing Prime Video users to access Apple TV+ content directly within the Prime Video app. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Vodafone and Google have expanded their partnership to enhance AI and cloud services across Europe and Africa, aiming to improve digital offerings in 15 countries with new services, devices, and TV experiences. (Advanced Television)

Mobile devices account for 53% of U.S. holiday season digital sales in 2024, marking the second consecutive year they've dominated holiday ecommerce, according to Adobe Analytics. (Emarketer)
Younger generations, especially Gen Z and Millennials, are more likely to watch horror content than older generations, with 59% of global audiences choosing to watch scary films or TV shows in autumn over other genres. (Advanced Television)
Guinness reveals the records for the most in-demand TV series for 2023, with Game of Thrones taking the global record. (Advanced Television)

Facebook is adding new features to attract young users, enhancing connectivity and tailored content through AI-driven recommendations. (Social Media Today)
Meta has introduced Movie Gen, an AI tool that can create 16s, realistic HD video clips with synchronized audio from text prompts, set to be incorporated into Instagram next year. (Variety)
Meta introduced new ad tools, including AI-powered image animation and video expansion, and creator collaboration features, providing more options for advertisers. (Social Media Today)
Meta is testing a new feature that allows brands to disable comments on Facebook and Instagram ads before campaigns go live, enhancing control over ad interactions. (AdNews)
Snapchat will introduce "Sponsored Snaps" ads in its Chat tab and launch "Promoted Places" on Snap Map with partners like Disney, McDonald's, and Taco Bell, aiming to boost its lagging digital advertising business. (TechCrunch)
TikTok has introduced five new advertising tools aimed at boosting brand performance and consumer engagement. (Search Engine Journal)

Meta has launched the 'Creator Lab' in India, an initiative under Instagram to educate and empower the next generation of influencers with content creation skills. (The Drum)
Starz and BritBox have launched a bundled subscription offer in the US, allowing new customers to access both platforms' content, including new series and British TV programming. (Broadband TV News)
ITV has acquired the rights to stream Disney Entertainment's series "Welcome to Chippendales" and "Culprits" on ITVX later this year, adding a dramatic true story and a crime thriller to its free streaming lineup. (Advanced Television)
Los Angeles, dubbed the content creator capital of the world, brings together 22 of its most intriguing influencers, boasting a collective 186.2M followers and over 1B likes, for the ultimate collaboration. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Priceline's new AI voice assistant, Penny, offers conversational interactions in over 120 languages to facilitate travel bookings directly through its platform. (Tech Radar)
Meta Platforms is expanding its AI chatbot, Meta AI, to 21 additional markets including the UK and Brazil, soon integrating it with Ray-Ban Meta glasses in the UK and Australia. (Verdict)
Amazon introduced AI-powered Shopping Guides to streamline decision-making by providing key information and trusted brand lists, accessible through the Amazon Shopping app and website, aiming to simplify online shopping. (TechCrunch)
Live sports in the metaverse offer new brand marketing opportunities and could drive broader adoption of the metaverse by enhancing fan engagement and opening new avenues for advertising. (DigiDay)

Ticketmaster is set to launch enhanced, interactive tickets in Apple Wallet (iOS 18) to increase fan engagement and boost event revenues. (Ticketmaster)
Little Lion Entertainment and Bandai Namco are launching the "PAC-MAN Live Experience" in the UK, an immersive augmented reality game that transforms physical spaces into interactive PAC-MAN mazes for all ages. (The Bolton News)
WildBrain and Blue Dragon Art are collaborating on a Peanuts 75th anniversary art exhibition across Asia-Pacific beginning in 2025, featuring works from over 15 artists to celebrate the Peanuts legacy. (Brands Untapped)
Mattel is expanding its Hot Wheels brand with Formula 1 and Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN), planning to launch a full range of F1-themed toys worldwide and Hot Wheels-themed go-kart tracks across Saudi Arabia. (Kidscreen)
Ticketmaster has updated its rules to allow Taylor Swift concert ticket transfers only within 72 hours of the event to combat a surge in ticket thefts, following reports of unauthorized transfers and a data breach affecting customer accounts. (CBC)
Paramount Global has partnered with Shinsegae Group to open Star Bay City, a $3.39B theme park and resort in Hwaseong, South Korea by 2029, featuring rides based on popular IPs like Nickelodeon and "Star Trek." (Attractions Magazine)

Thailand is using AI to boost spiritual tourism among Gen Z by creating an app that offers travel suggestions based on astrological signs, blending modern technology with traditional practices. (Skift)
Restaurant chains like McDonald’s, Denny’s, and Bojangles, along with World Central Kitchen, are providing support to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. (Nation's Restaurant News)
Business travel spending is projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels, reaching a record $1.5T driven by the resurgence of in-person engagements, led by the U.S. and China. (Travel Pulse)
Xiaohongshu, "China's Instagram," is reshaping the travel industry by popularizing lesser-known destinations through curated user content, influencing Chinese tourists' travel choices. (CNN)

Nintendo introduced Alarmo, a smart alarm clock that features motion-sensing technology, LCD screen, and plays iconic Nintendo tunes and character animations to wake users. (TechRadar)
Indie game developers can extend their IP's reach beyond gaming without the need for mainstream media adaptations like movies or TV shows. (GamesIndustry.biz)
The popular horror game "Little Nightmares" will expand into the comic book world in 2025, a collaboration between Titan Comics and Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe. (IGN)
Halo Studios (formerly 343 Studios) announced "Halo: A New Dawn", the next chapter for the franchise, which will utilize Unreal Engine 5 and marks a fresh direction for future titles. (Gaming Bible)