TL;DR

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

Donald Trump's presidency may impact major areas in Big Tech including Google, TikTok, and AI, focusing on deregulation and perceived competition with China. (Emarketer)
In 2024, digital audio has become as popular as traditional TV in the U.S., with Spotify significantly leading its competitors by over 50M listeners. (Emarketer)
Some of 2024's most effective marketing strategies and how they capitalized on trends in nostalgia, celebrity endorsements, purpose-driven initiatives. (Marketing Dive)

Audiences

Streaming ratings for 2024 have been announced, with top performers including the season finale of 'Agatha All Along' and 'The Lincoln Lawyer'. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Nielsen and TikTok have formed a partnership to integrate TikTok into Nielsen ONE for cross-media measurement, enabling advertisers to evaluate ad performance across all screens and platforms, including digital, CTV, and linear. (Advanced Television)
Disney+ has partnered with AudienceProject to offer advertisers independent audience measurement across devices, initially available in the UK, Germany, and the Nordics, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of ad campaigns' reach and effectiveness on the platform. (Advanced Television)

Meta and X are expanding their data center operations aimed at advancing generative AI capabilities and strategic positioning in the AI technology race. (Social Media Today)
TikTok's Black Friday sales reached over $100M, marking a threefold increase from the previous year, driven by live streams and celebrity appearances. (Business Insider)
Predictions for Social Media Marketing in 2025 focus on advanced AI integration, AR and VR experiences, and evolving video and ad strategies. (Social Media Today)
OzTAM is launching VOZ Streaming, a new service transforming how broadcaster video on demand (BVOD) advertising is traded in Australia. (AdNews)
Instagram is testing new placements for the DM icon in its app interface to better reflect the increasing use of direct messaging. (Social Media Today)

"Wicked" is emerging as a strong contender for Best Picture at the Oscars, supported by guild endorsements, box office earnings, and its politically charged themes. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Australia experienced its biggest cinema weekend in 18 months, with blockbuster releases "Moana 2," "Wicked," and "Gladiator II" driving a record $24M in box office sales. (Mumbrella)
Australians are increasingly considering quitting traditional jobs to become full-time social media influencers, driven by the potential for higher earnings. (Nine)
The Pokémon Company International set a Guinness World Record for the longest unboxing livestream video, during which influencers opened over 1.5K booster packs that will be donated to European charities. (PocketGamer)
PlayStation announces "The Concert" World Tour for 2025-2026, featuring live music from iconic games like God of War and The Last of Us. (Playstation)

OpenAI is exploring the most effective ad strategies for its platform, mirroring industry competitors like Google and Microsoft who integrate ads into their AI search engines. (MediaPost)
OpenAI's newly released o1 model can deceive humans at a higher rate compared to its predecessor GPT-4o and other leading AI models. (TechCrunch)
Microsoft has begun testing its new Copilot Vision feature, which allows the AI to interact with web content enhancing browsing by providing contextual assistance. (The Verge)

Epic Resort Destinations plans to open six new properties in the U.S. by 2034, featuring brands like Hot Wheels and Barbie. (Attractions Magazine)
Merlin Entertainments has announced the launch of 21 new accessibility projects across eight countries, such as sensory rooms and descriptive audio tours for visually impaired visitors. (blooloop)
Universal Studios Japan will officially open its Donkey Kong Country expansion at Super Nintendo World, featuring a new roller coaster, interactive game, and character experiences. (Orlando Park Stop)
The IAAPA Expo 2024 showcased trends such as the integration of immersive and interactive experiences into attractions, and a strong focus on inclusivity and accessibility across park designs and operational practices. (blooloop)

Pizza Hut is piloting a new fast-food-style restaurant prototype with drive-thru, self-service kiosks, a ready-made menu, and mobile order pickup stations. (Restaurant Business)
Google predicts a surge in consumer interest in luxury travel for 2025, with travelers seeking enhanced experiences like spas, Michelin-starred dining, and five-star accommodations. (Travel Weekly)
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration reported a record high of 3.08M airline passengers screened on a single day, marking December 1st as the busiest travel day, linked to Thanksgiving. (Reuters)
Some smaller eatertainment businesses are struggling with financial losses and sales declines, while a new music-themed venture raised $13.8M in an IPO to expand.
Americans are seeking vacations focused on health and well-being, with 52% willing to invest in travel expressly designed to enhance their lifespan and improve health. (New York Post)
Focus towards Gen X is shifting from Baby Boomers' due to Gen X's higher spending power, adventurous nature, and demand for luxury, sustainability. (Travel Weekly)

PlayStation celebrates its 30th anniversary with an emotional montage video, thanking fans and featuring a mix of recent and classic games. (Pushsquare)
The majority of top-grossing mobile games in the UK fail to disclose the inclusion of loot boxes in their advertising, despite regulatory guidelines, leading to concerns about transparency. (BBC)
Pokémon TCG Pocket mobile game generated $208M in revenue within its first month, with Japan being the largest market, contributing 42% of lifetime player spending. (Games Industry)
Skydance's highly anticipated VR game, "Behemoth," will receive a day-one patch for PlayStation and a day-seven patch for Meta Quest headsets, with ongoing issues stemming from a recent hardware failure. (Upload VR)
PlayStation NZ orchestrated a highly successful Sky Striker activation, transforming it into a playable landmark for an immersive, one-night event that drew over 400 participants. (Campaign Brief)
Flickplay partners with Bandai Namco and the City of Shibuya to launch an interactive 'Pac-Man' experience, blending digital and physical realms with Web3. (Variety)