VIOOH expands Canadian market DOOH advertising access with VENDO Media partnership
VIOOH, a global digital out of home (DOOH) supply-side platform, has announced a strategic partnership with VENDO Media, a Canadian OOH company providing national scale, expanding programmatic access to premium digital billboard inventory across North America.
The partnership delivers access to over 550 digital outdoor billboards across more than 125 Canadian markets, with 33 screens currently enabled for programmatic DOOH. VENDO Media’s network provides comprehensive national coverage across seven provinces including Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick, making it the widest-reaching roadside digital outdoor media company in the country.
The network includes 175 outdoor roadside billboards generating over 132 million monthly impressions with national coverage, alongside 43 outdoor spectaculars delivering 42 million monthly impressions. The strategic placements span key designated city centres including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.
Through programmatic buying via VIOOH’s supply-side platform, advertisers gain enhanced flexibility, precision targeting and improved efficiency, ensuring maximum impact and measurable results across VENDO Media’s comprehensive national network spanning over 125 Canadian localities.
Adthena launches the first to market ChatGPT Intelligence Platform
Adthena, the global leader in AI Search Intelligence, has announced the launch of the Adthena ChatGPT Intelligence Platform – the first solution to bring Adthena’s proven whole-market visibility capabilities to OpenAI’s ChatGPT Ads.
Similar to Google’s Ads Manager tool, ChatGPT provides a limited view of paid search activity; showing a selected list of metrics related mainly to advertisers own ads. Adthena’s new solution delivers the same competitive edge as its existing platform for Google Ads, monitoring ChatGPT ad placements in real time, across 300k+ daily prompts, tracking which brands are advertising, which user questions trigger ads, ad copy and how a brand’s share of search compares to competitors.
The Adthena ChatGPT Intelligence Platform is now available to trialists and early adopters. Advertisers and agencies can learn more and request access at adthena.com/chatgpt-ads.
The news follows the recent launch of Adthena’s free ChatGPT AdBridge migration tool, which has already helped agencies and brands import their Google Ads campaigns into ChatGPT’s Ads Manager. The launch is part of Adthena’s ongoing commitment to meeting the rapidly evolving search advertising landscape with tools that provide real insights and inform successful strategy.
New study finds 76% of advertisers see performance gains from Agentic AI
Taboola (Nasdaq: TBLA), a global leader in delivering performance at scale for advertisers, has published new research highlighting growing advertiser adoption of AI-powered solutions and increasing interest in applying these capabilities beyond walled gardens.
While agentic AI has driven strong performance gains in search and social, marketers are increasingly focused on unlocking incremental growth beyond those channels—especially in environments that can offer similar AI-powered automation. The new study, titled, “The Agentic Advantage in Performance Marketing: Securing Incremental Growth Beyond Search and Social” explores how advertisers are approaching performance in an increasingly AI-driven landscape.
A significant 76% of advertisers are already seeing meaningful performance uplift from AI-powered solutions, primarily on search and social platforms. The vast majority (80%) state they would immediately increase their ad spend on the open web if comparable agentic solutions existed, with 86% willing to allocate up to a quarter of their performance budget to the shift.
The number one challenge for advertisers adopting agentic AI is integrating it into existing workflows, but the struggle is disproportionately felt by large advertisers. Only 9% of advertisers spending $300K–$499K per month cite integration as a barrier, compared to a large 74% of companies spending $1M–$4.9M per month who call it the dominant roadblock.
In April 2026, Taboola announced Realize+, an agentic solution that uses its supply, first-party data, and AI to scale performance through a Decision Engine that reallocates spend in real time and an Element Generator that automates creative and targeting. The company has now rolled out the Realize+ beta to help advertisers drive outcomes at scale.
UniLED Software and Kochava partner on OOH outcome measurement
UniLED Software has collaborated with Kochava, a leader in cross-channel exposure and conversion measurement, to further strengthen out-of-home’s (OOH) position as a measurable, outcomes-driven channel.
By merging independent screen-level delivery data with device exposure and conversion tracking, the partnership has delivered a verified-first measurement tool that bridges the gap between delivery and real-world performance.
As a result, it provides advertisers with a single, complete view of campaign performance that helps to uncover the true commercial impact and return on investment (ROI) of DOOH activations.
UniLED’s award-winning UniLIVE platform meticulously monitors and validates DOOH ad campaign plays/impressions down to individual unit ID level, confirming exactly what played, where and when. This independent verified delivery data is vital for identifying over- and under-delivery and creating a clean dataset for analysis. It will be married with Kochava’s cross-channel exposure and conversion tracking, which offers a full-funnel view of behaviour tied directly to verified screen exposure.
By integrating delivery, exposure and revenue outcomes within a single unified platform, advertisers can gain a clear, screen-level view of how verified DOOH exposure translates into conversions such as product or service sales. The combined solution not only quantifies conversions linked to exposure but creates the opportunity for in-flight optimisation insight that would traditionally only be available after the campaign had concluded.
DigitalOcean’s Cloudways launches Site Manager to centralise WordPress management
Cloudways, part of DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DOCN), has announced the launch of Cloudways Site Manager, an agency-grade WordPress management solution designed to help teams operate and scale large website portfolios more efficiently.
As agencies take on increasingly complex WordPress workloads, operational overhead has emerged as a critical bottleneck to growth. Managing updates, monitoring performance, and maintaining security across dozens of sites requires significant manual effort, making it difficult to scale efficiently. This expanding scope is reflected in Cloudways’ data, which shows that more than 50% of customers now manage 16 or more websites, highlighting the scale and complexity agencies face as they grow.
Cloudways Site Manager helps address this challenge by centralizing key workflows into a unified, native platform, eliminating the need for fragmented tools and manual coordination. By bringing site operations into a single interface, it helps agencies streamline day-to-day management, reduce operational overhead, and improve delivery speed across client portfolios.
Early demand reflects a strong market need, with more than 15,000 applications joining the Public Preview program and over 4,000 users onboarded.
Semify launches industry’s first scalable AI Optimization service built for agency success
Semify, a leading white-label digital marketing platform, today announced the launch of its AIO service, an AI Optimization service designed to help marketing agencies deliver comprehensive digital visibility to their clients. Semify’s AIO offering is backed by rigorous testing, a highly skilled team working in a scalable workflow, and measurement software (powered by Dragon Metrics) across four major AI platforms: ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode, and Perplexity.
AI-driven search platforms are redefining how consumers discover local businesses. Yet many marketing agencies lack validated strategies to help clients maintain visibility in this new landscape. Semify’s AIO service addresses this gap by combining proven AI optimization tactics (sometimes called GEO or AEO) with the company’s established white-label SEO services already serving thousands of customers.
As both a service and software provider, Semify provides automated reporting and recommendations that delivers deep insights into AI visibility performance alongside traditional SEO metrics. These insights are available in Semify’s proprietary dashboard as well from Semify’s enterprise API/MCP. This eliminates fragmented data sources and unifies tech stacks for its partners. At the same time, it provides comprehensive visibility across traditional search engines and AI-powered platforms.
The AIO service is available immediately to new and existing Semify partners. The service integrates seamlessly with Semify’s existing SEO, PPC, and paid social advertising offerings, creating a unified digital visibility solution for agencies serving clients across home improvement, automotive, dental, legal, and other location-based verticals.
SoftServe selects Optimizely as exclusive DXP partner
Optimizely, the leading digital experience platform (DXP) provider, today announced a strategic partnership with SoftServe, a premier global digital consulting and engineering firm. As part of the partnership, SoftServe launched a new website on Optimizely CMS, replacing their previous platform. The successful launch solidified SoftServe’s decision to invest in building a joint go-to-market strategy to help other enterprises deliver AI-powered digital experiences at scale.
The partnership positions Optimizely as one of SoftServe’s four core strategic platforms alongside SAP, Salesforce, and ServiceNow.
SoftServe’s decision reflects a broader shift in how enterprises approach digital experience – moving away from fragmented systems and static websites toward more connected, data-driven platforms that enable personalisation, experimentation, and measurable marketing performance.
SoftServe rebuilt and relaunched its global website on Optimizely’s CMS (SaaS) in just 60 days, transitioning from a static, content-heavy experience to a more dynamic platform designed to deliver personalised user journeys, accelerate content production, and improve visibility into how digital engagement drives pipeline and revenue. The new approach is expected to accelerate campaign launch timelines by up to 30-40% while improving conversion and engagement across key buyer journeys.
SoftServe is also establishing a dedicated Optimizely delivery practice and developing proprietary solutions built on Optimizely One, including Optimizely Opal (its agent platform) capabilities. Together, the companies will focus on helping CMOs and digital leaders execute more personalised, scalable digital strategies through a unified platform approach.
Sainsbury’s Nectar360 partners with Merlin Entertainments
Nectar has launched a new partnership with Merlin Entertainments, giving members a new way to save on days out across the UK. Customers can now spend their loyalty points to secure entry at more than 20 Merlin attractions when they book through the Nectar app.
The offer covers popular destinations across the UK, including LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Alton Towers Resort, Thorpe Park, the London Eye, SEA LIFE aquariums, Warwick Castle, Cadbury World and more.
For even greater value, Nectar and Merlin are giving customers the opportunity to double the value of their points. For example, by simply swapping £5 worth of Nectar points customers can save £10 off Merlin ticket prices.
DOOH.com selected to represent UK innovation at Greater Together LA trade mission
Hundreds of selected UK business leaders will travel to the United States this month as part of the largest ever UK trade mission to the country, Greater Together LA, building on the momentum of the recent State Visit of Their Majesties the King and Queen.
Taking place in Los Angeles from 19 to 21 May 2026, Greater Together LA, led by the UK Department of Business and Trade, will celebrate the strength and future potential of the UK-US relationship, bringing together leaders from business, technology, media, investment, and culture from both sides of the Atlantic.
Global digital out of home production studio DOOH.com has been selected to participate as a recognised global leader in digital-out-of-home advertising and a frontrunner in innovation within the sector and official creative technology partner for the UK Government’s Greater Together programme.
As part of the conference, DOOH.com will power a dynamic digital-out-of-home campaign across Los Angeles, publishing daily highlights, live insights, and key commentary from the event onto premium outdoor screens throughout the city. tive strategists.
The session will explore why brands are increasingly returning to physical experiences, cultural moments, and real-world engagement in response to the rise of AI-generated and algorithmically driven media.
Digital audio proves its full funnel credentials in Audion and Happydemics study
Audion, an AI-driven advertising platform specialising in digital audio, today launches its Audio Performance Index. With research carried out by Happydemics, it is the first benchmark study to measure the effectiveness of digital audio advertising across the full funnel.
Based on 423 brand lift campaigns across EMEA, the study indicates that audio has evolved from being a brand-building channel to one that can drive measurable impact across the marketing funnel, from awareness through to purchase intent.
Digital audio delivers a +47.2 point uplift in brand image, which is +10 points higher than display and video and +4.5 points higher than social. Brand preference increases +14.2 points with audio, reinforcing the link between brand perception and consumer consideration. At the lower end of the funnel, purchase intent rises +21.6 points for top-performing campaigns.
The study also shows that audio is the only channel to deliver consistent growth between 2023 and 2025; early 2026 data confirms the continuation of this trend, indicating a lasting shift.
Rakuten TV signs up to Barb measurement in UK transparency push
Rakuten TV Enterprise, the B2B arm of Rakuten TV, has signed up with the official UK audience measurement JIC, becoming the latest streaming platform to be tracked by Barb. The move, effective immediately, marks a significant step in validating its audience and reinforces its commitment to transparency and measurable performance in an increasingly fragmented TV landscape.
Owned by Rakuten Group, the European streamer will now have its audiences independently measured using Barb’s methodology – the same standard applied to broadcasters and major SVOD and BVOD streaming platforms such as Netflix and ITVX.
This enables advertisers to assess Rakuten TV’s audiences using a well-recognised and established data measurement, providing greater consistency and confidence in media investment and a clearer view of incremental reach – particularly among younger and harder-to-reach audiences.
Rakuten TV operates primarily in the ad-supported space, with a strong focus on FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV), which is one of the fastest-growing segments in the European market. Initial Barb data (W2–5 2026) shows Rakuten TV reaching approximately 2 million individuals in the UK, positioning them as one of the most popularly viewed hybrid platforms in the UK.
Rakuten TV’s move to join Barb reflects a broader industry shift, as ad-supported streaming platforms seek standardised measurement to compete more effectively for brand budgets, reinforcing FAST’s role as a bridge between linear TV and on-demand streaming.
FREEMANS LAUNCHES MARKET PLACE OFFER
Freemans.com announced today (13 May 2026) the official launch of a Market Place offer to complement its own bought ranges.
In addition to well-known brands currently on sale (500), Spring 2026 will see an increase to include a further 200 new customer favourites, ranging from clothing to gifts and gadgets to power tools.
The new additions will make Freemans.com the one of the UK’s most comprehensive online shopping destinations, offering the nation’s most popular brands at affordable prices, backed by award-winning customer service, simple finance options and ‘straight to home’ delivery.
Among the latest brands to sign up to the ‘Freemans.com Marketplace’ are designer shoe labels including Kurt Geiger and Carvela plus high-street favourite Dune Footwear. Men’s ‘Big & Tall’ brand Bad Rhino, which offers its signature range in sizes from L to 8XL, will also begin its partnership this month.
One of the biggest new signings is cult retailer Ann Summers, with the marketplace partnership introducing its collection of lingerie and women’s sexual health products to a brand-new audience.
Incorporating the new brands will add more than 18,000 third party products to the overall Freemans.com site.
Rezolve Ai partners Tata Consultancy Services to accelerate agentic commerce
Rezolve Ai (NASDAQ: RZLV), a global leader in AI-powered commerce infrastructure, and Tata Consultancy Services (“TCS”), the global IT services, consulting and business solutions leader, today announced a global strategic partnership to accelerate the worldwide rollout of agentic commerce.
Under the agreement, TCS will resell Rezolve Ai’s AI-powered commerce platform to enterprise clients globally, materially expanding Rezolve Ai’s route to market through one of the world’s most trusted digital transformation organizations.
The partnership represents a major commercial milestone for Rezolve Ai. Building on existing resale relationships with global technology leaders such as Microsoft and Google, which continue to drive the Company’s extraordinary growth, this partnership with TCS serves as a further major endorsement of Rezolve’s unique position in the market. By adding TCS’s global scale and delivery capabilities to its existing ecosystem, Rezolve is uniquely positioned to accelerate the deployment of its proprietary brainpowa™ technology across the world’s largest enterprises.
TCS works with many of the world’s largest enterprises and has deep relationships across retail, consumer goods, banking, travel, technology and other major sectors. By combining Rezolve Ai’s purpose-built commerce AI technology with TCS’s global scale, enterprise relationships and delivery capability, the partnership is designed to accelerate adoption of AI-native commerce infrastructure across global markets.
TrafficGuard launches self-serve platform to help SMEs stop click fraud
TrafficGuard, the ad verification platform, trusted by William Hill, Zain and Now Finance, has launched a fully automated self-serve platform that gives SMEs enterprise-grade click fraud protection in under 10 minutes. Once deployed, the platform immediately starts analysing campaign traffic and protecting Google Ads budgets from bots, click fraud and invalid traffic.
TrafficGuard has seen its SME customer base surge over the last 12 months, with self-serve accounts growing to over 10,000, driven by increased demand for ad-fraud protection solutions. TrafficGuard’s solution ensures SMEs can rapidly deploy and scale their analytics and defences with almost no barrier to entry.
TrafficGuard’s self-serve platform allows SMEs to make better informed decisions with an expansive view of their advertising performance and invalid traffic (IVT) rates consolidated into a single interface. The solution provides in-depth analytics for Google Ads, with Meta (Facebook and Instagram) protection scheduled by July 2026.
This launch comes after TrafficGuard’s recent expansion of its operations in the U.S. as part of a robust growth pipeline.
