AdGrowth Weekly | Issue No. 3

The National Association of Broadcasters, led by CLO Rick Kaplan, is pressing the FCC to phase out the ATSC 1.0 broadcast standard by 2028 in major markets (and fully by 2030) to accelerate the rollout of ATSC 3.0, also known as NextGen TV. Insisting that the current simulcast model stifles innovation, Kaplan accused critics, primarily the CTA and NCTA, of "protecting their turf" under the guise of consumer protection.

Linda Yaccarino has resigned as CEO of X, exiting amid advertiser backlash and growing tensions with Elon Musk. Her departure creates uncertainty for performance marketers.

“A major shift in platform strategy is underway.” •

• Leadership gap may slow ad spend
• Brand safety concerns could rise
• ROI tracking remains limited
• Meta, TikTok, and YouTube may gain

CNN is doubling down on its FAST efforts with the relaunch of CNN Headlines, now featuring live original programming, including the brand-new morning show CNN Headline Express. As part of this strategic push, former Yahoo Finance and Cheddar anchor Brad Smith will join the channel later this summer from Atlanta, bringing expertise in business, culture, and politics to the fast-paced format and helping CNN attract new advertisers. News continues to be essential for performance advertisers, and CNN reentering the FAST arena could be a great opportunity to efficiently scale campaigns.

Fox News advanced to the second-highest position in weekday viewership for Q2 2025, surpassing both ABC and NBC with an average of 3 million daily viewers. CBS retained the top spot with 3.42 million viewers, driven by a consistent slate of high-performing programs. Fox also outperformed its cable news competitors by a wide margin, with MSNBC drawing 1.27 million viewers and CNN falling behind at 559,000. The network’s strong showing was fueled by high-profile news coverage and exclusive interviews that resonated with its core audience.