About 65% of viewers scroll on their phones while streaming, turning attention into the hardest metric to win.
That shift captures the week. CTV becomes more performance-driven, AI rules tighten, and retail media pulls closer to the screen as platforms race to prove value and trust at the same time.
In this week’s breakdown, we cover Pinterest’s move into performance CTV, new pressure on AI regulation, Meta’s ad accountability test, interactive CTV innovation, and how big retailers and AI tools are reshaping how people discover and buy.
Major Industry Headlines
This week’s headlines highlight rapid shifts in performance marketing, spanning CTV expansion, AI regulation, and cross-screen measurement.
Pinterest Plans to Acquire tvScientific
Pinterest plans to acquire tvScientific, a CTV ad platform built for performance marketers. The deal, expected to close in early 2026, moves Pinterest into TV ads where brands only pay when results are delivered.
The move combines Pinterest’s intent data from 600 million users with CTV buying and cross-device tracking. It points to a future where one platform connects discovery, TV ads, and measurable results end-to-end.
Trump Attempts to Override State AI Regulations
President Trump signed an executive order to block state AI laws and replace them with a single federal rule. The order grants the attorney general the authority to challenge state laws and withhold funding if states fail to comply.
The move drew bipartisan backlash as 38 states passed about 100 AI laws in 2025 alone. If upheld, marketers and platforms may face fewer local rules but higher stakes under a single national AI standard.
Marketers Adapt to a CTV-Led Multitasking Consumer
CTV now plays on the big screen while attention lives on the phone. About 65% of viewers scroll while streaming, making it easy to miss traditional TV ads.
That shift makes cross-channel tracking critical. 34.5% of marketers cite reconciling CTV with other channels as their top challenge, but smarter data and AI tools can transform multitasking into measurable performance.
Advertising, Regulation & Platform Accountability
This week’s developments put platforms under pressure as ad practices, child safety rules, and regulation test the balance between revenue and trust.
Meta Reportedly Profits From Chinese Scam Ads
Meta earned over $18 billion from ads in China in 2024, with approximately 19% tied to scams and banned content. Internal documents reveal that the company slowed crackdowns to avoid harming revenue.
The findings raise serious concerns about brand safety. Marketers should watch for tighter oversight, potential regulatory action, and changes in how platforms balance trust against ad revenue.
U.S. House Advances 18 Online Safety Bills
A House subcommittee moved forward with 18 bills aimed at protecting kids online, including a revised Kids Online Safety Act. The package focuses on clearer rules and fewer legal risks for platforms.
The updated KOSA requires “reasonable” steps to address harm and bans ads for drugs, gambling, alcohol, and tobacco to known minors. If passed, it would override state laws, raising new considerations for advertisers, platforms, and publishers.
Performance Marketing & CTV Innovation
This week’s innovations showcase how CTV seamlessly integrates interactivity, data, and performance.
Domino’s Uses CTV Trivia Game Ads to Drive Leads
Domino’s turned a CTV ad into a trivia game viewers play with their remote. After answering, they see a short promo that makes TV ads interactive and easy to measure.
The format achieved a 3.84% engagement rate and a 31% increase in brand consideration, without requiring viewers to make a purchase. The results highlight how performance CTV can spark action, collect data, and still feel fun.
Samsung Expands Integration With Amazon Publisher Cloud
Samsung Ads expanded its integration with Amazon Publisher Cloud, using clean room tech to match data safely. Advertisers can target and measure CTV campaigns without sharing personal information.
The setup matches Amazon shopper data with over 300 Samsung TV audience segments, helping brands target the right viewers on the big screen. It demonstrates how retail data and CTV are converging to make TV ads more precise and performance-driven.
Retail & E-Commerce Trends
This week’s retail headlines highlight digital growth and AI reshaping commerce, as big-box brands expand their online presence and shoppers increasingly rely on smarter tools.
Costco’s E-Commerce Growth Fuels Strong Q1 Results
Costco posted an 8.2% sales jump in fiscal Q1, reaching $65.98 billion and beating expectations. Net income also rose to $2 billion, showing steady momentum.
Record Black Friday e-commerce sales, along with new AI tools, helped power the gains. The results show big-box retailers can blend digital growth with in-store strength to scale smarter, not louder.
Retail Leaders Say 2026 Will Be a Breakout Year for AI
AI habits are forming early. About 46% of teens use chatbots several times a week, signaling how quickly AI is becoming second nature.
Retail leaders expect shoppers to utilize AI to search, compare, and make informed purchasing decisions. As discovery shifts from keywords to conversations, brands will need to show up where AI guides choices, not just where ads appear.
Keep Moving Forward
This week proved that the market rewards those who stay curious and adapt fast. CTV grows smarter, AI reshapes decisions, and performance demands clarity at every step.
The shifts may feel big, but they’re also full of opportunity. Learn from the signals, trust the data, and keep showing up ready to adjust.
Progress doesn’t come from standing still; it comes from movement.