VOD Advertising Showcases Will Transform TV Advertising, according to Forrester Research -- Networks and cable operators imagine a world where the best programs are available on-demand, supported by advertising. The reality: standards and measurement fall short, and advertisers, while intrigued, aren't ready to commit. But thinking about VOD ads only as 30-second spots is a mistake. VOD will finally succeed when it includes traditional spots, long-form video advertising showcases, and links that join the two. Advertisers should invest in this advertising on-demand format as soon as Comcast and Time Warner Cable make it available � within the next 18 months. Both networks and operators will profit as new advertising dollars come flowing in from direct marketing and Internet budgets. Forrester conducted confidential interviews with 20 advertisers and agencies. They also spoke with seven networks, three cable operators, and several vendors of VOD hardware and software.
The global smartphone market closed 2025 with a story less about recovery and more about transformation. Premium product, ecosystem lock-in, and manufacturing scale are now the forces shaping competition. For business and technology leaders, the latest IDC market study data confirms that smartphones remain a critical indicator of consumer demand, supply chain health, and AI commercialization at the edge. Smartphone Market Development Global smartphone shipments grew 2.3 percent year-over-year in Q4 2025, reaching 336.3 million units and bringing full-year volumes to 1.26 billion units — a modest 1.9 percent annual increase, according to IDC. This smartphone growth emerged despite a memory shortage crisis, tariff volatility, supply chain disruption, and macroeconomic headwinds. What stabilized demand? Two factors: sustained growth in premium devices and strong foldable momentum, combined with accelerated purchases as consumers bought ahead of anticipated price increases. Buyers weren...