When Apple unveils its new iPhone and iOS 9 operating system this week, it could also drop a bomb on publishers, introducing ad-blocking technology that threatens to impact the revenue they make from smartphones. Ad blockers have been available on desktop browsers for years, but analysts say Apple's backing has the potential to make ad blocking more mainstream, making it available to a wider group of consumers. With Apple's new tools, developers can build ad-blocking apps that consumers can download to wipe out ads on mobile sites. Run-of-the-mill ads like banners and display placements are easy targets for ad blockers. But a small test by Adweek of a handful of apps shows that they remove native and branded content, too—putting the business model of publishers that have been at the forefront of native advertising—including BuzzFeed, Business Insider, Forbes and The Atlantic—at risk. (Apple declined to comment for this story.) "This is the absolute beginning of what I think is going to be a long and passionate debate. Reputable publishers are going to say, 'Hey, this is interesting content, people want to read it, so you shouldn't block it the same way as an ad,'" said Rebecca Lieb, an analyst who covers digital marketing and media. Typically, publishers' branded-content teams work with marketers to create articles and videos that look like editorial content, but they are published differently through ad networks that provide advertisers with additional data about... Continue reading at 'AdWeek'
[ AdWeek | 2015-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]