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• Podcasters influenced the 2024 election, so Spotify is setting up shop in D.C.
• Nearly two-thirds of sports content is consumed via streaming, but repetitive ads are frustrating fans

  As ads from Wingstop and Liberty Mutual play too often during sports events, do streaming services risk losing viewers and advertisers?

  
• YouTube’s gaming hub Playables is getting competitive

  YouTube is expanding the casual gaming hub Playables by adding some multiplayer experiences (currently in the testing phase) to the mix.

  
• Top 5 Branded Videos of the Week: Ronaldo, Ryan Trahan, robots

  While tallying up data for our latest Gospel Stats Weekly Brand Report, we realized that this is the biggest week we've seen so far. There were 2,536 sponsored videos published on YouTube during the week of Nov. 25-Dec. 1--more than in any other week we tracked previously. This surge is thanks to the upcoming winter holidays: it's the single biggest time of the year for ad spend, and with creator-led marketing continuing to grow, we're not surprised many brands are choosing to invest their ad dollars in sponsored content.

  
• U.S. TikTokers are preparing for a ban by promoting their YouTube and Instagram channels
• Have you heard? ‘Squid Game’ hits the Champs Elysees, Hawk Tuah has a crypto problem, and NPC Miles Morales gets real
• D.C. Court of Appeals upholds U.S. TikTok ban, setting up likely Supreme Court case
• Meta’s plan to compete with Roblox experiences involves the king of Hollywood blockbusters
• YouTube TV can now give you your moment of zen
• Instagram turns creator-led channels into two-way streets
• Amazon’s ‘Beast Games’ PR sweep brings Jimmy Donaldson to Roblox, chart-topping podcasts
• TikTok’s 2024 recap sums up its most demure, mindful year yet