ExchangeWire: Marketing Spend Has Fallen, But There’s Room for Optimism: Q1 2020 IPA Bellwether Report

Exchangewire asked industry leaders from the advertising community, including IAA’s VP Marketing Fran Cowan, Group M Digital UK’s MD Paul Rowlinson and Bidstack CEO, James Draper, on their opinions and thoughts on the latest IPA Bellweather Report released in April 2020.

Gaming offers a bright spot in bleak times

The report provides an unsurprising outlook for the media industry, as marketing budgets shrink and brands shy away from the limelight. However, we can be optimistic for the economic recovery predicted for 2021 and, in the interim, look to the sectors experiencing an influx of new audiences as people stay indoors. Gaming is an example of a sector thriving among the chaos. This has been recognised by the UK government – who is collaborating with developers, such as Bidstack’s partners Codemasters to reinforce its ‘Stay Home Save Lives’ messaging during the COVID-19 pandemic in some of the most popular video games (for example DiRT Rally 2.0). Gaming provides a bright spot in these bleak times for brands looking to connect with this evolving audience, in an environment rich with real-world advertising opportunities.