2026 LOCAL AD FORECAST INCREASED
BIA Advisory Services has increased its projection for 2026 local ad spending to $184.5 billion, up from its previous estimate of $181.7 billion. Record-breaking midterm political spending is one of the big drivers of this increase, contributing $8.4 billion to the tally, but longer-term categories are also up. Verticals such as real estate, restaurants, and financial services will see a boost as more affluent households continue their strong discretionary spending. (BIA: April 9, 2026)
A RECORD MOTHER’S DAY SPENDING PROJECTED
We don’t call; we don’t visit; the least we can do is spend $38 billion dollars on Mom this year. That estimate, from the National Retail Federation, exceeds last year’s $34.1 billion and 2023’s then-record-setting $35.7 billion. Flowers and greeting cards will be the most-purchased gift, while jewelry and electronics will account for the largest areas of spending. Other popular gifts include special outings, gift cards, and clothing & accessories. Per-person spending could reach $284 but don’t make a fuss, I’ll just sit here and listen to the phone not ringing, Mr. Big Shot. (NRF: April 21, 2026)
NBA REVENUE AND VIEWERSHIP UP
Across broadcast (ABC, NBC) and cable (ESPN, NBA TV), the just-concluded NBA regular season “netted” $483.3 million in ad revenue. Amazon’s first year of carrying games on its Prime Video platform brought in another $280 million, bringing the total to $760 million across all platforms. This is up from last season’s $733 million. Viewership was also up by 16%, averaging 1.8 million viewers per game. The most-watched matchups were the three Christmas Day games that aired on ABC/ESPN. (MediaPost: April 22, 2026)
FOR BLACK CONSUMERS, REPRESENTATION WORKS
A recent study from Nielsen, The Black Influence: How Black Culture and Identity Drive the Market, shows how effective representation can be. And with a projected $2.1 trillion in buying power, this is important guidance. Black consumer behavior is positively impacted not only by representation within the creative, but also in the media selection as well. For instance, Black audiences are four times more likely than the general average to be very interested in the WNBA. The study also emphasizes multidimensional identities and indicates that strategies should target micro-communities with distinct passions: Subcultures like gamers, travel enthusiasts, foodies, and lifestyle archetypes like “Rich Aunties.” (Nielsen Black Diverse Intelligence Series, 2026)
TODAY IN VIDEO HISTORY
April 23, 2005 – YouTube’s First Video
It feels like YouTube has been around for way longer and way shorter than 21 years, but that’s how long it’s been since the platform’s co-founder Jawed Karim uploaded its very first video. “Me at the Zoo” delivers on the title’s promise as Karim stands in front of an elephant enclosure, says he’s at the zoo, that the elephants have long trunks, and closes with “That’s pretty much all there is to say.” It definitely wasn’t all there is to say. More than 20 million videos are uploaded to YouTube daily, hundreds of millions per month, and billions every year. Clear your calendar for 19 seconds and watch “Me at the Zoo” in all its glory here.
