• Microsoft Corp.’s offer to license its Xbox video games to rival companies is expected to appease European Union regulators’ concerns about the tech giant’s proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc., according to people familiar with the matter. Formal EU approval would clear a major hurdle for the deal, which was first announced in January 2022. (Reuters) 
• The Hershey Co. is drawing conservative backlash online for featuring a trans woman in its Canadian International Women’s Day campaign. The ad, which was praised by others on social media for its inclusivity, is the latest instance of a major brand spurring complaints from some consumers with a promotion centered around diversity. (CNN) 
• The Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN is reportedly considering developing a feature on its website and app that would act as a centralized hub for all live-streamed sports, connecting users directly to streaming sports events, no matter where they are being hosted. The network giant has been holding meetings with major sports leagues and media partners to gauge interest in the concept. (CNBC)

Following Tarmac Incidents, U.S. Frequent Flyers Say Airline Industry Should Be More Regulated

Morning Consult

Pinterest is testing a new premium video ad format on its app’s search tab

Sarah Perez, TechCrunch

Pinterest has begun alpha testing a new advertising product that allows brands to reach consumers from a more prominent position within the company’s mobile app. With the “Premiere Spotlight” ad, as the new format is currently being called, advertisers will gain access to a premium placement for 24 hours on the Pinterest app’s search page. This allows them to reach Pinterest users as they use one of the app’s key features — the ability to search for pins, inspiration and ideas.

Wavemaker and Publicis Media Win Adobe’s $500 Million Global Media Review

Olivia Morley, Adweek

Adobe’s media review concluded this week with its decision to split its approximately $500 million global b-to-c media business between WPP and Publicis Media. The holding companies will co-operate a new global center of excellence to service the account.

Behavioral marketing platform Wunderkind nabs $76M

Kyle Wiggers, TechCrunch

Wunderkind, a platform that enables brands to target web visitors through emails, texts and other digital advertising formats, today announced that it raised $76 million in a Series C round led by Neuberger Berman, the financial services company.

Agency clients’ KPIs evolve with a focus on retail and post-pandemic economy

Antoinette Siu, Digiday

The way agencies deliver performance metrics is shifting, as brands seek to expand in retail media and shift priorities following the pandemic.

Stagwell’s Organic Revenue Rose 14% in 2022 and CEO Mark Penn is Bullish on AI 

Brian Bonilla, Ad Age

The holding company posted its sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit revenue growth.

Comcast Not Interested In Adding Warner Bros. Discovery RSNs

Jon Lafayette, Next TV 

Leagues seeking ways to keep regional sports network revenue flowing.

Fox News Defamation Case Tests Reach of Press Protections

Erin Mulvaney, The Wall Street Journal

Legal observers say Dominion’s lawsuit could overcome traditional free-speech defense for news media.

Apple Blocks Update of ChatGPT-Powered App, as Concerns Grow Over AI’s Potential Harm

Aaron Tilley, The Wall Street Journal

iPhone maker asks email app with AI-language capabilities to set a 17-and-older age restriction.

Twitter Blue expands to more than 20 countries

Ivan Mehta, TechCrunch 

Twitter’s paid plan Twitter Blue is now available to more than 20 new countries in Europe. These countries include Netherlands, Poland, Ireland, Belgium, Sweden, Romania, Czech Republic, Finland, Denmark, Greece, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Slovakia, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Croatia, Luxembourg, Malta, and Cyprus.

TikTok Isn’t the Only China-Backed App the White House Is Worried About

Eric Martin et al., Bloomberg

The Biden administration is working with lawmakers to find ways to prevent data gathered by various Chinese social-media apps threatening national security, President Joe Biden’s commerce chief said.

Zoom Abruptly Fires President Greg Tomb ‘Without Cause’

Brody Ford, Bloomberg

Zoom Video Communications Inc. abruptly terminated the employment of President Greg Tomb, a former Google executive who had only started at the videoconferencing company in June. 

Democratic Senators Call on Meta to Stop Plan to Release Metaverse App to Teens

Salvador Rodriguez, The Wall Street Journal

“In light of your company’s record of failure to protect children and teens and a growing body of evidence pointing to threats to young users in the metaverse, we urge you to halt this plan immediately,” the letter from Sens. Ed Markey (D., Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.) wrote.

Microsoft gives Bing’s AI chatbot personality options

Jon Fingas, Engadget

Microsoft has quickly acted on its promise to give you more control over the Bing AI’s personality. Web services chief Mikhail Parakhin has revealed that 90 percent of Bing preview testers should see a toggle that changes the chatbot’s responses. A Creative option allows for more “original and imaginative” (read: fun) answers, while a Precise switch emphasizes shorter, to-the-point replies. There’s also a Balanced setting that aims to strike a middle ground.

BetterHelp sold customer data while promising it was private, says FTC

Mitchell Clark, The Verge 

It could have to pay up to $7.8 million to settle the charges that it misled consumers.

How Ulta Beauty is Avoiding the De-Influencing Trend

Adrianne Pasquarelli, Ad Age

The cosmetics retail giant says longer-term contracts are key for its work with influencers.

Target will allow you to return items from your car starting this spring

Sarah Perez, TechCrunch

Curbside pickup of groceries and other big-box retailer goods had been growing for years then boomed during the pandemic, reaching mainstream adoption. Now, Target is taking the opportunity to offer more services through its Drive Up curbside option, with this week’s announcement that it plans to allow customers to return new, unopened items from the convenience of their car.

Best Buy, Walmart, other major US retailers tout health services

Katherine Masters, Reuters 

Major U.S. retailers including Best Buy, Walmart and Amazon are increasing their offerings of healthcare and health-related products as inflation-wary Americans shift more of their budgets to services and away from goods.

Macy’s, Best Buy Sales Decline, Reflecting Shopper Pullback

Suzanne Kapner and Dean Seal, The Wall Street Journal

Retailers issue tepid guidance for 2023 as inflation weighs on consumers.

What’s Missing From Office Life? It May Be Your Work Spouse

Anne Marie Chaker, The Wall Street Journal

Work besties are trying to reunite, even if they have to make appointments across hybrid-work schedules.

CNET is doing big layoffs just weeks after AI-generated stories came to light

Mia Sato, The Verge

The cuts come from Red Ventures, the private equity-backed media company that bought CNET in 2020.

Office Mandates. Pickleball. Beer. What Will Make Hybrid Work Stick?

Emma Goldberg, The New York Times

Business leaders are in a phase of trial and error that comes with staggering stakes. They are figuring out how many days to call employees back to the office, and on top of that how strictly to enforce their own rules. 

Walmart CEO Plans to Stay in Role at Least Three More Years

The Wall Street Journal

Doug McMillon’s decision to remain in top job extends timeline on search for successor.