190. 2025 Recap, 2026 Roadmap: AI, Privacy, CTV, RMNs, and Supply Quality

Find YouTube link to watch here: 

https://youtu.be/uh99t38qgxw

 

Shownotes

Welcome to the first Programmatic Digest episode of 2026 with Ellen Parker and Manuela Cortez. This is a quick check-in, plus a trader-friendly breakdown of the biggest 2025 shifts and what to watch in 2026.

We cover five trends from 2025 (AI everywhere, privacy and cookieless reality, CTV growth, RMNs going more programmatic, and supply quality/transparency). Then we close with three 2026 predictions: curation becoming “default infrastructure,” AI as a co-pilot (not autopilot), and multi-identity strategies becoming standard.

This episode also includes the 2026 community focus: subscribe to YouTube + the newsletter, confirm your subscription, and reach out if you want to contribute (writing, audio, or guest spots).

 

Here’s What You’ll Learn

• What “AI everywhere” means for traders: less manual tuning, more strategy and interpretation

• Why privacy-first is still a day-to-day skill, even if cookies hang around longer than expected

• Why CTV is no longer “experimental” and how measurement expectations are changing

• Why more RMNs going programmatic changes how you think about signals and audiences

• What “supply quality + transparency” should actually include (fees, paths, reporting depth)

• 2026 prediction: curation becomes the baseline (SSP curation vs curation houses vs curation desks)

• 2026 prediction: AI moves from rules-based automation to agent-style workflows (co-pilot mindset)

• Why you still need foundations first (know how to do it manually before you let AI help)

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Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro: Welcome to the first Programmatic Digest of 2026.

• 01:15 – Channel Updates: YouTube growth and the importance of the weekly newsletter.

• 03:30 – Hands-on Support: Tips, hacks, and activation-focused support in the newsletter.

• 05:45 – Calling for Contributors: Opportunities to host, write, and build industry authority.

• 08:20 – The Programmatic Training Library: Combining six years of workshops and courses.

• 11:00 – Micro-Workshops: Real-world DSP setup support and "programmatic ninja" coaching.

• 13:15 – 2025 Trend #1: AI Everywhere—Automated bidding, optimization, and predictive modeling.

• 16:00 – AI for Productivity: Using tools like ChatGPT to simplify industry jargon and workflows.

• 19:45 – 2025 Trend #2: Privacy-First & Cookieless—The multiple identity approach.

• 22:10 – 2025 Trend #3: CTV and Audio—Moving from experimental to action-driven channels.

• 25:30 – 2025 Trend #4: Retail Media Networks (RMN)—New players like Loves Media and Go Puff.

• 28:45 – The Value of Diversification: How audience insights drive revenue for traders.

• 31:15 – 2025 Trend #5: Supply Quality & Transparency—Demanding log-level data and fee clarity.

• 34:00 – 2026 Prediction #1: Curation as Default—SSP curation, Curation Houses, and Desks.

• 38:15 – 2026 Prediction #2: AI as Co-Pilot—Moving from "automated" to "agentic" intelligence.

• 41:30 – Media Math Agent Connector: Managing campaigns via AI prompts without UI clicks.

• 45:00 – The "Rice Cooker" Analogy: Why you must understand manual foundations before using AI.

• 48:15 – Advanced Reporting: Tying campaign data to real-world consumer behavior and brand impact.

• 51:45 – 2026 Prediction #3: Dual Identity Strategies—Using the Media Math X Graph.

• 54:30 – Under the Hood: Investigating "proprietary" tech and demanding the "Carfax" for AdTech.

• 57:00 – Final Takeaways: "Grace over Guilt" and putting your 2026 plans into action.

• 1:00:15 – Closing Encouragement: Mental and spiritual health for the year ahead

 

Meet The Team:

Hélène Parker - Chief Programmatic Coach

https://www.heleneparker.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/helene-parker

 

Manuela Cortes - Co-Host 

Programmatic Digest In Espanol: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuela-cortes-

 

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YouTube Keywords

programmatic advertising, The Trade Desk, TTD update, OpenPath, SSP, reseller definition, IAB, transaction ID, TxnID, header bidding, prebid, SPO, DPO, supply path optimization, demand path optimization, PMP, curation, publisher ad stack, viewability, ad density, ad quality, InfoLinks, Magnite, AppNexus, Gamera, Programmatic Digest Podcast, Hélène Parker