April AdTech Roundup: Key Highlights, Office Hours & Trends!

Author

Ashok Ganapam
April 23, 2025

- DATABEAT INSIGHT SERIES…

Hey DataBeat Community,

April's here, and we're tackling the AdTech challenges head-on. Discover how to navigate shifting CPM trends, capitalize on top-growing SSPs, and avoid the pitfalls threatening billions in social and TV ad spend.

Plus, what if 30 minutes with our R&D experts could help sharpen your AdTech strategy? No sales pitch, no fluff- just actionable insights. Our free Office Hours offer a trusted space to discuss challenges and build stronger connections in the ecosystem.

Thank you for being a valued part of our community!

Ads.txt Growth Continues: Our April 2025 Sellers Report reveals a net increase of over 6.6K ads.txt lines in March, the highest in Q1. Tier-3 SSPs led the charge with a 4.9K+ line increase, signaling positive growth in the mid-tier publisher landscape. Insticator, SmartAdServer, Connatix, Sharethrough & Taboola showed great performance in March, leading the way with new connections within the top SSPs.

March data reveals a 17% year-over-year decline in CPMs from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025, largely driven by reduced advertiser budgets and the absence of political campaign spend that boosted Q1 2024 CPMs. Seasonal effects also contributed, with a 23% drop from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025, reflecting typical shifts alongside broader economic concerns such as rising tariffs and recession fears.

Notably, Ad Exchange CPMs saw a slight 2% increase quarter-over-quarter, while Amazon and Index Exchange experienced significant declines of 29% and 18%, respectively. Fill rates also softened, falling from 42% to 38%, indicating more selective buying and stricter ad quality standards.

To navigate these challenges, Publishers should focus on high-value ad formats, leverage first-party data, optimize floor prices, and strengthen direct deals to stabilize and grow revenue.

CPM Trends:

  • MoM Growth: Display CPMs ↑7.4%, Video CPMs ↑61.1%, overall CPM increase of 12.1%.

  • YoY Change: Display CPMs ↓35.9%, Video CPMs ↑12.3%, overall CPM decrease of 29.6%.

As macro pressures mount, advertisers are reacting fast with nearly 70% adjusting digital ad plans and platforms like Meta facing major exposure to Chinese market pullbacks. Get the full breakdown on how spend is shifting in real time. Read more.

With a potential ban on direct-to-consumer pharma ads looming, the ad industry could see a seismic shift. See how smart advertisers can get ahead by locking in lower TV rates, scaling CTV strategies, and seizing new opportunities as pharma spend begins to move.

Each month, we spotlight a standout tool from the AdTech ecosystem. This month, the star is Blockthrough—the industry leader in ad-filtering monetization for publishers and retailers.

Effortless and privacy-first, Blockthrough recovers adblock revenue by serving light, user-friendly ads that respect experience and comply with Acceptable Ads standards.

Stay Informed with DataBeat

Explore our Knowledge Repository for cutting-edge industry updates and insights. We’re here to help you stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions.

April is a time for strategy, so seize the opportunity to leverage insights from shifting CPM trends, proposed tariff impacts, and potential pharma ad bans, to make Q2 your most profitable quarter yet.

Need a Break? We value your time and inbox space. If you ever feel the need to pause, you can easily unsubscribe with just one click.

Warm Regards,
The DataBeat Team