In the US, a strategic agreement between Lee Enterprises and Amazon Advertising will deliver streamed video services to the publisher’s local business advertisers.
Lee operates in 77 markets including those previously covered by Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway group, and will offer the OTT services to its more than 35,000 advertisers.
President and chief executive Kevin Mowbray says the deal will work for Lee’s advertisers and fit in its digital transformation strategy. “Amazon Advertising has a compelling presence in the OTT space, and combined with our strong sales culture, deep connections to local advertisers, and our full-service national agency, Amplified, it represents great opportunity for both companies,” he says.
Amazon Advertising offers OTT inventory across IMDb TV, Twitch, top-tier network and broadcaster apps, and Amazon’s News app. Amazon OTT and Twitch jointly claim an unduplicated monthly audience of 120 million viewers across the US.
Vice president of local advertising Joe Battistoni says the collaboration will allow advertisers to reach an “even broader audience” and further enhances Lee’s ability to help them achieve greater results.