Digiday Daily

June 09, 2026

Reuters and Time adopted a “block-all” AI bot strategy, part of a broader publisher move toward whitelist-only access. Time now allows about 70 bots to access onsite content, according to its COO Mark Howard. Those bots range from crawlers run by big AI labs and social platforms, to the automated systems Time uses to keep its own website running.

TOP STORY

The Business of AI

Reuters and Time adopt bot-blocking whitelists to rein in AI crawlers

Reuters and Time adopt a ‘block-all’ AI bot strategy, part of a broader publisher move toward whitelist-only access.

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

According to a recent Digiday and Piano survey, the majority of publishers (84%) are currently using or actively piloting AI tools for ad sales or ad operations, including proposal generation and campaign management. Partner insights from Piano.
AI agents are beginning to influence how media is planned, bought and optimized — and publishers risk being left behind if their data and infrastructure aren’t prepared. Partner insights from Optable.
Shifting sports rights to streamers has made regional and local sports that much more valuable because fragmentation makes it much harder for national buys alone to reach local fans effectively. Partner insights from DIRECTV Advertising.

MARKETING

Brands in Culture

‘Storytelling hierarchy is starting to flatten’: Tribeca Enterprise CEO on why brands are making the festival a must-stop

The south of France isn’t the only place in June CMOs flock to for creative currency.

The Programmatic Marketer

How automation and AI is reshaping the traditional upfront marketplace

As programmatic automation and AI agents reshape the traditional upfront marketplace, media buyers are navigating a new balance.

PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM NEXXEN

How platforms can win the next era of TV advertising

TV has never been richer in signals, but not all signals are created equal.

Evolving Agencies

Mile Marker acquires Lift to enhance its creative and digital performance chops

The PE-owned independent continues to acquire shops that round its offerings, the latest adding creative and performance assets as the two explore how to apply AI.

PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM CELTRA

Why AI-generated creative makes measurement essential

Connecting creative decisions to business outcomes has been the hardest part of advertising to operationalize. The volume pressure that generative AI has introduced is the strongest argument the industry has for doing it properly.

The Sports Marketing Playbook

Brands are catching World Cup fever even without official sponsorships

Some smaller U.S. startups, like Crumbl Cookies and Olipop, are getting into the spirit of the World Cup with watch parties and soccer-themed products.

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