"After acquiring ad networks and ad servers to round out offerings, the near future of online advertising will look somewhat like pre-cable TV, with an oligarchy of powerful conglomerates controlling prices, audiences and thus advertisers," said Jupiter Research president David Schatsky.
"Much of the premium content on branded websites will remain beyond their grasp, but relationships with such sites will continue to strengthen."
Analysts predict that the consolidation resulting from the recent rash of acquisitions will allow vendors to expand their offerings.
Researchers noted that just 23 percent of advertisers currently believe that online ad networks are more efficient than deals with individual sites, a figure that analysts predict will soon change.
As ad networks continue to make acquisitions and add new services, analysts predict that the networks will become more powerful and lure in new business.
"The impetus for acquisition is obvious for the conglomerates," said Jupiter Research online advertising analyst Emily Riley.
"The potential to improve their portfolio of offerings to advertisers and publishers, as well as overpower their competition, theoretically lies in the control of ad servers and ad networks."
.jpg&h=140&w=231&c=1&s=0)
iTnews State of Security Breakfast
iTnews State of Data & AI Breakfast
The 2026 iAwards
.jpg&w=120&c=1&s=0)
Integrate 2026
Security Exhibition & Conference
_(1).jpg&h=140&w=231&c=1&s=0)
