Finding the best picture quality for the money is the main object of CNET's TV reviews, and over the years Vizio has been one of my go-to value picks. I haven't reviewed the company's new MQX series yet, but what I've seen so far ups last year's ante by adding some sought-after upgrades while maintaining an affordable price.

I got the chance to see the MQX in person on Vizio's demo bus. Yes, it's a bus-full of TVs and soundbars that drives around the US showing off Vizio's latest gear. In my brief viewing session it looked good, but I'll have to wait until I get it into CNET's test lab to evaluate the upgrades for realzies. Those upgrades include improved brightness -- up to 1,000 nits peak according to Vizio -- as well as a 120Hz refresh rate, which allows the TVs to take advantage of the best 4K/120Hz video output quality from PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

Vizio is among the first TV manufacturers to support Wi-Fi 6 streaming, available in all M-Series and V-Series TVs, which it says can help relieve congestion in homes with multiple connected devices.

Rain the Growth Agency, the leading independent, performance-minded, fully integrated DTC advertising agency, has announced a strategic partnership with iSpot.tv, the real-time TV measurement company.

The agreement allows Rain the Growth Agency's roster of advertisers efficient and standardized access to iSpot's full funnel approach to measurement. From media measurement and competitive tracking to conversion analytics and TV/OTT cross-platform verification—the agency is equipped to prescribe the capabilities of the iSpot platform based on a brand's unique KPIs, and integrate third-party verification into customized dashboard

GroupM, the media investment arm of WPP, has teamed up with media companies from all over the world to collaborate on developing new standards for measuring CTV and the viewability of streaming video. The initiative is the product of a joint study conducted with the TV ad measurement company iSpot. The study quantifies inflated CTV ad delivery counts and reveals that 8-10 per cent of streaming impressions play when the TV is turned off, primarily through ancillary devices.
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According to Sean Muller, the Chief Executive Officer of iSpot.tv, “This approach to verifying CTV allows us to quantify a complex problem comprehensively.” “What is more important is that it provides insights and a pathway for solving an important issue that the industry is facing,”

Every weekday we bring you the Ad Age/iSpot Hot Spots, new commercials tracked by iSpot.tv, the always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company. (Scroll down to watch them all.)

A few highlights: Hyundai says, “When it comes to finding your happy place, we’re thinking of every mile.” H&M serves up scenes of colorful volcanic eruptions in a science class as part of a back-to-school spot. And a young fan gets to see English professional footballer Millie Bright up close in a Booking.com spot with the tagline “It starts with a booking.”

Automakers spent 23% less on advertising in June, according to iSpot. Ford suggested it may cut its entire electric vehicle ad spending budget. Microsoft also halted TV ad spending last month, citing inflation and interest rates.

Sea ice loss appears to be harming certain bears more than others, and the impacts of climate change differ depending on where they occur. Polar Bears International (PBI) indicates that changes in polar bear physical condition, survival, and abundance have been connected to sea ice conditions.

For example, the number of polar bears in western Hudson Bay peaked at 1,200 in the 1980s but has since declined to 842. PBI reports that bear populations in Southern Hudson Bay have decreased by 17% since 2012 and that a longer ice-free season is also associated with better body conditions.

Amazon now offers the VIZIO 5.1.4-channel Elevate Surround Sound System for $698 shipped. Normally going for $979, this 29% discount marks a new 2022 low price and is the lowest we’ve tracked since Prime Day 2021. This sound system uses a total of 18 high-performance speakers to deliver an “unrivaled home theater performance” with the adaptive height channel speakers automatically rotating to optimize the audio experience for your room. You’ll have access to Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround sound support to feel immersed in whatever you’re watching. You can even control Alexa, Assistant, and Siri through the soundbar with its dedicated 3.5mm AUX port or persistent Bluetooth connection. A built-in Chromecast means you can stream music, podcasts, and more from your phone. Head below for more.

In March, it said it will activate iSpot.tv’s cross-platform audiences as currency for national ad buys to compete with Nielsen.

National TV ad spending is 20% lower at $593.5 million versus $745.9 million for the same pre-pandemic period in 2019 -- according to iSpot.tv estimates.
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This year, so far, movie studios have pulled in 43.7 billion national TV impressions (from 139,279 airings of national TV commercials for movies). In 2019, the total was 83.5 billion impressions for that same six-month period (from 259,680 airings).

This year, Universal Pictures has spent the most of any studio, according to iSpot.tv estimates -- $167.5 million.

We have two cameras streaming from both above and below the deck of Polar Bears International’s Beluga Boat, so you can watch the white whales from overhead (don’t forget to look for polar bears on the coast!) and underwater, often with grey babies in tow.

The Beluga Cam and our efforts on the Churchill River also support beluga research. Like most Arctic species, beluga whales are difficult and expensive to study due to their remote habitat. The Beluga Cam feeds into the Beluga Bits citizen science project, a collaboration between the Assiniboine Park Conservancy, explore.org, and Polar Bears International, which asks people to capture and classify screenshots from the Beluga Cam.

In celebration of Arctic Sea Ice Day on July 15, both Mini USA and Polar Bears International will highlight creative that features a polar bear riding in the passenger seat of a 2023 MINI Electric Cooper SE. Mini USA AOR Pereira O’Dell led the development of the creative.

The livestream, produced in a partnership between Arctic conservation nonprofit Polar Bears International and explore.org, is in celebration of Arctic Sea Ice Day on July 15. The goal is to raise public interest in sea ice and increase awareness of its importance to the Arctic ecosystem.

"It is to the ocean what soil is to the forest," Alysa McCall, the director of conservation outreach and staff scientist at Polar Bears International, told Live Science.

For one thing, social video is not limited to just 30 seconds, so they can go into more depth. Byn nature, social video is also interactive, so consumers can see what other people, not just the influencers, have thought about the product.

Which is why it is well worth noting that thanks to an update of Tubular Labs’ Consumer Insights product, brands can not only track consumer behavior on Amazon and Walmart after seeing a particular video, they can understand consumers’ post-viewing search and web browsing behaviors too.

Vizio M-Series 5.1.2 $499 $469 at Amazon (save $30)This special knocks a big chunk off the price of Vizio's budget M-Series 5.1.2 soundbar system with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Bluetooth and a wireless subwoofer

Every weekday we bring you the Ad Age/iSpot Hot Spots, new commercials tracked by iSpot.tv, the always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company. (Scroll down to watch them all.)

A few highlights: Kohl’s promotes its Buy-1-Get-1-for-$1 deals, plus its Summer Cyber Deals. Marshawn Lynch helps Subway hype its new sandwich called The Monster. And Verizon wants you to know that it offers Verizon Unlimited mobile service at just $30 per line for your whole family.

Brie Larson remains a fixture on TV, as Nissan’s commercial starring the actress, “Today Is Made for the Thrill: Why Wait for Tomorrow?” stays atop iSpot.tv’s list of the most-seen auto ads.

THE DTC BRANDS THAT LOVE TV ADVERTISING
The five most-seen direct-to-consumer (DTC) U.S. TV advertisers from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2022, ranked by share of TV ad impressions, according to iSpot.tv data shared with Datacenter Weekly:
1. Wayfair (5.26%)
2. Peloton (4.44%)
3. Chewy (4.19%)
4. Carvana (3.74%)
5. Zillow (3.10%)

Support the Arctic Documenatry Project (ADP) that Daniel J. Cox adminisiters under the nonprofit umbrella of Polar Bears International. All of Daniel’s time and efforts are donated to PBI, for the ADP, free of charge. The funds donated to the Arctic Documentary Project are used to document the changes taking place in the Arctic with both stills and video. These materials help PBI tell the story of the changes taking place in the Arctic. The images in this blog post were all produced by the ADP.

VIZIO D-Series 32" Class HD LED smart TVAnd one that's just the right size for a small space.

To celebrate Earth Day, Disney+ released Polar Bear, the latest documentary from Disneynature, the studio behind Earth, Oceans, and Penguins. Like previous Disneynature documentaries, there is a light plot that drives the film, as we follow a mother polar bear preparing her cubs to venture out on their own in the world. But the main appeal here is getting to watch polar bears hang out for a couple of hours, while getting some quality narration from two-time Academy Award nominee Catherine Keener. It's like getting to take an Arctic vacation without having to leave your couch. If you are a fan of gorgeous nature documentaries, Polar Bear is just what you're looking for.