Google and Apple Losing Mobile Advertising Market to Publishers

iad_gallery_iconResearch firm IDC today announced the release of a new report covering the mobile advertising market, noting that ad networks such as those from Google and Apple are losing traction to publishers able to use their size to drive their own advertising sales.

Where in past years, ad networks such as Google, Millennial Media, and Apple received most of the spending on mobile display ads, now publishers control the segment, thanks to very strong sales growth in the past year. Facebook, Pandora, Twitter, and The Weather Channel all registered strong sales in 2012 and all (with the exception of Pandora) popped onto the scene from zero sales in 2011. As a result, publishers controlled 52% of U.S. mobile display ad spending in 2012, compared to the 39% they received in 2011.

IDC notes that, despite slowing growth, the mobile advertising market continues to boom in the United States, growing 88% in 2012 to reach $4.5 billion to provide a massive opportunity for ad networks and publishers alike. The report notes that mobile advertising now accounts for 11% of all digital advertising, illustrating the strong momentum of mobile.

Apple has long faced an uphill battle to gain momentum with its iAd service, repeatedly slashing buy-in fees in order to lure and keep customers unwilling to commit to expensive advertising campaigns limited to Apple devices. The popularity of Apple's devices did allow Apple to rise to the number two spot behind Google in mobile display advertising, but IDC notes that Apple ($125 million gross revenue) lost that spot to Millennial Media ($151 million gross revenue) last year.

Apple's iAd program grew out of its 2010 acquisition of ad firm Quattro Wireless. Quattro founder and CEO Andy Miller left Apple in mid-2011, and since that time iAd has been overseen by senior vice president Eddy Cue as part of Apple's umbrella of Internet Software and Services.

Popular Stories

ios 26 1 slide to stop

iOS 26.1 Brings Back 2007 Feature in New Way

Friday October 31, 2025 1:40 pm PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a small but helpful change for iPhones, and it could prevent you from running late to something important. Specifically, when an alarm goes off in the Clock app, there is a new "slide to stop" control on the screen for turning off the alarm. On previous iOS 26 versions, there is simply a large "stop" button, which could be accidentally tapped. The new ...
M5 MacBook Pro

Waiting for New Macs? Apple Just Shared Bad News

Friday October 31, 2025 7:32 am PDT by
Apple has just given a strong indication that it will not be releasing any additional new Macs for the remainder of the year. Apple's CFO Kevan Parekh dropped the hint during the company's earnings call on Thursday:On Mac, keep in mind, we expect to face a very difficult compare against the M4 MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac launches in the year-ago quarter.Parekh essentially gave a heads up ...
Apple Foldable Thumb

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Friday October 31, 2025 8:52 am PDT by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that have been leaked about Apple's foldable iPhone so far. Ove...
Apple Logo Spotlight

Report: Apple to Launch These New Products in 2026

Sunday November 2, 2025 5:34 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch at least 15 new products in 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman outlined what to expect from Apple in 2026 in the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter. He said the company is heading "into one of its most pivotal years in recent memory," with the rollout of major new Apple Intelligence features, intense regulatory pressure on the App Store,...
Coffee Burgundy and Purple iPhone 18 Pro Mock 1

Leaker Outlines Potential New Colors for iPhone 18 Pro

Friday October 31, 2025 8:28 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models could be available in new rich and warm color option, according to a known leaker. The Weibo user known as "Instant Digital" today suggested that next-year's iPhone 18 Pro models will be available in at least one of the following color options: Coffee, purple, and burgundy. The iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Pro were all available in ...
Apple Intelligence General Feature 2

New Version of Siri to 'Lean' on Google Gemini

Sunday November 2, 2025 6:06 am PST by
In his "Power On" newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today provided an update on the status of Apple Intelligence and the plans for it in 2026. Apple is still planning to roll out its revamped version of Siri around March of next year. The release should be accompanied by the release of a new smart home display product with speaker-base and wall-mount options. A new Apple TV and HomePod...
HomePod mini and Apple TV

New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Likely Launching Soon

Sunday November 2, 2025 5:49 am PST by
A new Apple TV and HomePod mini could launch as soon as this month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today suggested. In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple retail stores are planning an overnight refresh on the evening of November 11, where changes will be made after closing, such as refreshing displays and placing new products for the following day. The timing of the overnight...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

8 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Thursday October 30, 2025 4:42 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
iOS 26

6 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.1

Wednesday October 29, 2025 4:22 am PDT by
Apple is about to drop iOS 26.1, the first major point release since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least six notable changes and improvements to look forward to. We've rounded them up below. Apple has already provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of iOS 26.1, which means Apple will likely roll out the update to all compatible...

Top Rated Comments

No Pain No Gain Avatar
164 months ago
Looks like Macrumors needs more advertising revenue so that it can post complete articles. :D

In-Thread purchase
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nepalisherpa Avatar
164 months ago
[url=https://cdn.macrumors.com/im/macrumorsthreadlogodarkd.png]Image (https://www.macrumors.com/2013/04/09/google-and-apple-losing-mobile-advertising-market-to-publishers/)[/url]


Image (https://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2013/04/iad_gallery_icon.jpg)Research firm IDC today announced (http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS24063113) the release of a new report covering the mobile advertising market, noting that ad networks such as those from Google and Apple are losing traction to publishers able to use their size to drive their own advertising sales.IDC notes that, despite slowing growth, the mobile advertising market continues to boom in the United States, growing 88% in 2012 to reach $4.5 billion to provide a massive opportunity for ad networks and publishers alike. The report notes that mobile advertising now accounts for 11% of all digital advertising, illustrating the strong momentum of mobile.

Apple has long faced an uphill battle to gain momentum with its iAd service, repeatedly slashing buy-in fees (https://www.macrumors.com/2012/02/14/apple-slashes-iad-buy-in-fee-yet-again/) in order to lure and keep customers unwilling to commit to expensive advertising campaigns limited to Apple devices. The popularity of Apple's devices did allow Apple to rise to the number two spot behind Google in mobile display advertising, but IDC notes that Apple ($125 million gross revenue) lost that spot to Millennial Media ($151 million gross revenue) last year.

Apple's iAd program grew out of its

Article Link: Google and Apple Losing Mobile Advertising Market to Publishers (https://www.macrumors.com/2013/04/09/google-and-apple-losing-mobile-advertising-market-to-publishers/)

Looks like Macrumors needs more advertising revenue so that it can post complete articles. :D
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jav6454 Avatar
164 months ago
At this rate, iAd will soon be like Ping.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rmwebs Avatar
164 months ago
Advertising: the death of all media.

I find it grotesque that entities like Facebook are referred to as publishers.

Facebook is a universe of its own. It provides advertising that Adblock cannot block: "sponsored" postings.

The real question is: how long until the next service comes along that people move to because it's not slow, bloated, broken, and filled with advertising? Then, once that new one gets a mass following, it too turns on the obscene marketing. Cycle repeats.

Look at theatres, radio and tv. Each were a haven for media types, only to eventually require new subscription services that claimed no advertising. Only to have the subscription system also polluted with advertising that we pay to see, with further exclusive variations to subscribe to that offer ad free experiences, which also succumb to "special sponsored" content that is just a euphemism for advertising.

And st the end of it all, we are bathing in unwanted overstimulation from every commercial entity, 24/7, in every space possible. It's no wonder "mental healthcare" has made massive profits on psych drugs. Noise, light, densely packed spaces filled with people and stimuli... Every second of every day is a product to be sold and marketed.

Here's the issue.

Without those annoying adverts, the internet would only consist of e-commerce and TV wouldnt exist.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sessamoid Avatar
164 months ago
At this rate, iAd will soon be like Ping.
iAd is actually generated over $100 million in revenue last year, and I would assume they're not losing money on that. It's almost certainly still a growing business for Apple, so I don't think it's in any danger of being killed.

Ping was obviously a dog from its introduction. Whomever was in charge of that needs/needed to be fired.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dysamoria Avatar
164 months ago
Advertising: the death of all media.

I find it grotesque that entities like Facebook are referred to as publishers.

Facebook is a universe of its own. It provides advertising that Adblock cannot block: "sponsored" postings.

The real question is: how long until the next service comes along that people move to because it's not slow, bloated, broken, and filled with advertising? Then, once that new one gets a mass following, it too turns on the obscene marketing. Cycle repeats.

Look at theatres, radio and tv. Each were a haven for media types, only to eventually require new subscription services that claimed no advertising. Only to have the subscription system also polluted with advertising that we pay to see, with further exclusive variations to subscribe to that offer ad free experiences, which also succumb to "special sponsored" content that is just a euphemism for advertising.

And st the end of it all, we are bathing in unwanted overstimulation from every commercial entity, 24/7, in every space possible. It's no wonder "mental healthcare" has made massive profits on psych drugs. Noise, light, densely packed spaces filled with people and stimuli... Every second of every day is a product to be sold and marketed.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)