I’m in adtech, and it always frustrates me that the product managers make all of their projects around how can we squeeze out more demand out of existing listeners/viewers. One would think it would be a better experience for all to see fewer, but higher quality/higher CPM ads.

Viewers see less ads, but probably wouldn’t resort to ad blockers if they only saw one ad on a website instead of 10. Advertisers would get better click through rates because you aren’t competing with as many ads. The downside is advertisers have a higher CPM, and maybe the data shows high CPM campaigns don’t work.

Regardless, after working in it for awhile I see how we got where we are. I don’t foresee a world with no ads since the vast majority of people don’t want to subscribe to every website they visit, but maybe there will be a better model in the future.