From Show to Scene: Why Contextual Targeting Matters More Than Ever with Emily Kennedy, Dentsu

In Episode 2 of From Show to Scene sponsored by Wurl, Emily Kennedy, EVP and Head of Marketplace at Dentsu, joins Jeremy Bloom and AdTechGod to discuss how contextual targeting is evolving from a planning tool into a true optimization signal. Emily shares how brands can create stronger consumer connections through scene level targeting, why quality signals matter more than signal volume, and how the industry can overcome fragmentation challenges across streaming and video. The conversation also explores measurement, scalability, audience orchestration, and the future of contextual advertising in premium video. Takeaways - Contextual targeting is evolving into a powerful optimization signal - Message relevance drives stronger engagement and performance - Quality signals matter more than signal volume - Scene-level targeting creates more meaningful brand moments - Fragmentation continues to limit innovation and scale - Brands are shifting focus from reach to business outcomes - Strong consumer connections remain the ultimate goal Chapters 00:00 Introduction to From Show to Scene 00:11 Emily Kennedy joins the conversation 00:27 How Dentsu approaches contextual targeting 01:41 Channel, show, and scene level targeting explained 03:05 Measuring contextual performance effectively 04:04 What signals matter most to brands and agencies 05:08 The challenge of fragmentation in streaming 06:35 What contextual targeting can scale today 07:48 Why one to one consumer connections matter 08:02 Helping clients understand advanced targeting 09:05 The future of contextual targeting and measurement 10:38 Closing thoughts and key takeaways