Gracenote Redefines CTV Advertising With Content-First, Privacy-Safe Targeting

* Its content-based metadata bridges media buyers, ad-tech platforms and publishers, offering a transparent alternative to identity-based tracking

Gracenote, Nielsen's content intelligence business, is reshaping the connected TV (CTV) advertising landscape by using content-based metadata to close long-standing gaps between media buyers, ad-tech platforms and publishers. The approach addresses two persistent industry challenges: the erosion of privacy-safe tracking methods and the lack of program-level visibility in programmatic CTV buying, offering a transparent, scalable alternative to traditional identity-based targeting.

Fragmentation across streaming services and platforms can make it difficult for advertisers to access consistent program-level information through the CTV advertising supply chain. Gracenote addresses this through its foundational Gracenote IDs and standardized content metadata, giving buyers and sellers a common framework for identifying and transacting against video content.

As the CTV ecosystem evolves, content can also provide an important signal for advertising. Rather than relying solely on information about the individual viewer, Gracenote enables advertisers to use content attributes to inform targeting decisions. Its source-validated metadata helps advertisers identify programming based on characteristics such as genre, mood, ratings and other contextual signals, supporting a more content-led approach to CTV advertising.

Historically operating behind the scenes to power TV guides and streaming engines, Gracenote is now stepping forward as a direct platform partner for media planners through Gracenote Content Connect. The platform lets agencies and brands build custom contextual segments and activate them directly within buying platforms, a strategic evolution most recently reflected in the company's first DSP integration with The Trade Desk, announced in August 2026.

To address advertiser hesitation around programmatic CTV including fears of ads running against unsuitable content or blind inventory buys Gracenote provides show-level delivery logs, giving brands confidence that campaigns are airing in verified, brand-safe environments.

Value Proposition

Brands & Agencies: Shift linear budgets to CTV with confidence, backed by verified, brand-safe delivery.

Ad-Tech Partners (DSPs & SSPs): Plug into a standardized content graph to enrich bidstreams, improve inventory value, and power programmatic deals.

Publishers & Streamers: Unlock higher CPMs by converting unstructured video feeds into enriched, high-demand ad slots.

About Gracenote

Gracenote is the content intelligence business unit of Nielsen. We standardize the way the global media and entertainment ecosystem indexes content and associated metadata, allowing it to flow between creators, distributors, platforms and advertisers. By providing unmatched depth across 55M+ titles and 80K+ channels and catalogs, we power the modern search, discovery and navigation experiences that connect people to the TV, movies, music and sports they love — in 70+ languages across 80+ countries. For more information, visit gracenote.com or follow us on LinkedIn.