How a new data-driven TV ad product from Blockgraph aims to harmonize varied data feeds

Blockgraph’s GraphPort intends to harmonize data from varied sources into one useable stream.

That ecosystem falls within the parameters of its corporate ownership — Comcast/NBC Universal, Charter Communications and Paramount (formerly Viacom). Comcast and Charter represent some 48 million TV subscribers, while Paramount owns broadcast, cable and streaming networks. The tool will be able to access the data from all of the above, with the long-term goal of adding more publishers’ data down the line.

“The industry needs an ability to bring together different identifiers and still get the benefit of being able to protect data, have the same speed, have the same privacy protections, but to take more of an interoperable approach,” said Jason Manningham, Blockgraph’s CEO, particularly among brands and publishers that don’t have their own first-party data streams. “This is really about bridging the gap between companies who obviously see the need for first-party data, but are not quite there yet in terms of their evolution. And this helps bridge the gap between third-party graphs and giving them the software to work with other first-party data owners.”

So, does the industry need another walled garden of sorts when it comes to data-driven TV ad solutions? Two consultants with whom Digiday spoke on background said in this case, it is worth it because of the pedigree of Blockgraph’s ownership. The scale of reach its three owners have makes it worthwhile, while alleviating new privacy concerns.

“It’s democratizing access to top notch identity matching,” said one consultant. “With companies that are relying on licensed identity solutions, it gives them access to this identity matching in a more democratized way.”

The second consultant added, though, that GraphPort isn’t exactly unique in its offering. “This is similar to other solutions that we see in the marketplace,” said the consultant. “For example, companies like Experian are doing similar things in the TV space.”

And despite the size of its walled garden, the fact that the solution only works in its own ecosystem is still seen as a limit. “Insulated solutions like this [don’t] really help advertisers as much as solutions that range outside of specific channels.”

Manningham noted that while others offer their own graphs, “they need software that helps them take their identity and their segments and then match that with their inventory and distribution partners,” he said. “That’s what [GraphPort] helps do — it helps bring those third-party graphs into a modern matching and data collaboration platform with a bunch of other first party data.”