IAB Canada’s Data Night in Toronto was electric. Sue Haas of NLogic opened the evening pulling back the curtain on the long road toward cracking cross-media measurement in Canada and provided a candid look at progress and what’s still to come. It was the perfect setup for the conversation that followed: a no-holds-barred panel on what “premium” video actually means in today’s fragmented world.

Introduced by Naomi Zhao (Eastward Media), the panel moderated by Wade Kuiken-Rogers, brought together Amit Vikram (MiQ Digital), Ben Wise (Google), Julie Kerr (CBC/Radio Canada) and RJ Pauloski (Disney+). What unfolded was less a tidy debate and more an unfiltered exchange of truths. Panelists challenged whether “premium” even matters to consumers who flip seamlessly from live sports to prestige drama to creator content on the same screen. They took aim at the tendency to force old display buying tactics onto CTV, warning that live events in particular demand their own playbook. And they agreed measurement must move beyond vanity metrics to prove incremental reach and business outcomes in real terms.

The fireside chat that closed the night took a deep dive into one Canadian broadcaster that is bringing innovation to the fight for Canadian media dollars. Sabrina Segal (Bell Media) and Sonia Carreno (IAB Canada) talked openly about innovation and collaboration. From self-serve tools for small businesses to purchase-linked attribution models, the message was clear: Canadian media is moving fast, leaning in, and ready to compete.

Many thanks to our Elite Sponsors for making these important moments possible and to our Topic Sponsor (NLogic) for bringing relevant content to the community.

Data Night once again proved why it’s become the gathering place for Canada’s digital media leaders. It’s where tough questions get asked, where myths get busted, and where our community comes together to shape a video marketplace that is transparent, accountable, and built for the future.