01 May BEST PROGRAMMATIC AD BUYING STATISTICS 2025
Programmatic ad buying has become the backbone of digital advertising, transforming how brands reach audiences with speed, precision, and scale. Instead of relying on manual negotiations, programmatic systems automate the buying process in real time, enabling dynamic targeting and optimization across devices. This shift has led to an explosion in spending, with billions of dollars now funneled through AI-powered platforms. In 2025, programmatic isn’t just a strategy—it’s the standard across display, video, mobile, and even out-of-home advertising.
As marketers grapple with privacy regulations, third-party cookie deprecation, and changing consumer behaviors, programmatic offers both flexibility and accountability. The growth is not only visible in the U.S. but also on a global scale, pushing brands to innovate their media strategies. At the same time, direct deals and private marketplaces are reshaping the landscape by offering premium inventory with greater control. Amra and Elma shares the following statistics to highlight the major forces driving programmatic advertising in 2025 and what they mean for the future of digital marketing.
BEST PROGRAMMATIC AD BUYING STATISTICS 2025 (Editor’s Choice)
Here are the top 10 programmatic advertising statistics for 2025, highlighting key trends and projections shaping the digital advertising landscape:
1. Global Programmatic Ad Spend to Reach $651 Billion
Programmatic advertising is projected to account for 82.4% of total digital ad spend globally in 2025, amounting to $651 billion.
2. U.S. Programmatic Ad Spend Expected to Surpass $270 Billion
In the United States, programmatic advertising expenditure is anticipated to exceed $270 billion in 2025, capturing over 85% of all digital ad spend.
3. Programmatic to Account for 90% of Global Display Ad Spend by 2026
By 2026, programmatic advertising is expected to represent 90% of global digital display ad spending, underscoring its dominance in the digital advertising landscape.
4. Programmatic Video Ad Spending to Surpass $110 Billion in the U.S.
In 2025, U.S. programmatic video ad spending is projected to exceed $110 billion, accounting for nearly 75% of new programmatic ad dollars from 2024 through 2026.
5. Retail Media Networks (RMNs) to Exceed $30 Billion by 2026
Retail media spending through programmatic channels grew by 41.7% in 2024 and is expected to grow another 29.3% in 2025, with the segment projected to exceed $30 billion by 2026.
6. Digital Video to Capture Nearly 60% of All U.S. TV/Video Ad Spend
Digital video is set to capture nearly 60% of all U.S. TV/video ad spend in 2025, a significant increase from 29% in 2020, driven by shifts in consumer behavior and platform innovations.
7. Programmatic Direct and Private Marketplaces (PMPs) Dominate U.S. Programmatic Display Ad Spending
In 2025, more than 91% of total U.S. programmatic display ad spending will go towards private marketplaces (PMPs) and programmatic direct deals, indicating a shift away from open exchanges.
8. Programmatic DOOH Ad Spend to Surpass $1 Billion
Programmatic Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) ad spend is on track to surpass $1 billion in 2025, accounting for 30% of all DOOH spend by 2026.
9. AI-Driven Curation and Personalization Reshape Programmatic Advertising
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to automate ad buying, optimization, and placement based on demographics, behavior, and context, significantly enhancing programmatic advertising strategies.
10. Transition from Third-Party Cookies to First-Party Data
The digital advertising industry is shifting from reliance on third-party cookies to alternative IDs, particularly first-party data, fundamentally changing the landscape of programmatic advertising.
These statistics underscore the rapid evolution and growing dominance of programmatic advertising in the digital marketing ecosystem, highlighting the importance of automation, data-driven strategies, and emerging technologies in shaping the future of advertising.
BEST PROGRAMMATIC AD BUYING STATISTICS 2025 and Future Implications
BEST PROGRAMMATIC AD BUYING STATISTICS 2025 #1. Global Programmatic Ad Spend to Reach $651 Billion
Programmatic advertising is projected to hit $651 billion globally by 2025, accounting for over 82% of total digital ad spending. This reflects how brands are increasingly prioritizing automation, real-time bidding, and data-driven targeting to streamline media buying. The scale of growth also suggests that traditional ad buying methods may continue to decline in relevance across digital platforms.
With the rise of AI-enhanced platforms, marketers are seeing increased efficiency in budget allocation and campaign outcomes. The sheer volume of spend underscores the need for strong regulatory frameworks, especially around privacy and ethical AI use. Going forward, brands that don’t adopt programmatic strategies may struggle to remain competitive in saturated markets. Global platforms will likely invest more in transparency and fraud detection to accommodate the surge.
BEST PROGRAMMATIC AD BUYING STATISTICS 2025 #2. U.S. Programmatic Ad Spend Expected to Surpass $270 Billion
In 2025, programmatic ad spend in the U.S. is expected to exceed $270 billion, capturing more than 85% of digital ad budgets. This dominance demonstrates how deeply embedded automation has become in American marketing strategies. A key driver is the shift to omnichannel campaigns, integrating connected TV, mobile, desktop, and digital out-of-home under a unified bidding system. As more advertisers demand real-time results, U.S.-based DSPs (demand-side platforms) are focusing on machine learning to drive smarter buying decisions.
This trend also reflects pressure on smaller publishers to support programmatic formats to remain viable. Future growth may depend on how successfully brands navigate cookie deprecation and data compliance. The evolution toward identity-based targeting could further entrench programmatic’s influence on ad outcomes.
BEST PROGRAMMATIC AD BUYING STATISTICS 2025 #3. Programmatic to Account for 90% of Global Display Ad Spend by 2026
By 2026, 90% of global digital display advertising is expected to be bought programmatically. This milestone signals the near-total automation of ad transactions in display environments. As display formats diversify—including rich media, interactive ads, and vertical video—programmatic tools are becoming essential for delivering personalized experiences at scale. Marketers are increasingly relying on dynamic creative optimization to tailor display ads to users in real time.
The reliance on programmatic will also increase pressure on supply-side platforms (SSPs) to improve latency, load times, and viewability standards. As advertisers funnel more budget through display pipelines, publishers must refine their inventory to maximize programmatic value. The display space is likely to become even more competitive, demanding better creative quality and smarter targeting.
BEST PROGRAMMATIC AD BUYING STATISTICS 2025 #4. Programmatic Video Ad Spending to Surpass $110 Billion in the U.S.
U.S. programmatic video ad spending is projected to reach over $110 billion in 2025, driven by shifts in consumer content consumption. As streaming services and social platforms dominate viewing habits, advertisers are pivoting toward video formats that support real-time bidding. Short-form videos on platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels are increasingly part of the programmatic mix. This surge highlights the importance of in-stream targeting capabilities and AI-driven video analytics to personalize ads.
Cross-platform measurement remains a challenge, but newer solutions using probabilistic and deterministic data are closing that gap. The video boom will likely accelerate advancements in attention metrics, pushing advertisers to optimize for engagement rather than impressions. As the format matures, expect more investment in immersive video experiences, including AR-powered ads.
BEST PROGRAMMATIC AD BUYING STATISTICS 2025 #5. Retail Media Networks (RMNs) to Exceed $30 Billion by 2026
Retail media networks are gaining momentum, with spending projected to surpass $30 billion by 2026. These networks allow brands to advertise directly within e-commerce platforms, leveraging first-party shopper data. Programmatic tools are increasingly integrated into RMN offerings, enabling precise audience segmentation and product-level targeting. The model appeals to brands aiming to close the gap between impression and conversion within the same ecosystem.
As third-party cookies phase out, RMNs provide a privacy-compliant solution for advertisers seeking attribution and ROI clarity. This growth trajectory may prompt traditional retailers to build or expand their own networks, shifting power dynamics in digital advertising. The future of programmatic may hinge on how seamlessly it blends with commerce platforms across verticals.
BEST PROGRAMMATIC AD BUYING STATISTICS 2025 #6. Digital Video to Capture Nearly 60% of All U.S. TV/Video Ad Spend
Digital video is expected to capture nearly 60% of total TV and video ad spending in the U.S. by 2025. This marks a major realignment in media budgets, as brands move dollars from linear TV to digital ecosystems. The shift is fueled by the flexibility of programmatic video buying, allowing real-time campaign optimization based on viewership behavior. CTV (connected TV) is a major contributor, enabling brands to reach cord-cutters with personalized ad experiences.
As ad-supported streaming platforms grow, inventory is becoming more fragmented, pushing advertisers toward unified bidding platforms. Expect more cross-screen retargeting capabilities and outcome-based pricing models to become standard in video planning. The dominance of digital video will also spark innovation in contextual targeting as cookie alternatives mature.
BEST PROGRAMMATIC AD BUYING STATISTICS 2025 #7. Programmatic Direct and Private Marketplaces Dominate U.S. Spend
Over 91% of U.S. programmatic display ad spending in 2025 will go to private marketplaces (PMPs) and direct deals. This reflects a growing emphasis on brand safety, premium inventory, and publisher transparency. Advertisers are favoring curated environments where they can access guaranteed impressions with greater control. While open exchanges still serve scale-driven objectives, PMPs offer more data-sharing and customized deal terms.
This shift is particularly strong in sensitive verticals like finance, pharma, and luxury, where contextual relevance is crucial. For publishers, this trend brings higher CPMs but demands better inventory quality and stronger relationships with media buyers. In the long term, hybrid models combining automation with human negotiation may define premium programmatic.
BEST PROGRAMMATIC AD BUYING STATISTICS 2025 #8. Programmatic DOOH Ad Spend to Surpass $1 Billion
Programmatic digital out-of-home (DOOH) is projected to surpass $1 billion in ad spend by 2025. As outdoor media becomes digitized, programmatic tech is unlocking new levels of flexibility and targeting for brands. Dynamic creative can now change based on location, weather, traffic, or audience demographics. Unlike traditional billboards, DOOH allows advertisers to run short, contextually relevant campaigns in high-footfall areas with measurable impact.
With mobile data integration, brands are increasingly using DOOH as part of retargeting funnels. As urban centers invest in smart infrastructure, DOOH inventory is expected to grow across transit hubs, malls, and airports. The future of programmatic will include more seamless integration between online impressions and offline consumer behavior.
BEST PROGRAMMATIC AD BUYING STATISTICS 2025 #9. AI-Driven Curation and Personalization Reshape Programmatic Advertising
Artificial intelligence is transforming how programmatic campaigns are curated, executed, and optimized. Machine learning models now help predict user intent, recommend bidding strategies, and tailor creatives in real time. With natural language processing and computer vision, platforms are starting to analyze ad performance beyond clicks, such as sentiment and attention. This enhances both brand storytelling and ROI measurement.
Advertisers are also exploring AI-powered chatbots and voice search integrations within programmatic placements. As models evolve, ethical AI usage and bias monitoring will become more important to maintain fair and inclusive targeting. Looking ahead, the synergy between AI and programmatic will define competitive advantage in campaign delivery and innovation.
BEST PROGRAMMATIC AD BUYING STATISTICS 2025 #10. Transition from Third-Party Cookies to First-Party Data
The phase-out of third-party cookies is forcing a paradigm shift in programmatic advertising. Brands are pivoting toward first-party data and contextual signals to inform audience targeting. This transition has accelerated the adoption of data clean rooms, identity graphs, and privacy-focused solutions. Walled gardens like Google and Amazon are strengthening their grip on valuable consumer insights, challenging independent ad tech players.
Advertisers must now prioritize consent-based data strategies and invest in CRM integration to maintain targeting precision. Programmatic platforms are being reengineered to support these new signals without compromising personalization. In the long term, this shift may lead to more equitable data ecosystems and sustainable advertising practices.
Future Outlook: Programmatic as the Default Mode of Advertising
The 2025 landscape confirms that programmatic advertising is no longer just a high-growth segment—it’s the default infrastructure for digital media buying. From display and video to retail media networks and DOOH, the majority of ad spend now flows through automated, data-driven platforms. This growth reflects more than convenience; it signals a broader shift toward precision marketing powered by AI, first-party data, and real-time insights.
As advertisers navigate a future without cookies and with rising demands for personalization, programmatic tools will be essential for maintaining relevance and efficiency. Private marketplaces, contextual targeting, and curated inventory are becoming the new norm, helping brands balance scale with control. Looking ahead, we can expect programmatic to expand into newer formats like AR, voice, and connected devices. The winners will be those who can blend creativity with automation—delivering smarter, faster, and more human advertising at scale.
Sources:
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