Cox Media Group’s Success with AI-Powered Automation

Cox Media Group (CMG), an integrated media company operating 33 television stations, 54 radio stations, cutting-edge digital properties, and national media services businesses, has been at the forefront of growth and innovation in the media industry. As part of their journey to reimagine the future of media, CMG sought ways to optimize their operations and integrate cutting-edge AI technology into their workflows.

CMG turned to NinjaCat to standardize and automate reporting across its diverse markets. The collaboration quickly evolved, leading to the development of AI-driven solutions that significantly improved key aspects of CMG’s operations.

The Challenge

CMG faced several operational bottlenecks and inefficiencies that required attention:

1. Inconsistent Reporting: The need for robust, standardized reporting templates across TV and radio teams was critical.
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2. Manual Processes: Teams were spending significant time on repetitive tasks, such as search query analysis, campaign monitoring, and data validation, diverting resources from strategic work.
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3. Data Accuracy and Attribution: Ensuring data accuracy and connecting marketing efforts directly to client revenue posed complex challenges.

These challenges prompted CMG to explore how AI could address some inefficiencies and create impactful automation across their operations.

The NinjaCat Solution

Initially, NinjaCat helped CMG create robust master templates for their TV and radio teams, saving time and increasing consistency. Leveraging NinjaCat’s AI Copilot, CMG gained faster insights from their data, bypassing the need for complex SQL queries. Inspired by these efficiencies, CMG joined NinjaCat’s beta program for AI agents to explore deeper integration of AI in their processes.

Identifying High-Impact Use Cases

Through internal assessments and discussions with their Execution and Analytics teams, CMG identified two key areas where AI could drive immediate impact:

1. Search Query Analysis: Automating the identification of top-performing and negative keywords to save time and optimize campaigns.
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2. CM 360 Campaign Monitoring: Addressing frequent issues like pixel/tag anomalies to ensure seamless campaign delivery for their largest clients.

This led to the creation of two specialized AI agents: Sally, for search query analysis, and CM 360 Pixie, for campaign monitoring.

Spotlight on CM 360 Pixie: An AI Agent for Campaign Monitoring

CM 360 Pixie was developed to tackle one of CMG’s most pressing challenges: monitoring campaign metrics and ensuring proper functioning of ad tags.

The Process: CM 360 Pixie’s workflow was broken into four key steps:

1. Daily Monitoring: Pixie performs daily checks of active ad creatives and placements in Google Campaign Manager 360. This quick, proactive step ensures continuous oversight.
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2. Anomaly Detection: Using AI algorithms, Pixie flags unusual patterns in impression data, such as sudden drops, signaling potential pixel/tag issues.
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3. Actionable Insights: Pixie generates detailed reports highlighting problematic areas, allowing teams to address issues swiftly. Reports are exportable in CSV format for deeper analysis.
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4. Problem Resolution: Armed with Pixie’s insights, teams resolve issues such as fixing ad tags, troubleshooting pixel implementations, or identifying client-side changes causing disruptions.

Impact and Results

The implementation of CM 360 Pixie delivered transformative results for CMG:

• Increased Monitoring Capacity: CMG scaled from monitoring 50 clients twice a week to monitoring 200 clients daily, reducing monitoring time from hours to just 10 minutes.
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• Faster Issue Resolution: Issues like pixel drops, which previously went undetected for up to four days, are now identified and addressed within 24 hours, mitigating risks for high-value accounts.
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• Improved Team Efficiency: By automating manual tasks, Pixie freed up the analytics team to focus on strategic activities, enhancing overall productivity.
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• Risk Mitigation: Faster detection and resolution of anomalies reduced client churn risk, strengthening client satisfaction and trust.

For example, Pixie helped CMG’s team detect a pixel drop in a $500,000 account, allowing them to resolve the issue in less than 24 hours instead of losing valuable campaign days.

Beyond operational improvements, CMG fostered a culture where AI is viewed as a collaborative partner. The success of CM360 Pixie inspired the team to request additional AI tools, highlighting the growing excitement and trust in the technology.

The partnership between CMG and NinjaCat has only just begun. With the success of CM360 Pixie, CMG is exploring ways to expand its capabilities and replicate its impact across search and social media campaigns.

CMG’s journey with NinjaCat demonstrates the transformative potential of AI when paired with a supportive, innovative partner. Together, they continue to push boundaries, proving that the future of media is not just about innovation—it’s about working smarter and delivering greater value to clients.

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