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Welcome to The Brief by Kuro House, your daily dose of the most compelling stories in marketing, advertising, and media. Whether you’re commuting, taking a coffee break, or gearing up for a big pitch, we’re here to keep you sharp with stories that matter. Let’s dive into today’s top five.

First up, Meta has just lost its brand safety accreditation from the Media Rating Council, less than four months after it was issued. According to Adweek, this move comes after Meta, which had previously received the MRC’s stamp of approval for both Facebook and Instagram feeds in June, decided to withdraw from ongoing brand safety audits. For context, the MRC is an independent nonprofit that’s been setting industry standards and auditing media organizations since the 1960s, ensuring that ad inventory is safe and suitable for brands. The June accreditation was a significant milestone—it was the first time both Facebook and Instagram feeds were recognized for content-level brand safety, and Facebook’s in-stream video content also had its accreditation renewed. Meta’s decision to pull out of these audits and lose accreditation raises big questions for advertisers about transparency and trust in the platform’s ad environments.

Switching gears to the world of high-stakes advertising, Liquid Death has secured a coveted national Super Bowl ad spot for Super Bowl 60, set to air during the first half of NBC’s 2026 broadcast. As reported exclusively by Adweek, this will be the irreverent canned water brand’s second consecutive year running a Big Game ad. Their debut last year, titled “Safe For Work,” made waves by cheekily nodding to the brand’s edgy image—emphasizing that it’s okay to drink at work, as long as it’s Liquid Death in the can. While the brand hasn’t shared details on the length or creative direction for the 2026 spot, the Super Bowl ad market is hotter than ever: NBCUniversal has already sold out inventory, with 30-second slots fetching over $8 million each. This year’s Super Bowl will also see first-time appearances from brands like BuzzBall, GrubHub, and possibly Manscaped, which is currently reviewing creative pitches. For Liquid Death, this repeat appearance signals that their unconventional approach is resonating, and they’re doubling down on the biggest stage in advertising.

Now, let’s talk about a brand that’s redefining what sports sponsorships can look like—Brunt, the upstart workwear label founded in 2020 by former roofer and landscaper Eric Girouard. Adweek highlights how Girouard, despite Brunt’s impressive projected 2024 revenue of $146 million, is eschewing the traditional sponsorship playbook. Recently, Brunt caught the attention of the New England Patriots, leading to an invitation to a luxury suite at Gillette Stadium—typically a precursor to a big-money sponsorship deal. But Girouard isn’t interested in just writing a check for logo placement. Instead, Brunt is building credibility with its core audience—tradesmen—by signing the Patriots’ ground crew as brand ambassadors. It’s a smart move: rather than aligning with athletes or the team itself, Brunt is focusing on the behind-the-scenes workers who literally keep the field in shape, reinforcing the brand’s authentic connection to its customers. This approach could set a new standard for how challenger brands engage with sports and sponsorships.

Turning to the state of cable news, Adweek’s TVNewser reports a week of notable declines across the board for Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN during the week of October 6, 2025. All three networks saw double-digit drops in the key Adults 25-54 demo during primetime. Fox News led the pack with 2.285 million primetime viewers and 220,000 in the demo, but that still represented a 7% drop in total viewers and an 11% drop in the demo from the previous week. MSNBC and CNN fared worse—MSNBC averaged 814,000 primetime viewers (down 9%) and 78,000 in the demo (down 10%), while CNN saw a 14% drop in viewers and a 21% drop in the demo. Year-over-year, the declines are even steeper, with MSNBC down 34% in total viewers and 40% in the demo compared to the same period last year, and CNN down 40% and 59% respectively. Fox News continues to dominate the list of most-watched cable news shows, with The Five pulling in 3.657 million viewers. However, the overall erosion in viewership signals a shifting media landscape and perhaps a growing challenge for traditional cable news to maintain relevance.

That wraps up today’s Brief. From Meta’s transparency troubles to Liquid Death’s Super Bowl splash, Brunt’s fresh sponsorship strategy, and the evolving battle for cable news eyeballs, it’s clear that the marketing world never stands still. Thanks for tuning in—stay curious, keep questioning, and we’ll see you tomorrow for more stories that keep you ahead of the curve.