What caused the sudden 30% decrease in bid requests for Amobee's Connected TV inventory last week?

Introduction

The sudden 30% decrease in bid requests for Amobee's Connected TV inventory last week is a critical issue that demands immediate attention. As we analyze this product challenge, I'll employ a systematic framework to identify, validate, and address the root cause while considering both immediate and long-term implications.

To tackle this problem, I'll start by asking clarifying questions, rule out basic external factors, and then dive deep into product understanding, metric breakdown, and data analysis. From there, I'll form hypotheses, conduct root cause analysis, and propose validation methods and next steps. Throughout this process, I'll consider the broader impact on our product ecosystem and long-term strategy.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking this could be related to a recent product update. Have there been any significant changes to the Connected TV platform or bidding system in the past two weeks?

Why it matters: Recent changes could directly impact bid requests. Expected answer: Yes, there was a minor update to the bidding algorithm. Impact on approach: If confirmed, I'd focus on the update's specifics and potential unintended consequences.

• Considering the scale of the decrease, I'm wondering about potential technical issues. Have we observed any unusual error rates or system performance metrics during this period?

Why it matters: Technical problems could explain a sudden, large-scale change. Expected answer: There were some intermittent server issues reported last week. Impact on approach: If confirmed, I'd prioritize technical root cause analysis and immediate fixes.

• Given the specificity to Connected TV, I'm curious about market dynamics. Has there been any significant shift in advertiser behavior or competitor actions in the Connected TV space recently?

Why it matters: External market factors could influence bid request volumes. Expected answer: No major market shifts, but a competitor launched a new feature. Impact on approach: If confirmed, I'd investigate the competitor's feature and its potential impact on our market share.

• Considering the possibility of data anomalies, I'm wondering about our measurement systems. Have there been any changes to how we track or define bid requests for Connected TV inventory?

Why it matters: Changes in measurement could lead to apparent decreases without actual changes in behavior. Expected answer: No changes to measurement systems or definitions. Impact on approach: If confirmed, I'd focus on actual changes in bid requests rather than measurement issues.