Skip to main content
The CUInsight Network

The CUInsight Network podcast: Audience first – TriAD CTV®

Featuring James Karanasios, National Account Manager at TriAD CTV®.

James Karanasios

“As a credit union, you can compete on an incredibly, if not the most influential video medium that’s out there, in television.” - James Karanasios

Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is James Karanasios, National Account Manager at TriAD CTV®. James shares his unique journey into the credit union industry, starting out with a passion for music and eventually finding his way into the world of data, identity resolution, and connected TV advertising. Hear how Triad CTV®'s mission is to be "audience first" - helping credit unions leverage the power of connected TV and streaming advertising to reach and engage their target communities.

In our conversation, we discuss the educational aspect of Triad's work—helping credit union marketers understand how streaming TV is changing and how to maximize its impact. James highlights the importance of keeping the creative personal and authentic to truly connect with the intended audience.

James also looks ahead and shares Triad CTV®'s focus on continuing to provide credit unions with a roadmap for implementing successful CTV programs, as well as creating more opportunities for credit unions to share best practices with one another. The goal is to empower credit unions of all sizes to take advantage of this powerful medium and effectively tell their community-focused stories.

As we wrap up, James talks about his love of buying guitars and pedals, his desire to travel to Rome, and lists some albums everyone should listen to. Enjoy my conversation with James Karanasios!

Want to hear more from James and TriAD? Click here.
Shout-out: Alexander Smith
Shout-out: Hulu
Shout-out: ESPN
Shout-out: YouTube TV
Shout-out: Tubi
Shout-out: Logan Airport
Place mentioned: Boston, Massachusetts
Place mentioned: Austin, Texas
Place mentioned: San Diego, California
Shout-out: USS Midway
Place mentioned: Rome, Italy
Place mentioned: Umbria, Italy
TV series mentioned: Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy
Shout-out: Stanley Tucci
Shout-out: World Credit Union Conference
Shout-out: Harvard University
Shout-out: MIT
Shout-out: Walter Lewin
Book mentioned: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Album mentioned: Synchronicity by The Police
Album mentioned: Quadrophenia by The Who
Album mentioned: Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin
Album mentioned: Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin
Album mentioned: Led Zeppelin II by Led Zeppelin
Place mentioned: Germany
Shout-out: Oktoberfest
Place mentioned: Czech Republic
Place mentioned: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Article mentioned: “Trust, TV, and Gen Z: The new rules of credit union marketing”

[00:54] – James has always loved music and wanted to be a rock star when he was young.
[01:40] – Hear how James built a relationship with Alex Smith that led to his Triad role supporting credit unions nationwide.
[02:56] – Triad CTV® helps credit unions compete with large banks by targeting communities via streaming television.
[05:11] – James touches upon the importance of audience and custom targeting.
[08:31] – Education focuses on simplifying TV advertising while strategically targeting households.
[10:51] – James explains how forecasting estimates households that are reachable by credit unions via streaming TV.
[13:10] – Despite industry complexity, James stresses that streaming TV remains the ultimate brand-building medium.
[14:35] – James identifies the biggest misconception that credit unions have about connected TV advertising.
[17:17] – James highlights using his band marketing experience to support credit union marketers with strategy.
[19:10] – Learn how TriAD prioritizes educating credit unions, sharing CTV best practices, and adapting strategies as the industry grows and evolves.
[22:21] – James admits to frequently splurging on guitars and pedals, driven by his deep love for music.
[23:25] – We learn that James really hopes to visit Rome, Italy.
[24:54] – Hear about James’ love of physics and his passion for classic rock bands such as Led Zeppelin and The Who.
[26:21] – How does James find balance between his work life and his personal life?
[28:02] – ​​James urges credit unions to educate younger generations on their community value via active advertising.