The Trade Desk operates the leading independent platform for buying digital advertising programmatically. Agencies and brands use its software to bid on ad impressions across the open internet, from streaming TV to audio and websites, guided by data rather than bundled media deals. Independence is the pitch: unlike the walled gardens, the company owns no media and so has no conflict about where budgets flow. Connected television is its fastest-growing channel. The Trade Desk charges a platform fee on the spend it handles, aligning growth with clients' budgets.