> “NBC doesn’t have a television business, they have an ad business”.

They do broadcast TV, the purpose of which is to display ads. That does make sense.

> “Google doesn’t have a search business, they have an ad business.”

When Google started out, in the "don't be evil", simple home page days, they were a search company. It is hardly true any more, ads are now the centre of their business.

> “Amazon doesn’t have a retail business, they have an ad business.”

Well, duh! Quite obvious these days. That is where they get the lion's share of the revenue, outside AWS.

I am impressed, you hit the nail on the head!