Know What's Happening in Entertainment
Know What's Happening in Entertainment
Super Mario Galaxy film targets $200M+ opening weekend
Nintendo and Illumination are positioning the upcoming "Super Mario Galaxy" movie to open with more than $200 million domestically over the Easter holiday weekend. The strategy leans on the franchise’s multigenerational appeal and a family‑focused release window, with analysts citing the 2015 "Avengers: Age of Ultron" $191 million opening as a benchmark.
Also developing:
By the numbers: K-Love seeks FCC approval to acquire WFCC
Google’s AI‑driven Overview feature has slashed organic traffic for major tech publishers, with drops ranging from 30% to over 90% according to Growtika’s Ahrefs analysis. Ziff Davis and Future, which own several of the hardest‑hit sites, saw affiliate and advertising revenue plunge as search‑derived visits vanished. Both companies are undertaking strategic reviews, with Ziff Davis questioning asset sales and Future noting that only a fraction of its revenue depends on website sessions. In contrast, outlets like The Verge and Wired are shifting toward subscription and direct‑reader revenue to mitigate the traffic shock.
UCLA’s 2026 Hollywood Diversity Report examined 109 English‑language releases from 2025 and identified a clear financial sweet spot for on‑screen diversity. Films whose casts were 41 %‑50 % BIPOC achieved the highest median global ($117.1 M) and domestic ($52.6 M) box‑office receipts, widest theatrical...
Embark Studios, a 360‑person Swedish developer, launched Arc Raiders in October 2025, selling over 14 million copies despite a development budget estimated at about $75 million—roughly a quarter of a typical AAA title. CEO Patrick Söderlund says the studio achieves AAA‑level quality...
Indie authors often overlook that a manuscript is a bundle of valuable intellectual‑property rights that can be licensed beyond the book itself. Copyright attaches automatically, but registration strengthens legal standing, while trademarks protect series titles, pen names, and distinctive characters....
We're writing to let you know that on April 10, 2026, Prime Video Ad Free will become Prime Video Ultra with enhanced viewing features, and your subscription price will increase to $4.99/month. If you are a Prime Annual plan member,...
Beehiiv rolled out On-Demand Ads, a new feature in its Ad Network. It lets creators access sponsorship opportunities instantly through a marketplace and insert ad slots directly in newsletters, monetizing based on CPM and CPC performance. On-Demand Ads come months...
Simulmedia announced two senior hires to boost its commercial and product capabilities. Justin Nesci, formerly iHeartMedia’s EVP of Advanced Audio and Data Revenue, joins as chief commercial officer to steer global sales, marketing and brand partnerships. Adam Gaynor, with a track record...
A former Netflix exec is investing into our studio. The future of entertainment is live, and interactive.
Amazon to Hike Fee for Prime Video Ad-Free Tier to $5 per Month in U.S. https://t.co/FVjZZ5ziiF via @variety
Razer unveiled an AI‑powered suite at GDC 2026 to streamline game development, highlighted by the QA Companion AI that automatically detects bugs from gameplay footage and creates detailed reports. The tool offers zero‑integration deployment, letting studios embed it without SDKs or...
Seriously, what is the "steelman" argument for how generative/prompt music AI is good for artists, consumers or even streaming services. It just seems all around awful. Why is there a commercial push for something no one wants?
Japanese game publisher Sega Sammy announced a broadening of its transmedia strategy, turning its flagship franchises into multi‑platform entertainment brands that span games, films, merchandise and live experiences. The plan places mobile and live‑service titles at the forefront, highlighted by...
Microsoft unveiled Project Helix at its GDC keynote, positioning it as a high‑end hybrid console that runs both PC games and legacy Xbox titles. The device will use an AMD‑based system‑on‑chip similar to current Xbox hardware but will be priced...
LightSpeed Studios announced a new "Original IP Initiative" that imports Hollywood production methods into game development. The studio hired film veterans like Creative Director Feng Zhu and Motion‑Capture lead Kristin Gallagher to build a proprietary "90:10" framework, where 90% of...
Higgsfield has introduced a content‑scoring feature for its Team Plan that automatically scans AI‑generated video and images for visual similarities to celebrities, copyrighted characters, brand logos, and even a director’s signature style. The tool assigns a similarity score, flags potential...
American Ninja Warrior’s seventeenth season is under close Nielsen scrutiny as NBC evaluates its future. The article notes that season 16 delivered a 0.30 rating in the key 18‑49 demographic and attracted 2.71 million viewers, setting a benchmark for renewal decisions. Season 17’s...
YouTube TV introduced a $65‑per‑month sports‑focused plan that delivers every men’s and women’s NCAA tournament game across CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN, and has expanded multiview functionality for simultaneous viewing. The service still lacks ESPN+ integration, requiring an extra subscription...
Brands are cutting influencer spend as costs rise and trust falls. The article proposes using CRM first‑party data to build an always‑on creator pool, turning loyal customers into authentic influencers. It outlines a Creator Potential framework—affinity, advocacy, reach—and behavior‑triggered recruitment....
At the NAB Show, Radio World will host a session on April 19 that frames radio‑station ownership as a boutique‑business opportunity for Gen‑X and Millennial professionals. Engineers Andy Gladding and Bud Williamson will discuss how owning a small‑market station can deliver community...
Hollywood faces a crossroads as streaming accelerates and theater attendance slips, prompting a debate over the future of film distribution. Industry veterans Hawk Koch and Chris Aronson argue that blockbuster spectacles still thrive on the big screen, while streaming champions...
The New England Revolution has partnered with iHeartRadio’s Rumba 97.7 FM to broadcast all 17 home matches in Spanish for the 2026 MLS season, beginning with the March 15 clash against FC Cincinnati. The deal also names Rumba 97.7 as the official radio partner...
A new AppLovin report finds that 77% of U.S. mobile gamers spend $100 or more per month on online purchases, while 70% play daily, making the medium a high‑frequency touchpoint for brands. Nearly 40% of surveyed gamers bought a product...
Peacock's AI Andy Cohen is part of NBCU's strategy to add new experiences tied to its IP to keep fans on its own platform: “Don’t think of it as a streaming platform — think of it as an entertainment platform,”...
Peacock Is Launching an AI-Generated Andy Cohen That Dishes Personalized Bravo Hot Goss and Vertical Video Clips https://t.co/B1zYs5YfF6 via @variety
Airwave has signed an exclusive distribution, monetization, and marketing agreement with The Clark Howard Podcast, one of the longest‑running personal‑finance shows. The partnership gives the podcast access to Airwave’s full‑service network, which supports over 180 podcasts and generates more than...
PGC London 2026 hosted a series of seven fireside chats that gathered top voices from the mobile‑games ecosystem, including Duolingo, 52 Entertainment, Finz Games, Studio Atelico, Zaibatsu Interactive and TapNation. The conversations explored how Duolingo applies game‑like core loops to language learning, how monetisation now...
Emerald Holding posted 2025 revenue of $463.4 million, up modestly from the prior year, but organic growth slowed to 1.1% and the company recorded a $30.7 million net loss. Acquisitions added 4.8% to revenue, while dividends consumed a third of free cash...
Madison & Wall revised its 2026 U.S. advertising outlook, lifting total ad growth to 10.2% and ex‑political growth to 8.1%, up from its December 2025 benchmarks of 8.9% and 6.6% respectively. The upgrade incorporates Winterberry Group’s forecast, nudging MediaPost’s composite...
Eutelsat has terminated its capacity contracts on the Russian‑owned Express AT1 and Express AT2 satellites after Express AT1 failed on March 4 and Express AT2 is being relocated from 140° East. The leases had complemented Eutelsat’s own 36° East fleet (Eutelsat 36C/36D). The company estimates the terminations will...
Movistar Plus added 278,000 subscribers in 2025, raising its total base to 3.8 million and delivering a 7.9% year‑on‑year increase. The growth marks a sharp acceleration from the 94,000 new customers recorded in 2024 and represents the second consecutive year of...
Zen Studios announced that Pinball FX3 and all its downloadable content will be delisted from the Microsoft Store in early May, citing technical reasons tied to a rebrand. The company also revealed that future DLC for Pinball M and Pinball FX will no...
G2 and Team Liquid have completed a player swap, sending Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa to Liquid and Guy “NertZ” Iluz to G2. The move re‑establishes Liquid as an American‑core roster, restoring its eligibility for the Americas VRS slot ahead of the...
IAB Sweden’s board voted to expel Meta from its membership, citing the platform’s inadequate measures against fraudulent advertising. The decision follows a procedural correction after an earlier March 10 vote was invalidated. Meta has until the April 15 annual general...
Apple announced video‑streaming capabilities for Apple Podcasts, letting users toggle between audio and video while supporting dynamic ad insertion. The move follows Spotify’s similar rollout and reflects a broader industry shift toward video‑first podcast experiences. Independent Studio argues that standing...
Series Mania Forum’s Buyers Upfront, an invitation‑only market event on March 23 in Lille, has selected ten premium series for its second edition. Among them are two Spanish productions – the sci‑fi drama *In Vitro* and the thriller *The Dark Book:...
In this episode of The Business, host Kim Masters interviews Aline Vander Veldin, co‑founder of Particle 6 Productions, about her synthetic AI character Tilly Norwood. Vander Veldin explains that Tilly is intended solely for AI‑generated content and is not meant to...
Portugal ended 2025 with 4.7 million pay‑TV subscribers, a modest 0.5 % year‑on‑year increase – the slowest growth since 2006. Residential customers accounted for 88.3 % of the base, rising to 4.1 million, while non‑residential connections grew 2.3 % to 546,000. Fibre‑to‑the‑home remained dominant, delivering...
Reach, the UK’s largest newspaper publisher, has accused the BBC of an aggressive digital expansion that is crowding out commercial local news outlets. It points to Ofcom data showing the BBC’s share of local‑news page views rising from 20% in...
This chart basically shows that Disney and Apple significantly underpriced their initial SVOD services as they were in aggressive subscriber-acquisition mode Meanwhile: The cost of HBO Max/Max actually went *down* from 2020-26 when adjusted for inflation https://t.co/exxGKeyyDA
Japan’s music industry, the world’s second‑largest recorded market, is leveraging anime openings to catapult J‑Pop onto the global stage. Luminate Intelligence data shows that songs tied to anime boost streams dramatically, with YOASOBI’s "Idol" amassing 3.9 billion on‑demand plays and reaching...
Madison & Wall analysts Brian Wieser and Luke Stillman have upgraded their U.S. advertising revenue forecast, citing surprisingly resilient consumer spending despite recent headwinds such as higher gas prices and subdued spring‑break activity. The firm sees a modest but steady...
"The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better." - Hegseth on CNN. There are no more quiet parts. It's all said aloud. (And I'll bet he wouldn't like this shot.) https://t.co/f913T1zNVN
Fremantle has named Ben Crompton as its new Global Head of Entertainment, effective later this month, reporting directly to Global CEO Jennifer Mullin. Crompton arrives from NBCUniversal, where he served as Vice President of International Unscripted, and brings a track...
Audible announced at the London Book Fair that it will launch its subscription service in eleven new markets—Belgium, Egypt, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates—through a partnership with local Amazon...
Mobvista posted full‑year 2025 revenue of $2.05 billion, a 35.7% jump from 2024, driven primarily by its programmatic platform Mintegral. Mintegral delivered $1.96 billion in revenue, up 35.9%, with AI‑powered smart bidding accounting for more than 80% of that income. Gaming remained...
Swedish games publisher Stillfront Group has restructured its Nomination Committee ahead of its May 13, 2026 annual general meeting, replacing Roger Storm of Handelsbanken Fonder with Christian Wawrzinek (appointed by Laureus Capital) and Mohamad Haj Hasan (appointed by Knuth Capital)....
Airwave announced an exclusive distribution, monetization, and marketing partnership with The Daily Blast, the flagship news and politics podcast of The New Republic. The agreement gives the podcast full‑service network support while opening new advertising inventory to brands targeting highly...
Independent creative agency Rethink created a chief production officer role, appointing Jon Legere, former head of Anomaly’s Unreasonable Studios. Legere will embed production capabilities across advertising, PR and design, reporting to COO Caleb Goodman. The hire shifts production from a...
Airwave announced Airwave Journeys, a creator‑led travel program partnered with Laura Hart’s Like Minds Travel. The collaboration makes Airwave’s podcasters hosts of paid tours that align with their show topics, offering fans immersive experiences in destinations such as France, Italy,...
Madison and Wall raised its 2026 U.S. ad‑spending forecast to 8.1% but warned the assumptions were made before the Middle‑East conflict erupted. The war introduces new geopolitical, inflationary and supply‑chain risks that could dampen growth, especially in the second half...
