Know What's Happening in Entertainment
Know What's Happening in Entertainment
Block family power struggle threatens sale of Pittsburgh Post‑Gazette empire
Twin heirs John Robinson Block and Allan Block are locked in a battle over the future of Block Communications. John has ordered a valuation to explore a possible sale, while Allan, the current CEO, says any transaction would destroy the family legacy.
U.S. video game consumer spending is projected to hit $62.8 billion in 2026, a 3% rise from the previous year, according to market‑research firm Circana. The growth is anchored by strong hardware demand for the Nintendo Switch 2 and the launch of Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto VI, alongside expanding subscription‑based services. While software excitement fuels revenue, rising component costs threaten console output, with reports of Steam Deck OLED shortages and a possible PlayStation 6 delay. The forecast suggests the market could surpass its 2021 peak of $61.7 billion.
At Pocket Gamer Connects London 2026, Aurora UK Awards highlighted women and non‑binary leaders, featuring an interview with former Monument Valley director Jennifer Estaris. Estaris emphasizes designing inclusion into hiring, mentorship, and leadership culture, arguing it drives creative and commercial...
Contractor management platform Mellow has introduced Indie Launchpad, a support program for independent game studios. The initiative offers eligible teams of up to 15 developers six months of full access to Mellow’s platform and its AI Scout freelancer‑matching tool, with...
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GAIM, a Nashville‑based operator of five digital multicast networks, announced a major expansion during its self‑described "transformative period." CEO Joel Wertman and Co‑President/COO Otto Padrón are guiding the growth, which includes a new studio in the Marathon Village district. The...
Snapchat is launching Creator Subscriptions. Creators will be able to set their own pricing using Snapchat’s recommended tiers and offer subscribers: 🔒 Exclusive content, including subscriber-only Snaps & Stories 💬 Priority replies to a creator’s public Stories 🚫 An ad-free experience within that creator’s...
Netflix on Tuesday called Paramount’s “antics” in the bidding process an “ongoing distraction” for Warner shareholders. https://t.co/qxzp2o4uzj
The iconic 8x10 music venue in Baltimore is up for sale or lease as owners Brian and Abigail Cascella retire. Listed at roughly $450,000, the deal includes the 4,000‑square‑foot property, a BD‑7 liquor license, sound and lighting systems, and the...
CD Projekt Red announced that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition will arrive on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Premium this Thursday, covering both Xbox One and Series consoles. The bundle adds the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine...
Apple Music is testing an AI‑powered playlist generator called Playlist Playground in the iOS 26.4 beta. The tool lets users type natural‑language prompts—such as “morning coffee music” or “disco songs that defined the 1970s”—to create 25‑track playlists with custom titles and...
AI tools are reshaping how brands source and contract user‑generated video, shifting focus from pristine production to post‑production fixability. By leveraging AI for audio cleanup, stabilization, denoising, upscaling, color correction, masking, and reframing, marketers can scale UGC faster and at...
My only other note on Anderson Cooper's CBS exit is the fact a statement from Anderson on his departure was at the ready while the network had none should tell you all you need to know about the...
Pocket Gamer Connects announced the 2026 PG Connects Summit in Shanghai for July 30, positioning the event as a gateway to ChinaJoy and the Chinese games market. Early registrants receive a 10 % ticket discount and access to the MeetToMatch platform for...
ASCAP announced a partnership with MDLIVE to extend its member benefits with a 24/7 telehealth service, giving creators instant access to board‑certified physicians and mental‑health counselors. The new offering joins the existing ASCAP Wellness Program, which already provides discounted therapy,...
Zeno Media announced the promotion of Nikols Latuff from Vice President to Chief Growth Officer. Latuff, praised for her market intelligence and relationships with broadcasters and creators, will steer the company’s next phase of growth. Zeno is concentrating on podcast...
Analyst Matthew Ball released a new report describing a growing identity crisis in video games, noting that the industry has become increasingly fragmented over the past year. He points to divergent business models, platform silos, and shifting consumer habits as...
Warner Bros. Discovery rejected Paramount Skydance's $30‑per‑share acquisition proposal, signaling that the current offer does not meet its valuation expectations. The studio gave Paramount a seven‑day window, until February 23, to submit a revised, best‑and‑final bid. Paramount has indicated it could...
Portsmouth City Council has engaged Colliers to locate a new leisure or visitor‑attraction operator for the 170‑metre Spinnaker Tower. The council aims to "unlock" the tower's untapped potential by bringing in a partner that will invest, innovate and enhance the...
Gary Barlow has signed an exclusive global publishing agreement with BMG that brings his four‑decade songwriting catalogue—including Take That hits and collaborations with Elton John and Robbie Williams—under BMG’s administration. The deal expands BMG’s roster of legendary writers such as Mick...
China will allow UK and Canadian passport holders to enter visa‑free for up to 30 days. The waiver runs from 17 February to 31 December 2026 and covers business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and transit. It is expected to speed...
PRS for Music announced a comprehensive digital‑first overhaul, redesigning its website and member tools to be mobile‑first and self‑service. The new platform reduces navigation steps, uses plain language, and treats data as a product, enabling faster royalty insights and payments....
Bouygues Telecom has added the premium classical music channel Allegro Spatial to its French TV lineup, delivering native 4K UHD video at 50 fps with Dolby Atmos immersive audio. The service, positioned on channel 164, offers concerts, ballets and operas alongside contextual...
About Paramount's plans for deep cuts at a merged WBD-Paramount, Netflix said: "A business plan that is dependent upon $16 billion in cost savings should be an unmistakable red flag for regulators, policymakers, union leaders and creatives" https://t.co/PzRuPSChaP via @variety
WBD says after Paramount submitted its Feb 10 amended offer, a “senior representative for PSKY” informed a WBD board member that if WBD OK'd M&A talks, Paramount “would agree to pay $31 per share and that the offer was not...
X has struck an exclusive deal with Real Madrid to launch “Real talks,” a 10‑episode, player‑driven X Original series. The episodes will roll out throughout the 2025/26 season, aligning with the club’s key fixtures and allowing fans to submit questions...
Netflix statement re WBD talks with Paramount: "While we are confident that our transaction provides superior value and certainty, we recognize the ongoing distraction for WBD stockholders and the broader entertainment industry caused by PSKY's antics" https://t.co/PzRuPSChaP
Just a few days ago: "It feels like the next act already has been written. The 'Davids' get over themselves, Paramount raises its bid and then Netflix has a decision to make. Right now we're just in an intermission." https://t.co/bmehOb9b18
Rebecca Attard‑Phillips, co‑founder of Boost, offers indie studios a practical communications roadmap that replaces noisy, omnichannel marketing with a realistic focus on clarity, consistency, and connection. The guide introduces three messaging pillars—emotional fantasy, signature mechanic, and world tone—and shows how...
Mewgenics, the tactical cat‑breeding roguelite that recently topped Steam's most‑popular premium games chart, is being eyed for a multi‑platform launch. Co‑developer Edmund McMillen hinted the title could enter development for "all systems," including the current‑gen consoles such as Xbox Series...
New South Wales has introduced the Music Bill 2026, a pioneering legislative package aimed at safeguarding grassroots music venues. The bill establishes a Sound NSW advisory board and an accreditation system that classifies venues as dedicated, significant or live‑music spaces....
Zillow has teamed up with Blizzard Entertainment to launch "Zillow for Warcraft," a dedicated microsite that showcases a curated collection of player‑owned homes in World of Warcraft. The launch coincides with the long‑awaited player housing feature going live in the...
Harbor Fund, a Utah‑based nonprofit, has raised $15 million from 82 high‑net‑worth donors and deployed $10 million into 22 socially conscious film and documentary projects, including Chris Pine’s upcoming documentary based on Matthew Desmond’s book *Evicted*. Pine, motivated by his own experience...
MLS franchise values have surged to an average of $767 million, driven by Inter Miami’s $1.45 billion valuation and LAFC’s $1.4 billion mark. At the lower end, clubs like CF Montréal sit at $430 million, with San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps seeing year‑over‑year declines. The...
Deutsche Telekom has expanded its MagentaTV platform with seven new FAST (free‑ad‑supported streaming) channels, covering true‑crime, wildlife, political analysis, royalty, sci‑fi, anime and western genres. The rollout follows an initial launch of four FAST channels in December 2025 and a...
FOX Nation, the subscription streaming arm of FOX News Media, launched on Amazon Prime Video in the United States on February 17, 2026. The service offers its full catalog of more than 10,000 hours of original series, documentaries and specials...
Barb contributed to VideoWeek’s February 2026 piece outlining Europe’s TV Joint‑Innovation Centers (JICs) focus areas. The report highlights a surge in cross‑channel collaboration, new data partnership models, and advanced analytics integration across broadcasters. JICs are deploying AI‑driven tools and cloud...
AMC Networks International announced Tom Keaveney as executive vice president and managing director of AMCNI‑UK, effective immediately. Based in London, he will oversee programming, marketing, and the company’s fast‑growing FAST (Free‑Ad‑Supported Television) strategy. Keaveney reports to AMCNI president Eduardo Zulueta...
Streaming operators are moving from growth‑focused strategies to strict cost discipline as subscriber acquisition slows and infrastructure expenses rise. Igor Oreper argues that profitability now depends on tightly controlled workflows, AI‑driven automation, and smarter cloud‑native architectures. He highlights concrete levers...
Telenet has become the first Belgian telecom to embed YouTube Premium directly into its TV platform, allowing customers to add the service for €13.99 per month. The subscription is billed through Telenet, giving users a single payment point via the MyTelenet...
King has launched Candy Crush Crushable, a daily bite‑sized puzzle exclusive to Yahoo Games in the United States, while international players can access it via a dedicated website. The game is designed around a single‑puzzle‑per‑day format that emphasizes clarity, fairness...
Ideastream Public Media has placed an order for four new Nautel transmitters to replace or augment equipment at its three full‑power FM stations and an FM translator in Northeast Ohio. The package includes two GV2‑30ND high‑power units, a GV2‑3.5 medium‑power...
The FCC is set to reclaim at least 100 MHz of Upper C‑band spectrum, further shrinking the bandwidth available for satellite video delivery. Broadcasters are accelerating migration to managed IP distribution platforms that offer SLA‑backed performance, flexibility, and cost efficiencies. Leading...
The broadcast industry is shifting from hardware‑centric production to software‑based Dynamic Media Facility (DMF) architectures. In September 2025, AMWA and the EBU launched the JT‑DMF task force and the open‑source Media eXchange Layer (MXL) to define standards for containerised media processing...
The Film and TV Charity’s second Money Matters report, based on 2,000 industry workers, reveals that 74 % are contemplating leaving the sector because of financial pressure and 43 % have already taken concrete steps to exit. Sustained worklessness affects 22 % of...
Silverpush and agency Epitaph released the first attention study for YouTube ads, partnering with Lumen Research. Analyzing over 60 million impressions across more than 30 campaigns, the study found contextual video ads delivered via Silverpush generated 37% higher attention per mille,...
Fuse Media has teamed with youth‑culture leader Complex to launch Complex TV, a free‑ad‑supported streaming (FAST) channel debuting on April 1, 2026. The service will roll out on Amazon Prime, Plex, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, TCL TV+, TiVo, Vizio and Xumo, blending Fuse’s proven monetization engine with...
Future Media has launched Future Optic, a generative AI optimisation (GEO) service that packages LLM visibility as a commercial offering across its portfolio. The move builds on research showing Future’s TechRadar is the most cited domain on ChatGPT, and a...
ByteDance announced tighter safeguards for its AI video generator Seedance after Disney served a cease‑and‑desist alleging unauthorized use of Marvel and Star Wars characters. The move follows a surge of hyper‑realistic clips that raised copyright concerns across Hollywood. Meanwhile, the...
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has trimmed its workforce by more than 100 employees, roughly ten percent of its staff, as part of a broader restructuring effort. The cuts span multiple functions, including middle‑ and senior‑management roles in distribution and...
At Streaming Media Connect, a panel titled “Finder’s Feat: Optimizing Search & Discovery With Metadata & Machine Learning” will examine how structured metadata and AI‑driven tools transform content discovery into a revenue engine. Panelists include Tom Gennari (Fabric), Jamie Mackinlay...
