Every News Outlet Should Produce a Video Podcast
Simon Owens discusses why every news outlet should launch a video podcast, highlighting The Guardian’s new daily video show as a model. He argues that video podcasts are a low‑cost way to repurpose text journalism, build journalists’ personal brands, and counter AI‑driven content consumption. The episode also touches on AI drafting at the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the surge in Don Lemon’s audience after his arrest, the rise of VC‑turned‑podcasters like Molly O’Shea, and how nonprofits such as MedShadow are using video to hold pharma accountable.
The Sinister Question Spotify Has Not Answered About Its AI: What Did They Train On?
Spotify announced it is building a proprietary music‑generation AI platform that can produce remixes, covers, and other derivative works. The company has provided no details on the recordings or datasets used to train the models, leaving open the possibility that...
Fan Burner Accounts Vs. Click Farms: Why the Difference Matters More Than Ever
The article clarifies the growing confusion between fan burner accounts and click farms in music streaming. Fan burners are human‑run secondary profiles that amplify organic buzz, while click farms are large‑scale operations that artificially inflate streams. Apple reported disabling roughly...
All 5 Seasons of ‘Queen of the South’ Leaving Multiple Netflix Regions in March 2026 and the US in April...
All five seasons of the crime drama *Queen of the South* will exit Netflix in ten territories on March 9, 2026, with the United States losing the series a month later in April 2026. The show, an adaptation of the Spanish series *La Reina...
Risk Mitigation and Casual Nihilism Were the Main Themes at the 2026 European Film Market
The 2026 European Film Market was dominated by a pervasive focus on risk mitigation, with producers and financiers prioritising tax credits, long‑term rights structures and cross‑sector partnerships to hedge against uncertainty. At the same time, the market’s schedule has compressed,...
Is It Still Windowing if We Never Stream? Or Is It a Strike?
An emerging debate questions whether the traditional "windowing" model applies when music is never streamed, as artists and unions push back against streaming platforms' royalty structures. Dr. David C. Lowery highlights growing concerns over AI‑generated music, opaque royalty calculations, and...
Linear Leads Way as NBA Remains up at All-Star Break
NBA viewership surged entering the All-Star break, with linear TV partners driving the rebound. Average audience across NBCUniversal, ESPN/ABC and Prime Video hit 1.80 million, a 16% year‑over‑year rise and the strongest mid‑season average since 2018. NBC, returning to broadcast after...
Will We Eventually See A Mega Streaming Bundle? | What’s On Disney Plus Q&A
In a weekly community Q&A, Disney addressed speculation about a future mega streaming bundle, explained the strategic benefits of its new partnership with Sky, and outlined why the company is promoting next year’s Super Bowl early. The discussion also covered...
The Future Of Local Television — And Why It Matters To You
Broadcast television is undergoing a major upgrade as local stations adopt ATSC 3.0, the NextGen TV standard. The new IP‑native system promises clearer pictures, better sound, mobile reception, interactive features, and more robust emergency alerts. Broadcasters argue that this transition...
"Unscripted" Producer MEGUMI Signs Exclusive Partnership with Netflix
Netflix has inked a multi‑year exclusive agreement with Japanese unscripted creator MEGUMI to develop a slate of original series. Her debut unscripted show, Badly in Love, quickly rose to No. 8 on the Global Weekly Top 10 (Non‑English Series) and topped Japan’s...
‘The Last Kingdom’ Will Begin to Leave Netflix Throughout 2026
Netflix will begin removing the historical drama *The Last Kingdom* from its library in 2026, starting in Canada on March 9, 2026, followed by the United States on December 9, 2026, and later in the UK, Australia and most of Europe on April 1, 2028. The...
Box Office: 'GOAT' Roars With $7M Friday as 'Crime 101' Stumbles and 'Don't Die' Survives
The episode breaks down the latest box‑office numbers, highlighting Sony’s animated comedy GOAT’s strong $7.1 million Friday debut and projected $23‑$29 million weekend, while noting the modest performance of Crime 101 and the steady hold of titles like Don’t Die. It contextualizes GOAT’s success...
'Wuthering Heights' Box Office: Why U.S. Moviegoers Won't Determine Its Fate
The episode breaks down the opening performance of Warner Bros.’ R‑rated romantic drama *Wuthering Heights* over the President’s Day/Valentine’s Day weekend, noting it will likely be 29% down from last year’s holiday frame and will capture only a fraction of...
Audience Engagement Metrics Drive B2B Media Co. As It Makes M&A Moves
Connect Media has acquired Networld Media Group, adding nine news platforms and nine live events to its portfolio and expanding its reach to roughly 1.1 million users. The company’s focus on loyalty‑based audience metrics and snackable content drove a 24% engagement...
Blacklyte Reveals Partnership with Six Invitational 2026
Gaming furniture maker Blacklyte has been announced as the official desk and chair sponsor for the Six Invitational 2026, the world championship for Rainbow Six Siege X. Its Athena Pro gaming chair and Atlas Lite desk will be featured on‑stage...
DoJ Antitrust Enforcer Exits Weeks Before Live Nation Trial
Gail Slater, the DOJ’s assistant attorney general for antitrust, abruptly resigned days before the department’s high‑profile trial against Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Her departure follows reports of internal clashes over settlement negotiations that could spare the companies from a breakup....
The Growing Fashionability of Online Wrestling Streaming in 2026
Online wrestling streaming has become the dominant way fans consume content in 2026, with platforms like WatchWrestling offering live events, daily shows, and pay‑per‑view access without traditional cable subscriptions. On‑demand libraries let viewers replay classic matches and stay current with...
How To Advertise A Startup With a Small Budget? 7 Plays That Get Your First 100 Customers with FameHero and...
Startups often fail from lack of visibility, not product flaws. The article outlines seven low‑budget tactics—centered on FameHero’s AI‑driven media placements and lean Google Ads—to secure a startup’s first 100 customers. FameHero claims to boost organic traffic up to fivefold...
TikTok Adds 'Local Feed' — Perfect for Marketing Live Gigs
TikTok has introduced a new Local Feed tab that surfaces content based on a user’s immediate geography, recent activity, and topical relevance. The feature is designed to help musicians, venues, and promoters connect with audiences who are physically close enough...
Netflix US Picks Up ‘Lord of The Flies’ Series Adaptation With Upcoming Narnia Star
Netflix has secured exclusive U.S. rights to a four‑part limited series adaptation of William Golding’s *Lord of the Flies*. Produced by the Eleven Film team behind *Sex Education*, the drama features newcomer David McKenna as Piggy—who will later headline Netflix’s *Chronicles...
Inside the Stream: YouTube TV’s Skinny Bundles, AMC’s Streaming, Super Bowl Stats
YouTube TV is launching three lower‑priced "skinny" bundles that focus on sports, news, and entertainment, all priced below its $83 base tier. The move targets cord‑cutters and cord‑nevers while testing whether existing subscribers will downgrade. AMC reported that its domestic...
When All the Content Is Synthetic: The Trust Portfolio
The article argues that the classic trust‑building playbook—focus, platform, consistency, then diversification—still works, but the window to execute it is shrinking as AI‑generated content floods the web. Forecasts suggest up to 90% of online material could be synthetic within years,...
Theater Counts: GOAT Tops a Slate of Fresh Films, Arriving as the Weekend’s Widest Release.
The animated sports‑comedy GOAT debuted as the weekend’s widest release, opening in 3,863 theaters. Send Help claimed the top box‑office spot for a second straight weekend, pulling in just over $9 million and reaching a domestic total of $38.18 million. New titles...
Select ABC Multiplatform Ratings: How The Rookie, Will Trent, 9-1-1, More Compare with Streaming Factored In
ABC released its 7‑day (MP+7) and 35‑day (MP+35) multiplatform ratings for the 2025‑26 season, highlighting High Potential as the clear leader in both the Adults 18‑49 demo and total viewers, with four episodes surpassing 10 million viewers. The Rookie closely follows,...
NBA Local Package Could Come as Soon as Next Season
The NBA is accelerating plans to bundle and sell a centralized local media rights package as early as the 2026‑27 season. The imminent collapse of Main Street Sports Group, which operates the FanDuel RSNs, will free up local rights for...
Bari Weiss and the Great TV News Pay Cut
The episode examines the financial squeeze on TV news, focusing on Paramount Skydance’s aggressive cost‑cutting ahead of a potential Warner Bros. Discovery merger and CBS News’s restructuring under editor‑in‑chief Bari Weiss. It highlights how massive synergy targets ($3‑$6 billion) are driving...
Universal’s Michael Moses: My Modern Movie Playbook
Universal’s chief marketing officer Michael Moses argues that theatrical movies are far from dead, noting that Gen Z and Gen Alpha actually crave the communal cinema experience. Drawing on his 25‑year career behind hits like *Wicked*, *Oppenheimer*, and the *Fast...
“BeddyByes” Coming Soon To Disney+
Disney announced the preschool animated series “BeddyByes,” debuting on Monday, March 2 2026 on Disney Jr. and Disney Jr. On Demand, with 20 episodes arriving on Disney+ the following day. The show follows friends MeMo and BaBa on bedtime‑focused adventures across Planet BeddyByes, aiming to...
AI Is Booming for Social Platforms – but so Is Regulation
Social platforms are experiencing a revenue surge, with YouTube reporting $60 billion and Reddit posting a 70 % YoY increase in Q4. At the same time, regulators worldwide are moving to restrict under‑16 access, as Australia bans it and the EU, US,...
ABC's Thursday Night Dramas Dominate as "9-1-1," "9-1-1: Nashville" And "Grey's Anatomy" Jump to Biggest Multiplatform Audience Since Their Season...
ABC’s Thursday night lineup delivered record‑breaking multiplatform audiences for three of its flagship dramas. The Jan 29 episodes of “9‑1‑10,” “9‑1‑10: Nashville,” and “Grey’s Anatomy” each posted their highest Total‑Viewer numbers since their season premieres, with 8.20 M, 6.99 M and 6.21 M viewers...
Not Getting Coverage on Your Music Release? It's Not You, It's the System.
Elisa Serrani’s new observatory report shows that the surge in music press releases has outpaced journalists’ ability to process them, turning volume into noise. The Italian market, used as a micro‑cosm, demonstrates a sharp rise in promotional material while editorial...
The Music Industry’s Boiling Frog Moment
The article likens today’s music industry to a boiled‑frog scenario, where streaming platforms and social media have gradually reshaped power dynamics. Labels and artists now chase audience slices sold by platforms, forcing relentless content output to appease algorithms. This shift...
Rethinking Creative Fairness Under the UK’s New Automated Decision-Making Rules
The UK Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 replaces GDPR Article 22 with Section 80, easing restrictions on fully automated decision‑making (ADM) while defining "meaningful human involvement" and "significant" effects. The new safeguards only trigger when decisions rely on special categories of...
NBC Olympics Viewership Again Benefitting From Combined Windows
NBC’s strategy of merging live afternoon and primetime windows has propelled viewership for the Milan‑Cortina Winter Games, averaging 26.5 million viewers across its platforms—almost twice Beijing’s 13.7 million. The approach mirrors the Paris Summer Olympics rollout, allowing NBC to count daytime “Milan...
Train Dreams
Netflix acquired the indie drama *Train Dreams* and gave it a brief theatrical run to satisfy Oscar‑qualification rules before releasing it on the streaming platform in November 2025. The film earned a 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating and secured a Best...
Publishing Giant People Inc. Makes Events Core Pillar of Business
People Inc., the publisher behind Travel + Leisure and Food & Wine, is elevating live experiences to a core growth pillar. The company has slated more than 60 events for 2026, including its first major consumer celebration for the United...
THE WEDNESDAY CHARTS: Theatrical Windows and the Netflix-Warner Bros. Deal, Follow-Up | February 11, 2026
The episode breaks down the evolving landscape of theatrical windows, highlighting that only 19 of 56 wide releases in 2025 enjoyed a 45‑day exclusive run, with Disney favoring long windows and Universal opting for short ones. It examines the Netflix‑Warner...
Fox’s Michael Thorn: A Faster Path to Yes — ‘No Layers,’ No Pilots
In this episode, Fox Television Network president Michael Thorn explains how the network is leveraging its independence to create a faster, “no‑layers” development model that bypasses traditional pilot season. Thorn details Fox’s platform‑agnostic strategy, its unofficial first‑look partnership with Fox...
![[Guest Post] Paris Court of Appeal Clarifies Platforms’ Obligations Under Article 15 DSM Directive in Twin Decisions Against X](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCM4Pa_gOjB4W3SpuC8PcbW_ono8T6K1VRCDd6FRq2NTMEgiz-4vgMhVrXQ507U0PgBqksa9D2dp65KIK4iv9fF_YiwuUR51rPriEccTNC3jZW5c1p7h_8ar7BDA_BLTS9LgI4Hzjrd204mDNlIAIdUzmbcAMgK6p2uCIugZuY4iqHzdzLLZpVyA/s72-c/istockphoto-880917850-612x612.jpg)
[Guest Post] Paris Court of Appeal Clarifies Platforms’ Obligations Under Article 15 DSM Directive in Twin Decisions Against X
On 25 September 2025 the Paris Court of Appeal upheld two injunctions forcing X (formerly Twitter) to disclose detailed engagement and revenue data for press content, confirming the platform’s duty to provide information needed to calculate remuneration under Article L.218‑4 of the French...
Superfan Guide: Lessons From KATSEYE, Olivia Dean & Leon Thomas
Grammy Best New Artist nominees KATSEYE, Olivia Dean and Leon Thomas are leveraging Spotify’s native tools to turn casual listeners into active superfans. KATSEYE used a Countdown Page and Clips to make its EP release an interactive event, while Dean...
Sunday TV Ratings 2/8/26: Super Bowl Slightly Down From 2025, Winter Olympics Dip From 2022 Post-Super Bowl Rating, Puppy Bowl...
The Super Bowl LX drew 124.9 million viewers and earned a 36.74 rating in the 18‑49 demo, a modest decline from the 2025 game. Its post‑game broadcast retained 61.3 million viewers with an 18.58 rating, underscoring the event’s lingering pull. The 2026...
The Bus Flip: How ‘The Dark Knight’ Used Action to Reveal an Antagonist
Christopher Nolan’s *The Dark Knight* introduces the Joker through a high‑octane bank heist rather than dialogue, using the bus‑flip sequence to expose the villain’s chaotic genius. The opening action reveals the Joker’s meticulous planning, ruthless manipulation of his crew, and...
The Blue Box in ‘Mulholland Drive’ Isn’t What You Think
The blue box and accompanying blue key in David Lynch’s “Mulholland Drive” serve not as literal plot devices but as symbolic thresholds between the protagonist’s dream world and her grim reality. When Rita opens the box, the camera plunges into...
Photo Reveal: The Most Misunderstood Scene in ‘Blade Runner’
The article reexamines Blade Runner’s Esper scene, arguing that its purpose is not to showcase futuristic tech but to explore how belief shapes memory. While the visual effect appears to let Deckard extract hidden depth from a photograph, the film...
Saturday TV Ratings 2/7/26: Winter Olympics Barely Down From First Competitive Night of Beijing Olympics, The Way To You Decent...
Saturday’s primetime TV ratings show the 2026 Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics still leading the night with a 1.76 rating and 11.15 million viewers on NBC, though numbers slipped slightly from the opening competitive night. College basketball on ESPN delivered solid cable performance,...
News: NHL Media Rights, Paramount-WBD, Angels and More
The NHL has accelerated talks with ESPN and TNT Sports to renegotiate its U.S. media rights, aiming to lock in deals before the NFL’s upcoming rights cycle. Paramount refreshed its hostile tender offer for Warner Bros. Discovery, adding a $0.25‑per‑share...
Super Bowl Rating Back Under 40 as Ho-Hum Game Posts Rare Decline
Super Bowl LVIII, featuring the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, recorded a 39.4 household rating and 124.93 million viewers across NBC, Peacock and Telemundo, marking a 6 % drop in rating and 2 % decline in total audience from the previous year....
How a Clerical Error Saved 'Se7en' Its Iconic Twist Ending
David Fincher’s 1995 thriller *Se7en* survived a near‑fatal script mishap when his agent sent him the original, un‑sanitized draft instead of a studio‑approved version. The draft contained the now‑iconic climax where Detective Mills discovers his wife’s head in a box,...
Up to 10 New Tamron Lenses Could Be Coming in 2026
Tamron’s latest Japanese financial report hints at a rollout of up to ten new interchangeable lenses in 2026, building on a busy 2025 that introduced the 16‑30mm f/2.8 and 25‑200mm f/2.8‑5.6 models. The prospective lineup would span Sony E‑mount, Nikon Z‑mount, Canon...
Faster, Cheaper, Better AI Content— Pick One. Pick Faster.
Major media players are deploying generative‑AI tools to accelerate film and TV production. Disney’s strategic push, backed by its partnership with OpenAI, focuses on cost reduction, while Amazon’s new Head of AI Studios aims to streamline creative workflows. ByteDance and...