The Brut. Channel Arrives on Major Telecom Operators and Connected TVs
Brut. has launched a dedicated 24/7 lifestyle channel after striking a distribution deal with CMA Media Group. The channel rolls out across major telecom operators—including Comcast Xfinity, AT&T TV, and Verizon Fios—and on connected‑TV platforms such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV. The offering blends original series, curated fashion and beauty content, and programmatic advertising, reaching an estimated 30 million U.S. households at launch. The rollout began on Wednesday, marking Brut.'s first foray into linear television distribution.
Inside Mautin Tairu’s Nollywood Talent Management Model
Founder Mautin Tairu’s Guguru Talent Management, launched in 2021, is reshaping Nollywood by pairing talent representation with production oversight. Leveraging the global buzz from the Sundance‑premiered “Mami Wata,” Tairu aims to build structured pipelines that move Nigerian talent and stories...
Why the Upfront Is Finally, Actually, Really Broken. (But Still Functions.)
The blog argues that the traditional Nielsen‑driven measurement system that anchored the TV Upfront is disappearing, replaced by a patchwork of competing metrics. This fragmentation creates multiple “currencies,” higher operational costs for sellers, and a pricing reset that erodes differentiation....
Viaplay Extends Exclusive UEFA Rights Contracts in Denmark, Norway and Finland
Viaplay Group has renewed its exclusive UEFA Champions League rights in Denmark and its Europa and Conference League rights in Norway and Finland for a four‑year term ending in 2031, preserving a partnership that dates back to 1992. The extension...
Production Library and Commercial Catalogue Lead // Ninja Tune (London Hybrid)
Ninja Tune announced a senior opening for a Production Library and Commercial Catalogue Lead, reporting to the COO and Head of Worldwide Sync. The role, based in London with a hybrid schedule, will shape the label’s production music and commercial...
Holywater Tech's Pocket TV Playbook
Holywater Tech, a six‑year‑old media startup, runs an end‑to‑end pipeline that turns a books platform with over a million monthly users into AI‑generated series in just two weeks, feeding its My Drama streaming service. My Drama now boasts close to...
"Free Rider": French Producers' Unions Condemn France Télévisions' Deal with YouTube
Four leading French producers’ and distributors’ unions – AnimFrance, Sedpa, SPI and USPA – have issued a joint statement condemning France Télévisions' newly announced distribution agreement with YouTube. The deal permits the public broadcaster’s television content to be uploaded to...
"I Produce Films the Market Isn't Used To": Sister Productions Celebrates 15 Years with a Pivot to Animation
Sister Productions, the Gironde‑based indie studio founded by Julie Paratian, celebrates its 15th anniversary by launching a dedicated animation unit. The pivot follows a decade‑plus of backing unconventional film projects and reflects growing demand for niche animated content on European...
Interview: Vivien Vande Kerckhove • Distributor, O’Brother - “Our Mission Has Always Been to Shed Light on What Belgian Film...
O’Brother, a Belgian arthouse distributor founded in 2009, is set to release 22‑24 titles in 2026—more than double its 2017 output. The company has expanded its Benelux presence with a new Netherlands office, growing the core team from three to...
Broadcast TV’s Next Act May Be Smaller, Sharper, And More Selective
LightShed Partners’ research note argues that broadcast networks should consider dropping most entertainment programming and concentrate on live sports, news and events. Over the past two decades, non‑sports primetime viewership on broadcast has slumped more than 75%, while NFL audiences...
Jesse Collins Entertainment Set to Produce the 78th Emmy Awards Airing Live Sept. 14 on NBC and Peacock
Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE) has been tapped by NBCUniversal and the Television Academy to produce the 78th Emmy Awards, which will air live on September 14 on NBC and stream on Peacock. The ceremony will be held at the Peacock...
For Creators – Building A Media Kit That Actually Gets Responses
A creator media kit is a concise 1‑3 page pitch that showcases a creator’s audience, performance metrics, and past collaborations, dramatically increasing brand partnership inquiries and campaign payouts. Brands spend under 30 seconds scanning kits, focusing first on engagement rates...
Scandal, Loyalty & ‘Summer House’: Frances Berwick’s Bravo Playbook
Frances Berwick, now chairman of Bravo and Peacock unscripted, has turned the network into a growth engine despite a shrinking unscripted market. Over the last six months Bravo’s shows lifted their monthly reach on Peacock by 45%, with flagship series...
Tube Trends: Now Creators Are Taking Over The NFL Draft
The NFL is leaning heavily into creator‑driven coverage, with YouTube emerging as the primary platform for the Draft. Tubular Labs data shows creators accounted for 58% of YouTube views from April 23‑29, and 21 individual creators each surpassed one million views....
Monthly Round-Up: February & March'26 Earnings Report
The author’s newsletter hit 10,000 total subscribers, including 500 paying members, and released a free Substack Blueprint cheat sheet. A new QUEST Bonus mini‑course on data‑driven copywriting was added to the paid tier, and the custom Viral Notes Writer GPT...
The Streaming Audience Is Getting Narrower, Not Bigger
The streaming landscape is undergoing a demographic contraction, with audiences concentrating around older, female, and lower‑income viewers. Nielsen reports a 19% YoY rise in U.S. TV‑screen streaming for 2025, yet Greenlight Analytics shows the 25‑34 cohort dropping from 49% to...
‘Running Point’ Season 3 on Netflix: 43% Viewership Drop for S2 & What We Know So Far
Netflix’s sports comedy Running Point returned with season 3 after a 14‑month hiatus, but its second season opened with a steep 43% viewership decline, delivering only 5.3 million streams in the first week despite ranking #2 globally. The series, co‑created by Mindy...
Building a Defensible Data Business: The Publisher’s Playbook
The article outlines how B2B publishers can monetize latent data assets by building defensible data businesses, citing 67 Bricks' work with the Economist Intelligence Unit, IWSR and others. It presents a taxonomy of five data‑business categories—risk management, regulatory compliance, operational decisions,...
"American Idol" Scores 5.3 Million Total Viewers with Biggest Audience in Over 2 Months During Taylor Swift Night
American Idol aired a Taylor Swift‑themed episode on April 27, 2026, drawing 5.34 million total viewers and a 0.42 rating in the coveted Adults 18‑49 demo. The broadcast topped all entertainment programs that night and posted a 5% week‑over‑week gain, its strongest audience since...
Why Publishing Still Confuses Artists (and What to Do About It)
Stephen Sawyerr, head of publishing at Giant Artist, argues that today’s artists often mistake publishing for full ownership and overlook its strategic value. He explains that modern co‑publishing deals typically grant the artist a 50% share of the underlying IP...
🌅 Horizon Future Leaders - Ben Binner
Sun Label Group’s Senior Director of Commercial Development and Strategy, Ben Binner, discussed how he extracts value from the legendary Sun Records catalog while scouting novel revenue streams. He credits his rise to relentless networking, cross‑functional industry knowledge, and a...
Spotify CEO: The Answer to Too Much Music Is... More Music
Spotify disclosed its catalog has swelled to 250 million tracks, roughly 2.5 times earlier estimates, as AI‑generated songs flood the platform. The surge contributed to a weak revenue outlook that sent the stock down 13.4 % after the earnings call. Co‑CEO Gustav Söderström framed...
CW Sporting Events to Stream on ESPN Unlimited
ESPN Unlimited announced it will stream a slate of CW sporting events, expanding its live‑sports portfolio beyond its traditional lineup. The move includes the NFL Draft’s final two days, a series of neutral‑site college basketball games on Prime Video, and...
Bong Joon-Ho Goes Animated With Ally In Neon Deal
Oscar‑winning director Bong Joon‑Ho is venturing into animation with his debut feature "Ally," which Neon has acquired for North American distribution. The film, slated for a 2027 release, will examine the relationship between humans and deep‑sea life while retaining Bong’s...
Biz News: Rising Dutch Soloist Quits HP
Dutch violinist Simone Lamsma has ended her seven‑year relationship with the Paris boutique agency Solea, which was acquired by Hewlett‑Packard (HP) in September 2024. She is moving her general management to K D Schmid in Hamburg, citing mutual respect and enthusiasm for future collaboration....
Endeavor Sues Stagwell Subsidiary Over $350,000 in Alleged Unpaid Invoices
Endeavor Business Media LLC filed a New York Supreme Court complaint accusing Stagwell’s subsidiary Crispin, formerly MMI, of withholding roughly $356,000 for ad placements run between January and October 2023. The publisher says the agency received payments from its clients...
Disney Reportedly Decides Against Spinning Off ESPN
Disney has halted plans to spin off its sports network ESPN, opting to keep the unit inside the conglomerate. The move comes as the cable TV business faces subscriber erosion and Disney doubles down on its streaming ambitions. ESPN still...
MLB Directs Cleveland Guardians to Adjust Broadcast Team
Major League Baseball’s Local Media unit has instructed the Cleveland Guardians to rotate their veteran broadcast team, mixing longtime play‑by‑play announcer Matt Underwood and analyst Rick Manning with newer voices such as Al Pawlowski and former catcher Chris Gimenez. The...
BMG/Concord
The merger of BMG and Concord has created a de‑facto fourth major label by consolidating extensive publishing catalogs and recorded‑music rights. This new entity now sits alongside Universal, Sony and Warner, giving it a seat at the table for pricing...
The NFL’s September Surprise
The NFL is negotiating new media‑rights agreements worth billions of dollars ahead of the 2026 season, but heightened scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission and a Department of Justice antitrust probe threatens to slow progress. Analyst Mike Morris of Guggenheim...
The Case Against Paramount-WBD Keeps Getting Louder
The Ankler’s latest column highlights a growing chorus of industry voices opposing the Paramount‑Warner Bros. Discovery merger. While the deal appears to be moving forward, critics argue it could exacerbate concentration, limit creative competition, and hurt independent producers. The author...
Our Next Chapter
The Ankler has migrated from Substack to its own website, powered by the Passport subscription platform jointly developed by Automattic and Ben Thompson. The move follows four years of steady growth, with a 13% year‑over‑year subscriber increase and profitability since...
Disney Will Not Spin Off ESPN, per Report
Disney has decided against spinning off ESPN, keeping the sports network within its portfolio as part of a broader streaming push. CEO Josh D’Amaro dismissed spinoff rumors, emphasizing ESPN’s role in bolstering Disney+ and ESPN+ offerings. While ESPN’s operating income...
Wasserman Deal: Final Bidders, Front-Runners Emerge
Casey Wasserman’s entertainment and sports conglomerate, known as The Team, is now the focus of a high‑stakes sale after an initial $4 billion asking price was trimmed to roughly $3 billion. The portfolio spans talent representation in sports, Hollywood, music, media, brand...
Where Was the Board? AI Copyright Infringement Moves to the Boardroom: Adobe, Meta, Anthropic—And the Google Precedent
A California shareholder has filed a derivative suit against Adobe, accusing its officers and directors of exposing the company to liability by training AI models on copyrighted books and other pirated content. The complaint centers on Adobe’s SlimLM model, which...
FCC Orders Early Review of Disney’s ABC Licenses Amid Trump-Kimmel Feud / Netflix Renews Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 /...
The Federal Communications Commission has ordered an accelerated review of the eight ABC broadcast licenses owned by Disney, a move that comes amid President Trump’s public feud with late‑night host Jimmy Kimmel. The FCC says the review focuses on ABC’s...
What Devil Wears Prada 2 Teaches Us About World Building.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 launch treats the film as a cultural anchor, rolling out a three‑year licensing strategy that includes airport wraps, a McDonald’s Happy Meal, Grey Goose, Target, a fake Runway magazine and a Vogue cover before a single frame is shot....
Can Media Companies Ever Claw Back Advertising Revenue From Big Tech?
Publishers have long hoped that better targeting and programmatic tools could reclaim ad dollars siphoned by Google, Meta and now Amazon. Rick Erwin, CEO of Adstra, argues that the dominant platforms’ advantage stems from far superior, unified consumer data and...
Cracking Apple TV: The Shows It Wants Now
Apple TV’s acquisition strategy is now laser‑focused on premium, populist content that features recognizable movie or TV stars, a shift driven by the post‑WGA‑deal environment where buyers only green‑light projects with clear production paths. The streamer celebrated a record Emmy...
CAA Defectors Could Be Sanctioned in Legal War
Creative Artists Agency (CAA) is escalating its fight with former agents who left to form Range Media Partners. After losing an arbitration over the 2020 talent‑agent exit, CAA secured a court ruling that Range and CEO Pete Micelli ignored a...
Troy Carter on Why Suno Changes Everything
Troy Carter, former Spotify executive and early backer of Uber and Dropbox, praised Suno as the most consequential music technology ever, even surpassing radio and the phonograph. He argued that generative AI platforms like Suno equalize the playing field by...
Free Webinar on How To Use AI To Sell More Tickets
Bauer Entertainment Marketing is hosting a free webinar titled “AI Built For The Business Of Selling Tickets” on April 29 at 10:30 AM PT/1:30 PM ET. The session will demonstrate how artificial intelligence can be applied to live‑event marketing tasks such as localizing...
Episode 88: Sirāt (Spain/France) - The Co-Production Podcast
The 88th episode of the Co‑production Podcast, released on April 28, 2026, brings together producers Xavi Font (Filmes Da Ermida, Spain) and Mani Mortazavi (4 à 4 Productions, France) to discuss the Eurimages‑supported co‑production of Óliver Laxe’s film *Sirāt*. They...
Spotify Q1 Users, Revenue Grow, Stock Falls on Weak Forecast
Spotify reported a 14% year‑over‑year revenue rise to $5.27 billion and added 3 million paid subscribers, bringing the total to 293 million. Monthly active users climbed 10 million to 761 million, and operating income hit $836.55 million, surpassing earnings‑per‑share expectations. However, the company forecast Q2 operating...
Dude Perfect Wants to Graduate Beyond Being a "Creator Company"
Dude Perfect CEO Andrew Yaffe announced the group is shifting from a creator‑centric model to a full‑fledged media business, highlighted by their upcoming appearance at YouTube’s Brandcast upfront. The company now treats brand partnerships like long‑term sports sponsorships, leveraging its...
Loco Films Boasts Two Strong Assets in the Cannes Showcases - Cannes 2026 – Marché Du Film
French sales agency Loco Films is banking on two first‑feature films at Cannes 2026. Aina Clotet’s drama *Alive* will debut in Critics’ Week, while Avril Besson’s romantic comedy *Marvelous Mornings* lands in the Official Selection Special Screening. Both titles are being pitched at...
The Doom-Scroll Drama: France.tv Swipes Up on Its First Vertical Series
France.tv has debuted its first vertical series, a 20‑part micro‑drama titled “P*tain de soirée.” Each episode runs about three minutes and was filmed exclusively in a 9/16 portrait format to suit smartphone screens. Produced by La Méridienne and directed by...
The Shrinking Set: 6 Hard Truths About the French Production Crisis
The French audiovisual sector faces a deepening crisis, highlighted by a roundtable hosted by the Assistant Directors & Associates (ARA) on April 27. Industry leaders from the CNC, Ficam and other bodies warned that production budgets have shrunk dramatically, shooting...
One Billion Views and Counting: How Digital Publisher 'Brut' Is Rethinking Cannes for Gen Z
Since 2022, digital‑first outlet Brut has been the official producer and broadcaster of Cannes Film Festival’s online coverage, turning the traditionally elite event into a billion‑view digital experience. By repurposing red‑carpet moments into short‑form videos optimized for TikTok, Instagram Reels...
The €1 Billion Axe: Leaked Parliamentary Report Proposes Gutting French Public Broadcasting
A leaked parliamentary report, championed by Conservative MP Charles Alloncle, calls for a €1 billion (≈$1.08 billion) overhaul of France's public broadcasting system. The proposal mandates merging major TV channels, imposing strict editorial controls, and reinstating state‑appointed executives to run the outlets....