Hisense VIDAA TVs Reportedly Add Unskippable Startup Ads Before Live TV
Hisense Smart TVs running the VIDAA platform are now showing a full‑screen, unskippable advertisement immediately after power‑on, before users can reach live broadcast channels. The same behavior has been reported on Toshiba and JVC TVs that share the VIDAA OS, indicating the ad slot is embedded in the operating system rather than a single hardware model. The ads are delivered via a programmatic partnership with Nexxen, allowing dynamic insertion across the platform. Users have not been provided a clear setting to disable the startup ad, sparking backlash over convenience and privacy.
Guest Post: Words Matter. So Why Do Lyrics Generate Just 1% of Publishing Income?
Global music revenues are projected to hit $200 billion by 2035, yet lyrics— the core narrative element of songs—account for just 1 % of publishing income. Rio Caraeff argues that this disparity limits the industry’s growth potential, especially as lyrics drive superfans who...
Starz Narrows Financial Loss to Under $21 Million During Q4
Starz posted Q4 2025 revenue of $322.8 million, a 6.3% decline year‑over‑year, driven by a 12% drop in streaming‑related sales. Linear and other revenue rose 6.6% to $112.5 million, partially offsetting the shortfall. The operating loss narrowed dramatically to $4.7...
CA Attorney General Comes Out Swinging Ahead of Live Nation Antitrust Trial Kickoff — Judge Rejects Last-Minute Stay Request, Jury...
A federal judge rejected Live Nation’s last‑minute bid to pause the Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit, allowing the case to proceed as scheduled. Jury selection concluded with twelve jurors sworn in, setting the stage for a six‑week trial that will...
Too Lost Launches Profile Defender to Shield Artists From AI-Driven Fakes
Too Lost has introduced Profile Defender, a real‑time monitoring tool that flags and removes unauthorized AI‑generated tracks from major streaming services. The feature responds to recent high‑profile incidents where fake releases appeared on Spotify under the names of Blaze Foley,...
As Hold Cos Restructure, BBDO Reframes Client Relationships
Omnicom’s BBDO has created a global chief experience officer role to overhaul how it serves clients amid a wave of holding‑company mergers, AI hype, and industry distractions. The new chief, Daale Carter, is replacing traditional account management with a "business...
Agencies Grapple with Economics of a New Marketing Currency: The AI Token
Marketing agencies are confronting the economics of generative‑AI tokens as they embed large‑language‑model tools into campaigns. Tokens, which meter compute, can add up quickly—Coca‑Cola’s recent ad required millions of them—prompting agencies to devise new pricing structures. Some firms, like Merge...
WTF Is Meta’s Manus Tool?
Meta has embedded an AI agent suite called Manus into its Ads Manager, following a $2 billion acquisition of the Singapore‑based startup Butterfly Effect. The tool promises automated competitor analysis, audience research, campaign measurement and reporting across Facebook and Instagram. Early...
OpenAI’s Ad Push Begins, and The Knot Is Co-Piloting
OpenAI has launched a trial ad platform inside ChatGPT, enlisting The Knot Worldwide as one of its first brand partners. The wedding‑planning service is testing ad performance, brand‑safety protocols, and data insights while also debuting its own app within the...
MPA LatAm Role for Rolo
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has named Raúl Rolo as Vice President and Regional Legal Counsel for Latin America, based in Mexico City. Rolo will report to Carla Sánchez‑Armas and Jesse Martin, overseeing the MPA’s IP protection and government‑relations strategy...
IKO Media Group Launches iKOSYSTEM
iKO Media Group has unveiled iKOSYSTEM, a unified broadcast operations platform that consolidates satellite, cloud, OTT, FAST and monitoring services into a single, secure environment. The solution offers single‑sign‑on access, role‑based permissions and a real‑time dashboard that provides engineers and...
Channel 4 Sales’ B Corp Competition Returns
Channel 4 Sales is relaunching its B Corp competition, offering £600,000 of free TV advertising to five certified UK B Corporations. Partnering with B Lab UK, the initiative follows a successful first year that boosted brand perception and sales for winners like Seep and Ticket Tailor....
Monday Battle: Epstein v Epstein Docos
Australian broadcasters ABC and Nine launched competing true‑crime documentaries on Jeffrey Epstein, drawing 780,000 and 766,000 viewers respectively. The strong ratings demonstrate significant audience appetite for investigative content, even as they trailed flagship reality shows like Married at First Sight....
Ten Years of Netflix and Prime Video: The Platforms that Reset India’s Streaming Business
In 2016 Netflix and Amazon Prime Video entered India amid Jio’s 4G rollout and a dramatic fall in data prices, turning a catch‑up TV market into a subscription‑driven ecosystem. Over the decade Netflix grew to roughly 16 million Indian subscribers and...
AT&T Downplays Competition From Cable Ops
AT&T’s chief operating officer told investors that cable operators are not yet exerting measurable pressure on the telecom giant’s results. He highlighted four consecutive quarters of stable performance despite cable MVNO growth and emphasized the company’s expanding fiber footprint into...
Optimum’s Price-Locked Plans
Optimum has introduced a “25 for 5” campaign that locks internet prices for five years, starting at $25 per month for 300 Mbps service. The offer expands to a 500 Mbps plan at $35/month with six months of ad‑supported HBO Max, and a...
Sparklight Mobile’s New Promo
Sparklight Mobile, the Cable One subsidiary, has rolled out a nationwide promotion offering a free unlimited‑data line for twelve months to both new and existing customers. After the promotional period, the plan reverts to the standard $30 per month rate,...
Webtoon Entertainment Inc (WBTN) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Webtoon Entertainment reported Q4 2025 revenue of $330.7 million, a 4.1% decline, while full‑year revenue rose 3.9% to $1.4 billion. The quarter’s net loss ballooned to $336.5 million, driven primarily by a goodwill impairment tied to Wattpad. A strategic milestone was Disney’s...
Stan Partners with ACTF on Australian Family Film WHALE SHARK JACK
Stan has teamed up with the Australian Children’s Television Foundation to launch "Whale Shark Jack," a family‑focused feature set on Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef. The film stars Abbie Cornish, Michael Dorman and newcomer Alyla Browne, and follows a marine‑biologist family and their rescued...
Slight Revenue Jump, Lower EBITDA: IHeart’s Q4 Story
iHeartMedia reported a modest revenue increase in Q4 2025, but its adjusted EBITDA fell in the middle of the company’s own guidance range, and the firm recorded a net loss. Chairman and CEO Bob Pittman said the results were satisfactory,...
NWSL’s Dash Relaunch Sale Process After Last Year’s Talks Fell Apart
Houston Dash owner Ted Segal has relaunched the formal sale process after last year’s negotiations with RHC Partners collapsed over NWSL league concerns about the buyer’s funding source. The Dash were previously valued at $74 million, well below the league’s average...
5 Deals for Cord Cutters This Week
This week’s cord‑cutter roundup highlights five cost‑saving offers across streaming, audio, power and TV accessories. Philo’s Core plan drops to $25 for new users, delivering HBO Max and Discovery+ at no extra charge. Bose’s QuietComfort headphones are discounted to $229, while...
“Podcast” Meant Nothing and Everything at On Air Fest
On Air Fest in Brooklyn highlighted a seismic shift in podcasting from craft‑focused journalism to creator‑driven, celebrity‑centric formats. Panelists admitted the economics of audio remain murky, with only a handful of shows turning a profit. The rise of “chat‑casts” and...
A MediaCo Hire Focused On Political Sales, Revenue Growth
MediaCo Holding Inc., parent of Estrella Media and heritage stations WBLS and HOT 97, appointed Victor Hugo Guzman as Director of Local and National Sales Development. Guzman will partner with the company’s Political Sales Team to capture revenue from political advertisers...
Warner Bros. Discovery Is "Rebuilding Its Video Game Pipeline" After a "Significant" 2025
Capcom’s new Resident Evil Requiem is being released in Japan with black‑box censorship that obscures graphic gore, a move that many players say shatters immersion. The censorship stems from the CERO Z rating, which applies to console versions even though...
Urban One Preparing For Q4 Earnings Release
Urban One Inc. will release its Q4 2025 earnings and full‑year results on March 12, with CEO Alfred Liggins III leading a 10 a.m. Eastern call. The company reported an 8.1% drop in Q3 core radio revenue to $38.12 million and projects Q4...
Update: Brint Ryan’s Lone Star Deal Valuation Surfaces
G. Brint Ryan and Malinda Flenniken have finalized a transaction in which Ryan Media will acquire two FM stations, one AM station and an FM translator located in Big Spring, Texas, from Kbest Media LLC. The deal’s financial terms have...
New YouTube Integration for Audacy Creator Lab
Audacy’s Creator Lab now lets podcasters publish full‑length video episodes directly to YouTube while still distributing audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other services. The feature is free and builds on Audacy’s no‑cost hosting platform that pays creators through dynamic...
Telemundo Kicks World Cup Marketing Into High Gear: Sweeping Coverage, New Campaign
Telemundo, the exclusive Spanish‑language home of the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., announced a massive 700‑hour coverage slate that will air live for all 104 matches and run from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily. The network will stream every game...
Brady’s New Take On the Day: A Higher Role
Take On The Day LLC, co‑owned by Dr. Laura Schlessinger and Crossover Media Group, has promoted Dan Brady to Vice President and General Manager. Brady previously held multiple operational roles, including chief call producer, director of podcast operations, and VP...
Owners Of Tigers, Red Wings Create Detroit SportsNet To Broadcast Games
The owners of the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings have launched Detroit SportsNet, a new regional sports network that will air Tigers games in 2026 and Red Wings games in 2027. The service will be distributed via cable, satellite and...
Sound You Can See: Podcasting’s Video Dilemma
The latest Sounds Profitable study reveals that more listeners have watched a podcast in the past month than have listened to one, signaling a clear shift toward video consumption. Yet, simply uploading a podcast to YouTube does not guarantee success;...
Underdog Makes Major Job Cuts in Pivot to Prediction Markets
Underdog Fantasy announced layoffs affecting at least 125 employees, roughly 20% of its staff, with two‑thirds of its fraud operations team eliminated. The cuts accompany a strategic pivot from state‑by‑state sports betting and fantasy drafts to a national prediction‑market platform...
Germany’s Recorded Music Business Generated USD $2.73B in 2025 – up Just 2.3% YoY
Germany’s recorded‑music market posted €2.42 billion in 2025, a modest 2.3% year‑over‑year increase. Streaming remained the dominant revenue source, delivering €2 billion and representing 84.4% of total sales. Physical formats continued to decline, falling 5.9% to €345 million, though vinyl’s share of physical...
Supercell Teams with UK Studio Playabit for Hay Day Match
Supercell has partnered with UK‑based Playabit to launch Hay Day Match, a puzzle‑style spin‑off of its flagship farming game. The title will debut later this month in three emerging‑market regions: India, Indonesia and the Philippines. Playabit, founded in 2021 with...
ESPN Exec: Caitlin Clark Is ‘Gateway Drug’ to Women’s Sports
ESPN’s women’s sports programming chief, Susie Piotrkowski, called rookie star Caitlin Clark a “gateway drug” for attracting new fans to women’s sports. Even after Clark’s season‑ending injury, the WNBA saw a 3% viewership increase and recorded its most‑watched regular season...
For Ellison, Combining HBO Max and Paramount+ Is About 'Reinventing' Film and TV
Paramount Chairman David Ellison outlined a plan to merge HBO Max and Paramount+ after a $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, creating a streaming platform with over 200 million subscribers. The combined entity will inherit blockbuster franchises such as Harry Potter, Lord...
Advanced Systems Group Ups Gretchen Taipale To VP, Managed Services
Advanced Systems Group (ASG) promoted Gretchen Taipale to vice president of Managed Services, succeeding Jody Boatwright who moved to chief strategy officer. In her new role, Taipale will steer the strategic direction and delivery of media operations for a global...
DFS Partners with ITV to Deliver an Integrated Marketing Campaign with Britain’s Got Talent
DFS has partnered with ITV to embed its brand into the 19th season of Britain’s Got Talent, featuring 10‑second TV commercials and bespoke sofas on set. The campaign includes an Amanda Holden‑branded sofa collection, social media sponsorship, and a competition...
Fox’s Lachlan Murdoch Expects Regulators to Put Conditions on Paramount-WBD Merger
Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch warned that U.S. regulators will likely attach a third‑party content‑licensing condition to the $110 billion Paramount‑Warner Bros. Discovery merger. He also noted that CNN, under David Ellison, will continue to challenge Fox News as a strong competitor....
Is DAZN Planning to Make a Run at the NFL?
DAZN is positioning itself to bid for a domestic NFL package as the league prepares for its next round of broadcast negotiations. The streamer already distributes NFL Game Pass internationally and saw a 24% subscription increase in 2025, signaling appetite...
Fox News Media Signs Marcus Lemonis As Contributor
Fox News Media announced that entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis will join the network as a contributor, delivering business and economic analysis across its television and digital platforms. Lemonis serves as executive chairman and CEO of Beyond, where he led the e‑commerce...
Vertical Leap: Growing the Free Vertical Drama Business at Streaming Media Connect
At Streaming Media Connect, Chris Pfaff led a panel on the rapid rise of vertical microdramas on free streaming platforms. Panelists highlighted how mobile‑first viewing, bingeable formats and AI‑driven production are turning short‑form vertical series into a potential mass‑media staple....
Paramount Plans to Merge Streaming Service with HBO Max After WBD Deal Closes
Paramount plans to merge its Paramount+ service with HBO Max once its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery closes, creating a single streaming platform with over 200 million direct‑to‑consumer subscribers. The combined service will sit between Netflix’s 325 million global base and...
Tanco Invests P1.04 Billion More in DigiPlus
Tycoon Eusebio Tanco invested an additional P1.04 billion in DigiPlus Interactive Corp., buying 63.12 million shares (1.4% of outstanding equity) at P16.40 per share. The purchase raises his direct holdings to 10.43 million shares and indirect holdings to 712.62 million shares, underscoring strong confidence...
Love and Deepspace Zayne Japanese Voice Actor Leaving Role
Infold Games announced that Japanese voice actor Takuya Sato will leave the role of Zayne (Rei) in the mobile otome title *Love and Deepspace* after June 7, 2026. The company attributes the departure to the end of his contract and...
German Music Market Experiences 2025 Growth Slowdown As Streaming Gains Fail to Offset Another Physical Decline
Germany’s recorded music market posted €2.42 billion in 2025, marking a modest 2.3% year‑over‑year increase – the slowest expansion in several years. Streaming revenue rose 3.8% to €2.08 billion, representing 84.4% of digital income, while physical sales slipped 5.9% as CD revenue...
Australia’s Rolling Loud Gets Cancelled as Festival and Promoter Pin Blame on Each Other
Rolling Loud’s Australian editions in Sydney and Melbourne were cancelled at the last minute after a dispute with local promoter Primuse Entertainment over missed payment deadlines. Rolling Loud said the financial shortfall left it without guarantees needed for safety and...
Movers & Shakers: Erin Benjamin Steps Down From CLMA
Erin Benjamin is stepping down after 12 years as president and CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association, initiating a structured leadership transition this spring. During her tenure she built Canada’s first unified national platform for live‑music stakeholders and launched...
UK Government Opens Consultation on Social Media Age Restriction, Curfews and Games Crackdown
The UK government has launched a consultation, running until May 26, 2026, to explore stricter controls on children’s access to social media, AI chatbots and online games. Proposals include minimum age thresholds, nighttime curfews, and bans on addictive design elements...