Primary Wave in Talks to Potentially Acquire Kobalt Music Group
Primary Wave is in advanced talks to acquire Kobalt Music Group, with a potential valuation north of $1.5 billion—roughly double the price paid by private‑equity owner Francisco Partners in 2022. The deal would merge Primary Wave’s $6 billion catalog portfolio with Kobalt’s publishing‑administration and AMRA royalty platform, creating a $7 billion‑plus independent music powerhouse. Kobalt’s revenue and EBITDA have surged, reporting $794 million in revenue and about $100 million EBITDA for the year ending June 2024. Francisco Partners, which holds a 90% stake, could exit far earlier than its typical five‑to‑seven‑year private‑equity horizon.
Podcast Agency Oxford Road Launches Awards to Honor Indie Podcast Creators Outside Major Platforms
Oxford Road, a podcast advertising agency, has launched the Independent Podcast and Creator Awards to spotlight independent shows that operate outside major audio platforms. The inaugural ceremony, hosted by rapper Killer Mike, will take place at SXSW in Austin on...
David Ellison Wins. It Doesn’t Yet Make Him a Winner.
David Ellison secured a $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros., beating Netflix’s $82 billion bid. The deal, financed by a consortium that includes Saudi and Qatari sovereign funds, gives him control of a studio with a $71 billion market cap and a portfolio...
Riding the Rightwing Algorithm to Success: Is Karl Stefanovic Australia’s Joe Rogan?
Australian TV veteran Karl Stefanovic launched an independent podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show, which surged to No. 2 on Apple Podcasts overall and topped the news category within four weeks. The series quickly amassed over 50,000 YouTube subscribers and its right‑wing...
Week in Review: Netflix Drops Its WBD Bid, Premier League Plans a Streaming App, and CTV Fuels Ad Tech Growth
Netflix has withdrawn its $83 billion bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming assets, paving the way for Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion hostile offer, which the board has deemed superior. Paramount’s proposal, backed by Larry Ellison, now awaits regulatory clearance...
Sustainable Magic: Hong Kong Disneyland’s Enchanting ESG Adventure
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) has woven ESG into its operations, showcasing solar energy, water reuse, waste reduction, and community programs. The resort’s 200 kW solar canopy now expands to over 8,300 panels, expected to power roughly 1,200 households by 2026....
Gatefolded Wants to Solve Fragmented Music-Sharing for Artists
Gatefolded launches as a dedicated platform that lets musicians share music both publicly with fans and privately with labels, media and collaborators. Founder Jasen Samford, a former DistroKid executive, built the service after hearing workflow frustrations from thousands of artists....
SeaWorld, Busch Gardens Report Lower Attendance, Revenue in Q4 and Full-Year Results
United Parks & Resorts, operator of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, reported declines in both attendance and revenue for fiscal 2025. Full‑year attendance slipped 1.8% to 21.2 million guests, while revenue fell 3.6% to $1.7 billion and net income dropped 26% to $168.4 million....
Projects From Spain and Latin America Selected by Series Mania Forum 2026
The Series Mania Forum announced 15 projects for its 2026 Co‑Pro Pitching Sessions, chosen from more than 400 submissions across 65 countries. Spain’s two flagship entries are *The Glacier Murders* – a Spain‑Chile thriller set between Patagonia and Catalonia –...
Meta Sues To Block Ad Scams By Firms In 3 Countries
Meta has filed lawsuits in Brazil, China and Vietnam to stop firms running deceptive ad campaigns and has issued cease‑and‑desist orders to eight marketing consultants accused of helping advertisers evade its policies. At the same time, a coalition of leading...
Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery Reshape Streaming?s Power Balance
Paramount Skydance Global and Warner Bros. Discovery have announced a $111 billion merger that would unite two major studios and their extensive content libraries. The combined entity would blend HBO’s premium brand with Paramount’s franchises such as Star Trekk, Mission: Impossible, Transformers and...
Bosnia State Broadcaster BHRT Halts Programming in Funding Crisis Protest
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s state broadcaster BHRT stopped all TV and radio output on 26 February, displaying a black screen and a warning about a possible shutdown. The halt stems from a deep funding crisis: licence‑fee revenues collected by the country’s entities...
Sandbox Guide :: Vibe Coding for Music Marketers
Music Ally’s Sandbox Guide titled “Vibe coding for music marketers” introduces a new methodology that converts audio characteristics into actionable audience insights. The guide, part of a series released ten times a year, combines case studies, expert interviews, and benchmark...
Julie Lamb Promoted to Chief Talent Officer at AEG’s AXS; Jason Boxer Upped to Chief Financial Officer
Julie Lamb has been promoted to Chief Talent Officer of AEG’s ticketing arm AXS, while Jason Boxer moves up to Chief Financial Officer. Both previously served as senior vice presidents—Lamb in HR and Boxer in accounting and finance. Their new...
Telia and Viaplay Sign New Multi-Year Content Agreement
Telia and Viaplay have signed a multi‑year content agreement to bolster Telia’s TV and streaming proposition in Sweden. The deal secures long‑term access to Viaplay’s extensive library of international series, local entertainment and premium live‑sport rights, including UEFA Champions League...
MSC Refurbishing Cruise Ship as Part of Ongoing Investment Plan
MSC Cruises has begun a major refurbishment of the MSC Poesia at Malta’s Palumbo shipyard, adding the upscale MSC Yacht Club and revamping dining, spa and fitness facilities. The upgrades, which include new specialty venues like Butcher’s Cut and Kaito Sushi...
Netflix Dropping Its Bid for Warner Bros. Will Spur Big Gains for the Streaming Giant, Analysts Say
Netflix walked away from its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, letting the bid lapse as Paramount Skydance raised its offer to $31 per share. The decision erased a major overhang, sending Netflix stock up about 8% in pre‑market trading while Warner Bros. Discovery slipped...
Martijn Van Hout to Depart Canal+ After 22 Years
Martijn van Hout will leave Canal+ at the end of February, ending a 22‑year tenure that included roles as Country Manager DACH and Managing Director of Canal+ Austria. He launched HD Austria in 2010, grew it into a full pay‑TV...
Why Audio and Video Is ‘Big Part’ of Politico Growth Strategy
Politico is making audio and video a core growth pillar through 2026, expanding its Playbook podcast network and launching a new Brussels edition. The company hired a deputy head of audio, introduced a Brussels Playbook podcast that already draws about...
PLAYzone Announce Four LANs with ~$96,000
PLAYzone unveiled its 2026 tournament roadmap, featuring four LAN events with a combined prize pool of roughly $96,000. The schedule includes the May Conquest of Prague LAN ($35,000), two open‑cup LANs in August and September ($13,000 each), and the November...
On Sale Live 2026 to Bring Together the People Shaping the Experience Economy
On Sale Live 2026, a conference for sales, marketing and communications professionals in live entertainment, will be held on 15 May at a new Kings Cross venue in London. The event gathers over 250 senior decision‑makers from theatre, festivals, sport...
WTVision Maps Out Streamlined Newsroom Collaboration
wTVision has launched wMaps, a broadcast‑grade mapping platform built into its on‑air graphics ecosystem. The solution offers a standalone GUI for 2D/3D map creation and a client‑server module that supports up to ten simultaneous users via a browser. Designed for...
Spotify Unveils First-of-Its-Kind Partnership to Support ‘Next Generation’ of Australian Artists and Fans
Spotify announced a three‑year partnership with The Push, a national youth music organization, committing A$200,000—the largest single donation in The Push’s history. The initiative builds on Spotify’s Turn Up Aus campaign, which generated an additional 223 million streams of Australian music...
The Impact of the Fallout TV Series on PC Game Sales From 2024-2026
The Fallout TV series has driven a pronounced uplift in PC game sales across G2A.com from 2024‑2026. Season 1 generated a sharp acquisition spike, while sales in 2025 settled at a baseline well above pre‑show levels. The month before Season 2 premiered...
Italy: DAZN Scores World Cup Rights
DAZN has secured exclusive streaming rights to broadcast every one of the 104 matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Italy, while public broadcaster Rai will air 35 selected games, including the opening match and any involving the Italian...
How Audience Insights Drive NBA Media Decision-Making
NBA Vice President Michelle Auguste explained how audience insights have shaped the league’s new 11‑year media rights agreement, positioning the NBA as a growth property despite overall TV declines. The data highlighted the league’s nightly reach, youthful and diverse fan...
Three TV5MONDE FAST Channels Launch on Plex
TV5MONDE announced that its three free‑ad‑supported streaming (FAST) channels—Chefs, Voyage, and Info—are now available on Plex across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Latin America. The rollout covers Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and Mexico, with...
Tracy Wilson Takes over as SVP and GM at Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line has appointed Tracy Wilson as senior vice president and general manager of operations, succeeding Sharon Siskie. Wilson brings more than 30 years of Disney experience, most recently serving as senior vice president of finance for Disney Signature...
Hilary Duff Enjoys First No. 1 In Australia With ‘Luck… Or Something’
Hilary Duff’s sixth studio album “Luck… Or Something” debuted at No. 1 on Australia’s ARIA Albums Chart, marking her first chart‑topping album in the market. The record also led vinyl sales for the week, underscoring a resurgence in physical formats. While...
Atresmedia Defies TV Ad Downturn with €1bn FY Revenues
Spanish broadcaster Atresmedia posted €1 billion in net revenues for FY 2025, a marginal decline from €1.01 billion in 2024, despite a 4.4 percent contraction in the domestic TV advertising market. EBITDA fell sharply to €87.7 million, but the company noted that, excluding redundancy‑related provisions,...
WPP Is Betting Its Future on Getting Paid for Outcomes
WPP announced a strategic pivot toward outcome‑based agency fees, linking compensation directly to client sales and brand performance. The move is anchored by a pending global creative contract with Jaguar Land Rover that would tie fees to measurable results. WPP’s data platform,...
The Case for and Against Publisher Content Marketplaces
Content marketplaces are emerging as a way for publishers to monetize their articles and protect against AI scraping. Microsoft and Amazon are backing these platforms to boost Azure and AWS adoption, while licensing standards from groups like the BBC coalition...
Shannons SpeedSeries Secures New Home on FOX SPORTS for 2026
After two decades on free‑to‑air television, the Shannons SpeedSeries will move to Fox Sports starting in 2026. The new deal places all six championship rounds live on Fox Sports and on‑demand via Kayo Sports, ending its partnership with the Seven...
DAZN Continues to Drive Subs Growth for NFL Game Pass
DAZN reported a 24% year‑on‑year increase in NFL Game Pass subscriptions, continuing double‑digit growth since its 2023 partnership with the league. The premium Ultimate Tier saw more than 300% growth as fans embraced HDR, Dolby 5.1, and multiview features. International...
Paramount-WBD Pact Is ‘Not a Done Deal,’ California AG Teases ‘Vigorous’ Investigation
California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned that the Paramount‑Warner Bros. Discovery merger is not finalized, citing an open state investigation. Paramount’s $31‑per‑share offer has been deemed superior, prompting Netflix to step aside. Regulators must still clear the deal amid concerns...
CNN’s Jake Tapper Breaks News of Paramount Buying Network’s Parent Company WBD Live on Air: ‘It Affects Everybody I’m Looking...
Paramount Skydance announced a presumptive offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent of CNN, after Netflix withdrew its competing bid. The announcement was made live on CNN’s "The Lead" by Jake Tapper, highlighting immediate relevance to the network’s staff. Political figures, including former...
Begin Secures ISL Digital Rights Across 4 GCC Markets
Begin, the UAE‑based OTT platform, has signed a one‑year exclusive deal for the Indian Super League’s digital rights in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain. The agreement grants live streaming access for the 2026 ISL season, which runs through...
Horizon Sports & Experiences, TOGETHXR Launch Joint Venture to Power Future of Women’s Sports
Horizon Sports & Experiences and women’s sports media firm TOGETHXR have launched IX to Five, a joint venture aimed at commercializing women’s sports through premium storytelling, IP development, and brand partnerships. The venture debuts with content featuring the StudBudz, WNBA...
Some of Warner Bros. Games' 'Biggest Franchises' To Return Starting Next Year, Netflix Backs Out of Bidding War with Paramount
Warner Bros. Discovery announced that its gaming division will refocus on its flagship franchises—Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, DC and Mortal Kombat—with new releases expected in 2027‑28. The company described 2025 as a reset year after shutting down MultiVersus and...
Comcast Now Offers Free Disney+ & Hulu With Some Internet Plans
Comcast is bundling free, ad‑supported Disney+ and Hulu with select Xfinity high‑speed internet plans, also adding Peacock Premium, Xumo Stream Box, and a Wi‑Fi gateway. The offer applies to gigabit, 1.2 Gbps and 2 Gbps tiers and is available to new sign‑ups...
EnTech Fest Panel: Passionate Audience Key to DTC Services Fandango and Angel Studios
At the Digital Entertainment Group’s EnTech Fest, Angel Studios and Fandango highlighted the importance of cultivating passionate, direct‑to‑consumer audiences. Angel’s 2.1 million members vote on every title, paying a monthly fee for theater tickets and streaming access. Fandango, now operating under...
Creators Express Frustration with Instagram’s Latest AI Experiment
Instagram has rolled out an AI‑powered shopping test that automatically tags products and suggests similar items when users tap “Shop the Look.” Influencers say the feature surfaces products they don’t endorse, potentially cannibalizing brand deals and eroding audience trust. Creators...
Rachel Perkins to Steer First Nations Strategy at SCREEN AUSTRALIA
Screen Australia has appointed acclaimed filmmaker Rachel Perkins as its inaugural Director of First Nations Strategy, effective 2 March 2026. Perkins, an Arrernte and Kalkadoon woman and co‑founder of Blackfella Films, brings over three decades of experience creating Indigenous‑focused television...
X Invites Advertisers To Recycle Creative From Other Platforms
Elon Musk's X has launched a new ad feature that lets advertisers upload existing social‑media creatives and automatically apply expanded aspect ratios, including 4:5 and 2:3, without needing AI‑driven editing. The tool is available through Media Studio, Composer, and the...
Samba: Essentials, Utilities Tally Most Ad Impressions in 2nd-Half 2025
Samba TV’s H2 2025 advertising report shows a sharp pivot toward essential and infrastructure categories, with utilities ad impressions jumping 48%, insurance up 18% and pharma rising 12%. Discretionary sectors such as career services, apparel and food & beverage posted double‑digit...
Edison Research to Present The Infinite Dial 2026
Edison Research, now part of SSRS, will unveil The Infinite Dial 2026 in a March 12 webinar backed by SiriusXM Media. The annual survey, the longest‑running study of U.S. digital‑media behavior since 1998, now includes unprecedented data on AI usage alongside metrics...
Softcore History Joins Backyard Ventures’ Roster, Bringing Comedic History to Premium Brand Partners
Backyard Ventures announced that the comedic history podcast Softcore History, hosted by Rob Fox and Dan Regester, has joined its creator roster as the exclusive representative for premium brand partnerships. The deal covers both audio and digital platforms, positioning the...
Podcast Movement Announces First-Ever New York City Flagship Event at Terminal 5
Podcast Movement announced its flagship conference will move to New York City, hosting the 2026 event at Terminal 5 from September 14‑18. The program splits into a two‑day Sounds Profitable Business Summit for executives and media buyers, followed by creator‑focused sessions and networking events....
Independent Australian Kids Podcast Reaches 2.47M Global Monthly Listens and Launches Silly Stories Spectacular Live Show
Australian creator Sam Ramsden’s independent podcast Silly Stories for Kids logged 2.47 million monthly listens, 1.373 million downloads and over 21.8 million listening minutes in the last 30 days. Audience composition is roughly 52% North America, 26% Australia‑New Zealand and 13% United Kingdom, underscoring its...
ATSC Appoints Anil Bhardwaj Tech, Strategy Director For India
ATSC has named Indian broadcast veteran Anil Bhardwaj as its Technology & Strategy Director for India and Emerging Markets, reinforcing the group’s push for next‑generation standards. Bhardwaj will lead ATSC’s engagement with the Telecommunications Standards Development Society of India (TSDSI) and...