Comcast Business Powers February’s Biggest Broadcast Events
Comcast Business is again partnering with NBCUniversal to provide the backbone network for three marquee February events: Super Bowl LVII, the 2026 Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics, and the 2026 NBA All‑Star Game. The company will deliver dedicated, high‑capacity fiber connections linking broadcast hubs, studios, and international venues, with built‑in redundancy and continuous monitoring. For the Olympics, the network will support more than 3,200 hours of coverage, including over 2,500 streaming hours on Peacock. Executives highlighted that the resilient infrastructure lets producers focus on storytelling while ensuring uninterrupted live delivery.
How To Dominate March Madness With Show-Level Data
Rain the Growth partnered with Spectrum Reach to leverage show‑level metadata for CTV placements during March Madness, delivering the agency’s highest response rate of the quarter. Using Nielsen Gracenote’s TMS IDs, the partnership identified exact game, recap and related content...
Michael Kassan’s 3CV Made $50M in Its First 15 Months in Business
Michael Kassan’s 3C Ventures (3CV) posted $50 million in revenue within its first 15 months, surpassing early targets. About 35% of that income stems from multi‑stage, seven‑figure transformation projects for Fortune 500 clients such as Delta, JPMorgan Chase, AutoNation and Qualcomm. The firm...
LALIGA Granted Precautionary Measures Against VPNs
LALIGA and Telefónica Audiovisual Digital secured precautionary court orders from Spain’s Commercial Court No. 1 in Córdoba against NordVPN and ProtonVPN. The rulings compel the VPN providers to block IP addresses linked to illegal streaming of protected football matches within Spain,...
BBFC to Deliver Age Ratings for HBO Max in UK
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has struck a partnership with Warner Bros Discovery to apply official BBFC age ratings and content advice to every title on HBO Max when the service launches in the UK on 26 March 2026. The BBFC will produce...
Portugal: Over 53% Watch Streaming Services
More than half of Portugal’s adult population (53.3%, 4.6 million people) streamed video between September and December 2025, setting a new national record and adding 107 000 users year‑over‑year. Daily or near‑daily usage rose to 41.7% of viewers, while subscription penetration climbed to...
HBO Max Launching in New Zealand
Warner Bros. Discovery announced that HBO Max will launch as a direct‑to‑consumer streaming service in New Zealand in mid‑2026. The rollout follows the service’s 2025 debut in Australia and recent launches in Germany, Italy, and the upcoming UK/Ireland launch. HBO Max...
CRA Poaches Nine Growth Executive Helena O’Dowd to Drive Audio’s Commercial Push
The Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) has created a new Head of Commercial Strategy role and hired Nine’s Director of Growth and Retention, Helena O’Dowd, to fill it. O’Dowd will steer industry‑wide initiatives under CRA’s 2030 Strategic Plan, aiming to expand...
Account Manager (Influencer Campaigns) – Round – London
Round is hiring an Account Manager for its Influencer Marketing team in London, targeting music and entertainment clients. The role involves leading creator campaigns on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts while managing client relationships and presenting strategic decks. Candidates...
Nintendo Strikes More Emulators with DMCA Takedown Notices
Anchor Point Studios, the Barcelona‑Seattle action‑adventure outfit founded by NetEase, announced it will spin out and operate as an independent studio. CEO Paul Ehreth thanked NetEase for resources and said the team will now seek investors and publishing partners to...
UK-Based Investor Independent Franchise Partners Takes 3% Stake in Universal Music Group Worth $1.2bn+
Independent Franchise Partners (IFP) has acquired a 3.01% stake in Universal Music Group (UMG), valued at roughly €1.09 billion ($1.29 bn). The holding makes IFP the sixth‑largest shareholder and adds to its existing positions in Vivendi, Rightmove and Warner Music, signalling a...
Introducing iSpot SAGE: A Proprietary Agentic AI Platform
iSpot launched iSpot SAGE, an agentic AI platform that leverages its proprietary TV ad measurement data to deliver actionable insights. The system runs on NVIDIA AI servers and was built over two years with input from brands like General Motors...
For Super Bowl LX, CP Delivered For NBCU
CP Communications supplied the full‑scale broadcast communications backbone for NBC and Telemundo’s Super Bowl LX coverage, deploying an HD21 mobile unit, a private wireless network, and extensive intercom infrastructure. The company positioned nine radios across Levi’s Stadium, linked 64 Dante and...
To Attract Top Talent, Consider A Purpose-Driven Culture
Alexander Group, a revenue‑growth management consultancy, argues that attracting top talent in media sales requires a purpose‑driven culture. The firm highlights that the modern account executive must possess advanced technological skills that younger professionals naturally bring. By linking mission‑focused values...
Ad Monetisation Basics in Mobile Gaming
The guide outlines how mobile game developers can monetize free titles through ads, emphasizing early design decisions. It breaks down three primary ad formats—banners, interstitials, and rewarded videos—and provides placement and frequency best practices. It explains mediation platforms such as...
The InFOCUS Podcast: Washington Edition
Adam R. Jacobson, editor‑in‑chief of RBR+TVBR, visited the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) headquarters on February 11, a day after the Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the national TV‑ownership reach cap. In the InFOCUS Video Podcast, he recaps key moments from...
More than 10 Million Duolingo Users Have a 365-Day Streak
Duolingo disclosed that more than 10 million users have logged into the app every day for a full year, representing roughly 20 % of its 50 million daily active base. The language‑learning platform posted a record $88.9 million in gross user spending in January...
A Sovereign Call To Pay Up, Or Lose Its Licenses
A broadcast group based in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, led by Bill Curtis (legal name William C. Gleich) and Tim Sabean, has operated 11 radio stations acquired from Northern Star Broadcasting for more than 15 years. The duo now confronts...
Standard CEO Exits After Eight Months to Join Immediate
Tamar Riley is leaving the Evening Standard after just eight months to become portfolio managing director at Immediate, a media group that owns Good Food and other lifestyle brands. Riley, who previously spent nine years at Refinery29 driving audience‑first revenue...
UK Government Must Extend New NDA Protections to Freelancers to Truly Tackle Misogyny in Music, Say MPs
The UK Parliament’s Women & Equalities Committee is pressing the government to extend the Employment Rights Act’s ban on non‑disclosure agreements (NDAs) to freelancers in the music sector. While the Act now voids NDAs that silence employees reporting harassment, it...
PC Building Simulator 2 Coming to PS5, Xbox Series on February 26
PC Building Simulator 2, originally released for PC in October 2022, will launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles on February 26, 2026. The announcement comes from Epic Games Publishing and developer Spiral House. The game brings its detailed PC‑building career and free‑build modes...
TikTok Teams up with Apple Music for Full-Length Streams and Listening Parties
TikTok and Apple Music have launched a beta “Play Full Song” feature that lets Apple Music subscribers stream entire tracks inside the TikTok app, generating standard royalties. The button opens a full‑screen player powered by Apple’s MusicKit APIs and is...
February FCC Meeting To Consider New Noncomm FM Translators
The Federal Communications Commission will discuss a Media Bureau proposal at its February open meeting to create new non‑commercial FM translator authorizations. Translators rebroadcast existing stations, extending coverage into underserved areas. The agenda item targets both religious and secular non‑commercial...
Full Ownership For A Lone Star FM For Laukhuf
In September 2024 Cowboy Broadcasting Network announced the acquisition of KRXT‑FM, a 6 kW Class A station serving Rockdale, Texas. Stephen Laukhuf is now buying Jim Schwertner’s 50 % ownership for $262,844.09, with $225,844.09 already paid and the remaining $37,000 due by April 1,...
Spring Awakening: Braves Go With Gray Duo For Broadcasts
The Atlanta Braves have expanded their spring‑training partnership with Gray Media, adding 15 games to the broadcast lineup on WANF‑46 and WPCH‑17. The coverage will also be distributed free over‑the‑air to 26 Southeast markets within the Braves’ MLB territory. A...
Honkai: Star Rail Fans Think It Got Caught up in Political Tensions Between Japan and China
Hoyoverse postponed Honkai: Star Rail’s major 4.0 update by two weeks. The official notice cited “better experience,” but no further details were given. Fans and leakers argue the delay aims to strip Japanese‑inspired elements after rising China‑Japan tensions. The move...
Brawl Cup Heads to Berlin as BLAST Unveils 2026 Brawl Stars Esports Plans
BLAST has sealed a multi‑year partnership with Supercell to bring the Brawl Cup to a live arena for the first time, staging the inaugural event in Berlin from May 15‑17, 2026. The three‑day showcase will be part of a nine‑month...
Embracer Sales Decline 26% to $1.3bn During First Nine Months of Fiscal Year
Embracer Group reported a 26% year‑on‑year drop in net sales to SEK 11.9 billion ($1.3 billion) for the nine months ending December 31, 2025, with mobile revenues plunging 63% and PC/console sales down 22%. Despite the overall decline, CEO Phil Rogers called Q3 a “clear...
Two Games Leaving Game Pass Are Going Super Cheap in Latest Xbox Sale
Microsoft’s February 2026 Xbox sale slashes prices on two Game Pass titles that are set to leave the service on February 28. Middle‑earth: Shadow of War Definitive Edition is 85 % off at $5.99, while Injustice 2 Legendary Edition is 90 % off at $5.99, both...
How Warner Bros. Could Supercharge Netflix’s Advertising Business | Analysis
Netflix’s potential acquisition of Warner Bros. and HBO Max could dramatically accelerate its fledgling advertising business. By adding Warner Bros.’ premium library, Netflix would expand ad inventory and attract higher‑value advertisers, pushing its ad‑supported revenue toward a $9 billion target by...
Grand Theft Auto 6 Needs Marketing to Create Energy Around November 19 Release, Says Take-Two CEO
Take‑Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6 remains on schedule for a November 19, 2026 launch, with a summer‑time marketing push designed to convert existing awareness into genuine consumer energy. He emphasized that the campaign must feel authentic, showcasing...
Streaming Services Are Raising Their Prices & Others Are Shutting Down – The Biggest Cord Cutting Stories Of The Past...
Last week the streaming sector saw major consolidation and pricing shifts. Bell Media announced the CTV app will shut down in 2026, moving its library to the Crave platform to create a unified Canadian hub. AMC+ disclosed its ad‑free tier...
Orange Sounds Out Buyers for Viaccess-Orca
Orange is quietly testing the market for a sale of its video‑security subsidiary Viaccess‑Orca, appointing Oddo BHF to identify potential buyers. The move follows a similar exploratory process for its broadcast services arm Globecast and reflects a broader effort to streamline...
Why Hiro Is Bullish on UK and EU Game Dev Funding After Helping The Chinese Room and Bulkhead Go Independent
Venture capital firm Hiro Capital launched its advisory arm to guide fragmented game studios, recently steering The Chinese Room and Bulkhead Interactive out of Tencent‑owned entities toward independent UK/EU ownership. The firm argues that Europe’s talent, lower costs and restrictive...
Comcast & Paramount May Merge As Both Struggle With Streaming
Comcast’s Peacock and Paramount Global’s Paramount+ are both under pressure, with Peacock reporting 44 million paid subscribers but a $552 million quarterly loss, while Paramount+ reached 79.1 million subscribers and posted a $340 million profit. Analysts suggest a merger could give the two mid‑tier...
Six Flags Great Adventure Announces Return of ‘Wild Ride’
Six Flags Great Adventure announced the return of its Safari Off‑Road Adventure, dubbed a “wild ride,” for the spring‑summer 2026 season. The attraction now includes an extra boarding location near the park’s headline coasters, letting guests shift from high‑speed thrills...
Building Resilience with Registration
The Reuters Institute’s 2025 Digital News Report shows digital subscriptions have plateaued at about 18 % across twenty countries, indicating a ceiling for many publishers. In response, the FT Strategies and Google News Initiative Subscriptions Academy recommends shifting focus from full...
PlayStation Plus Classics Adds Tekken: Dark Resurrection and OG Time Crisis
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced two new PlayStation Plus Classics titles: Tekken: Dark Resurrection and the original Time Crisis. The Tekken entry will be the PlayStation Portable version rather than the later PS3 port, while Time Crisis comes from its PlayStation One debut. Both...
Canal+ Reshapes Benelux & Central Europe Leadership Team
Canal+ has restructured its Benelux and Central Europe operations, installing a new Executive Committee under CEO Yassine Bouzoubaa. Myriam Rakib becomes EVP Business, overseeing sales, marketing, data and partnership functions, while Erwan Luherne takes charge as EVP Content & Publishing...
Mega Studio Shuts Down Game Development Division After Nearly Five Years
Mega Studio has shut down its game development division after nearly five years, ending its mobile development efforts. The company will retain a four‑person team focused on its Mega Rewards growth platform. CEO Adam Jaffe announced a pivot from traditional...
Eutelsat Renews Viewsat Capacity Deals at 7/8° West Video Neighbourhood
Eutelsat has renewed several capacity agreements with Egypt‑based Viewsat, extending a long‑standing partnership focused on the 7/8° West video hotspot. The deals support Egyptian broadcasters and reinforce Eutelsat’s strategy in the MENA region. The 7/8° West position reaches roughly 66 million...
Sony Group Develops Tech to Track Original Music in AI-Generated Songs (Report)
Sony Group has created technology to identify copyrighted music embedded in AI‑generated songs. The system works by either connecting directly to AI model training data or by comparing generated outputs against existing catalogs. Sony AI aims to use the tool...
Stillfront’s Top Shareholders Call for Extraordinary Meeting to Elect New Board and Chair
Stillfront Group’s two largest shareholders, Laureus Capital GmbH and Knuth Capital LLC FZ, representing roughly 23% of voting rights, have formally requested an extraordinary general meeting to elect a new board and chair. They propose a six‑member slate led by Lars‑Johan...
Hot Five: Former Unity CEO David Helgason Resigns From Board, Supercell’s Content Creator Furore, and Mattel Acquires Full Ownership of...
Unity co‑founder David Helgason stepped down from the board after more than two decades, trimming the board to nine members. Supercell’s CEO Ilkka Paananen issued an apology for overlooking content creators in Clash Royale’s 2025 resurgence, highlighting the growing influence...
CyberConnect2's 30th Anniversary Game Revealed as .hack//Z.E.R.O. Action RPG for Consoles
CyberConnect2 announced .hack//Z.E.R.O., an action RPG celebrating its 30th anniversary, slated for console release. The studio will self‑publish the title after receiving full consent from Bandai Namco, the IP owner. Set roughly ten years after the current in‑game timeline, the game...
Zara Larsson Upgrades Australia ‘Midnight Sun’ Tour Dates, Adds New Zealand
Zara Larsson’s 2026 Midnight Sun Tour sold out every announced Australian date within minutes, prompting Live Nation to upgrade three shows to larger arena venues. Perth, Melbourne and Sydney concerts will move to RAC Arena, Rod Laver Arena and Qudos...
Data: Negative Reaction to Six Nations In-Game Ads
Research by Quantcast shows that in‑game advertising during the Six Nations boosted online engagement for brands but provoked strong negative sentiment among viewers. Samsung achieved a 13% engagement rise while Virgin Atlantic saw an 18% uplift, yet Samsung’s ads generated...
ZDF Studios Strikes 1,200-Hour Drama Deal with TV2 Hungary
ZDF Studios has inked a multi‑year agreement with Hungary’s TV2 Group for more than 1,200 hours of drama, spanning free‑to‑air, pay‑TV and video‑on‑demand platforms. The catalogue blends German classics such as *The Black Forest Clinic* and *Derrick* with romantic TV...
Four Games Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass In Late February 2026
Microsoft announced that four titles will leave Xbox Game Pass on February 28, 2026. The departing games are Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, Injustice 2, Middle‑earth: Shadow of War, and Monster Train, all removed from console, PC, and cloud tiers. Until the removal date, each title will be offered with a...
WXYZ-TV & ResilienX to Pilot ORION-X for Automated Aerial Newsgathering
ABC‑affiliated WXYZ‑TV in Detroit is partnering with ResilienX to pilot the ORION‑X platform for automated aerial newsgathering. The managed‑service model lets the station request live or recorded drone footage while ResilienX handles flight operations, regulatory compliance, and safety. Initial missions...