Big Changes at Remedy, Arc Raiders Achieves 'Blockbuster' Status, and Mewgenics Recoups Dev Costs in Three Hours - Patch Notes...
The latest Patch Notes roundup highlights three headline developments: indie rogue‑like Mewgenics recouped its development budget within three hours and sold half a million copies in 36 hours; Nexon’s Arc Raiders achieved “blockbuster” status with 14 million units sold and a peak of 960,000 concurrent players; and Remedy announced a new CEO from EA while stating Control Resonant will not use generative AI, though internal interest remains. Additional industry tremors include Wildlight Entertainment layoffs, a 1,200‑strong Ubisoft strike over cost‑cutting and office mandates, and Roblox creators averaging $1.3 million earnings in 2025. These events illustrate divergent financial trajectories across indie, live‑service, and creator‑driven segments, reshaping investment and talent strategies in the 2026 gaming market.
Anthony Edwards Has a Plan to Get Your Attention
NBA star Anthony Edwards is turning his on‑court fame into a media empire through Three‑Fifths Media, which now produces the unscripted series *Year Six* and the viral Believe That Awards. The company, co‑founded with manager Justin Holland, secured a production...
TVB: OTA Access To Local Sports Is Important
TVB’s 2026 Sports Survey reveals that traditional linear television continues to dominate sports consumption among enthusiasts, despite the rise of streaming platforms. The study shows 90% of sports fans consider local broadcast TV essential, and 75% tune in at least...
Sega Plans to Release ‘Four Major New Titles for Mainstay IPs’ by the End of March 2027
Sega Sammy’s Q3 report outlines a plan to launch four major new games for its core franchises by March 2027, alongside a push to boost sales capabilities. The only confirmed date is the Switch 2 release of Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage...
Done Deal: UMG’s Downtown Acquisition Approved by EU Competition Regulator
The European Commission approved Universal Music Group’s $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings, conditional on divesting the Curve royalty‑accounting business. The decision ends a year‑long antitrust review and clears the way for UMG to integrate Downtown’s distribution and publishing services,...
Indie Veteran Stuart Ford on Netflix-Warner Deal: We Have to “Fight Tooth and Nail” Or Film Professionals Will Become “Uber...
Stuart Ford, veteran indie financier, warned that a Netflix‑Warner merger would likely harm the film ecosystem, likening future talent roles to “Uber drivers” for tech giants. He stressed that preserving proper theatrical windowing and backend participation is essential to keep...
Performance and Reliability: The Non-Negotiables in Live IP Broadcast
Live broadcast is transitioning from SDI to IP workflows built on SMPTE ST 2110, raising the bar for performance and reliability. Purpose‑built media switches now incorporate redundant power, precise PTP timing and boundary‑clock support, eliminating the compromises of repurposed data‑center...
Board Leadership Unveiled For Public Media Infrastructure
The Public Media Infrastructure, created in November with one of the final Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) grants, has announced its inaugural Board of Trustees. The organization was founded just before CPB’s wind‑down, which follows the cessation of federal funding...
Eutelsat “on Track”, LEO Revenues up 60%
Eutelsat’s mid‑year update highlighted a 60% surge in LEO (OneWeb) revenue, now accounting for more than one‑third of its Connectivity earnings. Overall revenue slipped to €574 million, while the Video division fell 12.3% amid continued Russian sanctions. Fixed Connectivity, Government services...
Cineverse Acquires IndiCue
Cineverse announced the acquisition of ad‑tech firm IndiCue for up to $40 million, integrating its advertising and monetisation tools into the Matchpoint platform. The deal adds real‑time revenue optimisation across FAST, AVoD, CTV and other ad‑supported streaming channels. Financing combines cash,...
From Probabilistic to Proven: The Deterministic Turn in Audience Data Strategy
TV advertising is shifting from probabilistic to deterministic audience data. Recent studies show IP‑based identity links to the correct household only 13% of the time, undermining reach and measurement. Deterministic signals such as authenticated ISP or publisher subscriber data can...
BBC Studios Promotes Schildhouse to CEO, Direct to Consumer
Robert Schildhouse has been elevated to chief executive of BBC Studios' newly branded Direct‑to‑Consumer division, which houses BritBox in North America and the documentary service BBC Select. Previously BritBox president, Schildhouse took charge of BBC Select in 2025, helping it become the...
IIMW Recap: India Has a Venues Problem
The India International Music Week conference in Mumbai highlighted a critical shortage of mid‑capacity live‑music venues, specifically spaces for 500‑5,000 attendees. Panelists explained that production costs rise sharply beyond 500 seats, making it financially unviable for promoters to scale up....
Old Spice Updates ‘Mom Song’ With a Modern Motherhood Twist
Old Spice has revived its 2014 “Mom Song” with a new version titled “Mom Song 2.0: The End of Adolescents,” promoting the Swagger grooming line. The ad, produced by Wieden+Kennedy Portland, mimics an early‑90s R&B video and lampoons over‑protective mothers blaming...
FanDuel Taps Ari Avishay From Paramount+ as Marketing Leader
FanDuel appointed Ari Avishay, former Paramount+ SVP of Content Marketing, as its senior vice president of marketing. He will steer brand, creative and consumer‑insights strategy for the sportsbook and FanDuel TV platforms, reporting to President Mike Raffensperger. Avishay brings a track record...
Ads of the Week: 6 Campaigns That Caught Our Eye, From McDonald’s to DoorDash
Adweek’s weekly roundup spotlights six standout campaigns, from McDonald’s quirky “Horizontal Breakfast” aimed at post‑Super Bowl viewers to JCPenney and Yahoo’s tongue‑in‑cheek takes on modern Valentine’s relationships. DoorDash’s spot captures the panic of gifting gone awry, while an AI‑powered ad...
‘A Brand Trip’: How the Creator Economy Showed up at This Year’s Super Bowl
Brands turned Super Bowl suites into creator‑centric activations, inviting influencers to attend the game and generate content at a fraction of traditional fees. Agencies reported a surge in last‑minute deals, with suite rentals exceeding $1 million but delivering audience reach that...
From Feeds to Streets: How Mega Influencer Haley Baylee Is Diversifying Beyond Platform Algorithms
Haley Baylee, a creator with 10 million Instagram and 16.4 million TikTok followers, has partnered with Intersection’s LinkNYC to display her existing social videos on more than 4,000 free‑Wi‑Fi kiosks across New York City. The arrangement is exposure‑only, with no fee, and runs...
While Holdcos Build ‘Death Stars of Content,’ Indie Creative Agencies Take Alternative Routes
WPP announced another McKinsey‑guided restructure as its creative agencies continue to miss targets, with revenue at VML, Ogilvy and AKQA down 5.8% in H1 2025. At the same time, independent agencies dominated the Super Bowl ad slate, delivering at least 25...
Data: Radio Reaches 9 Out of 10 People Weekly
Global research released for World Radio Day 2026 shows radio reaches nine out of ten people each week, outpacing all other audio formats. The study finds weekly reach rates of 90% in Ireland, 89% in France, and 86‑87% across the...
Taylor Swift Asks US Government to Block 'Swift Home' Trademark
Taylor Swift has formally asked the U.S. government to block a bedding company’s attempt to register the "Swift Home" trademark, arguing the stylized cursive resembles her own trademarked signature and could mislead consumers. Her legal team submitted the objection to...
Hasbro Entertainment, Animaj Launch LUMEE
Hasbro Entertainment and kids‑media firm Animaj have launched LUMEE, a joint venture that consolidates their digital advertising inventory and audience insights. The platform offers COPPA‑compliant ad placements across YouTube and Connected TV, leveraging AI‑enhanced production for rapid branded content. LUMEE...
IKOMG Provides FAST, OTT Distribution for CGTN
iKOMG has partnered with China Global Television Network to distribute three CGTN flagship channels—GlobalBiz TV, China Travel and Discovery China—across its FASTonSAT satellite‑enabled FAST service and the iKOFLIX and MENAFLIX OTT platforms. The rollout makes the channels live simultaneously on satellite and streaming...
Ye Hit With Lawsuit Over ‘Vultures 2’ Sample (Again)
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, faces another copyright lawsuit over the Vultures 2 track “530.” Swsh claims the song illegally samples the outro vocals from its 2018 recording “Break the Fall.” The complaint also names collaborator Ty Dolla $ign, Ye’s YZY...
MF Doom Estate Revives Temu Counterfeit Merch Lawsuit
A federal judge has allowed the MF Doom estate to proceed with a revised trademark infringement lawsuit against Temu, alleging the platform actively curates, advertises, and ships counterfeit merchandise bearing the late rapper’s mask and name. The original case was...
Capcom Cup 12 Pay-per-View Pricing and Details Finally Revealed, Free Version of Stream Technically Available
Capcom has unveiled the final pay‑per‑view pricing for Capcom Cup 12, cutting the cost from the originally announced $26 to $6 for a one‑day ticket and $10 for a two‑day pass. The same pricing applies to the Street Fighter League: World...
Manfred: MLB Will ‘Consider Being in Business With Prediction Markets’
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced that MLB is evaluating formal partnerships with prediction‑market platforms, following precedents set by the NHL and MLS. Prediction markets differ from traditional sports betting by operating under a federal commodities framework rather than...
Future Of TikTok U.S.: A Conversation With Keen's Bradley Keefer
TikTok’s U.S. platform, now under new ownership, suffered early outages and a 150% surge in uninstalls, yet ad spend remained steady. Sensor Tower data shows ad costs fell roughly 36% while ROI climbed 60% year‑over‑year, according to Keen Decision Systems’...
DraftKings Stock Tumbles on New Full-Year Revenue Estimate
DraftKings' shares fell 13% after the company reported fourth‑quarter earnings and issued FY2026 revenue guidance that missed analysts' expectations. Revenue reached $2 billion, matching consensus, while earnings per share rose to $0.25 versus the $0.16 forecast. The 2026 sales outlook of...
TikTok and Fabulate Team up to Scale Creator Content Across APAC with AI at the Core
TikTok has partnered with Fabulate to embed its Symphony generative‑AI suite into the influencer‑marketing platform, creating a unified workflow for brands and creators across APAC. The integration adds AI dubbing, video generation and licensed digital avatars directly into Fabulate’s SparQ 2.0...
Dodgers $401M Payroll Adds Tension Ahead of MLB Labor Talks
The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2025 season with a $401.1 million luxury‑tax payroll, far outpacing any other franchise and intensifying fiscal disparities in MLB. Commissioner Rob Manfred noted the Dodgers’ compliance with the current CBA but warned their spending could dominate...
Global Ad and Marketing Spend To Jump By Nearly 10%
PQ Media’s latest forecast shows global advertising and marketing expenditures climbing almost 10% in 2026, reaching roughly $800 billion. The surge is anchored by high‑profile sports moments such as Lionel Messi’s campaigns and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, which...
The Empire Strikes Back: The Majors and Merlin Gained (a Bit) of Market Share on Spotify Last Year.
Spotify’s 2025 fiscal report shows the combined majors‑plus‑Merlin cohort regaining market share, rising to 72% of global music streams from 71% in 2024, ending a decade‑long decline that saw the group fall from 87% in 2017. The rebound coincides with...
Škoda Selects 3SS for In-Car Entertainment Service
Škoda Auto has partnered with 3SS to launch Škoda Play, an in‑car entertainment service built on the 3Ready Automotive platform. The hub aggregates live‑stream and on‑demand video, news, educational and branded content, and offers a backend for content management and...
Comcast Advertising, Adara Launch New Measurement Tools for Travel Industry
Comcast Advertising and Adara have unveiled a joint measurement platform that links Comcast’s premium video‑viewing data with Adara’s first‑party travel booking and revenue data. The solution provides advertisers with direct attribution of TV and streaming ads to actual traveler bookings,...
Scott Borchetta Exits HYBE AMERICA
Scott Borchetta is departing HYBE America after five years as CEO of Big Machine Label Group, which HYBE acquired in a $1.05 billion deal in 2021. Borchetta, the founder of Big Machine Records, will continue to use the brand for independent...
Roku Made Over $4.7 Billion in 2025
Roku reported $4.737 billion in net revenue for 2025, a 15% year‑over‑year increase, while streaming hours rose 15% to 145.6 billion. The company highlighted record‑breaking Premium Subscriptions net adds in Q4 and a 75% jump in Roku Sports sign‑ups. The Roku Channel...
Roku Sees Higher Revenue, Positive Net Income For 2025 As Platform Makes Gains
Roku reported a strong fourth‑quarter 2025, posting $1.5 billion in revenue—a 16% year‑over‑year increase—and its first positive net income of $80.5 million. Platform revenue surged 18% to $1.2 billion, driven by higher video‑ad sales and a record share of streaming minutes. The company...
HYBE Posts Record Annual Revenues of $1.86bn for 2025 as K-Pop Firm’s Concert Revenues Hit All-Time High – but Operating...
South Korean entertainment conglomerate HYBE reported FY 2025 revenue of 2.65 trillion KRW ($1.86 bn), a 17.5% YoY increase driven largely by a 69.4% surge in concert revenues to $537.5 m. Despite the topline growth, operating profit collapsed 72.9% to 49.9 bn KRW ($35.1 m), shrinking the...
California Fines Disney For Alleged Privacy Violations
Disney agreed to pay $2.75 million to settle California Attorney General claims it breached the state’s privacy law by not honoring user opt‑out requests. The settlement requires Disney to create a consumer‑friendly, easy‑to‑execute opt‑out process and to cease cross‑context behavioral advertising...
NetEase Cloud Music Now Counts over 1 Million Registered Indie Artists
NetEase Cloud Music announced that its independent‑artist ecosystem surpassed one million registered creators, contributing over 5.6 million tracks by the end of FY 2025. Subscription revenue grew 13.3% year‑over‑year to RMB 5.1 billion, while total online‑music revenue rose 12% to RMB 6.0 billion. Despite a slight...
Albertsons Companies Signs On To Test OpenAI ChatGPT Ads
Albertsons Companies has entered OpenAI’s ChatGPT Ads pilot, joining Target, Williams‑Sonoma and Omnicom in testing conversational advertising. The retailer will run Valentine’s Day‑focused ads that appear when users ask for gifts, recipes or party ideas. Ads will be clearly labeled...
Proposed EU Digital Networks Act Would Mandate Radio in New Cars
The European Commission’s draft Digital Networks Act (DNA) would require every new passenger vehicle sold in the EU to include a radio receiver capable of digital (DAB+) and analog broadcasts. The proposal aims to preserve terrestrial radio as a public‑safety...
We All Knew ARC Raiders Struck Gold. But the Actual Sales Put Most AAA Blockbusters to Shame
ARC Raiders sold over 14 million copies in just three months, delivering roughly $560 million in revenue and accounting for a significant share of Nexon's $3.1 billion earnings. The title outperformed many recent AAA blockbusters despite launching alongside heavyweight franchises like Battlefield 6 and...
PMI Names Its First Board Members
Public Media Infrastructure (PMI) announced its inaugural board of trustees, chaired by LaFontaine Oliver of New York Public Radio. The nonprofit, launched by a coalition including APMG, PRX, and NPR affiliates, secured a five‑year, $57 million grant from the Corporation for...
The "Video Game Company Layoff Roulette" Ball Lands on Ubisoft… Again
Ubisoft announced a 200‑person voluntary departure plan, the largest single layoff since 2020, affecting roughly 1 % of its 17,000‑employee workforce. The cuts target corporate headquarters as part of a broader restructuring that also eliminates remote‑work flexibility, sparking discontent among staff....
Mediassociates Expands Senior Management Team
Mediassociates announced two senior‑level hires, naming Drew Corry vice president‑strategy and Abby Niziankiewicz vice president‑strategic media investment. Both roles are newly created at the independent media services firm based in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Corry arrives from his AI advisory practice...
Loudness Control Is Your Ally in Preventing Tune-Out
David Bialik stresses that loudness control is essential for radio streaming to keep listeners from constantly adjusting volume, especially when ads are louder than content. He cites AES standards—TD1008, AES71‑2018, AES77‑2023—recommending –24 LKFS for video streams and –16 to –17 LKFS for...
Meet Boston Named Official Destination Partner for RLCS Major 2026
Meet Boston has signed a partnership to become the official destination partner for the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) 2026 Boston Major. The four‑day event will run Feb. 19‑22 at Boston University’s Agganis Arena, featuring 16 elite teams competing for a...
Devsisters’ Next-in-Line CookieRun: OvenSmash Opens Pre-Registration on Android
South Korean developer Devsisters has opened pre‑registration on Android for CookieRun: OvenSmash, the franchise’s first real‑time PvP battle action game. The title pits teams of customizable Cookies against each other in three‑minute, 3D‑controlled matches set in the urban fantasy Platter...