PlayStation Plus Prices Across The Board Are Up in A Rather Baffling Choice From Sony
Sony has raised PlayStation Plus subscription fees across all tiers for monthly and three‑month plans, adding $2 to the monthly price and $4 to the quarterly price, while leaving annual plans unchanged. The increase arrives alongside recent price hikes for the PS5 and PS5 Pro consoles, fueling speculation about a higher‑priced PS6. Although the move may irritate some subscribers, blockbuster titles such as Marvel’s Wolverine and Grand Theft Auto 6 are slated for release later this year, offering potential offset. Critics also note Sony’s vague announcement, underscoring the need for clearer communication before the June 2 State of Play.
Netflix Expands Japan Slate With Deals for 20 NHK Dramas, Nippon TV’s ‘Monday Late Show’
Netflix announced two major Japanese content deals, adding a rolling library of NHK dramas and acquiring global catch‑up rights to Nippon TV’s variety hit Monday Late Show. Six NHK titles, spanning the network’s Taiga, Asadora and Drama 10 pillars, launch on...
Valve Release IEM Cologne Major Stickers
Valve announced the IEM Cologne Major sticker lineup and a new Viewer Pass, introducing a token‑based marketplace that replaces the traditional capsule‑unboxing model. Individual stickers can be bought with tokens, and their price rises with demand; a partial refund triggers...
CIMM Calls for Industry-Aligned Frameworks Around Media Quality
The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) released its paper "Quality Matters," arguing that Media Quality (MQ) signals—such as attention and context—are essential for valuing ad placements in a signal‑constrained ecosystem. The authors contend that traditional metrics like viewability are...
Spotify Bets on Taste as Differentiator in the AI Era
Spotify announced a four‑year plan to boost profitability by deploying a "large taste model" AI that personalizes music in real time and shifts the platform toward interactive sharing. The strategy includes a new Reserved ticketing service with Live Nation, a...
Ross Video to Invest C$122.5 Million to Expand Manufacturing and R&D
Ross Video announced a C$122.5 million (US$90 million) investment to expand its Ottawa and Iroquois facilities, adding 125 high‑skilled engineering and manufacturing positions. The funding, bolstered by a conditional C$6 million grant from Invest Ontario, will broaden AI‑enabled media‑processing capabilities and accelerate the...
No, GTA 6 Is Not Being Delayed to 2027, Earnings Call Shows
Take‑Two Interactive used its latest earnings call to squash circulating rumors that Grand Theft Auto VI would slip to February 2027. The company reaffirmed the previously announced launch date of November 19 2026, the third scheduled shift since the title was first slated for...
Paramount+ Renews A-LEAGUES Deal as Free-to-Air TV Coverage Shrinks
Paramount+ and Network 10 have signed a three‑year extension of their media rights partnership with the Australian Professional Leagues. The deal keeps every A‑League Men’s and Women’s match live on Paramount+, while free‑to‑air coverage on Network 10 is cut to one...
ABC Delivers $772m Economic Boost as Digital Content Overhaul Looms
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) disclosed that its commissioned productions delivered an economic boost of $772 million AUD (about $509 million USD) and supported more than 7,700 full‑time jobs between July 2022 and June 2025. Deloitte Access Economics found the broadcaster acted as an...
Qobuz Becomes Rough Trade’s Official Streaming Service Partner
Qobuz, the France‑based high‑resolution music streaming service, has signed a two‑year global partnership with UK indie retailer Rough Trade. The deal makes Qobuz the Official Streaming Service for Rough Trade’s seven physical locations – five in the UK, plus stores...
How Jake Paul’s MVP Plans to Build on Successful Netflix MMA Debut
Jake Paul’s MVP Promotions delivered a breakout MMA event on Netflix, pulling an average of 12.4 million viewers worldwide and 9.3 million in the United States. CEO Nakisa Bidarian – the former UFC CFO who helped broker its sale to Endeavor –...
A.I.-Powered OZZY OSBOURNE To Go 'All Around The World' And Talk To Fans: 'He Will Answer You In His Own...
At the Licensing Expo 2026 in Las Vegas, Jack and Sharon Osbourne announced a partnership with Hyperreal to launch an AI‑powered digital twin of Ozzy Osbourne that captures his voice, likeness and movement. Hyperreal, which previously created avatars of Stan Lee,...
Warner Music COO, Armin Zerza: Music Is Under-Monetized, Under-Digitized, and Ripe for ‘Years of Productivity’
Warner Music COO Armin Zerza, former Activision Blizzard CFO, told the JPMorgan conference that music is under‑monetized and under‑digitized, with significant upside from AI and catalog exploitation. He noted that Warner’s catalog accounts for 65% of streaming revenue and yields...
ITN Launches Paid Subscriptions on Youtube to Support Archive Content
ITN has rebranded its archive YouTube presence, launching Frontline by ITN, Flashback by ITN and Re‑Told by ITN. Frontline offers a paid membership at £3.99 (≈ $5) per month, giving subscribers early video access, voting rights on digitisation priorities and status...
Spotify Unveils “Reserved” Concert Tickets For Premium Subscribers, Sets Universal Music Deal For Fan-Made Covers & Remixes
Spotify unveiled "Reserved," a new feature that earmarks two concert tickets for the platform's most engaged Premium subscribers, using listening activity, shares and other engagement signals. The program, rolled out with Live Nation, launches in the United States with plans...
Spotify Says It’s India’s “Market Leader in Audio-Streaming”, At Investor Day Event
At its New York Investor Day on May 21, 2026, Spotify announced it is now the market leader in audio‑streaming in India. The claim follows the exit of four former rivals and Gaana’s shift to a subscription‑only model, leaving Amazon Music, Apple Music, YouTube Music and...
Shamrock Capital Holds Final Close on $813m Media, Entertainment Fund
Shamrock Capital announced the final close of its latest media and entertainment fund, raising $813 million. The vintage continues the firm’s strategy of investing in cash‑flow‑generating assets, building on a portfolio that previously included rights to Taylor Swift’s music catalog. The capital...
Spotify to Reserve Concert Tickets for Superfans on Premium Tier; Live Nation Confirmed as Launch Partner as Companies Strike Multi-Year...
Spotify is launching "Reserved," a feature that holds two concert tickets per tour for the platform's most engaged Premium subscribers. The service, backed by a multi‑year partnership with Live Nation, will debut in the United States this summer before rolling...
Liga MX Signs Deal to Return to EA Sports FC Video Game
Liga MX has signed a licensing agreement with EA Sports to return to the EA Sports FC series, beginning with FC 27 slated for September. The contract runs through June 2029 and reportedly offers higher compensation than the league’s prior deal with...
Spotify Targets High-Spending Superfans with AI-Generated Music
Spotify is piloting an AI‑generated music service aimed at its highest‑spending subscribers, offering custom tracks created on demand. The feature, built with OpenAI‑backed technology, will be bundled into a premium tier priced around $20‑$25 per month, targeting users who already...
$50 Million Sponsorships, Sky-High CPMs: Welcome to the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup will be hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada, giving Fox and Telemundo unmatched access to two of the world’s biggest TV markets. Advertisers are scrambling for inventory, with Fox’s top sponsorship packages...
Osbournes Detail Plans for Interactive Ozzy Digital Avatar
The Osbourne family announced a partnership with AI‑entertainment firm Hyperreal to create an interactive digital avatar of the late Ozzy Osbourne. The avatar will mimic his voice and mannerisms, allowing fans to ask questions and receive authentic‑sounding answers. Hyperreal, known...
Spotify Will Introduce Memberships as New Way for Creators to Make Money
Spotify announced a suite of new creator tools at its investor day, beginning with Memberships that let eligible artists and podcasters sell subscription‑based exclusive content directly to fans. The rollout starts later this summer, alongside Personal Podcasts, an AI‑driven feature...
Spotify Will Reserve Tickets for Top Fans of an Artists in a Bid to Drum up Engagement
Spotify is rolling out a new program that reserves two concert tickets for users identified as "top fans" of select artists. The platform will determine fan status using streaming data, shares and other engagement signals while filtering out bots and...
CBS, TNT Sports Parents Face New Merger Scrutiny by Lawmakers
Paramount Global’s $110 billion bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery has drawn fresh scrutiny from six Democratic senators, who sent a letter to FCC Chair Brendan Carr highlighting national‑security risks tied to the proposed 49.5 % foreign ownership of the combined entity....
Spotify Will Now Reserve Concert Tickets for Subscribers Who Are ‘Superfans’ of Artists
Spotify unveiled "Reserved," a new feature that automatically sets aside two concert tickets for users identified as superfans based on streaming, sharing and location data. The service launches for US Premium subscribers aged 18+, with no extra fee, and is...
Democrat Lawmakers Ask FCC to Scrutinize Foreign Funding of Paramount/WBD Merger
Six Democratic senators have urged FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to conduct a rigorous review of Paramount Skydance’s $110.9 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, citing the deal’s reliance on foreign wealth funds. The regulatory filing shows 49.5% of the merged entity would be owned...
Spotify and Universal Music Group Strike Landmark Deal to Let Fans Create AI Covers and Remixes – as a Paid...
Spotify and Universal Music Group have sealed a licensing pact that lets Premium subscribers pay to generate AI‑powered covers and remixes of participating artists' songs. The tool, built on an undisclosed generative‑AI platform, will be an optional add‑on while all...
WPP Media Shows Signs of New Business Bounceback, Report Finds
WPP Media topped the global media new‑business rankings for Q1 2026, generating $1.5 billion in fresh client billings. The surge was driven by marquee wins such as Jaguar Land Rover, Estée Lauder and SC Johnson North America. Omnicom Media Group followed in second place with $1 billion in new...
Sweden's Games Industry in Numbers
Sweden’s games sector posted a 6.4% revenue increase in 2024, reaching SEK 36.8 bn (about $4.0 bn) domestically and SEK 73 bn ($8.0 bn) when foreign subsidiaries are included. The industry now comprises 1,101 companies, up 9% year‑over‑year, after 105 new studios were founded. Employment rose...
Pakman Suggests YouTube Systems Are Reducing Exposure for Left-Leaning Indie Channels
David Pakman, a prominent liberal commentator, says YouTube’s recommendation engine cut his channel’s daily impressions from 15 million to 10 million while click‑through rates stayed around 8%, suggesting algorithmic suppression rather than waning audience interest. He notes that right‑leaning creators have not...
Torneos Modernizes Multichannel Playout With Imagine’s Versio Platform
Argentine sports broadcaster Torneos y Competencias upgraded its playout infrastructure using Imagine Communications' Versio integrated platform and ADC automation. The new system supports ten live channels with dual‑channel Versio units delivering 12 primary and 12 backup feeds, preserving existing SDI...
Twitch Streamer QTCinderella Lands CAA Representation
Twitch streamer and YouTube creator QTCinderella has secured representation with Creative Artists Agency, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The deal follows her launch of the annual Streamer Awards, which in 2025 attracted over 1 million concurrent viewers on Twitch. QTCinderella’s audience...
Lead-In Program Strategy Still Matters: Even To Streaming
Lead‑in programming remains a powerful tool for both broadcast networks and streaming services. Live events such as NFL games, award shows, and breaking news can lift viewership for subsequent scripted or unscripted shows, and Fox’s streaming arm Fox One saw...
Netflix To Run 'The Breakfast Club' Live, Working With iHeartMedia
Netflix is adding the popular morning radio show “The Breakfast Club,” co‑hosted by Charlamagne tha God, to its platform as a live program starting June 1, in partnership with iHeartMedia. This move expands Netflix’s live‑content slate beyond its sports‑focused offerings, aiming to...
‘Live Music Doesn’t Seem To Have A Ceiling Right Now’: Q’s With Proactiv Entertainment MD Nicolas Renna
Proactiv Entertainment’s managing director Nicolas Renna said the company has more than tripled its revenue since 2019, with over half of its 2026 earnings now coming from the Middle East and APAC. The firm highlighted marquee 2025 shows such as...
Quantic Dream Cutting Jobs After Scrapping Spellcasters Chronicles
Quantic Dream announced the cancellation of its free‑to‑play multiplayer title Spellcasters Chronicles, which entered early access in February but failed to attract a sustainable audience. The studio will cut roughly 95 positions as part of an internal reorganisation, though it...
TV Decline Continues at Tele Columbus as Internet Delivers Growth
Tele Columbus reported 2025 revenue of €422.7 million (≈$465 million), a 0.8% YoY dip, while internet and telephony sales surged 13.1% to €235.3 million (≈$259 million). The internet subscriber base grew 5.7% to 742,000 and average revenue per user jumped to €21.31 (≈$23.4). Cable...
‘We Are Seeing A More Cautious & Selective Audience’: Q’s With Last Tour CEO Yurdana Burgoa
Last Tour, led by CEO Yurdana Burgoa, reports a solid 2026 with continuity from a busy 2025. The group operates festivals, tours and venues across Spain, Portugal and is expanding into Latin America, adding two festivals to reach eight this...
Samsung Ads Southeast Asia Overlays Eyeota Data for Greater Connected TV Ad Effectiveness
Samsung Ads Southeast Asia has teamed up with data‑technology firm Eyeota to overlay viewership data from millions of Samsung Smart TVs with Eyeota’s consumer insights. The alliance, the first data partnership for Samsung Ads in the region, covers Singapore, Thailand...
AFLE Appoints DMC Germany as International Production Partner
The American Football League Europe (AFLE) has named DMC Production Germany as its international TV production partner for the league’s inaugural 2026 season. DMC will deliver the world feed for all 36 regular‑season and playoff games across six countries, using...
Channel 4’s Digital Ad Transformation Is Ahead of Schedule
Channel 4’s 2025 annual report shows the broadcaster ahead of its Future4 digital‑ad targets, with digital advertising generating roughly $440 million – 34% of total revenue – up from 30% in 2024. Non‑advertising revenue hit the 10% goal, while streaming views rose...
Vintia Announces Partnership with Momants AI
Vintia, a SALTO WECOSYSTEM ticketing specialist, has teamed up with Momants AI to embed AI‑driven conversational ticketing into its Enviso platform. The solution lets visitors buy, amend or upgrade tickets through chat on websites, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, email and in‑app...
Owner of Peanuts Music Catalog Files Four Copyright Lawsuits Targeting Video Game Publisher, Social Media Posts, and the US Government
Lee Mendelson Film Productions, which controls the Vince Guaraldi Peanuts music catalog, filed four federal copyright lawsuits on May 20. The suits target GameMill Entertainment, Heritage Auctions, Buckle‑Down Inc., and the U.S. Department of the Interior, alleging unlicensed use of...
Warner Bros. Discovery Extends German DTT Distribution for DMAX and Eurosport
Warner Bros. Discovery has renewed its distribution agreement with German DTT operator Media Broadcast, keeping DMAX HD and Eurosport 1 HD on the DVB‑T2 Freenet TV platform through 2030. The extension guarantees that both channels will continue to be available in high‑definition via terrestrial broadcast for subscribers....
Spanish Society SGAE Distributed $406M to over 97,000 Members in 2025 as Revenue Hits Record High
Spain’s SGAE collection society reported a record‑high revenue of €393.4 million ($444 million) in 2025 and distributed €360 million ($406 million) in royalties, a 3.1% increase over 2024. The payout reached 97,415 authors and composers, up 16.5% year‑over‑year, while new memberships jumped 64% to...
Wixen Doubles Damages Demand to $102M in Expanded Copyright Lawsuit Against Meta
Wixen Music Publishing filed an amended complaint against Meta, doubling its statutory damages demand to $102.15 million and expanding the catalog at issue from 331 to 681 works. The suit now adds $20 million in defamation damages and trade‑libel claims, accusing Meta...
Paramount-WBD Deal Raises Questions over SkyShowtime Future
Paramount’s pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery could upend the SkyShowtime joint venture, as the deal would place HBO Max—already active in most of SkyShowtime’s 22 European markets—under the same corporate umbrella. Lawyers are reviewing the partnership’s shareholder agreement, which...
UMPG and 45RPM Sign Academy Award-Winning Composer Daniel Blumberg
Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has signed Oscar‑winning composer Daniel Blumberg to a global publishing deal, partnering with its music‑supervision arm 45RPM. The agreement places Blumberg in UMPG’s Classics & Screen division alongside composers such as Nicholas Britell and Isobel Waller‑Bridge. Blumberg, who...
Polsat Reclaims Second Place in Polish Viewing Rankings
Polsat reclaimed the No. 2 slot in Nielsen’s April Polish content distributor rankings, pushing public broadcaster TVP to third. Warner Bros. Discovery held the top spot for the fifth consecutive month. The report, which aggregates viewing across TV, computers and mobile devices, noted...