A Date With Death 2 Dating Sim Kickstarter Already Fully Funded
Two and a Half Studios launched the Kickstarter for *A Date with Death 2: Remnants* on April 30, 2026, seeking $28,783. Within a day, more than 2,300 backers pledged over $184,000, guaranteeing full funding when the campaign closes on May 30. The sequel will be free to play, with a paid expansion DLC starting at $9, and is slated for a PC release in Q1 2027. All four stretch goals—including extra customization, an ending animation, an NSFW patch, and walking sprites—were met.
Navigating Guild and Union AI Positions
At the Loeb AI Summit, guilds and unions highlighted growing concerns over AI‑driven displacement, unauthorized digital replicas, and the use of copyrighted material to train generative models. The Writers Guild of America secured the first AI‑specific contract clause, granting semi‑annual...
Big Deal In ‘Big D’ For Urban One and a Broadcast Ministry
Urban One, the publicly traded multimedia group founded by Cathy Hughes, is set to acquire a legacy Dallas‑area AM station that has been owned for five decades by Hyman Childs, Ken Dowe and programmer Michael Spears. The deal also includes...
Lost NFL Network on Comcast Xfinity? Here Are the Best Streaming Alternatives for Football Fans
Comcast Xfinity has dropped NFL Network after a contract dispute, leaving football fans without the channel on traditional cable. The loss comes as the league gears up for the 2026 season and underscores the vulnerability of bundled TV packages. Several...
Kentucky Derby 152 to Air Across 19 Networks in 170-Plus Territories
HBA Media, on behalf of NBC Sports and Churchill Downs, secured broadcast and streaming rights for the 152nd Kentucky Derby across 19 networks in more than 170 territories spanning five continents. NBC Sports will air a five‑hour world feed with...
PQ Sees Growth For Media, Related Tech Consumer Spending
PQ Media’s latest research shows global consumer spending on media and related technology rose 2.8% to $2.44 trillion in 2025, a slowdown from the 4.4% gain in 2024. Digital media outperformed traditional, growing 4% to $1.85 trillion while traditional media fell 0.7%...
Analysts: ‘Hollywood’s Vertical Video Strategy Is Dead Wrong’
Analysts at LightShed Partners criticize Hollywood’s rush to vertical video, saying most platforms are merely repurposing existing content rather than creating original portrait‑native programming. Netflix, Disney+, ESPN, Peacock, Paramount+ and CNN have added vertical feeds to their mobile apps, citing...
Nexstar’s Board Declares A Sizable Quarterly Dividend
Nexstar Media Group’s board approved a quarterly cash dividend of $1.86 per share, payable on May 29 to shareholders of record May 15. The move comes ahead of the company’s May 7 Q1 2026 earnings call and signals confidence in its recent acquisition of...
For Creator-Led Campaigns, Authenticity Starts Before the Shoot
Intuit QuickBooks, together with agency Collectively, has expanded its creator‑led "Outdo It" campaign from a $200,000 pilot to a budget exceeding $40 million. The program insists on casting real small‑business owners who actually use QuickBooks, boosting authenticity. The latest spot features...
‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Looks to Top Weekend Box Office Following $10 Million in Thursday Screening Revenue
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is projected to seize the weekend box office crown with roughly $175 million in global ticket sales, including an anticipated $80 million in North America through May 3. The sequel has already amassed $50.5 million worldwide, bolstered by $10 million...
Why Audio Is a Trusted Anchor in a Digital World
During an ADWEEK House Possible panel, executives from iHeartMedia, GroundTruth and ADWEEK discussed how audio is re‑emerging as a trust‑centric medium in a world saturated with AI‑generated content. They highlighted that 93% of consumers want news from a human and...
USTR Special 301 Report Upholds Intellectual Property as US Trade Priority
The U.S. Trade Representative’s 2026 Special 301 Report re‑asserts intellectual property protection as a top trade priority. It introduces a dedicated section on artificial intelligence, urging legal frameworks that safeguard copyrights in AI development. RIAA senior vice president George York...
Vollou to Trial Digital Setlist Tracking at UK Festivals
London‑based tech firm Vollou is launching a trial of AI‑driven music recognition to automatically capture DJ setlists at three UK festivals this summer. The system works like a Shazam‑style app, identifying tracks in real time on mobile devices and outputting...
OpenAI Starts Laying Foundations for ChatGPT Ads in EU
OpenAI is preparing to launch advertising on ChatGPT in the European Union by updating its conversion‑tracking pixel with a consent‑management system and a country field. The change aligns the product with GDPR’s opt‑in requirements, a step not needed for U.S....
Behaviour Interactive Layoffs and Pokémon TCG Pocket’s Staying Power | Week in Views
Behaviour Interactive announced layoffs as demand for its external mobile and casual game development fell, affecting partnerships with firms like NetEase, Disney, EA and Tencent. The cuts spare its flagship title Dead by Daylight, which remains central to the studio’s...
Allison Crutchfield, Hannah McElroy Join Another Management Company
Boutique firm Another Management Company has added two seasoned professionals to its roster. Allison Crutchfield, former A&R head at ANTI- Records, will co-manage artists such as Twisted Teens, Brennan Wedl and Ryan Davis. Hannah McElroy, a Nashville‑based manager with a background...
Broadcaster Draper Media Names Bill Vernon President
Bill Vernon has been appointed president of Draper Media, effective May 1, after serving as vice president since December 2024. Vernon joined the company in 2020, first as general manager of the Delmarva Sports Network, then as station manager, before taking...
Epic Games Store Launches on iPhone in Japan
Epic Games announced that the Epic Games Store is now available on iPhone devices in Japan, letting iOS users download titles such as Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe directly from the mobile storefront. The rollout grants access to more than...
Notes From Perugia: Three Reflections for Media Leaders on Survival, Trust and the Business of Journalism
The International Journalism Festival in Perugia highlighted a collapsing funding floor for media, with only 11% of development organisations reporting sufficient resources and average budget cuts of 17% in 2025. A DW Akademie report warns that reliance on external subsidies is...
OpenAI To 'Promote' Own Products Via Your Browser Cookies
OpenAI announced that it will use browser cookies to promote its products and services on other sites, marking a shift from pure organic growth to a commercial advertising model. The updated privacy policy explains that cookies will personalize ads for...
The 1% Solution: Media-For-Equity
Mercurius Media Capital (MMC) announced a $25 million, five‑year agreement with A+E Networks that will supply roughly $5 million of advertising inventory annually to MMC’s startup portfolio. The company’s media‑for‑equity model lets legacy broadcasters convert unsold ad slots into equity stakes, allowing...
Star Wars Expands in Fortnite with Official Creator Tools and New Experiences
Epic Games is deepening its collaboration with Disney and Lucasfilm by releasing official Star Wars creator tools within Fortnite. Starting May 1, players can explore hundreds of community‑built Star Wars islands using authentic assets, while three new game modes—Galactic Siege, Escape Vader and...
Xsolla Partners with PocketGamer.biz for Regional Top Game Maker Reports
PocketGamer.biz has teamed up with global game‑commerce platform Xsolla to launch a series of regional Top Game Maker lists, beginning with the Top 50 UK Game Makers. The partnership leverages Xsolla’s merchant‑of‑record role for more than 60% of the top‑100 highest‑grossing games...
Prime Video Expanding Beyond NBA With Duke College Basketball
Prime Video announced a multiyear agreement with Duke University to live‑stream three men’s basketball games in the 2026‑27 season, including matchups against UConn, Michigan and Gonzaga. The streamer expects each game to generate roughly $500,000‑$1 million for Duke, funds that can...
A’ja Wilson and Jalen Brunson Are Starring in Lowe’s Debut Basketball Campaign
Lowe’s has launched its first basketball marketing campaign, partnering with WNBA star A’ja Wilson and NBA guard Jalen Brunson. The initiative aims to tap the cultural influence of basketball to reach Gen Z and millennial shoppers, mirroring tactics that succeeded...
Allison Crutchfield Joins Another Management Company
Allison Crutchfield, longtime musician and former ANTI‑Records A&R leader, is moving to artist management. After seven years signing acts like Death Cab for Cutie and Waxahatchee, she joined boutique firm Another Management Company (AMC) on May 1. The shift reflects her...
ESA's Iicon Was a Promising Start, but Needs More Commitment and More Candour | Opinion
The ESA launched iicon as a boutique replacement for the waning E3, limiting attendance to a few hundred senior executives in a modest Las Vegas casino. The agenda focused on strategy, regulation and transmedia partnerships, drawing names like Andrew Wilson,...
Liberty Global Reports Q1 Growth as VodafoneZiggo Deal Progresses
Liberty Global posted Q1 2026 revenue of $1.27 billion, an 8.8% year‑on‑year increase, and adjusted EBITDA of $366.5 million, up 12.9%. The company is on track to acquire Vodafone’s 50% stake in VodafoneZiggo by July and plans to spin it off to...
Translator Conference to Focus on Broadcasters' Current ATSC 1.0-3.0 Hybrid World
The National Translator Association’s annual conference in Reno (May 6‑9) will spotlight the need to keep ATSC 1.0 operational while broadcasters roll out ATSC 3.0. A panel led by Weigel Broadcasting’s Kyle Walker will explore hybrid‑signal strategies, new encoding techniques from Harmonic and...
How Do You Turn Creator Commerce Into a Performance Channel?
The PI LIVE Europe Influencer & Commerce Summit will examine how creator‑driven affiliate marketing can evolve into a performance‑focused channel. Influencer spend reached $32 bn last year, a 35% jump, while research shows a 46% lift in affiliate sales when creators...
After Media and Commerce, Bia Granja Says Creators Are Coming for Hollywood IP
Bia Granja, veteran of Brazil’s creator‑economy firm YOUPIX, is launching HollyTube, a four‑day immersion in Los Angeles that bridges Hollywood studios with top creators. She argues the creator economy is now cracking the third gatekeeping—intellectual property—by co‑creating long‑form content with film...
Black Media Trust Set Up In Milwaukee
Wisconsin’s oldest Black newspaper and two Black radio stations have been placed into the newly created Milwaukee Black Media Trust, an employee‑benefit trust designed to guarantee perpetual independent Black ownership. The trust initially holds the Courier, WGKB (101.7 The Truth) and will...
Conservative Talk Media Star Larry O’ Connor Interviewed on Harrison Podcast
Larry O’Connor, the flagship host of Cumulus Media’s WMAL-FM in Washington, DC, appeared on Michael Harrison’s “Up Close Far Out” podcast to discuss his show’s recent syndication deal. The morning program “O’Connor and Company,” which runs from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m....
Civic Media Establishes Milwaukee Black Media Trust to Preserve Print and Radio Outlets
Civic Media has transferred ownership of the Milwaukee Courier, Wisconsin’s oldest Black newspaper, and two local radio stations into a newly created Milwaukee Black Media Trust. The employee‑benefit trust is designed to lock the assets in perpetual Black community ownership...
Capitol Broadcasting to Sell Seven North Carolina Signals to Curtis Media
Capitol Broadcasting Company has filed to sell seven North Carolina radio signals to Curtis Media Group, including sports‑talk WMFD‑AM in Wilmington and FM stations WRMR, WKXB, WILT and WAZO, plus two translators. The assets cover coastal markets from Wilmington to...
Union Claims Nacon's Decision to Shutter Spiders Was a "Premeditated and Deliberate Choice"
French union Le Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo (STJV) has called for a boycott of Nacon after the publisher announced the liquidation of its studio Spiders, affecting 71 workers. The union describes the closure as a premeditated move, accusing...
WNBA Team Values 2026: Valkyries Lead, Average Jumps 59%
The average WNBA franchise is now valued at $427 million, a 59% jump from last year and 345% above the 2024 level, driven by a fresh collective bargaining agreement and lucrative media contracts that begin in 2026. Golden State Valkyries top...
EnJoyPay and Pocketgamer Announce Global Game Developer Mixer in Ho Chi Minh City
EnJoyPay and Pocketgamer.biz are co‑hosting a Global Game Developers Mixer on 8 May 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. The free, invitation‑only event will bring together local and international studios to discuss growth tactics, regional publishing hurdles, and the shifting landscape of global payment...
Week in Review: Netflix Launches a Vertical Video Feed, M6 Partners with ChatGPT, and Tech Giants Tout Their AI Investments
Netflix unveiled a new vertical video feed called “Clips,” turning short snippets into a personalized discovery tool on its mobile app. French broadcaster Groupe M6 partnered with OpenAI to embed its M6+ streaming catalog directly into ChatGPT, enabling conversational content...
Cable One Keeps Leaking Broadband Subs Under New CEO Holanda
Cable One reported a continued decline in its broadband business in Q1 2026, shedding 59,200 subscribers year‑over‑year and 13,500 sequentially, leaving the company with 985,600 internet customers. Revenue fell to $353 million, down from $380.6 million a year earlier, driven largely by...
‘Artists Often Fail when You Give up Too Much Responsibility to Others.’
Alternate Side Management, founded by Evange Livanos and Zack Zarrillo, has grown to a 12‑person team representing over 30 alternative‑rock artists, many of whom are hitting major festivals and selling nearly 100,000 vinyl units. The firm stresses artist self‑ownership of...
Cinemark Shrinks First Quarter Loss on Higher Attendance, Revenues
Cinemark Holdings reported a first‑quarter loss of $6.4 million, a sharp improvement from the $38.9 million loss a year earlier. Total revenue jumped 19% to $643.1 million, driven by a 17% rise in U.S. attendance to 24 million patrons and higher admissions and concession...
Universal Studios Singapore Gets a Full Sanrio Takeover
Universal Studios Singapore has unveiled the Superstar Boutique and Superstar Café, a fully Sanrio‑themed shop‑and‑dine experience. Visitors can purchase Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kuromi and Pompompurin merchandise and enjoy character‑inspired desserts and drinks. The venue also hosts regular meet‑and‑greet sessions with...
Behind “Turn The Lights Off” By Justė
The 2025 revival of “Turn The Lights Off” turned a 15‑year‑old catalog hit into a modern success. By leveraging a TikTok meme and a high‑intensity artist‑development program for Lithuanian DJ Justė, the campaign generated 1 billion radio plays and 37 million Spotify...
FCC Probe May Foil NFL’s Early TV Renewal Talks
The NFL is in the midst of renegotiating its broadcast rights, with CBS facing a potential $1 billion fee increase. An FCC investigation into the league’s distribution strategy and foreign ownership stakes threatens to derail an early renewal. The league’s opt‑out...
Influencer Marketing in Saudi Arabia: A Complete 2026 Guide for Brands
Influencer marketing in Saudi Arabia has become a high‑engagement, culturally specific channel as social‑media penetration hits 94%—about 35 million active users—and platforms like TikTok and Snapchat dominate usage. Arabic‑first content consistently outperforms translated English by 35‑50%, while the General Authority for...
Layered Reality Immersive Shows Close as Company Ceases Trading
Layered Reality, the creator of the London‑based immersive shows Elvis Evolution and Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds, has ceased trading after its parent, Ellipsis Entertainment, entered liquidation. Jeff Wayne Music Group stepped in to cover payroll for roughly 60 staff, but legal and insurance...
How Dallas’ WNBA Team Is Spreading Its Sponsorship Wings This Season
The Dallas Wings leveraged back‑to‑back No. 1 draft picks—Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd—to attract high‑profile sponsors. In the last month the franchise signed deals with CVS, Kroger and Geico, each tied to community‑impact initiatives. Partnership revenue doubled in 2025 and is...
Trump-Backed Governor Candidate Steve Hilton Joins Call For Unlimited California Film & TV Incentive
Steve Hilton, the Trump‑endorsed candidate for California governor, is pushing to eliminate the state’s $750 million cap on film and TV tax credits, effectively creating an unlimited incentive. He argues the current 35‑40 percent credit is insufficient to keep production in California...
Believe Expands Label & Artist Solutions Business Into the US, Led by Thomas Maxwell
Paris‑based music services company Believe has launched its Label & Artist Solutions (LAS) unit in the United States, appointing industry veteran Thomas Maxwell as Vice President, US, Label & Artist Solutions. Maxwell will oversee partnerships with independent labels and expand...