Kickstarter Tips for Authors: Rewards, Shipping, Marketing, and Lessons Learned
Kickstarter has become a major revenue channel for authors, with 69,000 publishing projects raising over $380 million and 3.2 million backers to date. The platform’s success rate is high—84% for campaigns that attract at least 25 supporters—while average pledges have jumped from $40 in 2020 to $72 now. Joanna Penn’s podcast episode distills lessons from six of her own campaigns, covering rewards, fulfillment, shipping, and marketing tactics that help creators maximize earnings and build direct reader relationships. Industry insiders from Kickstarter and successful authors also share why the model is no longer a fallback for “desperate” writers.
Focus on Partnerships, Not Paychecks: Why Agencies Must Reinvent Themselves
In a recent Adspeak episode, ADWEEK’s Alison Weissbrot convened a Brandweek panel with leaders from M&C Saatchi, Team Epiphany, and Known to discuss how agencies must reinvent partnership models as budgets tighten and AI reshapes workflows. The panel argued that traditional fee‑based...
The World Cup Is Set to Lift Demand for Digital Out-of-Home Spending
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is igniting a surge in digital out‑of‑home (DOOH) advertising as brands like Hyundai, Coca‑Cola and Unilever line up stadium, airport and fan‑zone placements. eMarketer projects U.S. out‑of‑home spend at $11.28 billion, with 42.3% allocated to digital...
From Page Views to Propensity: How the Daily Mail Is Retooling for a Zero-Click World
Daily Mail is shifting from page‑view focus to engagement‑centric metrics as zero‑click search erodes referral traffic. Monthly visitors dropped 17% YoY to 218 million, with 60% now direct, prompting the rollout of an AI‑powered dynamic paywall and a push to grow...
As Upfront Negotiations Near, Buyers Chart Path Through Complex Sports Market
As the television upfront season approaches, advertisers confront an increasingly fragmented sports‑rights landscape. NBA, NFL and MLB games now span broadcast networks, cable channels and multiple streaming services such as Peacock and Amazon Prime Video. This dispersion forces brands to...
Netflix Defends Price Hikes With a Surprising Argument
Netflix defended its recent U.S. price hikes by highlighting that subscribers now pay the lowest cost per hour of viewing among all major streaming services. The company reported Q1 2026 revenue of $12.25 billion, topping estimates, and said retention and engagement...
At 22, This Cybersecurity Graduate Is Building an Anti-Piracy Creator Platform with His Father
Twenty-two‑year‑old cybersecurity graduate Adeyemi Akitoye co‑founded Knowvas, an anti‑piracy platform for African creators, with his father. After teaching himself penetration testing and software development, he built a Netflix‑style rendering system that protects digital books, comics, audiobooks and podcasts. The startup...
‘Fun To Boring’ Ratio Shifting With Fewer Vibes: Media Sales Reps On Changing Relations With Agency Execs
Media sales leaders warn the industry’s once‑playful culture is fading as agency executives become leaner, more junior and pressured by clients, leaving little room for informal interaction. Remote‑first hiring and a generation that missed in‑person networking have eroded the traditional...
Disney+ Ad Tier Launches Down Under This Week
Disney+ is rolling out an ad‑supported subscription tier in Australia and New Zealand this week. The new plan costs AU$9.99 per month (about US$6.60) and offers full‑HD streaming, two simultaneous streams and live ESPN sports, but no offline downloads. It sits...
Applebox Asia Signs Director JH Beetge for Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand
Applebox Asia announced the addition of Sydney‑based director JH Beetge, also known as JH Walker, to its roster for Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Beetge’s portfolio spans VFX‑intensive narrative films and intimate performance‑driven pieces, emphasizing human truth and visual craftsmanship. He...
TRP Wins Butter Brand Lard Ass, Launches New Campaign
Australian premium butter maker Lard Ass has appointed independent agency TRP as its creative agency of record, launching the brand’s first major advertising campaign. The campaign, rolling out across out‑of‑home and social channels, spotlights the brand’s hand‑crafted, cultured butter and its...
Heidi Steffen to Become President of TitanTV
TitanTV announced that chief revenue officer Heidi Steffen will assume the role of president on May 11 2026, succeeding retiring president Mick Rinehart. Steffen is celebrated for her expertise in broadcast metadata quality and has authored a recent industry white paper. CEO Chris Kelly highlighted...
MrBeast Searches for CMO to Build a ‘Serious Commercial Machine’
Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, is expanding Beast Industries beyond YouTube by launching a global search for a chief marketing officer. The new CMO will steer a rapidly diversifying portfolio that includes entertainment releases, snack brands, toys, telecom services, and...
NAB Notebook
At the NAB Show’s Streaming Summit, industry leaders warned that excessive personalization can alienate viewers, especially when ads interrupt paid‑for content. ESL FaceIt Group’s Steven Jalicy highlighted the differing ad tolerance between subscription and ad‑supported audiences, stressing timing and framing...
They Tried to Ban Surfing. The Irony Couldn't Be Greater.
The article contrasts the extravagance of tech‑industry events, exemplified by a Spotify party costing $7,000 for ice cubes, with the paltry $0.003 per stream paid to musicians. It traces this imbalance back to the Victorian era, when industrial wealth turned...
Disney+ Sets Date for Ad-Supported Tier Launch in AUNZ
Disney+ will roll out an ad‑supported "Standard with Ads" tier in Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday, priced at $9.99 AUD (about $6.60 USD) per month. The new plan delivers full‑HD video, two simultaneous streams and no download capability, sitting alongside the existing...
This Is Australia’s Most-Loved Ad for 2026 (so Far)
The Research Agency’s 2026 Favourite Ads survey, based on 1,600+ Australian responses, named Budget Direct’s “Insurance Solved” campaign as the most‑loved ad. The top five also included Allianz, Toyota HiLux, Youi and Telstra, each praised for standing out in their...
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream's Physical UK Launch Comes in 36% Higher than Pokémon Pokopia
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream debuted on Nintendo Switch and, based on early UK physical sales, outsold the Pokémon Pokopia launch by 36%. The advantage comes despite Pokopia’s reported undersupply, while Tomodachi Life has already sold out at several retailers,...
Ross Video Showcases End-To-End Production Ecosystem at 2026 Nab Show
Ross Video unveiled Indigo, a browser‑based, end‑to‑end production platform, at the 2026 NAB Show. The announcement was paired with a suite of new hardware and software tools—including NRG UHD routing, Carbonite Code Solo switching, XPression.cloud graphics, and AI‑driven audio solutions—designed...
Roku Passes 100 Million Active Households Worldwide
Roku announced it now serves over 100 million active households across its streaming devices and smart‑TV platform, marking a milestone that underscores its global reach. The company’s operating system, licensed to manufacturers such as TCL and Hisense, now fuels more than...
AccuWeather Moves to Amagi for Broadcast, Streaming Infrastructure
AccuWeather announced a migration of its broadcast and streaming infrastructure to Amagi, swapping its legacy system for an IP‑based, cloud‑native workflow. The new setup consolidates linear channels and free‑ad‑supported streaming (FAST) services onto a single platform managed from Amagi’s Master...
Fox Sports Locks in Australia’s Tour of Bangladesh
Fox Sports, through its Kayo Sports and Foxtel platforms, has secured exclusive Australian broadcast rights to the 2026 Bangladesh home cricket series. The agreement covers ODIs, T20s and Tests featuring Bangladesh against New Zealand, Pakistan and later Australia. Live coverage begins...
Amagi to Integrate Matrox Origin Into Its Cloud-Based Broadcast Workflows
Amagi announced the integration of Matrox ORIGIN, a software‑defined video framework, into its cloud‑based broadcast production architecture. The partnership promises broadcasters a flexible, dynamically orchestrated workflow that bridges legacy hardware with cloud‑native environments. By embedding Matrox’s video‑pipeline fabric, Amagi aims...
Acuña, Harper Headline Sunday Night Baseball Matchup on Peacock
NBC’s Peacock and NBCSN will carry Sunday Night Baseball throughout the 2026 season, kicking off with the Braves at the Phillies on Peacock at 7:20 p.m. ET. The matchup pits former NL MVPs Ronald Acuña Jr. against two‑time MVP Bryce Harper, with...
Not a Fixed Salary: The ‘30 Paise per Rupee’ Deal that Makes Allu Arjun One of India’s Highest-Paid Actors
Allu Arjun’s compensation is based on a 30 paise‑per‑rupee revenue‑share, meaning he receives 30 % of a film’s gross. Using that model he pocketed roughly Rs 522 crore (about $63 million) from Pushpa 2, which earned Rs 1,742 crore ($210 million) worldwide, and about Rs 105 crore ($12.7 million) from the first...
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Continues to Avoid Streaming Services
Aniplex announced that the *Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle* movie will receive a Japan‑only Blu‑ray and DVD release on July 29, 2026, after a brief theatrical re‑run earlier this year. Pre‑orders have opened, giving Japanese fans a chance to own the...
Expanded Creator Lab Seeds Digital Synergies
The 2026 NAB Show is spotlighting the creator economy with an expanded Creator Lab that runs four to six sessions daily from April 19‑21. Adobe and Blackmagic Design sponsor a new networking mixer, and the event offers free exhibit passes...
NAB 2026: Blackmagic Design Announces ATEM 4 M/E Constellation IP Switchers
Blackmagic Design unveiled two SMPTE 2110‑native live production switchers at NAB 2026: the ATEM 4 M/E Constellation IP priced at $7,995 and the higher‑spec ATEM 4 M/E Constellation IP Plus at $14,295. Both models use bi‑directional 100 Gb Ethernet to replace traditional SDI cabling, offering up to 64...
How Chiranjeevi’s Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu Carried Telugu Cinema Through the First Quarter of 2026
Telugu cinema’s Q1 2026 was dominated by Chiranjeevi’s *Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu*, which netted over ₹300 crore (≈ $36 million) in India, becoming his biggest hit. The opening week also saw Prabhas’ *The Raja Saab* flop despite a ₹100 crore (≈ $12 million) opening, and a...
Netflix Signals Interest in More NFL Games, Eyes Bigger Role in Live Sports
Netflix reaffirmed its interest in the NFL during its Q1 2026 earnings call, but it is targeting high‑profile, event‑style games rather than full‑season packages. The streaming giant is weaving the NFL into a broader live‑content strategy that includes concerts, talent shows...
Another Streaming Service Is Raising Its Price in May 2026
Acorn TV, the British‑focused streaming service offered through DIRECTV, announced a $1 monthly price increase effective May 2026. The adjustment adds $12 to an annual subscription for customers who bundle the service with their TV packages. The modest hike comes amid...
The Petrillo Complications
Eighty years ago union leader James Petrino reshaped the music business by forcing two strikes that redirected power from session musicians to vocalists and instituted a royalty stream paid to the union rather than individual players. The system created a...
'Cyberpunk TCG' Raises $27M, Setting New Kickstarter Record for Games
WeirdCo’s Cyberpunk TCG closed its Kickstarter on April 17 with more than $27 million pledged, making it the third‑largest campaign ever on the platform and the top‑funded game category project. The campaign smashed its $100,000 goal in five minutes and attracted...
NAB 2026: Encompass Digital Media and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Expand Partnership for Cloud-Native Broadcast Operations
Encompass Digital Media announced an expanded partnership with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to deliver cloud‑native broadcast solutions. The collaboration integrates Encompass’s Altitude Cloud platform and its Master Control in the Cloud SaaS offering with OCI’s scalable infrastructure. Together they aim to...
BE Names Berry as CRO, Promotes Two Others
Broadcast Electronics (BE) has created a chief revenue officer role, appointing long‑time executive Andrew "Andy" Berry to lead all global sales, service and customer‑facing functions. The move follows BE’s acquisition by a U.S. investor group and precedes the company’s product...
A Canto-Pop Revival Is Putting Hong Kong’s Local Music Scene Back in Play
Hong Kong’s Canto‑pop scene is experiencing a renaissance, with more than 1,000 new tracks released in 2025 and large‑scale concerts contributing an estimated HK$2.2 billion (about $280 million) to the local economy. A new generation of artists, exemplified by Warner‑signed singer‑songwriter Kiri...
SKID ROW Is 'Pretty Focused In On A Couple Of Guys' In Ongoing Singer Search: 'We're Taking Our Time'
SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan says the band’s partnership with Sweetwater has generated roughly 300 worldwide singer submissions, but they remain focused on a handful of candidates. The group is taking its time, writing new material with guitarist Dave “Snake”...
Calrec and Grass Valley Unveil ImPulseV and AMPP Integration
Calrec and Grass Valley announced a long‑term partnership to embed Calrec's ImPulseV virtual DSP into Grass Valley's AMPP cloud‑native production platform, debuting the integration at the 2026 NAB Show. The joint solution creates a single software‑defined environment that unifies audio...
Hollywood Talent Giant Draws Suitors Amid Epstein Fallout
The Team, formerly known as Wasserman, is up for sale after founder Casey Wasserman's emails appeared in the Jeffrey Epstein files. The agency rebranded in March to distance itself from the scandal, and several parties—including United Talent Agency, private‑equity firm Permira,...
Disney Moves 1 Step Closer to Bulldozing an Entire Theme Park Land
Disney has filed nine confidential demolition permits to clear Hollywood Land, including the Monsters, Inc. show building and the Hollywood Lounge. The long‑standing Pixar‑themed area, operating since 2006, will be replaced by a new Avatar‑inspired land featuring a water‑based boat...
Box Office: ‘Super Mario,’ ‘Hail Mary’ Rule Over Lee Cronin’s Horror Pic ‘The Mummy’
Super Mario continues its box‑office dominance, projected to exceed $350 million domestically and approach $700 million worldwide, while Amazon MGM’s Hail Mary holds steady with a modest 23% drop in its fifth weekend, totaling $283 million domestically. Horror entry Lee Cronin’s The Mummy opened third with an estimated...
Smart Architecture Saves Time and Expense
Radio broadcasters in 2026 are consolidating sprawling, mixed‑technology facilities into unified remote‑control architectures to offset shrinking engineering staff. Centralized monitoring platforms, such as Burk Technology’s AutoPilot and Arcadia, aggregate data from legacy transmitters, IP‑based processors and smart edge controllers, delivering...
Amagi Inks FAST Technology Agreement With Latin American Ole Interactive Group
Amagi has signed a reseller agreement with Adams, a unit of Ole Interactive Group, to bring its FAST (free ad‑supported streaming TV) technology to Latin America. The partnership gives Adams access to Amagi’s cloud‑based automation, scheduling and ad‑insertion platform for...
Burger King May Be Getting ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ Toys – but U.S. Fans May Miss Out
Burger King may be preparing an eight‑toy "The Mandalorian and Grogu" kids‑meal promotion, but the only evidence so far comes from unofficial social‑media posts that point to a rollout in Mexico. The collection includes figures of Din Djarin, Grogu, Bo‑Katan,...
Netflix Partners with Cricketers to Showcase Their Post-Match "Chill" Routines
Netflix has launched a four‑week "Chill Like a Champion" campaign in India, partnering with IPL franchises Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The initiative showcases star cricketers such as Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah relaxing with Netflix content after...
NBC News Now Is Taking Over MSNBC’s Old Studio
NBC News Now is moving into the former MSNBC Studio 3A and adjacent spaces at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, consolidating its operations in the iconic newsroom. The transition will allow the streaming service to expand its live news output to 14 hours a day,...
Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies and Yash Raj Films Eye Micro Drama Boom: Report
Yash Raj Films (YRF) and Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment are reportedly evaluating entry into India’s fast‑growing micro‑drama segment. YRF appears further ahead, leveraging its streaming arm YRF Entertainment and the recent hire of SonyLIV veteran Saugata Mukherjee to...
Network18 Q4 Loss at Rs 29.61 Crore, Revenue up 9.7% to Rs 615.78 Cr
Network18 Media & Investments posted a Q4 consolidated loss of Rs 29.6 crore (≈$3.6 M), a slight improvement from Rs 29.1 crore a year earlier. Revenue rose 9.7% YoY to Rs 615.8 crore (≈$74 M) and 14.2% QoQ, while EBITDA reached Rs 30 crore (≈$3.6 M) with a 4.9% margin. The...
Roku Adds 22 New Free Channels On Roku TVs & Roku Players, YouTube TV’s Major Update & More – The...
Roku bolstered its free tier by adding 22 new ad‑supported live channels to The Roku Channel, giving cord‑cutters more genre‑wide options without subscription fees. YouTube TV rolled out a major app refresh that forced temporary sign‑outs, requiring users to re‑authenticate...
Bheja Fry Stars Rajat Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey Got only Rs 25,000 Each; Film Made Rs 11 Cr
The 2007 comedy Bheja Fry, made on a shoestring budget of about ₹1.5 crore (~$180k), earned roughly ₹11.8 crore (~$1.42 million) worldwide. Its three leads—Rajat Kapoor, Vin Pathak and Ranvir Shorey—were each paid only ₹25,000 (≈$300) for the 22‑day shoot. The film’s unexpected sleeper‑hit...