Publishers Urged to Embrace Future Where Bot Readers Provide Majority of Revenue
AI monetisation firm Tollbit says bots will become the primary revenue source for publishers, with its technology already deployed on more than 7,000 sites. Data shows AI visits are rising fast, reaching a 1‑to‑31 bot‑to‑human ratio by the end of 2025, up from 1‑to‑50 in Q2. Publishers are moving from blanket bot‑blocking to licensing micro‑transactions for Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) usage, exemplified by Tollbit’s recent integration with ArcXP. The shift favors unique, live, paywalled content that can command premium rates from AI agents.
VodafoneZiggo Adds Low-Cost Broadband and TV Offer to Hollandsnieuwe
VodafoneZiggo is extending its budget mobile brand hollandsnieuwe into the Dutch fixed market, offering broadband and TV services over the Ziggo network. Customers can pick 100 Mbps or 1 Gbps speeds and a streaming‑based TV package with more than 50 channels. Introductory...
Mainstream Media to Launch FAST Channel AKIBA Anime
German broadcaster Mainstream Media is set to launch AKIBA Anime, a free‑ad‑supported FAST channel, in summer 2026. The service is built with peppermint anime, a leading German anime publisher, and will showcase titles such as Demon Slayer, Sword Art Online...
Gary Neville’s Media Group Buys Football YouTuber Mark Goldbridge’s Channels
Gary Neville’s sports media venture, The Overlap, has purchased Mark Goldbridge’s YouTube channels The United Stand and That’s Football, together reaching 3.7 million subscribers. The deal, reported to be a seven‑figure sum (roughly $2‑$5 million), marks The Overlap’s first acquisition since its...
Digest: Ad Companies in Boycott Settlement Talks with FTC; Court Orders Meta to Face Youth Addiction Suit; YouTube Raises Premium...
The FTC is in settlement talks with major ad agencies over a probe into coordinated boycotts of platforms like X, proposing rules that would prevent steering spend based on political content. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has allowed a...
This Week’s Top Tours: Rüfüs Du Sol Jumps To No. 1 On LIVE75 With South American Ticket Sales
Australian EDM trio Rüfüs Du Sol vaulted to the No. 1 spot on Pollstar’s LIVE75 chart after a blockbuster South American leg of their Inhale / Exhale World Tour. The three most recent shows in Argentina, Chile and Brazil sold 50,043 tickets, averaging 16,681...
Synamedia Targets Gen Z with Launch of GO Shorts
Synamedia unveiled GO Shorts, an AI‑driven short‑form module for its Go OTT platform, letting operators repackage existing libraries into personalized micro‑clips for Gen Z viewers. The technology identifies relevant snippets based on individual behavior and lets users jump to the full‑length...
Birla Studios Partners with Vi to Launch Mobile-First Acting Talent Platform
Birla Studios has teamed with Vodafone Idea to launch “Reel Se Real Star,” a mobile‑first platform that lets aspiring actors submit audition videos via the Vi app or web. The service removes the need for industry referrals and physical casting...
‘Zootopia 2’ Leads March Disc Sales, Though ‘Wicked: For Good’ Remains No. 1 for 2026
Disney’s *Zootopia 2* claimed the No. 1 spot on March 2026 physical‑media sales, topping the chart for three of the four weeks it was on shelves. The sequel’s strong debut helped Disney overtake other releases, while Universal’s *Wicked: For Good* retained the year‑to‑date...
Sony’s Tom Rothman Calls on Theaters to Provide a Better Consumer Experience: “Get Off the Ad Crack”
Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group chairman Tom Rothman used his CinemaCon platform to push theater operators toward a better consumer experience. He urged exhibitors to enforce traditional release windows, cut lengthy ad‑filled preshows, and address rising ticket prices. Rothman highlighted...
Synclicity Sees More Sync Opportunities for Emerging Artists
James Lloyd has launched Synclicity, a boutique sync‑licensing agency that debuted this week with a roster of 18 emerging artists spanning alt‑rock, indie pop, punk and folk. The firm targets placement opportunities across television, film, advertising, sports and the rapidly...
MrBeast Is so Big, Beast Industries Turns Down Eight-Figure Brand Deals if They Aren’t the Right Fit
Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson’s Beast Industries has become a magnet for Fortune 1000 CMOs, leveraging a billion‑plus viewership to command multi‑year, category‑exclusive brand deals. Under CEO Jeff Housenbold, the company now fields a 25‑person partnership team and routinely rejects eight‑figure offers that...
Inside The Trade Desk’s Programmatic Power Struggle
The Trade Desk, the world’s largest independent demand‑side platform, is under fire as major agencies Dentsu, WPP and Publicis pull spend from its OpenPath marketplace over transparency concerns. The DSP is also revising payment terms for identity data providers while...
Nollywood Needs to Get on the Microdrama Train Now
Microdramas are exploding worldwide, with China’s revenue soaring from $500 million in 2021 to $7 billion in 2024 and global earnings projected at $9.5 billion by 2030. The United States alone generated $800 million in 2024, while Nigeria’s Nollywood cinema made a modest $10 million...
Visa Backs BTS Comeback as Worldwide Sponsor of ‘ARIRANG’ Tour
Visa has become the worldwide tour sponsor for BTS’s ARIRANG comeback tour, linking its payment network to 82 shows across 34 regions. The partnership will give Visa cardholders chances to win tickets in eight Asia‑Pacific cities and feature on‑site merchandise...
The Man of The Moment- Rakesh Bedi
Veteran actor Rakesh Bedi has re‑emerged as a digital meme star after his line “Baccha hai tu mera” went viral in the film *Dhurandhar: The Revenge*. The meme sparked a wave of brand collaborations, with Crocs India, Fanta and MasterChow...
Streaming Viewers Are OK with Double the Commercials as ‘Subscription Fatigue’ Sets In
A new MarketWatch survey finds that as streaming subscription fees climb, more viewers are willing to watch twice as many commercials in exchange for lower prices. The trend, labeled “subscription fatigue,” shows consumers prioritizing cost savings over ad‑free experiences. Respondents...
OPPO Rolls Out New F33 Series Campaign Featuring Indian Cricket Star KL Rahul
OPPO India unveiled its new F33 Series with the "Zindagi Ka Frame Wide Karo" campaign, starring cricket star KL Rahul and creator Satish Ray. The film shows a mountain trek that turns into spontaneous selfies, highlighting the phone’s wide‑angle front camera...
NAB Blasts CTA in FCC Sports Probe Comments
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) filed comments with the FCC urging policies that keep major sports on free‑to‑air broadcast TV, arguing that streaming services raise costs and fragment access. NAB criticized the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) for defending the...
A New Study Shows Cord Cutters Are Cutting Back on How Much They Pay For TV
Americans are tightening entertainment budgets, with more than 40% of surveyed households cutting back on streaming subscriptions due to financial pressure. At the same time, three‑quarters of respondents express irritation over frequent price hikes from major platforms. Cord‑cutters now average...
David Ellison’s Nightmare: A-List Coalition Unites to Kill the AU$156B Warner Merger
Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison, is pursuing a US$111 billion (AU$156 billion) acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, the largest media merger in Hollywood history. More than 1,000 actors, directors and writers have signed an open letter on BlocktheMerger.com demanding the deal...
Carriage
Allen Media Group’s free streaming service Local Now has expanded its channel lineup by adding seven Scripps networks, including Ion, Ion Mystery, Ion Plus, Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More, and the newly launched Scripps Sports Network. The service, which...
Creative Realities Inc (CREX) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Creative Realities Inc. reported a Q4 2025 revenue of $23.9 million, more than double the prior year, largely driven by the recent CDM acquisition which contributed $13.6 million. Adjusted EBITDA surged to $5.2 million and gross margin improved to 47.9%, reflecting higher‑margin services...
BFI Invests £9.25 Million to Support UK-Wide Screen Culture for Audiences
The British Film Institute (BFI) is allocating £9.25 million (≈$11.8 M) from its National Lottery Audience Projects Fund for 2026‑2029 to back 23 film and immersive projects across the UK. The awards cover 10 venues, nine festivals and several sector‑facing initiatives, aiming...
Destiny Media Technologies Inc (DSNY) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Waystar Holding Corp. reported Q4 2025 revenue of $304 million, up 24% year‑over‑year, with subscription revenue representing 55% of the total and growing 38% YoY. Adjusted EBITDA rose 29% to $129 million, delivering a 42.5% margin, while net revenue retention hit 112%...
Netflix Adds More Soccer
Netflix has signed a four‑year agreement to become the exclusive broadcaster of the CONCACAF Nations League Finals and Gold Cup in Mexico, covering the 2027 and 2029 editions of both tournaments. The deal expands Netflix’s live‑sports footprint beyond its U.S....
People
Josh Oshinsky has been hired by ESPN as Senior Director of Original Content Development. In his new role, he will guide multiplatform storytelling across flagship properties such as the "30 for 30" documentary series, ESPN Films, podcasts, and scripted projects....
Ticketmaster, Seated Announce Partnership
Ticketmaster and Seated announced a partnership that converts artists’ official waitlists into a direct ticket‑distribution channel. Seated’s identity‑verification technology will capture fan demand, while Ticketmaster’s infrastructure fulfills any newly released tickets. Fans who sign up on a Seated waitlist are...
Bizaar Studios Expands FAST Channel to Prime Video
Bizaar Studios announced that its ad‑supported FAST Channel for adult animation is now available on Prime Video in the United States and Canada. The channel, previously carried on Samsung TV Plus, Xumo Play, Plex and Hisense, launched in early 2025 with hundreds of...
Paddington, Danny Boyle, and George Washington Are the Stars of CinemaCon in Studiocanal, Angel, and Sony Pictures Classics Presentations
At CinemaCon in Las Vegas, three independent distributors—Studiocanal, Angel Studios and Sony Pictures Classics—presented their 2026‑27 theatrical slates. Highlights included confirmation of "Paddington 4" and an animated sequel, Studiocanal’s lineup of remakes such as "Escape From New York" and "The Howling,"...
Angel, StudioCanal and Sony Pictures Classics Urge Theaters to Broaden Their Horizons at CinemaCon
Cinema United invited three non‑mainstream distributors—Angel, StudioCanal and Sony Pictures Classics—to CinemaCon to pitch their upcoming titles to independent exhibitors. The presenters highlighted a mix of faith‑based expansions, European genre reboots and recent Sundance acquisitions, signaling a push beyond Hollywood’s...
Hollywood Is Making yet Another Roblox Movie Adaptation
Disney‑owned 20th Century Studios announced plans to adapt the Roblox horror hit *99 Nights in the Forest* into a live‑action feature film, marking its first game adaptation and the fourth Roblox title pursued by Hollywood. The game, launched in June 2025, has amassed 26 billion lifetime visits and...
NAB Makes Its Case to Gomez Advisors
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) met with Commissioner Anna Gomez’s staff on April 9 to argue for eliminating FCC market caps on radio ownership. NAB highlighted that AM/FM’s share of listening time has dropped to 32%—a 40% decline since 2014—and...
AT&T Spent a Month Inside March Madness. Was It Worth It?
AT&T devoted an entire month to the NCAA March Madness tournament, rolling out a multi‑channel campaign that included athlete‑led TV spots, ownership of the CBS Bracket Manager, a Vegas Sphere sponsorship, and on‑site activations in Indianapolis. The championship game attracted...
Hackers Reveal Rockstar Earns Over $1 Million A Day From GTA Online
Hackers from ShinyHunters leaked internal Rockstar data showing GTA Online pulling roughly $1.3 million per day, about $10 million a week, over the past six months. Weekly revenue averages $9.6 million, with peaks near $28 million, while Red Dead Online trails at about $0.5 million...
Reddit Expands Reminder Ads Globally
Reddit has rolled out its Reminder Ads feature to every advertiser on the platform, allowing brands worldwide to add a “Remind Me” button to their campaigns. When users tap the CTA, they receive two push notifications—one day before and one...
HYBE Moves to Crack Down on Bootleg BTS Merch Ahead of US Tour Dates
HYBE, the parent of BTS, filed a federal lawsuit in Florida to obtain a temporary restraining order and seizure authority against unnamed bootleggers selling counterfeit BTS merchandise around the group’s U.S. tour dates. The complaint targets T‑shirts, posters and other...
Rumor Fact(ory): DistroKid Explores $2B Sale
DistroKid, the DIY digital music distributor that claims to handle roughly 40% of new releases and serves over two million artists, is reportedly exploring a sale valued at $2 billion. The company’s last disclosed valuation was $1.3 billion in a 2021 funding...
The Amazing Digital Circus' Series Finale Will Be a Theatrical Exclusive
The Amazing Digital Circus, an indie animated web series that debuted on YouTube in late 2023, has exploded to over 425 million views on its pilot and 81 million on its latest episode. Netflix licensed the eight‑episode run while keeping it free...
Cord Cutting Today: Roku Adds New Features as Streaming Prices Rise and Local TV Faces More Disruption
Roku quietly rolled out a new "Roku City" feature on its TVs and players, offering a more personalized channel guide while simultaneously deploying a critical bug fix that restored stability for millions of users. At the same time, Nexstar announced...
Synamedia Updates Quortex PowerVu to Accelerate IP-Based Distribution
Synamedia unveiled an upgraded Quortex PowerVu platform that shifts broadcast workflows to a software‑centric, IP‑native architecture. By moving playout functions to the edge and using standard IP delivery, the solution can slash operational costs and complexity by up to 80...
Xbox Reportedly Knows Game Pass Is "Too Expensive"
Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier jumped from $19.99 to $29.99 per month last year, prompting a wave of cancellations that even crashed the subscription site. A leaked memo from new CEO Asha Sharma, reported by The Verge, admits the...
We're Tracking Streaming Price Hikes in 2026: Netflix, Spotify, YouTube and Others
Streaming services across the U.S. are seeing a wave of price hikes through 2025‑2026, with major players like Netflix, YouTube Premium, Spotify, and Disney+ raising monthly fees by $1‑$4. Netflix’s ad‑free Standard and Premium plans now cost $20 and $27...
YouTube Boosts Creator Economy Focus at 2026 AUS CHILDREN’S SUMMIT
YouTube has joined the Australian Children’s Content Summit in Coffs Harbour as a Major Partner, marking its first formal involvement in the nation’s dedicated kids‑content event. The four‑day summit, running 24‑27 August 2026, will showcase leading family‑friendly creators alongside producers,...
Robert Corn-Revere: Fact Checking Without Facts
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is using the public‑interest licensing standard to threaten broadcasters that he labels as spreading "fake news," a stance that departs from decades‑old FCC precedent. Over the past year he has posted on social media that stations...
A Thousand Nos and Two Picassos
The entertainment sector saw several flashpoints on April 13, 2026. A coalition of 1,000 Hollywood creators signed a letter opposing the proposed Paramount‑Warner merger, warning of job cuts and reduced choice. Meanwhile, Canada debated its “Netflix tax” amid U.S. trade tensions, and...
Independent Journalists Are Mission-Driven, but Financially Strained, a New Report Says
A new Center for News, Technology & Innovation (CNTI) report, based on a survey of 43 independent information providers and in‑depth interviews with 26, reveals that creator‑journalists are largely mission‑driven but financially strained. Only five respondents can fully fund their...
LTN Appoints New Executives to Support IP-Based Distribution Growth
LTN announced the appointment of Mark Romano as Vice President of Multichannel Platforms and Edward Cox as Vice President of Sales & Business Development. Both executives bring more than two decades of experience from SES and other media‑technology firms. Their mandates...
NAB 2026: Synamedia Launches Cloud-Controlled Edge Playout Version of Quortex PowerVu
Synamedia unveiled a cloud‑controlled edge playout version of its Quortex PowerVu platform at NAB Show 2026. The solution moves national feeds to a CDN and lets affiliates generate localized linear channels using a single Media Edge Gateway, cutting infrastructure costs...
Goat Box Office: Break-Even In Sight Or Is The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Too Big A Storm To Survive?
Sony’s original animated feature Goat is hovering near its domestic $100 million milestone but is sliding down the North American box‑office rankings, now sitting at #16 with only 405 screens. After two months the film has amassed $103.07 million domestically and $185.9 million...