Storipod Strikes Deal to Distribute Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Books Digitally
Storipod, a mobile‑first microblogging platform for African creators, has partnered with Narrative Landscape Press to digitise Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s books and other leading African titles. The deal uses Storipod’s chapter‑by‑chapter micropayment system, lowering upfront costs and keeping content in users’ libraries. The rollout arrives as Nigeria sees over 80% of web traffic on phones and Africa’s smartphone base is projected to hit 700 million by 2026. Storipod now boasts more than 150,000 creators and availability in 170 countries, adding literary weight to its offering.
Steve Goldstein: The Attention Economy Comes for Podcasting
Steve Goldstein argues that podcasting has been fixated on download counts, a metric that reflects distribution rather than consumption. He highlights an industry shift toward engagement indicators such as streams, completion rates, and repeat listening, mirroring practices of Spotify, YouTube,...
Webtoon Is Making New Platform
Webtoon Entertainment Inc. announced the spring launch of Canvas, a unified international platform that will aggregate its regional services and support seven languages with AI‑powered translations. The new hub offers creators performance analytics, expanded monetization options, and personalized recommendations for...
Overlay Ads and the Streaming Ad Tech State of Play
IAB Tech Lab’s VP of Product Jill Wittkopp outlined the current state of streaming ad‑tech, focusing on overlay formats such as L‑bars, squeezebacks and corner overlays. The lab applied an 80/20 rule to distill eight ad experiences down to six,...
Merger Takes Interrogate Global
Interrogate, a Westchester‑based production house, has merged with The Sweetshop Global, a New Zealand‑origin firm with six offices spanning Europe, Asia, Australia and a U.S. hub in Santa Monica. Co‑founders Jeff Miller and George Meeker, who have overseen Sweetshop’s U.S. operations since...
Warhammer Classics Announced, 20+ Re-Releases From 90s Onward
SNEG and Games Workshop have launched Warhammer Classics, a Steam‑based program that re‑releases more than 20 classic Warhammer video games from the 1990s onward. Seven titles make their Steam debut while twelve return, each patched for modern hardware and original...
Issa Rae Has a Trick for Pushing Diverse Projects in an Anti-DEI Industry. Her Advice Is Going Viral
Issa Rae warned that DEI has become a taboo term in Hollywood, with investors pulling back from diverse projects. She advises creators to reframe Black‑centered stories as universal themes such as class to make them marketable. Rae also unveiled Hoorae...
Nielsen Appoints Roberto Ruiz as Head of Measurement Sciences
Nielsen has named Roberto Ruiz as Head of Measurement Science, tasking him with advancing the firm’s measurement capabilities and innovation roadmap. Ruiz will oversee the strategy and rollout of new products, technologies and AI‑driven solutions across the division. His mandate...
Government Pledges £28.5m for UK Games Fund to Boost Industry
The UK government announced a £30 million (≈$37.5 million) Games Growth Package, allocating £28.5 million (≈$35.6 million) to the UK Games Fund. The fund is divided into three tracks—Entry (£20 k/~$25 k), Emergent (£100 k/~$125 k), and Expansion (£250 k/~$312 k)—to support studios at different stages. Additionally, £1.5 million (≈$1.9 million) will...
How Brands Should Respond to CTV Ad Fatigue Before Viewers Tune Them Out
Streaming platforms are rapidly expanding ad‑supported inventory, with Prime Video doubling its ad load, Netflix adding ad minutes, and Amazon rebranding its ad‑free tier. The U.S. CTV audience now exceeds 240 million, and projected ad spend is set to surpass $46 billion...
The End of MultiChoice as We Know It
Six months after Canal+ acquired MultiChoice, the South African pay‑TV giant is being reshaped under CEO David Mignot. A price freeze follows the loss of 2.8 million linear subscribers, and the underperforming Showmax service is being retired. The business now leans...
StreamTV Europe: As Fragmention Grows, the TV OS Takes Control
At StreamTV Europe in Lisbon, industry leaders declared TV operating systems the new gatekeepers of content discovery, user engagement, and advertising as streaming continues to fragment. Panels highlighted how OS providers such as Roku, V, Whale TV, and Google TV...
TV Ads Don’t Work Nearly as Well as Believed
Traditional TV ads still dominate ad spend, with $139 billion allocated versus $33 billion for streaming, yet new research from the University of Notre Dame shows they are only about half as effective as previously believed, overstating impact by roughly 55% for...
$60M Surf Farm Wave Pool Supercharges Australia's Sunshine Coast
Wavegarden is building a $60 million Surf Farm wave‑pool complex on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, targeting a 2028 launch. The 10‑hectare site will host a 62‑module Cove system, the largest Wavegarden installation on Australia’s east coast. World‑champion surfer Joel Parkinson backs the...
Ticker: Fox News Media Partners With Kalshi
Fox News Media announced a sponsored integration with prediction‑market platform Kalshi, embedding Kalshi’s real‑time data forecasts into Fox News, Fox Business, Fox Weather and the Fox One streaming service. The partnership will feed live political, economic, weather and cultural insights...
Netflix Earnings Could Make These ETFs Entertaining
Netflix is set to report its first‑quarter 2026 earnings on April 16, a filing that could trigger sharp moves in the leveraged ETFs NFXL (2x long) and NFXS (inverse). The streaming giant recently raised its standard plan to $20 a...
Nigerian Creators Are Turning to Rage-Bait to Cash in on X
X’s Creator Ads Revenue Sharing program pays roughly $8.50 per million verified impressions, prompting many Nigerian creators to adopt rage‑bait tactics that spark angry replies and inflate impression counts. By posting provocative takes on marriage, tribalism and trending news, they aim...
Thanks to A24, Movies Are Brands Now
A24 has turned its film releases into brand experiences by launching limited‑edition merchandise with indie designers, most recently a sold‑out vintage tee capsule for "The Drama" and the viral "Marty Supreme" windbreaker. Over eight years the distributor has partnered on...
Four Ways to Level up Your YouTube Live Engagement
YouTube is expanding its Live platform with four new engagement tools. Viewers can now send gifts on both horizontal and vertical streams, and the feature is rolling out to creators in Canada, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. Purchases of...
As Mergers and Acquisitions Soar, Agencies Point to a ‘Fragmented’ Market
Mergers and acquisitions are accelerating across the event‑marketing sector as agencies chase live‑event demand, AI capabilities, and private‑equity backing. Publicis Groupe bought 160over90 to cement a sports‑marketing platform, while Nth Degree merged with INVNT to offer end‑to‑end B2B event services....
NBA Playoffs Set to Leave Local TV Behind in Streaming-Heavy Shift
The NBA’s postseason will be shown exclusively on national networks and streaming platforms, ending local TV coverage for the first round. The Play‑In Tournament moves to Amazon Prime Video, while first‑round games split among NBC, Peacock, Amazon, ESPN and ABC...
Tucker Carlson Launches Book Imprint With Skyhorse
Tucker Carlson, former Fox News host and podcaster, has launched a new book imprint called Tucker Carlson Books in partnership with Skyhorse Publishing. Skyhorse, which has issued memoirs by Woody Allen and Melania Trump, will handle distribution and editorial support....
UK Gamers’ Spend on Streaming and Game Culture up 42%
UK consumers boosted spending on game culture to $724 million in 2025, a 42% year‑on‑year increase, according to Ukie’s latest market valuation. Streaming subscriptions, donations and video content rose 8.3% to $84.5 million, while toys and merchandising grew 43% to $426 million. Film,...
Archer Teams with ‘Mandalorian and Grogu’ for First Entertainment Deal
Archer Meat Snacks announced its first entertainment partnership, teaming with the upcoming theatrical release *Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu*. The multi‑channel campaign includes three co‑branded snack packs, a 30‑second ad spot on Disney+ and sports playoffs, and a QR‑code reward that gives...
Grass Valley Expands Studio Berlin Deal For Cinematic Live Workflows
Grass Valley is expanding its partnership with Studio Berlin by delivering a new batch of 24 LDX cameras—12 LDX 135 UHD/HDR units and 12 LDX 180 Super 35mm systems, including two compact C180 models. The cameras will be integrated into Studio...
Bango: Higher Streaming Prices Driving Consumers to Bundles
Bango’s Subscription Signals 2026 report finds U.S. consumers now juggle an average of 5.2 streaming services, spending roughly $70 each month. Rising subscription fees are prompting a shift toward bundled packages offered by telecoms and marketplaces, with one‑third of users...
AIP, Castlabs To Demo Next-Gen Streaming Ad Formats
Ad Insertion Platform (AIP) and Castlabs will demo next‑generation streaming ad formats at the NAB Show in Las Vegas (April 18‑22). The showcase centers on AdBlendr, AIP’s server‑guided ad insertion engine, paired with Castlabs’ PRESTOplay player to deliver non‑intrusive formats such as...
Visionular’s Auroravision Aims To Bring Tier-1 Live Production To Standard GPU Servers
Visionular has unveiled AuroraVision, an AI‑native production platform that delivers Tier‑1 live‑production features on standard GPU servers. The software provides real‑time slow‑motion replay, AI‑driven video reframing, 4K/8K up‑scaling and object tracking without specialized cameras or signal‑chain hardware. AuroraFlex extends the...
CURRENT ISSUE: April 13, 2026
Radio Ink’s April 13, 2026 issue spotlights MediaCo CRO Brian Fisher in its cover story, exploring his strategic vision for the company. The issue also publishes the annual Radio’s Top 20 Leaders 2026 list, ranking the most influential radio executives....
Do TV Shows or Movies Show More Streaming Ads?
Ampere Analysis reports that streaming movies carry about 40% fewer ads than TV series. On average, movies see roughly three minutes of ads per hour versus just over five minutes for shows, giving viewers 36 minutes of uninterrupted content between...
Monday Memo: The 2026 Case for Weekend Talk Radio
Consultant Holland Cooke argues that as podcast listening surpasses traditional spoken‑word radio, podcasters should leverage weekend talk radio to boost credibility and efficiency. Broadcast radio provides an established, trusted audience and makes it easier to attract guests. A live call‑in...
CAA, YouTube, Meta, and Rivian Among Speakers at Brand Innovators’ Creator Economy Summit in LA
Brand Innovators will host its Creator Economy Summit on April 23, 2026, at Dhar Mann Studios in Burbank. The one‑day event gathers senior marketers from Fortune 500 firms and fast‑growing brands to explore brand‑creator collaboration, monetization, and full‑funnel content strategies. High‑profile...
Snapchat Partners With Los Angeles Dodgers to Bring AR Lens Experiences to Dodger Stadium
Snap Inc. has teamed with the Los Angeles Dodgers to roll out Snapchat’s augmented‑reality lenses throughout Dodger Stadium this season. The deal adds in‑stadium branding, on‑site photo experiences and a dedicated AR photobooth at select games, leveraging Snap’s Cam Lens...
Michael Ovitz Wants Back In. Will Hollywood Have Him?
Michael Ovitz, the former CAA co‑founder who left Hollywood two decades ago, may return as chairman of Universal Music Group if Bill Ackman's $64 bn takeover succeeds. Ackman is offering a 78% premium—$5 per share plus equity—to buy a controlling stake...
Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco Getting His Own New Channel & Show On SiriusXM
Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco has signed a multi‑year agreement with SiriusXM to launch his own 24/7 comedy channel, Channel 99, on April 20. The channel, branded Sebastian Maniscalco’s Comedy Radio, will replace SiriusXM Raw Comedy and feature the flagship The Sebastian Maniscalco Show...
Euphoria Season 3 Cast Salaries: Here’s How Much Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney & Jacob Elordi Earned Per Episode?
HBO Max’s Euphoria Season 3, which debuted on April 12, 2026, reportedly pays lead star Zendaya about $1 million per episode, a steep rise from earlier seasons. Co‑stars Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi are said to earn nearly the same amount, while supporting actors...
Kier-La Janisse Expands Her Spectacular Optical Label Into Distribution
Canadian genre specialist Kier‑La Janisse has turned her Spectacular Optical imprint into a full‑service theatrical, streaming and home‑video distribution label. The venture launches this month with Severin Films handling U.S. home‑video releases, starting with Christopher Morris’s 2023 documentary A Year...
Prime Video's New Ultra Plan Officially Launches
Amazon has rebranded its ad‑free tier as Prime Video Ultra, launching it officially in April. The new plan costs $14 per month as a standalone service or adds $5 to existing Prime memberships, with an annual option at $46. Ultra...
Popeyes Bites Into Anime Fandom with ‘One Piece’ Collaboration
Popeyes announced its first anime partnership, teaming with Toei Animation’s One Piece. The collaboration launches a limited‑time menu named after the Straw Hat crew, exclusive bento‑box packaging and merchandise available in select U.S. markets. The move targets Gen Z, leveraging the...
Robert P. Richardson Named WHBQ VP-GM
Rincon Broadcasting Group has appointed Robert P. Richardson as vice president and general manager of WHBQ (Fox 13) in Memphis. Richardson previously led ABC affiliate WICS‑WICD and oversaw Fox and CW stations in the Champaign‑Springfield market. His career spans senior sales...
Hugh Bonneville Soccer Satire ‘Twenty Twenty Six’ Scores Twice In America With BritBox & Tubi Deal
BBC Studios has secured distribution for the soccer‑satire sitcom "Twenty Twenty Six" on two U.S. platforms, BritBox and Tubi, launching May 1. The six‑part series stars Hugh Bonneville reprising his Ian Fletcher role alongside a North‑American cast. The dual, non‑exclusive deal...
Top 100 Connected TV (CTV) Bundle IDs in March 2026
Pixalate released its March 2026 Top 100 Connected TV (CTV) Bundle ID rankings, analyzing over 1 billion programmatic impressions across 851 apps. The data show Hulu’s bundle ID (2285) topping the Roku list, while PlutoTV (ID 751712884) leads on Apple TV. Rankings span Roku, Apple TV,...
Why Marketing Is Now the Operating System for Growth
Artificial intelligence is elevating marketing from a creative function to the operating system that drives corporate growth. Marketers now craft narratives and data signals that influence both human consumers and AI agents that power discovery and purchase decisions. This shift...
YouTube Is Raising Premium Prices in the U.S. While Denying that It's Serving up Long, Un-Skippable Ads
YouTube announced its first U.S. price increase for Premium and Music subscriptions since 2023. The individual Premium plan rises from $13.99 to $15.99 per month, the family tier jumps to $26.99, and the Lite tier goes to $8.99; Music plans...
Report Explores ‘Streaming Paradox’ for Artists in Five Countries
A new Oxford Internet Institute and University of Groningen study surveyed 1,200 musicians in the Netherlands, Nigeria, South Korea, Brazil and Chile. While artists across all five markets consider streaming vital for visibility and promotion, they report uniformly low satisfaction...
Tech Deal Promotes Conversations Between Journalists And Those Who Follow Their Stories
Noosphere, a New York‑based news platform, has signed a multiyear licensing agreement with Sky News to embed its app that lets audiences converse directly with journalists via video and text. The partnership will initially be tested with Sky’s defense and...
Pico Play Launches New Showroom & Staging Facility
Pico Play, a global designer of themed attractions, is opening a first‑class showroom and staging facility in Al‑Kharj, Saudi Arabia, scheduled for February 2026. The space combines a curated exhibition of props and models with a soundstage‑style lighting and AV...
Meet the Newest ‘Running Point’ Character: Jake From State Farm
State Farm announced a co‑branded partnership with Netflix’s basketball comedy *Running Point*, inserting its mascot Jake from State Farm into Season 2 as a scripted character. The move marks the first time Jake appears in a television narrative rather than a...
Deeper Influencer Messaging For Linear's Old-School Ad Ecosystem?
Influencer creators are increasingly being featured in traditional 30‑second linear TV spots, blurring the line between social‑media ads and broadcast commercials. Brands argue that a personal, influencer‑driven tone can counteract consumer fatigue with corporate‑sounding messaging. The article examines whether addressable...
Astorm Successor 'Buttons' Shuts Down Amid Financial Distress
Buttons, a Nexon Korea subsidiary founded in February 2024 to succeed Astorm's game division, announced its shutdown on April 13, 2026 after a dramatic financial collapse. Revenue plummeted to roughly $7,000 in 2025 from $6.4 million the year before, while operating...