‘Project Hail Mary’ Passing $100M U.S. Today, Will Lord Over Box Office In Second Frame With $45M Despite ‘They Will...
Amazon MGM’s sci‑fi dramedy Project Hail Mary crossed the $100 million domestic mark in its sixth day and is projected to earn $45 million in its second weekend, a hold comparable to the 2024 March hit Dune: Part Two. The film will retain premium‑format earnings, including IMAX. Meanwhile, the genre thriller They Will Kill You opened with $20 million domestically and aims for an additional $10 million each in the U.S. and overseas. Independent horror Forbidden Fruits opened on 1,525 screens with a $1.5‑3.5 million forecast.
Urban One Selects Its ‘Latino’ PD In D.C.
Urban One has rebranded Praise 104.1 to Latino 104.1, a Spanish‑language format aimed at the rapidly growing Hispanic audience in the Washington, D.C., region. The change includes a simulcast on 87.7 MHz and marks the company’s first dedicated Latino station in the market....
Crimson Desert Studio Pearl Abyss's Share Prices Stabilize as Sales Top 3 Million
Ziff Davis has partnered with European media group eMense to operate IGN France, adding the French edition to its growing portfolio that already includes IGN Benelux, Nordic and Germany. The existing editorial team, led by Erwan Lafleuriel, will remain in...
Creator Television Partners with Convergence to Bring Creator-Led Programming to TV
Sabio Holdings' Creator Television has teamed up with Los Angeles‑based venture studio Convergence to produce creator‑led programming for television. The collaboration will generate original series across sports, lifestyle and other genres, extending influencer storytelling beyond social platforms. Produced shows will...
RAM Crisis Is Forcing Super-Popular Kids Console To Raise Prices Again
Nex Playground, the motion‑control console that captured the kids market, will increase its price by $50 on April 1, moving from $250 to $300. The hike marks the second adjustment in under two years and is directly linked to a global...
The Unglamorous Job of Replatforming Your Digital Publication
Daily Maverick, a South African independent news outlet, recently completed a full migration from a fragmented WordPress setup to the integrated WhiteBeard content management platform. The transition involved moving over one million registered users, billing information, and years of content...
Sinclair to Consolidate Newsrooms in Tulsa, Drop News Anchors From ABC Affiliate
Sinclair Broadcast Group will merge the newsrooms of its Tulsa stations, KTUL (ABC) and KOKI (Fox), creating a shared content hub with upgraded weather, studio and master‑control facilities. The consolidation will shift KTUL to a reporter‑driven, anchor‑light format starting in...
Hauser & Wirth Partner Cristopher Canizares Departs to Start Artist Agency
Cristopher Canizares, a 16‑year partner at Hauser & Wirth, is leaving to launch Artist Legacy Bureau, an artist‑first management agency. The boutique firm will serve a small roster of five to six artists, offering long‑term career strategy across galleries, institutions,...
ESPN’s Burke Magnus Has Been a ‘Steward’ for Lacrosse: Paul Rabil
Premier Lacrosse League founder Paul Rabil praised ESPN executive Burke Magnus as a long‑time steward of lacrosse, highlighting his role in structuring the sport’s college coverage and negotiating the league’s first ESPN rights deal in 2022. Magnus, who has been...
Allen Media Group To Deploy Anoki ContextIQ
Allen Media Group announced it will integrate Anoki’s ContextIQ AI platform across its streaming assets, covering live news, weather, sports and premium entertainment. The technology provides scene‑level, real‑time content analysis, allowing advertisers to place brand‑safe ads while preserving high‑attention inventory....
Merchandising: Warner Unveils ‘Lord of the Rings’ 25th Anniversary Collection
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products announced a new "Lord of the Rings" 25th‑anniversary collection, debuting on WBShop.com. The first wave features soft shell jackets, hoodies, graphic tees, oversized shirts, crew‑neck sweatshirts, and matte‑finish tumblers. Each item bears the anniversary...
Miley Cyrus ‘Flowers’ Case Must Go to Trial, Her Accusers Say: ‘Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire’
Tempo Music, which owns the rights to Bruno Mars' co‑writer Philip Lawrence, has filed a motion urging a federal judge to reject Miley Cyrus' request to dismiss the copyright lawsuit over her 2023 hit “Flowers.” The plaintiff claims the song...
Spectrum Reach Joins DoubleVerify's Certified Transparent Streaming Program
DoubleVerify announced that Charter’s ad‑sales arm Spectrum Reach has become the first partner in its Certified Transparent Streaming program, delivering verified show‑level reporting for streaming TV and CTV inventory. The initiative embeds program‑level data—covering news, live sports, weather and business...
YouTube Just Lowered the Bar for Affiliate Earnings—Now Creators With 500 Subscribers Can Cash In
YouTube has lowered the entry barrier for its Affiliate Shopping program, now allowing creators with just 500 subscribers to earn commissions on product tags. Eligible creators must also meet YouTube Partner Program criteria, such as three recent uploads and either...
Bad Bunny, Paul McCartney, Rihanna & More: The Highest Grossing Artists at Each MLB Stadium
Billboard identified the highest‑grossing concerts ever held at each of the 30 MLB stadiums, highlighting Coldplay’s four‑night, $27.6 million run at Toronto’s Rogers Centre as the top taker. The analysis notes that only 17 shows have sold more than 100,000 tickets,...
Important Lessons From Running a Successful Video Game Crowdfunding Campaign
At GDC Festival of Gaming 2026, Playable Worlds’ vice‑president Niina Fujioka detailed how their Kickstarter campaign for the MMORPG *Stars Reach* exceeded its goal by over four times. The success stemmed from a story‑focused trailer, a modest funding target, and...
Future Today’s Platforms Reach 75 Million U.S. Households
Future Today’s free, ad‑supported streaming services Fawesome and HappyKids now reach over 75 million U.S. households, delivering more than 2 billion monthly impressions. The platforms together offer a catalog of 350,000 titles, with Fawesome’s average session time up 57 percent and viewers spending...
From Impression to Install: CTV Attribution and the Leadout That Doesn’t Get the Glory
The YouAppi‑Kochava 2026 CTV Growth Guide reveals that connected‑TV (CTV) ads precede search in 96% of install paths and social in 94%, positioning CTV as the true origin of user intent. Despite capturing 17.9% of U.S. media consumption, brands allocate...
Comcast: ‘Redefining Performance TV’ At IAB NewFronts
Comcast Advertising used its IAB NewFronts slot to unveil a new "performance TV" product that unifies targeting and attribution across its premium linear and streaming inventory. The solution promises advertisers more precise audience reach and clearer measurement of campaign outcomes....
Ex-Bally Sports Executive Cancels Plan to Acquire TV Stations
A former Bally Sports executive has withdrawn his bid to acquire seven local TV stations, ending a brief return to broadcast ownership. The stations, spanning Washington, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Tennessee, were to be sold for $116.5 million to Community News Media...
Like LAMB OF GOD, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY Gets In On Limited Digital Bonus Tracks
Heavy‑metal outfit Black Label Society is leveraging a limited‑time digital deluxe edition for its upcoming album *Engines Of Demolition*. The pre‑order bundle, available only until 12 a.m. on March 26, adds two “Unblackened” bonus tracks, mirroring a similar tactic recently used by Lamb of God. Physical...
AI Filmmaking Tools Company Flawless Names Amit Kapur Co-CEO
Flawless, an AI‑assistive filmmaking platform, appointed longtime tech entrepreneur Amit Kapur as co‑CEO alongside co‑founder Scott Mann. Kapur, who previously helped grow MySpace and sold AI startup Gravity for $100 million, joins the board‑member‑turned‑executive to scale the company. Flawless, founded in...
Humann Adds Eden Collective As Media AOR To Promote Cardio Nutrition
Humann, the beet‑based health brand, has hired Eden Collective as its media agency of record to drive a brand transformation focused on cardiovascular nutrition. Eden will oversee full‑funnel planning, budget allocation and channel‑specific strategy, shifting from an initial TV‑only approach...
Decentralized Crowdfunding Can Boost Artists During Market Downturn
Joshua Kim argues that decentralized crowdfunding can sustain NFT artists when market liquidity dries up. A weekly pledge of 1 Ether (≈$1,800) by collector Batsoupyum and curator Lanett Bennett Grant is being matched by major collectors, adding $20,000 and $100,000 in...
Civic Media Closes on Milwaukee Signals
Milwaukee broadcaster Civic Media has finalized its purchase of AM station WZTI and two FM translators previously held by Milwaukee Radio Alliance. The company will maintain the classic hits music format while integrating local news coverage on the newly acquired...
Cord-Cutters Are $5 Away From Canceling Streaming Services
A Deloitte survey finds 61% of streaming subscribers would cancel if monthly fees rise by $5, highlighting strong price sensitivity. The study shows 68% of SVOD users now carry an ad‑supported plan, up 46% since 2024, and 73% express frustration...
Comcast Advertising Launches Outcomes+, a Next Gen Targeting and Attribution Solution Across Traditional and Streaming TV
Comcast Advertising unveiled Outcomes+, an AI‑driven targeting and attribution platform that spans its linear TV, streaming and addressable inventory. The solution leverages deterministic data from over 30 million households—more than 100 million authenticated viewers—and integrates new partnerships with Mastercard, Clarivoy, DISQO, Fandango,...
Hong Kong’s Ocean Park Uses AI to Track, Enrich Lives of Giant Pandas, Monkeys
Ocean Park in Hong Kong has deployed artificial intelligence to continuously monitor its giant panda twins and golden monkeys, enabling precise behavior tracking and personalized enrichment. The AI system replaces manual video sampling, identifying individual animals, body postures, and social...
The Theme Park Boom that Could Generate Billions
Southern U.S. theme parks are entering a new expansion phase as major operators pour billions of dollars into new rides, resort hotels and year‑round indoor attractions. The investments, projected to exceed $3 billion over five years, aim to boost off‑season attendance...
Nein Delay: Lengthy Wait Sinks SiriusXM Patent Fight
In February 2017, research organization Fraunhofer‑Gesellschaft sued satellite radio provider SiriusXM for alleged patent infringement. After a nine‑year procedural delay, a Delaware federal judge dismissed the case, ruling that Fraunhofer’s repeated requests for extensions failed to move the litigation forward....
From Followers to Shelf Space: Bonkers Toys’ Lisa Berlin Wright on What Creator Licensing Actually Requires
Bonkers Toys, led by licensing chief Lisa Berlin Wright, is turning digital creators into toy franchise powerhouses. The company’s early wins with slither.io and Ryan’s World proved that viral online audiences can be translated into retail‑ready product lines. Wright stresses...
With $50M+ in Music Rights Deals to Date, Larrosa’s MusicTraders Builds Out New M&A Team Targeting LATAM and Emerging Market...
Larrosa’s MusicTraders has launched a dedicated Deals & Acquisitions unit after completing more than $50 million in catalog transactions and managing $25 million of assets. The five‑person team, drawn from TikTok, BMG, Spotify, YouTube and PeerMusic, will focus on Latin America, the...
Oxford Road Reveals That The Best-Selling Podcasts Are Independent
Oxford Road’s ORBIT rankings, based on over $1.6 billion in campaign data, reveal that independent podcasts dominate performance metrics, accounting for 80% of the top‑ranking shows. The analysis identifies four audience lanes—Build, Align, Unwind, and Fandom—each delivering distinct advertiser value. Independent...
Timbaland’s AI Artist TaTa Taktumi Signs with Ne-Yo’s Pacific Music Group
Hong Kong‑based Pacific Music Group has signed TaTa Taktumi, the first “part human” AI artist created by Timbaland’s Stage Zero venture. The hybrid act, backed by a Filipino performer, will be managed exclusively in Asia and released worldwide through Pacific’s...
Movistar Plus+ Launches Free Ad-Supported Tier
Movistar Plus+ has introduced a free, ad‑supported tier that gives users access to a curated slice of its streaming catalogue without a paid subscription. The offering, delivered via the Movistar Plus+ app, includes original series such as "Berto’s Advice Column"...
New Brittin, New BBC?
Matt Brittin, a former senior European Google executive, has been appointed Director‑General of the BBC. Lacking editorial experience, he is expected to run the corporation in a CEO‑style while delegating editorial authority to a separate Editor‑in‑Chief. The appointment comes as...
Team17 Parent Company Everplay Reports 10% Profit Increase in 2025
Everplay, the parent of Team17, posted flat revenue of £166 million (≈ $208 million) for FY2025 but saw gross profit rise 10% to £76.3 million (≈ $95 million). The increase stemmed from ending low‑margin physical distribution, which lifted gross margins, while new releases generated an 80%...
Hong Kong’s TVB Logs US$7.5 Million Profit, Shaking Off 7 Years of Losses
Hong Kong’s leading free‑to‑air broadcaster TVB reported a US$7.5 million profit for 2025, reversing a seven‑year loss streak. Revenue slipped 2% to HK$3.19 billion (≈US$408 million) but costs fell 4.9%, while advertising income rose 15% on its terrestrial channels. Growth was driven by...
VideoAmp and O-N-X Integration to Bring Data-Driven Buying to Local Broadcast TV
VideoAmp announced an integration with O‑N‑X, embedding its nationwide audience‑measurement dataset into the automated transaction platform for local broadcast TV. The partnership enables predictive delivery intelligence and more stable guaranteed‑impression transactions across all 210 U.S. markets. O‑N‑X, already licensed in...
Trade Desk Concerns: Does CTV Brand Attraction Have A Strong Foundation?
The Trade Desk is under scrutiny after Publicis flagged hidden DSP fees, prompting a follow‑up audit by Omnicom. Despite the controversy, CTV remains the engine of growth, accounting for roughly 50% of the company’s revenue. The stock has dropped 10%...
Global Agency Secures Sales in Over 70 Countries for Vendetta
Global Agency announced that the Turkish drama "Vendetta (Kan Çiçekleri)" has been sold to broadcasters in more than 70 countries, expanding its international footprint. The three‑season, 645‑episode series, originally aired on Turkey’s Kanal 7, is now topping prime‑time slots in markets...
YouTube Exec Counters Netflix Rivalry Talk, Highlighting Platform’s Global Reach and $100 Billion in Creator Economy Payout
YouTube’s managing director for France and South Europe, Justine Ryst, highlighted that the platform paid out more than $100 billion to creators between 2021 and 2025, surpassing Netflix’s $79.5 billion content spend in the same period. She emphasized YouTube’s ad‑supported model, which...
YouTube Shows Are Closing in on Traditional TV — Fast
Spotter, an Amazon‑backed startup, reports that roughly 6,600 U.S. creator‑driven “TV” channels—defined by 22‑minute‑plus episodes, regular schedules and sizable audiences—produced an estimated 26 billion viewing hours in 2025, with over half watched on connected TVs. These creator shows match traditional TV...
Why Haley Baylee’s Netflix Debut Is a Milestone for Influencers on Streaming
Influencer Haley Baylee is set to host Netflix’s new reality series Win The Mall, marking a notable shift as streaming platforms tap social‑media talent for mainstream programming. The show, scheduled for an autumn 2026 release, leverages Baylee’s high‑energy, digital‑first persona...
Channel21 Files for Insolvency
German teleshopping channel Channel21 filed for preliminary insolvency in Hanover, just days after celebrating its 25th anniversary. A court‑appointed administrator will decide whether the broadcaster can continue operating or must be restructured. The filing reflects a broader crisis in the...
Synamedia Unveils ‘Industry First’ Edge Watermarking Solution
Synamedia announced ContentArmor Edge Watermarking, an industry‑first solution that embeds forensic watermarks directly into the compressed video stream at the CDN edge. The technology cuts insertion and extraction times in half, delivering end‑to‑end piracy disruption in under five minutes. By...
Leonine Studios Extends Kogel’s Contract and Reshapes Board
Leonine Studios announced that CEO Fred Kogel’s contract has been extended to 2028, cementing his leadership of the German‑based production and distribution group. The move follows Leonine’s rapid rise since its 2019 launch to become the largest independent studio in...
Elon Musk Overrules Product Chief Nikita Bier, Pauses X's Controversial Region-Based Payout Strategy
Elon Musk has put a hold on X’s newly announced revenue‑sharing policy that would give creators more weight for impressions from their home region. The plan, unveiled by head of product Nikita Bier, sparked immediate backlash from creators who said most...
30% of Open-Web Video Players Shrink After Page Load, Finds Picnic
Picnic’s new PIQ analysis shows that roughly one‑third of open‑web video players shrink after the initial page load, while 15% continue playing after users scroll past and 12% of sites host multiple videos simultaneously. The study highlights a gap between...
8 Ways Brands Are Using Extended Reality (XR) in Marketing
Brands are leveraging extended reality—AR, VR, and MR—to solve concrete marketing challenges, from cutting product returns to accelerating sales cycles. The article outlines eight real‑world examples, including BMW’s mixed‑reality showroom, IKEA’s AR placement tool, and Walmart’s enterprise‑scale VR training. Global...