Resident Evil Requiem Brought the House Down in February | Circana
Resident Evil Requiem emerged as the best‑selling video game of February 2026, topping PlayStation, Xbox and PC storefronts. The overall video‑game market grew 1% year‑over‑year, while content spending remained flat thanks to a 27% surge in subscription services. Hardware revenue jumped 22%, driven primarily by the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, and PlayStation 5 continued to lead in unit and dollar sales. These dynamics collectively lifted total industry sales to $4.56 billion.
Charter Closing Appleton, Wis. Call Center in May
Charter Communications announced it will shut its Appleton, Wisconsin call center on May 21, 2026, affecting 313 employees. The company said the workload will be transferred to other U.S.-based centers and staff can relocate to technical repair sites or apply...
The Devil Wears Prada 2 Box Office Prediction Has Fans Girding Their Loins
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is slated for a May 1, 2026 release and early tracking predicts a domestic opening of just over $55 million. The sequel reunites the original cast, adds high‑profile names like Lady Gaga, and has already amassed 14 million...
Wheatstone to Demo Mix Engine, Virtual Console at NAB Show
Wheatstone will demo two new products at the 2026 NAB Show. The VMX mixing engine provides a single backend for multiple LXE, Glass, Strata consoles and WheatNet IP facilities. The VML virtual broadcast console runs in any HTML5 browser on...
Sweet Goodbye: Entravision Board Member To Exit
Entravision Communications announced that board member Lara Sweet will depart, ending her tenure that began in October 2023. Sweet, who also serves on the board of data‑science firm MediaAlpha and previously held the Chief People Officer role at Snap Inc.,...
VideoAmp Widens Cross-Platform Planner To Sirius XM, NCM
VideoAmp has broadened its VXP cross‑platform planner by adding first‑party data integrations with satellite radio giant Sirius XM and in‑theater advertising network National CineMedia (NCM). The move unifies audio and cinema audience metrics within a single planning tool, giving marketers a more...
Maxed Out: Ruddy Iced Out Of Nexstar-TEGNA Debate
Newsmax founder Chris Ruddy testified at a February Senate Commerce Committee hearing to oppose Nexstar Media Group’s $4.5 billion merger with TEGNA. He aimed to present himself as a Capitol Hill influencer after failing to sway President Trump and FCC Chairman...
Study: Repurposed Traditional TV Ads for CTV Is a Missed Opportunity
A TripleLift study finds that 49 % of connected‑TV (CTV) ads still use traditional 15‑ and 30‑second spots designed for linear television, despite record streaming viewership and ad spend. High‑impact formats such as pause ads, overlays, and native units boost brand...
In Canada: Ontario Government Wants to Ban Resale Tickets That Exceed Face Value
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a province‑wide ban on ticket resale above face value, aiming to curb scalpers and protect consumers. The IFPI Global Music Report shows Canada’s recorded music revenues rose 5.6% in 2025 to $957.9 million, driven largely by...
Graham Promotes Stephanie Slagle to VP, CRO & GM of WDIV Local 4
Graham Media Group has promoted Stephanie Slagle to vice president, chief revenue officer and general manager of Detroit’s NBC affiliate WDIV Local 4. Slagle, who previously served as the company’s CRO, brings more than three decades of experience building digital agencies...
California?s Streaming Loudness Law: Time for Ad Tech to Rethink Audio Control
California’s SB 576 now obliges streaming ads to match the perceived volume of surrounding content, shifting compliance responsibility to the platforms that deliver the ads. The rule exposes a split in ad‑tech workflows: client‑side insertion (CSAI) offers little control over audio,...
Netflix, Warner Music Group Partner For Artist Movies, Documentaries
Netflix and Warner Music Group announced a strategic partnership to produce documentary series and feature films centered on WMG’s artists and songwriters. The collaboration will be executed through Unigram, WMG’s production arm, which will develop each project with the artists...
Roblox Moves to Take a Cut of All Brand Integrations on Its Platform | Exclusive
Roblox announced it will begin charging creators a fee for publishing brand integrations, with charges scaling based on user traffic and engagement, slated to roll out in 2027. The policy is presented as a move to standardize ad labeling, improve...
Boxoffice Insider: Cardi B’s Little Miss Drama Tour Grosses $32M Midway Through Run
Cardi B’s Little Miss Drama Tour has generated over $32 million after 17 of its 35 North American arena dates, selling 209,622 tickets. Attendance averages 12,330 per show, with peaks above 13,800 in Las Vegas, Detroit, Seattle and Dallas. The tour...
CBS News Layoffs: Internal Memo Shows 6% Jobs to Be Cut to ‘Remain Competitive’, CBS Radio to End in May,...
CBS News, owned by Paramount Skydance, announced a 6% workforce reduction—about 60 employees—effective March 20, 2026, to stay competitive in a rapidly changing news landscape. The cuts accompany the shutdown of the nearly century‑old CBS News Radio service, slated to cease...
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 English Artbook Pre-Orders Go Live on March 23
Udon Entertainment and Pix’n Love will publish the English‑language Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 artbook, with pre‑orders opening on March 23 at 11 a.m. PT and closing May 6. Buyers in the United States must order through Udon, while European customers will use Pix’n Love. The book...
Lion Forge Acquires Rights to Beyond the Paddock
Lion Forge Entertainment announced it has acquired the television rights to Kimberly Ann Harrison’s debut novel *Beyond the Paddock* and will develop it into a young‑adult series. The story follows two foster‑care teens who move from Los Angeles to Kentucky,...
Uefa ‘to Launch’ Champions League Streaming Service as Early as 2027
UEFA is planning a direct‑to‑consumer Champions League streaming platform for Asia, targeting a launch as early as the 2027‑2031 media rights cycle. The initiative, developed with partner Relevent, could debut in markets such as Indonesia or India, either supplementing or...
Hollywood Studios Back GOP Effort to Dismantle Canada’s Online Streaming Act
Hollywood studios have thrown their weight behind a Republican‑sponsored bill aimed at overturning Canada’s Online Streaming Act, which obligates U.S. platforms to financially support Canadian film, TV and music production. The Protecting American Streaming and Innovation Act, introduced by Rep....
Eric Wolff Joins Chyron as Director of Venues Sales, North America
Eric Wolff has been hired as Chyron's Director of Venues Sales for North America, bringing 35 years of sports‑venue expertise. He most recently oversaw broadcast operations at T‑Mobile Arena, the home of the Vegas Golden Knights. Wolff will concentrate on...
Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Project Hail Mary’ Connects With Record $12 Million Preview Screening Revenue
Amazon MGM Studios’ sci‑fi adventure *Project Hail Mary* generated a record‑breaking $12 million from preview screenings on March 19, the highest for any 2026 theatrical release. The film adapts Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, leveraging a built‑in fan base and strong critical reception....
Chrono Trigger Character Sprites Used for One Mark Collection Gacha
Square Enix announced a Chrono Trigger One Mark Collection of 15 character sprite charms, to be sold in Japanese capsule‑gacha machines starting March 27, 2026. Each of the seven main heroes appears in two poses—neutral and attack—with a hidden secret...
Matthew Ball Interview: Can New Stores and D2C Turn the Tide on High UA Costs?
User acquisition costs for mobile‑game publishers are approaching $25 billion in 2025, excluding China, and now represent roughly 32% of net revenue. While the figure has slipped from its 2021 peak, ad‑exchange fees are set to overtake traditional UA spend by...
Something Of Note: Nexstar Bond Offering Surpasses $5 Billion
Nexstar Media Group announced a senior secured note offering exceeding $5 billion, aimed at financing its $6.2 billion acquisition of the former Gannett assets. The move follows Nexstar’s effective takeover of TEGNA and the conversion of TEGNA shares into Nexstar’s “NXST” ticker....
Unknown Worlds Co-Founders' Lawyers Accuse Krafton of "Intentionally Leaking" Subnautica 2 Release Date
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) announced it will not adopt the sweeping age‑rating changes introduced by Pan‑European Games Information (PEGI), citing potential confusion for consumers. PEGI’s new framework, effective June, expands ratings to cover paid random items, time‑limited offers,...
Genies and Sanrio Partner on AI-Enabled Character Experiences
Genies, an AI avatar platform, has formed a strategic partnership with Sanrio, the creator of Hello Kitty and over 400 other characters. The collaboration will enable Sanrio’s iconic IP to be rendered as interactive, AI‑driven avatars that can speak, gesture,...
Supercent and Sumo Digital Sign Strategic MOU to Co-Develop Next-Generation Mobile Titles
South Korean mobile publisher Supercent and UK developer Sumo Digital have signed a memorandum of understanding to co‑develop next‑generation mobile games, with development slated to begin in early 2026. The partnership blends Supercent’s mobile‑first, data‑driven publishing platform with Sumo’s two‑decade...
Erin Boone: Forging a New Frontier For Broadcast TV
On March 19, FCC Media Bureau Chief Erin Boone issued a 40‑page Memorandum Opinion and Order that effectively rewrote the 2004 local television ownership rules. The order granted Nexstar Media Group's merger with TEGNA, providing waivers and divestiture commitments that...
Ratings Roundup: 2026 World Baseball Classic Is Most Watched WBC Telecast EVER with Over 10 Million Viewers
The 2026 World Baseball Classic final between Venezuela and the United States set a new viewership record, attracting 10.78 million viewers on FOX and FOX Deportes. The telecast peaked at 12.15 million during the closing minutes and posted a 128% increase over...
Sports Media Company Snapback Sports Signs With Excel Sports Management to Drive Sponsorship Growth, Event Access
Snapback Sports, a digital sports media firm, has signed with Excel Sports Management to accelerate sponsorship revenue and gain event access. The company posted $2.2 million in 2025 revenue and aims for $3 million in 2026. Excel will handle sponsorship sales across...
Hopeless Records Boss: Streaming ‘Fails the Middle Class of Musicians’
Louis Posen, president of Hopeless Records, argues that streaming’s pro‑rata payout model disadvantages mid‑tier musicians by treating all listeners equally and favoring passive, mass‑appeal content. He proposes a tiered artist layer similar to Spotify’s podcast subscriptions, offering fans direct‑access perks...
Amaze to Launch Live Shopping Tools Enabling In-Stream Purchasing for Creators, Brands
Amaze, the creator‑powered commerce platform, announced new live‑shopping capabilities that let creators and brands sell products directly within live streams. The tools include instant in‑stream purchasing, real‑time audience interaction such as comments, polls, dynamic product highlights, and time‑limited promo codes....
FreeWheel Launches AI Tools for Premium Video Ad Transactions
Comcast‑owned FreeWheel unveiled an AI agent infrastructure to automate premium video ad transactions, anchored by its Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server and a suite of Intelligence tools. The MCP Server provides a secure layer for AI agents to connect directly...
How Breathe. Doubled Their Monthly Listeners on Spotify
Australian electronic duo Breathe., together with agency Group Speed, overhauled their Spotify presence by reactivating five‑year‑old catalog tracks and launching a data‑driven artist playlist. The playlist paired Breathe. with slightly larger, stylistically similar acts and was promoted through Spotify’s ad...
Sky Offers ‘Taste of Hayu’ Ahead of July Launch
Sky has begun a “Taste of Hayu” preview, making more than 150 on‑demand episodes from ten reality franchises available to most TV customers via Sky’s platforms. The early offering excludes Sky Q Essentials and Basic tiers, while the full Hayu...
Sport Klub to Exit Bosnia as Arena Sport Expands Lineup
Sport Klub channels will cease broadcasting in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 1 April 2025, replaced by an expanded suite of Arena Sport services. The change follows Telekom Srbija’s February 2025 acquisition of Sport Klub’s rights, licences and assets from United Group across the Western Balkans....
Sony to Wind Down Pixomondo, Consolidate VFX Work at Imageworks
Sony Pictures Entertainment announced it will wind down Pixomondo, the award‑winning visual effects and virtual production studio it bought in 2022. The closure will affect several hundred staff, with many slated for transfer to Sony Group and the remainder facing...
New Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro Talks Theme Park Prices
Josh D’Amaro, Disney’s new CEO, addressed theme‑park pricing at the March shareholder meeting, highlighting a $50 ticket option for children aged 3‑9 and a flexible pricing philosophy. He noted that U.S. park attendance slipped 1% year‑over‑year while overall park revenue...
Elyse Myers on Why Making ‘Something Cool’ Is Better Than Going Viral
Elyse Myers, a TikTok creator with 7.1 million followers, emphasizes authenticity over curated personas, even as she sets strict personal boundaries around family content. She selects brand partnerships based on creative control, using a simple metric—whether she’s proud enough to show...
Explained: What the Premier League Really Wants From OTT
The Premier League announced it will launch its own OTT platform, Premier League Plus, in Singapore starting the 2026‑27 season. The service was built into a six‑season bid with StarHub in 2022, providing a low‑pressure test market ahead of the league’s...
How Pocket Gamer Connects Summit Shanghai Is Your Gateway to the World’s Largest Games Market
Pocket Gamer Connects Summit Shanghai returns on July 29, 2026, positioned just before ChinaJoy to link global developers, publishers, investors and service providers with China’s massive games market. The event offers curated matchmaking, expert panels and market insights, helping attendees...
March Madness Blue Bloods Are the Antidote to Withering Cable Model
In 2010 CBS and Turner struck a $10.8 billion agreement to share NCAA men’s tournament rights, propelling TBS and TNT ad sales to $1.62 billion in year one and $2.26 billion by 2016. Despite record sports revenue, cable penetration fell 10 % over six...
EBU Warns Lithuania’s LRT Reforms Threaten Broadcaster Independence
The European Broadcasting Union and nearly thirty media organisations have warned that Lithuania’s proposed public service media law reforms could jeopardise LRT’s independence and financial sustainability. The draft includes a three‑year funding freeze, reduced tax‑based allocations, tighter revenue caps, and...
Dream Garden Creates Turnkey Indoor Playgrounds for Suburban Markets
Dream Garden Amusement Equipment has completed a 500‑square‑metre indoor playground in Craigieburn, Australia, delivering a full turnkey solution that includes concept design, equipment manufacturing, and installation guidance. The venue combines soft‑play structures, climbing features, a ball pit, and a dedicated...
Report: Sports Rights Holders Need to Diversify Beyond Live Content
Altman Solon’s second‑part Global Sports Survey reveals a widening monetisation gap for sports rights owners as audiences increasingly consume non‑live formats. The study of 6,000 fans and 250 executives shows 42% of viewers are very willing to pay for live events...
Braves Home Opener Heading To Gray-Owned Stations
The Atlanta Braves confirmed that their 2026 home opener on March 27 against the Kansas City Royals will be simulcast on the team’s own BravesVision platform and Gray Media’s network of local television stations across the six‑state Braves Country. The...
Channel 4 Unveils New Sponsor of The Great British Bake Off
Channel 4 announced that Autotrader will become the new sponsor of The Great British Bake Off, taking over from Waitrose after a two‑year partnership. The deal kicks off with the 2026 broadcast season, aligning the automotive marketplace with the show’s...
CD Projekt Sales Rise 9% in 2025, Driven by Cyberpunk Franchise
CD Projekt reported 2025 sales revenue of 867 million PLN, a 9% increase year‑on‑year, driven primarily by the Cyberpunk franchise. Net profit surged 33.7% to 594 million PLN, helped by a fivefold jump in the goods‑and‑materials segment after the Cyberpunk Ultimate Edition launched on...
Shaping Supply: Is Curation the Antidote to Ad Wastage?
Connected TV (CTV) ad spend in the U.S. is set to near $38 bn this year, cementing its role as a core media channel. However, the rapid expansion of premium SVOD, FAST channels, and OEM interfaces has fragmented the supply, making...
How MeetToMatch Will Maximise Deal-Making at Pocket Gamer Connects Summit Malmö
Pocket Gamer Connects Summit Malmö, held May 27‑28 during Nordic Game week, will use MeetToMatch to power 1:1 matchmaking between publishers, investors, service providers and developers. The two‑day event features a dedicated business lounge, curated matchmaking sessions, an indie pitch...