Today's Media Pulse
Online video subscriptions hit 2.24 billion in 2025, overtaking pay‑TV revenue
Omdia reports global online video subscriptions reached 2.24 billion at the end of 2025, a 17.6% year‑on‑year rise. Revenue grew 13.5% to $176 billion, surpassing pay‑TV's $170 billion for the first time. Growth is expected to slow to single‑digit levels in 2026 as operators focus on monetising existing users.
Also developing:
John Malone on WBD-PSKY Merger
Paramount Skydance (PSKY) secured an all‑cash $110 billion offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), outbidding Netflix’s $82.7 billion proposal. The deal, supported by former WBD board chair John Malone, adds roughly $30 billion of debt and a portfolio of underperforming cable brands to PSKY. Closing is slated for Q3 2026, but the merger faces DOJ scrutiny, a potential lawsuit from a coalition of state attorneys general, and European antitrust review. Ellison’s broader strategy is to combine streaming services with AI‑driven advertising to challenge Google’s YouTube dominance.
CFX Download Talks Rebrand
Cablefax officially rebranded as CFX this month, launching a new identity for its telecom news platform. In the latest CFX Download episode, the editorial team explained why the change was timely and how the new name aligns with an evolving...
C-SPAN Keeps Filming at WHCD
C-SPAN was the sole source of broadcast footage from the White House Correspondents' Dinner after gunfire broke out, delivering live video of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump being escorted offstage. Camera operator Jack Spiegel, only weeks on...
Trump Lashes Out at "60 Minutes" For Asking About Gunman Manifesto Allegations
President Donald Trump lashed out at CBS journalist Norah O'Donnell during a "60 Minutes" interview, calling her "disgraceful" after she asked about alleged references to him in the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter’s manifesto. Trump denied any connection to the...
Why a Correspondents’ Dinner at a White House Ballroom Could Endanger Press Freedom
After a shooting disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, President Donald Trump announced plans for a privately financed, $400 million, 90,000‑square‑foot ballroom on the East Wing. He argues the new "Militarily Top Secret" space would prevent future security breaches and...
Your Windows PC Can Already Stream to Your TV without Any Extra Hardware — Here’s How to Set It Up
Microsoft’s Miracast feature, built into Windows 10 and 11, lets users wirelessly stream a laptop’s screen to a compatible smart TV without extra hardware. The technology uses Wi‑Fi Direct, creating a direct link that doesn’t require an internet connection or a shared...
Every Game Of Thrones Episode Written By George R.R. Martin, Ranked
The article ranks the four Game of Thrones episodes directly penned by George R.R. Martin, highlighting their narrative strengths and pivotal moments. It outlines each episode—"The Bear and the Maiden Fair," "The Pointy End," "Blackwater," and "The Lion and the...
Respect Theatrical Windows for All Films, Not Just Hits
Also, #ProjectHailMary’s #BoxOffice run has been a reminder of why respecting theatrical windows matter & why not telling audiences exactly when a film comes out on digital is important. This shouldn’t be the treatment reserved only to successful films. It should...
The Current: Creative in Motion
The post spotlights three recent pieces that move independent film distribution from theory to practice. It follows Pete Ohs’s year‑long experiment releasing multiple titles in 2026, examines Liz Manashil’s warning about the post‑production distribution gap, and highlights a broader industry...
Media OutReach Newswire Appoints Pamela Phua as Managing Partner, Southeast Asia to Champion Singapore and Southeast Asian Brand Expansion Into...
Media OutReach Newswire has named Pamela Phua as Managing Partner for Southeast Asia, a role created to accelerate the company’s growth across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines. Phua brings more than 20 years of agency and in‑house...
UK Government Move to Delay Social Media Ban Faces Pushback in Lords
The UK government has tabled an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would postpone new social‑media restrictions for children by up to three years. The move provoked fierce opposition in the House of Lords, where peers are...
TikTok Lets Users Add Relevant Keywords to Metadata
TikTok introduced a metadata tool that lets creators edit the keywords attached to their videos. The interface displays automatically generated tags based on popular searches, and creators can block irrelevant terms or suggest more accurate ones. TikTok retains final oversight...
Will Smith's Romantic Comedy 'Hitch' Joins Netflix This Friday Alongside More Than 40 New Movies
Netflix will add over 40 movies to its streaming library on May 1, 2026, including the 2005 romantic comedy Hitch starring Will Smith. The slate also features classics such as Pretty Woman, The Breakfast Club and Meet the Parents, expanding the platform’s...
Instagram Brings Simplified AI Video to Edits
Instagram has added generative AI video creation to its Edits feature, allowing users to produce short clips from text prompts, photos or existing videos without recording. The tool is accessed via the plus icon and AI option within the editing...
Bruno Mars' Catalog Floods Billboard as ‘Risk It All’ Hits New Radio Peaks
Bruno Mars has 12 tracks charting across Billboard’s genre‑specific lists, highlighted by the return of “Risk It All” to the Digital Song Sales chart at No. 23 and new peaks on Rhythmic, Adult R&B, and Radio Songs airplay charts. The resurgence...
‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Streaming Date Is Set Amid Successful Box Office Run, Report Says
Universal Pictures will launch the premium video‑on‑demand (PVOD) version of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie on May 5, 2026, pricing it at $24.99 for purchase and $19.99 for a 48‑hour rental. The release follows a new five‑weekend theatrical‑to‑digital window that the...
AOL Guides Aspiring Writers Through 2026 Publishing Hurdles
AOL’s “From Pitch to Publication” series reports that just over 2,000 fiction writers landed deals in 2025 and explains why consolidation, fewer editorial chairs and auction‑driven bidding are reshaping the odds for 2026 hopefuls. The guide offers practical steps and...
NFL RedZone Host Scott Hanson Calls $1,500 Streaming Bill a Fan Burden
NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson told Fox News he’s frustrated by the $1,500‑plus annual cost fans face to piece together every game across YouTube TV, Amazon Prime, Peacock and Netflix. He warned the league must balance profit with fan access...
Adobe Unveils Autonomous AI Agents at Summit to Automate Marketing Campaigns
Adobe announced at its 2026 Summit a suite of autonomous AI agents—including Firefly AI Assistant and CX Enterprise Coworker—designed to orchestrate end‑to‑end marketing campaigns. The rollout comes as CEO Shantanu Narayen prepares to leave after 18 years, positioning Adobe as...
AP Offers Buyouts to 120+ U.S. Journalists, Pivots From Newspaper Focus
The Associated Press said Monday it is offering voluntary buyouts to more than 120 U.S.-based journalists, marking an accelerated move away from its historic newspaper‑centric model. The shift follows a 25% drop in newspaper‑derived revenue over four years and a...
Screen Producers Reveals Finalists for 2026 Screen Diversity Award
Screen Producers Australia and the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network have announced the six finalists for the 2026 Screen Diversity & Inclusion Award. The shortlist features projects such as That Blackfella Show, The Assembly Season 2, and Lesbian Space Princess, highlighting...
Meta Adds Paid Partnership Label and Richer Metrics to Instagram APIs, Boosting Brand Automation
Meta announced expanded Instagram Management APIs that let third‑party tools add paid‑partnership disclosure labels at publish time, pull richer engagement metrics and manage collaborative media. The changes aim to cut manual handoffs for brands, agencies and creators, giving marketers a...
Thin Lizzy Credits Kentucky Radio Stations for Turning This 1976 Track Into a Top 40 Hit
In a 2016 interview, Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham credited two Louisville, Kentucky DJs with turning the band’s 1976 demo “The Boys Are Back In Town” into a national hit. The song, saved from the album’s cut list, received relentless local airplay, prompting other stations to follow...
Strange New Worlds S4 Teaser Strikes a More Serious Tone
Paramount+ unveiled a new teaser for the fourth season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds at the CCXP convention in Mexico City, signaling a shift toward a more serious tone. The clip suggests the crew will grapple with Captain Pike’s...
You Probably Wouldn’t Notice if an AI Chatbot Slipped Ads Into Its Responses
Researchers at the University of Michigan demonstrated that AI chatbots can embed covert product ads into their replies, influencing user choices without detection. In a controlled study of 179 participants, about 50 % failed to notice the advertising language, even though...
The New York Times Says This Is Why the Shooting Didn't Make Its Sunday Edition
The New York Times’ Sunday print edition went to press at 8 p.m. on Saturday, hours before shots were fired outside the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The shooting, which occurred at 8:36 p.m., was omitted from the Sunday paper, prompting...
Snap's Edge: Distribution Beats Product in AI Era
Software is not a moat Over the last 15+ years, nearly every innovation @EvanSpiegel and his team shipped got copied. Stories. AR glasses. Swipe-based navigation. The camera-first interface. And yet @Snapchat is the only independent consumer social app that has lasted. Nearly...
Authors Must Reread Manuscript Four Times—Still Love It
Did you know that after you write your book, the publisher asks you to read it cover-to-cover four different times? Neither did I 😓. The fact that I still love it at this stage of the game gives me great...
It's Official! INVISIBLE NATION to Air on PBS Nationwide This MAY
PBS will broadcast the documentary "Invisible Nation" nationwide starting May 1, 2026, coinciding with AAPI Heritage Month. The film offers unprecedented access to Taiwan’s first female president, Tsai Ing‑wen, and examines the island’s democratic evolution amid Chinese pressure. It follows a successful...
Why Is Disney Investing More In Reality TV? | What’s On Disney Plus Q&A
Disney is ramping up its investment in reality‑TV content across Disney+ and Hulu, a strategy highlighted in the recent "Get Real" Q&A session. Executives explained that unscripted series offer lower production costs, faster turnaround, and broader demographic appeal. The push...
#169 - Preston Bryne - Britain Isn't A Free Country Anymore
In this episode, Preston Bryne, a former banking lawyer turned free‑speech advocate, explains how he began defending controversial online platforms like 4chan, Kiwi Farms, and Gab against the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act, which seeks to enforce British censorship laws...
Noah Kahan Takes All Top Six Spots on US Spotify Chart with ‘The Great Divide’ Tracks
Noah Kahan captured the entire top six of the US Spotify streaming chart on April 25, 2026, with tracks from his album “The Great Divide.” The sweep underscores a breakthrough in his commercial trajectory and signals shifting listener preferences toward...
AI Will First Dominate Insights, Content; Humans Keep Strategy
Which aspects of brand social media do you think get taken over by Agentic AI first versus the parts that cling to 💯 human? 🔘 Insights + measurement 🔘 Social strategy 🔘 Content creation 🔘 Channel management 🔘 Influencer management 🔘 Community engagement
Fox's First Cancellation: Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1987)
📺 April 26, 1987: "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" debuted on Fox. The TV adaptation of the 1986 comedic film of the same name starred Hector Elizondo and Anita Morris. It has the dubious distinction of being the first...
Paramount‑Skydance Wins Shareholder Vote and FCC Backing for $111 B Warner Bros. Deal
Paramount‑Skydance’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery has cleared two critical obstacles: shareholder approval and an endorsement from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. The deal would combine Paramount’s CBS, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central with Warner’s film studios, streaming platforms and CNN,...
Trump Admits Hindering Secret Service During Dinner Shooting
Trump Talks to ‘60 Minutes’ About White House Correspondents Dinner Shooting, Says He ‘Wasn’t Making It Easy’ For Secret Service https://t.co/fu9He0duQ5 via @variety
The Voice Launched by Reality TV Pioneers in 2011
📺 April 26, 2011: “The Voice” debuted on NBC. The format of this singing competition was conceived by John de Mol (“Big Brother”) and executive produced by Mark Burnett (“Survivor”). Hosted by Carson Daly, its initial coaches were Adam Levine,...
Own a Hisense TV? I'd Change These Expert Settings to Noticeably Improve the Picture Quality
ZDNet outlines a step‑by‑step guide for tweaking Hisense TV picture settings, from simple preset selections to granular calibration. It recommends turning on Auto Picture Mode, Active Contrast, and HDR Enhancer for automatic optimization, then provides tailored configurations for live TV,...
WSJ Clarifies Who the Alleged Assassin Targeted
I am glad we still have @WSJ to help us figure out hard things like who the would-be Presidential assassin was targeting. https://t.co/Ey6PE5RopC
Trump Gives 60 Minutes Interview on Dinner Controversy
Trump sat down for a “60 Minutes” interview with Norah O’Donnell to discuss the incident at the Correspondents’ Dinner. CBS News announced that interview will air tonight.
10 Best The Twilight Zone Plot Twists, Ranked
Rod Serling’s 1959 anthology, The Twilight Zone, is celebrated for its razor‑sharp plot twists that reframe ordinary scenarios into unsettling revelations. The article ranks the ten most iconic twists, from the alien deception in “Will the Real Martian Please Stand...
NYTimes Fuels Class Warfare with Micro‑looting Narrative
The NYTimes focus last week was micro-looting, social murder and meaningless private company transactions designed to ferment class warfare. Disgraziad
How to Remove Unnecessary AI Watermarks From Images
While it's good to be able to differentiate AI-created photographs from real photos, there are many images that don't need the AI mark. Here's how to remove it, as needed, and how it all works behind the scenes: https://t.co/m8yBJd6MVt #ai...
Streamers Arky and Yugi2x Tease Trek to Everest Base Camp Marathon Stream
Arky and Yugi2x will attempt a nonstop livestream of their trek from Lukla to Everest South Base Camp in October 2026, documenting a 7‑ to 8‑day hike along the iconic Himalayan route. The duo, known as “YamFam,” will conclude the broadcast with...
Premium Screens Boost Hollywood Box Office Despite Affordability Worries
The fact that seemingly every major Hollywood film has been beating box office expectations lately and it’s increasingly being driven by premium screens is an interesting trend given the broader affordability discourse.
Bad Content Crowds Out Quality, Data Center Resistance
🆓 Sunday links: the urge to create, data center pushback, and how bad content drives out the good. https://t.co/rAi0H93ZdH image: https://t.co/6dOJymULr4 https://t.co/UcEXtubt7P
Chicago Fire: NBC Series Showrunner Departs After 14 Seasons, Replacement Named
NBC’s long‑running drama Chicago Fire announced that veteran showrunner Andrea Newman is departing after 14 years, including five seasons at the helm. Newman, who co‑led the series early on and solo‑ran the last three, will be succeeded by Victor Teran....
Explore X’s Regional Trending Tweets with This Tutorial
Didja know that X (née Twitter) has an area where you can see the most popular tweets by region or language? It's fascinating stuff to explore, as I demonstrate in this tutorial: https://t.co/8o4AIegPOv #x #twitter @X @twitter https://t.co/rlyv85WqOy
Perfect Police Drama with a "Compelling" Detective Is Streaming Now on Netflix
British crime thriller Prey has arrived on Netflix, offering both seasons for streaming. The series, originally aired on ITV from 2014‑15, follows DS Susan Reinhart and features John Simm and Philip Glenister in lead roles. Season 1 holds a perfect 100%...
Stadium Deal Coverage: Fake News Vs. Sycophancy Damages Trust
I've got a chapter in my book that examines media coverage of stadium deals "Fake News: Accidental Advocates and Editorial Sycophants." I present examples of both, and I'm not sure which does more damage. Journalists have a tough job to...