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:
Week of April 13 Evening News Ratings: NBC and CBS Grow in Demo
ABC World News Tonight kept its position as the most‑watched evening newscast in total viewers and the Adults 25‑54 demo for the week of April 13, but it slipped 3% in total audience and 5% in the key demo. NBC Nightly News posted flat total viewers and a 4% rise in the 25‑54 demo, cutting ABC's lead to just 67,000 demo viewers. CBS Evening News remained third, holding steady in total viewers while edging up 1% in the demo. Year‑over‑year, NBC posted double‑digit gains, while CBS saw a demo decline.
Bob Iger Joins Thrive Capital as Advisor After Disney Exit
Bob Iger, who stepped down as Disney CEO on March 18, 2025, has signed on as an advisor to venture firm Thrive Capital. The former media chief will help the firm evaluate investments and work with founders, including OpenAI’s Sam...
Disney's Streaming Income Jumps 72% as New CEO Josh D’Amaro Takes the Helm
Disney announced a $450 million streaming operating income for Q1 FY2026, a 72% year‑over‑year increase, as Josh D’Amaro officially became CEO on March 18. The results come amid record park earnings, ESPN expansion on Disney+, and a planned 1,000‑job cut, signaling a...
Japan's LDP Calls for Penalties on Deepfakes and AI‑Generated Piracy
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has urged the government to add punitive measures to the 2025 AI law, targeting deepfakes and AI‑generated piracy. The proposal seeks to compel uncooperative operators and protect domestic AI sovereignty.
Matthew Rhys Teases Unique Tone of Apple TV’s ‘Widow’s Bay’: “I’ve Never Read Anything Like This”
Apple TV+ unveiled the horror‑comedy series "Widow’s Bay," starring Matthew Rhys, who also executive‑produces. Created by Katie Dippold and directed by Emmy‑winner Hiro Murai, the show blends genuine scares with hard‑edged comedy, a tone both leads described as unlike anything...
Why Can’t Newsroom Leaders Just Be Normal About AI?
Recent AI experiments at major U.S. newsrooms have backfired, from the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s poorly received AI‑generated videos to McClatchy’s “content scaling agent” that threatens reporter bylines. A startup, Nota News, collapsed after publishing AI‑plagiarized local stories, highlighting the risks...
John Catsimatidis Set to Keynote 28th TALKERS Conference Heading Stellar Lineup of 60+ Speakers
John Catsimatidis, owner of Red Apple Audio Networks, will deliver the keynote at TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter on June 5 at Hofstra University. The one‑day conference assembles more than 60 speakers covering AI, podcasting, streaming and the future of...
Ticker: Cable Networks Offer Live Coverage of the WHCD
President Donald Trump will attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner for the first time, prompting extensive live coverage from major cable networks. C‑SPAN begins red‑carpet streaming at 6 p.m. ET, while CNN, Fox News, MS NOW and NewsNation each roll out their...
Instagram Insights Revamped: New Reel Metrics Highlight Performance
Instagram Insights just got an upgrade. 📊 The most important metrics are now front and center, organized into three tabs: Overview, Engagement, and Audience. 📈 There are new “Views over time” and engagement rate metrics for Reels, like share rate and...
Formulaic Romance Lines Stifle Creative Titles
That. And the problem is not that there isn't some truth to some of these claims it's that it's all flattened. Harlequin, which has really specific lines (Billionaire Exotic Men) has more formulaic titles/covers. So titles like "The Hunky Greek...
Music Streaming Services Targeted as Texas Attorney General Launches Payola Investigation
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a payola investigation targeting the nation’s biggest music‑streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Music and YouTube Music. The probe seeks undisclosed financial arrangements that could boost specific artists, tracks or playlists in...
AI in Journalism: Live Tracker of Scandals and Mistakes
AI misuse is surfacing across newsrooms, prompting a wave of retractions and policy overhauls. Recent incidents include the Mississippi Free Press withdrawing an AI‑written opinion piece by a fabricated author, the New York Times cutting ties with a freelancer whose AI‑generated review...
‘Shangri-La Frontier’ Anime Series Lands on Netflix US for the First Time in May 2026
Netflix will debut the adventure‑fantasy anime *Shangri‑La Frontier* in the United States on May 1 2026, marking its first appearance beyond Crunchyroll’s exclusive window. The series, produced by C2C and based on a manga that has sold 16 million copies, will join a...
Venice Biennale Gets Its Own Radio Station – RADIO GAMeC – PEDAGOGY OF HOPE
Radio GAMeC is launching “Pedagogy of Hope”, a collateral event of the Venice Biennale Arte 2026, broadcasting live from the historic Radio Vanessa in Venice from May 5‑10 and continuing online through November 22. Curated by Lorenzo Giusti and Lara Facco, the program...
YouTube TV Is On Track to Become Larger Than Comcast & Spectrum in 2026 & Become America’s Largest Provider of...
YouTube TV is on track to become the United States' largest live‑TV provider by the end of 2026, overtaking Spectrum and Comcast. First‑quarter 2026 data shows the service at 11‑12 million subscribers, while Spectrum slipped to 12.5 million. Analysts project YouTube TV...
Nintendo Releases Classic Soundtracks on Spotify but You Have to Be Quick
Nintendo has placed the full soundtracks from Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel on Spotify for the first time, coinciding with the franchise’s 40th‑anniversary celebrations. The playlists, which feature 130 tracks, are accessible only to Spotify Premium mobile users and include a...
A Tip Line, a Crackdown, and a Chilling Effect
Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson created a public Signal tip line on Reddit, gathering hundreds of tips from federal employees about agency layoffs and policy shifts in the early days of the second Trump administration. Her intel fed more than...
ITV's "Captivating" New Romance Drama Adultery Will Be "Different" Approach that "Goes Further"
ITV is set to launch "Adultery", a new romance drama that reimagines infidelity by intertwining the affairs of two parents with the relationship of their teenage children. Starring Shelley Conn, Dominic Cooper and Romola Garai, the series promises a layered narrative that...
Bravo Launches Investigation Into Leaked ‘Summer House’ Reunion Audio
Bravo announced a full investigation after an audio recording from the "Summer House" reunion was leaked online, marking the first such breach in the series' history. The clip captured cast members Amanda Batula, West Wilson and Ciara Miller discussing their...
NotebookLM Adds Editable Slides and Custom Infographic Styles
Google's NotebookLM got a pair of new updates with Editable Slide Decks and Infographic styles. 📓 The former lets you edit slides it created to tweak text, visuals, and layouts to customize presentations, while the latter lets you choose from different...
BG3 Prequel Novel Starring Astarion Gets 2026 Release Date
Larian Studios’ hit RPG Baldur’s Gate 3 is expanding into print with a prequel novel focused on fan‑favorite elf vampire Astarion. The book, titled “Baldur’s Gate 3: Astarion,” is written by New York Times bestseller T. Kingfisher and arrives on September 29, 2026, with an audiobook...
YouTube TV's Multiview Is Now (Almost) Fully Customizable
YouTube TV has expanded its Multiview feature to allow fully customizable layouts, letting subscribers select any two to four live streams from across content categories. The rollout, which began in early 2024, is currently available to a subset of users...
Where Eagles Dare, Karate Kid's Zabka Represent Midas' 'Best'
Midas commemorates its 70th anniversary with the "Midas Is the Best" campaign, featuring William Zabka—best known as Johnny Lawrence from *The Karate Kid*—as a modern‑day Midas Master Technician. The year‑long, integrated effort, created by Pittsburgh‑based indie agency Where Eagles Dare,...
Floyi Publishes Three-Pillar Topical Authority Audit for SEO and AI Search Teams
Floyi launched a free Three‑Pillar Topical Authority Audit that lets SEO teams evaluate Content, Market, and AI authority in just 15 minutes. The 21‑question scorecard assigns a 0‑14 score to each pillar and a combined 0‑42 rating, pinpointing the weakest...
Norway's Prime Minister Proposes Ban on Social Media Access for Young Teens
Norway's prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced a draft law that would prohibit children under 16 from accessing social‑media platforms, with the ban slated to take effect by the end of 2026. The legislation would require big‑tech firms to implement...
TikToker Under Fire for Filming & Mocking Dead Body After Fatal Accident Outside Fancy Restaurant
TikTok influencer Sarah Stusek posted a video showing a dead body at a crash scene outside Oak Steakhouse in Alexandria, Virginia, while filming her anniversary dinner. The clip, which included jokes about the tragedy, was quickly deleted after sparking outrage...
Week of April 13 Morning News Ratings: CBS Has Only Morning Show to Grow
For the week of April 13, 2026, CBS Mornings was the only U.S. network morning program to post week‑to‑week gains, rising 3% in total viewers and 19% in the key Adults 25‑54 demo. NBC’s Today remained the audience leader with 3.0 million total viewers...
Station 19: Character From Cancelled ABC Series to Return on Grey’s Anatomy
ABC’s fire‑house drama Station 19 wrapped after seven seasons in 2024, but its universe remains active through Grey’s Anatomy. Danielle Savre, who played Maya Bishop on Station 19, will appear in the upcoming Grey’s Anatomy episode as a burn‑injured firefighter....
Hollywood's Triple Crisis Sparks Creative Renaissance via Gaming
New pod: THE TRIPLE CRISIS IN HOLLYWOOD—AND THE FUTURE OF MOVIES, WITH @SeanFennessey Just a really fun conversation about the state of film, the evolution of media, and the future of culture. Feat.: The triple crisis - Ticket sales per capita down...
Being Chronically Online Undermines Authentic Social Media Content
Please stop asking for “chronically online” I’d argue it makes Social Media Managers WORSE. Yet somehow it’s in half the social media job descriptions I come across, like it’s a superpower instead of a fast track to burnout, anxiety, and genuinely...
Hurley Named SVP of Programming for iHeartMedia Philadelphia
iHeartMedia announced that Jeff Hurley has been promoted to senior vice president of programming for its Philadelphia cluster, which comprises six stations including the sports‑betting outlet WDAS‑AM “FOX Sports The Gambler.” Hurley will continue to serve as executive vice president...
Job Postings Paint Picture of Cal’s New Content Venture After Layoffs
California's athletic department announced Strawberry Creek Studios, a new content‑creation venture replacing its traditional marketing and communications units. More than 20 positions were posted, indicating an investment of over $1 million in combined salaries. The studio will operate in four divisions—content...
Brands Are Mastering Reddit Beyond Ads and AMAs
This week I wrote about how brands are cracking Reddit — and not just with AMAs or ads on the platform 🛀🏼 Dove incorporated Reddit comments into a campaign 💵 Fidelity Investments hosts a community hub for investors 🥯 Philadelphia Cream Cheese gifted...
Ad Dollars Moving From TV to Digital Platforms
TV’s Next Upfront Really Isn’t About TV: Where Will Ad Dollars Go? https://t.co/9r1VcjnpAx via @variety
The Death of Gatekeepers
The New York Times released a culture podcast that framed shoplifting and other illegal acts as anti‑capitalist resistance, sparking a firestorm on social media. The piece illustrates how algorithm‑driven platforms reward sensational, morally questionable content. The author argues that the disappearance of...
Super PAC‑Funded AI Pretending to Be Journalists Is Unethical
This is absolutely wild. The whole thread and the longer @TheMidasProj piece are worth reading. Super PAC-backed AI agents posing as journalists is offensive to those of us who are actual journalists. (Along with this being unethical & harmful for society...
Guest Editors Turning Journals Into Playgrounds of Bad Science
Growing use of guest editors has turned some journals into a ‘playground of bad science’ https://t.co/vkS8OED5Ba
AI Creator Platform Markable Launches Free Tier, Opening Commerce Tools to All Creators
Markable, an AI‑powered creator platform that has processed over $1 billion in social commerce sales across more than 1,000 creators, announced a free tier that unlocks its core commerce tools. The free plan includes smart deep links, AutoDM automated replies, an...
Upfronts Still Move Billions, but TV Viewership Wanes
The upfronts, the biggest national market for TV advertising, are still a central place for trading in billions of dollars tied to commercials. As for TV, not so much..... https://t.co/23ANfT2Zg1
Pick One New Skill to Boost Your Content Creation
What skill do you want to learn this month to become a better content creator?
Prime Video Finalizes WNBA Broadcast Talent Roster for 2026
Amazon’s Prime Video has sealed an 11‑year partnership with the WNBA, expanding its role from occasional games to 31 national broadcasts and key postseason slots through 2036. The streamer unveiled its 2026 on‑air talent, headlined by former star Candace Parker...
Outlander’s Sophie Skelton on Brianna’s Secret Weapon in Episode 8
In the eighth episode of Outlander’s final season, Brianna Fraser engineers a breech‑loading rifle inspired by the early 19th‑century Hall design, showcasing her modern ingenuity on Fraser’s Ridge. The episode reveals Frank Randall’s nickname for her, “Deadeye,” underscoring her sharpshooting...
What’s New to Streaming: April 24, 2026
This week’s streaming slate introduces several genre‑bending series and films. Netflix debuts the eight‑part Korean horror‑thriller "If Wishes Could Kill," while HBO Max adds the dark comedy "DTF St. Louis" starring Jason Bateman and David Harbour. Prime Video rolls out...
Video: "Helluva Boss" Season 3 - Official Teaser - Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video released the official teaser for "Helluva Boss" Season 3, confirming the season will be split into two parts. Part 1 is scheduled to debut in the fall of 2026, while Part 2 will arrive in 2027. The adult‑animated comedy follows...
AI Is Inflating Online Writing, Undermining Quality
Thanks to AI, every piece of writing online now is far too long Entire email newsletters that were clearly expanded from a tweet, 5 paragraphs to say the same thing over and over Text is cheap so people have forgotten that quality...
Time to Launch TIME100 Next India Edition in Partnership with Reliance
TIME announced the launch of TIME100 Next India, its first edition of the TIME100 Next franchise focused on emerging Indian leaders. The initiative, unveiled at the TIME100 Gala in New York, is partnered with Reliance and will recognize 100 individuals...
Special Issues May Undermine Peer Review, Prompting Retractions
Is it time to rethink the plethora of special issues scientific journals publish? The growing number of retractions from what is perceived to be a more lax peer review process points to a problem, @AnilOza16 reports. https://t.co/dG9Fgz0QQh
BigTime Creative Shop Launches Pepsi Football Nation Ft. David Beckham, Mo Salah, Vini Jr and Other Star Footballers
BigTime Creative Shop, fresh from topping the MENA WARC Creative 100 and ranking fourth among independent agencies worldwide, has launched Pepsi Football Nation, a global multi‑channel campaign for PepsiCo. The platform stars football icons David Beckham, Mohamed Salah, Vinícius Júnior, Alexia Putellas and Lauren James,...
How ESPN and NFL Network Ended up with Different Clips of Fernando Mendoza Being Drafted
Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman‑winning quarterback, was selected first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft, but he watched the announcement from his home in Coral Gables. ESPN and NFL Network aired nearly identical footage of Mendoza’s...
HP Quietly Launched a Streaming App to Grow Its Advertising Ambitions
HP has quietly launched HP TV+, a free ad‑supported streaming app for U.S. laptop users, extending its HP Media Network ad inventory. The service aggregates content from publishers such as USA Today, PBS, and the Tennis Channel and is available...