Know What's Happening in Media
Know What's Happening in Media
Indian TV market braces for sales dip as production costs surge
Rising RAM prices, higher plastic and ocean‑freight costs linked to the West Asia crisis, and a weakening rupee have pushed entry‑level 32‑inch TV prices up about 20% to $133, up from $108 six months ago. Counterpoint Research expects shipments to fall 5‑6% as consumers down‑trade to smaller screens.
Also developing:
By the numbers: K-Love seeks FCC approval to acquire radio station WFCC
California’s SB 576, effective soon, mandates that ads in streaming content be loudness‑matched to the surrounding program, extending the CALM Act principles to digital platforms. The law places compliance responsibility on the entity delivering the ad to California viewers, exposing the fragmented ad‑tech supply chain that currently leads to volume spikes. To meet the rule, broadcasters and ad‑tech vendors must embed automated loudness measurement and correction at ingest, preserving metadata through transcoding. The move signals a broader shift toward universal audio standards for streaming, with potential ripple effects across other states and federal regulation.
Entravision senior vice president Angie Balderas will moderate a high‑profile panel titled “Women in Hispanic Broadcasting: Challenges and Opportunities” at Radio Ink’s Hispanic Radio Conference on May 28 in Phoenix. The discussion brings together senior executives—including Shirley Davenport, Claudia De León, and media veteran Mike McVay—to...
The article outlines fourteen proven tactics that radio salespeople use to generate client referrals, ranging from delivering measurable ROI to maintaining transparent pricing. It emphasizes that proactive communication, data‑driven optimization, and deep client knowledge turn satisfied advertisers into vocal advocates....
The article highlights that Hispanic listeners are the most engaged radio audience, making accurate Hispanic sampling crucial for Nielsen’s PPM and diary ratings. It explains Nielsen’s three‑ethnicity tracking (Black, Hispanic, Other) and the need for balanced panels, noting that clients...
Roberts Metro Broadcasting has introduced *The Darius Bradford Show* on Foxy 106.9 (KXBS‑HD3) as the new St. Louis morning drive program. National touring comedian Darius Bradford returns home to co‑host with veteran TV journalist April Simpson. The show promises a mix of...
Country Radio Broadcasters announced that Grammy‑winning artist Keith Urban will headline a Q&A session at CRS 2026, focusing on his long‑standing partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The segment, titled “The Power Of Music And A Mission,” will air on March 19...
The Missouri Broadcasters Association (MBA) announced eight MBA Foundation Scholarships for the 2026 class, recognizing students pursuing broadcasting and digital media careers. Recipients hail from six Missouri colleges, including University of Central Missouri, Missouri State, and Evangel University. Several scholars...
Sunset+Vine has secured a new four‑year deal to produce Channel 4’s Crufts coverage, extending a partnership that began in 2010. The broadcaster will deploy a 150‑person crew, three outside‑broadcast trucks and 22 cameras to deliver 17 hours of televised programming and...
Microdramas have become the fastest‑growing mobile video format, now out‑watching Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video in daily minutes per user in the US. Omdia estimates the segment generated $11 billion in 2025 and will reach $14 billion by 2026, with the United...
EscalaX announced a strategic partnership with privacy‑focused consultancy BidSafe One to strengthen its data‑protection and regulatory compliance posture. The collaboration will help EscalaX optimise consent management and align its operations with GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, IAB TCF and GPP standards. By integrating...
Virgin Media O2 will add Sky Atlantic to its Virgin TV platform at no extra cost starting April 1. Existing Virgin TV 360 and Stream box customers who already receive Sky Entertainment channels will automatically gain access to the channel, bringing popular...
Roblox creators are actively pursuing film and television adaptations of their original intellectual property, viewing entertainment deals as a lucrative new revenue channel. The platform’s user engagement is nearing that of major streaming services, with Q3 2025 user hours reaching...
HBO Documentary Films announced acquisition of worldwide TV and streaming rights to the documentary "The Slightest Touch." The film, directed by Rachel Fleit, chronicles Emma Fogarty, a 40‑year‑old living with Epidermolysis Bullosa, as she trains for the Dublin Marathon with...
Warner Bros Discovery reported a record streaming audience for the 2026 Milano‑Cortina Winter Games across Europe, with total hours viewed jumping 103% versus Beijing 2022. Viewer counts more than tripled, rising 234% over the previous Games, and the platform attracted more subscribers in...
Meta has launched the Agency Growth Collective, a pilot program for independent agencies in the United States. The initiative replaces the traditional single Meta representative with a shared alias that routes communications to a rotating bench of specialists and offers...
The $100 million whistleblower lawsuit filed by former GroupM CEO Richard Foster has resurfaced as WPP filed a motion to dismiss, attaching internal documents that reveal the scale of GroupM’s proprietary media deals. Foster’s 36‑page “Project Claridges” report shows that only...
Meta has added a one‑tap sharing option that lets Threads users push public posts straight to Instagram Stories without leaving the Threads app. The feature automatically formats the Thread into a full‑screen Stories frame, but it does not allow any...
Roku has launched the Pro Remote 2, a $29.88 upgrade for existing Roku TVs and players. The new controller swaps the old micro‑USB port for USB‑C, adds motion‑activated backlit buttons, and introduces a dedicated Guide button for instant access to OTA...
ABC announced a six‑part crime thriller titled Fortitude Valley, set in Brisbane’s neon‑lit nightlife precinct. The series stars AACTA‑winning First Nations actor Hunter Page‑Lochard and veteran Kat Stewart, with production kicking off in April and a 2027 broadcast on ABC TV...
Bob Ross paintings are being auctioned to rescue public television after the federal government cut $1.11 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, threatening PBS stations nationwide. American Public Television partnered with Bonhams Skinner to sell original Ross works, raising nearly...
Seven Network announced the launch of "The Agenda Setters: Rugby League," a weekly NRL analysis program hosted by former Brisbane Broncos captain Corey Parker. The panel features premiership halfback Luke Keary, State of Origin forward Aaron Woods, veteran journalist David...
Veteran journalist Michael Rowland announced his departure from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation this week, ending a 39‑year career that began as a radio news cadet in 1987. He is best known for co‑hosting News Breakfast for 15 years and most...
Wall Street analysts are circulating a theory that Netflix’s primary goal in the Warner Bros. deal is not to acquire the studio but to block Paramount Skydance from obtaining it. The speculation hinges on Netflix’s willingness to spend billions, potentially triggering...
Mel Gibson’s *The Passion of the Christ* will leave Netflix at the end of February 2026, ending its annual Easter streaming run. The departure has sparked fan backlash over the upcoming recasting of Jesus, as Jim Caviezel will not reprise...
Four Corners aired "Scarred", exposing a Melbourne gynaecologist accused of performing unnecessary laparoscopic surgeries on women in their twenties. Pathology reports often found little or no endometriosis, yet organs and tissue were removed, compromising fertility and causing chronic pain. The...
In 1990 Fox aired *In Living Color*, a groundbreaking sketch comedy created by Keenen Ivory Wayans that featured a predominantly Black cast and launched stars like Jamie Foxx and Jim Carrey. The network initially balked at the 1989 pilot, deeming its edgy...
Australian Idol has finalized its Top 30 roster, setting the stage for the competition's most rigorous round yet. Judges Marcia Hines, Kyle Sandilands and Amy Shark warned that success will hinge on adaptability, rapid learning and crowd command, not just...
Victorian pensioner Ian Williams lost $1,338 to an online banking scam and sued National Australia Bank (NAB) for a symbolic $379 million in damages. His case, featured on ABC’s Australian Story, highlighted the bank’s initial refusal to refund or apologise. Although...
How to make your experience on Instagram + Threads infinitely better On Instagram, you can pause suggested content every 30 days so you stop getting random accounts in the Feed (it’s not chronological order but it’s the next best thing)...
CBS launches "Marshals", a Yellowstone spinoff that reimagines Kayce Dutton as a U.S. Marshal. The series combines high‑budget cinematography and the gritty tone of Taylor Sheridan’s world with a traditional one‑hour procedural structure. Reviewers give it a B+, noting strong...
TVLine ranks the 15 worst episodes of AMC’s *The Walking Dead*, highlighting how the series’ later seasons fell into filler territory. The list points to stale flashbacks, weak character arcs, and pacing issues that undermine the show’s earlier narrative strength....
Microsoft’s new report, *Media Integrity and Authentication*, warns that today’s media authentication tools lag behind the surge of AI‑generated images, video and audio. It evaluates cryptographic provenance metadata, imperceptible watermarking and soft‑hash fingerprinting, concluding that layered signing and watermarking can...
Real Time with Bill Maher celebrated its 23‑year anniversary, marking 24 seasons and over 700 episodes on HBO. Launched in February 2003 after Maher’s Politically Incorrect cancellation, the show leveraged premium‑cable freedom to blend uncensored political satire with a panel...
Game of Thrones’ writers’ room remained unusually small, never exceeding four people at any time. Producer Bryan Cogman confirmed that David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and a handful of assistants handled the adaptation, with Cogman and occasional writers like Vanessa Taylor...
The Boston Globe has introduced a new "Gift an Article" option in its article‑sharing menu. The feature currently only allows users to send a free link via email, while existing social‑media buttons still lead to the paywall. The rollout suggests...
Pluto TV has expanded its free, ad‑supported lineup to include 11 dedicated science‑fiction live channels, alongside a robust on‑demand library of cult classics, indie titles, and franchise staples. The offering blends curated sci‑fi streams, franchise‑specific channels such as Star Trek...
Analysts predict that after a failed bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount will target AMC Networks as a more affordable acquisition in 2026. AMC’s portfolio includes the premium streaming bundle AMC+, plus niche services like Shudder, HIDIVE, and Sundance Now,...
Cable TV networks are confronting accelerating cord‑cutting pressures, prompting several major owners to consider consolidations, sales, or outright closures. Paramount is reportedly evaluating the shutdown of MTV and other legacy channels, while Warner Bros. Discovery’s pending network spin‑off threatens Cartoon Network, Boomerang...
British drama "Douglas Is Cancelled" starring Karen Gillan and Hugh Bonneville has moved from ITV to Disney+ as its new UK streaming home. The four‑episode series, written by Steven Moffat, blends satire and dark comedy around a news anchor accused...
Donald Trump’s vow to stay out of the WB sale lasted all of a couple weeks. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-21/trump-threatens-netflix-with-consequences-over-rice-board-seat?taid=699a45d18e21f400010da132&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_content=business&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter
Kristen Welker is the face of a new pitch from NBC News for its recently launched subscription product, which touts 'exclusive briefings' for SOTU and 'regular video briefings from my expert colleagues' https://t.co/SMpEmiJZeo
ITV unveiled the first teaser for the new "I’m a Celebrity… South Africa" series during the launch of Britain’s Got Talent, featuring hosts Ant and Dec startled by a fake big‑cat scare. The upcoming season will be pre‑recorded, but the...
This entire NYT report puts so much together, but this section really adds a lot of context as to tolerance of abhorrent behavior. “What’s most shocking is no one said anything.” https://t.co/n0Ug9ow5fg
Grok 4.20 is starting to use lists. Here's my first attempt at getting it to read my lists and give me interesting posts from each: https://t.co/uKEszPmEsG This leads to a new kind of personalized news service. It still isn't close to...
Audio codec manufacturers are adopting open protocols NMOS and Ember+ to streamline IP‑based broadcast workflows. Tieline’s codecs now support NMOS IS‑04, IS‑05, and IS‑07 for discovery, connection management, and event handling, while Ember+ exposes a hierarchical parameter tree for granular...
When is the AI bot-calypse coming @nikitabier - all the AI bot replies and AI articles wearing me down 🫠 Accounts clearly labeled as bots are ok I think
Why are we listening to an alt right Christian fundamentalist, who thinks selfies are moral decay and women’s bodies should be regulated by the government, feed a moral panic that is being used to strip repro rights content, LGBTQ ppl...
UFC Fight Night heads to Houston on February 21, 2026, featuring a middle‑weight showdown between former champion Sean Strickland and rising contender Anthony Hernandez. The entire event, from early prelims to the main card, streams live in the United States...
They do understand it, they just cynically support that mission because they want top down control over our information landscape and online speech.
The Simpsons hit its 800th episode, sparking speculation about the series’ end. Showrunner Matt Selman told The Wrap the show will not stage a traditional series finale; it will simply stop without a special goodbye. He likened the sitcom’s reset...
