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:
Future Guarantees Advertisers Its New Audience Intelligence Platform Will Boost CTR
Future plc has introduced Helix, a new audience intelligence platform that replaces Aperture and uses first‑party purchase data to match advertisers with high‑intent audiences. The company is guaranteeing advertisers a minimum click‑through‑rate uplift, citing test results showing up to a five‑fold increase in ROAS, a 50% drop in CPA and double‑digit CTR gains. Helix leverages a large‑language model to automate brief parsing and can be deployed on TikTok, Meta and Future’s own sites. The pledge comes as Future grapples with a 20% audience decline and a share price down more than 50% year‑over‑year.
Kids, Social Media and Safety: Why a Years-Long Battle Has No End in Sight
A wave of high‑profile lawsuits has placed social‑media giants under fire for child exploitation and addictive design, culminating in a $375 million verdict against Meta and a $3 million joint penalty for Meta and Google. Lawmakers are pushing the Kids Online Safety...
What To Watch Friday: Happy's Place Finale, Marty Supreme On HBO Max, And More
TVLine’s Friday roundup highlights several marquee events across broadcast, cable and streaming. NBC wraps Season 2 of the comedy Happy’s Place with a two‑hour finale, while HBO Max adds Timothée Chalamet‑led drama Marty Supreme to its catalog. The NFL Draft continues with rounds 2‑3 live...
Netflix’s ‘Apex’ Thrills with Australian Wilderness in Strong Debut
Netflix released the survival thriller “Apex” this week, featuring Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton and debuting in both streaming and a handful of theaters. Critics highlighted the film’s immersive Australian wilderness, noting director Baltasar Kormákur’s commitment to practical, on‑location shooting....
Giant Leaves BBC Show Gladiators After Three Seasons
Jamie Bigg, the former professional bodybuilder and firefighter who appears on BBC’s Gladiators as “Giant,” announced his departure after three seasons. Bigg revealed on Instagram that the decision was driven by a conflict with his personal values, not a voluntary...
SCOOP: Pen Marudhar in Talks to Acquire Welcome To The Jungle’s Overseas Rights; JioStar Bags Domestic Theatrical, OTT and Satellite...
Pen Marudhar is in final talks to acquire the overseas theatrical distribution rights for the upcoming comedy caper *Welcome To The Jungle*, slated for a June 26 release. Meanwhile, JioStar’s Disney‑backed arm has secured the all‑India theatrical, satellite and OTT...
Warner Bros. Discovery Shareholders Approve $81 B Paramount Merger, Paving Way for Media Mega‑Deal
Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders voted to sell the company to Paramount for $31 a share, valuing the deal at $81 billion (about $111 billion with debt). The approval clears a major hurdle, but regulators, state attorneys general and Hollywood groups are already...
Patriots Coach Vrabel Steps Back Amid Scandal with Reporter Dianna Russini
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel issued a public apology and announced he will miss the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft to attend counseling after fresh photos with former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini surfaced. The scandal, which...
Your LinkedIn Strategy for 2026
The post argues that LinkedIn’s 2026 algorithm has slashed organic reach, making the feed a shrinking arena for short‑form content. Simultaneously, AI models now treat LinkedIn articles as a primary training source, with roughly 75% of AI‑generated citations drawn from...
ITC Mangaldeep Spotlights Visually Impaired Fragrance Testers in New Film
ITC Mangaldeep’s latest film introduces the Sixth Sense programme, which places visually impaired individuals at the heart of its incense fragrance testing. The ad follows two boys, one blind, highlighting how sound and scent replace sight in everyday moments. Launched...
AI Said What? Reclaiming Strategic Thinking in an Automated Ad World
Mark Zuckerberg warned AI will kill agencies by automating ad creation and optimization. A recent industry session argues the reality is more nuanced, highlighting a growing gap between AI‑reported metrics and actual performance drivers. It stresses that human strategic thinking...
Entertainment On-Demand for Armed Forces Personnel at Home and Abroad
The UK Ministry of Defence has renewed its contract with the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) for another ten years, expanding secure, on‑demand media access for service members worldwide. The deal coincides with the largest sustained rise in defence spending...
Cheil Worldwide Q1 Profit Slips 0.3% as Sales Fall 2.1% Amid Digital Ad Slowdown
Cheil Worldwide, Samsung Group’s advertising arm, posted a 0.3% decline in Q1 net income to 28.254 bn won ($21.7 m) and a 2.1% drop in sales to 1.018 tn won ($783 m). The dip underscores tightening digital ad spend and challenges for large agency...
How Fox's Reboot of 'Fear Factor' Became a Surprise Hit
Fox’s reboot of "Fear Factor"—titled "Fear Factor: House of Fear"—emerged as the network’s top new unscripted series for adults 18‑49, pulling 16.5 million viewers across broadcast and Hulu during its January debut. The revamped format places contestants together in a single...
I'm a Celebrity's Beverley Callard Shares "Last Minute Change" In Update Ahead of Show's Final
Coronation Street veteran Beverley Callard announced a last‑minute change that prevents her from attending the live finale of ITV's "I'm a Celebrity... South Africa" after exiting the pre‑filmed series on medical grounds. The actress, who recently received a breast‑cancer diagnosis,...
Prestigious Photo Contest Answers ‘What Is a Photo?’
The World Press Photo competition announced its 2026 Photo of the Year, "Separated by ICE," captured by veteran photojournalist Carol Guzy. The image, depicting children clinging to their father after an immigration hearing, had to comply with strict rules that...
Thousands of AI‑written, Edited or ‘Polished’ Books Are Being Sold – an Eerie Echo of Orwell’s ‘Novel‑writing Machines’
A wave of AI‑written, edited, and "polished" books is flooding the market, spotlighting the legal fallout from recent AI copyright disputes. In 2025 Anthropic agreed to a settlement of up to $1.5 billion to compensate thousands of authors whose works were...
Techsurvey: Radio’s Core Aging Out Of Demo; Digital Gap Closing
Jacobs Media’s Techsurvey 2026, based on nearly 31,000 P1 radio listeners, shows the average audience has aged to 58.4 years, with one‑third now 65 or older. Digital consumption has surged, accounting for 44% of weekly listening time versus 54% on...
These AI Thirst Trap Creators Say They’re Misunderstood
AI‑generated Instagram model Jae Young Joon, created by Canadian creator Luc Thierry, has attracted over 320,000 followers despite his digital nature. Thierry and a network of similar creators use private group chats to amplify each other's content, recently sparking viral...
Cashing In: How Radio’s Best Sellers Navigate a Skeptical Market
Radio Ink’s May 2026 issue reveals that top radio salespeople are confronting a more guarded buying environment. Economic tightening and the rise of low‑cost digital platforms have shifted client objections from price to proof of effectiveness. Sellers now counter platform fatigue...
What’s Bigger Than Your Show?
The article outlines five practical guidelines for radio and podcast hosts who want to embed cause‑driven content into their shows. It advises concentrating on a single charitable cause, centering narratives around one individual’s experience, and leveraging vulnerability to spark trust....
Layfield Leaves Cumulus Indianapolis For iHeartMedia Louisville
Christopher Layfield is leaving his role as Senior Vice President of Programming at Cumulus Indianapolis to become Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia in Louisville. In his new position, he will steer content strategy and audience engagement across nine iHeartMedia...
Spotify Proved Music’s Value, Reshaping Streaming Business Model
'It ultimately made people realize that music was worth paying for': Spotify's Sten Garmark on how the streaming giant created an entirely new business model https://www.techradar.com/audio/spotify/it-ultimately-made-people-realize-that-music-was-worth-paying-for-spotifys-sten-garmark-on-how-the-streaming-giant-created-an-entirely-new-business-model-and-its-mission-to-convince-users-that-there-was-something-better-than-free
Gregg Bonham Goes Whole Hog On Programming WRZK
Gregg Bonham has been promoted from Assistant Program Director to Program Director of 95.9 The Hog (WRZK) in Tennessee’s Tri‑Cities market. He succeeds Scott Highland, who is moving to oversee HVB’s ESPN sports stations. Bonham’s year‑long tenure included music testing, social‑media strategy,...
Dan Bongino Returns to Top Three in March Podcasts Ranker
The Dan Bongino Show surged to #3 on Triton Digital’s March 2026 US Podcast Ranker, trailing only iHeart’s *Stuff You Should Know* and Audioboom’s *Pod Save America*. The ranking reflects an average of 3.6 million weekly downloads for Cumulus Podcast Network, largely...
AI Video Studio Boosts Production, Still Needs Human Creators
Another Gen AI Video studio and this is really good. All the features/ function to help to generate very accurate and consistence video. Either for your ads, marketing, short series and more. Such tools will not replace Creative ppl, we...
Inside the NFL Draft: No.1 Pick Mendoza Talks
Your morning listening: It's a CNBC Sport NFL Draft extravaganza --> I speak with No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza and NFL Draft guru Dane Brugler: https://t.co/ymFPUFXXOc
Zattoo Takes over Pluto TV Ad Sales in Switzerland
Zattoo has taken over advertising sales for Pluto TV in Switzerland, deepening its partnership with Paramount. The move adds Pluto TV’s 150‑plus FAST channels to Zattoo’s connected‑TV portfolio, which already includes Paramount+, HBO Max and Samsung TV Plus. Advertisers will...
NBA Playoffs Return to NBC Sports Delivers Big Viewership Gains Over First Three Nights
NBC Sports returned to NBA playoff coverage after a 24‑year hiatus, delivering the network’s strongest early‑round ratings in decades. The first six games averaged 4.9 million viewers, a 38% increase over comparable 2025 coverage, with peaks of 6.7 million on both the...
Josy Paul, Minakshi Achan and Mayur Hola Appointed as Jury Chairs for the ABBY Awards 2026
The One Club announced Jos Paul, Minakshi Achan and Mayur Hola as jury chairs for the ABBY Awards 2026. Paul will oversee the Sustainable Development Goals category, Achan will lead Branded Content and Entertainment, and Hola will head Brand Experience and Activation. Each brings...
‘No Old, Stay Gold’: Sega Launches Sega Universe, a Project Designed to Revive Its Older IP Beyond Games
Sega has launched Sega Universe, a transmedia initiative aimed at reviving its classic franchises beyond video games. The first phase spotlights nine legacy titles celebrating major anniversaries in 2026, promising nostalgic yet new entertainment across film, music, fashion and more....
Matlock Season 3 Renewal Status Confirmed
CBS confirmed a third season for the legal drama Matlock, adding it to a slate of renewals that includes Tracker, Elsbeth, Fire Country, NCIS: Origins, NCIS: Sydney, Survivor and The Amazing Race. The new season will abandon the "secret mission"...
A&E May 2026 Premiere Highlights
A&E’s May 2026 schedule rolls out a slate of new premieres spanning true‑crime, home‑renovation, culinary, and sports‑entertainment programming. The lineup kicks off with "Squatters" on May 12, followed by three crime‑focused series—"After The First 48," "Interrogation Raw" and the rebranded "Killer Investigations"—all debuting on May 14....
The Scouting Report with Philippa Donovan
The pandemic forced literary scouts to concentrate on "surefire" genres—romance, romantasy, thrillers, and award‑winning bestsellers—driven by a market craving escapist, uplifting stories. BookTok’s algorithmic influence now guides film and TV producers toward these high‑visibility titles. Short‑form works such as novellas...
Go Outdoors Launches Latest TV Campaign with Return of Billy the Bird
Go Outdoors, owned by JD Sports, launched a new TV and digital campaign featuring the return of its parakeet mascot Billy, airing on primetime shows like Britain’s Got Talent and Saturday Night Live. The ad showcases outdoor freedom, highlighting brands...
Everything We Know About Lee Dong-Wook’s New Drama ‘The Facade of Love’
Netflix is set to launch "The Facade of Love," a Korean drama starring Hallyu icon Lee Dong-wook. Directed by Mo Wan‑il, the series blends melodrama and romance, following a chance one‑night encounter that destabilizes a married man’s life. The narrative...
Video: New Featurette - Hulu Original Series "Rivals" Season 2
Hulu’s Emmy‑ and BAFTA‑winning drama “Rivals” returns for a second season on Friday, May 15, 2026. The 12‑episode run is split into two six‑episode batches, with a three‑episode premiere kicking off the first batch and the remainder slated for later...
AI Search Demands a New Audience Playbook
AI-powered search engines are reshaping how readers arrive at publisher sites. While overall referral traffic may dip, the visitors who do click are more purposeful and likely to engage. A Scrunch study of AI queries about GLP‑1 drugs categorizes users...
From Insight to Action: Rethinking Media Planning in the Age of AI Agents
Caroline Sajas of Locala argues that the biggest bottleneck in media planning is not a lack of insights but the inability to translate them into actionable campaigns. A Forrester‑Amplified study finds 37% of ad spend is ineffective because data and...
The Anti-Prestige Prestige Show: Why ‘The Pitt’ Is the Cure for What Ails TV
The Pitt, HBO Max’s low‑budget medical drama, just wrapped its second 15‑episode season, delivering each hour for $4‑5 million—a stark contrast to the $7 million‑plus per‑episode costs of legacy prestige shows. By filming on a single Warner Bros. soundstage with handheld cameras and...
Lisa Rinna Wants This Traitors Co-Star To Be the Next Bachelorette
Actress and former "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Lisa Rinna has publicly backed her "Traitors" co‑star Maura Higgins as a potential lead for the next season of ABC's "The Bachelorette." Higgins, who was recently announced as a competitor on "Dancing...
Disney Exec on if Taylor Frankie Paul’s Canceled Bachelorette Season Will Ever Air
Rob Mills, Disney Television's EVP of unscripted, said the fate of The Bachelorette Season 22 starring Taylor Frankie Paul remains uncertain after the show was pulled amid controversy. He noted that production on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is set...
Hizbullah-Affiliated News Outlet Promotes New Digital Media Platform Available On Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, And X
On April 20, 2026, Hezbollah‑affiliated outlet Al‑Khanadeq announced a new digital media hub called “The Lebanese Interior Front.” The platform, hosted on Instagram, Facebook, Telegram and X, promises a single source of authoritative news for Lebanon while warning users about...
Norway Follows Australia with Under-16s Social Media Ban Legislation
Norway will table a bill by year‑end that bans anyone under 16 from using social‑media platforms, echoing Australia’s pioneering December restriction. The proposal places the onus on technology firms to verify users’ ages, though it does not name specific apps....
"Scooby-Doo: Origins" Starts Production in Atlanta
Netflix announced that production has started in Atlanta, Georgia for "Scooby‑Doo: Origins," a live‑action reimagining of the classic mystery franchise. The series stars Mckenna Grace as Daphne Blake, Tanner Hagen as Shaggy Rogers, Abby Ryder Fortson as Velma Dinkley, Maxwell Jenkins...
Keyword Structuring Shapes the Foundation of Effective Website Content
Keyword structuring is emerging as a core SEO tactic, emphasizing the logical organization of primary and secondary terms rather than isolated keyword repetition. By arranging topics hierarchically—starting with a main theme and branching into sub‑topics—content mirrors natural search intent and...
Premier League‑EFL Broadcast Rights Deal Still Uncertain
New Deal or No Deal? The progress on the negotiations between the Premier League and EFL over broadcast rights per the always brilliant @mjshrimper https://t.co/qHdE0c48yo
Aboriginal Children's Book Pulled over Illustrator's Bondi Attack Comments
The University of Queensland Press (UQP) has halted the release of the Indigenous children’s book *Bila, A River Cycle* after illustrator Matt Chun’s Substack essay on the Bondi beach shooting was deemed antisemitic. Thousands of printed copies are now in...
Is Diet Coke a Win or a Defend for Ogilvy?
Coca‑Cola has handed its UK and EMEA Diet Coke account to Ogilvy, reviving a long‑standing WPP‑Coca‑Cola partnership that now competes with Publicis and other bidders. The deal emphasizes social and influencer marketing, a shift from traditional media that Coke moved to...
Which Campaigns Won the Kantar Advertising Effectiveness Awards Based on People’s Reactions?
Kantar’s 2026 Advertising Effectiveness Awards, which rank ads based on real‑people reactions, have named Vimto’s Ramadan campaign the only Middle‑East entry in the global top‑10 most effective campaigns. The awards, covering campaigns, digital/social, TV and print/outdoor, also introduced a new...