Today's Media Pulse
Online video subscriptions top 2.2 bn, revenue eclipses pay‑TV
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, overtaking pay‑TV's $170 billion for the first time. Growth is expected to slow to single‑digit in 2026 as operators shift focus from acquiring new users to monetising existing ones.
FBI Director Kash Patel Sues The Atlantic for $250 Million, Sparking Press‑freedom Debate
FBI Director Kash Patel has filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick, alleging false claims about his conduct. The filing coincides with the launch of Objection, an AI‑driven media‑tribunal startup, and has ignited a clash between government officials and press‑freedom advocates.
African Storytelling Is a Growth Market Hollywood Is Missing, Says Next Narrative Africa Fund Study
The Next Narrative Africa Fund (NNAF) released a study with Parrot Analytics showing that global demand for African and diaspora film and TV outpaces supply, especially for non‑English titles. Non‑English African stories represent 28% of audience demand but only 16%...
LinkedIn Lands Fan on NFL Draft Broadcast
Fernando Mendoza wasn't going to attend the NFL Draft..... but he did turn up in a commercial break during ESPN's telecast of the event, thanks to LinkedIn..... https://t.co/ZZy8br1ECI
Live and Unloved – Kyle and Jackie O Are Back in Court and on Screen
The Kyle and Jackie O Show is back in the Federal Court of Australia, facing a directions hearing that the court has chosen to livestream. The court announced the live stream on LinkedIn, turning a normally dull procedural matter into...
Studios Commit to 45-Day Theatrical Windows at CinemaCon, Pushing Back on Early Premium VOD
Universal, Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount and other majors announced at CinemaCon 2026 that they will honor theatrical windows of at least 45 days, a stark reversal of the early premium‑VOD model that saw movies jump to streaming in as little...
E-Books Lag Printed Books
Statista’s latest market data shows e‑books still lag printed books in most countries. In the United States, 21% of consumers bought an e‑book last year versus 30% who purchased a printed title. China is the outlier, with e‑book purchases at...
Rivals: The Official Podcast
In this brief episode of Rivals, host Pandora Sykes takes listeners behind the scenes of the new Disney Plus/Hulu series, exploring the adaptation of Jilly Cooper's "Scandalous English County." She shares on‑set anecdotes, including how the first draft of a...
Stephen Colbert Bequeaths His Iran War Jokes to Jimmy Kimmel
Stephen Colbert wrapped up his Late Show run by joking that he would pass his unused Iran‑war jokes to fellow late‑night host Jimmy Kimmel. The tongue‑in‑cheek bequest references a long‑standing tradition of comedians sharing material after a show ends. Colbert...
Could the US Military Handle a Monster Invasion? Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Begs the Question
Season 2 of Apple TV+’s "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" ends on May 1, using a fictional Kaiju invasion to expose how the U.S. military would respond to a giant, mobile monster. The article outlines three major gaps: ambiguous command authority under the National...
Amazon DSP Wins With Shopper Intent Data
Former Media Director: When Amazon DSP > The Trade Desk "Amazon is very compelling because of their shopper data. I think brands will continue to test on Amazon and see if it performs better because they're trying to get people who...
Pedigree, Spot & Tango Campaigns Feature Real Dog Owners
Legacy pet food brand Pedigree and direct‑to‑consumer label Spot & Tango are rolling out new campaigns that feature real dog owners rather than polished actors. Pedigree’s “Good Then, Better Now” platform, created by BBDO, will debut in the U.S. across...
CRTC Says Rogers Does Not Need to Continue Putting Money Into Shaw Rocket Fund
The Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ruled that Rogers Communications is not required to continue its financial contributions to the Shaw Rocket Fund beyond August 2025, rejecting the fund’s request for an extension. The regulator determined that Rogers’ 2021 commitment...
WPP Media, Google, CBS Back 'Cultural Relevance Score'
Los Angeles‑based startup Culture Hive Media Group has launched the AI‑powered Cultural Relevance Score (CRS), a metric that quantifies how well ads align with target audiences’ cultural values. An advisory board featuring Google, WPP Media, CBS and other industry leaders...
Brendan Carr’s War on Wokeness Targets Inclusive Children’s Television
The FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, has opened a public comment period to review how TV ratings handle children’s programming featuring transgender or non‑binary characters. The bureau claims there is a rise in parental concerns about undisclosed gender‑identity content,...
How to Watch the 2026 NFL Draft Online for Free
The 2026 NFL Draft will be televised on NFL Network, ABC and ESPN from April 23‑25, with Round 1 kicking off at 8 p.m. ET. Major streaming platforms—DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV—carry all three channels, offering various plan tiers and pricing. Free‑trial...
Agents Value Real Audience, Not Social Media Followers
Having a following is one aspect of getting an agent, esp. if you write nonfiction but it is by no means the most important thing. They are looking for an indication that you have an audience who might want to...
Media Giants Rebranded by High‑Profile Outsiders
Like CBS NEWS under Bari Weiss and the Washington Post opinion section under Jeff Bezos
Warner Bros. Discover Approves $110B Paramount–Skydance Merger; Regulators up Next
Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders voted overwhelmingly to approve a $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance, handing media mogul David Ellison control of Warner’s film studio, streaming platforms, and cable assets such as HBO and CNN. The deal faces fierce opposition from more than 4,000 Hollywood...
Being Mary Jane Ends with Two‑Hour BET Finale
📺 April 23, 2019: “Being Mary Jane”, the drama centered on the life of a female TV news anchor (Gabrielle Union), concluded as a two-hour movie special on BET. Winner of three NAACP Image Awards throughout its run, it aired...
Lawmakers in Turkey Pass Teen Social Media Ban
Turkey's parliament approved a bill on April 22 that bars children under 15 from accessing social‑media platforms. The legislation forces platforms to install age‑verification systems, offer parental‑control tools, and respond quickly to harmful content, with penalties for non‑compliance. The measure...
Derek Shepherd's Death Spikes Grey's Anatomy Ratings
📺 🏥 April 23, 2015: Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), Meredith Grey’s (Ellen Pompeo) longtime flame, died in an automobile accident in the “Grey’s Anatomy” episode entitled “How To Save A Life” on ABC. It was that season’s second most-watched episode...
The 12 Monkeys TV Series Began With A Pitch For A Different Sci-Fi Show
The Syfy series “12 Monkeys” was not born from a direct movie adaptation but from a spec script by Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett that impressed producers with its time‑travel conspiracy angle. Initially, the duo hesitated to tackle the beloved...
Meta Launches Instagram Spinoff Instants as a Standalone App
Meta has spun off Instagram's short‑lived Shots feature into a new standalone app called Instants, which mimics Snapchat’s camera‑first, disappearing‑photo experience. The app opens directly to the camera and promises “no edits, share instantly,” targeting raw, unfiltered sharing among younger...
HBO to Produce Six‑Episode Series on Vrabel‑Russini Sc
Just waiting for the release to hit my inbox that HBO is developing a six episode limited series on the Vrabel-Russini scandal from the DTF ST. LOUIS creators
37 Years Ago Today: NBC Aired the Baywatch Pilot Movie
On April 23, 1989 NBC aired the pilot movie *Panic at Malibu Pier*, launching the lifeguard drama that would become *Baywatch*. After a modest first season and network cancellation, the series was revived in first‑run syndication in 1991, eventually reaching over one billion...
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Streaming on Crunchyroll Next Week
Crunchyroll announced that *Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc* will debut on its platform on April 30, 2026. The release is timed with the service's Ani‑May 2026 event, which includes special subscription discounts. The film picks up immediately after...
Meta Expands Instagram Management APIs
Meta unveiled a suite of Instagram API upgrades, adding automatic partnership‑ad label support to the Content Publishing API, new performance metrics to the Graph API, and aggregated engagement data across Instagram, Facebook and boosted posts. The changes also let third‑party...
YouTube Reduces Push Notifications for Unengaged Subscribers
YouTube is rolling out variable limits on push notifications for channel subscribers who haven’t engaged with a creator’s content for roughly a month. Inactive users will still receive inbox notifications via the bell icon, but their push alerts will be...
How to Promote an Unproven Cancer Cure
A Florida‑based Wellness Company is financing sponsored posts on conservative websites and X accounts that promote a self‑reported survey claiming its ivermectin‑mebendazole pill treats cancer. The study, which surveyed 197 customers, reported 84.4% clinical benefit and 48.4% tumor reduction, but...
The Subway Takes-Ification of NYT Opinion?
The New York Times Opinion section is being criticized for adopting a sterile, white‑room aesthetic that feels more like a curated Substack experience than traditional journalism. The piece points to misplaced nostalgia for VICE‑style edginess, the rollout of phone‑free events,...
NBC Overtakes CBS in Ratings, Faces Crucial Renewal Choices for 2026‑27 Slate
NBC surpassed CBS for the first time since 2007‑08, averaging 6.38 million viewers and a 1.13 rating among adults 18‑49. The win, driven by a “Legendary February” of marquee sports, forces NBC to decide which scripted series to renew ahead of...
AMC and Magnite Unify Linear and Streaming TV Ads via ClearLine Platform
AMC Global Media and Magnite announced that their unified linear and streaming offering is now programmatically accessible through a single ClearLine access point, using Magnite's Live Scheduler. The move aims to simplify media buying as streaming revenue, up 14% YoY...
DIRECTV Is Expanding the MiEspañol Genre Pack
DIRECTV announced a major expansion of its MiEspañol Spanish‑language genre pack, adding Telemundo affiliates in 82 markets and reaching roughly 98% of U.S. Hispanic TV homes. The rollout, which includes cities such as Atlanta, Austin, Seattle and Portland, adds about...
ProPublica Documentary Wins Peabody as Streaming Series Dominate 2026 Awards
The 86th Peabody Awards honored ProPublica and FRONTLINE’s investigative documentary ‘The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram’ and handed 34 honors to streaming hits like Disney+’s ‘Andor’ and HBO Max’s ‘The Pitt.’ The winners reflect a shift toward bold, platform‑driven storytelling...
Trump Returns to His Reality TV Roots. Who Gets Fired Next?
A wave of high‑profile firings is sweeping Washington as Pentagon chief Whiskey Pete Hegseth ousted Navy Secretary John Phelan and began a loyalty‑driven purge. Simultaneously, FBI Director Kash Patel is rumored to be on the chopping block amid allegations of...
Fewer Emmy Submissions May Elevate Dark‑horse Shows
With Emmy Submissions Likely to Drop Again, Smaller Field Could Boost Dark Horse Series and Performers https://t.co/VCyRIf470u via @variety
Rednote Draws a Line Between China and the World
Rednote, the Chinese short‑form video app that surged during last year’s “TikTok refugee” wave, is now positioning itself as a global social media contender. To appeal to non‑Chinese users, the company is building a separate overseas platform that stores data...
ITV's "Thrillingly Suspenseful" And "Gripping" Drama with Ashley Walters Is 'Unlike Anything Else'
ITV is developing a six‑part drama titled *First Woman*, starring Ashley Walters and Andrea Riseborough. The series follows Ben Reith as he searches for his astronaut wife Claire, who vanishes from the UK’s inaugural moonbase. Written by Lydia Yeoman, George Oakes and...
With Emmy Submissions Likely to Drop Again, Smaller Field Could Boost Dark Horse Series and Performers
Emmy submissions are projected to fall to about 189 entries across drama, comedy and limited series, down from 228 last year and a high of 309 in 2023. The reduced pool will trim nominee slots in most of the 80...
Native In‑Experience Ads Beat Ignored Traditional Ads
We’ve spent 20+ years training users to ignore ads. So why are we still designing them the same way? Rob Janes shares why native, in-experience ads are outperforming traditional placements. Learn more: https://t.co/eKmsXk6CsW @ad_butler #BrandTrust #hcmktg https://t.co/PCwkAnIrSX
WNBA Expands Fan Access with Free Streaming of All 2026 Preseason Games
The WNBA unveiled its 2026 preseason schedule, featuring 18 games that will stream for free on the WNBA App for anyone with a WNBA ID. Four matchups will also be broadcast nationally on ION, expanding the league’s television footprint. The...
Forgotten 1979 Game Show “Whew” Ran One Year
📺 April 23, 1979: Game show “Whew,” hosted by Tom Kennedy, launched on CBS in daytiime. It ran for one year. https://t.co/UsJJc2ghWw https://t.co/jeiO8N2Yix
Claude's Confident Yet Outdated Meta Ads Advice Misleads Marketers
Claude's guidance on Meta ads, pixels, audiences, etc is wildly bad and outdated, but said soooo confidently. I've seen too many founders and marketers freak out about something minor because of Claude's analysis about something they didn't understand.
World Press Photo of the Year Depicts a Family Torn Apart by ICE
The World Press Photo foundation named Carol Guzy’s image "Separated by ICE" the 2026 Photo of the Year. The photograph shows two young girls clinging to their father’s shirt as ICE agents detain him in New York’s Jacob K. Javits...
Netflix in Talks to Buy Radford Studio Center for Up to $400 M
Netflix is in advanced negotiations with Goldman Sachs to purchase the 55‑acre Radford Studio Center in Studio City for a price reported between $330 million and $400 million. The deal would give the streamer a permanent Los Angeles foothold as it shifts from...
Instagram Tests a New ‘Instants’ App for Sharing Disappearing Photos
Instagram is piloting a standalone app called Instants in Spain and Italy, letting users capture single‑tap photos that disappear after a single view or 24 hours. The app forbids editing, uploads from the camera roll, and focuses on raw, in‑the‑moment...
If You've Been Thinking About It… Read This
The Vault, a Substack newsletter focused on deep‑dive crime reporting, is offering a $1 introductory price that expires in 48 hours. The promotion promises daily exclusives, court documents, breaking crime coverage, and insider details unavailable elsewhere. Readers are urged to...
Truth Is Not Enough - Journalism Now Needs More than Facts
Journalists at the International Journalism Festival argued that facts alone no longer persuade audiences, highlighting a growing trust gap. A Middle‑East fact‑checker demonstrated a bot that returns verified answers to user‑submitted claims, illustrating a hands‑on response to verification shortages. Participants...
Facility Executive Welcomes New Editorial Director
Facility Executive, Continuity Insights, and Campus Resilience & Security announced Michael Gianakos as their new Editorial Director. Gianakos arrives with over 15 years of experience in fast‑paced media, most recently at sports‑focused digital outlet ClutchPoints. He will oversee content strategy...
Stream These Movies and TV Shows Before They Leave Netflix in May
Netflix will remove several high‑profile titles from its U.S. catalog on May 1, including the Oscar‑winning drama “12 Years a Slave,” the action‑packed “Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation,” and Sofia Coppola’s biopic “Priscilla.” The departures reflect the end of licensing agreements that typically...