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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.

ITPro NAB Best of Show 2026 Awards Winners Unveiled
NewsApr 23, 2026

ITPro NAB Best of Show 2026 Awards Winners Unveiled

ITPro announced the 2026 Best of Show Awards at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, naming six winners across display, CDN analytics, AI‑driven engineering, data storage, video routing and enterprise NAS. The panel of industry experts evaluated entries on ease...

By ITPro (UK)
The Authenticity Collapse: Why Nothing Online Feels Real to Young Adults
BlogApr 23, 2026

The Authenticity Collapse: Why Nothing Online Feels Real to Young Adults

A University of Missouri study of more than 700 adults aged 18‑24 finds a growing authenticity gap online. While 79% are comfortable with AI‑generated images and over half accept AI video, only 10% approve AI‑enhanced self‑presentation, and 63% feel social...

By The Myers Report
YouTube Extends Deepfake Detection Tool Access to Celebrities and Talent Agencies
NewsApr 23, 2026

YouTube Extends Deepfake Detection Tool Access to Celebrities and Talent Agencies

YouTube has opened its AI likeness‑detection system to celebrities and the talent agencies that represent them, extending access beyond the creator‑only rollout that began in October 2023. The tool performs a one‑time scan of newly uploaded videos to flag facial...

By Music Business Worldwide (MBW)
What A Producer Does: The Part No One Explained To Me
BlogApr 23, 2026

What A Producer Does: The Part No One Explained To Me

Film and TV producer Dorez Douglas explains that a producer’s job is far more than raising money or hiring talent – it is the function that keeps a project from falling apart. He describes how creative producers use industry connections,...

By Hope For Film
Build Linked Post Clusters for Authority
SocialApr 23, 2026

Build Linked Post Clusters for Authority

Stop publishing random posts. Start building link clusters. Create 5–7 related posts, and link them together. Now you’re not just publishing, you’re building authority.

By Mos Clement
Google Tests AI-Generated Podcast‑style Audio Search Results
SocialApr 23, 2026

Google Tests AI-Generated Podcast‑style Audio Search Results

Whoa, this is creepy. Google is testing a new AI-powered audio section in search results that sounds just like a podcast. Can't imagine publishers will be too happy to stumble across this, even when their content is cited (along with many...

By Brodie Clark
Can Journalists Really Make a Living on Substack?
NewsApr 23, 2026

Can Journalists Really Make a Living on Substack?

Journalists are increasingly turning to Substack and other newsletter platforms to replace newsroom jobs, but only a minority achieve sustainable six‑figure incomes. While a few, like Marisa Kabas and Isaac Saul, generate $300,000‑$4 million in revenue by combining subscriptions, sponsorships and...

By Poynter
Survive Google: AI for Drafts, Humans Edit Final
SocialApr 23, 2026

Survive Google: AI for Drafts, Humans Edit Final

Most Google updates are clapping AI-generated sites. The survivors had one thing in common: they used AI for research/briefs/drafts and humans for final editing. Do with that what you will.

By Flavio Amiel
Free‑market Stance Leads to Pro‑cigarette Editorial Bias
SocialApr 23, 2026

Free‑market Stance Leads to Pro‑cigarette Editorial Bias

The #BrokenPost editorial mission to focus on personal liberties and free markets means editorializing in favor of cigarettes, cancer, and death. Butt out, cigarette banners https://t.co/a27hplhu0X

By Jeff Jarvis
What Mapping Charlotte Can Teach Us About Local News
NewsApr 23, 2026

What Mapping Charlotte Can Teach Us About Local News

When Hurricane Helene struck North Carolina in September 2024, residents turned to a patchwork of local news outlets, schools, libraries, and faith groups for urgent information. A new report, funded by the North Carolina Local News Lab Fund, mapped Charlotte’s...

By Columbia Journalism Review (CJR)
One Influencer Drives 50+ New Subscribers Instantly
SocialApr 23, 2026

One Influencer Drives 50+ New Subscribers Instantly

Nothing more exciting than seeing like 50 new newsletter subscribers all land within a couple of days from the same company domain. It means someone important shared it and told them to read...

By The Secret CFO
Bluesky’s Lofty Goals Hit Familiar Social Media Woes
SocialApr 23, 2026

Bluesky’s Lofty Goals Hit Familiar Social Media Woes

Bluesky set out to fix social media. Now it’s running into familiar problems https://t.co/VKwcj7AU75 via @FastCompany Not enough "normies"?

By Tom Pick
Mapping Local News in Charlotte
NewsApr 23, 2026

Mapping Local News in Charlotte

The Columbia Journalism Review released a proof‑of‑concept study that uses AI‑driven tools to map Charlotte’s local news ecosystem, expanding the definition of local information providers to include civil‑society organizations. The analysis identified more than 60 outlets—both for‑profit and nonprofit—covering a...

By Columbia Journalism Review (CJR)
Drake Sets May 15 Release for Ninth Album 'ICEMAN' After Ice Sculpture Stunt
NewsApr 23, 2026

Drake Sets May 15 Release for Ninth Album 'ICEMAN' After Ice Sculpture Stunt

Drake announced that his ninth studio album, ICEMAN, will be released on May 15. The date was revealed through a 25‑foot ice sculpture in downtown Toronto that a Twitch streamer shattered, uncovering a bag with the official announcement and a...

By Pulse
Neon Secures James Gray’s Star‑Studded ‘Paper Tiger’ for U.S. Release
NewsApr 23, 2026

Neon Secures James Gray’s Star‑Studded ‘Paper Tiger’ for U.S. Release

Neon has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to James Gray’s upcoming feature Paper Tiger, a gritty drama starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller. The deal, first reported by Variety, positions Neon to launch the film at Cannes 2026...

By Pulse
STV Journalists to Strike over Salary Freeze as Broadcaster Profits Drop
NewsApr 23, 2026

STV Journalists to Strike over Salary Freeze as Broadcaster Profits Drop

STV announced a temporary salary freeze for its newsroom staff after reporting a £5.9 million loss and a 61% drop in adjusted pre‑tax profit for 2025. Revenue fell 6% to £176.9 million (about $225 million) and advertising income slipped 10% to £89.3 million (≈$113 million)....

By Press Gazette
The Best Amazon Fire TV Stick VPNs of 2026: Expert Tested and Reviewed
NewsApr 23, 2026

The Best Amazon Fire TV Stick VPNs of 2026: Expert Tested and Reviewed

ZDNET’s 2026 roundup identifies the top VPNs for Amazon Fire TV Stick, emphasizing that only NordVPN and IPVanish currently support Amazon’s new Vega OS. NordVPN leads with strong speed, a 10‑device limit and a $3.09‑per‑month two‑year plan, while IPVanish offers...

By ZDNet – Enterprise IT
NYT Repeats 1970s Liberal Hypocrisy for Black Panthers
SocialApr 23, 2026

NYT Repeats 1970s Liberal Hypocrisy for Black Panthers

In 1970, Tom Wolfe wrote a book called "Radical Chic and Mau Mau-ing The Flack Catchers" mocking rich white liberals for throwing parties for the Black Panthers. 56 years later, the NYT looks just as foolish.

By Alan Wolk
FCC Seeks Public Input on Adding Gender‑Identity Warnings to TV Parental Ratings
NewsApr 23, 2026

FCC Seeks Public Input on Adding Gender‑Identity Warnings to TV Parental Ratings

The Federal Communications Commission opened a comment period on revising the TV Parental Guidelines to include warnings about gender‑identity content in children’s programming. The move follows pressure from conservative groups who say current ratings conceal such themes, while industry stakeholders...

By Pulse
Yalla Group Publishes 2025 ESG Report, Highlights Renewable Energy and Diversity Gains
NewsApr 23, 2026

Yalla Group Publishes 2025 ESG Report, Highlights Renewable Energy and Diversity Gains

Yalla Group Limited released its 2025 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, outlining progress on renewable energy, AI‑driven efficiency and workplace diversity. The report signals the company's intent to deepen sustainable practices while expanding its digital entertainment ecosystem across the...

By Pulse
SiriusXM Secures Exclusive U.S. Audio Ad Representation for YouTube
NewsApr 23, 2026

SiriusXM Secures Exclusive U.S. Audio Ad Representation for YouTube

SiriusXM Media has signed an exclusive agreement with Google’s YouTube to sell audio advertising inventory across the United States. The partnership, launching in fall 2026, gives advertisers guaranteed impressions for more than 212 million monthly YouTube audio listeners, backed by AdsWizz’s...

By Pulse
Google Remains at the Core of NBA’s Data and Media Strategy in Renewed Deal
NewsApr 23, 2026

Google Remains at the Core of NBA’s Data and Media Strategy in Renewed Deal

The NBA has renewed its multi‑year partnership with Google, extending the tech giant’s role as the league’s official search engine, data partner and "official fan phone" for Pixel devices. Google Cloud will continue to power AI‑driven analytics, from performance insights...

By SportsMint Media
Paramount/Skydance Seeks $81 B Warner Bros. Discovery Takeover as Shareholders Prepare to Vote
NewsApr 23, 2026

Paramount/Skydance Seeks $81 B Warner Bros. Discovery Takeover as Shareholders Prepare to Vote

Paramount, now owned by Skydance, is set to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in an $81 billion cash deal, with shareholders slated to vote Thursday. The merger would combine two legacy studios, two streaming services and two major news networks, while facing...

By Pulse
AI Content Marketplaces Can’t Come Soon Enough for News Publishers
NewsApr 23, 2026

AI Content Marketplaces Can’t Come Soon Enough for News Publishers

At Press Gazette’s Future of Media Trends event, senior UK publishers dissected five AI‑related challenges and underscored the urgent need for AI content marketplaces that would pay for the use of their articles. Sessions highlighted leveraging AI on archives, repurposing...

By Press Gazette
Former MrBeast Executive Sues Over FMLA Violations and Harassment
NewsApr 23, 2026

Former MrBeast Executive Sues Over FMLA Violations and Harassment

Lorrayne Mavromatis, a former chief operating officer at Beast Industries, filed a federal suit in North Carolina alleging sexual harassment, gender bias and wrongful termination after returning from maternity leave. The complaint targets MrBeastYouTube, LLC and GameChanger 24/7, claiming violations...

By Pulse
Sports Help Drive Strong Streaming Growth for Viaplay
NewsApr 23, 2026

Sports Help Drive Strong Streaming Growth for Viaplay

Viaplay reported a 7.9% year‑on‑year rise in streaming subscription revenue in Q1, lifting overall revenue growth to 0.1%. The Nordic broadcaster’s investment in premium sports rights boosted average revenue per user for both direct‑to‑consumer and B2B segments. While streaming now...

By VideoWeek (UK/Europe)
The Sound of Rain.
BlogApr 23, 2026

The Sound of Rain.

Ukraine’s foreign minister Andriy Sybiha says the country’s frontline is the strongest it has been in a year, citing superior drone usage and bolstered air‑defence systems. Data from the Institute for the Study of War, reported by AFP, shows Russian forces...

By News Items
Racing TV Launches FAST Channel on Samsung TV Plus
NewsApr 23, 2026

Racing TV Launches FAST Channel on Samsung TV Plus

Racing TV has launched Racing TV Play on Samsung TV Plus, marking the first dedicated horse‑racing FAST channel in the UK and Ireland. The ad‑supported service streams curated archives of British and Irish races, including iconic moments from the Cheltenham and...

By Broadband TV News
Beehiiv Adds Even More Features to Go up Against Competitors and Win over Creators
NewsApr 23, 2026

Beehiiv Adds Even More Features to Go up Against Competitors and Win over Creators

Beehiiv is expanding beyond newsletters with AI‑driven podcast analytics, webinars, and metered paywalls to attract a broader creator base. The platform posted its strongest quarter ever in Q1 2026, adding $4.5 M in ARR and surpassing 50,000 active users. Early adopters who...

By Digiday
SCC Promotes Hennessy to Chief Operating And Media Officer
NewsApr 23, 2026

SCC Promotes Hennessy to Chief Operating And Media Officer

Schafer Condon Carter (SCC) promoted Jack Hennessy to chief operating and media officer. Hennessy will keep leading the media practice while overseeing agency‑wide operations, reporting to CEO Ben Behrman. The promotion follows a banner year in which media services now...

By MediaPost
How Grant & Ash Are Rewriting the Rules of Creator Brand Safety
NewsApr 23, 2026

How Grant & Ash Are Rewriting the Rules of Creator Brand Safety

Since 2022, TikTok and Instagram duo Grant & Ash have built a 900,000‑strong following with comedy‑driven, brand‑heavy performances. Their satirical songs parody retailers and pop‑culture icons, allowing them to partner with brands such as Netflix, Bose, La Roche‑Posay and Sephora...

By Marketing Brew
Why the Good Noticings Podcast Hosts Are Betting on Positivity Over Hot Takes
NewsApr 23, 2026

Why the Good Noticings Podcast Hosts Are Betting on Positivity Over Hot Takes

Two podcasters behind *Good Noticings* are deliberately shunning the fast‑paced, hot‑take culture that dominates social media. By delivering 360‑degree, research‑heavy episodes and a consistently positive tone, they aim to elevate artists rather than tear them down. Their early low‑audience launches...

By Adweek
S4C Deepens YouTube Partnership to Drive Digital Growth Strategy
NewsApr 23, 2026

S4C Deepens YouTube Partnership to Drive Digital Growth Strategy

Welsh-language broadcaster S4C has sealed a strategic partnership with YouTube to accelerate its digital‑first transformation. The collaboration will place YouTube at the core of S4C’s audience‑growth and content‑discoverability efforts, building on 1.1 million hours of viewing on the platform last year....

By Broadband TV News
Fox Just Gave Its Ad Portfolio a Massive AI Upgrade
NewsApr 23, 2026

Fox Just Gave Its Ad Portfolio a Massive AI Upgrade

Fox announced the launch of Fox AdStudio, an AI‑driven platform that provides advertisers with real‑time audience insights across the company’s entire media portfolio, including linear TV and streaming services like Tubi. The tool leverages machine‑learning to analyze content and viewer...

By Adweek
NZZ Is Turning Its Archives Into a Newsroom Tool
NewsApr 23, 2026

NZZ Is Turning Its Archives Into a Newsroom Tool

NZZ is converting its digitised 250‑year archive into a unified newsroom platform, integrating images, agency feeds, and legacy content into a single system that works alongside its LivingDocs CMS. The initiative emphasizes AI tools that embed directly into editors’ workflows...

By WAN-IFRA
Democratic Donors Pour $272M Into Ads Targeting GOP Seats
SocialApr 23, 2026

Democratic Donors Pour $272M Into Ads Targeting GOP Seats

JUST IN: Democrats' key outside backers are dropping $272 million on TV and digital ads to target Republican-held House seats ahead of the midterms.

By David Gokhshtein
Why An Idea Ahead Of Its Time Might Deserve A Second Chance
BlogApr 23, 2026

Why An Idea Ahead Of Its Time Might Deserve A Second Chance

In the mid‑2000s USDTV tried to turn a traditional over‑the‑air antenna into a low‑cost subscription platform, charging roughly $20 a month for a small bundle of cable networks delivered via encrypted digital signals. The service collapsed in 2007 after a...

By TVREV
Linktree Turns Creator Identity Into Strategy With New AI-Powered Creator Index
NewsApr 23, 2026

Linktree Turns Creator Identity Into Strategy With New AI-Powered Creator Index

Linktree has introduced the Creator Index, an interactive AI‑powered quiz that assigns creators to archetypes such as Documentarian or Educator. The quiz results integrate with the new Insights Chat, which draws real‑time performance data from TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Linktree...

By Influencer Marketing Hub
Consumers Outnumber Producers
NewsApr 23, 2026

Consumers Outnumber Producers

The article argues that consumer‑driven technology repeatedly reshapes professional fields. From desktop publishing to digital photography, medicine, and copywriting, new tools initially degrade quality but eventually create fresh opportunities for specialists. Market demand for accessibility outweighs traditional expertise, forcing producers...

By Seth’s Blog
Sex, Drugs and Going Maga: What Does Netflix’s Hulk Hogan Series Tell Us?
NewsApr 23, 2026

Sex, Drugs and Going Maga: What Does Netflix’s Hulk Hogan Series Tell Us?

Netflix has launched "Hulk Hogan: Real American," a four‑hour documentary that follows the wrestler’s meteoric rise, his later scandals, and his political turn toward Donald Trump. The series arrives as Netflix secures WWE programming rights, echoing its earlier success with...

By The Guardian – TV & Radio
How Hotels Can Drive More Direct Bookings with TikTok Ads
BlogApr 23, 2026

How Hotels Can Drive More Direct Bookings with TikTok Ads

TikTok has transformed from a short‑form entertainment app into a primary travel discovery engine, blending inspiration, search and booking functions. Hotels can capitalize by creating discovery‑driven organic videos that spark desire and then repurposing the highest‑performing clips as Spark Ads....

By Revenue Hub
Federal Bureau of Inebriation
PodcastApr 23, 20261h 30m

Federal Bureau of Inebriation

In this episode of Brad and Mira for the Culture, the hosts riff on a grab‑bag of pop‑culture topics—from the latest buzz around celebrities Cash Patel and Katie Perry to a tongue‑in‑cheek look at the obscure "Clavicular" and a brief...

By Otherppl with Brad Listi
How TV Learned to Underprice Itself
BlogApr 23, 2026

How TV Learned to Underprice Itself

The smart‑TV platform V, formerly VIDAA and now on 50 million connected sets, unveiled its V Index at the StreamTV Europe conference in Lisbon. V Index is an open‑source initiative to reconcile the pricing gap that occurs when the same viewer is measured...

By Streaming Made Easy
Digest: DSP Bedrock Platform Pilots Index Exchange’s Index Cloud; Meta Sued Over Scam Ads; Radiocentre Urges MPs to Reject BBC...
NewsApr 23, 2026

Digest: DSP Bedrock Platform Pilots Index Exchange’s Index Cloud; Meta Sued Over Scam Ads; Radiocentre Urges MPs to Reject BBC...

Index Exchange has partnered with Bedrock Platform to pilot Index Cloud, the first containerised demand‑side platform that runs AI‑native bidding models at the point of transaction, promising lower costs and greater competition in programmatic auctions. Meanwhile, the Consumer Federation of...

By ExchangeWire
WPP Media MENA Ranks #1 in Total and Net New Business in Egypt: Report
NewsApr 23, 2026

WPP Media MENA Ranks #1 in Total and Net New Business in Egypt: Report

WPP Media MENA topped the COMVergence New Business report for Egypt, leading both total new business at $21.5 m and net new business at $16.7 m. The agency secured seven new client wins worth $16.7 m and added four retentions totaling $9.4 m. Dentsu...

By Campaign Middle East
Stranger Things: Tales From 85 Review: This Baffling Prequel Wont Cure the Season 5 Hatred
NewsApr 23, 2026

Stranger Things: Tales From 85 Review: This Baffling Prequel Wont Cure the Season 5 Hatred

Netflix launched the animated prequel *Stranger Things: Tales From ’85* just four months after the divisive Season 5 finale, positioning it as a bridge between Seasons 2 and 3. Set in the winter of 1985, the series revisits familiar characters while introducing new...

By Mashable – Entertainment
‘Inside Higher Ed’ Launches Subscription Model
BlogApr 23, 2026

‘Inside Higher Ed’ Launches Subscription Model

Inside Higher Ed launched a paid subscription model on April 23, 2026, offering unlimited access to its news, deep dives, and Quick Takes for $99 per year. The service retains a free tier limited to three articles per month, while...

By Inside Higher Ed – Learning Innovation (column)
This Startup Wants to Fix the Slog of Adtech Vendor Selection With a AI-Supported Matchmaking
NewsApr 23, 2026

This Startup Wants to Fix the Slog of Adtech Vendor Selection With a AI-Supported Matchmaking

CartographAI is an AI‑driven platform that lets marketers compare over 1,000 martech and adtech vendors using neutral, data‑rich scores. It blends machine learning with human‑led research to evaluate vendors across dozens of criteria. Early adopters such as Reckitt, LinkedIn and...

By Adweek
Everyone’s Panicking About AI, But Smart Agencies Will Use It to Give Employees Their Lives Back
NewsApr 23, 2026

Everyone’s Panicking About AI, But Smart Agencies Will Use It to Give Employees Their Lives Back

A wave of anxiety surrounds AI in advertising, with 91% of senior US agency leaders fearing headcount cuts and 57% pausing junior hiring. The author argues AI can boost job satisfaction by automating admin, speeding onboarding, and delivering instant client...

By Adweek