🎯Today's Media Pulse
Updated 46m agoWhat's happening: Netflix launches UK live‑programming commissioning team
Netflix UK has formed a dedicated team to commission live unscripted events, led by executive Daisy Lilley and joined by Claire Horton from The Masked Singer UK. The unit will oversee productions such as the Tyson Fury‑Arslanbek Makhmudov boxing match and is preparing further leadership changes.
Also developing:
News•Feb 23, 2026
Shaboozey Expands EMPIRE Relationship by Signing With Publishing Arm
EMPIRE announced a new publishing agreement with Grammy‑winning artist Shaboozey, extending the partnership that began with his 2021 label signing. The deal follows the massive success of “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which logged 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned diamond certification. Shaboozey’s 2024 album debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, and his American Dogwood imprint already collaborates with EMPIRE on releases. Executives Vinny Kumar and Eric Hurt highlighted the move as a strategic boost to EMPIRE’s songwriting catalog.
By Billboard
News•Feb 23, 2026
How Crave, the Canadian Streamer Behind ‘Heated Rivalry,’ Is Making a Name for Itself in America and Beyond
Canadian streamer Crave’s original series “Heated Rivalry” has become a breakout hit, pulling in roughly 11.5 million U.S. viewers on HBO Max and ranking as the platform’s top‑acquired series. The show’s success has driven a 26 percent subscriber surge for Crave, adding over...
By IndieWire
News•Feb 23, 2026
Outlander's Caitríona Balfe Promises 'Revenge, Reunions, Revelations' From The Very Start Of Action-Packed Final Season
Caitríona Balfe revealed that Outlander’s final season will be driven by “revenge, reunions, revelations,” hinting at the possible return of the long‑presumed‑dead daughter Faith. She noted Jamie will shoulder a new, solitary burden while Claire begins to discover hidden abilities. The...
By TVLine
News•Feb 23, 2026
MAFS UK Star Reveals "Wobble" Moment that Didn't Air Ahead of the Show's New Reunion Episode
The season‑10 reunion of Married at First Sight UK will air on March 1, featuring a lineup of past couples. Abigail Callahan disclosed on a YouTube interview that she experienced an emotional "wobble" during filming, prompting her to ask the crew...
By Digital Spy – TV
News•Feb 23, 2026
Luis Estrada to Lead KVMR Community Radio
Luis Estrada, a veteran public‑media professional with more than 11 years at KPBS, will become general manager of KVMR Community Radio in Nevada City on March 2. He also founded the bilingual production firm ES Creative Gang, giving him a strong...
By Current
News•Feb 23, 2026
Millennial Entertainment: Inside The Strategy Behind Long-Term Talent Growth In The Creator Economy
Millennial Entertainment, a Beverly Hills‑based 360° talent firm founded in 2017, positions itself as a long‑term career architect for creators, athletes and performers. Co‑founders Jack Reed and Max Litke emphasize a full‑service model that extends beyond brand deals into podcast...
By Net Influencer
News•Feb 23, 2026
A ‘Classic Radio Station’ Finds A New Owner
A 1 kW Class C AM station broadcasting vintage 1960s rock from Oregon’s capital is set to change hands, pending Federal Communications Commission approval. The outlet, operating with a single tower, has cultivated a dedicated niche audience that values analog authenticity. Ownership...
By Radio & TV Business Report (RBR+TVBR)
News•Feb 23, 2026
Ozen.fm Arrives in Brazil and Appoints Priscila Falcone as Commercial Director
Ozen.fm, a global podcast and digital‑audio platform, announced its market entry in Brazil and hired Priscila Falcone as Commercial Director. Falcone will head commercial operations, leveraging her decade‑long experience in programmatic media and audio advertising. The launch aligns with rapid...
By Sounds Profitable
News•Feb 23, 2026
Guggenheim Brothers Media Wants To Institutionalize The Creator Economy’s Middle Market
Guggenheim Brothers Media has launched a $75 million fund, anchored by Abu Dhabi’s Ethmar International, to fill the middle‑market funding gap in the creator economy. The Los Angeles‑based firm will invest $1‑5 million in 20‑25 early‑ to growth‑stage media and entertainment companies...
By Net Influencer
News•Feb 23, 2026
Telos Alliance Offers AERO Software Update To Correct Nielsen Watermark Issue
Telos Alliance announced a software update (v3.32.47) for its Linear Acoustic AERO series to incorporate the latest Nielsen watermark encoding library and fix a timestamp reset issue that would affect data reporting after Jan 1, 2027. The update covers current AERO models—including...
By TVTechnology
News•Feb 23, 2026
Monday Memo: “What Matters Next” For Radio?
Kate O’Neill’s new book *What Matters Next* argues that AI itself isn’t the disruptor for radio—human behavior is, and AI merely speeds up its effects. The author warns stations against using AI to double down on sameness, insisting that originality...
By Talkers
Blog•Feb 23, 2026
There’s No Point Aiming To Go Viral – It Hardly Ever Happens
A new Duetti Music Economics Report examined over 6 million tracks from 2025 and found that only about 1.1% of songs achieve a viral spike, defined as a five‑fold stream increase in a month. Sustaining that momentum is even rarer, with...
By Hypebot
News•Feb 23, 2026
Audacy Expands WGR Programming to Rochester
Audacy is extending its flagship WGR Sports Radio brand into the Rochester market by simulcasting most of the Buffalo‑based programming on WROC‑AM and its FM translator W239BF. The station will keep its WROC call letters but adopt the WGR Rochester...
By Talkers
News•Feb 23, 2026
Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend (2/21-22)
Talk media’s weekend roundup highlighted five headline‑grabbing stories: the Supreme Court rejected former President Trump’s tariff policy, a security guard was killed at Mar‑a‑Lago, tensions between the United States and Iran intensified, a Mexican cartel strike disrupted operations, and the...
By Talkers
Blog•Feb 23, 2026
TIDAL Expands Its Spotlight Program to More Artists
Tidal has expanded its Spotlight program to Canada, the UK and several European markets, adding eleven countries in total. The initiative ties directly to Tidal Upload, allowing any publicly posted track to enter an editorial review queue without a separate...
By Hypebot
News•Feb 23, 2026
Podcast Advertising Fell In January From Holiday High
Podcast advertising spend plunged 21% in January, falling to $59.8 million for the top 15 advertisers from a December peak of $75.9 million. The decline follows a holiday‑driven surge and signals a market correction. Despite the overall drop, brands such as T‑Mobile...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 23, 2026
This Election Season, Buyers Can Curate Deals Based On Voter Values
OpenX partnered with data firm Givsly to launch a sell‑side curation platform that lets political advertisers target voters by shared values rather than party affiliation. The solution works across premium CTV and digital publishers, including Newsweek, Plex, Xumo and Scripps....
By AdExchanger
News•Feb 23, 2026
Puerto Rican Star Lenny Tavárez Signs Deal With Apple Music’s Platoon: ‘This Will Elevate My Career to New Heights’
Puerto Rican reggaetón‑R&B star Lenny Tavárez has signed with Apple Music’s artist services and distribution arm Platoon, a move aimed at accelerating his global profile. Tavárez brings a catalog of over 11 billion streams, 16 million social followers, and multiple Billboard chart...
By Billboard
Podcast•Feb 23, 2026•38 min
Our Quantum Future with Evan Kubes
In this episode, host Sebastian Hassinger chats with Evan Kubas, a lawyer‑turned‑quantum media entrepreneur, about the origins of Quantum Insider and its parent company Resonance. Kubas recounts how he and co‑founder Alex Challens built a leading quantum news platform from...
By The New Quantum Era
News•Feb 23, 2026
Amazon Unveils Waitlist for Its New Home Internet Service, Poised for 2026 Launch
Amazon has opened a public waitlist for its satellite‑based home internet service, Amazon Leo, targeting a residential launch in 2026. The Leo platform will offer three tiers—Standard, Pro and Portable—delivering speeds from 100 Mbps up to 1 Gbps using low‑Earth‑orbit satellites. An initial...
By Cord Cutters News
News•Feb 23, 2026
Did President Trump Call Into C-SPAN Under a Fake Name?
A caller identifying as "John Barron" appeared on C‑SPAN, sounding unmistakably like former President Donald Trump, but the network later confirmed it was not the president. The brief, 32‑second call sparked speculation about a Trump impersonator or AI‑generated voice, highlighting...
By Poynter
News•Feb 23, 2026
RTL+ and HBO Max Launch Joint Streaming Bundle in Austria
German broadcaster RTL Deutschland and Warner Bros. Discovery have merged RTL+ and HBO Max into a single, cancellable subscription for Austrian consumers. The bundle offers two tiers—a ad‑supported option at €11.99 and an ad‑free version at €17.99—both discounted from the standalone prices. An introductory...
By Broadband TV News
News•Feb 23, 2026
Deepdub Strikes Love TV Channels Deal to Localise Cineflix Factual for European FAST
Deepdub has teamed up with Love TV Channels to bring AI‑driven dubbing to free ad‑supported streaming (FAST) services across Europe. The partnership will localise Cineflix Rights factual titles into Castilian Spanish, Italian and French, targeting Love TV’s 25 million monthly viewers....
By Broadband TV News
News•Feb 23, 2026
PAVE Studio Announces New Crime House Original Series “The Final Hours” Hosted by Sarah Turney and Kourtney Nichole Launching Monday,...
PAVE Studios announced the launch of "The Final Hours," a Crime House original audio series debuting Monday, February 23. Hosted by seasoned true‑crime advocates Sarah Turney and Kourtney Nichole, the weekly podcast examines the last hours before a disappearance, spotlighting...
By Sounds Profitable
News•Feb 23, 2026
What To Watch Monday: CIA Premiere, FBI Wedding, Paradise And The Voice Return, And More
CBS kicks off Monday with the series premiere of "CIA," a spin‑off that pairs a rule‑breaking CIA case officer with a by‑the‑book FBI agent, extending the network’s successful FBI franchise. The same night, the procedural drama "FBI" weaves a personal...
By TVLine
Blog•Feb 23, 2026
CBS Series Post Strong Fall Viewership, Topping Broadcast and Streaming Rankings in Live + 35-Day Multiplatform Viewership
CBS’s fall lineup captured eight of the ten most‑watched broadcast series and nine of the top‑20 titles across broadcast and streaming, according to Nielsen’s live + 35‑day multiplatform data through January 4, 2026. The drama Tracker led the pack with 16.7 million viewers, while new...
By The Futon Critic
News•Feb 23, 2026
Etsy Sells Depop To EBay For $1.2 Billion
eBay announced a $1.2 billion acquisition of Depop, the mobile‑first fashion resale platform, to deepen its reach with Gen Z shoppers. Depop reported roughly $1 billion in gross merchandise volume last year, growing 60% year‑over‑year, and now serves 7 million buyers and 3 million sellers....
By TVNewsCheck
News•Feb 23, 2026
MED.TV Lands Rakuten TV Carriage Across 43 European Markets
Med Media Services has secured distribution for its Mediterranean‑themed FAST channel MED.TV on Rakuten TV, extending the service across 43 European markets. The partnership gives MED.TV access to a potential audience of more than 150 million households, complementing its existing footprint of...
By Broadband TV News
News•Feb 23, 2026
The Industry’s Creative Confidence Is Under Attack. Here’s How We Fight Back
AI's rapid adoption is eroding creative professionals' confidence, as algorithms increasingly generate visual and textual content. However, the article argues that uniquely human traits—vulnerability, intuition, and emotional nuance—remain irreplaceable drivers of breakthrough ideas. It suggests that creatives should leverage AI...
By Campaign UK
News•Feb 23, 2026
A New Lineup Arrives For Wisconsin Talk Network
Civic Media is revamping its News/Talk format across Wisconsin under the Civic Media Network brand, launching new local programs on stations in Wausau, Madison, Milwaukee, and Oshkosh‑Appleton. The refreshed schedule features a flagship morning show, Daybreak with Brian and Jamie,...
By Radio & TV Business Report (RBR+TVBR)
News•Feb 23, 2026
Meteorologist Pat Cavlin Leaves KHOU Houston
Veteran meteorologist Pat Cavlin announced his departure from KHOU 11 Houston after four years, posting a heartfelt farewell on social media. Cavlin, who joined the TEGNA‑owned station in March 2022, will likely relocate to New York for his next role. His career...
By TVNewsCheck
News•Feb 23, 2026
Warner Bros. Discovery Posts Record Streaming Growth for 2026 Winter Olympics
Warner Bros. Discovery reported its strongest Olympic streaming performance to date during the Milano‑Cortina 2026 Winter Games, with total hours viewed on HBO Max and discovery+ jumping 103% versus Beijing 2022. European markets delivered triple‑digit growth, and combined platform audiences...
By Broadband TV News
News•Feb 23, 2026
Approval Granted for Production Park Expansion
Production Park secured planning approval to expand its campus to nearly 30 acres, adding two new studios and over 70,000 square feet of commercial space. The development will also house a training and performance centre and enlarge the teaching facilities...
By TVBEurope
News•Feb 23, 2026
What California’s Streaming Loudness Regulation Means For Broadcasters And Ad Tech
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...
By TVNewsCheck
News•Feb 23, 2026
Balderas To Lead Pioneering Panel At Hispanic Radio Conference
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...
By Radio Ink
News•Feb 23, 2026
14 Ways Great Radio Salespeople Get More Referrals
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....
By Radio Ink
News•Feb 23, 2026
Watching the Index: Hispanic Sampling in a Sensitive Climate
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...
By Radio Ink
News•Feb 23, 2026
Roberts Metro Picks Darius Bradford For St. Louis Morning Drive
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...
By Radio Ink
News•Feb 23, 2026
Keith Urban Steps Up For St. Jude Q&A at CRS 2026
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...
By Radio Ink
News•Feb 23, 2026
MBA Awards Eight Scholarships to Missouri Broadcasting Students
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...
By Radio Ink
News•Feb 23, 2026
Sunset+Vine Unleashes 150-Strong Team to Tell Crufts Tail for Channel 4
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...
By TVBEurope
News•Feb 23, 2026
Research: Microdramas Overtake Streamers on Mobile Engagement
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...
By Advanced Television
News•Feb 23, 2026
EscalaX Reinforces Its Privacy & Compliance With BidSafe One
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...
By ExchangeWire
News•Feb 23, 2026
Sky Atlantic Launching on Virgin TV
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...
By Advanced Television
News•Feb 23, 2026
Roblox Creators View Film and TV Adaptations as a Promising Revenue Stream
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...
By GamesBeat
Blog•Feb 23, 2026
HBO Documentary Films Acquires Worldwide TV and Streaming Rights to "The Slightest Touch"
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...
By The Futon Critic
News•Feb 23, 2026
WBD Sees Record Streaming Audience for 2026 Winter Games
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...
By Advanced Television
News•Feb 23, 2026
In Fighting a Whistleblower Suit, WPP Put Its Own Account of Media Agency Trading on the Public Record
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...
By Digiday
News•Feb 23, 2026
As It Ramps up Push to Fund AI Bets, Meta Makes a New Play for Agencies
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...
By Digiday
News•Feb 23, 2026
Threads Now Offers Simplified Sharing to Instagram
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...
By Social Media Today