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.
Polymarket and Kalshi Are Turning TV Programming Into One Big Casino
Polymarket turned the Golden Globes broadcast into a live prediction market, displaying real‑time odds that correctly forecast 26 of 28 winners. The partnership marks a major mainstream push for prediction platforms into entertainment, prompting rival Kalshi to secure deals with CNN, CNBC and Fox. Both firms aim to gamify TV events and boost viewer engagement, while their classification as information services keeps them outside traditional gambling regulations. However, the trend sparks debate over ethical implications and the potential to influence outcomes.
The Post Tries to Regroup
In February the Washington Post cut roughly 350 newsroom jobs, offering severance to those laid off. By March, editors began contacting a subset of the displaced staff with a "delayed layoff" proposal, allowing them to return temporarily through July while...
Larry Madowo on Covering Africa, ‘Warts and All’
Larry Madowo, CNN’s Africa correspondent, has highlighted the covert recruitment of young men from Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and other nations to fight for Russia in Ukraine, exposing a pattern of deception and forced conscription. He argues that reporting Africa requires...
Taboola Partners with Cricbuzz
Taboola announced a three‑year exclusive partnership with cricket‑focused platform Cricbuzz, becoming its sole content recommendation provider. The deal will embed Taboola’s AI‑driven engine into Cricbuzz to serve personalized articles, videos and ads. Cricbuzz, which attracts roughly 567 million page views each...
Big AI Firms Push Women to Adopt Artificial Intelligence
New video out on the crazy things big AI companies are doing to convince women to embrace AI w/ @kattenbarge https://youtu.be/yf3hkq4WZKM
Netflix in Talks to Acquire Radford Studio Center for $330‑$400 M
Netflix is negotiating with Goldman Sachs to buy the Radford Studio Center in Studio City for $330‑$400 million, far below the $1.85 billion price paid in 2021. The deal would give the streamer a flagship L.A. soundstage complex as it expands its...
President Trump to Appear at WHCA Dinner, First Time as President, Sparks Media Frenzy
President Donald Trump announced he will attend the White House Correspondents' Association dinner for the first time as president, turning a sold‑out event into a flashpoint for press‑freedom advocates and political insiders. The gala, featuring mentalist Oz Pearlman, arrives amid...
Eyes Are Optional
The new "Audio Primes" segment represents 22% of podcast listeners who consume at least 75% of their shows as pure audio, often on YouTube with the screen off. This cohort skews younger—particularly ages 35‑54—and is more educated and higher‑earning than...
Tim Cook Built Apple Ads, But His Successor Has the Harder Job
Apple’s advertising division, quietly built under Tim Cook, is projected to generate about $7 billion in 2025, with roughly 95 % of revenue coming from App Store search ads. The company has kept its ad inventory limited to owned platforms such as...
Animotion MENA Signs Agreement with CMA
The Creative Media Authority (CMA) in Abu Dhabi has signed a memorandum of understanding with Animotion MENA, an international animation studio, to develop AI‑driven storytelling across family, kids and teen segments. The partnership will explore AI‑powered short‑form content, a potential...
Shawna Thomas Jumps to MS NOW After Running ‘CBS Mornings’
Shawna Thomas leaves her role as executive producer of CBS Mornings to become political director at streaming news outlet MS NOW. She brings a Peabody‑winning investigative background from Vice, senior production experience at NBC News, and early short‑form expertise from Quibi. MS NOW...
The Next Chapter of Change
Tattle TV, a new app from UK‑based EMC Productions, aims to bring British microdramas, reality series and feature films to mobile users in a vertical format. The launch follows a surge in short‑form vertical video, with analysts reporting $11 billion in...
In the Debate Around Toxic Social Media, Could BeReal Offer a Positive Way Forward? A Reality Check
Regulators across Europe, Asia and North America are moving to restrict teen access to social media, while a U.S. court ruling labels Meta and YouTube’s design features as addictive. In that climate, BeReal positions itself as an antidote, offering a...
Yes Theory and the Art of Making People Care
In this episode, Thomas Bragg, co‑founder of Yes Theory, explains how his team has built a global community by crafting positive, human‑focused travel documentaries that still achieve virality. He discusses the delicate balance between framing stories with enough tension to...
NAB 2026: Eastern Kentucky University Deploys Campus-Wide ST 2110 Network with Riedel and Bridge Digital
Eastern Kentucky University has upgraded its campus‑wide video infrastructure from legacy SDI to a hybrid SMPTE ST 2110 workflow, using Riedel MediorNet and Bridge Digital’s integration. The 100‑gigabit fiber backbone now links the Alumni Coliseum, Perkins Building and Center for the...
That Is a Wrap on Social Media Week 2026!
Social Media Week 2026 concluded after a three‑day hybrid program that attracted over 2,000 marketers, platform executives, and creators in New York and online. The event, now in its 15th edition, highlighted Meta’s metaverse‑commerce roadmap, AI‑driven content, and short‑form video dominance....
‘Assassination Classroom’ Anime Series Coming to Netflix US and UK in May 2026
Netflix has confirmed that the popular Japanese anime series Assassination Classroom will join its US and UK libraries on May 1, 2026. The show, produced by Lerche and based on Yusei Matsui’s manga that sold over 27 million copies, has been...
OpenAI’s ChatGPT Ads Just Went Cost-per-Click, and the AI Advertising War Has Its Battle Lines
OpenAI has switched ChatGPT ads from a cost‑per‑thousand‑impressions model to cost‑per‑click, allowing bids of $3‑$5 and cutting the minimum spend to $50,000. The change follows a rapid drop in CPM rates from $60 to as low as $25, which made...
Zerodha Shuts Creator-Focused Zero1 Initiative Due to Regulatory Concerns
Zerodha has discontinued its creator‑focused Zero1 initiative after more than a year of operation, citing regulatory uncertainty. Zero1 partnered with storytellers across finance, health and climate to produce long‑form educational content, complementing the broker’s existing platforms such as Varsity and...
Borrell Addresses 74% Problem Facing Radio’s Digital Sales Teams
Gordon Borrell of Borrell Associates warned that 74% of radio’s existing advertisers still aren’t purchasing digital inventory, even as digital revenue reached $2.3 billion in 2025, representing 24.4% of total ad sales. The 14th Annual Digital Benchmarking Report shows top‑performing market...
ACM to Axe Weekday Editions of 150-Year-Old Tamworth Newspaper
Australian Community Media (ACM) announced it will cease Monday‑to‑Friday print editions of the Northern Daily Leader, a newspaper with a 150‑year legacy in Tamworth. The daily will become digital‑only on weekdays starting May 11, while an expanded weekend edition will be...
Parents or States: Who Should Decide How Much Social Media Time Is Too Much?
In February, a federal judge blocked Virginia's law that limits minors to one hour of social‑media use per day unless a parent provides verifiable consent. The decision held that parents, not the state, should set initial usage limits, citing First...
TV Measurement Experts: How To Cultivate Audience In The Age Of Attention
The TV industry is moving beyond traditional ratings to metrics that capture attention, engagement and outcomes. Nielsen announced a new one‑minute qualifier for local TV, narrowing the gap with streaming’s two‑second view standard, and expanded its Outcomes Marketplace to link...
Rocca & Bargatze Back Broadcast’s Power During NAB Awards
At the NAB Show 2026, veteran journalist Mo Rocca received the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation Insight Award while comedian Nate Bargatze was honored with the NAB Television Chairman’s Award. Both appeared on a Main‑Stage fireside chat, using the platform to champion...
‘Go Nuts All the Way’: What Sid Krofft Knew About Television That Everyone Else Forgot
Sid Krofft, the visionary behind surreal children’s classics like H.R. Pufnstuf and Land of the Lost, died on April 10 at age 96. His mantra, “When you’re nuts, you’ve got to go nuts all the way,” defined a fearless creative...
Bond Wants AI to Cure Your Doomscrolling, Then Monetise Your Memories
Bond, a new "post‑feed" social network founded by ex‑Index Ventures partner Dino Becirovic and former Google DeepMind researcher Arthur Brazinskas, launched on April 21 without an infinite scroll or algorithmic timeline. The app lets users upload photos, video and audio...
Colgate Keeps the Smiles Coming with Extended AFL Partnership and New Campaign via VML
Colgate‑Palmolive has renewed its partnership with the Australian Football League, remaining the Official Smile of the AFL. A new hero campaign created by VML features Carlton captain Patrick Cripps, highlighting oral‑health benefits and personal resilience. The deal adds naming rights to...
KIIS Turns Tables on Kyle and Jackie O, Sues Pair for Millions
Australian radio network ARN (owner of KIIS) has sued Kyle Sandilands and Jackie “O” Henderson, alleging they breached a $200 million (≈$132 million USD) ten‑year deal that cost the station millions in advertising revenue. ARN seeks to claw back 87.92% of a...
How Extremist Groups Are Sharing a Global Media Strategy
Extremist organizations—from ISIS‑K to Hezbollah—have converged on a shared media playbook that mirrors private‑sector competitive learning. Telegram functions as the central hub, feeding content to a two‑tier network of official channels and surrogate platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube....
Indiana’s Got a Voting Problem. News Outlets Can only Do so Much to Fix It
Indiana consistently ranks among the lowest‑turnout states, with only 59% of registered voters casting ballots in the 2024 presidential election, compared with 70% in Washington. While registration rates exceed 90%, the state lacks a coordinated government voter‑education program, leaving news...
PayPal Goes After Streaming TV Advertisers With New Adtech Deals
PayPal is extending its advertising platform into streaming TV and the open web with a new offering called Curated Ads. The product leverages PayPal’s transaction graph to build purchase‑based audience segments that can be targeted through partnerships with Warner Bros. Discovery, Spectrum...
Caravaggio and Rubens Works Destroyed by Fire in Second World War Are Brought Back to (Digital) Life
The Gemäldegalerie in Berlin has digitised its high‑resolution glass‑negative archive of paintings destroyed in a 1945 fire, including works by Caravaggio, Rubens, Veronese and van Dyck. Around 430 large‑format pieces were lost, leaving a major gap in art‑historical records. The project...
CMG Productions & ‘The Football Ramble’ Firm Stak To Co-Create Sport And Crime Podcasts
CMG Productions and London‑based indie audio firm Stak have announced a joint venture to develop a slate of sport‑and‑crime podcasts. The partnership will initially produce four original projects, drawing stories from the UK, United States, South Africa and Latin America....
Forecast: New TV OS to Take 28% of European Market by 2030
Omdia forecasts that newly‑emerged TV operating systems will command 28% of Europe’s smart‑TV OS market by 2030, up from 21% in 2025. Google TV’s current 32% lead will erode as V (formerly VIDAA), Titan OS and TiVo gain traction. These...
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport Moves to Recognise Creator Businesses After Call From the Digital Creators APPG
The UK Office for National Statistics has updated its Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) framework to explicitly include internet video and vlog production under code 59.112, following a push by the Digital Creators’ All‑Party Parliamentary Group. The change, welcomed by the...
Richard Bacon Returns To Broadcasting Roots With Interview Podcast ‘Why Are You More Successful Than Me?’
British presenter Richard Bacon returns to on‑air interviewing with the video‑podcast “Why Are You More Successful Than Me?” launching today. The series, produced by his Yes Yes Media imprint, features high‑profile guests such as Gary Lineker, Dexter Fletcher and Elizabeth...
SCMP Excels on Economy, Falters on Tech Coverage
I share some of Zichen Wang's concerns here. The SCMP has some of the best reporting in the world on China, and especially on the Chinese economy, but some of its mainland-related science and technology articles seem a little eccentric. https://t.co/BLosTuxvh4
Why DMMG’s “Modern Time Out” Model Is Working in Local Media
Dont Miss Media Group (DMMG) is scaling its hyperlocal Substack newsletters across several South‑East UK towns, including Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs. The Margate edition is on track for about £85,000 ($106,000) in annual revenue, with ad inventory sold out ten...
Here Are the Radio Hall of Fame’s 2026 Nominees: Full List
The Museum of Broadcast Communications released the 24 nominees for the 2026 Radio Hall of Fame, selected by a nominating committee with industry and listener input. Voting opens on April 24 and runs through May 8, with the top six...
Retail Media Is Not Just About Retailers Any More
Retail media is expanding beyond traditional retailer‑owned inventory to capture shopper intent before a purchase decision is made. Multi‑retailer apps, digital leaflet aggregators, and deal platforms now generate pre‑purchase intent signals that can be packaged into targetable audience segments. Brands...
Rollercoaster Television, Producer Behind Netflix’s ‘What’s In The Box?’, Becomes Standalone Business As ITV Studios Ends Investment After Five Years
Rollercoaster Television, the UK indie behind Netflix’s quiz show “What’s in the Box?”, is spinning off as a standalone entity after ITV Studios ends its five‑year investment. The company will rebrand to Rollercoaster Studios and has secured a production‑and‑distribution agreement...
Navigate Health Drives +48% Ad Revenue Growth with Opti Digital
Navigate Health partnered with ad‑tech specialist Opti Digital to overhaul its ad stack, deploying the Ad Manager Hub and Insights Hub. The integration accelerated ad call speeds, raising fast calls from 5% to 35% and cutting slow calls dramatically. Unified...
Seedtag Revolutionises Media Planning & Activation with the Launch of NeuroX
Seedtag unveiled NeuroX, a Neuro‑Contextual exchange that embeds its decade‑old AI engine, Liz, into every impression across more than 30,000 premium publishers and broadcasters. The platform translates emotional tone, intent and interest into addressable signals, allowing agencies, publishers and brands...
Sony Bags India Broadcast Rights for Asian Games 2026
Sony Pictures Networks India has secured exclusive television and digital rights to broadcast the 2026 Asian Games across the Indian subcontinent. The multi‑sport event, slated for September‑October 2026 in Aichi and Nagoya, will be shown on Sony Sports Network channels...
A Eutelsat Apoia a Co-Op Cable No Lançamento De Oferta Expandida De DTH No Caribe
Eutelsat has teamed with Co‑op Cable to launch an expanded direct‑to‑home (DTH) television and satellite‑based broadband offering across the Caribbean, using the EUTELSAT 65 West A satellite. The service blends high‑definition TV with geolocation‑enabled internet connectivity, targeting residential homes and hospitality venues in...
Eutelsat Impulsa a Co-Op Cable en El Lanzamiento De Una Oferta Ampliada De TV Satelital Directa Al Hogar Y Conectividad...
Eutelsat announced a partnership with Co‑op Cable to roll out an expanded direct‑to‑home satellite TV and broadband service across the Caribbean using the EUTELSAT 65 West A satellite. The joint offering bundles high‑definition TV with GEO‑based internet, targeting islands and remote communities where...
‘SNL UK’ Storms Past 86M Views On Social Media, But TV Viewing Drops By A Third
Sky’s UK adaptation of Saturday Night Live has amassed more than 86 million views across YouTube, Instagram Reels, X and TikTok in its first month, driven by viral clips such as Tina Fey’s monologue and the “Last Supper” sketch. While online engagement...
Channel Seven’s Spotlight Digging for Dirt on Clean Energy Ignores Fundamental Facts and Basic Journalistic Standards | Temperature Check
Channel Seven’s prime‑time Spotlight program aired a 50‑minute exposé linking Australia’s renewable‑energy and battery‑storage expansion to “blood cobalt” from artisanal mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The report omitted critical context: the U.S. Geological Survey shows only about 10%...
Innovid Announces General Availability of Hypermode, Cutting Social Campaign Setup Time by Up to 80%
Innovid has launched the general availability of Hypermode, a high‑precision execution layer for social advertising that now supports Meta, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat and TikTok. The platform claims to cut campaign‑setup time by up to 80%, delivering up to six‑fold faster...
The 2026 Facebook Reach Checklist for Affiliates
Facebook’s 2026 algorithm overhaul turns the platform into an AI‑driven discovery engine that heavily favors short‑form video, private shares and native affiliate tags while penalising link‑heavy posts. Meta Verified subscribers can retain link reach, but non‑paying creators see their distribution...