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.
Integral Ad Science Expands TikTok Ad Quality Measurement to Four New Formats
Integral Ad Science (IAS) announced on April 21 that its TMQ solution now covers TikTok Search ads, upgraded campaign creation, GMV Max and TikTok Lite, giving marketers a fuller suite of brand‑safety and viewability metrics on the platform’s fast‑growing ad inventory.
NHL TV Ratings Surge 30% on ESPN/ABC
Very good year for the NHL as far as viewership on ESPN/ABC. ESPN averaged 760K viewers across 54 games on ABC and ESPN, up 30 percent over last year. New measurement helps, as do increased games on ABC. But we definitely...
'The White Lotus’ on Points? A Luxurious Hyatt in France Is Taking Center Stage
Season 4 of HBO’s The White Lotus will be set against the Cannes Film Festival, using Hôtel Martinez—Hyatt’s Unbound Collection flagship—as the on‑screen resort. The series also features Airelles Château de la Messardière in Saint‑Tropez as a secondary location. Hôtel Martinez, a Category 8 property, commands summer rates above...
Microsoft Launches AI‑focused Premium Content Marketplace to Challenge Google
NEW: @Microsoft saw @Google become the dominant information marketplace over past 20 years. Now, it wants to get ahead for AI era. — The company is building a premium content marketplace for publishers, advertisers and merchants to transact on — It's...
SoundCloud's Big Bet for the AI Era
SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton outlined how the streaming platform is leveraging artificial intelligence to boost artist discovery and fan engagement. The company’s AI tools analyze new music and listener habits to expand an emerging artist’s audience from a few thousand...
Media & Entertainment Demo Hub
Microsoft has introduced an interactive Media & Entertainment Demo Hub that showcases real‑world AI applications across the industry. The hub features scenarios ranging from content intelligence and fan engagement to operational automation and advanced analytics. By unifying data and AI,...
ChatGPT Ads Now Offer CPC Bidding Between $3 And $5: Report via @Sejournal, @MattGSouthern
OpenAI’s ChatGPT Ads Manager has added a cost‑per‑click (CPC) bidding option, with bids ranging from $3 to $5 per click. The change follows a rapid price decline since the pilot’s February launch, where CPM rates fell from $60 to as...
Julianna Margulies Joins Paradise Season 3 / Beef Season 2 Viewership Tumbles / Boardwalk Empire Creator to Tackle Animation
Emmy winner Julianna Margulies will recur in Hulu’s post‑apocalyptic thriller Paradise for its third season, adding star power to Dan Fogelman’s series. Meanwhile, the second season of the premium drama Beef saw a steep viewership drop, falling roughly 30% from...
When Podcasts Turn Into Reaction Shows
When it did become a thing for podcasts to just be reactions to other podcasts what is this
German Media Groups Call for Stronger AI Rules to Protect Journalism
German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF, together with commercial association VAUNET and publishers BDZV and MVFP, issued a joint statement urging tighter AI regulation. They warn that large tech platforms are using journalistic content to train generative AI without compensation,...
Deezer Says It’s Getting Spammed with AI Songs
Deezer reports that AI‑generated tracks now account for 44% of its daily uploads, even though they represent only 1‑3% of listener consumption. Roughly 75,000 AI songs are added each day, amounting to about two million per month, creating sizable moderation...
Notes From The Back Of Air Force One
The author recounts a recent overnight trip on Air Force One with President Trump, detailing a near‑miss press conference, informal cabin dynamics, and a brief three‑question session in Phoenix. The president preferred answering questions on the plane rather than at...
Gator Country: It’s K-LOVE and Air1 For This Radio Vet
Gator Harrison, a veteran of secular radio, will join K‑LOVE’s Ministry Leadership Team as Chief Media Officer on May 11. He will oversee the K‑LOVE and Air1 Worship brands, live events, and partnership initiatives. Harrison previously spent more than a decade...
Comscore Renews Measurement Agreements with Local TV Broadcasters
Comscore announced the renewal of measurement agreements with more than a dozen local television broadcasters, including Sinclair, E.W. Scripps, Cox Media Group, Hubbard Broadcasting, Allen Media Group and Thomas Broadcasting. The contracts span renewals, extensions and new partnerships, reflecting broadcasters’...
‘Philomena Cunk’ to Return in Cunk on Cinema
Philomena Cunk returns in Netflix's three‑part mock‑documentary "Cunk on Cinema," where Diane Morgan reprises her deadpan investigative reporter to explore film history. The series, produced with Charlie Brooker, spans topics from the invention of the camera to New Wave cinema,...
Tim Cook Turned Apple Into a Hollywood Power Player. Does the New CEO Feel the Same Way?
Tim Cook transformed Apple from a hardware‑centric firm into a major player in Hollywood by launching Apple TV+ and an in‑house studio, driving services revenue from $46.3 billion in 2019 to $109 billion last year. The platform attracted marquee talent such as...
Frank Maranzino Named Leader of CapRadio
Frank Maranzino has been appointed permanent president and general manager of CapRadio, the Sacramento public radio network, effective April 1. He had been serving in an interim capacity for more than two years, guiding the organization through a leadership crisis. The...
Google Adds AI-Qualified Call Leads to Improve Measurement
Google Ads is rolling out an AI‑qualified call leads feature that evaluates the substance of inbound calls rather than just their length. The machine‑learning system generates call summaries and tags, feeding higher‑quality signals into smart bidding and reporting. Recording is...
UK Publishers Urge CMA to Curb Google as Search Giant Claims AI Does Them No Harm
UK news publishers have asked the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to force Google to separate its AI fine‑tuning crawler from its search ranking system and to provide granular opt‑out controls for training, fine‑tuning and retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG). They dispute...
FactCheck.Weekly #31 - 4/21/26
In this episode of FactCheck Weekly, Josh examines four timely claims: the disputed link between glyphosate and cancer, a misleading ad attacking Senate candidate Seth Moulton’s stance on ICE, Elon Musk’s amplification of a false claim that COVID‑19 vaccines caused...
Readly Deluged with User Complaints Post Cafeyn Merger
Readly has completed its merger with French rival Cafeyn, creating a combined European digital‑magazine platform with roughly €100 million (about $107 million) in revenue and over 2.5 million users. The company reports that 99% of sessions are crash‑free and 97% of users successfully...
Treat Your Book Like a Product to Sell
The authors who sell the most understand this: writing is art, but publishing is business. If you want to reach more readers or score a big publishing deal, it helps to start thinking of your book like a product you're selling...
Mr. Smith’s Goes To Oxnard, Joining Cumulus
Cumulus Media has hired Bill Smith as Vice President and General Manager of its Oxnard‑Ventura radio cluster. The portfolio includes KRUZ‑FM 103.3, KBBY‑FM 95.1, KHAY‑FM 100.7 and KVYB‑FM 106.3, covering a mix of classic rock, hot adult contemporary, country and...
Xbox Game Pass Is About to Get Less Expensive — Is Microsoft Actually Listening to Us?
Microsoft announced a significant reduction in its Xbox Game Pass subscription fees, cutting Game Pass Ultimate to $22.99 per month and PC Game Pass to $13.99. The price cuts follow a controversial 50% increase in October 2025 that reportedly drove...
Podcast Nation Partners with 7EQUIS to Lead Sales for Bangin’ Out
Podcast Nation has teamed with 7EQUIS to manage sales for "bangin’ out," a fast‑growing long‑form video podcast hosted by YouTube star Kayla Malec (1.9 M subscribers) and TikTok sensation Jacob Sartorius (23.6 M followers). The partnership gives Podcast Nation control over audio...
CPC Ads Favor Sponsors, Leave Newsletter Creators Shortchanged
When will ESPs figure out that this model of CPC for ads in email newsletters puts all the benefit in the sponsor's hands and very little in that of the newsletter creator? I never opt-in because why would I dilute...
Young Creators Self‑harm for Clicks Beyond MrBeast's Imagination
At any given moments there are dozens of young men torturing themselves for views in ways MrBeast could only dream of
Types of Podcasts Aren't Interchangeable Platforms (And This Is Why)
The article argues that podcast types are structural categories—not interchangeable platforms—each with its own expectations for guests. Interview, solo, panel, documentary, and educational formats function as contracts that dictate how a guest should present material. Misaligning with a show’s format...
Creators of Culpium and Asianometry Launch New Podcast
A new podcast from the names behind @Culpium and @Asianometry Listen, subscribe & like. We hope you enjoy. https://t.co/Psil1jt54O
Richard Gadd's 'Half Man' Episode 1 Release Date
Richard Gadd's first completely fictional series is almost here. But when does Half Man episode 1 drop on HBO Max and BBC iPlayer? https://t.co/0SE9BtgMR8
Chelsea v Brighton Live Stream, TV Channel – Where to Watch Football on Tv Today
Chelsea host Brighton at Falmer on 21 April 2026, broadcast live on Sky Sports and via its app at 20:00 BST. Brighton arrive on a four‑match unbeaten run, pushing for a top‑six finish and European qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, have lost four straight league...
Monica Lewinsky Hosted Short-Lived “Mr. Personality” Reality Show
📺 April 21, 2003: Romance reality competition “Mr. Personality” debuted on Fox. Hosted by infamous former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, this “Bachelorette”-type show that Involved all masked male suitors ran for only five episodes. https://t.co/MaeS34ZY3V https://t.co/1RjA8v80Gh
Zaslav's Sadness Over Warner Sale Feels Contrived
Why is David Zaslav leaking that he's so sad he's selling Warner? A weird narrative to be putting out.
Paid Science Writing Fellowship at Quanta Magazine From July – December 2026 in New York City
Quanta Magazine, the Simons Foundation‑backed science outlet, is offering a paid Science Writing Fellowship in New York City from July to December 2026. The six‑month, full‑time role pays $29 per hour, includes medical benefits, and immerses fellows in reporting on...
Silo Season 3 Launches on Apple TV July 3
Season 3 of #Silo will begin #streaming on #AppleTV on Friday, July 3 with weekly one episode drops through September 4. $AAPL
Not So SMARTBOX? Gray Accuses Dish Of Carriage Violation
Gray Media has lodged a formal complaint with the FCC alleging that DISH Network violated retransmission‑consent rules. The dispute stems from a CBS affiliate in Knoxville being carried on a DISH‑owned distribution platform at a local hotel. Gray’s attorney from...
Musician Morgan Wade Joins Paramount+’s ‘Dutton Ranch’
Country singer Morgan Wade joins Paramount+’s Yellowstone spinoff Dutton Ranch as Carol, a bartender in the Texas town of Rio Paloma. The nine‑part series, created by Chad Feehan and executive‑produced by Taylor Sheridan, premieres on May 15, 2026, following Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly)...
656 Say Yes: From Crowd to Engaged Audience
When Marissa Lovell asked readers of From Boise if they'd have dinner with strangers, 656 people said yes. That's the difference between a crowd and an audience. Search "Nathan Barry Show" to watch the full episode. https://t.co/btTyC2XgWl
Our Idiot President “Can’t Even Surrender Right”
The Bulwark announced a members‑only video mailbag, inviting questions ahead of its next Triad newsletter. The post also revisits Donald Trump’s recent Iran ceasefire, labeling it a "shit sandwich"—the least‑bad outcome of a flawed war decision. The author argues the...
Japan Weighs Age-Based Filtering on Social Media to Combat Addiction
Japan is weighing a regulatory push that would require social‑media firms to enable age‑based content filtering by default. The proposal also includes a government‑run risk‑assessment system to evaluate each platform’s impact on minors. Officials say the measures aim to stem...
Celebrity-Backed Supplements Spark $338B Market Battle
Vogue’s latest feature highlights a fierce competition among dietary supplement categories, driven by celebrity launches, TikTok‑fueled stacks and soaring consumer spend. The global supplements market is valued at $338 billion in 2025, with UK beauty‑supplement sales up 163% year‑to‑date.
Queer Family Podcast Drops New Episode on LGBTQ Parenting Choices
The Queer Family Podcast released a new episode featuring producer Dianni Hall, who talks openly about queer parenting, the lack of a traditional blueprint, and the personal calculus LGBTQ fathers face when deciding whether to have children. The conversation highlights...
Mýa Backs AMFA as Momentum Builds for Fair Pay for Radio Play
The American Music Fairness Act (AMFA) seeks to extend digital performance royalties to terrestrial radio, ensuring artists are paid for broadcast use. Singer‑songwriter Mýa publicly backed the bill, highlighting growing congressional momentum led by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and SX CEO...
Whoopi Goldberg Launches WhoopInk Imprint to Champion Diverse Authors
Whoopi Goldberg has teamed with Blackstone Publishing to debut the WhoopInk imprint, a venture designed to elevate new and established writers from under‑represented backgrounds. The imprint will debut with projects from author Rick Bleiweiss and a follow‑up to Goldberg’s own...
ThinkNow Launches ThinkNow Media, a Curated Programmatic Platform Powered by Nexxen
ThinkNow announced the launch of ThinkNow Media, a new programmatic department that pairs its zero‑party multicultural audience data with Nexxen's Curated Marketplace. The service, aimed at political and public‑affairs advertisers, promises tighter quality control, cultural relevance and privacy‑forward reporting across...
Telefilm Unveils Framework for Strategic Review of Funding Programs
Telefilm Canada released its Strategic Orientation Framework, a roadmap guiding the review of all funding programs under its 2024‑2027 plan. The review, slated to run through 2028, will introduce clear, measurable performance indicators and publish results regularly. By focusing on...
Toddler Techno Remixes Coming Soon To Disney+
Disney has struck a music and content development deal with Toddler Techno pioneer Lenny Pearce. Pearce will create original animated shorts for Disney+ that remix themes from existing preschool hits such as Bluey, Spidey and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. The partnership...
200+ Journalists Demand Accountability at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Over 200 journalists signed a letter demanding the White House Correspondents’ Association use the upcoming dinner to challenge President Donald Trump’s attacks on the press. Signatories such as Dan Rather and Sam Donaldson argue the event should spotlight press freedom,...
Deezer Says It's Being Bombarded by 'Nearly 75,000' AI-Generated Tunes Every Day, and that 97% of Survey Respondents Can't Tell...
Deezer reports that nearly 75,000 AI‑generated tracks are uploaded daily, representing about 44% of all new songs on the platform. Its detection system flags roughly 85% of those as fraudulent, demonetizing them, while only 1‑3% reach listeners. A survey shows...
Saudi-Backed Talks Ignite Potential Paramount‑Skydance Merger
On April 20, 2026, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund signaled interest in a consolidation that could pair Paramount Global with Skydance Media, a move that may also involve Warner Bros. Discovery. The discussion, highlighted in an NPR interview, underscores the...