🎯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
You Can Upgrade Your Old Roku TV or Roku Player With The Upgraded Roku Pro Remote 2 For Just $29.88
Roku has launched the Pro Remote 2, a $29.88 upgrade for existing Roku TVs and players. The new controller swaps the old micro‑USB port for USB‑C, adds motion‑activated backlit buttons, and introduces a dedicated Guide button for instant access to OTA and streaming content. Programmable shortcuts are consolidated into a single rocket‑ship button, streamlining navigation while sacrificing one custom slot. The remote ships now as a standalone accessory and will be bundled with upcoming Roku Pro TVs.
By Cord Cutters News
News•Feb 22, 2026
Hunter Page-Lochard, Kat Stewart Lead New ABC Crime Drama Fortitude Valley
ABC announced a six‑part crime thriller titled Fortitude Valley, set in Brisbane’s neon‑lit nightlife precinct. The series stars AACTA‑winning First Nations actor Hunter Page‑Lochard and veteran Kat Stewart, with production kicking off in April and a 2027 broadcast on ABC TV...
By TV Blackbox
News•Feb 22, 2026
PBS Is Being Saved Thanks to Bob Ross’ Art
Bob Ross paintings are being auctioned to rescue public television after the federal government cut $1.11 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, threatening PBS stations nationwide. American Public Television partnered with Bonhams Skinner to sell original Ross works, raising nearly...
By Cord Cutters News
News•Feb 22, 2026
Seven Recruits COREY PARKER to Host Weekly NRL Agenda Show
Seven Network announced the launch of "The Agenda Setters: Rugby League," a weekly NRL analysis program hosted by former Brisbane Broncos captain Corey Parker. The panel features premiership halfback Luke Keary, State of Origin forward Aaron Woods, veteran journalist David...
By TV Blackbox
News•Feb 22, 2026
Michael Rowland Announces Sudden Exit From ABC After Four Decades
Veteran journalist Michael Rowland announced his departure from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation this week, ending a 39‑year career that began as a radio news cadet in 1987. He is best known for co‑hosting News Breakfast for 15 years and most...
By TV Blackbox
Blog•Feb 22, 2026
The Netflix Killer Non-Acquisition Theory
Wall Street analysts are circulating a theory that Netflix’s primary goal in the Warner Bros. deal is not to acquire the studio but to block Paramount Skydance from obtaining it. The speculation hinges on Netflix’s willingness to spend billions, potentially triggering...
By Puck
News•Feb 22, 2026
The Faith-Based Epic That Walked So 'The Chosen' Could Run Is Leaving Netflix
Mel Gibson’s *The Passion of the Christ* will leave Netflix at the end of February 2026, ending its annual Easter streaming run. The departure has sparked fan backlash over the upcoming recasting of Jesus, as Jim Caviezel will not reprise...
By Collider
News•Feb 22, 2026
Louise Milligan Leads FOUR CORNERS Surgeon Scandal
Four Corners aired "Scarred", exposing a Melbourne gynaecologist accused of performing unnecessary laparoscopic surgeries on women in their twenties. Pathology reports often found little or no endometriosis, yet organs and tissue were removed, compromising fertility and causing chronic pain. The...
By TV Blackbox
News•Feb 22, 2026
A Strategic Pilot Leak Helped Launch One Of Fox's Most Iconic Shows Of The '90s
In 1990 Fox aired *In Living Color*, a groundbreaking sketch comedy created by Keenen Ivory Wayans that featured a predominantly Black cast and launched stars like Jamie Foxx and Jim Carrey. The network initially balked at the 1989 pilot, deeming its edgy...
By TVLine
News•Feb 22, 2026
AUSTRALIAN IDOL Top 30 Face Toughest Test Yet
Australian Idol has finalized its Top 30 roster, setting the stage for the competition's most rigorous round yet. Judges Marcia Hines, Kyle Sandilands and Amy Shark warned that success will hinge on adaptability, rapid learning and crowd command, not just...
By TV Blackbox
News•Feb 22, 2026
Pensioner Takes on NAB in AUSTRALIAN STORY Tonight
Victorian pensioner Ian Williams lost $1,338 to an online banking scam and sued National Australia Bank (NAB) for a symbolic $379 million in damages. His case, featured on ABC’s Australian Story, highlighted the bank’s initial refusal to refund or apologise. Although...
By TV Blackbox
News•Feb 22, 2026
Marshals Review: CBS' Yellowstone Spinoff Is A Prestige Procedural With A Dash Of Dutton
CBS launches "Marshals", a Yellowstone spinoff that reimagines Kayce Dutton as a U.S. Marshal. The series combines high‑budget cinematography and the gritty tone of Taylor Sheridan’s world with a traditional one‑hour procedural structure. Reviewers give it a B+, noting strong...
By TVLine
News•Feb 22, 2026
The Walking Dead's 15 Worst Episodes Ranked
TVLine ranks the 15 worst episodes of AMC’s *The Walking Dead*, highlighting how the series’ later seasons fell into filler territory. The list points to stale flashbacks, weak character arcs, and pacing issues that undermine the show’s earlier narrative strength....
By TVLine
News•Feb 22, 2026
Microsoft Study Warns Media Authentication Systems Must Scale to Counter AI-Driven Content Manipulation
Microsoft’s new report, *Media Integrity and Authentication*, warns that today’s media authentication tools lag behind the surge of AI‑generated images, video and audio. It evaluates cryptographic provenance metadata, imperceptible watermarking and soft‑hash fingerprinting, concluding that layered signing and watermarking can...
By The AI Insider
News•Feb 22, 2026
Celebrating 23 Years: ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’ Debuts on HBO, Sparking Decades of Unfiltered Political Satire
Real Time with Bill Maher celebrated its 23‑year anniversary, marking 24 seasons and over 700 episodes on HBO. Launched in February 2003 after Maher’s Politically Incorrect cancellation, the show leveraged premium‑cable freedom to blend uncensored political satire with a panel...
By Cord Cutters News
Social•Feb 22, 2026
Silence Reveals Society's Tolerance of Abhorrent Behavior
This entire NYT report puts so much together, but this section really adds a lot of context as to tolerance of abhorrent behavior. “What’s most shocking is no one said anything.” https://t.co/n0Ug9ow5fg
By Jason Kint
News•Feb 22, 2026
What Set Game Of Thrones' Writing Room Apart From Other Shows
Game of Thrones’ writers’ room remained unusually small, never exceeding four people at any time. Producer Bryan Cogman confirmed that David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and a handful of assistants handled the adaptation, with Cogman and occasional writers like Vanessa Taylor...
By TVLine
Blog•Feb 22, 2026
The Boston Globe Adds an Option that Puts It One Step Closer (Maybe) to Sharing on Social Media
The Boston Globe has introduced a new "Gift an Article" option in its article‑sharing menu. The feature currently only allows users to send a free link via email, while existing social‑media buttons still lead to the paywall. The rollout suggests...
By Media Nation
News•Feb 22, 2026
Pluto TV Now Has 11 Sci-Fi Free Live Channels & Tons of On-Demand Shows & Is Bigger Than You Think:...
Pluto TV has expanded its free, ad‑supported lineup to include 11 dedicated science‑fiction live channels, alongside a robust on‑demand library of cult classics, indie titles, and franchise staples. The offering blends curated sci‑fi streams, franchise‑specific channels such as Star Trek...
By Cord Cutters News
News•Feb 22, 2026
Predicting 2026 Headlines: AMC+ Gets Bought by Paramount
Analysts predict that after a failed bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount will target AMC Networks as a more affordable acquisition in 2026. AMC’s portfolio includes the premium streaming bundle AMC+, plus niche services like Shudder, HIDIVE, and Sundance Now,...
By The Streamable
News•Feb 22, 2026
The Top 10 Cable TV Networks Most Likely to Shut Down in March 2026
Cable TV networks are confronting accelerating cord‑cutting pressures, prompting several major owners to consider consolidations, sales, or outright closures. Paramount is reportedly evaluating the shutdown of MTV and other legacy channels, while Warner Bros. Discovery’s pending network spin‑off threatens Cartoon Network, Boomerang...
By Cord Cutters News
News•Feb 22, 2026
Karen Gillan and Hugh Bonneville's "Punchy" British Drama Lands New UK Streaming Home
British drama "Douglas Is Cancelled" starring Karen Gillan and Hugh Bonneville has moved from ITV to Disney+ as its new UK streaming home. The four‑episode series, written by Steven Moffat, blends satire and dark comedy around a news anchor accused...
By Digital Spy – TV
Social•Feb 21, 2026
Grok 4.20 Enables Personalized News From 300M Daily Posts
Grok 4.20 is starting to use lists. Here's my first attempt at getting it to read my lists and give me interesting posts from each: https://t.co/uKEszPmEsG This leads to a new kind of personalized news service. It still isn't close to...
By Robert Scoble
Social•Feb 21, 2026
AI Bot Overload Leaves Users Feeling Exhausted
When is the AI bot-calypse coming @nikitabier - all the AI bot replies and AI articles wearing me down 🫠 Accounts clearly labeled as bots are ok I think
By Peter Yang
News•Feb 21, 2026
I'm a Celebrity... South Africa Teases "Tougher than Ever" New Series
ITV unveiled the first teaser for the new "I’m a Celebrity… South Africa" series during the launch of Britain’s Got Talent, featuring hosts Ant and Dec startled by a fake big‑cat scare. The upcoming season will be pre‑recorded, but the...
By Digital Spy – TV
Social•Feb 21, 2026
Alt‑right Moral Panic Threatens Reproductive and LGBTQ Internet Freedoms
Why are we listening to an alt right Christian fundamentalist, who thinks selfies are moral decay and women’s bodies should be regulated by the government, feed a moral panic that is being used to strip repro rights content, LGBTQ ppl...
By Taylor Lorenz
News•Feb 21, 2026
Using NMOS and Ember+ to Control IP Codecs
Audio codec manufacturers are adopting open protocols NMOS and Ember+ to streamline IP‑based broadcast workflows. Tieline’s codecs now support NMOS IS‑04, IS‑05, and IS‑07 for discovery, connection management, and event handling, while Ember+ exposes a hierarchical parameter tree for granular...
By Radio World
Social•Feb 21, 2026
Cynical Support Aims for Top‑Down Control of Speech
They do understand it, they just cynically support that mission because they want top down control over our information landscape and online speech.
By Taylor Lorenz
News•Feb 21, 2026
What You Need To Know About Streaming UFC Fight Night: Strickland Vs. Hernandez On February 21
UFC Fight Night heads to Houston on February 21, 2026, featuring a middle‑weight showdown between former champion Sean Strickland and rising contender Anthony Hernandez. The entire event, from early prelims to the main card, streams live in the United States...
By Cord Cutters News
News•Feb 21, 2026
The Simpsons Is "Never Going to Do a Series Finale" To End the Show, Boss Says
The Simpsons hit its 800th episode, sparking speculation about the series’ end. Showrunner Matt Selman told The Wrap the show will not stage a traditional series finale; it will simply stop without a special goodbye. He likened the sitcom’s reset...
By Digital Spy – TV
News•Feb 21, 2026
The Big Bang Theory Guest Star Who Almost Played Leonard Before Johnny Galecki
John Ross Bowie originally auditioned for the role of Leonard Hofstadter on *The Big Bang Theory*, a part that ultimately went to Johnny Galecki, who had been eyed for Sheldon before opting for Leonard. Galecki’s decision reshaped the show’s core...
By TVLine
Social•Feb 21, 2026
Billionaires and New Yorkers Finally Face New Tax
No, Fareed Zakaria, billionaires will pay for this, at last. New Yorkers will pay for this https://t.co/C2borEu7fx
By Jeff Jarvis
News•Feb 21, 2026
Roku vs Fire TV vs Apple TV vs Google TV: What Is The Best Streaming Player For Streaming Youtube, Netflix,...
A recent reader survey found Roku the clear favorite for cord‑cutters, capturing 62% of votes, while Apple TV, Fire TV and Google TV received 16%, 12% and 10% respectively. Roku’s appeal stems from its neutral interface, over 25,000 apps, quick setup and a...
By Cord Cutters News
News•Feb 21, 2026
What To Watch Saturday: Shoresy Season 5, Timothée Chalamet/Matthew McCounaughey Town Hall, And More
TVLine’s “What to Watch” column outlines Saturday’s February 21, 2026 lineup across streaming, cable, and broadcast. Hulu launches the six‑episode Season 5 of the hockey‑centric comedy “Shoresy,” while CNN streams a high‑profile town hall featuring Timothée Chalamet and Matthew McConaughey. The evening also includes new...
By TVLine
Social•Feb 21, 2026
Ro Khanna Pushes Censorship, Backs Heritage’s Section 230 Repeal
Once again @RoKhanna is calling for mass censorship and surveillance. Here he says a bunch of good sounding things abt big tech then ends w boosting Heritage Foundation tech policy of ending Section 230. Politicians need to be called out...
By Taylor Lorenz
Social•Feb 21, 2026
Support for Data Rights Contradicted by Backing KOSA
Would LOVE a data bill of rights. But if that’s what you actually believe in then why do u support surveillance legislation like KOSA that strips anonymity from the internet and forces companies to collect far MORE data, making it...
By Taylor Lorenz
Podcast•Feb 21, 2026•0 min
Prediction Markets Are Invading Everything
In this episode, Alex Heath talks with Substack CEO Chris Best about Substack’s new integration with prediction market platform Polymarket, which lets writers embed live market data in their posts. Best explains his personal fascination with prediction markets, citing how...
By Sources
Social•Feb 21, 2026
Privacy Experts Warned: Digital ID Age Checks Inevitable
This was inevitable and it’s what EVERY SINGLE PRIVACY advocate said would happen. Not even a week in and this is the norm. There is no safe and private digital ID system, ban age verification of the internet now
By Taylor Lorenz
Social•Feb 21, 2026
Journalists Shielded From Government Searches, Except When Investigated
“The Privacy Protection Act of 1980 is intended to protect journalists and newsrooms from government searches and seizures of a reporter’s work product materials unless the reporter is themself the subject of a criminal investigation or prosecution.”
By Jason Kint
News•Feb 21, 2026
Friday VOZ Ratings | WINTER OLYMPICS Draws Us All in over Lifestyle Content
Friday 20 February 2026 TV ratings show the Winter Olympics commanding the top‑30 slots across both overnight and consolidated measurements. Lifestyle‑focused programmes fell behind sports content in both broadcast and BVOD audiences. OzTAM introduced new metrics that count a minute of broadcast...
By TV Blackbox
Social•Feb 21, 2026
AdX Publishers Warned: No Action Needed Amid Google Probe
As we await Judge Brinkema's decision in US v Google whether to break up Google's adtech business, evidence continues to be unsealed in SDNY tonight. "NEVER USE THE WORD BERNANKE EXTERNALLY, EVER." "All AdX publisher will be impacted." "Publishers do not need to...
By Jason Kint
News•Feb 20, 2026
‘Wolfram’ Review: Warwick Thornton’s ‘Sweet Country’ Follow-Up Is Just as Ravishingly Bleak
Warwick Thornton’s new film “Wolfram,” a sequel to his acclaimed 2017 western “Sweet Country,” returns to early‑1930s Central Australia to dramatize the brutal tungsten mining imposed on Aboriginal communities. The story follows a half‑breed protagonist, child miners, and two outlaw...
By IndieWire
News•Feb 20, 2026
Cassandra Kulukundis on How a Lifetime of Casting for Paul Thomas Anderson Led to ‘One Battle After Another’
Casting veteran Cassandra Kulukundis, who began with Paul Thomas Anderson on 1996’s Hard Eight, is now the inaugural nominee for the Academy Award for Best Casting for Anderson’s latest epic, One Battle After Another. The film showcases her signature blend...
By IndieWire
News•Feb 20, 2026
Why Creators Are Ditching Ad Revenue for Chocolate Bars and Fintech Acquisitions
Creators are moving beyond ad revenue, launching product lines, acquiring startups, and building tangible businesses. MrBeast’s chocolate brand now out‑earns his media arm, and his purchase of fintech startup Step illustrates the shift toward diversified revenue. The TechCrunch Equity podcast...
By TechCrunch – Creator Economy
News•Feb 20, 2026
One Of The Internet's First Memes Was Immortalized On A Quirky Hit TV Show
The low‑polygon Dancing Baby, created by animator Robert Lurye in 1995, became one of the internet’s first viral memes after circulating on CompuServe and email. Showrunner David E. Kelley saw the clip and inserted it into the Ally McBeal episode “Cro‑Magnon,”...
By TVLine
News•Feb 20, 2026
BRIT Awards Confirm Major UK Streaming Change for 2026
The 2026 BRIT Awards will be streamed on ITV’s YouTube channel for the first time, alongside ITV1 and ITVX. The ceremony airs Saturday 28 February from 8.15 pm live on TV, with a global digital simulcast beginning at 8.45 pm on YouTube....
By Digital Spy – TV
News•Feb 20, 2026
‘Journal with Witch’ Is the Best Anime of the Winter
Winter 2026’s anime slate is dominated by high‑octane sequels, yet “Journal With Witch” quietly steals the spotlight. Adapted from Tomoko Yamashita’s manga, the series follows grieving teen Asa and her aloof aunt‑novelist Makio as they navigate loss, identity, and an...
By IndieWire
News•Feb 20, 2026
Taco Bell Taps Myke Towers In a Multi-Million Dollar Ad Push Across the US, Latin America, and Spain
Taco Bell announced a multi‑million‑dollar partnership with Latin music star Myke Towers, integrating his track “Sunblock” into a new Chicken Bacon Ranch Street Chalupas commercial. The campaign rolls out across the United States, Puerto Rico, the Latin America/Caribbean region and...
By Digital Music News
News•Feb 20, 2026
Scrubs Revival Brings Back Neil Flynn And Christa Miller — Showrunner Teases The Janitor And Jordan's Returns
ABC’s nine‑episode “Scrubs” revival will feature original cast members Neil Flynn and Christa Miller returning for single‑episode guest spots as the Janitor and Jordan, respectively. Core stars Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke and Donald Faison are back, while Judy Reyes and...
By TVLine
Social•Feb 20, 2026
American Media Must Highlight Unresisted Dictatorship Collapse
I asked @derspiegel to share this important interview with Robert Kagan in English. Rafaela von Bredow made it happen. This is how American media should be talking: "We Are Watching a Country Fall Under Dictatorship Almost Without Resistance" https://t.co/Ctij7ummvc
By Jeff Jarvis