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.
Advanced TV Study 2026: Connected TV Becomes Primary Viewing Environment
The Advanced TV Study 2026, conducted by Azerion Austria and Goldvertise Media, finds that Connected TV (CTV) has become a core part of media consumption in Germany and Austria. Ninety‑four percent of German TV households own an internet‑enabled TV and 91% have it online, with daily CTV viewing (2 h 32 m) now matching linear TV (2 h 34 m). Households subscribe to an average of 2.9 paid streaming apps, and co‑viewing remains common, especially among families with children. Advertisers benefit from higher ad recall—41% of users remember CTV ads well—and measurable purchase influence.
Euphoria Feels Like a Humiliation Ritual for Sydney Sweeney’s Cassie / Elisabeth Moss Wins The Testaments Emmy Petition / Kevin...
Season 3 of HBO’s Euphoria draws sharp criticism for turning Sydney Sweeney’s Cassie into a public humiliation ritual, sparking debate over character treatment in long‑running dramas. Meanwhile, Elisabeth Moss secured a victory in her Emmy petition for The Testaments, underscoring the growing influence of fan‑driven...
Semafor’s Ben Smith on Evolving a News Start-Up for the Post-Traffic Era
Ben Smith argues that the era of chasing web traffic is over, so Semafor focuses on high‑quality newsletters and invitation‑only events to build direct audience connections. Its flagship newsletters have attracted over 1 million sign‑ups, while the CEO Signal newsletter targets...
Project Agora Brings Realize to North Africa, Expands Access to AI-Driven Performance Advertising
Project Agora has launched the AI‑driven performance platform Realize across North Africa, covering Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The service taps a network of more than 11,000 premium publishers and offers format‑agnostic ad placements, AI‑optimized bidding and predictive audience models....
Ogilvy Singapore’s ‘Vaseline Verified’ Dominates 2026 Clio Awards Picking up 12 Gold Statues
Ogilvy Singapore’s ‘Vaseline Verified’ campaign captured 12 Gold statues at the 2026 Clio Awards, cementing its status as the most awarded campaign worldwide over the past year. The initiative also amassed nine Cannes Lions—including a Titanium Lion—and two Grand Prix,...
NAB Show 2026: Live Sports Streaming Boom Leaves No Sport Untouched, Even Esports
The live‑sports‑streaming surge that began during the pandemic now covers everything from dirt‑track auto racing to esports, according to a NAB Show panel. World Racing Group streams 80‑90 races a year behind a $300‑annual subscription, using the platform to boost...
Bestads Best of the Week Reviewed by Zane Radcliffe, ECD, McCann, UK
Zane Radcliffe, Executive Creative Director at McCann UK, judged Bestads' weekly roundup, highlighting standout work across TV, print, outdoor and interactive media. The TV winner, “Beat Cancer Off,” links frequent ejaculation to a 22% lower prostate‑cancer risk, while the print winner,...
Sullivan’s Crossing: Season Four Ratings + Viewer Votes
Sullivan’s Crossing returned for a fourth season on The CW, posting a 0.05 rating in the 18‑49 demo and roughly 520,000 total viewers—an uptick from the 0.04 rating and 456,000 viewers recorded in season three. The series also saw the...
‘Summer House,’ ‘Mormon Wives’ & The Limits of the Reality Binge
Bravo’s reality series “Summer House” entered its 10th season and posted record viewership despite a broader decline in unscripted streaming share. The network’s commitment to a weekly episode drop, coupled with aggressive social media teasing and Andy Cohen’s live after‑show,...
Reality Check: Why We Can’t Trust Anything Online — and No One Knows How to Fix It
The article warns that online trust is eroding as AI‑generated content floods the web. Automated bots now account for roughly 51% of internet activity, spreading low‑quality, viral material faster than human users. New AI models have eliminated classic manipulation clues,...
How to Become a Social Media Influencer in 9 Steps
The creator economy is on track to reach roughly $480 billion by 2027, with influencer marketing alone projected at $33 billion in 2026. A new guide breaks down nine practical steps for aspiring influencers, from defining a niche to automating workflows with...
Seeking Elite Short-Form Editor for Daily Viral Reels
We're looking for the best short-form video editor to join my team. I host one of the biggest marketing podcasts in the world, so I need someone who can deliver top-tier quality, understands viral short-form content, and can consistently produce up...
YouTuber Copyright Struck After Others Layer AI Voiceovers On Video Game Music
YouTuber Nubzombie’s Silent Hill 2 playthrough was hit with two copyright strikes after AI‑generated voiceovers were layered onto Akira Yamaoka’s original track. The claims came from separate entities—"Agro memos" and "詹姆斯.K"—both using the same underlying music and filing automated takedowns. Evidence suggests...
News Corp Doubles Down on Video, Folds Visual Domain Into Medium Rare in Power Play for Brand Dollars
News Corp Australia has folded its Visual Domain production house into the Medium Rare and Storyation agencies, creating a unified video offering led by Nick Smith. The restructure also promotes Chantelle Love to General Manager of Creative Production and appoints...
FCC Chair Brendan Carr Invited to White House Correspondents' Dinner
Scoop: FCC Chair Brendan Carr—who has used his post to chill the speech of Trump's critics—has been invited by a media organization to attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
VML Singapore, Scoot and Singapore Tourism Board Turn Merlion Into Gen Z Travel Guide
VML Singapore, low‑cost carrier Scoot and the Singapore Tourism Board launched #MerlionMadeMeDoIt, a TikTok‑centric campaign that reimagines the Merlion as an 80s glam‑rock star to steer Gen Z travelers toward lesser‑known city spots. The initiative ran a five‑market contest—Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia,...
StackAdapt Leaks ChatGPT Ad Playbook, Offers $15‑$60 CPM Pilot
StackAdapt disclosed a pilot program to run ads inside ChatGPT, pricing cost‑per‑thousand impressions (CPM) between $15 and $60 and requiring a $50,000 minimum spend. The leak, shared on March 27, shows the DSP courting advertisers with discounted fees and a...
Meta Launches Ad‑performance Tools to Ease Entry for Small‑business Advertisers
Meta announced new ad‑performance tools that simplify measurement and reduce entry hurdles for small‑business advertisers, according to eMarketer. While the company said the updates will make campaign reporting more transparent, specific feature details and pricing thresholds were not disclosed.
AGI/ASI Timelines Thread (AGI/ASI May Solve Longevity if It Doesn't "Kill Us All" First)
A new NYU‑led study titled “Tyranny of the Minority” finds that a tiny fraction of social‑media users—about 0.01%—are responsible for 80% of misinformation during the 2016 U.S. election, reshaping public opinion through a trinity of influencers, platform algorithms, and engaged...
Super League Urges Shareholder Vote on Misfits Ads Division Deal to Expand Esports Ad Reach
Super League (Nasdaq: SLE) has sent a letter urging shareholders to approve its acquisition of the Misfits Ads Division. The deal promises immediate EBITDA accretion, programmatic ad capabilities and a preferred partnership that taps over 100 million monthly Roblox users, positioning...
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 FTA on Sky Sports
Sky Sports will broadcast the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 opening match between England and Sri Lanka on June 12 and the final on free‑to‑air Sky Mix (channel 11), extending free access to all home‑nation group games, the semi‑finals and the...
FCC Commissioner Trusty Explores `That Elusive Angel of the Public Interest’
At the 2026 NAB Show, FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty delivered a measured speech titled “Finding the Angel of Public Interest,” reaffirming the broadcaster‑specific public‑interest obligations that set TV stations apart from streaming services. She highlighted long‑standing duties such as localism,...
More Brands Employing Affiliate and Partnership Marketing: IAB State of Nation Report
The IAB Australia released its 2026 Affiliate and Partnership Marketing State of the Nation Report, showing that affiliate programs are delivering strong commercial results for brands and agencies. Forty‑two percent of advertisers increased their affiliate spend over the past year,...
When AI Writes the Answer, Can Your Brand Still Earn Trust?
Marketers once relied on high search rankings to drive clicks and growth, but AI‑driven discovery platforms like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT and Perplexity are shifting the focus to being cited within synthesized answers. In this new model, brand authority hinges...
Why Scrubs Had To Rethink Its Approach To Medical Students For The Revival
The "Scrubs" revival launched its first season in April, updating the sitcom to mirror the modern medical landscape. Creator Bill Lawrence and showrunner Aseem Batra consulted current interns to ensure realistic portrayals of physician burnout, regulated work hours, and wellness...
How Sullivan's Crossing Addresses Sully's Departure In Season 4 Premiere: 'I Just Hope He's OK'
The CW’s drama Sullivan’s Crossing returned on April 20 for its fourth season, opening with the abrupt departure of Harry “Sully” Sullivan, who leaves for Ireland. Lead actor Scott Patterson confirmed he exited the series after creative differences made his continued...
SBS Reveals Lineup for Next Season of Who Do You Think You Are?
SBS announced that the 17th season of “Who Do You Think You Are?” will launch on 12 May 2026, featuring eight prominent Australians including Guy Sebastian, Curtis Stone, Rosie Batty and Matt Day. Over eight episodes the series will trace each celebrity’s ancestry, uncovering migration stories,...
Podcast Distribution Strategy: How To Reach More Listeners
A podcast distribution strategy is a three‑layer system—technical hosting, platform reach, and active promotion—that turns a simple RSS upload into a scalable marketing channel. The guide stresses validating the RSS feed and metadata before submitting to major directories such as...
Latina Poets Turn Instagram Into Publishing Powerhouse
Instagram poet Yesika Salgado, with 170,000 followers, leveraged social media to land a bestseller debut and spark a wave of Latino voices online. Scholars say the shift is redefining how poetry reaches young readers and diversifying the publishing pipeline.
Nexstar's $6.2 Billion Tegna Deal Pushes Local TV News Toward Trumpian Consolidation
Nexstar Media Group announced a $6.2 billion purchase of rival Tegna after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr lifted the 39‑percent ownership cap. The deal would give Nexstar control of more than 80 percent of U.S. local television newsrooms, prompting antitrust challenges and accusations...
Media Framing Turns US‑Israel Strikes on Iran Into Narrative Battle
Western newsrooms presented the late‑February US‑Israel strikes on Iran with language that cast the attacks as defensive and Iranian actions as provocation. Analysts cite selective wording and headline choices as a deliberate framing tool that shapes public opinion and policy...
"Gritty" 4-Part Period Drama Set in "Pivotal" Moment of British History Resurfaces on UK Streaming
Channel 4’s period drama *The Mill* has re‑appeared on the broadcaster’s streaming platform, landing on the “new and trending” list. The four‑part series, originally aired in 2013‑14, follows 1830s cotton‑mill workers at Quarry Bank Mill as they confront harsh labor conditions...
Investigative Journalism Partnership Supports Rural Newsrooms Covering the 2026 Midterms
The Institute for Nonprofit News’ Rural News Network has teamed with MuckRock to give its member newsrooms investigative support for the 2026 midterm elections. Through the Sunlight Research Desk, rural reporters will receive one‑on‑one research assistance, access to MuckRock’s public‑records...
Meet Home and Away’s New Cast Members
Australian soap "Home and Away" released a 90‑second teaser unveiling its next wave of characters. Nicole da Silva joins as Dr. Amelia Carlisle, while Rocco Forrester‑Sach appears as rookie officer Richie Brezniak. The preview also teases a new romance for...
NFB to Launch YouTube-Based Documentary Initiative ‘On Filme’ in May
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is debuting a YouTube‑focused documentary series called “On Filme” on May 7. The pilot features three Quebec digital creators—Mounir Kaddouri, Anne‑Lovely Etienne and Simon Coutu—each delivering four pieces ranging from short summary films to video podcasts. The works...
DoubleVerify Unveils DV AI SlopStopper™ for Social to Fight AI‑Generated Ad Fraud
DoubleVerify announced the launch of DV AI SlopStopper™ for Social, extending its DV AI Verification suite to detect AI‑generated low‑quality content on social and video platforms. The service aims to safeguard brand safety and improve ad‑spend efficiency amid a surge...
Atlantic Consistently Targets Trump's Top Drinkers
David Maraniss is interviewing Jonathan Goldberg of the Atlantic at the UW-Madison Center for Journalism Ethics Shadid Awards and opens with the observation that the Atlantic has a tendency to rub up against the biggest drinkers of the Trump administration...
Fans Angry as Cavs Game Moves to Paywall
So f'ng mad I can't watch the @cavs tonight as @nbc decides to put it on their pay platform. But more so with Adam Silver and @nba for letting that happen. You all suck.
FCC Approves Sinclair License Transfer
The FCC Media Bureau granted Sinclair a waiver of broadcast ownership rules, permitting it to acquire the license for CW affiliate WSWB in the Wilkes‑Barre‑Scranton market. The transfer moves the station from MPS Media to WQMY, a wholly‑owned indirect Sinclair...
Two Unreported Scandals Expose Need for Independent Loudoun News
In the span of four days of doing advance interviews for the crime doc I’m developing, I’ve uncovered two unrelated scandals in Loudoun County that have never been reported. The nation’s richest county needs a nonprofit news org detached from...
New Media Isn’t New—It’s Been Here for Three Years
Who’s gunna tell em that “new media” is the shit we’ve known and done for the last three years.
NAB Notebook
NASCAR announced at the NAB Show that it will roll out hyper‑personalized streaming feeds for fans inside race venues, allowing each spectator to select the camera angles and data they want. The plan hinges on geofencing the streams to on‑site...
Fox News Pays $787M, Still Spreads Election Lies
Of course, Ro is right. And Fox News, which paid out $787 million for spreading lies about the 2020 election, is lying.
Is Streaming Too Focused on Latency?
Streaming latency has shrunk from 15‑20 seconds to the low teens, but industry leaders question the business need for ultra‑low single‑digit delays. Warner Bros. Discovery reported 15‑18‑second glass‑to‑glass latency for its March Madness streams and sees limited consumer impact. Comcast...
Nielsen Gets More Heat
At the NAB Show, Nielsen was lampooned with a punching‑bag display as the ratings firm faces mounting criticism over its streaming measurement methods. Dan Rayburn, chair of the Streaming Summit, argued that the industry would be better off without Nielsen,...
How Much Trouble Is the NFL In, Really?
The NFL’s aggressive push to renegotiate its media rights, including the $4.6 billion Sunday Ticket package and new streaming partnerships, has drawn unprecedented scrutiny from the FCC, the Justice Department and multiple congressional committees. Lawmakers are questioning whether the league’s deals...
Thursday TV Ratings: Matlock, Scrabble, Next Level Chef, The Hunting Party, 9-1-1
Thursday, April 16, 2026, TV ratings were released for a slate of new episodes and reruns across broadcast and cable networks. New episodes included Matlock, Scrabble, Next Level Chef and The Hunting Party, while reruns featured Law & Order, 9‑1‑1...
The Pitt Season 2's Most Intense Moment Feels Like A Secret ER Sequel
The Pitt’s Season 2 finale dramatizes a preeclampsia case that mirrors the infamous “Love’s Labor’s Lost” episode of ER, where a misdiagnosis leads to tragedy. Both shows use the high‑risk pregnancy scenario to heighten tension and showcase split‑second medical decision‑making. The...
Character Limit Reveals Sloppy AI-Generated X Posts
A useful ward against slop story/science posts on X is noting which is in the character limit. All of the models struggle to do 280 character summaries on their first pass, and most of the people creating slop posts that start...
WGN America Launches First Original Scripted Series, Salem
📺 April 20, 2014: Supernatural horror drama “Salem” debuted on WGN America. Starring Janet Montgomery, Shane West and Seth Gabel, it was the cable network’s first original scripted series and marked WGN’s transition from a Chicago-based superstation int… https://t.co/0UsZbDGfdF https://t.co/UG1OpSgVaz