Today's Media Pulse
Publicis resumes recommending The Trade Desk after fee dispute
Publicis has lifted its ban and is again recommending The Trade Desk to advertisers, ending a months‑long clash over alleged hidden ad‑tech fees. The dispute had driven The Trade Desk’s shares down roughly 13% and prompted the exit of its chief marketing officer. Both firms issued a joint statement confirming the reconciliation.
Also developing:
By the numbers: K-LOVE acquires Baltimore station in undisclosed deal
TVNZ+ Rolls Out Major Overhaul With New Ad Formats
TVNZ+ is rolling out a major platform upgrade built with Quickplay, Amazon Web Services and Evergent, aiming to boost viewer experience and ad capabilities. The redesign adds a refreshed content carousel, a Top 10 belt, simpler login and audio‑description features, while reaching roughly 1.5 million New Zealanders each week. On the advertising side, the new infrastructure delivers richer audience data and introduces premium formats such as CTV login‑screen creatives, branded content belts and sponsored title artwork. The changes also lay groundwork for event‑pass sales ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The New Tactics of TikTok Journalism
New research by Kaia Tran, a journalism graduate, outlines how newsrooms can succeed on TikTok, a platform now used by over half of its users for news. While 14% of those users follow journalists or news outlets, the white paper...
Tips for Creating Effective Online Ad Campaigns
The article outlines a step‑by‑step framework for small businesses to launch effective online ad campaigns, emphasizing planning, goal setting, platform selection, creative design, budgeting, and ongoing monitoring. It stresses that every dollar should have a specific purpose and that measurable...
Comcast Eyes Mixed Q1 Outlook as Broadband Losses Meet Sports‑Driven Ad Surge
Comcast is set to report first‑quarter 2026 results with consensus estimates of $30.84 billion in revenue and 73 cents per share earnings, down 33% YoY for EPS but up 3% YoY for revenue. Analysts flag broadband subscriber losses and ARPU pressure, while...
‘The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives’ To Resume Production Following Taylor Frankie Paul Drama
Disney’s streaming platform Hulu announced that production will resume on Season 5 of the reality series “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” The show was halted earlier this year after domestic assault allegations against star Taylor Frankie Paul, which were later...
Brands and Agencies Map 2026 CTV Investment Strategy
A fresh industry report reveals that brands and agencies are treating Connected TV as a core pillar of 2026 advertising, emphasizing measurable outcomes, first‑party data and AI‑driven personalization. The shift signals a broader integration of CTV into unified MarTech stacks...
Meta’s AI‑Powered Instagram Affiliate Feature Sparks Creator Outcry Over Content Theft
Meta expanded Instagram’s affiliate program with an AI‑powered Shop the Look feature that auto‑suggests products on creator posts. Influencer Julia Berolzheimer and others allege the beta tool inserts unauthorized product overlays, prompting concerns over content ownership and revenue loss.
Times Radio Campaign Aims to Offer Clarity Amidst the Chaos
Times Radio, the news outlet of The Times, launched the “Understanding the News Starts with Listening” campaign this month. Developed by Mosaic, the embedded agency at News UK, the campaign uses striking close‑up images of world leaders’ mouths on billboards in...
Jessica Jones Has Finally Returned in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, but I Wish She Weren't Burdened with a Tired...
Jessica Jones reappears in Disney+ *Daredevil: Born Again* season 2, marking her first MCU appearance since the Netflix series ended seven years ago. The episode shows her confronting a task force, but her iconic super‑strength falters, leaving her with a cracked rib...
Rachel Bloom Optimistic About ‘Do You Want Kids?’ As ABC Mulls Pilot’s Fate: “We Feel Wonderful About It”
Rachel Bloom and husband Dan Gregor have completed the single‑camera comedy pilot “Do You Want Kids?” for ABC’s 20th Television. The show, starring Bloom and Rory Scovel, follows a couple in parallel universes—one with a baby, one without—and has been...
Bestads Best TV/Film of the Week: Fuck Cancer’s ‘Beat Cancer Off’ via VML Health
The nonprofit Fuck Cancer, in partnership with VML Health, launched the "Beat Cancer Off" campaign to raise prostate‑cancer awareness using a cheeky animated film, original song, and a new tracking app. The creative hinges on a Health Professionals Follow‑up Study...
Is Splitting NRL Rights In The Long-Term Interest Of The Code?
The NRL is negotiating a record‑breaking 2028 TV deal that could split broadcast rights in an NFL‑style model, aiming to maximise short‑term revenue. While the approach may generate a larger cheque, it risks diluting audience reach and complicating fan access....
The Kind of Mom I Want To Be
Hannah Bronfman reflects on the backlash faced by Emma Grede for openly sharing how she balances weekend time with her children, using the episode to explore broader criticism of working mothers. She underscores the enduring relevance of the "village" concept...
Distribution & Devotion: Learn Why Great Content Finds Its Audience At Cairns Crocodiles
The Cairns Crocodiles Film & Screen Track hosted a "Distribution and Devotion" panel on May 13, featuring HBO Max Australia senior director John Beohm, writer‑director Caden Pearson, RUSH Films producer Cody Greenwood, and tourism expert Julie King. The discussion centered...
Netflix Aggressively Pushes Into Paramount‑Warner Merger Review
I hear that Netflix has been meddling in the regulatory review of Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery. “Frankly, I am surprised at how aggressive they’ve been with me,” a senior government official tells me. https://puck.news/is-netflix-meddling-in-the-warnermount-deal/
Free Pack: 100 Eye‑Catching Thumbnails That Spark Curiosity
Thumbnails that instantly make you question things 🤔 What’s wrong with that paddle? Domino’s isn’t just pizza? And why is that car so tiny? Get our free YT Thumbnails Hack Pack with 100 more top thumbnails: https://t.co/H5zQZBQ0qM https://t.co/MUwf2mZF1I
SCOTUSblog’s New Look
SCOTUSblog, acquired by The Dispatch in April 2024, has launched a comprehensive redesign and a slate of new offerings. The site now covers every Supreme Court case, live‑blogs arguments, and features nearly 20 new columnists. It added a daily newsletter...
Imagine Dragons' “Demons” Hits 3 Billion Spotify Streams
Imagine Dragons’s "Demons" has reached 3 billion streams on Spotify. The song peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 12 weeks in the top 10. It has been certified 12x Platinum in the U.S. https://t.co/u8U2DecRsP
Introducing a News Options Market to Fund Stories
ok media people hear me out NEWS OPTIONS MARKET -- writers sell story pitches at a fixed price -- funders get a share of story revenue (subs, ads) within a time frame (ie 60 days) -- platform takes a fee ... -- we fix news...
Mamamia Out Loud Breaks Podcast Ranker Record with 1.2m Listeners
Mamamia Out Loud attracted 1.22 million individual listeners in March 2026, setting a new all‑time high for any Australian podcast on the Australian Podcast Ranker. It marked the show’s third straight month at the top of the ranker and the first...
Seeking Tips for Brand‑Consistent AI‑Generated Infographics
Does anyone from @OpenAI want to share some tips on how to get image 2 to generate good infographics or have it match your brand style? I haven't had any luck either.
‘Do We Half Accept It As Normal?’: MOBI’s Liz Cherry Warns Marketers Of AI Language Creeping Into Campaigns
MOBI’s marketing lead Liz Cherry warned that the rapid adoption of AI tools is making campaign language increasingly uniform, even as it accelerates production and improves metrics. While AI can automate repetitive tasks and free marketers to focus on strategy,...
VaynerMedia Australia Expands Leadership to Meet Demand for Social-First Marketing
VaynerMedia Australia announced the addition of four senior specialists to its leadership team, reflecting the agency’s response to the accelerating shift of consumer attention and ad spend toward social platforms. The hires—Elle Batchelor, Sophie Tschuchnigg, Belle Brown and Nathan Bramley—bring...
WarnerMount Vs. The Gathering Storm
Suspicions are mounting that Netflix is covertly financing the Hollywood “Block the Merger” campaign aimed at derailing the Paramount‑Warner Bros. Discovery (WarnerMount) consolidation. Recent actions by state attorneys general—most notably a federal jury’s finding against Live Nation/Ticketmaster and a California judge’s injunction...
Spotify Launches Three New Features to Deepen Listener Engagement
Spotify rolled out three beta features—About the Song, an upgraded Ask DJ, and SongDNA—to Premium listeners in ten countries. The tools deliver story cards, conversational context, and interactive sample maps, aiming to turn passive listening into a deeper, more informed...
Rohan Kailasam’s ‘The Mercenary’s Shadow’ Debuts via Penguin Random House India
Author Rohan Kailasam’s new novel, The Mercenary’s Shadow, launched today under Nu Voice Press, an imprint of Hubhawks, with exclusive distribution by Penguin Random House India. The gritty crime‑espionage thriller, set across Mumbai, Sri Lanka, Africa and the Middle East,...
Philo Launches $33 Bundle+ with HBO Max, Discovery+ and AMC+
Philo introduced a $33 monthly Bundle+ plan that adds ad‑supported HBO Max, Discovery+ and AMC+ to its live‑TV lineup. The move targets price‑sensitive cord‑cutters and pits the San‑Francisco streamer against higher‑priced competitors like Hulu + Live TV.
WWE’s Celebrity Push Costs Fans While TKO Defends Strategy
WWE, now owned by TKO, amplified celebrity appearances at WrestleMania 42, prompting criticism that the approach inflates costs and alienates core fans. TKO President Mark Shapiro defended the tactic as essential for growth in a shifting media landscape.
TV Tech Announces Winners of Best of Show Awards at 2026 NAB Show
TV Tech announced the winners of its Best of Show Awards at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas. A panel of engineers and industry experts evaluated more than 70 products on innovation, feature set, perceived value and real‑world application....
Chyron Announces PRIME Translate
Chyron has launched PRIME Translate, an AI‑driven workflow that adds real‑time multilingual translation to live broadcasts. The solution creates hyper‑realistic facial movement, synchronized audio and graphic overlays, enabling one‑to‑many language outputs from a single production. Built on NVIDIA Holoscan and AI...
Burger in Front, Party Out Back: McDonald’s NZ Debuts the Cheeseburger with a Mullet via McCann NZ, FleishmanHillard Aotearoa +...
McDonald’s New Zealand rolled out a limited‑time "Cheeseburger with a Mullet" – nicknamed the McMullet – after a social‑media buzz around adding an extra slice of cheese at the back of a cheeseburger. The campaign, created with McCann NZ, FleishmanHillard Aotearoa...
Returning: Citadel
Amazon Prime Video will launch the second season of the high‑budget spy series Citadel on May 6, 2026. The seven‑episode run returns lead actors Richard Madden, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Stanley Tucci, and adds newcomers Jack Reynor, Matt Berry, Lina El Arabi and others. Produced by Amazon MGM Studios in...
Omnicom Media Study Flags 'Negative Reach' As Over‑Frequency Hurts Campaigns
Omnicom Media Intelligence’s new report warns that excessive ad frequency creates "negative reach," where repeated impressions frustrate consumers and damage brand perception. More than 60% of surveyed viewers say they see the same ad multiple times in one streaming session,...
Countdown to New York Festivals Advertising Awards 2026 Entry Deadline: Thursday, April 23
Entries for the New York Festivals Advertising Awards 2026 close on Thursday, April 23, giving creatives, agencies, and brands worldwide a final day to submit work that showcases bold ideas, measurable impact, and creative effectiveness. The 2026 edition expands its in‑person judging program...
Disney+ Secures Waitrose, Volkswagen and PG Tips Sponsorship for Rivals
Disney+ has secured three high‑profile sponsors—Waitrose, Volkswagen and PG Tips—for the second series of its original drama "Rivals," which premieres on 15 May. The partnerships embed the brands directly into the narrative, offering product placement and co‑branded moments. This marks Disney+’s most...
Paramount+ Goes Vertical
Paramount+ has rolled out a new vertical‑video Clips feature on its iOS app, delivering bite‑sized sports, news and original‑show moments. The addition puts the service alongside rivals like Peacock, Disney+ and ESPN that are already courting mobile users with TikTok‑style...
The High Cost of Social Data: Why Big Tech Is Closing Every Door
Big tech platforms are turning social data into a premium commodity, with Twitter’s API now starting at $100 per month for a Basic tier and $5,000 for a Pro tier, while LinkedIn restricts deep B2B data behind a rigorous approval...
NFL Goes to the FCC
The NFL met with Federal Communications Commission staff to argue that its reliance on free, over‑the‑air broadcasts benefits fans, local stations, and all 32 clubs. The league highlighted the steep decline in pay‑TV subscriptions and cited Amazon’s record‑breaking Thursday Night...
Friday TV Ratings: 20/20, Happy’s Place, Fire Country, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, UFL Football
Friday, April 17, 2026 TV ratings released via Fast Affiliate Numbers show new episodes of Celebrity Jeopardy All‑Stars, 20/20, Sheriff Country, Fire Country, Boston Blue, Happy’s Place and Dateline NBC. Sports coverage featured the UFL Football matchup between the Renegades and Aviators....
Disappointed by Compliance to AI Rules, Meity Proposes 'Continuous' Watermarks
India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is proposing an amendment to the 2021 IT Rules that would require a continuous watermark on AI‑generated content, replacing the current “clear and conspicuous” label requirement. The draft also removes the earlier...
NBC’s Miller Time
Jon Miller, president of acquisitions at NBC Sports, outlined the network’s recent multibillion‑dollar rights strategy, including a $200 million three‑year MLB agreement and a historic $27 billion, 11‑year NBA contract. The deals secure Sunday Night Baseball, roughly 25 primetime games, and extensive...
Nine Secures NBL Rights in Two Year Deal
Nine has secured a two‑year free‑to‑air broadcast agreement with the National Basketball League, delivering two marquee games each week on the 9Network and 9Now. The deal also includes live coverage of the NBL Finals, a weekly analysis show, and a...
Iran's Meme Factory Is Using 'the Weapons of Their Enemy' To Embarrass Trump
Iranian media outfit Explosive Media is deploying AI‑generated, Lego‑style videos to mock President Donald Trump and frame Iran as the underdog in the ongoing conflict. The short, English‑language clips—dubbed "slopaganda"—are shared widely on TikTok, Instagram and X, amassing millions of...
WiredCo Joins OpenAI’s ChatGPT Ads Pilot in Australia
WiredCo, an award‑winning brandformance agency, has joined OpenAI’s ChatGPT Ads pilot in Australia, bringing Boost Mobile and THE ICONIC on board as the first local brands. The agency is creating conversational ad units that sit natively within ChatGPT, targeting the...
Agency Agenda: VaynerMedia's Marcus Krzastek on AI, Media, and Creative Convergence
VaynerMedia International President Marcus Krzastek says the agency is dismantling the traditional divide between creative and media, building a single, integrated system that can operate across markets. He highlights how AI‑driven tools and platform‑native capabilities on TikTok and Meta let...
Netflix Quietly Adds Martin Short Movie Collection to Celebrate New Documentary
Netflix is bolstering its comedy slate ahead of the May 12, 2026 debut of the documentary *Marty, Life is Short*. The streamer will add Martin Short’s *Father of the Bride* and its sequel to its catalog in May, joining existing titles like...
‘Jury Duty: Company Retreat’ Submits 19 Actors for Emmys, Including Sia; Participant Anthony Norman Ineligible (EXCLUSIVE)
Amazon Prime Video is pushing its reality‑hoax series “Jury Duty: Company Retreat” for Emmy recognition, submitting 19 performers across 19 categories for the second season. The eight‑episode run is entered for Outstanding Comedy Series, with 15 cast members in supporting...
Screen Forever 2026: Lifetime Achievement for Nadia Tass & David Parker
Renowned Australian filmmaking duo Nadia Tass and David Parker will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th Screen Producers Australia Awards. Their company, Cascade Films, founded in 1985, has earned more than 70 international awards and showcased titles at...
How AI-Powered Media Asset Management Is Reshaping Broadcast Workflows
Broadcast producers are grappling with unprecedented volumes of high‑resolution media, exposing the limits of legacy Media Asset Management (MAM) systems. AI‑driven tools now auto‑generate metadata, apply speech‑to‑text transcription, and recognize objects, shrinking asset search times from minutes to seconds. These...
Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Dark Wizard’ On HBO Max, A Docuseries About Climber And Thrill Seeker Dean Potter
HBO Max’s four‑part docuseries *The Dark Wizard* chronicles the life of Dean Potter, the pioneering free‑solo climber, highliner and BASE jumper who reshaped extreme sport in the 1990s. The series blends rare archival footage, animated journal excerpts, and interviews with...