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.
Lucasfilm Unveils Expanded Animated Star Wars Slate, Adds New Darth Maul Series
Lucasfilm Animation announced a slate of upcoming Disney+ series, led by the Darth Maul‑focused "Maul — Shadow Lord" and several yet‑to‑be‑named projects. Creator Dave Filoni confirmed a second season for the new series before its premiere, highlighting Disney’s confidence in the animated arm of the franchise.
AI Company Known for Teen Suicides Launches New Feature to Turn Books Into Roleplaying Experiences
Character.AI, the chatbot platform criticized for teen suicides, unveiled c.ai Books, a feature that converts public‑domain titles from Project Gutenberg into interactive, choose‑your‑own‑adventure experiences. Users can follow the original plot, diverge in “go off script” mode, or remix stories entirely....
Self‑Publishing Surge Powers Rise of Speculative‑Fiction Authors
Self‑publishing has ignited a wave of speculative‑fiction authors in Australia, propelling sales past $50 million annually and filling the Clunes Booktown festival with genre titles. Industry observers say the shift reflects shrinking mid‑list opportunities at traditional houses and a growing appetite...
Amazon vs Walmart: Rivalry Sharpens as Walmart Battles Outages and Embraces New Tech
Walmart's website and app suffered intermittent outages on April 17, 2026, prompting shopper frustration, while Amazon pushes deeper into streaming and Prime benefits. Analysts see the contrast as a litmus test of each giant's digital resilience and strategic focus, with...
Cody Rhodes Retains WWE Undisputed Title at WrestleMania 42, Night One Highlights
Cody Rhodes held onto the Undisputed WWE Championship by beating Randy Orton on night one of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The event also saw Liv Morgan, Becky Lynch and Paige capture new titles, while surprise appearances...
NBA Playoffs 2026 Streaming Options: ESPN, ABC, NBC and Six Online Platforms Offer Live Access
The NBA confirmed that the 2026 postseason will be broadcast on ESPN, ABC and NBC while also streaming live on DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, Peacock, Prime Video and NBA League Pass. Prices start at $59.99 for the first...
Steam Holds 70‑80% of PC Game Sales, Sparking Monopoly Scrutiny
Valve's Steam platform commands roughly 70‑80% of the PC digital distribution market, a share that has drawn criticism for its 30% revenue cut and raised questions about monopoly power. Competing stores like Epic and Microsoft offer lower fees, yet gamers...
"Chaotic" Sitcom with a "Strong Ensemble of Characters" Lands New UK Streaming Home
US sitcom DMV, created by *Friends* producer Dana Klein, has found a new home on the UK streaming service ITVX, where the first ten episodes are available for free. The series, starring Harriet Dyer, Tony Cavalero, Tim Meadows and Molly...
Delivery Robot Fails Go Viral, Highlighting Last‑Mile Deployment Woes
A TikTok‑sourced video compilation of autonomous sidewalk delivery robots colliding, tipping over and being vandalized has gone viral. The footage features bots from Coco Robotics, Starship Technologies and Serve Robotics, underscoring safety and public‑space concerns as companies push last‑mile automation.
Dating on the Spectrum
The Daily episode explores the Netflix hit "Love on the Spectrum," a reality series that follows autistic adults as they navigate dating for the first time. Host Anna Peele talks with creator Kian O'Cleary and cast members about the show's...
Ipswich v Middlesbrough Live Stream, TV Channel – Where to Watch Championship Match
Ipswich Town host Middlesbrough at Portman Road on April 19, with Sky Sports broadcasting the 12:00 BST kickoff. The match is pivotal in the Championship promotion race, as Coventry City has already secured a Premier League spot and the second automatic...
Bigg Boss Marathi Season 6 Winner LIVE Updates: Tanvi Kolte Lifts Trophy, Takes Home Rs 15 Lakh
Tanvi Kolte emerged as the winner of Bigg Boss Marathi Season 6, hosted by Riteish Deshmukh, taking home a ₹15 lakh cash prize (≈$18,000), an electric scooter and a ₹10 lakh jewellery voucher (≈$12,000). Runner‑up Raqesh Bapat delivered an emotional farewell but received...
AI-Generated Influencers Flood Social Media with Pro-Trump Content Ahead of Midterms
A wave of AI‑generated pro‑Trump influencer accounts has flooded TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. Researchers identified at least 304 such TikTok accounts since January, with some videos garnering half‑a‑million views and 35,000 followers. Production...
The Petrillo Complications
Eighty years ago union leader James Petrino reshaped the music business by forcing two strikes that redirected power from session musicians to vocalists and instituted a royalty stream paid to the union rather than individual players. The system created a...
The Library of Satoshi: Weaponizing Bitcoin Inscriptions for Uncensorable Free Speech.
The post argues that traditional internet censorship is now silent and centralized, and proposes Bitcoin inscriptions—often called Ordinals—as a weaponized tool for uncensorable free speech. By embedding text and media directly onto the Bitcoin blockchain, the so‑called "Library of Satoshi"...
NAB 2026: Encompass Digital Media and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Expand Partnership for Cloud-Native Broadcast Operations
Encompass Digital Media announced an expanded partnership with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to deliver cloud‑native broadcast solutions. The collaboration integrates Encompass’s Altitude Cloud platform and its Master Control in the Cloud SaaS offering with OCI’s scalable infrastructure. Together they aim to...
NAB 2026: Oracle and Partners to Demo MoQ-Based Streaming Ecosystem
Oracle will showcase a Media over QUIC (MoQ) streaming ecosystem at NAB 2026, demonstrating end‑to‑end live video delivery using its Oracle Video @ Edge (OVE) relay network. The demo integrates Ateme encoders, Broadpeak packaging, Cloudflare and Broadpeak CDN distribution, and Bitmovin’s MoQ‑native Player Web X....
What's on TV This Week—Half Man, Stranger Things: Tales From '85, and Running Point
This week’s TV lineup features a mix of new premieres and season continuations across major networks and streaming platforms. HBO debuts the limited series "Half Man" starring Richard Gadd, while Netflix rolls out the animated spin‑off "Stranger Things: Tales From...
NAB 2026: MediaKind Outlines Growth of Multiview Deployments as Charter Rollout Expands in North America
MediaKind announced at NAB 2026 that its Multiview service is expanding rapidly across North America, highlighted by Charter’s rollout for the 2026 NCAA basketball tournament. The deployment generated hundreds of thousands of viewing hours within days, building on earlier Comcast pilots...
Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episodes 21 & 22 Release Date, Time, Where to Watch
ABC will drop the final two episodes of Abbott Elementary Season 5 on April 22, 2026, airing back‑to‑back at 5:30 p.m. PT (8:30 p.m. ET). Episode 21 hints at a chaotic "Ava Fest," while Episode 22 continues the teachers’ personal storylines. The sitcom, a workplace comedy set...
Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 18 Release Date, Time, Where to Watch
Chicago Fire’s Season 14 returns with Episode 18, titled “Instinct,” scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2026. The episode will air at 9 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. Pacific) on NBC and become available the same night on the Peacock streaming service. In the plot, firefighters Violet and...
WEBINAR (04/22/2026): Screen People
Megan Garber’s new book *Screen People* examines how today’s media turns citizens into entertainment characters, blurring fact and fiction. The work links this cultural spectacle to rising loneliness, mistrust, and political dysfunction. Garber will discuss these findings in a New...
Stabbings, Kidnap Threats and Arson Attacks: How the Iranian Regime Targets UK Journalists
Iranian state actors have escalated transnational repression against exiled journalists in the UK, highlighted by an attempted arson at Iran International's London office and the stabbing of TV presenter Pouria Zeraati in Wimbledon. Journalists report threats of kidnapping, death sentences...
Every Episode Hides Bonus Scenes in End Credits
Wait… are there extra scenes in the final credits of every episode? I’d only heard about this one, but I think I saw someone reference others.
Watch Amstel Gold Race 2026 Live—Free Streams Available
All the ways to watch Amstel Gold Race 2026 live streams online and from anywhere, including FREE options, as Mattias Skjelmose defends his men's title. https://t.co/eA5HeLpP1L
Jessica Chastain Says Apple TV Will Finally Release The Savant
Actress Jessica Chastain announced on the Breakthrough Prize red carpet that Apple TV+ will finally release the long‑delayed series The Savant. The drama, which has been postponed amid controversy surrounding political activist Charlie Kirk, is slated for a 2026 debut....
Say Goodbye Only After Watching a 30‑Second Ad
An ad supported casket. For you to say goodbye to your loved one you have to watch a 30 second ad from from Pepto bismol.
Nielsen Says U.S. TV Viewing Hits 12‑Month High in January, Up 3.7% From December
Nielsen's latest Gauge report shows U.S. television consumption climbed 3.7% in January 2026, reaching its highest level in a year. The surge was powered by sports, returning broadcast dramas and a 9% increase in cable viewership, offering a lift for...
Streaming Subscribers Push Back on Price Hikes at Netflix, HBO Max and Others
After Netflix lifted its premium tier to $26.99 and HBO Max raised its Premium plan to $22.99, subscribers took to Reddit to voice frustration and threaten cancellations. The backlash highlights growing churn risk as major services continue to push subscription...
Emmys Predictions Updated: 34 Categories, Pitt Wraps, Beef Debuts
Emmys Predictions: 34 Categories Updated as ‘The Pitt’ Wraps and ‘Beef’ Makes Its Debut https://t.co/bayY5ZZn34 via @variety https://t.co/BD9nSdmzQu
EverPass + DirecTV Business Unlock All Streaming Exclusives
Between EverPass and DirecTV for Business (something your favorite sports bar probably already subscribes to), just about all the streaming exclusives are available.
Retail Embeds Shopping in Social Feeds, TV Screens and AI Search
Retailers are expanding commerce onto social feeds, TV screens and AI answer engines, according to a recent Axios report. The shift signals a broader move toward seamless, omnichannel buying experiences that blur the line between content and commerce.
Reached 25K Subscribers, Thankful for Substack Freedom
Just passed 25,000 subscribers for the newsletter. Honored and humbled to have this many people sign up to see my product recommendations. Substack is by far my favorite venue to create content in, as it’s allowed me to do...
Netflix Recasts Olivia Colman's Role in Upcoming ‘Heartstopper Forever’ Film
Netflix confirmed on Friday, April 17 that Anna Maxwell Martin will replace Olivia Colman as Sarah, Nick’s mother, in the upcoming Heartstopper Forever film slated for 2026. The move keeps a pivotal character in the story and adds two veteran British actors to the...
Stanford AI Index 2026 Finds AI Generates 51% of Online Content, Upending Digital Marketing
The Stanford AI Index 2026 reports that AI now creates 51.7% of all internet content, while 53% of the global population has adopted generative AI tools. The findings raise urgent questions for marketers about authenticity, SEO, and ad targeting as...
The Confidence Cycle Game: Mastering the Flow of Trust Podcast
The Macro Butler released a new podcast episode titled "The Confidence Cycle Game: Mastering the Flow of Trust," which distills the latest weekly newsletter into an audio‑visual format. The show is available on Substack, YouTube, Rumble and TikTok, and listeners...
'Yellowstone' Actor Joins 'Baywatch' Reboot
Fox’s upcoming Baywatch reboot has tapped Yellowstone alum Hassie Harrison for a lead role. Harrison will portray Nat, a former foster child turned Olympic‑level lifeguard, joining Stephen Amell’s Hobie Buchannon and a mix of legacy and new cast members. The...
Demanding Suspension of Disinformation Accounts Fueling Ukraine War
Seriously — accounts that spread disinformation and propaganda should be reviewed by this platform’s moderation for suspension once they accumulate a certain number of verified and reliable community notes. This has long gone beyond any acceptable limits. This is not a...
Octavia Spencer On Docuseries ‘Lost Women Of Alaska’: “There Are So Many Voices That Need To Be Restored” – Contenders...
Investigation Discovery’s three‑part docuseries “Lost Women of Alaska,” narrated and executive‑produced by Oscar‑winner Octavia Spencer, examines the murders of Indigenous women by serial killer Brian Steven Smith. The series reveals that more than 1,300 Alaska Native women are missing and...
‘Mr. Scorsese’ Director Rebecca Miller Got Martin Scorsese To Open Up, Then Covid Gave Him Time – Contenders TV Documentary
Apple TV+’s five‑part documentary "Mr. Scorsese" was directed by Rebecca Miller, who secured Martin Scorsese’s participation after a cold‑call to his documentary partner and a personal meeting. The COVID‑19 shutdown unexpectedly freed Scorsese’s schedule, allowing a four‑hour porch interview that...
“Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: The Getaway” Coming Soon To Disney+
Disney+ will debut an animated adaptation of Jeff Kinney’s 12th ‘Diary Of A Wimpy Kid’ book, “The Getaway,” later this year, timed for the holiday season. The film follows Greg Heffley’s family as a tropical vacation spirals into comedic chaos....
Accelerate Content Creation, Multiply Luck with Claude Design
Claude Design is BIG for business. It collapses production time for shipping content. Every single piece of content you ship increases your odds of hitting the jackpot. YT thumbnails on demand. Sales decks that prospects get BEFORE the initial discovery...
Romantasy Dominates BookCon; Non‑romance Titles Become Rarity
Someone was saying that BookCon is 90 percent romantasy and I'm not surprised. Last year I looked at numbers at my imprint and I was one of the top 10 sellers of the year but also one of the only...
Classic ‘Law & Order’ Is Coming to Netflix US Imminently
Netflix US announced a surprise addition to its April slate: the original *Law & Order* series will launch on the platform on April 20. The deal with NBCUniversal currently covers a batch of episodes, with internal artwork confirming Seasons 8...
Jean Smart, Quinta Brunson, Kudrow Lead Emmy Comedy Actress Rankings
#Emmys: Lead Actress (Comedy) The first ranking charts are out, with Jean Smart, Quinta Brunson, Lisa Kudrow and others in the race. https://t.co/kr14DYSLb0 via @variety https://t.co/XtCn4bbgTd
Invite-Only Press Shows Lack of Journalistic Integrity
The "invited press" at these events who agree to participate, may as well just be paid by City Hall as Mamdani's vanity photographers. You are not a Serious Journalist if you are agreeing to participate in an invite-only press conference...
Heartstopper Confirms Olivia Colman's Character Has Been Recast for the Netflix Movie
Netflix’s Heartstopper Forever will recast Olivia Colman’s role as Sarah Nelson with Anna Maxwell Martin. The decision, explained by creator Alice Oseman, reflects the character’s importance to Nick’s emotional arc, prompting a “difficult” but necessary change. The film, directed by Wash Westmoreland and...
Knicks Fans Outraged over Missing Local Broadcast
A lot of chatter from #knicks fans gping to bars for a 1st round playoff game & no ability to watch on @PrimeVideo. As Mike Breen said not having a local broadcast for rd 1 is a big issue. #nba...
1990 TV Ratings Reveal Network Vs. Syndication Trends
Nielsen ratings for network TV for the week ending April 22, 1990 and for syndication for the week ending April 15, 1990 https://t.co/NbOfVihF3W https://t.co/QJL1sFCPCJ
Christiane Amanpour’s Claim of Military Rank Fuels Media Firestorm
Christian Amanpour, the PBS/CNN International anchor, asserted on her Ex Files podcast that she held the same military rank as former Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a claim that is contradicted by her service record. The allegation has triggered a wave of criticism...