Today's Media Pulse
Online video subscriptions hit 2.24 billion in 2025, overtaking pay‑TV revenue
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, surpassing pay‑TV's $170 billion for the first time. Growth is expected to slow to single‑digit levels in 2026 as operators focus on monetising existing users.
Also developing:
Sponsored: New York Stock Exchange Turns To Ross Video, CTI For Major Control Room Project
The New York Stock Exchange has completed a three‑room video‑production upgrade, deploying Ross Video’s Carbonite switchers, XPression graphics, and TouchDrive panels. The project, designed and installed by CTI, replaces a single overloaded control room with three identical studios capable of handling multiple live events simultaneously. The new infrastructure supports 1080p/1080i HD workflows, real‑time ticker data integration, and is engineered for future 4K/UHD and NDI IP expansion. Director Ian Wolff praised Ross Video’s support and the system’s seamless integration, positioning the NYSE to better serve journalists and its own streaming audience.
"I'm a Bit Miffed": I'm a Celebrity... South Africa Fans "Disappointed" Over First Jungle Exit
Seann Walsh became the first contestant to leave the jungle in season two of ITV's "I'm a Celebrity… South Africa" after Harry Redknapp eliminated him in a surprise "king‑servant" twist. The decision sparked a wave of disappointment on social media,...
Rights to Next WBC Will Be Negotiated Alongside Broader MLB Package
Major League Baseball will negotiate the next World Baseball Classic (WBC) rights as part of its 2028 media‑rights package, a shift from the event’s historic stand‑alone deals. The league’s six incumbent partners—Fox, Netflix, NBCUniversal, TNT Sports, Apple and ESPN—are expected...
Pinterest's Plea: 'Put Down Your Phones'
Pinterest is rolling out a "How did they do it" ad campaign that tells users to put down their phones and live offline, debuting on May 1 across TV, cinema, out‑of‑home and digital channels. The company frames its platform as engineered...
Independent Journalism Lets Me Be Unapologetically Authentic
My other favorite thing about being an independent journalist is I can be a baddie online with my girls and whine pon di floor at Carnival in Jamaica and STILL crank out educational and substantive content without any corporate entity...
Xperi Launches DTS Autostage Portal Premium Tier
Xperi has introduced a premium tier for its DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal, offering stations near‑real‑time, daypart‑level rankings and exportable music charts. The service taps data from roughly 16 million vehicles, generating about 34 million listening hours per month across 302 U.S. markets....
The Apprentice Crowns "Best Candidate in the Last Decade" As Season 20 Winner
Karishma Vijay won The Apprentice season 20, earning Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment—about $310,000—for her skincare startup. She out‑pitched runner‑up Pascha Myhill in a final marketing challenge judged by Sugar and a panel of former contestants. Fans on Instagram hailed her as...
Fourteen Australians Appointed to Judge Cannes Lions 2026, Including Film Craft Chair
Australia’s representation on the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity jury expands to 14 senior leaders for the 2026 awards, up from nine in 2025. The jurors cover categories from audio and design to sustainability and health, with Pip Smart chairing...
Netflix Reports Strong Q1 Earnings, Touting Importance of Live Sports
Netflix posted Q1 2026 revenue of $12.25 bn, up 16% YoY, and net income of $5.3 bn, an 83% jump, driven by live‑sports events and a $2.8 bn termination fee after walking away from an $82.7 bn Warner Bros. Discovery deal. The company launched...
Big Ten Network Expands Super Slo-Mo Replay to More Sports with TVU Networks
Big Ten Network (BTN) has rolled out TVU Networks’ Remote Production System (RPS) to deliver super‑slow‑motion replay across a wider slate of collegiate sports, including baseball, soccer and volleyball. The RPS platform encodes multiple high‑speed camera feeds and transports them...
Law & Order: SVU Renewed for Season 28
NBC has officially ordered a 28th season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, extending the franchise to a record‑breaking run. The network previously announced a Season 27 renewal in May but kept the additional season confidential until now. SVU,...
Politics News Site NOTUS to Become ‘The Star’
Washington‑based political news site NOTUS is rebranding as The Star and will relaunch in early June 2026. The change follows massive layoffs at The Washington Post, which cut over 300 journalists and shuttered local sports coverage. NOTUS, launched in 2023...
Netflix Claims Cheapest Per‑hour Streaming Value in US
Netflix clearly flexing their long-term pricing power $NFLX "we think we are delivering one of the best entertainment values that has ever existed…in the US right now, Netflix subscribers are paying the least per hour of viewing compared to other...
A Major Emily In Paris Star Was Only Supposed To Star In Two Episodes
Lucien Laviscount was initially hired for just two episodes of Netflix's Emily in Paris, playing the love interest Alfie. After a brief on‑set applause, creator Darren Star decided to keep him, expanding the role into a recurring and then regular...
Israel Moderates Are Losing the Democratic Party
Hasan Piker, a popular left‑wing streamer, has become a flashpoint in the Democratic Party’s internal debate over Israel. His outspoken anti‑Zionist stance—defending Hamas and labeling Israel an apartheid state—mirrors a growing faction that pushes for ending U.S. military aid and...
The NATPE-Realscreen Collapse and Where to Go Sell Your Show Now
The long‑standing NATPE and Realscreen conferences have been shuttered after Brunico Communications pulled the plug on its U.S. events portfolio, effectively ending a 28‑year unscripted market hub. The closures reflect shrinking buyer budgets, cable‑ad revenue decline, and industry consolidation that...
Popular NBC & Peacock TV Show Canceled After 5 Seasons
NBC and Peacock have announced the cancellation of "Law & Order: Organized Crime" after five seasons and 75 episodes. The series, which debuted on NBC in 2021 and shifted to Peacock for its fifth season, will air its final episode...
Facebook Wants to Scan Users’ Camera Rolls for Content
Meta has begun testing an opt‑in camera‑roll suggestion feature for Facebook users in the United Kingdom. The tool scans a device’s photo library, identifies standout moments and proposes ready‑made collages, videos or story drafts that can be posted to Feed,...
Samba TV Hires Kelly Barrett From Comscore to Lead Product Management
Samba TV appointed Kelly Barrett as Senior Vice President of Product Management to steer global product strategy for its analytics and audience solutions, emphasizing AI‑driven measurement. Barrett will report to CEO Ashwin Navin and lead the expansion of product, design,...
The NFL Wants to Double The Cost of Its NFL Games & Could Drive Up The Cost of Your TV...
The NFL is demanding roughly double the current media‑rights fees as renewal talks begin, while broadcasters counter with a modest 25% increase. Existing contracts generate more than $10 billion annually; a 50‑60% hike could add about $1 billion per year, pushing CBS’s...
The Voice: Season 30; 2026-27 Renewal Confirmed for NBC Singing Competition
NBC has officially renewed the singing‑competition series The Voice for a 30th‑anniversary season slated for 2026‑27. Season 29, which concluded last night, featured returning coaches Adam Levine, John Legend and Kelly Clarkson in a “Battle of Champions” format. The show...
Netflix Is Introducing Vertical Video to Its Mobile App This Month
Netflix will roll out a vertical video discovery feed to its mobile app at the end of April, following a year‑long beta that began in early 2025. The feature places short clips and trailers in a TikTok‑style scroll, aiming to...
Netflix Launches Short-Form Vertical Video Feed
NETFLIX GETTING INTO THE DOOM SCROLLING GAME? Netflix $NFLX just said it is about to launc a new short-form vertical video discovery feed on mobile
Spectrum Launches Free App for Google TV, Android TV Devices
Charter Communications has released a free Spectrum TV app for Google TV and Android TV platforms, extending its streaming service to smart TVs running these operating systems. The launch follows a similar rollout on Amazon Fire TV and adds to...
Threads Updates Reply Format and Web UI
Threads is introducing indented replies on iOS and testing them on Android to make conversation threads clearer. The platform is also overhauling its web interface, shifting the main feed to the right and adding a left‑hand panel for Direct Messages....
Legacy Media Trust Hits All-Time Low As Eric Swalwell Story Becomes Latest Example Of Protecting The Party
A new Gallup poll shows trust in legacy media has sunk to a record low, with only 28% of Americans expressing confidence in mass‑media reporting. Conversely, 70% report little or no trust, and Republican confidence has collapsed to just 8%,...
Netflix Not Crypto—Predicting a Zero Crash
This is not Bitcoin, Ethereum or even a shitcoin. It’s Netflix Send this to zero
AdTech Overlord Vows Ruthless Bid Optimization Revenge
Every pod; Please, bow your head in prayer. “And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious bid adjustments and ruthless optimization; and they shall know that I am the Architect of AdTech, when I lay my campaigns upon...
Can We Trust Book Publishing to Tell the Truth?
The article argues that mainstream book publishing lacks any systematic fact‑checking, leaving memoirs and novels vulnerable to false claims and AI‑generated content. It highlights three recent cases: Amy Griffin’s memoir "The Tell" faces a lawsuit over alleged fabricated assault memories,...
10 Classic Tracks That Defined Radio’s Golden Era
Before Spotify, radio was everything. These 10 songs did more than fill the airwaves, they celebrated them. A love letter to the dial, the DJs, and every static filled moment that made you turn it up https://t.co/nAQVOrT0nR
Explore X’s Regional Trending Tweets Feature
Didja know that X (née Twitter) has an area where you can see the most popular tweets by region or language? It's fascinating stuff to explore, as I demonstrate in this tutorial: https://t.co/8o4AIegPOv #x #twitter @X @twitter https://t.co/6YQuYkRX27
Booker Laureate David Szalay Faces Plagiarism Claims Over 2025 Novel "Flesh"
David Szalay, author of the 2025 Booker‑winning novel "Flesh," is under fire for alleged plagiarism of Stanley Kubrick’s 1975 film "Barry Lyndon." The controversy, amplified by a BBC Radio 4 interview, pits accusations of copying against defenses of artistic influence,...
Labeling Social Media as Addiction Triggers Policy Consequences
On “social media addiction” not being a real thing: “This distinction matters because ‘addiction’ is not a neutral word, it has specific consequences enshrined in policy.” https://t.co/auzxyJ5RuV
Media Fear Allbrit
As I wrote the other week, Washington media outlets don’t necessarily fear Robert Allbritton’s new Washington Star, but they do fear his ability to unsettle the comp expectations. https://t.co/aLIYhaGRPk
BBC to Cut £500 M and Axe up to 2,000 Jobs Across TV, Radio and Online
The BBC will eliminate up to 2,000 positions and seek £500 million in savings over the next two years, targeting TV, radio and online services. Interim Director General Rhodri Talfan Davies said the cuts aim to align the broadcaster with shifting...
Meta's Carousel Ads Are Surprisingly Rare in Feeds
In Meta's UI every ad is shown in a carousel. I rarely, if ever see carousel ads in my feeds. I have multiple Meta accounts with different preferences so you'd think I'd get them at some point. But it's so...
Washington Star Journalists Find New Home at the Post
A lot of journalists from the original Washington Star went to the Post after it closed, seems only fitting
BeReal Launches Creator Program to Lure Influencers and Advertisers
BeReal has begun a proactive outreach to U.S. influencers, offering verification and brand‑partner tools as part of a creator‑focused program. The move follows earlier pilots in France and Japan and comes as the app’s downloads fell 41% year‑over‑year in 2025.
World Baseball Classic Becomes Netflix Japan’s Top Show
Netflix says The World Baseball Classic was its most-watched program ever on Netflix in Japan with 31.4 million viewers.
Magazines Are Dying, My Elegy in “Magazine”
Condé deflates. Magazines, like mass media, continue to shrink into oblivion. I wrote my ellegy to the form in my book, Magazine. https://t.co/nj7CYBv3sJ https://t.co/21DANhsSp2
Netflix Sees Modest Bump in Revenue During Q1; Reed Hasting to Leave Board
Netflix reported Q1 revenue of $12.25 billion, a 16% year‑over‑year increase, and operating income of $4 billion, lifting its operating margin to 32.3%. Net income more than doubled to $5.28 billion, helped by a $2.8 billion termination fee from the aborted Warner Bros. Discovery deal....
Netflix Revenue Jumps 16% on Ads, Price Tweaks
Earnings: Netflix Revenue Climbs 16% to $12.3 Billion, Boosted by Ads Business, Pricing Changes https://t.co/gSuZ3e7g1I
64 Years Ago Today: Walter Cronkite Took Over As Anchor of CBS Evening News
On April 16, 1962 Walter Cronkite became anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News, ushering in a new era of televised journalism. The program, originally a 15‑minute bulletin, expanded to a half‑hour in September 1963, becoming the first...
Law & Order: SVU Renewed For Season 28 At NBC
NBC has officially renewed "Law & Order: SVU" for a 28th season, confirming the long‑running procedural will continue on broadcast television. The announcement arrives the same day the network cancelled its spin‑off "Law & Order: Organized Crime" after five seasons...
Netflix Quarterly Profit Tops $5 Billion Thanks to Warner Bros. Breakup Fee
Netflix reported a first‑quarter 2026 net income of $5.283 billion, far exceeding analysts’ forecasts, largely thanks to a $2.8 billion termination fee from Paramount after the Warner Bros. deal fell through. Revenue climbed 16% to $12.25 billion, driven by strong subscriber growth in Japan...
Animator Slams Paramount over Pulled Theatrical Release After Leak, Warns Piracy Hurts Creators
Animator Julia Schoel criticized Paramount’s decision to cancel the theatrical debut of “The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender” after a pre‑release leak, arguing that early piracy harms the film’s reputation and the artists’ future prospects. The dispute underscores financial...
Netflix Beats Q1 Forecast Without Warner Bros Deal
Netflix, With Warner Bros. Off the Table, Beats Q1 Wall Street Expectations https://t.co/UiRluFMzsW via @variety
Threads Expands Social Media Management Functionality
Meta’s Threads platform is rolling out a suite of API enhancements that let brands cross‑share to Instagram Stories, schedule posts up to 10,000 characters, embed content without tokens, and receive real‑time notifications. The changes also lower the follower threshold for...
DIGI Search Launches Full-Service Dental Web Platform Tied to NextGen TV Ads
DIGI Search announced a new full-service dental web management platform that integrates its proprietary NextGen TV advertising suite. The initiative aims to move dental practices away from fragmented social‑media ads toward high‑impact, household‑level TV placements, promising higher‑value case acquisition.
Pocket FM Claims EBITDA Profitability, Crosses $400 Mn ARR
Pocket FM announced that its annualised revenue rate (ARR) hit $430 million in March 2026 and is projected to reach $450 million by April, doubling year‑over‑year from $198 million in March 2025. The company also reported near‑5% EBITDA margin and free‑cash‑flow positivity, attributing...