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:
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 profile discovery from 1,000 to 100, expanding reach for smaller accounts. Meanwhile, Virginia’s attorney general is appealing a court ruling that blocked a law capping minors’ social‑media use at one hour per day, arguing the measure is content‑neutral and protects youth. The legal fight highlights growing state efforts to regulate digital platforms.
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...
YouTube Lets Users Remove Shorts From Its Home Feed Via Timer Setting
YouTube has expanded its time‑management settings to let any user set the Shorts feed limit to zero minutes, effectively removing Shorts from the home feed. The option, first introduced in October 2025 with a 15‑minute minimum and later limited to parental...
NFL Treats YouTube as Free TV, Ignoring Regulators
NFL to Critics: YouTube Is Free TV. Deal With It. Assuming today’s YouTube licensing of five games news is accurate, it clearly illustrates that the NFL is not terribly concerned by the FCC inquiry, what appears to be a narrow DoJ...
Israeli Military Admits to Posting AI Photo of Lebanese Journalist It Killed
The Israeli Defence Forces admitted that the photo they posted of Lebanese journalist Ali Shoeib, killed in a March air strike, was digitally altered with AI. The army used the image to portray Shoeib as a Hezbollah combatant, despite lacking...
Shaun Micallef Explores Australia’s Betting Habits in GOING FOR BROKE
Australian comedian Shaun Micallef hosts a three‑part ABC documentary, Going For Broke, that dives into the nation’s entrenched gambling culture. Over three episodes he places his first bet in decades, travels the country and interviews casual players and those affected...
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez Joins NAB Show 2026 Lineup
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez will lead a panel titled “The First Amendment and Press Freedom in Today’s Media Landscape” at NAB Show 2026 on April 20. The session brings together a WSJ reporter, legal strategists, and policy scholars to debate government...
3D DOOH Goes Local: How Brands Are Driving Store Visits Faster
Big Happy’s 3D digital‑out‑of‑home (DOOH) platform is shifting from pure brand awareness to a measurable performance channel by slashing production cycles to under a month and integrating mobile retargeting. Recent campaigns, including a retail activation during a peak shopping period,...
5 Low-Stress Ways to Set Your New Series Up for Success
Launching a new book series requires more than a strong manuscript; the weeks before release are critical for building momentum. The article outlines five low‑stress pre‑launch tactics—crafting a concise value proposition, generating anticipation, securing strategic partners, maintaining a unified cross‑platform...
Google’s Gemini AI Cuts Scammers, Blocks 8.3B Ads
Google's 2025 Ads Safety Report: With Gemini's help, Google blocked a record 8.3B ads, up 63% YoY, but suspended 36% fewer advertisers, attributing the disparity to its use of AI "Google said the rise in blocked ads also reflects the...
Podcasting’s Audio Primes, YouTube Limits Livestream Ads, & More
The Sounds Profitable report introduces "Audio Primes," listeners who consume at least 75% of podcasts as pure audio and show lower enthusiasm for AI‑generated voices than video‑first audiences. YouTube rolled out two livestream features that pause ads when viewers send...
Meta Is Giving Threads on Web a Redesign that Finally Adds Direct Messages
Meta has begun testing a redesign of the Threads web platform that finally adds a native direct‑messaging inbox, a feature long available only on the mobile app. The new interface introduces a left‑rail navigation bar with shortcuts to saved posts,...
Chance Miller: ‘Netflix Ruined Its Apple TV App by Switching to a Custom Video Player’
Netflix has replaced the native tvOS 26 video player on Apple TV with its own custom player, mirroring the approach used on other platforms. The switch adds extra steps for basic actions like 10‑second rewinds and disables several Apple‑specific remote features, including...
First Look at 2026 Season of FARMER WANTS A WIFE AUSTRALIA
Seven Network has unveiled a first look at the 2026 season of Farmer Wants A Wife Australia, now entering its sixteenth installment. The reality dating series will feature five new farmers from Queensland and South Australia, with host Natalie Gruzlewski...
10 Best Turkish TV Shows Streaming On Netflix Right Now
Netflix’s latest roundup spotlights ten Turkish series now streaming on its platform, ranging from newsroom drama “As the Crow Flies” to time‑travel romance “Midnight at the Pera Palace.” The list showcases a mix of genres—crime thrillers, supernatural fantasy, dystopian sci‑fi,...
How to Choose a PR Firm in the Age of AI — and What Most Companies Get Wrong
Companies are discovering that traditional press placements no longer guarantee visibility. In the AI era, PR success is measured by whether coverage is cited, linked, and incorporated into the data sources that large language models draw from. The article advises...
Law & Order: Organized Crime Canceled At Peacock
NBCUniversal confirmed that “Law & Order: Organized Crime” will not return for a sixth season, ending the series after its fifth run. The 10‑episode Season 5 debuted on Peacock in April 2025 and later aired on NBC, with the finale streaming on...
swXtch.io Introduces the swXtch AI Router for Live Media Workflows
swXtch.io launched a new brand, swXtch.ai, and unveiled the swXtch AI Router, a chat‑driven platform that turns operator intent into production‑ready AI pipelines for live audio and video. The Router integrates with Microsoft Fabric and NVIDIA AI infrastructure, allowing any...
The only Way to Fight Deepfakes Is by Making Deepfakes
Deep‑fake detection firms such as Reality Defender, Pindrop and GetReal are racing to combat AI‑generated audio, video and image fraud, a market now valued at roughly $5.5 billion. These companies train detection models by creating their own deepfakes, using a student‑teacher...
Fibr AI Launches Ads-to-Web and LLM-to-Web Personalization to Convert Paid and AI-Referred Traffic
Fibr AI unveiled Ads‑to‑Web and LLM‑to‑Web personalization, technologies that carry the intent expressed in paid ads or AI‑generated queries through to the landing page. The platform can spin up to 1,500 tailored page variants in under two weeks, delivering 35‑50%...
This Company Is Rewiring the Economics of TV Advertising
Tatari, founded in 2016, is reshaping TV advertising by turning it into a data‑driven, performance‑focused channel. The company replaces traditional reach‑based metrics with outcome‑based measurement that links ad exposure to website visits, purchases, and app installs. Its software platform automates...
The Guardian Launching First US Podcast Amid Reader Revenue Growth
British newspaper The Guardian is debuting its first U.S.-focused video podcast, "Stateside," on May 13, distributing episodes three times weekly via a dedicated YouTube channel. The launch comes as U.S. reader revenue surged 32% year‑over‑year to roughly $70 million, with ad...
Condé Nast Shutters Self Magazine
Self magazine, a health and fitness title launched in 1977, will shut down after nearly 50 years, having been digital‑only since 2017. Condé Nast also announced the closure of Glamour’s German, Spanish and Mexican editions, affecting dozens of editorial staff. CEO...
ESPN Enters First HDR Postseason With REMCO Support in New Bristol-Based Control Rooms
ESPN is debuting native‑HDR capture for the NBA postseason, using newly built control rooms in Bristol, Connecticut. The broadcaster’s REMCO (remote‑controlled) workflow lets directors operate robotic cameras and manage transmission paths from off‑site locations. EVS’s XtraMotion technology and CMSI data...
AI-Generated Val Kilmer Movie Debuts Trailer, Creators Defend Digital Resurrection of Late Actor
The indie film *As Deep as the Grave* unveiled a trailer at CinemaCon featuring a generative‑AI recreation of the late Val Kilmer as Father Fintan. The filmmakers say they secured consent and compensation from Kilmer’s estate and followed SAG‑AFTRA’s new AI‑performance guidelines....
Plex Keeps Growing: 11 New Free Channels Added This Week
Plex announced the addition of 11 new free ad‑supported live TV channels, bringing its FAST (Free Ad‑Supported Streaming TV) catalog to more than 600 channels. The new lineup leans heavily into true‑crime, niche sports and reality‑style storytelling, featuring FilmRise’s crime...
Condé Nast Is Shuttering Self
Condé Nast announced the closure of Self, its women’s health and beauty magazine launched in 1979, as part of a broader cost‑cutting move that also includes shutting down several international editions of Glamour and Wired. CEO Roger Lynch said the titles...
Uber Spotlights Rs 25 Bike Rides with Music Led IPL Campaign
Uber is launching a stripped‑down IPL advertising campaign that spotlights its Uber Bike service priced at Rs 25 (about $0.30) for trips up to 3 km. The 15‑second music‑driven spots feature local hip‑hop stars Divine in Mumbai and Roll Rida in the...
Seattle Woman Charged 10 Months After Brandi Kruse Violently Mobbed Outside ICE Facility
A Seattle prosecutor has charged Fabiana Lucia Cantera‑Silvestre with assaulting independent journalist Brandi Kruse ten months after the mob attack outside an ICE facility. The June 2023 incident, linked to an Antifa‑related protest, left Kruse injured and sparked concerns about...
Warner Bros.’ Jeff Goldstein on the Big Tom Cruise Bet: ‘We Landed the Plane’
Warner Bros. president Jeff Goldstein used CinemaCon to showcase the studio’s ambitious release slate through 2028, highlighting Tom Cruise and Alejandro González Iñárritu’s upcoming comedy *Digger*. He stressed that despite speculation about a possible sale to Paramount, Warner remains focused...
Perfect Game and Youth Prospects Announce Broadcast Rights and Content Partnership
Perfect Game, the leading organizer of elite amateur baseball events, has forged a broadcast and content partnership with digital platform Youth Prospects. The deal grants Youth Prospects rights to stream select Perfect Game games, including the WWBA World Championship in...
NAB 2026: See Sony’s Live Stage Presentations at NAB Show 2026
Sony’s Live Stage at NAB Show 2026 gathered content creators, broadcasters and tech experts to showcase the company’s end‑to‑end production ecosystem. Sessions highlighted how the Associated Press relies on Sony’s BURANO, FX, Alpha and Z200 cameras for rapid newsgathering, while...
Save The Dates: Netflix's Man On Fire, Rivals Season 2, And More
Netflix unveiled the trailer for its seven‑episode adaptation of A.J. Quinnell’s *Man on Fire*, starring Yahya Abdul‑Mateen II as a PTSD‑haunted former Special Forces mercenary. The drama premieres on Thursday, April 30, positioning Netflix’s next‑gen original slate alongside other platform releases. The...
Poynter Names 20 Journalists Selected for Competitive 2026 Leadership Academy
The Poynter Institute announced a 20‑person cohort for its 2026 Leadership Academy, an intensive week‑long program in St. Petersburg, Florida. Participants, ranging from editors to producers across major news outlets, will engage in workshops on ethical decision‑making, generational management, and...
NAB 2026: DPA Microphones N-Series Firmware Update Adds Duplex Gap and Guard Band Access for North American Users
DPA Microphones has issued a firmware update for its N‑Series digital wireless system, unlocking the 2 MHz Guard Band (614‑616 MHz) and the 6 MHz unlicensed portion of the Duplex Gap (657‑663 MHz) for U.S. and Canadian users. The added spectrum lets licensed operators...
AI Mode Now Shows Sites Side‑by‑side for Seamless Research
Oh boy, I'm not sure publishers will be thrilled with this change -> AI Mode will now open publisher links side by side with AI Mode (versus taking you directly to the publisher website). So both AI Mode and the...
Today's TV Diary:
TV Diary - Big Mistakes, The Miniature Wife, Rooster, Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen, R.J. Decker, Imperfect Women, Malcolm In The Middle: Life's Still Unfair, Invincible, America's Culinary Cup, The Dark Wizard, etc. https://t.co/2aOLEycPms
Netgear, EVS Team Up for Certified AV–Over–IP Live Production Workflows
Netgear announced a global partnership with EVS Broadcast Equipment to deliver certified, interoperable AV‑over‑IP solutions for live production. The collaboration validates EVS’s Cerebrum, Neuron and Strada systems on Netgear’s M4350 and M4250 switches, providing pre‑tested configurations that support SMPTE ST 2110, NDI...
Seeking X Ads Expert: Recommendations Welcome
looking for a X ads guy. someone who understands how to run ads here. would love any recs @nikitabier
Seeking Help to Source Podcast Guest Opportunities
I would really like to hire someone to help me source podcast guest appearance opps, media requests where I can chime in with my expertise, etc. Accepting all legit referrals, plz send 'em my way
Rising Financial Metrics Mark Audioboom Q1
Audioboom reported a strong first‑quarter, posting $22.5 million in revenue, a 30% increase year‑over‑year. The high‑margin Showcase advertising marketplace drove a 63% revenue jump, while adjusted EBITDA more than doubled to $1.4 million, lifting the margin to 6.2%. Monthly distribution climbed 79%...
Episode 8 of Marshals: A Yellowstone Story Air Date Revealed
Judge Ayers has come out of nowhere to deliver heaps of drama. But when does Marshals: A Yellowstone Story episode 8 hit CBS and Paramount+? https://t.co/aF7yH4cGzh
Greenwich Dads Obsess over Bloomberg’s Money Stuff
It’s the hottest product in Greenwich. Fathers at a recent local sports game were fixated on Bloomberg's Money Stuff newsletter. https://t.co/Zm6rr99u43
Court Moves To Examine Merger Of Two Local TV Conglomerates
Nexstar completed its $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna, giving it control of 265 local stations that reach roughly 80% of U.S. households. The FCC granted a waiver of ownership caps without a full commission vote, and the Justice Department approved the...
Paramount Enforces 45-Day Theatrical Window for 2026 Releases
At CinemaCon, David Ellison confirms all 15 of Paramount’s 2026 releases will have a 45-day minimum theatrical window. Every studio chief has emphasized this in an effort to rebuild moviegoing. Next step: no straight-to-streaming movies, the real scourge. Change...
Nagravision, Harmonic Partner on Scalable Watermarking-as-a-Service for Live Events
Nagravision and Harmonic announced a fully managed watermarking‑as‑a‑service built on Harmonic’s VOS 360 Media SaaS and NAGRA NexGuard forensic technology. The solution enables live‑sports and OTT streamers to apply A/B watermarking on demand, reducing operational complexity and per‑event costs. It is...
Digital Content Creator Contractor
Rapid Media, the leading paddlesports media group behind Paddling Magazine and Kayak Angler, is hiring a part‑time Digital Content Creator contractor. The remote role begins in May 2026, works 20 hours per week, and splits responsibilities evenly between social‑media strategy and original...
Emmy Lead Actress (Limited/Movie) Rankings Released
The Emmy rankings and charts have debuted for Lead Actress (Limited/Movie) https://t.co/oU3muhxzzY via @variety https://t.co/dE4zGYspdy
What We Learned From a Failed Nota News Experiment
Last fall, Nota launched an experiment with 11 hyperlocal news sites, using AI‑assisted tools to turn public documents into local stories. Contractors deviated from the approved source list, copying material from other outlets without attribution, a breach the company attributes...