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:
Sports on TV: The Public Already Paid; Why Are Fans Paying Again?
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an antitrust inquiry into the NFL’s television‑rights strategy, questioning whether the league’s bundling and platform‑splitting practices limit competition. At the same time, fans are facing a fragmented streaming ecosystem that can cost $1,000 or more per year to follow a full season, a stark contrast to the era of free local broadcasts. The article argues that taxpayers helped build the talent pipeline through public schools and colleges, yet now must pay repeatedly to watch the product. This tension pits private revenue growth against a historic public compact.
Twitch Streamlines Prime Subscriptions to Two Clicks
Twitch is testing an easier way to Subscribe with Prime. On click, it will confirm you want to use your Prime. This effectively reduces the flow to two clicks.
Navigating the Agentic Frontier: The IAB Tech Lab 2026 Roadmap
IAB Tech Lab unveiled its 2026 roadmap, centering on agentic advertising frameworks, new privacy‑first standards, and CTV‑focused programmatic tools. The release includes open‑source Agentic Advertising Management Protocols (AAMP) 2.0, a live Agent Registry, and the LLM Content Monetization Protocol (CoMP)...
From Renewed for a Fifth and Final Season
MGM+ has ordered a fifth and final season of the sci‑fi horror series From, starring Harold Perrineau. The renewal was announced ahead of the Season 4 premiere, confirming the show will wrap its narrative in the upcoming season. From has built...
‘In Case She Says No’: The TikTok Trend 'Training' Men to Attack Women
TikTok videos in Brazil depict men rehearsing attacks on women who reject them, labeled “training in case she says no.” A real case in São Gonçalo saw a 20‑year‑old woman stabbed about 50 times after turning down a suitor, mirroring...
Producers Guild Unveils Toolkit to Help Creatives Make Business Case for Sustainability On Set (Exclusive)
The Producers Guild of America unveiled a Sustainability Tool Kit designed to help film and TV producers embed eco‑friendly practices while staying on budget. Developed with labor groups, the kit offers concrete production guidance, climate‑focused storytelling tips, and communication strategies...
NAB 2026: CacheFly to Demonstrate New CDN Features
CacheFly will showcase three new CDN capabilities at NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas: Advanced Analytics, EdgeControl, and Terraform integration. Advanced Analytics adds real‑time alerts, log drilling and Grafana templates for observability. EdgeControl offers programmable request/response handling and multi‑CDN script...
Comcast Is Suing DISH’s Parent Company
Comcast has filed a lawsuit in Colorado federal court seeking more than $54 million from DISH Wireless and its parent EchoStar, alleging a breach of a master service agreement. Comcast contends that EchoStar misused a force‑majeure clause after an FCC investigation,...
10,000 Chicago Concert Recordings Are Being Uploaded to the Internet Archive: Nirvana, Phish, Sonic Youth, They Might Be Giants &...
Chicago collector Aadam Jacobs has uploaded nearly 2,500 concert recordings to the Internet Archive, part of a larger trove of over 10,000 tapes spanning the 1980s‑2010s. The digitized files, exceeding one terabyte, include performances by Nirvana, Phish, Sonic Youth and...
NAB 2026: AI-Media Launches LEXI Text Encoder and LEXI Voice Encoder
AI‑Media unveiled the LEXI Text Encoder and LEXI Voice Encoder at NAB Show 2026, its first new encoder hardware in over a decade. Both units support native 4K over 12G‑SDI and operate across SDI, IP and cloud pipelines, with LEXI...
The Scoop: Hollywood Bands Together to Oppose Paramount-Warner Bros. Deal in Open Letter
More than 2,500 actors, writers and directors have signed an open letter denouncing the proposed $110 billion Paramount‑Warner Bros. merger. The letter argues the deal would deepen media consolidation, threaten jobs, and narrow the range of stories financed and released. High‑profile...
NAB 2026: NAB Show 2026 to Feature Expanded AI, Sports, and Creator Economy Programming
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show 2026 will run April 18‑22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, featuring over 1,100 exhibitors. AI programming is set to nearly double from the previous year, with two dedicated AI pavilions and participation...
New HBO Series Spotlights American Free Soloist Dean Potter in The Dark Wizard: A Review
HBO’s new four‑part documentary series “The Dark Wizard” launches with the episode “The Death Consequence,” chronicling legendary American free‑soloist Dean Potter. Directed by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen of Sender Films, the episode blends archival footage and interviews to showcase...
Murphy Named to Executive Post at Crossover Media Group
John Murphy has been appointed vice president of strategic partnerships at Crossover Media Group, reuniting with former colleagues after serving as senior vice president of content monetization at Veritone. In his new role, Murphy will focus on securing fresh content...
Agentic Engine Optimization: Google AI Director Outlines New Content Playbook
Google Cloud AI director Addy Osmani introduced Agentic Engine Optimization (AEO), a framework for making web content consumable by autonomous AI agents. He argues that token limits, not clicks or dwell time, now drive content performance, urging creators to front‑load...
Seaboard to Distribute “Killer Carl” Show
Seaboard Networks announced it has completed a distribution agreement for the syndicated political interview program “The Killer Carl Program.” Hosted by Carl “Killer Carl” Brown, the show has been on air for almost ten years and is part of the...
KNBR Renews Flagship Radio Deal with 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have renewed their flagship radio agreement with Cumulus Media’s KNKN (KNBR) sports talk station. Veteran play‑by‑play duo Greg Papa and Tim Ryan will continue calling every game, plus pre‑ and post‑game shows. The partnership spans AM,...
Plaiced CEO Kaaveh Shoamanesh on Building a Network Inside the Internet’s Closed Doors
Plaiced, led by CEO Kaaveh Shoamanesh, has built an ad network that taps into the "gated web"—private groups, niche apps, newsletters and Discord servers—offering brands access to over 50,000 curated communities and roughly 500 million high‑intent users. The platform promises engagement...
Ex-OnlyFans CEO Launches Vylit, an 18+ Creator Platform Positioned Between Social Media, Adult Content
Former OnlyFans CEO Ami Gan has launched Vylit, an 18+ creator platform that blends social‑media style discovery with adult‑content monetization. The New York‑based startup secured $2.7 million in seed funding from Windmill Chain Fund and angel investors. Vylit differentiates itself by...
Good Omens Series Finale Trailer: Aziraphale And Crowley Team Up Again To (Possibly?) Save Humanity — Watch
Amazon Prime Video unveiled the first look at the Good Omens series finale, set to drop on May 13. The 90‑minute episode reunites Michael Sheen’s angel Aziraphale, now a Supreme Archangel tasked with the Second Coming, and David Tennant’s demon...
Chatbot Ads Need a New Model Beyond Search
Search is the wrong mental model for chatbot advertising "I think it’s a mistake to view the Search advertising model as the default for chatbots; both from a user expectation and a revenue standpoint. And in fact, I think that Search...
Doc: Season Three; Casting Shakeup Revealed for FOX Series Ahead of 2026-27 Return
Doc wrapped its second season with a dramatic finale and confirmed a third season of 22 episodes on FOX. Blair Underwood joins the cast as a series‑regular surgeon, bringing new medical story potential. Felicity Huffman will not return, and Charlotte...
Meta Is Launching An Easy Button For CAPI
Meta announced a one‑click activation for its Conversions API (CAPI) within Events Manager, simplifying server‑side tracking for advertisers. The update also introduces an AI‑powered enrichment feature for the Meta pixel that automatically extracts product and business data from web pages....
Locality and Nielsen Announce Landmark Integration of Media Data Engine, Transforming Local TV Measurement
Locality and Nielsen announced the integration of Nielsen’s Media Data Engine (MDE) into Locality’s broadcast advertising platform. The partnership makes Locality the first broadcast sales organization to deploy Nielsen’s MDE at scale, delivering demographic audience data across all 210 U.S....
“Why Did I Get Kicked Off the Air Again?” Jimmy Kimmel Torches JD Vance Over His Trump AI Jesus Theory
Jimmy Kimmel used his late‑night monologue to mock Indiana Senator JD Vance’s attempt to explain President Trump’s controversial AI‑generated image that portrayed the former president as a Jesus‑like figure. Kimmel highlighted Vance’s shifting narrative—first calling the picture a joke, then a...
Travel & Hospitality Brands Scale Creator Programs at Fastest Rate Across European Sectors, Research Finds
Travel and hospitality brands across Europe and the UK are expanding their influencer creator programs faster than any other sector, with 28% reporting a major increase in creator volume over the past year. A striking 92% of these brands rely...
How To Influence Future Voters
A new Pew Research Center study reveals that 29% of U.S. teens turn to TikTok for political news, closely followed by Instagram at 28% and Snapchat at 19%. Black teenagers are markedly more likely than their peers to learn about...
Taskmaster Favourite Sam Campbell in First Look at Channel 4's New Scripted Comedy Series
Taskmaster champion Sam Campbell is fronting a new Channel 4 scripted comedy, "Make That Movie," which he also created. The six‑episode series, set to debut next month, follows a fictionalised version of Campbell as he scouts ordinary people with quirky ideas...
Panasonic, NEP Partner on IP-Based Live Production
Panasonic Video and Audio Systems North America has partnered with NEP Group to integrate Panasonic’s Kairos IP live‑production system with NEP’s software‑orchestration platform. The certified interoperability creates a unified control and data plane, allowing broadcasters and live‑event providers to manage...
Partner Perspectives: DIRECTV Advertising on Modernizing the TV Experience
DIRECTV Advertising is merging linear TV with streaming to give advertisers the reach of traditional broadcast and the precision of digital. Leveraging PubMatic’s programmatic infrastructure, the platform has boosted live‑sports impressions by roughly 40% through streaming versus satellite alone. New...
Fubo ‘Out of Nowhere’ Pursuing Local Rights for 13 NBA Teams
Disney-owned Fubo has entered the market with a last‑minute pitch to the 13 NBA teams that recently left Main Street Sports Group. The streaming platform proposes a hybrid direct‑to‑consumer and distributor model, offering rights fees around $10 million per team. Fubo...
ABC News Links Modern Tech to 80% Drop in Attention Span Since 2004
ABC News published a report that modern digital life has slashed average screen attention from two‑and‑a‑half minutes in 2004 to just 47 seconds today. The story draws on neuroscience research, cites a 4‑times‑per‑second task‑switch rate, and warns that constant interruptions...
Francophone Children’s Books Surge in Africa as Young Readers Boom
Industry observers reported in April 2026 that the Francophone children’s book market across Africa is experiencing a rapid expansion. Demographic shifts, a growing middle class and revitalized library networks are fueling unprecedented demand, prompting publishers to broaden catalogs and experiment...
Nonprofit Venetoulis Institute Saves Pittsburgh Post‑Gazette From Closure
The Pittsburgh Post‑Gazette announced Tuesday that the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism will acquire its assets, averting a May 3 shutdown. The nonprofit, which runs the award‑winning Baltimore Banner, plans to keep Thursday and Sunday print editions while maintaining a...
This Hit '90s Sitcom Aired Its Entire Second Season Live
In 1992 the sitcom Roc aired its entire second season live, a rare move for a 1990s comedy. The live debut drew roughly one‑third more viewers than the first‑season premiere, proving the gamble a ratings success. Director Stan Lathan highlighted...
Amazon Ads Hands The IAB Tech Lab A Tool That Promises To Waste Fewer Bid Requests
Amazon Ads has donated its Dynamic Traffic Engine (DTE) to the IAB Tech Lab as open‑source software, enabling real‑time traffic shaping for programmatic advertising. The tool lets demand‑side platforms broadcast detailed inventory preferences to supply‑side platforms, which then filter bid...
American Eagle Rolls Out Summer Campaign with Sydney Sweeney, Stock Surges 22%
American Eagle Outfitters unveiled a new summer advertising push featuring actress Sydney Sweeney, prompting a 22% rise in the company’s share price and more than 55 billion media impressions. The campaign, overseen by CMO Craig Brommers, aims to translate the duality...
Eccho Rights Announces that Behind the Veil Will Have a Fourth Season on Kanal 7
Eccho Rights confirmed that Turkish daily drama *Behind the Veil* will return for a fourth season on Kanal 7, keeping its original cast and production crew. The series has consistently broken audience records for the modest‑budget channel, outpacing flagship shows...
Algorithm Changes Kill Engagement, Making Effort Feel Futile
Warned you guys at the top on $RAVE last night and nobody even cares. Sometimes it doesn't even feel worth it to post so much on X anymore. New algo has ruined content creation efforts. Not that I solely post for engagement...
US LLC Google Ads Verification Fails From India
Anyone here who has setup and done advertiser verification for Google Ads account with US billing from India? We've a registered LLC in US but verification keep getting rejected.
NASA’s Artemis Documentary Streams Globally as “Artemis: To the Moon and Back” Launches Online
NASA’s feature‑length documentary “Artemis: To the Moon and Back” went live on Discovery+ in the U.S. and on BBC iPlayer in the U.K. on April 16, 2026, with VPN work‑arounds extending access to Canada and other regions. The release follows the...
AI Misinformation Loops Harm Billions of Users
How AI-generated misinformation is feeding itself, and why billions of users are getting the worst of it. https://t.co/oHLBE4nyep via @lilyraynyc, @sejournal
More Perfect Union Launches Student Discord Community for Collaboration and Learning
More Perfect Union is launching a student program including a Discord community for young people where they can collaborate, join virtual events & trainings, learn from organizers 👇
Roblox: Compounding Network Effects Power Imagination at Scale
Anyone who has spent time with me in the past few years has likely heard me talk about Roblox. @mitchlasky and I finally sat down to do a real deep dive into Roblox. A story of compounding, network effects, and...
Pittsburgh Post‑Gazette Survives Sale to Nonprofit Media Group
This is fine news for Pittsburgh, but before thinking salvation from high is nigh, know that there aren't enough over-endowed nonprofits to go around. The hard work of reinvention and sustainability remains. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to continue publishing after sale to...
Ari Shapiro Joins Audie Cornish for CNN Podcast
NPR veteran Ari Shapiro follows Audie Cornish over to CNN....the two will team on a new podcast https://t.co/hflf6XC4wQ via @variety
Paramount+ and Pluto Invest Heavily to Grow Ads, Subscribers
Paramount+ and Pluto are spending more on content and merging technology in an effort to increase ad dollars and subscribers. https://t.co/psnzz9Mc0e via @WSJ
Three Episodes Left: Watch Monarch Season 2 Premiere
Three episodes remain of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 — here's when you can watch the first of that trio. https://t.co/YQ8Jgpd85P
Amazon Rebrands Fire TV as Ember, Debuts Artline Rival
Amazon's Fire TVs are being re-named to Ember TVs, and we saw the new Samsung Frame rival Amazon Ember Artline in action https://t.co/4eUlSocJBR
Amazon Revamps Fire TV UI, Launches Slimmer HD Stick
Amazon is refreshing its Fire TV interface for 2026 with new organisation and new streaming channels. Plus, it's bringing out a new, slimmer Fire TV HD Stick. https://t.co/HyZVm7w9gh