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.
Poetry Month Feature: Tupelo Press
Tupelo Press is spotlighting two new titles for National Poetry Month: the Arabic/English anthology "Other Paths for Shahrazad," featuring contemporary Arab women poets, and Carrie Olivia Adams' "The Book of Marys and Glaciers," a collection that weaves desert, consumerism and Alaskan ice imagery. Both books are distributed by the University of Chicago Press and are available now. The press is offering a 30% discount with the code UCPNEW for direct orders. The releases underscore the publisher’s focus on diverse, contemporary poetry.
How to Get More Views on TikTok (Proven Strategies That Work in 2026)
TikTok’s algorithm now rewards videos that keep users watching, making watch time and completion rate the top ranking signals. Creators who hook viewers in the first three seconds, keep videos short (8‑20 seconds), and encourage high‑value engagement such as comments,...
StreamTV Europe: FAST Channel Operators Advised to Keep It Local
At the StreamTV Europe forum, leading FAST operators—including Samsung TV Plus, TCL, Your Channels, and France 24—emphasized that European success hinges on localized content. Panels highlighted that dubbing, subtitles, and region‑specific genres drive higher engagement than generic feeds. Real‑world cases such as...
Why the Inbox Is the New Algorithm
At Adweek’s Social Media Week 2026, brand leaders argued that newsletters are experiencing a renaissance as a reliable alternative to algorithm‑driven social feeds. Executives from Rare Beauty, Betches, and UTA highlighted that owned email lists give brands direct access to...
TCL EXPANDS UK QLED TV RANGE WITH NEW GOOGLE AND FIRE TV MODELS
TCL announced a UK‑wide expansion of its QLED portfolio, adding the P8L series with Google TV, the P7L series also on Google TV, the V6D series powered by Fire TV, and the C6K Mini‑LED line. The P8L models feature QD‑Mini...
Pinterest Turns to Real Life Amid Social Media Backlash
Pinterest is shifting focus from purely digital inspiration to tangible, real‑world experiences after facing criticism over algorithm changes and perceived over‑commercialization. The company announced a series of pop‑up retail events in major U.S. cities, partnering with brands to let users...
Why Sam Altman Spent $100M on 10,000 Viewers
The episode dissects OpenAI’s $100 million acquisition of the tech‑talk livestream TPBN, a daily three‑hour show with 7‑10 K live viewers but massive clip reach. Hosts explain that the deal isn’t about editorial power but about leveraging TPBN’s proven storytelling and marketing...
Bauer Media Taps Experian to Boost Audience Targeting
Bauer Media has partnered with Experian to embed its Mosaic consumer‑insight data into the company’s digital audio platform audioXi and publishing platform Illuminate. The integration gives advertisers access to consistent audience segments across Bauer’s 120 radio stations and more than...
Meghan to Appear as Guest Judge on MasterChef Australia
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, will appear as a guest judge on the upcoming season of MasterChef Australia, with the episode filmed in Melbourne and set to air on 19 April. The appearance comes during the couple’s four‑day private tour...
"Perfect Match" Season 4 - Meet the Singles & Premiere Date & Key Art Reveal
Netflix announced the fourth season of its reality dating series Perfect Match, premiering on May 13, 2026. The lineup features 20 singles drawn from popular Netflix unscripted hits such as Love Is Blind, Too Hot to Handle, and Temptation Island,...
Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" Three-Part Reunion Begins Thursday, April 23 at 8 P.M. ET/PT
Bravo launches a three‑part reunion for "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" on Thursday, April 23, with follow‑up episodes on April 30 and May 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Host Andy Cohen will sit down with returning cast members and newcomers Amanda Frances and...
This Monkey Selfie Will Protect You From AI Slop
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the Copyright Office’s refusal to register works created solely by artificial intelligence, cementing the view that such output has no copyright protection. The ruling echoes a decade‑old dispute over a...
Voice Actors Fight to Save Their Livelihoods and Local Cultures From Hollywood’s AI Push
Hollywood studios are rapidly adopting AI‑generated dubbing, endangering the livelihoods of more than 2 million voice‑over professionals worldwide. In Brazil, veteran dubber Fabio Azevedo leads a push for legal safeguards, echoing similar movements in Mexico, South Korea, and India. While AI...
Spotify Launches the Ability to Purchase Physical Books in the US and UK
Spotify has rolled out a new feature that lets users buy physical books through its app in the United States and United Kingdom. The service, powered by a partnership with Bookshop.org, is live on Android now, with iOS support slated...
Content Arms Race over as Streaming Shifts to Profit-First Model
The early‑stage streaming "content arms race" has given way to a profit‑first model, analyst Ben Keen said at Stream TV Europe. After a 2022 peak of $108 billion in non‑sports programming, global investment has slipped, with English‑language TV spending down 8%...
New Econometrics Data: OOH Delivers Exceptional ROI for Luxury Brands
New econometric analysis from Independent Marketing Sciences shows out‑of‑home (OOH) advertising generates a 12.8× return for luxury brands—roughly $16.4 in revenue for every $1.3 spent—far outpacing the sector‑wide average of 4.7× across 24 channels. OOH spend by luxury firms almost...
ByteDance Releases Seedance 2.0 Globally, Bans US and Realistic Faces
ByteDance Launches Seedance 2.0 AI Video Model Globally, Excluding the U.S. The rollout follows copyright clashes with Disney, Netflix, and other major Hollywood studios. New restrictions block prompts using realistic human faces to avoid legal risks. The model is now available to enterprise...
Danish Media Misframes US as Strait Blockade Villain
Just to describe the state media in Denmark. In yesterdays news national explained: 1. US is now blocking strait of Hormuz (not: US is blocking ships to or from IRAN, but strait is open) 2. Economic crisis imminent (narrative: due to US...
CBS Series Deliver Strong Results Vs. Broadcast and Streaming Originals in Live Plus 28-Day Multiplatform Viewership
CBS announced that six of its series rank among the top 20 most‑watched shows across broadcast and streaming platforms in Nielsen's live +28‑day multiplatform data for the 9/14/2025‑3/1/2026 period. The network’s originals attracted 28% more viewing time than the combined output...
Countdown to NAB Show 2026: Quu’s Steve Newberry
Quu CEO Steve Newberry previewed the company’s third In‑Vehicle Visuals Report ahead of NAB Show 2026, highlighting a surge in radio’s visual display opportunities inside cars. He warned that automakers considering the removal of traditional radio must address public‑safety concerns...
DEAL‑Elsevier Workshops Boost Data Governance Trust in Publishing
Trust in scientific publishing depends on how user data is handled. A series of workshops between DEAL and Elsevier created space for a structured, outcome-focused discussion on data use, governance, and privacy in scientific publishing. Read more: https://t.co/IbjdGuuWhs #data #governance #privacy #scientificpublishing...
How Independent Media Builds Loyalty Amid Russia’s Telegram Blocking
In February 2026 Russia began blocking Telegram to force users onto the state‑run messenger MAX, crippling a platform that independent outlets rely on for audience reach. While the national‑level outlet ASTRA retained its 280,000‑strong subscriber base by already using bypass...
‘Bloodhounds 2’: What Does It Actually Mean to Be a ‘Bloodhound’ Now
Netflix’s “Bloodhounds 2” redefines the series’ signature term, turning the “bloodhound” from a street‑level slur into a state‑controlled weapon. The sequel follows former debt‑collector boxers Geon‑woo and Woo‑jin as they rise to a pro title, only to be targeted by...
Brita’s Unhinged Shark Reveals 4 Lessons About Winning Over Gen Z
Brita partnered with VaynerMedia to launch a surreal social campaign featuring a cartoon shark singing “At Least I’m Hydrated.” The chaotic, meme‑ready video went viral, capturing Gen Z attention and spilling over to older audiences. At AD Week, senior marketers outlined four...
The Air Current Adds Julie Johnsson to Editorial Team as Global Correspondent
The Air Current announced veteran journalist Julie Johnsson as its new Global Correspondent, expanding the outlet’s editorial reach across commercial aerospace, airlines, and financial markets. Johnsson, a former senior aerospace reporter at Bloomberg with 15 years of experience, is known...
ICE Detainees’ Deaths Raise Questions About News Coverage of Asian Communities
Two Asian American immigrants—Tuan Van Bui, 55, from Cambodia, and Lorth Sim, 59, from Vietnam—died while detained at Indiana's Miami Correctional Facility, marking the 48th ICE custody death under the current administration. Their deaths have sparked calls from Rep. André...
How the Streaming Dream Turned Sports on TV Into a Costly Maze
The sports‑broadcast landscape has splintered as dozens of streaming services vie for MLB, NBA and NFL rights, turning what once promised simple, pay‑per‑view access into a costly maze. A die‑hard Yankees fan, for example, could spend roughly $800 to see...
Ad Tech’s Bielefeld Problem: What If None of It Is Real?
Shirley Marschall likens today’s ad‑tech ecosystem to the Bielefeld conspiracy, arguing that AI‑generated supply, bidding, measurement and optimisation have become a self‑reinforcing loop that no longer needs external reality. The system validates itself through plausibility rather than truth, eroding the...
Google Is Migrating Dynamic Search Ads to AI Max
Google is migrating its Dynamic Search Ads (DSA) into AI Max, the AI‑driven hub for Search advertising, and has taken AI Max out of beta for worldwide use. Voluntary migration begins this week, with an automatic upgrade of all DSA,...
Microdrama App Uses AI to ‘Reimagine’ Chaplin’s The Kid
British microdrama platform TattleTV has leveraged its own artificial‑intelligence pipeline to transform Charlie Chaplin’s 1921 classic *The Kid* into a 9:16 vertical video series. The AI not only crops but hallucinates new top and bottom visual information, preserving the original...
How Livano Agency Cold Started Fryaway on TikTok Shop
Launching a brand on TikTok Shop without an existing store, creator network, or playbook creates friction that often leads to under‑performance. The article explains why traditional influencer assumptions—ample samples, simple briefs, and discount codes—fail in a commerce‑driven social platform. It...
44% of Web Inventory Fails Quality Standards, Picnic Finds
Picnic’s Inventory Quality Report 2026 finds that 44.4% of web domains fall below accepted quality thresholds, up from prior years. Analyzing over 120,000 domains, the study links the decline to a surge in AI‑generated content that adds little value. The...
Why Your ROI Isn’t Just About Creatives: Insights From Makeberry Affiliates
Makeberry Affiliates highlights that identical ad creatives can deliver wildly different ROI across iGaming platforms, with one campaign achieving +65% ROI and a $158 cost per sale, while another posts -13% ROI and $340 CPS. The disparity stems not from...
Google Changes Hit Revenue at The Sun as Losses Grow to £53m
News Group Newspapers, the publisher of The Sun, reported FY2025 revenue of $347 million, an 8% decline from the prior year, while pre‑tax losses surged to $68 million. The company blamed the drop on algorithm changes at platforms like Google, which cut...
MasterChef Australia Lands MEGHAN MARKLE for Guest Judging Stint
MasterChef Australia announced that Meghan Markle will appear as a surprise guest judge in season 18, filming her segment during her current Australian visit. The Duchess’s cameo follows previous royal appearances, such as King Charles III’s 2015 kitchen visit, and is...
Phyron Brings AI-Powered VIN-Level Video Ads to TikTok
Phyron is launching an AI-driven solution that generates video ads for every vehicle in a dealer’s inventory, targeting TikTok’s automotive audience at the VIN level. The product, integrated with TikTok’s new Automotive Ads for Inventory, is currently in a closed...
Master TikTok Organic? Now Target Meta for Apps
finally sharing something for app marketers. if you've figured out TT organic, Meta should be next.
CinemaCon 2026: Social Media Can Help Movie Theaters, Not Hurt Them
Cinema United and TikTok unveiled a report at CinemaCon showing that TikTok activity drives theater attendance, not the opposite. Analyzing four diverse releases—*The Housemaid*, *Sinners*, *Wicked: For Good* and *Zootopia 2*—the study found week‑over‑week TikTok engagement rose in lockstep with box‑office...
How AAC Increased Revenue by 75%, ROI by 55% with WhatsApp Marketing
Arabian Automobiles Company (AAC), Nissan’s exclusive distributor in the UAE, partnered with Omnicom Media MENA and 360Dialog to replace traditional website lead forms with click‑to‑WhatsApp ads. The conversation‑led approach fed authenticated leads directly into AAC’s CRM, enabling real‑time engagement and...
BE Introduces AMX Transmitter for AM
Broadcast Electronics (BE), now under new ownership, announced the AMX, a next‑generation 5 kW AM transmitter. The five‑rack‑unit chassis boasts ultra‑high efficiency thanks to silicon‑carbide MOSFET amplifiers, a modular design, and a reduced footprint that can be shipped via UPS or...
Digest: Meta to Overtake Google in Ad Revenue; Publicis Marks 20th Growth Quarter; Freely Launches FAST ‘Spotlight Channels’
Meta is projected to generate $243.46 bn in ad revenue in 2026, surpassing Google’s estimated $239.54 bn and taking the lead in global digital advertising spend with a 26.8% market share versus Google’s 26.4%. The shift is driven by AI‑enhanced tools and...
Philippines Digital Boom Fuels Disinformation Targeting Indigenous Peoples: Study
The Asia Centre’s new report warns that the Philippines’ rapid digitalisation is amplifying climate‑related disinformation targeting Indigenous Peoples. With 78% of the population online and digital media now generating 42% of the country’s $6.5 billion media revenue, smear campaigns and red‑tagging...
17 Best Headless CMS Platforms in 2026
Headless content management systems are rapidly overtaking traditional CMS solutions as organizations seek flexible, API‑first architectures. The market is projected to expand from $973.8 million in 2025 to $7.1 billion by 2035, a 22.6% compound annual growth rate. The article reviews 17...
Mark Allen Group Posts Pre-Tax Loss and Writes Off £5m From Bonhill Purchase
Mark Allen Group posted a pre‑tax loss of £1.4m ($1.8m) for the year to 31 March 2025 after writing off £5m ($6.3m) of its £6.5m ($8.3m) Bonhill acquisition. Revenue rose 4% to £72.1m ($91.6m), but EBITDA fell 12% to £9.3m ($11.8m). The...
Are Publishers Ready to Sell Subscriptions to AI Agents?
Publishers are confronting a new buyer persona: AI agents that can complete subscription purchases without a human at a browser. Early tools like OpenClaw demonstrate agents navigating paywalls, while the emerging Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) promises a programmatic checkout interface....
The Voice Coach Confirms Season 30 Return After Season 29 Finale
Adam Levine confirmed his return as a coach for The Voice’s Season 30, marking his 19th season on the hit music competition. The announcement came immediately after the Season 29 finale, where Levine’s team member Alexia Jayy was crowned winner. While the...
Kids' Social Media Use Doesn't Require Identity Disclosure
Whether under-16s should be on social media or not is widely contested, but no one needs to present their "identity" to social media companies. #verifiablecredentials #authentication #socialmedia #ageverification https://t.co/9cAmJlKwxA
TiVo Ads Brings Independent ACR Data Licensing to the UK
TiVo Ads has introduced its automatic content recognition (ACR) data licensing product to the UK, offering an independent, measurement‑first dataset drawn from a range of smart‑TV brands. The offering provides deterministic insight into both linear and streaming content and ad...
Stop Guessing: How to Know If Your Book Marketing Is Working
In this episode, host Thomas interviews Iri Theodoru, co‑founder of Publisher Champ, about the challenges indie authors face in measuring the true profitability of their marketing efforts. They discuss how traditional Amazon dashboards and ACOS metrics can be misleading because...
Stu Thomson Announces The Closure Of Cut Media
Stu Thomson, founder and CEO of Glasgow‑based Cut Media, announced the company’s closure after nearly two decades of producing iconic mountain‑bike content. The firm’s collaborations with Danny MacAskill generated viral videos such as *Imaginate* (94 million views), *The Ridge* (82 million) and *A Wee Day Out* (44 million),...