Today's Media Pulse
Publicis resumes recommending The Trade Desk after fee dispute
Publicis has lifted its ban and is again recommending The Trade Desk to advertisers, ending a months‑long clash over alleged hidden ad‑tech fees. The dispute had driven The Trade Desk’s shares down roughly 13% and prompted the exit of its chief marketing officer. Both firms issued a joint statement confirming the reconciliation.
Also developing:
By the numbers: K-LOVE acquires Baltimore station in undisclosed deal
UK Marketing Budgets Revised Upwards Despite Geopolitical Unrest
UK advertisers are lifting their marketing budgets despite ongoing geopolitical unrest, according to a new Campaign report. The upward revisions signal a strategic push to preserve competitive advantage as market challenges persist. While exact figures were not disclosed, analysts estimate an average increase of roughly 3‑5% year‑over‑year. The trend underscores confidence in the sector’s resilience and a willingness to invest in growth‑driving channels.
#ThisWeek on MarkLives MEDIA: WhatsApp Open Rates Hard to Ignore • #NextWeek: OOH & SA Consumers
WhatsApp is emerging as a powerhouse marketing channel, delivering roughly 98% open rates and strong conversion metrics that eclipse traditional email campaigns. Experts caution that the platform’s effectiveness hinges on disciplined execution, including strict opt‑in practices and tailored messaging. Marketers...
Ratings
Euphoria’s Season 3 premiere attracted 8.5 million viewers across HBO and HBO Max in its first three days, a 44% jump from the second‑season debut and propelling the series to the No. 1 spot on HBO Max globally. Meanwhile, the Masters golf tournament delivered strong...
Scripps Sports Rides the Bull
Scripps Sports has secured a multiyear partnership with Professional Bull Riders to broadcast Premier Women’s Rodeo on its Ion and Grit networks, beginning with the 2026 PWR Championship on May 17. The agreement expands in 2027 to include the original...
How AI’s Rewiring Brand-Agency Relationships
Artificial intelligence is turning the agency‑client dynamic from a transactional grind into a strategic partnership. As AI automates routine revisions and production, the remaining value lies in human insight, brand positioning and measurable business impact. This shift is polarising the...
Roku Hits 100 Million Milestone
Roku announced that its platform reached 100 million active streaming households in April, marking a key milestone in its user base. The company said more than half of U.S. broadband households now use Roku devices, and its engagement outpaces Amazon Fire...
Google One Discount Takes 50% Off YouTube Premium for a Year
Google One is offering a limited‑time 50% discount on YouTube Premium for a year, cutting the $15.99‑per‑month price to $7.99 for eligible subscribers. The promotion applies only to Google One Premium members who pay $9.99 per month for 2 TB of storage or...
Amazon Sellers Boycott Ads
Amazon announced that, beginning April 15, 2026, advertising fees will be automatically deducted from sellers' retail proceeds, prompting a 24‑hour boycott by the Million Dollar Sellers community, which represents over 700 vendors and $14 billion in revenue. After strong pushback, Amazon...
The FTC Ordered WPP, Publicis, and Dentsu to Stop Coordinating on Brand Safety Standards It Says Led to a Boycott...
The Federal Trade Commission, joined by several states, issued a consent order prohibiting WPP, Publicis and Dentsu from coordinating brand‑safety standards that diverted advertising spend from conservative media. The action follows a similar order on Omnicom tied to its $13.5 billion...
Meta's New Link‑click Focus Inflates Traffic, Drops CVR
Traffic up and CVR down lately? Here are 2 of the causes: 1. Meta made ads more link-clicky. Swiping up to view comments on reels (see post below) or tapping to expand feed ads can now drive link clicks to site....
OpenAI Is Moving Toward Click-Based and Conversion-Focused ChatGPT Ad Pricing as Its Early Ad Pilot Struggles to Gain Traction
OpenAI announced it will switch its ChatGPT ad pilot to cost‑per‑click (CPC) pricing within days and begin testing conversion‑focused campaigns. The early experiment has lagged, with advertisers hesitant to exceed modest test budgets due to limited measurement tools and low...
The Approval Matrix Revolutions
Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff is reportedly preparing to sell multiple assets, including the Vox Media Podcast Network, New York magazine, and its portfolio of digital brands such as The Verge, Eater, and SB Nation. The sales are being brokered by LionTree,...
Nine Snatches Netball TV Rights From Foxtel
Nine secured a five‑year partnership with Netball Australia, taking over broadcast and streaming rights for Suncorp Super Netball, Australian Diamonds matches, and the 2027 Netball World Cup from Foxtel. The agreement delivers free‑to‑air coverage on the Nine Network alongside streaming...
TFM Digital Launches ‘That F*cking Marketing (TFM) Podcast’
TFM Digital has launched the "That F*cking Marketing" podcast, a weekly audio series that cuts through generic Australian marketing advice. The inaugural season debuts three episodes featuring CEO Taylor Fielding, CCO Mathew Fielding, and guests such as Mamamia CEO Natalie...
David Zaslav and the Tyranny of Incentives
Paramount Global and Skydance are poised to acquire Warner Bros Discovery in a cash transaction that shareholders will vote on April 23. The deal, valued at a multi‑billion‑dollar cash offer, comes as Warner’s stock trades about 12 % below that price, underscoring the premium...
The Verdict on Social Media Addiction
Recent jury verdicts find Meta and YouTube liable for harms linked to their engineered platform designs, signaling a legal shift from viewing social media as a neutral tool to a product that can cause addiction. The rulings highlight how infinite...
Audacy/Boston Morning Co-Host Named A MIW Airblazer
Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) announced that Kennedy Elsey, co‑host of the Karson & Kennedy morning show on Boston’s MIX 104.1, will receive the 11th annual 2026 MIW Airblazer Award. The accolade, created through MIW’s 2015 partnership with Talentmasters Morning...
Why I’ll Never Put My Best Content Behind a Paywall. And How That Decision Made Me More Money.
The author argues that writers should keep their strongest pieces free, using them as marketing to attract new readers, while monetizing through simple digital products and later a paid community. He cites his own Substack, which grew to 17,000 subscribers...
“IMPACT X Nightline: The Monster At The Beach” Coming Soon To Hulu & Disney+
Disney announced the documentary “IMPACT x Nightline: The Monster at the Beach,” debuting on Hulu and Disney+ on April 16 2026. The four‑hour film investigates the Gilgo Beach serial killings, tracing how investigators linked architect Rex Heuermann to eight victims. It features new interviews...
Social Media Has Positive Benefits for Teens
New Pew Research data from April 2026 surveyed 1,458 U.S. teens and a parent each, examining usage of TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. The study finds teens turn to TikTok for entertainment and product information, while Snapchat is favored for private...
Is Marshals Returning for Season 2?
*Marshals* debuted on CBS to a strong start, pulling 30.6 million viewers in its first month, second only to Netflix’s *Stranger Things* season 5. While early episodes felt like a standard task‑force procedural, recent installments have deepened Kayce Dutton’s personal storyline, exploring...
Today in 1990, This Groundbreaking Comedy Series Made Its Debut
In Living Color debuted on April 15, 1990 on FOX, quickly becoming a cultural touchstone for sketch comedy and Black entertainment. Created by Keenen Ivory Wayans, the series ran five seasons, earned a 1990 Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or...
CBS CEO Says Late Night Deal with Byron Allen Is “Temporary”
Paramount’s CBS announced a one‑year paid‑programming deal with comedian Byron Allen, replacing Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” with Allen’s “Comics Unleashed” and “Funny You Should Ask.” CBS co‑CEO George Cheeks framed the arrangement as a temporary stopgap while the network re‑evaluates its...
Matt LeBlanc Is Poised to Return to TV as a Burned-Out LAPD Detective / LL Cool J and Scott Caan...
Matt LeBlanc is set to return to broadcast television as the lead of CBS’s new drama "Flint," playing a burned‑out LAPD detective. The series is in development for the 2027‑2028 season, marking LeBlanc’s first major network role since "Friends." CBS...
NCIS Franchise Now up to Seven Total Spin-Offs Thanks to LL Cool J's NCIS: New York
CBS announced the production of NCIS: New York, its seventh spin‑off in the long‑running NCIS franchise. The series will star Scott Caan alongside LL Cool J, who returns as special agent Sean Hanna from NCIS: Los Angeles. Veteran NCIS writer‑producer R. Scott Gemmill is penning...
CBS Greenlights 'NCIS' Spin-Off With Popular Character Returning to the Franchise
CBS has greenlit a seventh NCIS series, NCIS: New York, bringing back LL Cool J as Agent Sam Hanna. The spin‑off pairs Hanna with Scott Caan’s roguish agent for high‑stakes missions in New York City. It will debut this fall on CBS, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT,...
Shrinking Got Another FYC Event
Apple TV+ series "Shrinking" has launched an early For Your Consideration (FYC) push ahead of the Emmy submission deadline in May, with first ballots expected in June. The campaign spotlights lead actor Harrison Ford’s performance, which critics hope will earn...
Meta Simplifies Ad Performance Elements
Meta introduced AI‑enhanced tools to simplify its Pixel and a one‑click setup for the Conversions API. The new Pixel feature automatically adds product names, availability and business details to event data, reducing manual coding. The Conversions API can now be...
When Dolly Parton Appeared on 'Reba'
Country music legends Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire teamed up in 2005 when Parton guest‑starred on the sitcom Reba. In the episode “Reba’s Rules of Real Estate,” aired April 15, she portrayed Dolly Majors, a cut‑throat real‑estate mogul. The pair...
Which Car Brands Dominate Quu’s In-Vehicle Visuals Report?
Quu’s newly released In‑Vehicle Visuals Report examines how radio metadata appears in the United States’ top 100 new‑car models. Toyota tops the list, representing 12% of those models, followed by Ford at 10% and Chevrolet, Honda and Nissan each holding...
David Baldacci Marks 30 Years of Bestsellers with New Thriller ‘Hope Rises’
Bestselling author David Baldacci celebrated 30 years of global hits and announced his new novel, Hope Rises, slated for an April 14 launch. The veteran thriller writer used the milestone to discuss his craft, research habits, and the evolving publishing...
CBS 60 Minutes Segment Accused of One‑S
🚨News: @danielsuhr @center_amrights tells @CBSNews ombudsman Kenneth Weinstein, with @BrendanCarrFCC cc'd, that @NorahODonnell post @TheMasters 60 Minutes segment was “a one-sided hit piece delivered on a high ratings show at the same time as other efforts to push Catholic voters...
A Swift Spin For Tom and Cheryl Hodgins
On March 14, 2025, Alexandra Communications, led by Tom and Cheryl Hodgins, finalized an agreement to acquire three FM radio stations in Eastern Oregon from Pacific Empire Radio Corp. Within weeks, the Hodgins‑owned firm announced it would divest one of...
Paramount‑Skydance’s $110 B Warner Bros. Deal Sparks Massive Industry Backlash
Paramount Skydance’s $110 billion bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery has drawn an open‑letter protest from more than 2,000 film and television professionals. Critics warn the deal would shrink the studio landscape, raise antitrust concerns and threaten creative freedom. Regulators in...
‘Leanne’ Season 2 Wraps Filming at Netflix Ahead of 2026 Return
Netflix has officially wrapped filming on the second season of the multi‑camera comedy *Leanne*, which was shot in Los Angeles from late January through early March 2026 before a live studio audience. The series, created by Chuck Lorre and Leanne...
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini Resigns Amid NFL Insider Investigation
Dianna Russini stepped down from The Athletic on April 14 after the outlet opened an internal probe into photos showing her with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. The resignation, accompanied by a defiant letter, underscores a brewing ethics debate in...
Later Names Mohsin Hussain as CTO to Accelerate AI‑Driven Influencer Platform
Later announced the appointment of Mohsin Hussain, former LiveRamp CTO, as its new chief technology officer. Hussain will steer the development of the company’s EdgeAI predictive engine, a move aimed at capitalizing on Later’s $2.7 billion in verified influencer‑driven purchases and...
Cumulus Media Bankruptcy Plan Approved
A federal judge in Texas has approved Cumulus Media's reorganization plan, erasing $592 million of debt and securing up to $100 million in lender financing to sustain operations. The plan keeps CEO Mary Berner and CFO Francisco Lopez‑Balboa at the helm through...
Twitch Sponsorships Still Underpay Creators versus Competitors
Twitch Sponsorships continue to underpay creators... so sad, after the very fair Minecraft campaign. Twitch: Max $78.72 (Creators usually hit 40-60% of payout.) Sponsorship Platform: $80 Guaranteed (+).
Vox Media CEO Poised to Sell Multiple Assets
NEW: Vox Media C.E.O. Jim Bankoff is likely to agree to multiple deals to sell various assets of his company, including the Vox Media Podcast Network, New York magazine, and the portfolio of digital brands…. Full details @PuckNews: https://t.co/hfYxhq0oky
Northern California Public Media Debuts New Video Podcast Series A Fighting Chance on Major Platforms
Northern California Public Media has launched a new video and audio podcast series, “A Fighting Chance,” on major platforms including YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. The series repurposes the Emmy‑winning “Climate California” documentary into a digital‑first format that blends investigative...
Misinformation Is Easier to Manage in Traditional Media
The funny thing about this (aside from everything) is that from a comms POV, dealing with misinformation in traditional media is pretty straightforward compared to dealing with it on social platforms.
FX Launches Award‑winning “Fargo” Anthology Series, 2014
📺 April 15, 2014: “Fargo”, Noah Hawley’s award-winning dark comedic crime anthology series inspired by the 1996 feature film of the same name, debuted on FX. Its inaugural season starred Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, Colin Hanks and Martin Freeman…...
Oxford Road Shares The Secrets To True Crime Podcast Ad Effectiveness
Oxford Road released its ORBIT ranking of the top‑performing true‑crime podcasts, drawing on more than $1.6 billion in campaign data from over 500 advertisers. The analysis shows true‑crime is the second‑largest spend genre, ranking in the top 20 % for ad efficiency, yet...
HBO's 'Girls' Premiered April 2012, Launching Dunham's Hit
📺 April 15, 2012: “Girls”, the comedy-drama created by and starring Lena Dunham about the lives of four young women in New York City, debuted on HBO. It also starred Allison Williams, Zosia Mamet, Adam Driver and Andrew Rannells. It...
User Growth Is Genuine, Not Just Bots
Oh yeah this app's user growth totally isn't just bots. It's all very real human beings with interesting things to say https://t.co/XE2VNIpybV
Journalists' Inverted Pyramid Gives Edge in LLM Parsing
I think journalists have a real edge within the AEO space in that the way they write (inverted pyramid) is similar to how LLMs parse information. More in the latest ep of Fan Out, full version here: https://t.co/E2fjVpipcr https://t.co/VFNewbyhiP
Dropout Adds 11 Emmy Categories, Vic Michaelis Enters Race
Dropout’s Emmys Surprise: ‘Game Changer’ and ‘Very Important People’ Enter 11 Categories as Vic Michaelis Joins Lead Comedy Actress Race (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/tNMM9W3Jce via @variety @dropout
CBS Greenlights “Flint” Starring JB Flint, a Rogue Cop
They finally made @JBFlint into a TV show? CBS developing "Flint," about “a burnt-out LAPD detective who, on the verge of retirement, is blindsided when the city extends his service... Determined to get fired, he breaks rules and disobeys orders..." https://t.co/Qy9GxVOLMB
NHL Ratings Surge 47% Post‑Olympic Break
TNT says NHL viewership accelerated after February's Olympic break. For the rest of the season, games averaged 453,000 viewers, up 47% over the equivalent period from 2025