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.
Creator Economy NYC Partners With Social Media Week to Host Creator Economy Exchange Session on April 16
Creator Economy NYC is teaming with Social Media Week to host a "Creator Economy Exchange" during ADWEEK’s New York conference on April 16. The half‑hour session will feature eight rotating stations covering topics such as long‑form content, AI workflows, partnership rates, community building, algorithm strategy, social listening, brand deals, and scaling brand voice. Founder Brett Dashevsky markets the format as a guided tour rather than a traditional panel, and attendees can use code CENYC20 for a 20% registration discount.
Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend (April 11-12)
Talk radio’s weekly roundup highlighted five headline‑grabbing stories that dominated the airwaves from April 11‑12. Listeners heard intense debate over Iran’s nuclear talks and a potential U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, alongside the Rep. Eric Swalwell scandal. The weekend...
CAA, YouTube, Meta, and Rivian Among Speakers at Brand Innovators’ Creator Economy Summit in LA
Brand Innovators will host its Creator Economy Summit on April 23, 2026, at Dhar Mann Studios in Burbank. The one‑day event gathers senior marketers from Fortune 500 firms and fast‑growing brands to explore brand‑creator collaboration, monetization, and full‑funnel content strategies. High‑profile...
Alien: Earth: Season Two; Peter Dinklage Joins FX Sci-Fi Series
Alien: Earth announced that Oscar‑winner Peter Dinklage will join the cast as a series regular for its second season. Production shifts to London next month after the first season was shot in Thailand. FX renewed the series in November, with...
Snapchat Partners With Los Angeles Dodgers to Bring AR Lens Experiences to Dodger Stadium
Snap Inc. has teamed with the Los Angeles Dodgers to roll out Snapchat’s augmented‑reality lenses throughout Dodger Stadium this season. The deal adds in‑stadium branding, on‑site photo experiences and a dedicated AR photobooth at select games, leveraging Snap’s Cam Lens...
Meta Is Closing in on Google's Title as the World's Largest Digital Ad Platform
Meta is projected to generate $243.46 billion in net ad revenue in 2026, narrowly surpassing Google’s $239.54 billion and claiming the title of the world’s largest digital‑ad platform for the first time. The social‑media giant’s growth is driven by a 24.1% ad‑revenue...
Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco Getting His Own New Channel & Show On SiriusXM
Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco has signed a multi‑year agreement with SiriusXM to launch his own 24/7 comedy channel, Channel 99, on April 20. The channel, branded Sebastian Maniscalco’s Comedy Radio, will replace SiriusXM Raw Comedy and feature the flagship The Sebastian Maniscalco Show...
Ready, Set, Goal: Capturing Peak Attention on Soccer’s Biggest Stage
Integral Ad Science released a cross‑channel playbook titled “Ready, Set, Goal” to help advertisers capture peak attention during soccer’s biggest stage, such as the 2026 World Cup. The guide provides data‑driven benchmarks that have delivered up to three‑times return on...
Roblox Defends New Age Checks Amid Misclassification Worries
Roblox defends expanded age‑checks after parents raise concerns over errors Roblox is defending expanded age checks after parents warned kids are misclassified as adults. The system uses facial analysis and claims ~1.4-year accuracy for under-18s. Mistakes could weaken safeguards and expose children to...
Leonine Secures German‑Language Rights for Jason Statham’s ‘The Beekeeper 2’
Leonine Studios confirmed it will distribute Jason Statham’s sequel ‘The Beekeeper 2’ across German‑speaking Europe, outside Prime Video’s Pay‑1 window. The move follows the first film’s 800,000‑plus domestic admissions and signals confidence in a mid‑budget action franchise that blends global star...
Kier-La Janisse Expands Her Spectacular Optical Label Into Distribution
Canadian genre specialist Kier‑La Janisse has turned her Spectacular Optical imprint into a full‑service theatrical, streaming and home‑video distribution label. The venture launches this month with Severin Films handling U.S. home‑video releases, starting with Christopher Morris’s 2023 documentary A Year...
NYT Connections #1037 and Wordle #1759 Boost Daily Game Engagement on April 13, 2026
The New York Times rolled out Connections puzzle #1037 on April 13, 2026, pairing theater, magic, TV surnames and a “caps” wordplay theme, while Wordle #1759 delivered the rare word “ELFIN” with an average of 5.3 guesses. Both games attracted...
Marketing Director
FlightStory, a media company and investment fund focused on creator‑led IP, is hiring a Marketing Director to build a systematic marketing engine across its portfolio. The role will design virality frameworks, channel strategies, and owned‑audience systems that turn attention into...
Wavelength Appoints Matt Kline as Chief Growth Officer Amid LA Campus Expansion
Wavelength announced the hiring of Matt Kline as Chief Growth Officer as it opens a new 10,000‑square‑foot campus in Los Angeles. The move pairs a seasoned brand‑commerce executive with a physical hub designed to accelerate the studio’s branded‑entertainment projects across...
Podcast Ad Sales Account Executive
Realm is hiring a Podcast Ad Sales Account Executive for its direct‑sales team, targeting candidates in Chicago, New York/New Jersey, or California. The role manages the full sales cycle, from prospecting and pitch‑deck creation to campaign optimization and billing, while collaborating with...
5 Ways to Turn Instagram Demand Into Direct Bookings
GuestCentric warns that many hotels treat Instagram as a siloed channel, missing out on direct bookings. A €250 ($275) stay can lose $41‑$68 in OTA commissions when guests are diverted from Instagram to third‑party sites. The article outlines five tactics—clear...
Prime Video's New Ultra Plan Officially Launches
Amazon has rebranded its ad‑free tier as Prime Video Ultra, launching it officially in April. The new plan costs $14 per month as a standalone service or adds $5 to existing Prime memberships, with an annual option at $46. Ultra...
Creator Partnerships Lead
Supercast, the podcast subscription platform behind shows like Huberman Lab and This American Life, has been acquired by Red Seat Ventures, a Fox Corp. company, signaling a new phase of investment and expansion. The firm is hiring a Creator Partnerships...
Hearst Built A Unified Ad Marketplace To Simplify Omnichannel News Buys
Hearst announced a unified programmatic ad marketplace that bundles inventory from its TV stations, newspapers and digital news sites into a single offering. The new Hearst News network lets agencies buy across the company’s local‑news footprint using their existing DSPs,...
Robert P. Richardson Named WHBQ VP-GM
Rincon Broadcasting Group has appointed Robert P. Richardson as vice president and general manager of WHBQ (Fox 13) in Memphis. Richardson previously led ABC affiliate WICS‑WICD and oversaw Fox and CW stations in the Champaign‑Springfield market. His career spans senior sales...
Second & Final Season Of ‘Black Sands’ Launching On The Viaplay Streaming Service In The U.S.
Viaplay will launch the eight‑part second and final season of Icelandic crime drama *Black Sands* on May 14, 2026, releasing two episodes per week in the U.S. The series, starring and co‑written by Aldis Amah Hamilton, continues the investigation of...
Hugh Bonneville Soccer Satire ‘Twenty Twenty Six’ Scores Twice In America With BritBox & Tubi Deal
BBC Studios has secured distribution for the soccer‑satire sitcom "Twenty Twenty Six" on two U.S. platforms, BritBox and Tubi, launching May 1. The six‑part series stars Hugh Bonneville reprising his Ian Fletcher role alongside a North‑American cast. The dual, non‑exclusive deal...
How Malaysia Airlines Is Using AI to Speed up Campaign Production
Malaysia Airlines has partnered with creative‑automation firm Kingdom Digital to overhaul its marketing workflow. The AI‑driven Digital Creative Automation model can slash campaign production times by up to 80% while supporting human oversight. The system generates localized assets for more...
Top 100 Connected TV (CTV) Bundle IDs in March 2026
Pixalate released its March 2026 Top 100 Connected TV (CTV) Bundle ID rankings, analyzing over 1 billion programmatic impressions across 851 apps. The data show Hulu’s bundle ID (2285) topping the Roku list, while PlutoTV (ID 751712884) leads on Apple TV. Rankings span Roku, Apple TV,...
The Next Era of OpenX: The Intelligent SSP
OpenX announced a rebrand as the "Intelligent SSP," emphasizing AI‑driven simplicity and transparency. The company highlights three pillars—quality, performance and adaptability—backed by a cloud‑native platform and a proprietary supply‑side identity graph. By cutting intermediaries and fraud, OpenX aims to deliver...
The Economist Is Putting Names (and Faces) to Its Magazine
The Economist, long known for its anonymous bylines, is launching Economist Play, a new video component of its mobile app slated for summer 2026. The service will feature shows hosted by correspondents from studios in New York and London, along...
YouTube Is Raising Premium Prices in the U.S. While Denying that It's Serving up Long, Un-Skippable Ads
YouTube announced its first U.S. price increase for Premium and Music subscriptions since 2023. The individual Premium plan rises from $13.99 to $15.99 per month, the family tier jumps to $26.99, and the Lite tier goes to $8.99; Music plans...
Ego‑Free Conference Sparks Real Connections and Honest Collaboration
Last week was such a blast. Spent all week hanging out in ASSSPENNN (cue Dumb and Dumber) talking shop with some incredible people. @Bbruhis created such a unique event. I mean where else could you be talking about agentic AI...
Tackling Misinformation and Political Labels
The American Press Institute urges newsrooms to scrutinize political labels and prepare for election‑season misinformation. It recommends pre‑defining label usage, auditing recent stories, and developing transparent style‑guide entries. The guide also advises creating boilerplate fact‑checks and tracking falsehood sources to...
AI Is Reshaping Earned Media, and PR Pros Need to Adapt
Artificial intelligence is reshaping earned media by influencing editorial decisions and search discoverability. A recent study shows AI‑optimized stories are 68% more likely to be run, while 230 million weekly global health queries rely on ChatGPT, with 82% of citations drawn...
Tech Deal Promotes Conversations Between Journalists And Those Who Follow Their Stories
Noosphere, a New York‑based news platform, has signed a multiyear licensing agreement with Sky News to embed its app that lets audiences converse directly with journalists via video and text. The partnership will initially be tested with Sky’s defense and...
News Sites Block Wayback Machine Over AI Copyright Fears
The AI Data Wars Rage On -> Originality AI: 23 major news websites and Reddit block the Internet Archive's crawler; journalists and advocacy groups sign a letter supporting the Archive "Other publishers have justified their decision to block the Wayback Machine...
Vlast Relaunch Offers Rare Kremlin Insight Amid War
The newsletter led by the great @faridaily_, the best-sourced reporter on the Russian elite, has relaunched as @vlast. As Putin's war grinds on and access to reliable information about the Kremlin gets even harder, there couldn't be a better time...
AI Is Nothing Without Data Fidelity. Here’s A Four-Step Approach to Protect It
AI’s effectiveness in advertising hinges on the fidelity of the data that fuels it. The industry often relies on inferred or fragmented signals, which degrade model accuracy and erode trust. A four‑step framework—starting with quality inputs, building low‑degradation infrastructure, demanding...
Judge Dismisses Trump's Lawsuit Over WSJ Epstein Story
NEW: A judge has granted The Wall Street Journal's motion to dismiss President Trump's complaint over its Epstein reporting https://t.co/VWqnnfh1I3
Gen Z Skips Websites, Lives Inside Apps and Games
Young people (20s) barely use websites, 70% prefer apps, they mostly exist inside apps and games not websites
Meet the Newest ‘Running Point’ Character: Jake From State Farm
State Farm announced a co‑branded partnership with Netflix’s basketball comedy *Running Point*, inserting its mascot Jake from State Farm into Season 2 as a scripted character. The move marks the first time Jake appears in a television narrative rather than a...
Snap‑Perplexity Deal Valued at 7% of 2025 Sales
Curious indicator for the Snap / Perplexity deal. Perplexity’s $400MM payment to Snap (undisclosed mix of cash / equity) would have represented ~7% of Snap’s 2025 sales. Snap noted in Q4 earnings that the integration had been delayed due to...
How Jake From State Farm Made His TV Debut in Netflix’s ‘Running Point’
State Farm has teamed with Netflix for an integrated campaign around the sports comedy series “Running Point,” featuring its mascot Jake from State Farm in a first‑ever TV debut within the show. The partnership includes a co‑branded pre‑roll spot starring...
Deeper Influencer Messaging For Linear's Old-School Ad Ecosystem?
Influencer creators are increasingly being featured in traditional 30‑second linear TV spots, blurring the line between social‑media ads and broadcast commercials. Brands argue that a personal, influencer‑driven tone can counteract consumer fatigue with corporate‑sounding messaging. The article examines whether addressable...
Algorithm Cuts NFL Streaming Costs by 60%
D.C. Memo: Die-Hard @Eagles Fan in Indiana Created ‘Optimization Algorithm’ to Slash His Annual @NFL Streaming Bill by 60%; HUDDLEMAXX relies on ‘strategic trial stacking’ to time free trials and promotional windows to help NFL fans cut their...
New Lottery Podcast to Quiz Celebs on £200m Question
Allwyn, the operator of the UK National Lottery, is launching season three of its “Rich Beyond My Wildest Dreams” podcast, expanding to eight episodes with celebrities like Paloma Faith, Matt Lucas and Mo Gilligan. The series asks guests how they...
Google AdSense Will Experiment With New Ad Technology Partners
Google announced that AdSense will begin experimenting with an updated roster of commonly used ad‑technology partners on August 20, 2026, after a preliminary rollout starting April 20, 2026. The trial will assess partner performance and privacy compliance, with a full list update slated for...
Danish Jazz Artists Rage at AI Tracks Released Under Their Names
Danish jazz musicians, including Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman, Chris Minh Doky, Lennart Ginman and Mikkel Ploug, discovered AI‑generated tracks falsely listed under their names on Spotify. The artists complained that the fake releases cluttered their profiles and received little assistance...
Gistvox Declares War on Synthetic Noise With New Web Audio Studio
Gistvox launched a web audio studio, letting users record, edit, and publish two‑minute human‑only audio posts called Gists from any browser. The tool syncs with its iOS and Android apps, offering folder organization and cross‑platform parity. The platform enforces a...
The New Publisher Challenge
Publishers are grappling with shrinking traffic from AI‑driven search and chronic staff cuts, forcing them to rethink how they create, adapt, and monetize content. The article proposes a five‑step operating model—Create, Transform, Distribute, Engage, Monetize—anchored by AI tools that repurpose...
Pub.Call: Revenue Now (March 26, 2026)
The latest Pub.Call edition zeroes in on actionable tactics for publishers to lift Q2 earnings, urging a shift from traditional page‑view metrics to revenue per session. It highlights four technology partners that provide plug‑and‑play tools designed for rapid deployment and...
Social Media Was Once a Great Global Conversation. Now It’s Just Individuals Locked Into Their Own Private Worlds | Tom...
Tom Whyman reflects on how social media has shifted from a global, participatory conversation to isolated, algorithm‑driven experiences. He cites Ofcom data showing UK adult posting rates dropping from 61% to 49% in a year, driven by privacy concerns, AI‑generated...
Displayce Powers Ubisoft’s Multi-Country DOOH Campaign for Just Dance 2026
Ubisoft teamed with Displayce, Artefact and VIOOH to launch a programmatic digital‑out‑of‑home (DOOH) campaign for Just Dance 2026 across the UK, France, Germany and Australia. The effort ran on 179 premium screens—86% in shopping malls—targeting families within 0.5‑1 km of key retailers such...
Paramount / Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Inquiry
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened a Phase 1 invitation to comment on the proposed merger between Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery. The regulator has already received the required pre‑notification documents and is now asking any interested party to...