Today's Media Pulse
Nielsen data shows radio gaining audience among World Cup fans
Nielsen measurements reveal a surge in radio listening among World Cup viewers, giving the medium a new foothold during the tournament. Complementary data shows overall football viewership continuing to rise across the United States.
Also developing:
By the numbers: GBH merges operations with New England Public Media
TV Ratings (28/4/2026): Albo’s Guest Appearance On The Hundred Wins The Night
Channel Nine’s entertainment flagship *The Hundred* captured the night’s top spot on April 28, 2026, drawing a national reach of 1,574,000 and an average audience of 739,000. The season‑premiere featured Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whose appearance helped the show register a 98% recognition rate among the panel. Following the premiere, Nine’s *Clarkson’s Farm* posted a 1,232,000 reach, taking second place, while Channel Seven’s *The Chase* delivered a 1,469,000 reach, landing fifth overall.
Eco-Business' Podcast Series Wins at WAN-IFRA Asian Digital Media Awards
Eco‑Business’s eight‑episode podcast series “On the frontlines,” launched in early 2025, won the WAN‑IFRA Asian Digital Media Awards 2026 “Best Use of Audio” in the small‑and‑medium media category. The series examines how Asian chief sustainability officers are pressured to prove...
To Misinformation Researchers, AI Is a Scourge—And a Powerful New Tool
Researchers tracking the Russian‑run site DCWeekly.org discovered a sudden shift to generative AI, dramatically increasing the volume of propaganda without losing credibility. An EU report shows AI‑generated disinformation accounted for 27% of foreign influence attempts in 2025, nearly three times...
Changing a Book’s Release Date Creates Logistical and Marketing Chaos
Moving a pub date means a logistics nightmare. It happens but not generally as in "let's pull this from October and move it to April." Not only are distributors and bookstores going to be irritated if you change your dates,...
Canceled Sitcom From The Simpsons Showrunners Is ‘Closer Than Ever’ to a Revival
Al Jean, co‑creator Mike Reiss and voice talent Jon Lovitz announced they are actively developing a reboot of the 1990s animated series The Critic. The trio said the project is "closer than ever" to moving forward, citing renewed enthusiasm after...
Disney’s New CEO Decides to Keep ESPN After Looking At Spinning It Off Into Its Own Company
Disney announced that it will retain full ownership of ESPN, shelving earlier speculation about a spin‑off. The decision, made by new CEO Josh D’Amaro, aligns the sports network with Disney’s broader streaming push, integrating ESPN into Disney+, Hulu and its...
Adam Sandler’s 16% RT Movie Beats Denis Villeneuve’s Sci-Fi Epic on Free Streaming
Adam Sandler’s 2014 romantic comedy Blended has risen to the number‑one spot on Pluto TV’s U.S. streaming chart, overtaking Denis Villeneuve’s Oscar‑winning sci‑fi drama Arrival, which sits at second. Despite a 16% Rotten Tomatoes rating, Blended’s modest $40‑45 million budget turned...
Tony Dokoupil's CBS News Hits Record Low Viewership
Scoop: Tony Dokoupil's "CBS Evening News" ratings keep getting worse. Last week was his lowest-rated week on record, averaging only 3.7 million viewers. He has now posted three consecutive weeks under 4 million viewers—reliably slipping below a once-unthinkable threshold.
UK Set To Join Australia In Booting U16s Off Social Media
The UK government announced plans to restrict or ban social‑media access for children under 16, following Australia’s December 2025 rollout. Education Minister Olivia Bailey told Parliament that a public consultation launched in March will shape the mechanism, after the House of Lords...
MrBeast Production Companies Hit with Gender Harassment Lawsuit Over Maternity Leave Termination
A former employee has filed a lawsuit against MrBeastYouTube, LLC and GameChanger 24/7, LLC, claiming gender‑based harassment and retaliation after returning from maternity leave. The complaint alleges she was fired three weeks after her return, spotlighting workplace‑culture challenges in rapidly...
AI Face Swap Tools in 2026: A New Trend HR Can’t Ignore
AI face‑swap software such as AISaver is reshaping how creators edit images and videos by automating realistic facial replacements with a single click. The cloud‑based platform requires no specialized hardware, processes files in seconds, and adjusts lighting and shadows to...
Huace and Utopai Studios Partner on Long-Form AI-Driven Content Creation
Huace Film & TV Co., one of China’s largest content producers, has signed a partnership with U.S.-based Utopai Studios to embed its PAI cinematic storytelling AI across the company’s long‑form production pipeline. The agreement features a sizable annual usage commitment...
Government Spends £60k on Podcast Promotion for Digital ID Consultation
The UK government has allocated £62,817 (≈$80,000) to promote its digital identity public consultation via podcast ads on Acast and Audioboom. The 12‑week campaign runs until 5 May, aiming to broaden participation beyond traditional media channels. Minister James Frith emphasized that...
Summer House Recap: Soft Launch
Bravo’s "Summer House" Season 10 Episode 13, titled “Ship Happens,” earned a three‑star editor rating as the cast navigated escalating relationship drama. While Ciara and West appeared cordial, speculation grew about a budding romance, whereas Amanda and Kyle’s marriage unraveled at a...
Will R.J. Decker Be Renewed for Season 2? Current Status Revealed
R.J. Decker, ABC’s new crime drama, remains in limbo as the network has neither renewed nor canceled the series for a second season. With only a handful of episodes aired, ABC is still evaluating ratings, audience reaction, and overall performance...
Nine Leads Q1 Ratings as Cross-Platform Audiences Grow
Nine Entertainment posted strong Q1 2026 audience growth across its broadcast, BVOD and streaming assets, securing the No. 1 metro rating for total people and key demographics. The 9Network captured a 55% share of prime‑time minutes among 16‑39‑year‑olds, while 9Now matched...
Saturday TV Ratings: Freddie Mercury, CIA, The Wall, NBA Playoffs, MLB Baseball
Saturday, April 25, 2026, saw a ratings sweep dominated by live sports and special programming. MLB baseball, the NBA tip‑off and the 2026 NBA playoffs anchored the evening, while the music documentary Freddie Mercury: The Final Act attracted notable attention....
‘News to Me’: SRN CEO Shuts Down Chris Smith Claims They’re Returning to Ratings
Super Radio Network CEO Graham Mott denied on‑air host Chris Smith's claim that Sydney station 2SM will re‑enter the GfK radio ratings in 2027, saying no decisions have been made and the comment was "news to me." 2SM has operated...
Massachusetts Proposes up to 5% Streaming Fee to Fund Community TV
Massachusetts legislators are drafting a bill that would impose a fee of up to 5% on streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu. The revenue would replace shrinking cable franchise fees and keep more than 250 community‑media outlets on the...
Disney Reshuffles Streaming Commerce and Data Units After SVP Ajay Arora Exits
Disney announced that senior vice president Ajay Arora will leave on April 30, prompting a reorganization of its Commerce & Identity and Data Product groups. The changes place commerce under product management and shift data engineering to the ad‑platform side,...
ARRIVALS INCOMING
Comic publisher Mythic Powered announced the launch of ARRIVALS, the next installment in its 3 Worlds / 3 Moons series, on Thursday, April 30, 2026. The 120‑page story is written by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Spencer and features artwork from six notable illustrators. ARRIVALS...
Friday TV Ratings: Happy’s Place, Sheriff Country, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, NFL Draft, UFL Football
On Friday, April 24, 2026, TV ratings were released for a mix of new episodes, sports events and reruns. New episodes of Sheriff Country, Fire Country, Boston Blue, Happy’s Place and Dateline NBC aired, while UFL Football featured the Defenders at the Stallions and the...
Viaplay Turns EBITDA Positive After Allente Deal, Shifts to ‘Value Over Volume’
Viaplay Group reported its first quarterly results that fully include the Allente pay‑TV acquisition, swinging EBITDA to a positive SEK101m ($11m) and free cash flow to SEK700m ($77m). The Swedish streamer said it will now prioritize “value over volume,” focusing...
Meta's Engaged‑click Removal Hurts High‑engagement Brands
My tinfoil hat is Meta underestimated what removing the "engaged click" from click attribution would do to the modeling and it's essentially broken. The brands that didn't have a ton of "engaged clicks" are not seeing the same impacts as...
Legacy Media Sensationalizes Cautious Science for Profit
Legacy media turns cautious scientific findings & statements into sensational headlines, then seeks out quotes from critics calling it hype It’s not journalism. It’s business https://t.co/l1qcyhYTMQ
OpenAI Rolls Out $3‑$5 CPC Ads in ChatGPT, Targeting Performance Marketers
OpenAI introduced cost‑per‑click (CPC) advertising inside ChatGPT, letting brands bid $3‑$5 per click. The move pits the AI chat platform against Google Search and Meta, raising questions about intent, pricing and the viability of a single‑session marketing funnel.
Ben Thompson Launches New Subscription Platform, Ankler Migrates
feel like the bigger news here is that Ben Thompson is building a subscription platform? super sick
NCIS: Los Angeles Launched as NCIS Backdoor Pilot
📺 April 28, 2009: “NCIS: Los Angeles” aired as the first of a two-part backdoor pilot on “NCIS” on CBS. Originally entitled “NCIS: Legend”, the action procedural starred Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J and ran for 14 seasons. https://t.co/oN7fKjY6qs...
MLB Directs Cleveland Guardians to Adjust Broadcast Team
Major League Baseball’s Local Media unit has instructed the Cleveland Guardians to rotate their veteran broadcast team, mixing longtime play‑by‑play announcer Matt Underwood and analyst Rick Manning with newer voices such as Al Pawlowski and former catcher Chris Gimenez. The...
Billy Crystal's '61*' Revives 1961 Yankees Home Run Race
📺⚾️ April 28, 2001: Historical baseball TV movie “61*” premiered on HBO. Directed by Yankee fan Billy Crystal, it starred Barry Pepper and Thomas Jane as New York Yankees sluggers Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, respectively, during their 1961 chase...
Sweden: Limited Impact From Spotify on Audiobook Market
In the first quarter of 2026, roughly 15 percent of Swedes aged 15‑74—about 1.2 million people—listened to audiobooks each day, according to Mediavision. Fewer than 70,000 of those listeners used Spotify as their sole audiobook source, showing the platform’s modest reach. Audiobooks...
Megyn Kelly Fumes at ABC for Sacking Chris Harrison But Not Jimmy Kimmel: ‘Make Them Play by Their Own Rules’...
Megyn Kelly publicly criticized ABC on her SiriusXM show, accusing the network of a double standard after it dismissed "Bachelor" host Chris Harrison for alleged racist remarks while allowing Jimmy Kimmel’s joke about the president’s family to go unpunished. Kelly...
The NFL’s September Surprise
The NFL is negotiating new media‑rights agreements worth billions of dollars ahead of the 2026 season, but heightened scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission and a Department of Justice antitrust probe threatens to slow progress. Analyst Mike Morris of Guggenheim...
Twitch Trials Weekly Badge that Boosts Watch Rewards
Twitch is testing a new Weekly Rewards Badge. The badge upgrades the more you watch each week, and rewards additional channel points.
Broadcasting Faces Break‑glass Moment Amid Ad‑dollar Squeeze
Didn't someone call this a "break-glass moment" for broadcasting? “It’s no secret that business has been tough in traditional media for a number of years. Ad dollars are spread very thin, companies are doing everything they can to...
Trump's FCC Chair Punishes ABC Over Kimmel
The Federal Communications Commission, led by Trump‑appointed chair Brendan Carr, ordered ABC to submit license renewal applications for its eight owned‑and‑operated stations within 30 days, ostensibly to investigate Disney’s diversity initiatives but widely seen as retaliation for Jimmy Kimmel’s on‑air...
How to Sell a Genocide: Adam Johnson Exposes Media Complicity
The Citations Needed podcast is releasing a special episode with Adam Johnson, co‑host and author of “How to Sell a Genocide,” which examines how U.S. mainstream media has framed Israel’s war in Gaza. Johnson argues that outlets such as MSNBC...
How Tony Dokoupil Became the Face of ‘Zionist Fanatic’ Bari Weiss’s CBS
Tony Dokoupil, a former morning‑show co‑anchor, vaulted to the top of CBS News after a contentious September 2024 interview with Ta‑Nehisi Coates that questioned the author’s stance on Israel. The interview ignited a backlash, positioning Dokoupil as a polarizing figure...
Our Next Chapter
The Ankler has migrated from Substack to its own website, powered by the Passport subscription platform jointly developed by Automattic and Ben Thompson. The move follows four years of steady growth, with a 13% year‑over‑year subscriber increase and profitability since...
Creators Favor Comment Replies Over Livestreams and Meetups
Comments are one of creators’ favorite ways to engage with their audience, according to new data from EMARKETER / Influencer Marketing Factory. 29% of creators say replying to comments, 19.6% say livestreams, and 4.9% say in-person meetups and events. I’m surprised that...
Books Fail From Invisibility, Not Poor Quality
Author insight—many books don’t fail because they’re bad—they fail because not enough readers ever saw them. Visibility is often the real problem, not quality.
"Genius" Sitcom Branded "Simply the Best" Is Leaving Netflix Very Soon
The hit Canadian sitcom Schitt’s Creek will disappear from Netflix on May 15, ending its streaming run of all six seasons and 80 episodes. Created by brothers Eugene and Dan Levy, the series earned a 93% Rotten Tomatoes rating and...
Senate Commerce Chair Rejects FCC as Speech Police
Cruz' office confirms comments to @reuters the Senate Commerce chair made to @PunchbowlNews on early review of @Disney ABC licenses: "It is not government's job to censor speech and I do not believe the FCC should operate as the speech...
Quality Impressions Cost More, Even for Buyers
Jeff Green @TheTradeDesk $TTD at Possible Conf @PossibleEvent: “We are representing the buyer. We are trying to find the very best impressions at the lowest price on behalf of this buyer. But we recognize that quality often takes more money....
Televisa-Univision Faces Pressure From Sports on Rival Networks
Televisa‑Univision posted Q1 revenue of $1.075 billion, a 5% increase year‑over‑year, helped by a 13% rise in Mexican advertising. U.S. ad sales slipped 12% to $310 million, pulling overall ad revenue down 3% to $546 million. Subscription and distribution fees offset some weakness,...
HBO Dominates 2026 with Massive New Series Slate
HBO is on an absolute tear in 2026: The Pitt S2, Industry S4, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, DTF St. Louis, Rooster, Hacks S5, Euphoria S3, Half Man, House of the Dragon S3, Lanterns, Harry Potter https://t.co/3itVMR1Uw6
AI Wearable Turns Daily Life Into Continuous Vlog
An AI wearable device that regularly captures footage throughout the day and compiles it into a full-day vlog.
FCC Orders a Review of ABC’s Licenses Amid Feud Between Trump and Kimmel
The Federal Communications Commission ordered a comprehensive review of all broadcast licenses owned by ABC, marking an unprecedented regulatory move. The review is officially linked to an investigation of ABC's diversity and inclusion policies but coincides with President Trump’s public...
Fans Prefer TV; ESPN Must Justify Streaming Cost
…because nobody wants overpriced sports rights deals. The real challenge now is how to convince fans that the ESPN streaming service is something they need, with backdrop of proposed Nielsen data suggesting they still prefer TV to streaming. Messy stuff.
Scale Meta Ads with Hundreds of Fresh Creatives
The brands scaling to 100K/day on Meta right now aren't doing it with better targeting. They're doing it with 80-100+ new creatives a month. Not variations. Genuinely different concepts. The algorithm is better at finding buyers than you are. Your job is to...