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.
Publicis Groupe to Acquire 160over90, Creating World’s Largest Data‑Driven Sports Platform
Publicis Groupe announced it will acquire 160over90, the Formula 1‑focused sports and culture agency, to build the world’s leading data‑driven sport and culture platform. The deal, still undisclosed financially, will integrate 160over90’s 670‑person team with Publicis Sports and Epsilon’s data assets, pending regulatory clearance.
HBO Max Launches ‘Christy’ as VPNs Become Key to Global Streaming
HBO Max added the Sydney Sweeney‑led biopic ‘Christy’ to its U.S. lineup on April 10, 2026, after a disappointing theatrical run. With no unified streaming partner outside the United States, fans are turning to VPN services to bypass regional blocks,...
China’s State Media Turns to Social Media and AI to Tell Its Story — and Often Mock the US
China’s state media has moved beyond traditional slogans, using AI‑generated animations and short‑form videos to push Beijing’s narrative on global platforms. A recent five‑minute martial‑arts‑style clip dramatizes the Iran war while lampooning the United States, quickly racking up over a...
Seton O’Connor Signs Off From On-Air Role at ‘The Dan Patrick Show’
Longtime producer Patrick “Seton” O’Connor announced he is leaving his on‑air role at *The Dan Patrick Show* after 6,766 episodes, though he will remain involved behind the scenes. O’Connor framed the move as a chance to "build a new room"...
Alabama Supreme Court Limits Reporter Privilege in NY Times Lawsuit
The Alabama Supreme Court narrowed the state’s 1936 reporter shield law, limiting protection to a source’s name and any information that would inevitably reveal that identity. The decision arose from former University of Alabama basketball player Kai Spears’ defamation suit...
We Fuel Negativity; Stop Sharing to Shift Media
Social media propagates negative clickbait BS Not because it's designed to... Because WE as humans reward it It's the same reason that news stations overwhelmingly share negative news Positive news, good nuanced information does not get likes, clicks, shares, or follows If people stopped tolerating...
Short‑lived 1985 Crime Drama ‘Double Dare’ Aired Six Episodes
📺 April 10, 1985: “Double Dare” debuted on CBS. The crime drama starring Billy Dee Williams and Ken Wahl aired for only six episodes. https://t.co/SLKbikeWrR https://t.co/3HfOIesoVT
NPR Examines the Humiliation Behind the 'Numb Girl' Trend
NPR's "It's Been a Minute" released an episode titled "Numb girls & the humiliation of caring too much," hosted by Brittany Luse with guests Rayne Fisher‑Quann and Sophie Lou Wilson. The show explores how the curated "numb girl" aesthetic masks...
Good Morning
A writer’s hand‑crafted essay was flagged as AI‑generated, and the detector’s verdict swung dramatically with a few sentence changes. Researchers argue that AI could surpass human experts in attributing Old Master paintings because algorithms lack the financial and cognitive biases...
HBO Max Billed Season 5 of 'Hacks' As Final Chapter, Promises a Shocking Vegas Finale
HBO Max will launch season 5 of the award‑winning comedy 'Hacks' this weekend, positioning it as the series' final chapter. Lead actress Jean Smart teased a "shocking" conclusion as the character Deborah Vance heads to Las Vegas. The move underscores...
Secret Grand Jury Subpoena Targets Reddit User Who Criticized ICE
Federal prosecutors have issued a secret grand jury subpoena ordering Reddit to appear before a Washington, D.C., grand jury and hand over the identity of an anonymous user who criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The company has until April 14...
Apple's MLB Broadcast Impresses with Crisp Visuals, Strong Commentary
Apple is doing a nice job with its MLB production--crisp picture, cool graphics, good commentary--at least judging by tonight's Giants-Orioles game so far.
Bobby Pulido Turns Quinceañeras Into a Music‑Promotion Power Play
Tejano singer and first‑time congressional candidate Bobby Pulido launched an open‑call campaign to perform at quinceañeras across Texas’ 15th District, receiving over 1,000 requests in the first day and more than 2,700 overall. The strategy blends live cultural events with...
TechRadar Pro Unveils 'Perspectives' Contributor Platform to Boost Premium Tech Content
TechRadar Pro has launched Perspectives, a contributor platform for premium tech analysis, requiring 800‑1,000‑word, AI‑free, non‑promotional submissions. The move aims to deepen expert‑driven content and influence SEO tactics for tech publishers.
Fox Entertainment CEO Claps Back at Vertical Dramas’ Bad Rap and Looks to the Future With Dhar Mann | Video
Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade defended vertical microdramas at TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood Summit, arguing the format suffers from misunderstanding rather than merit. The company recently sealed a 40‑title deal with Dhar Mann Studios to expand its short‑form slate, a partnership forged in...
Albert Breer: ‘Of Course’ Dianna Russini Photos Raise Questions About Past Mike Vrabel Reporting
Page Six published photos of ESPN reporter Dianna Russini embracing NFL coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort, sparking renewed debate over insider reporting ethics. Sports Illustrated columnist Albert Breer acknowledged the images raise legitimate questions about Russini’s past coverage of...
BOOKstore Economics
In this episode, Planet Money dives into the hidden economics of independent bookstores, following Fisher Nash, the book buyer at Carmichael's in Louisville, as he decides which titles make it onto shelves. Fisher explains his decision‑making process—evaluating thousands of catalog...
Genre Labels Slip: Horror Tags Hijack All My Books
I've honestly never seen Hot Wax outside the horror section. On genre positioning, it's hard and sometimes you never win. I write in different genres and one of my problems is everything I do tends to be put in horror then...
Casting News: Wednesday Adds Lena Headey, Sheriff Country Promotes Two, And More
Netflix announced that Game of Thrones alum Lena Headey will guest‑star in Season 3 of *Wednesday*, joining a slate of other high‑profile names such as Andrew McCarthy and James Lance. The series is filming near Dublin and adds Winona Ryder, Eva Green and several other notable...
Wednesday TV Ratings: The Floor, Survivor, Chicago Med, Shark Tank, Police 24/7
Wednesday, April 8, 2026, saw new episodes of Scrubs, Survivor, Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, The Floor and America’s Culinary Cup air across broadcast and cable. The Floor’s return attracted roughly 1.2 million viewers, while Survivor’s latest installment posted a modest 5 percent gain...
The Floor: Season Five Ratings
Fox announced an early renewal of the trivia‑game series *The Floor* for both a sixth and seventh season, extending the show’s run despite modest ratings. The competition pits 100 contestants on a 100‑square grid, with head‑to‑head duels determining territory and...
Depleted Lakers’ First Game Post-Injuries Draws Strong Easter Audience
The Lakers’ first game after the season‑ending injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves drew a combined 3.7 million viewers on NBC’s Sunday Night Basketball, the highest NBA audience since the February Celtics‑Lakers matchup. The strong Easter Sunday audience was amplified by...
Google Ads Agencies Hit With Scam Client Leads
Google Ads agencies are facing a surge of phishing scams that masquerade as high‑value client inquiries. Scammers craft spoofed emails and newly registered domains to trick agencies into granting access to My Client Center (MCC) accounts. Google’s product liaison, Ginny...
Euphoria Season 3 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
HBO’s hit series *Euphoria* returns for its final season on April 12, 2024, with episodes airing weekly through May 31. The storyline jumps five years forward, placing Rue in Mexico as a drug runner while her former classmates navigate adult careers and...
Roblox Unveils New Roblox Plus Monthly Subscription that Pays Creators Who Get Players to Sign up for the New Roblox...
Roblox announced Roblox Plus, a new subscription that replaces the existing Premium plan on April 30. The service offers a tiered discount on Robux purchases—10% initially, rising to 20% after three consecutive months—and grants unlimited private server access and fee‑free Robux transfers...
Aggregates Guide Tests, Brand Data Drives Decisions
Some individual brand illustrations of the relationship between campaign level CPMr and iROAS. Important to always view aggregate data as generally useful and specifically useless. Use aggregates to help you decide which things to test first and then check the data...
Shawn Hatosy Poised to Break Guest Drama Emmy Streak
Emmys…paging Dr. Abbot. In the 50-year history of guest acting races, repeat winners are rare, and repeat winners for the same show are even rarer. Notably, no performer has ever won back-to-back guest drama actor for the same role. Shawn Hatosy could...
The Girlboss Was Never a Feminist Ideal
Sophia Amoruso’s self‑styled "girlboss" started as a rebellious memoir about anti‑capitalist hustling, later morphing into a Netflix series and a cultural meme. The show, released in 2021, framed her rise from dumpster‑diving to fashion empire as a triumphant narrative, but...
Shawn Hatosy Poised to Shatter 50‑year Emmy Record
How Shawn Hatosy Could Break a 50-Year Emmy Record With ‘The Pitt’ https://t.co/LEIyNMpqgx via @variety
NYT Should Probe Athletic Editor’s Misleading Statement
While they're at it, The New York Times should also examine why The Athletic's executive editor put out such a forceful—and possibly misleading—statement not long after the photos were first published.
NAB Show Launches Content Creator VIP Program
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show has unveiled a Content Creator VIP Program aimed at top digital creators shaping media, storytelling and audience engagement. Selected creators receive free two‑year access to the show floor, exclusive discounts, VIP entry to...
Your Guide to Perugia 2026: Unmissable Speakers and Sessions
The International Journalism Festival in Perugia will take place from April 15‑18, 2026, featuring roughly 500 speakers across 150 sessions. Highlights include AI‑focused talks with Maria Ressa, Julia Angwin and the JournalismAI project, as well as sessions on funding, creator‑economy pressures,...
What Was Ivanka Trump Doing on The Diary of a CEO?
Steven Bartlett’s podcast *The Diary of a CEO* aired a 90‑minute interview with Ivanka Trump, sparking listener outrage over the host’s perceived right‑leaning turn. The episode, titled “Ivanda Trump: I Learned What Most People Never Do at 9 Years Old!,”...
Who Plays Sylvester Stallone's Massive Bodyguard Bigfoot On Tulsa King?
Pro‑wrestler Mike “Cash Flo” Walden was cast as Bigfoot, Sylvester Stallone’s hulking bodyguard on the hit series *Tulsa King*. The Louisville‑born athlete, who spent three decades wrestling under the Cash Flo moniker, made his scripted‑TV debut with a 20‑episode arc. Walden says the role demanded...
NYT Reopens Probe Into Russini’s Vrabel Relationship Claims
NEW @PuckNews: The New York Times is reinvestigating Dianna Russini's claims about her relationship with Mike Vrabel in light of new information/concerns, per sources familiar. Russini will not be reporting during that time. More tonight in In The Room: https://t.co/aUkyssMv7F
Breck Kinsey Adds Weekends at Saginaw’s Core
Radio host Breck Kinsey, known for her midday show on Connoisseur Media’s country station 94.5 The Moose (WCEN), will also host Saturday and Sunday middays on the alternative outlet 106.3 The Core (WGER). The move expands her on‑air presence across two formats—country...
Vertical Secures U.S. Rights to Nicolas Cage‑Bill Skarsgård Thriller "Lords of War"
Vertical has acquired U.S. rights to Andrew Niccol’s crime thriller "Lords of War," starring Nicolas Cage and Bill Skarsgård. The deal, brokered ahead of CinemaCon, positions the sequel for a 2027 theatrical rollout and signals strong distributor confidence in legacy‑franchise...
Wit Studio Will Remove Ascendance of a Bookworm Anime AI Scenes
Wit Studio confirmed that generative AI was used in the opening sequence of season 4 of the anime Ascendance of a Bookworm, but the studio will replace the AI‑generated scenes with hand‑drawn artwork starting with episode 2. The original AI‑enhanced opening was...
AT&T's Pricing Blitz Signals Cable's Metric Demise
.@ATT just declared total war on cable's primary growth engine. Their radical pricing shift proves an immediate need for revenue and signals the death of traditional industry metrics. Here is the competitive reality. 🧵🚨
Netflix Adds Three Jackbox Party Games to Its TV Gaming Platform
Netflix has integrated three Jackbox titles—Fibbage 4, Quiplash 3 and Drawful 2—into its Party Games collection at no extra charge. The move broadens the streamer’s TV‑based multiplayer offering and underscores its push toward family‑friendly interactive content.
AMC Decides to Recreate Quibi, Release The Audacity Pilot in Three-Minute Clips on TikTok
AMC is launching the pilot of its tech‑drama "The Audacity" on TikTok, breaking the episode into 21 three‑minute vertical clips. The move revives the short‑form streaming playbook popularized by the now‑defunct Quibi. The series, starring Billy Magnussen, will also air...
Fact‑checking Emails Now Cover Even Eye‑rolls
one time I reported that someone had rolled their eyes at something during our interview; before publishing, I included that in a fact-checking email in case they wanted to dispute whether their eyes in fact rolled
Three Must‑See New Releases on Prime and Netflix
Amazon Prime & Netflix Adding 12 New Releases This Weekend: The 3 to Watch https://t.co/Sf4SCVjTp4 via @TVAnswerMan
FCC Orders North Carolina Translator Back Off the Air for Interference
The Federal Communications Commission has ordered the 150‑watt FM translator W252EL in Cary, North Carolina, to shut down after determining it continues to cause harmful interference with Lakes Media’s Class C3 station WLUS‑FM 98.3 in Clarksburg, Virginia. Despite installing a...
Billionaires' Media Purchases Outpace Election Ad Spending
This actually enormously understates what the billionaires are spending to buy the elections. Elon Musk spent $40 billion to buy Twitter, the Ellisons spent $13 billion to get CBS. These matter much more for elections than the TV ads.
Miniature Wife: 16‑page Story Turned 10‑hour TV
THE MINIATURE WIFE is chronic prestige tv, a 16-page short story streeeeeeeeeetched to 10 hours https://t.co/UJ7q9tOm8e
Louvre Museum Jewel Heist Inspires Latest ‘Law & Order’ Episode
The latest Law & Order episode “Beyond Measure” borrows heavily from the Louvre Museum jewel heist, in which thieves escaped with $102 million of jewels using a cherry picker. The fictional Brooklyn museum storyline centers on the contested 16th‑century Crown of...
Failed Libel Suits Must Impose Hefty Penalties
I hope the FT gets indemnity costs. They must have spent a fortune on this. But even then, it wouldn’t be enough to deter Odey and others like him from trying to silence critics with libel actions. Failed libel actions...
The Audacity Premiere to Be Released on TikTok in 3-Minute Segments / Young Sherlock to Compete as a Comedy /...
AMC is debuting its Silicon Valley drama "The Audacity" on TikTok, breaking the first episode into three‑minute segments that drop alongside the traditional TV premiere. The experiment targets Gen Z viewers who favor short‑form video, while the full hour airs on...
Aubrey Plaza & Jim Parsons To Appear On “The View”
Disney announced the guest lineup for the next week of "The View," America’s top‑rated daytime talk show. The schedule features a mix of authors, actors and creators, with Aubrey Plaza appearing Thursday to promote the animated film "Kevin" and Jim Parsons on...