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
Carriage
Allen Media Group’s free streaming service Local Now has expanded its channel lineup by adding seven Scripps networks, including Ion, Ion Mystery, Ion Plus, Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More, and the newly launched Scripps Sports Network. The service, which aggregates local news, weather, sports, and lifestyle content, is available on most major CTV platforms and now reaches viewers in 220 U.S. markets. By integrating these additional channels, Local Now broadens its programming mix to include more drama, comedy, and live sports, enhancing its appeal to a wider audience.
People
Josh Oshinsky has been hired by ESPN as Senior Director of Original Content Development. In his new role, he will guide multiplatform storytelling across flagship properties such as the "30 for 30" documentary series, ESPN Films, podcasts, and scripted projects....
ACAM Warns Marketers as AI Drives Surge in Zero-Click Search
Australian Centre for AI in Marketing (ACAM) warns that AI‑generated answers are causing a surge in zero‑click searches, with more than 70% of Google queries in Australia yielding no click‑through by early 2026. When AI summaries appear, click‑through falls to...
This Forgotten '90s Sci-Fi Show With A Spooky Premise Has Major Stranger Things Vibes
"Eerie, Indiana" premiered on NBC in September 1991 as a half‑hour sci‑fi/horror series about newcomer Marshall Teller uncovering bizarre phenomena in a quirky town. Created by José Rivera and Karl Schaefer, the show featured a rotating roster of directors including...
Media Editor Natasha Lee Moonlights on ‘Media Tarts’ Podcast
Mediaweek editor Natasha Lee has joined creative entrepreneur Wade Kingsley as co‑host of the new "Media Tarts" podcast, a Friday‑afternoon show that blends casual conversation with industry analysis. The format features the hosts sipping drinks, dissecting the week’s media news,...
Deltatre Delivers Digital Platform for Serie A
Deltatre has completed a four‑season direct‑to‑fan website and app for Italy’s Serie A, delivering a bilingual hub for the league’s championships, cups and youth competitions. The platform runs on Deltatre FORGE and integrates a video player plus an AI‑driven search that surfaces...
Bizaar Studios Expands FAST Channel to Prime Video
Bizaar Studios announced that its ad‑supported FAST Channel for adult animation is now available on Prime Video in the United States and Canada. The channel, previously carried on Samsung TV Plus, Xumo Play, Plex and Hisense, launched in early 2025 with hundreds of...
The 'Burbs Renewed For Season 2 At Peacock
Peacock has ordered a second season of “The ’Burbs,” the Keke Palmer‑led comedy‑mystery that reimagines the 1989 Tom Hanks film. Season 1, consisting of eight episodes, premiered in February and was released all at once, receiving strong audience reception. The show...
Sydney Sweeney’s Naked Baby Euphoria Scene Called ‘Disgusting’ & ‘Gross’ as the Show’s Creator Defends Her OnlyFans Storyline
Season 3 of HBO’s "Euphoria" sparked a fresh controversy when Cassie, played by Sydney Sweeney, appears in an OnlyFans‑style scene dressed as a baby and a puppy. Viewers slammed the sequence as "gross" and "disgusting," arguing it normalizes pedophilic‑leaning kinks. Creator Sam...
AI Generates Weekly Social Calendar for Consistent Growth
I built a skill for Claude Code that plans and writes your social media content — LinkedIn, X, Instagram, TikTok, and more. You tell it your product and audience, and it builds a weekly content calendar with specific post types, topics,...
MLB TV Now Allows DIRECTV Subs to Stream Ex-FanDuel Teams For Free
MLB TV announced that DIRECTV subscribers can now stream nine former FanDuel regional team channels at no extra charge. The eligible teams are the Reds, Tigers, Royals, Marlins, Brewers, Rays, Cardinals, Nationals and Mariners, expanding the free‑access roster that already...
News: NFL on Netflix, Doc Rivers, Dianna Russini and More
Netflix has expressed interest in acquiring the NFL Kickoff Game, a marquee slot traditionally held by NBC under its long‑standing contract. Comcast, NBCUniversal’s parent, posted a $122 million media‑segment loss, heightening pressure on its NFL rights negotiations and prompting speculation about...
The FAA’s “Temporary” Flight Restriction For Drones Is A Blatant Attempt To Criminalize Filming ICE
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a 21‑month nationwide temporary flight restriction that bars any drone from flying within 3,000 feet of ICE or Customs and Border Protection vehicles. The rule, effective Jan. 16, 2026, carries criminal penalties and allows drones to be...
Don’t Hold Your Breath for a Doc Rivers ESPN Return
Doc Rivers left the Milwaukee Bucks after a rocky fifth stint, ending his brief return to coaching. ESPN, already reeling from Michael Malone's departure and a series of analyst exits, faces a talent gap in its NBA broadcast lineup. The...
Sinclair’s WTOV Taps Brightline for Lighting Upgrade
Sinclair Broadcasting’s WTOV in Bridgeville, Pa., has overhauled its studio with a digitally enhanced set featuring three distinct LED‑driven environments, including a green‑screen area and interactive LED walls positioned at a 90‑degree angle. Assistant director Eric Castagne led the design,...
Angel, StudioCanal and Sony Pictures Classics Urge Theaters to Broaden Their Horizons at CinemaCon
Cinema United invited three non‑mainstream distributors—Angel, StudioCanal and Sony Pictures Classics—to CinemaCon to pitch their upcoming titles to independent exhibitors. The presenters highlighted a mix of faith‑based expansions, European genre reboots and recent Sundance acquisitions, signaling a push beyond Hollywood’s...
Bari Weiss’s MAGA Makeover at CBS Is Colliding With Reality
Bari Weiss, hired by CBS after Paramount acquired her Free Press outlet, is now at odds with news president Tom Cibrowski as the network’s ratings continue to slide. Weiss has pushed an aggressive digital‑first, hard‑news strategy while cutting roughly 6%...
CBA Honors Top Radio Stations in Colorado
The Colorado Broadcasters Association hosted its Awards of Excellence Gala in Denver, drawing roughly 400 industry leaders. A record 1,013 entries were submitted, with 546 from radio stations, and the event honored top performers across four market categories. Small‑market KBVC,...
Hollywood Is Making yet Another Roblox Movie Adaptation
Disney‑owned 20th Century Studios announced plans to adapt the Roblox horror hit *99 Nights in the Forest* into a live‑action feature film, marking its first game adaptation and the fourth Roblox title pursued by Hollywood. The game, launched in June 2025, has amassed 26 billion lifetime visits and...
'The Wall Street Journal' Trumps Trump In Defamation Case-Pending Appeal
A federal judge dismissed former President Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, finding no evidence of actual malice in the paper’s reporting on a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump’s media arm, Trump Media & Technology Group,...
NAB Makes Its Case to Gomez Advisors
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) met with Commissioner Anna Gomez’s staff on April 9 to argue for eliminating FCC market caps on radio ownership. NAB highlighted that AM/FM’s share of listening time has dropped to 32%—a 40% decline since 2014—and...
This Hit '80s Friday The 13th Series Had Nothing To Do With The Movies
Friday the 13th: The Series, a 1987 syndicated horror show, centered on cursed antiques rather than the Jason Voorhees slasher mythos. Created by Frank Mancuso Jr. and Larry B. Williams, the series followed a niece, her cousin and an uncle’s...
The Netflix 'Little House On The Prairie' Teaser Just Dropped & It's *So* Wholesome
Netflix announced a new adaptation of *Little House on the Prairie* that will launch on July 9, 2026. The series stars Luke Bracey as Charles Ingalls and Crosby Fitzgerald as Caroline Ingalls, shifting focus from the 1980s TV remake to Laura...
YouTube Viewers Can Now Work Together to Stop Ads From Playing
YouTube announced that livestream ads will be held back when live‑chat engagement spikes, letting viewers collectively prevent interruptions. Donors using Super Chat, Super Stickers or gifts receive a personal ad‑free window, while the platform expands its Gifts feature to six new countries....
Joe Rogan Shuts Down Claims that Podcasts Are “Antiquated” Compared to Streamers Like Clavicular
On episode 2,481 of The Joe Rogan Experience, host Joe Rogan rebuffed claims that podcasts are outdated compared to video‑streaming stars like Clavicular. Guest Duncan Trussell suggested the younger audience prefers continuous live streams, citing Clavicular’s viral looks‑maxxing content. Rogan...
AT&T Spent a Month Inside March Madness. Was It Worth It?
AT&T devoted an entire month to the NCAA March Madness tournament, rolling out a multi‑channel campaign that included athlete‑led TV spots, ownership of the CBS Bracket Manager, a Vegas Sphere sponsorship, and on‑site activations in Indianapolis. The championship game attracted...
Reddit Expands Reminder Ads Globally
Reddit has rolled out its Reminder Ads feature to every advertiser on the platform, allowing brands worldwide to add a “Remind Me” button to their campaigns. When users tap the CTA, they receive two push notifications—one day before and one...
Thursday TV Ratings: Animal Control, Law & Order, Elsbeth, Scrabble, RJ Decker
Thursday, April 9, 2026 TV ratings were posted using Fast Affiliate Numbers. The day featured new episodes of a diverse slate—including "Animal Control," "Law & Order," "Elsbeth," "Scrabble," and several reality and game shows—while the syndicated drama "RJ Decker" aired as a...
NewsNation to Simulcast Nexstar’s California Gubernatorial Debate
NewsNation announced it will simulcast the California gubernatorial debate on April 22, airing at 7 p.m. Pacific (10 p.m. Eastern). The debate, produced by KRON in San Francisco, will be distributed across Nexstar‑owned stations in Sacramento, San Diego, Los Angeles, Bakersfield and Fresno,...
Rohan Dennis Complains of Media Harassment and 'False Narrative' After Melissa Hoskins' Death in 2023
Former world‑time‑trial champion Rohan Dennis, who pleaded guilty to an aggravated charge after his wife Melissa Hoskins died in a car crash he drove on Dec 30 2023, says journalists fabricated a false narrative. He received a 17‑month suspended sentence, a $100...
Gen Z Drives 39% Share of U.S. Box Office, Reviving Theaters
Gen Z’s ticket share rose to 39% of U.S. box‑office revenue, up from 34% in 2019, sparking a resurgence in theater attendance. Analysts credit social‑media buzz and a craving for communal, analog experiences, while theaters report stronger sell‑outs and plan...
Dan Levy Launches Dark Comedy “Big Mistakes” On Netflix, His First Post‑Schitt’s Creek Series
Dan Levy’s new eight‑part series “Big Mistakes” premiered on Netflix on April 9, marking his first solo project since Schitt’s Creek. The dark comedy, co‑created with Rachel Sennott, has opened to a 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating and early praise for its...
Audacy Denver Bets On Mile High Sports’ Lundy For Afternoons
Nate Lundy, President and CEO of Mile High Sports, is joining Audacy Denver’s sports talk station The Bet 1430 (KAMP‑AM) for weekday afternoons. Lundy brings more than 35 years of radio and television experience, including 16 years covering Denver sports....
Reliance Jio and Bank of Baroda Deploy Bob World Lite on Feature Phones to Boost Digital Inclusion
Reliance Jio and Bank of Baroda have launched bob World Lite, a lightweight banking app pre‑installed on JioPhone Prima 4G devices, targeting millions of feature‑phone users in semi‑urban and rural India. The partnership aligns with government goals for financial inclusion...
Lauren Sánchez Bezos’s Happiness Routine Is Going Viral for the Wrong Reasons
The New York Times ran a profile of Lauren Sánchez Bezos that highlighted her daily gratitude list and “unapologetic happiness” routine at the couple’s $230 million Florida compound. The piece framed their exercise habits and mutual advice‑giving as a blueprint for joy among the ultra‑rich....
What’s New This Week on Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN For The Week of April 13, 2026
Disney+ is bolstering its lineup with live events and original series, including the live broadcast of American Idol Season 9 and new episodes of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, Daredevil: Born Again, and O11CE: New Generation. Hulu adds fresh content...
Techsurvey 2026 Results Coming in Jacobs Media Webinar
Jacobs Media will release its annual Techsurvey 2026 findings in a free webinar on Thursday, April 23 at 2 p.m. ET. The study gathered nearly 31,000 responses from core radio listeners across more than 500 U.S. stations. It expands its questionnaire to include...
Former MMO Studio Founder Steven Sharif Accused of Misusing Over $12 Million in Kickstarter Funds
Investor Jason Caramanis has publicly charged Intrepid Studios founder Steven Sharif with diverting more than $12 million raised for the Kickstarter‑backed MMO Ashes of Creation into personal expenses. The accusations, detailed in a YouTube video that claims to expose the studio’s...
Most Followers Miss Your Posts, Stop Over‑Repeating
90% of your audience isn't seeing your content the first time. Most people don't see your posts, and you're stressing about "looking too repetitive."
Scripps News Hires NBC’s Jay Gray to Serve as Senior National Correspondent
The E.W. Scripps Company announced that veteran NBC journalist Jay Gray will join its streaming outlet Scripps News as senior national correspondent. Gray brings 22 years of experience covering breaking news on programs such as The Today Show and NBC Nightly News. His hire follows...
WSJ Wins Courage Award, Trump to Present It
Drama at this year's White House Correspondents Dinner: The Wall Street Journal is being awarded the The Katharine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability for its reporting on the "bawdy" letter that Trump set Epstein. Trump, who sued the Journal over this...
Ramp's Daily April Posts Can Transform Your Business
Why is this month suddenly Ramp releases a BANGER x post per day April? You could rebuild your entire company just reading their stuff. I'm dead serious.
Alan Ritchson’s New Netflix TV Show Revealed After War Machine’s Success
Alan Ritchson is set to host an untitled survival‑competition series for Netflix, marking his return to reality TV after more than two decades. The show, produced by Bunim/Murray, will pit high‑profile creators against each other in a wilderness setting, testing...
DIRECTV Users Stream Former
MLB TV Now Allows DIRECTV Subs to Stream Ex-FanDuel Teams For Free https://t.co/pfaMsfSOYz via @TVAnswerMan
Govt Brands TikTok Clout Chasing as Political Extremism
Attendees of the TikTok Shorts rizz party after the government declared “clout chasing” and “aura farming” signs of political extremism https://t.co/87bT1L4UsM
CBA Names Station of the Year Winners at Denver Gala
The Colorado Broadcasters Association (CBA) held its Awards of Excellence Gala in Denver, drawing over 400 industry professionals and a record 546 radio entries. Station of the Year honors were awarded across four market tiers, with Eagle Country 104.1 (KBVC) winning...
For Real Iran News, Follow Curated X Feeds
The one common denominator about most articles on Iran is that they are stale. To get current news, the only place to be is X, looking at posts of followers you've curated.
Podcasts Lose Appeal as Ads Overwhelm Content
Starting to find podcasts way less enjoyable than I used to now that they are increasingly stuffed full of ads - at times feels like more ads than content.
Xbox CEO Called Game Pass 'Too Expensive for Players' In a Leaked Memo
Xbox’s newly appointed CEO Asha Sharma circulated an internal memo warning that the Game Pass subscription has become too expensive for many players. The memo follows two price hikes in the past 15 months that pushed the service to $15‑$30...
The Contenders, Underdogs, And The Frontrunner For Outstanding Comedy Series At The 2026 Emmys
With Apple’s hit "The Studio" ineligible for the 2026 Emmys, the Outstanding Comedy Series race is wide open. Season 5 of "Hacks" emerges as the frontrunner, having dominated most winter precursors despite a modest awards haul. "The Comeback" could pull an...