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.
LAX Transforms the Travel Experience with Daktronics Video Display System Upgrade at Tom Bradley International Terminal
Los Angeles World Airports has chosen Daktronics to install more than 30 high‑resolution LED displays forming seven media walls in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. The upgrade will cover over 15,000 square feet and display roughly 300 million pixels, enhancing wayfinding, flight information and advertising. Installation begins in 2026 with full completion expected in 2027, aligning with LAX’s $30 billion modernization program. The project positions LAX as a leader in airport digital experience for its 70 million annual passengers, including 23 million international travelers.
Kansas Waited 50 Years for This
Saturday Night Live aired a sketch where five men bond over Kansas’s 1976 hit “Carry on Wayward Son,” culminating in a comedic air‑guitar finale. The band’s guitarist Rich Williams praised the unexpected nod, noting it coincides with both SNL’s and Kansas’s...
The National Enquirer’s Archives to Be Mined for Microdramas in New Deal (Exclusive)
MediaCo and micro‑drama platform GammaTime have signed a deal to turn the National Enquirer’s historic archives into short‑form vertical series, debuting with a true‑crime drama about Drew Peterson. The partnership leverages the tabloid’s sensational stories, from infamous murders to celebrity...
Idris Elba and Golshifteh Farahani Returning for ‘Extraction 3’ Alongside Chris Hemsworth
Netflix confirmed Extraction 3, bringing back Idris Elba and Golshifteh Farahani alongside Chris Hemsworth’s Tyler Rake. Stunt‑man‑turned‑director Sam Hargrave will helm the film, while David Weil, known for Hunters, takes over script duties from Joe Russo. Production is scheduled for June 1 to October 9, 2026,...
Upfront 2026-27: 'What's A Network?'
At MediaPost’s Upfront 2026‑27 forum, Carat CIO Carrie Braverman Drinkwater highlighted that even consumers no longer recognize a traditional TV "network" concept. The panel revealed a shift from rigid budget registrations to more flexible "intent‑to‑spend" conversations with networks. While Nielsen’s audience‑rating...
David E. Kelley at 70: Still Chasing the ‘Scream Inside’
David E. Kelley turned 70 and marked his 40‑year TV career by debuting his first collaboration with wife Michelle Pfeiffer on Apple TV+'s dramedy *Margo’s Got Money Troubles*. The series, based on Rufi Thorpe’s New York Times bestseller, stars Elle...
Hack-for-Hire Spyware Campaign Targets Journalists in Middle East, North Africa
A suspected Indian‑linked hack‑for‑hire group, identified as the Bitter APT, has been deploying Android ProSpy spyware against journalists and activists across the Middle East and North Africa. The campaign, active since at least 2022, uses spear‑phishing messages from fake social‑media...
AI Bot Traffic Up 300%; Tarpitting Reclaims 97% Requests
Yep, I wrote a post in October about the insane amount of AI bot crawling and scraping going on -> AI bot traffic surged 300%, hitting publishers hardest: Report Regarding some publishers "tarpitting" to frustrate bots: "Uncontrolled web scraping inflicts heavy technical...
Is Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Actually Canon?
Netflix will launch the animated series Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 on April 23, 2026, positioning it as a bridge between Seasons 2 and 3 of the live‑action show. In a recent IGN interview, showrunner Eric Robles confirmed the series respects the existing continuity...
Hays At The Helm In Terre Haute For Gray
Jim Hays, formerly Gray Media’s marketing director for its Cleveland TV trio and the Rock Entertainment Sports Network, has been named the head of WTHI-TV in Terre Haute, Indiana. The appointment places a seasoned marketer at the helm of a...
"A Crime Drama Like No Other": BBC's Brand-New Series with "Incredible" Cast Confirms Release Date
BBC is set to launch its new crime drama "Mint" on Monday, 20 April, with the first two episodes airing at 9 pm on BBC One and the full eight‑episode season becoming available on iPlayer from 6 am the same day. The...
AI Bot Traffic Surged 300%, Hitting Publishers Hardest: Report
Akamai’s latest report reveals AI‑bot traffic surged 300 % in 2025, with publishers hit hardest. Users increasingly rely on AI chat interfaces, generating zero‑click experiences that divert traffic from organic search. The shift has slashed pageviews, raised infrastructure costs, and weakened...
Sydney Sweeney Turned the Euphoria Premiere Into Date Night
Sydney Sweeney turned the *Euphoria* season‑three premiere into a date night, arriving with boyfriend Scooter Braun in a Sprinter van and sharing a quick hand‑hold on the carpet. The couple posed for photos with creator Sam Levinson and co‑star Maude...
Marmite Ads Show Ingredients' Reaction to Cooking with the Spread
Marmite has launched a new advertising campaign created by Adam & Eve\TBWA that visualises the spread's core ingredients reacting to cooking. The ads use animated yeast, vitamin B and salt characters to dramatise flavour development and nutritional benefits. The campaign...
“The Rate of Change Is Exponential”: Nick Fletcher on Consumer Journeys, Tracking and Industry Convergence
Nick Fletcher, SVP EMEA at Rakuten Advertising, warned that the pace of change in digital marketing is now exponential, driven by AI‑powered consumer tools and fragmented journeys. Marketers are struggling with unclear signals as traditional deterministic tracking falters, prompting a...
Ireland’s Sky Cracks Down on Illegal IPTV Boxes as Pay‑TV Subscriptions Slip
Sky Ireland obtained a court order forcing Revolut Bank to reveal 304 illegal IPTV subscribers and fined a dodgy‑box operator €30,000, while a recent ComReg survey showed paid‑TV subscriptions drop from 70% to 57% over four years. The crackdown aims...
Trump Slams CNN Over Iran Ceasefire Report, Network Defends Its Coverage
President Donald Trump blasted CNN on Truth Social, calling a headline about Iran's ceasefire a "totally made‑up" story. CNN responded by standing by its reporting and noting the post was later removed. The clash highlights the growing friction between the...
Zixi To Feature IP-Based Alternative To Satellite Distribution At 2026 NAB Show
Zixi will demonstrate an IP‑based alternative to satellite distribution at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas, highlighting how broadcasters can modernize live‑video workflows. The company’s booth and partner stations will showcase centralized orchestration, dynamic market switching, and end‑to‑end IP contribution...
The Quantum Kid Podcast Gains 113,000 Subscribers, Webby Nomination Follows
The Quantum Kid, a podcast and YouTube channel co‑hosted by 9‑year‑old Kai and science communicator Katia Moskvitch, has been nominated for the 2026 Webby Awards People’s Choice category. Launched in June 2025, the series quickly amassed 113,000 subscribers by delivering...
Big TikTok Audience, but Math Forces Me to Quit
I've been on TikTok for five fucking years now... and I am de-prioritizing it despite my audience of 200k+ people. This isn't a dramatic exit or a hot take. It's just math.
Legal Fight Club: Trump Could Face War Crimes Charges After Viral Post
President Trump’s recent Truth Social post threatened to bomb Iranian power plants and bridges, prompting legal experts to warn it could constitute a war crime. International law professor Gabor Rona explained that targeting civilian infrastructure without clear military advantage violates...
One in Four Quotes in AI Chatbot Responses Comes From Journalism, Muckrack Study Finds
Muckrack analyzed 15 million AI‑generated quotes from Gemini, Perplexity, Claude and ChatGPT and found that roughly one‑quarter of the citations come from journalistic sources. Reuters, Forbes and The Guardian are the most frequently referenced outlets, while former Business Insider editor Henry Blodget...
Euphoria Is a Monument to Sam Levinson’s Lack of Creativity
Sam Levinson’s third season of *Euphoria* pushes visual shock over story, turning protagonist Rue into an arms dealer in a scene that feels more like a YouTube stunt than drama. Critics argue the series has abandoned its earlier focus on...
The Bifurcation of Rights: What’s Old Is New Again
Self‑publishing authors are increasingly striking deals with traditional houses, reviving the practice of splitting rights across multiple publishers. The surge in hybrid agreements lets writers allocate print, ebook, audio, and foreign rights to specialists, optimizing each format’s market potential. This...
Go Behind the Scenes with Germán Garmendia in YouTube’s New Channeling Series
YouTube’s new Channeling series spotlights Chilean creator Germán Garmendia, highlighting his journey from scripted comedy on HolaSoyGerman to the spontaneous gaming format of JuegaGerman. In 2024 he became one of the first Hispanic channels to surpass 50 million subscribers, earning the...
It's Not Like That: Scott Foley And Erinn Hayes' 'Hopeful' Family Drama Sets Prime Video Release (Exclusive)
Prime Video will debut the eight‑episode family drama *It’s Not Like That* on May 15, starring Scott Foley and Erinn Hayes. Foley plays Malcolm, a widowed minister, while Hayes portrays Lori, a newly divorced mother whose late husband was Malcolm’s best...
Video Startup Livid Raises $10M From StreamYard Founders, Targets Vimeo Users With New Hosting Platform
Livid, an ad‑free video‑hosting platform for creators and small businesses, raised $10 million from StreamYard co‑founders Geige Vandentop and Dan Briggs. The funding follows Bending Spoons' acquisition of Vimeo and subsequent layoffs that left many Vimeo users seeking alternatives. Livid introduced...
APM / Streamguys Join to Launch New Marketplace for Podcasting and Livestreaming
American Public Media (APM) has teamed with streaming specialist Streamguys to launch the Inform Media Network, a private marketplace for digital underwriting and sponsorship across podcasts and livestreams. The network already includes at least 30 non‑commercial stations, delivering roughly 55 million...
"Gripping" British Thriller From Peaky Blinders and Hostage Duo Confirms Release Date with Trailer
Sky has announced the release of its new high‑stakes thriller "Prisoner," created by BAFTA‑winning Peaky Blinders director Otto Bathurst and Hostage writer Matt Charman. The six‑part series will debut on Thursday, 30 April, with all episodes available instantly via Sky’s apps and...
Media Links to Focus on IP Transport Solutions at 2026 NAB Show
Media Links will unveil its latest IP transport solutions at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas, highlighting the Hitless Protection technology and the Xscend gateway platform. The company emphasizes standards‑based redundancy that prevents packet loss during live broadcasts. Recent...
Self-Made Billionaire MrBeast Says His Work-Life Balance Is Nonexistent and Calls It a ‘Miracle’ if He Works Less than 15-Hour...
Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, admits to working 15‑hour days with virtually no work‑life balance as he scales Beast Industries into a $5 billion media empire. The company is expanding its workforce by 50% this year, adding roles in marketing, engineering...
‘The Miniature Wife’ Review: Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen Get Trapped in a Hugely Frustrating Peacock Dramedy
Peacock’s new dramedy "The Miniature Wife" stars Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen as a long‑married couple whose relationship spirals when a lab accident shrinks Lindy to six inches. The ten‑episode series blends sci‑fi absurdity with marital satire, but critics say...
The Ever-Changing Role Of The Upfront In 2026
The 2026 upfront season marks a shift from a broadcast‑centric ritual to a multi‑platform marketplace that includes major streaming services. Streaming commitments surged to $13.2 billion, a 61% jump, while linear TV sales slipped to $17.8 billion, narrowing the gap. Live sports...
Pliant to Highlight New Wireless Intercom Accessories at 2026 NAB Show
Pliant Technologies will showcase a suite of new wireless intercom accessories at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas, running April 18‑22. The lineup includes SmartBoom headsets with USB‑C connectivity, a 10‑bay MicroCom XR battery‑only charger, a multi‑device interface cable, and a three‑RT...
Audacy: 84% Trust All-News Radio
Audacy commissioned a study by Alter Agents revealing that 84% of respondents trust all‑news radio for local news, surpassing both broadcast TV and social media. The research also shows the radio audience is nearly evenly split across the political spectrum,...
Google Tests Swipeable Location Carousel in Search Ads
Google is piloting a swipeable carousel within search ads that consolidates multiple business locations into a single, scrollable unit. The carousel displays key details such as ratings and proximity, letting users swipe through options without leaving the results page. Early...
Palestinian Journalists Honored for Their Coverage and Courage
The Nieman Foundation at Harvard awarded the 2026 Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism to Palestinian reporters Anas Baba of NPR and multiformat journalist Shrouq Aila. Both have continued reporting from Gaza despite displacement, personal loss,...
As Impacts of US Supreme Court’s Cox Ruling Kick in, the Music Industry May Have a Bigger Problem as Yout,...
The U.S. Supreme Court’s Cox decision narrows contributory copyright infringement to cases where a service is expressly tailored or actively encourages infringement. This limits music majors’ ability to hold ISPs such as Cox and Grande liable for users’ piracy. Platforms...
Gray Media Selects Its Q1 2026 Earnings Reveal Date
Gray Media announced the date for its Q1 2026 earnings conference call, slated for early May. The company, the second‑largest holder of UHF and VHF broadcast licenses in the United States, will use the call to detail results for the...
Scott Van Pelt Says He’s Not Moving to 5 P.m. Slot
Scott Van Pelt used his podcast to quash rumors that he will shift to ESPN’s 5 p.m. slot, confirming he will remain on the late‑night SportsCenter. The network’s 5 p.m. gap emerged after the 23‑year run of Around the Horn ended, prompting...
Ellison Distrusts Jeff, Predicts His Exit After Merger
33 days ago at @PuckNews: "Sources... have told me that David [Ellison] no longer trusts Jeff, and suspects him of being involved in various leaks to the press and others during his time as president. Those same sources believe Jeff is...
New Roku Channels Now Live on Sticks and TVs
New channels are rollin', rollin', rollin'… OUT NOW… to your Roku sticks and Roku TVs https://t.co/QT3hKcAQeR
Media Planners: The Streaming TV Content Guessing Game Is Getting Easier
DoubleVerify launched its Authentic Streaming TV™ solution, featuring a content‑discovery dashboard that provides program‑level intelligence for streaming ads. The tool leverages licensed IMDb data and an AI assistant to let planners filter shows by granular genres, premiere dates, maturity ratings,...
Paramount Skydance Debuts Book Imprint After Simon Sale
Paramount Skydance Launches New Book Publishing Imprint Two Years After Simon & Schuster Sale https://t.co/aKAngBn8T8 via @variety
Elisabeth Moss Returns, Emphasizing June's Essential Role
Elisabeth Moss returns as June in The Handmaid's Tale spinoff The Testaments episode 1 — and its creator knew the show 'always needed its Juneness'. https://t.co/cPxKKHVeje
Upper-Funnel Spend Drives Sales, Not Just Retargeting
Mejuri shifted 25% of their ad budget to upper-funnel campaigns. The result? A 12.9% lift in incremental sales and a 57% boost in iROAS. Meanwhile you're pouring all your ad spend into bottom-of-funnel retargeting and wondering why your new customer...
Alt-Cast Draws 6% Viewership, Peaks at 1.5 M Viewers
The Fab Five alt-cast on truTV drew 810,000 viewers Saturday night -- or around 6% of the total audience for Michigan-Arizona. But the blowtout meant the audience peaked in the first half -- to the tune of 1.5 million viewers https://t.co/rDh9sEg8XT
YouTube Star to Star in Anime by One Piece Showrunner
Anime Series Featuring YouTube Streamer @ishowspeedsui, Written by ‘One Piece’ Showrunner Matt Owens, in the Works at Brian Robbins’ Big Shot Pictures (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/WVWgpUUrzL via @variety
Hacks Concludes, Solidifying Its Status as TV Comedy Masterpiece
From Jean Smart’s Heart Surgery to a Shocking Lesbian Episode, ‘Hacks’ Ends — and Cements Its Legacy as One of TV’s Best Comedies https://t.co/oiArqsVFNs via @variety https://t.co/szx1imhuLe
Killing Eve: Emmy‑Winning Assassin Thriller Ran Four Seasons
Emmy award-winning assassin thriller "Killing Eve", based on Luke Jennings' "Villanelle" novel series, debuted on BBC America in 2018. It aired for four seasons and starred Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer, and Fiona Shaw. https://t.co/Kl9V2U5g6J https://t.co/IKAnaqyDiL