Today's Media Pulse
Online video subscriptions hit 2.24 billion in 2025, overtaking pay‑TV revenue
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, surpassing pay‑TV's $170 billion for the first time. Growth is expected to slow to single‑digit levels in 2026 as operators focus on monetising existing users.
Also developing:
Tires: Season Three; Netflix Adds Four to Cast of Comedy Series
Netflix has confirmed that its comedy series "Tires" will return for a third season. The upcoming season will feature four new recurring characters played by Rachel Blanchard, Garret Dillahunt, Anjelica Bette Fellini, and Matt Walsh. These additions join an existing ensemble that includes Jamie Lynn Sigler, Billy Magnussen, and other guest stars, expanding the show’s quirky cast. A premiere date has not yet been announced.
Namco X Capcom Opening and Ending Theme Songs Will Appear on Digital Streaming Platforms on April 11
Composer Yuzo Koshiro announced that the opening and ending theme songs of the 2005 crossover RPG Namco X Capcom will be released on major digital streaming platforms on April 11. The tracks – “Subarashiki Shin Sekai” and “Itsuka Kitto, Tsuki no Shita de” – will use the original 48 kHz/24‑bit master sources,...
Why Live Sport Still Lands Harder Than the Clip Afterwards
Live sport offers a complete emotional journey that highlights cannot capture. While highlight reels show decisive moments, they omit pre‑game nerves, momentum swings, and the build‑up that give context to the climax. Modern fans juggle devices but still converge on...
Director, Podcast Partnerships (CPG & Retail)
Vox Media announced a senior hire for its Podcast Network, seeking a Director of Podcast Partnerships focused on consumer packaged goods (CPG) and retail brands. The role will drive revenue growth by leveraging Vox’s portfolio of high‑profile shows and talent...
Keyword Blocking Demonetized More Than Half Of Reuters’ Brand-Safe Stories
A joint study by Integral Ad Science (IAS) and Reuters found that over half of Reuters' brand‑suitable news pages would be demonetized by typical keyword blocklists, despite meeting IAS' Context Control Targeting standards. In the news section, 54% of URLs...
Director, Audience Growth
Lemonada Media announced a Director of Audience Growth role focused on expanding and monetizing its podcast portfolio across audio and video platforms. The position will own audience acquisition, manage key distribution relationships, and shape content strategy to drive revenue. Candidates...
Data Scientist, Media Revenue and Subscriptions
Apple Services is hiring a Data Scientist for its Revenue and Subscriptions team, focusing on Apple TV and Apple Music. The role will analyze the full subscription lifecycle—acquisition, conversion, retention, and engagement—using massive, privacy‑first datasets. Responsibilities include deep‑dive analytics, causal inference, A/B...
Mada Media Grants PHI Advertising Rights to Major Dubai OOH Portfolio
Mada Media signed a contract with PHI Advertising, giving the agency rights to install and monetize 19 out‑of‑home assets across three of Dubai's main road networks. The deal, sealed by CEOs Mansoor Al Sabahi and Naif Saleh Al Rajhi, underscores...
Why Stephanie March Left Law & Order: SVU
Stephanie March exited Law & Order: SVU after Season 5, explaining that her character, Assistant District Attorney Alex Cabot, had exhausted her narrative possibilities and felt redundant. The role was her first television job after college, and she sought fresh creative...
Fubo Says It Should Be Cash Flow Positive Starting in Fiscal 2027
Fubo, now combined with Hulu + Live TV, projected adjusted EBITDA of $80‑$100 million for fiscal 2026 and set a $300 million target by fiscal 2028, implying over 80% annual growth. The company expects to become cash‑flow positive in fiscal 2027 and achieve a net‑cash...
Podcast Ops Associate (3-Month Contract)
A three‑month contract Podcast Ops Associate will run day‑to‑day production for a leadership‑driven podcast, overseeing publishing on Substack, Spotify and Apple Podcasts, guest logistics, and analytics. The role is remote‑first with occasional in‑person support for Bay Area candidates, requiring 20‑30...
Annual NFL Rights Expected To Hit $15 Billion Or More
The NFL is projected to secure $15‑$16 billion in annual media rights, a jump of more than 50% that will pressure broadcasters and streaming platforms to reallocate budgets. Higher rights fees are expected to divert funds from scripted television and film...
The Supply Advantage: The Intelligence Infrastructure Driving 2026 Political Performance
Generative AI is reshaping how American voters consume information, creating a new frontier for political campaigns ahead of the 2026 midterms, which are projected to cost $10.8 billion with programmatic buying accounting for over half of digital spend. Campaigns face hidden...
MS NOW To Host White House Correspondents’ Weekend Event To Connect Reporters With Journalism Students
MS NOW, now part of Versant, will host its inaugural Future Correspondents’ Brunch on April 24, a day before the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The brunch connects journalism students from Howard, Georgetown, George Washington and American universities with senior MS NOW reporters and...
Vox Launches America, Actually, a New Video-First Podcast Hosted by Astead W. Herndon
Vox announced the launch of "America, Actually," a video‑first podcast debuting on April 11 and hosted by veteran political reporter Astead W. Herndon. The series is built for YouTube, social video and audio platforms, offering immersive reporting, analysis and human‑focused...
Bic Reignites ‘Flick Your Bic’ Tagline for a New Generation
Bic is reviving its classic “Flick Your Bic” tagline with a new “Waxy Saxy” ad that positions the lighter as a romance‑spark for candle‑lighting moments. The 30‑second spot, created with Doner, modernizes the 1970s catchphrase while showcasing pocket, EZ Reach...
Savannah Guthrie Returns to NBC's 'Today' For the First Time Since Her Mother Went Missing
Savannah Guthrie returned to NBC’s "Today" on April 6, marking her first on‑air appearance since her 84‑year‑old mother vanished eight weeks earlier. She opened the broadcast with a brief acknowledgment of her absence before moving into the day’s news, displaying...
Netflix Show Highlights Taiwanese Religious Traditions with a Modern Flair
Netflix’s new eight‑part series “Agent from Above” (乩身) places Taiwan’s temple culture at the heart of its storyline, following Kai Ko as a mortal vessel for the deity Nezha. The production team toured both bustling and abandoned temples, crafting sets that...
Turning AI Content Usage Into Revenue
Publishers are confronting a new commercial reality as AI systems consume digital content beyond traditional channels. The industry has moved from policy debates to the practical challenge of turning AI usage into measurable, recurring revenue. Achieving this requires an integrated...
2026 Elections Season
The 2026 election cycle will decide control of the 120th Congress, roughly 300 state executive offices in 43 states, and hundreds of judicial, municipal and ballot‑measure contests. Eighty‑one statewide ballot measures will appear, tackling highly divisive issues. Recognizing the resource...
YouTube Launches 24/7 “Stations” Via Coachella TV
YouTube introduced Stations, a FAST-style feature that lets creators turn playlists into 24/7 linear streams of their content. 📺 The company will debut the feature as part of its Coachella streaming experience through Coachella TV. The channel will enable viewers to tune...
A Hook And A Story In 60 Seconds. The Prompt Bringing Me New Subscribers Every Week.
The author reveals that a compelling first sentence – a hook – is the decisive factor in whether a post captures attention. By using a simple AI prompt called the Story Crafter, writers can generate a hook and a 75‑100...
Boss of "Absorbing" Drama with Nicola Walker that 'Went Against Norms' Reflects on Divided Reaction
BBC drama creator Stefan Golaszewski reflected on the polarized response to his 2022 series "Marriage," which earned a 95% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes but only a 45% audience score. Critics praised its naturalistic take on marital routine, while many...
Netflix’s Beloved 75% RT Show Is Leading Its Streaming Wars
Netflix’s teen rom‑com XO, Kitty season 3 premiered on April 2, 2026 and instantly claimed the No. 1 spot on the platform’s global TV rankings. The series, a spin‑off of the To All the Boys franchise, holds a 75 % Rotten Tomatoes rating and a...
Star Trek: Voyager Almost Had A Storyline That Became The Bones Of Battlestar Galactica
Ronald D. Moore, famed for the 2004 *Battlestar Galactica* reboot, spent a brief stint on *Star Trek: Voyager* in 2001. During that time he proposed a storyline where Voyager would shepherd a rag‑tag fleet of alien ships, echoing the premise...
The Pitt Season 2 Star Breaks Down Night Shift Spin-Off Possibilities
Shawn Hatosy, who plays night‑shift doctor Jack Abbot on HBO Max’s medical drama The Pitt, revealed ongoing discussions about a spin‑off centered on the series’ nocturnal crew. He highlighted the night team’s distinct, misfit‑driven vibe, which could allow darker cases...
UK Public Posting Slumps to Half Amid Fatigue
Is the UK falling out of love with social media? According to Ofcom, Only 49% of UK adults now post publicly on social platforms, down from 61% in 2024 Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are driving passive, video-first consumption Rising fears about past...
Savannah Guthrie Returns To NBC's Today As Search For Her Mother Continues: 'Ready Or Not, Let's Do The News'
Savannah Guthrie resumed her role on NBC’s Today broadcast Monday, rejoining co‑anchor Craig Melvin for the 7 a.m. hour. Her return comes amid the ongoing search for her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who was abducted from her home on February 1 and remains...
NVIDIA’s DLSS 5 Video Removed From YouTube After TV Station Claims Copyright on It
NVIDIA’s DLSS 5 announcement trailer was taken down from YouTube after Italian broadcaster La7 filed a copyright claim on footage it had used. The strike not only removed NVIDIA’s own video but also affected independent creators who reused the content. YouTube’s...
HarperCollins Turns Books Into AI Shorts, Pays Authors
HarperCollins is turning authors’ books into AI YouTube Shorts HarperCollins has partnered with Toonstar to turn books into AI YouTube Shorts The launch starts with Lisa Greenwald’s Friendship List series Episodes run 2–10 minutes, targeting young YouTube audiences Toonstar’s CEO says “creator-led,” with authors...
Mark Ruffalo's "Bittersweet" And "Funny" Comedy-Drama Is Streaming in the UK Now
Mark Ruffalo's comedy‑drama "Hal & Harper" is now streaming in the UK on ITVX, offering all nine episodes of the series that debuted in the United States last October. The show follows an emotionally unavailable father coping with his children's...
Musk Leverages SpaceX Funding to Revive X Advertising
Elon Musk pressures potential SpaceX investors to use Grok and advertise on X Major firms like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs reportedly investing millions SpaceX IPO targets $1–2 trillion+ valuation, one of the largest ever The move is seen as attempt to boost X...
‘If Someone Lit Up a Match, the Place Would Explode’
Hungarian opposition candidate Péter Magyar narrows the gap with long‑time Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of Sunday’s election, while independent journalists face escalating intimidation and legal attacks. Reporters like Noémi Martini recount physical harassment at campaign events, and investigative teams expose...
Streaming Summit Gets Down to Business
The NAB Show Streaming Summit on April 20‑21 will focus on practical solutions for the streaming sector, emphasizing live‑sports growth and monetization challenges. Nielsen data shows live‑sports streaming rose 8.3% in 2025 and major services expanded sports catalogs by 52%...
What To Watch Monday: St. Denis Medical And Memory Of A Killer Finales, NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, And More
TVLine’s Monday lineup features a blend of high‑profile season finales and major live events, including the NBC medical drama St. Denis Medical, Fox’s Memory of a Killer, and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship on TBS. Disney+ launches the first two episodes...
VOA’s Legal Fight for Independence
Voice of America journalists, joined by PEN America and Reporters Without Borders, have filed a lawsuit alleging that the Trump‑appointed USAGM leadership violated the 1994 editorial firewall by censoring coverage, especially of Iran protests. A March court order had allowed...
EU Deadlock Halts Child‑Abuse Scanning Rules, Tech Firms Continue Voluntarily
Meta, Google, Snap Blast EU Deadlock Over Child Protection Rules Lapse The EU failed to renew CSAM scanning rules before Apr 3, leaving platforms in legal limbo Major tech firms have warned the lapse could let child abuse material spread undetected Google, Meta,...
Netflix To Live Stream Artemis II Lunar Flyby, Global Release Time Revealed
Netflix will livestream the Artemis II lunar flyby on April 6, 2026, offering a global broadcast that spans North America to New Zealand. The mission, NASA’s first crewed Orion flight and the second launch of the Space Launch System, has already crossed the Earth‑Moon...
TikTok Deploys AI Detection to Guard Music Rights
TikTok Tackles AI Music Clones With Advanced Audio Detection Tech TikTok has integrated ACRCloud’s detection tech into SoundOn to spot copied music “Derivative Works Detection” flags altered tracks, including pitch and speed changes The system helps artists track misuse, secure credit, and protect...
Australia Data Reveals Age Checks Failing on Social Media
Australia Data Exposes Weakness in Social Media Age Restrictions Current age verification systems are too weak to enforce teen social media restrictions effectively. Australia’s data shows 70% of under-16s still active, with no drop in online harm. Platforms define their own compliance, creating...
Former Office Manager Turns Health Anxiety Into Blooming Florist Business
Natalie Dyson left a 15‑year office role after health‑anxiety attacks and launched Clarity Florist, now a home‑based venture with nearly 50,000 TikTok followers and a pending shop on Waterloo Road. Her story highlights how confronting mental‑health challenges can spark entrepreneurial...
HBO Max's ER Recommendation May Hurt Crichton Lawsuit
every time i finish an episode of The Pitt and HBO Max suggests that i watch ER next, i think "that can't be good for them in the Crichton lawsuit"
Get Weekly Reminders to Never Miss Modem Futura
If you listen to the Modem Futura podcast with Sean Leahy and myself but find yourself missing episodes, you can now sign up for a weekly reminder at https://t.co/tcR9TfPzS2
FanCode Secures Broadcast Rights for The Masters, PGA Championships and US Open
FanCode, a digital sports platform, has secured exclusive broadcast rights for the 2026 Masters, PGA Championship, and U.S. Open in India, marking its second consecutive year as the “Home of Golf.” The three majors will be streamed live from Augusta,...
Indianapolis Media Landscape: Beyond the Newspaper Monopoly
Isn't Indianapolis a "monopoly" newspaper town? Or would that be leaving out news sources like Craigslist, @X, @TikTok, @YouTube @facebook @LinkedIn?
QVC and HSN Bankruptcy Threatens
Wherever will I acquire my capodimonte now? QVC, HSN cable networks face Chapter 11, insolvency https://t.co/60gKHLv5PG
NYT Games Surge: Wordle, Connections, and Strands Hints Draw Millions Daily
The New York Times’ portfolio of daily games—Wordle, Connections, and the newer Strands—continues to pull millions of players each day, with Wordle averaging 3.9 guesses per puzzle and Connections scoring a 3.3‑out‑of‑5 difficulty rating. Mashable’s daily hint guides for Strands and Pips...
Blocking AI Crawlers Reduces AI-
Do News Publishers That Block AI Crawlers Get Cited Less Often by AI? "Using data from Citation Labs’ AI citation-tracking tool, XOFU, we examined 4 million citations from 3,600 prompts in ChatGPT, Gemini, AI Overviews, and AI Mode, across 10 industries."...
Media Must Adopt New Funding Model After Ad Removal
Good to see The American Prospect get rid of programmatic ads https://t.co/ok8pZfIhl0 People should support it, but we need a new funding model for the media https://t.co/KAdV4BPWze
UConn Coach Dan Hurley Baffled by Boos After 71-62 Final Four Win
UConn head coach Dan Hurley was met with boos from the Lucas Oil Stadium crowd after his team beat Illinois 71-62 to reach the national championship. Hurley, who earned a $300,000 bonus for the win, questioned the jeers while defending...