Today's Media Pulse
Online video subscriptions top 2.2 bn, revenue hits $176B
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 for the first time as pay‑TV revenue fell to $170 billion. Growth is expected to slow to single‑digit rates in 2026, prompting operators to focus on monetising existing users.
Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet & Jonathan Tropper on the “Darker and Funnier” Your Friends and Neighbours S2
Apple TV+ is launching season two of the comedy‑drama "Your Friends & Neighbours" on April 3, 2026, with weekly episodes through June 5. Interviews with lead actors Jon Hamm and Amanda Peet, plus creator Jonathan Tropper, reveal a shift toward a darker, more irreverent tone. Hamm’s character Coop matures from cautious newcomer to confident suburban thief, while James Marsden’s newcomer Owen Ashe injects stormy energy. Tropper promises a blend of absurdist humor and emotional depth that pushes the series beyond its first‑season formula.
‘Letting Cam Be Cam’: How Brands Can Work With Athlete Creators Like Cam Newton
Former NFL star Cam Newton announced a partnership with Revolt/Offscript at the 2026 IAB NewFronts, positioning himself as an athlete‑turned‑creator for brands. Through his Iconic Saga Productions, he will integrate his podcasts and the upcoming "4th&1 College Tailgate Tour"—a showcase...
OGM Universe Unveils High-End Drama Series The Gentleman
OGM Universe, the global distribution arm of OGM Pictures, announced the international launch of its new Turkish drama series *The Gentleman* (local title *Delikanlı*). The eight‑episode thriller premieres on Monday, April 6, in prime time on Show TV and is...
JAR Podcast Solutions Launches JAR Replay, Giving Brands and Podcasters a New Way to Activate Podcast Audiences —Without Ads in...
JAR Podcast Solutions launched JAR Replay, a product that lets brands retarget recent podcast listeners with premium Visual Audio ads while keeping podcasts ad‑free. The service identifies listeners via privacy‑safe signals and serves full‑screen sound‑on ads in brand‑safe mobile apps...
Steve Jobs Demoed Video Podcasts in 2005 – Podcasts Have Never Been “Audio Only.”
In October 2005 Steve Jobs demonstrated video podcasts on stage, just four months after Apple introduced podcast support in iTunes. The demo showcased video feeds playing on a new iMac, the iPod Video, and available for subscription through the iTunes...
Chicago Med's Oliver Platt Teases An 'Existential Crisis' Coming For Dr. Charles — Watch
Chicago Med’s season‑11 arc centers on psychiatrist Dr. Charles confronting an existential crisis. In the two‑part episodes “The Book of Charles” and “Altered States,” the character’s mental‑health struggles, medication issues, and fear of aging culminate in a “worst day” storyline,...
Influencer Marketing Today: CreatorIQ-Sprinklr Tie-Up, BDB's Payment Play, and Breast Cancer Now's Influencer Push
CreatorIQ and Sprinklr announced a partnership that embeds CreatorIQ’s intelligence engine—processing 123 million creator posts daily—into Sprinklr’s social‑media reporting suite, promising unified measurement of organic, paid and creator content. Billion Dollar Boy, together with Lumanu, launched a "Creator Payments" service to...
Cardi B and Steph Curry Earn Webby Award Nominations, Along with Sydney Sweeneys Bathwater
The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences announced the 30th‑anniversary Webby Award nominees, drawing more than 13,000 entries from over 70 countries. High‑profile names such as Cardi B, Steph Curry, Dwayne Johnson and Justin Bieber earned nods alongside unconventional entries like Sydney Sweeney’s bath‑water...
Activating Attention: How OpenX and TVision Are Turning CTV Engagement Into Real-Time Performance
OpenX introduced OpenX Attention Targeting, a real‑time capability that lets advertisers bid on CTV inventory identified as high‑attention by TVision’s measurement platform. The partnership enables predictive attention data to be applied during the buying process, rather than only in post‑campaign...
March 31: Weekly Notes Boost Community
Substack introduced a new Weekly Notes feature on March 31, 2026, designed to give writers a dedicated space for short, frequent updates. The tool embeds directly into existing newsletters, allowing creators to share polls, Q&A, and real‑time insights without a full‑length post....
Lynley: Season Two Renewal and Casting Revealed for BritBox Detective Drama Series
BritBox has officially renewed the detective drama Lynley for a second season, consisting of eight 45‑minute episodes. Production has begun in Dublin, Ireland, with lead actors Leo Suter and Sofia Barclay returning as DI Tommy Lynley and DS Barbara Havers....
What ‘Intent’ Means in 2026, and Why the Machines Won’t Wait for Your Product to Catch Up
Nano Interactive’s new campaign reframes "intent" as a human truth rather than a vague targeting label, highlighting the need for fresh, transparent signals. The article argues that traditional demographic proxies are leaky and that intent must be broken into declared,...
Connoisseur Eyes Market Domination As NRG Preps Lincoln Exit
Connoisseur Media has agreed to purchase six Lincoln-area radio stations from NRG Media, including KBBK, KLIN-AM, KLNC, K233AN, K257GN and KFGE. To complete the acquisition, Connoisseur is seeking an FCC waiver that would allow it to own 11 stations in...
FTC Targets Car Dealer Ads for Nonexistent Vehicles, Threatening $50K Fines
The Federal Trade Commission has warned 97 dealership groups that advertising vehicles not in stock violates the law, with penalties exceeding $50,000 per offense. Dealers must act quickly to pull or update listings, or risk costly fines and restitution.
AI’s Impact on Publishers: Why News Is Emerging as a Resilient and Valuable Category
Artificial intelligence is reshaping online discovery, driving steep declines in ad opportunities for many publishers—69% reported year‑over‑year drops, with health and career sites losing up to 50% of requests. In contrast, news and politics saw a modest 7% decline, highlighting...
Backyard Ventures Partners With “Between the Lines” To Expand Into Podcasting, Opening New Brand Opportunities
Backyard Ventures announced a partnership with the socially‑focused series Between The Lines to launch a full‑scale podcast and simulcast platform. The video series, created by former NBA champion Danny Green and hosted by Ivana Rojas, already commands over 474,000 followers...
California Bill Targets Family Vloggers, Giving Children the Right to Erase Monetized Content at 18
California Senator Steve Padilla introduced Senate Bill 1247, mandating social‑media platforms to let adult children request removal or editing of monetized content that features them as minors. The bill gives creators three business days to acknowledge a request and ten...
Introducing IAS Agent: Your AI-Powered Assistant that Uncovers Deep Insights and Powers Performance
Integral Ad Science (IAS) unveiled IAS Agent, an AI‑powered assistant that accelerates campaign activation, delivers insights up to five times faster, and optimizes performance at scale. Built on more than 15 years of proprietary data, the tool embeds explainable AI...
Farewell Note From the Publisher
World Screen, a leading publication covering the international television market, announced it will cease publishing today after four decades of operation. The decision was communicated by President and Publisher Ricardo Guise, who thanked staff, partners, and readers for their support....
Influur Is Building a Creator-Powered Campaign Layer Around the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Miami-based creator marketplace Influur announced a multi‑city, creator‑led initiative to help brands engage audiences around the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Rather than seeking official tournament sponsorship, Influur will build an independent, creator‑powered cultural...
Create for People, Not for the Algorithm
"Post at the best time" = optimize your labor for a platform's algorithm. "Use the right hashtags" = help a platform sell your attention more effectively. "Perfect your video length" = conform your creativity to what benefits the machine. You are not creating...
Jamul Casino Resort’s ‘Water Sweet’ Wins Gold Addy and Best of Show
Jamul Casino Resort’s 11‑minute documentary “Water Sweet, The Story of Jamul” captured a Gold Addy and the coveted Best of Show in the AAF’s Corporate Social Responsibility category. The award, presented in Reno, underscores how casino operators are leveraging authentic...
Nebius Secures Up to $27 B AI Compute Deal with Meta, Powering the Future of Ad Tech
Nebius Group agreed to provide Meta Platforms with up to $27 billion in AI compute over five years, including $12 billion of capacity starting in 2027. The deal expands Meta’s AI‑driven ad‑tech stack and marks Nebius’ largest contract to date, underscoring the...
5 Data-Driven Tips to Boost Your Music’s Reach on Facebook Reels
A new Emplifi study of over 10,000 Facebook Reels reveals that music‑focused clips alone no longer drive optimal performance for musicians. Reels that open with human speech, feature the creator’s face, use a vertical 9:16 format, incorporate seamless loops, and...
Where Fee Transparency Meets the Agentic Era
PubMatic launched the Fee Transparency Agent within its AgenticOS platform, delivering a unified view of all fees across a programmatic media buy. The tool consolidates vendor, data and measurement costs, eliminating the need for manual report stitching. By exposing the...
‘Cape Fear’ Trailer: Javier Bardem Terrorizes Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson in Apple Series Inspired by Martin Scorsese’s Remake
Apple TV is debuting a ten‑episode limited series titled “Cape Fear,” set for a June 5, 2026 launch. Created by Nick Antosca, the thriller reimagines Martin Scorsese’s 1991 remake of the 1962 classic, with Javier Bardem starring as the vengeful Max Cady...
Google Restores Removed Articles After Prompt DMCA Reversal
Like I said the other day could happen, the SEL article and the Press Gazette article that were removed due to a BS DMCA takedown are now back in the SERPs again. Good to see Google move quickly to rectify...
AI Outsourcing Risks Empty Minds, Not Just Faster Drafts
Writing is thinking, and people who outsource the full writing process to AI will find their screens full of words and their minds empty of thought. But also: All writing involves and has always involved “outsourcing”—reaching outside of the writer’s...
StoryCo Host on the Enduring Power of Narratives
James Kirkham, cultural futurist and ICONIC founder, launched the StoryCo podcast to explore why storytelling outlasts any technology. He argues that while AI can churn endless content, only narratives resonate and drive human behavior. The series examines storytelling’s roots in...
From the Phone to the Plex: Why TV Shows Are Turning Into Movies
In its first three days on Netflix, "Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man" logged over 25 million views, while Netflix’s earlier theatrical run of "K‑Pop Demon Hunters" generated about $24 million at the box office and won two Oscars. These successes illustrate a growing trend of...
PSSI Taps Appear X for Live Coverage of FIFA World Cup
PSSI announced a new phase of its partnership with Appear, deploying the Appear X Platform to upgrade its mobile production fleet and the PSSI International Teleport ahead of the FIFA World Cup in North America (June 11–July 19). The rollout includes multiple...
Jon Hamm, Elle Fanning and Keanu Reeves Star In Apple TV's Biggest Titles of April 2026
Apple TV’s April slate features a wave of original titles anchored by high‑profile talent, including Jon Hamm’s return in "Your Friends & Neighbors" Season 2, Elle Fanning headlining the drama "Margo’s Got Money Troubles," and Keanu Reeves starring in Jonah Hill’s directorial debut...
A Better Strategy for Location-Based Advertising
Location-based advertising is evolving as marketers move beyond simple radius targeting. A new study of millions of U.S. retail visits shows that customers who are relatively closer to a store than to its competitor respond far more to ads, even...
Disney+ Signs New Deal With Rai
Disney+ has signed a new content partnership with Italy’s public broadcaster Rai, adding iconic Rai titles such as the talk show Belve, game show The Floor, and popular series like Braccialetti rossi and L’amica geniale to its Italian catalog. The...
How to Deal With Infinite Options
Alberto’s latest guide tackles the paradox of AI‑generated infinite possibilities versus the human capacity to execute only one path. He explains how the shift from "how to do" to "what to do" creates choice overload, slowing decision‑making and product delivery....
Albertsons on Its ChatGPT Ads Test and Push for Retail Media Transparency
Albertsons Media Collective made its debut at the IAB NewFronts, using the stage to spotlight its nationwide grocery footprint of over 2,200 stores across 13 of the top 15 U.S. markets. The unit released a joint report with Ovative Group...
MediaRadar Expands Live Streaming Sports Coverage to Include Formula 1 Advertising
MediaRadar announced that its live‑streaming sports intelligence now covers Formula 1 advertising, coinciding with F1’s first‑ever exclusive distribution on Apple TV+. The move follows the sport’s 2025 global fan base reaching 827 million, a 12% year‑over‑year increase and a 63% rise since 2018....
CNN Journalists Were Detained in What Israel Called a ‘Serious Ethical and Professional Failure’
CNN journalists were detained and physically assaulted by Israeli soldiers while reporting on a settler attack in the West Bank. The crew, including photojournalist Cyril Theophilos, was held for two hours, during which a soldier placed Theophilos in a chokehold...
As Streaming Consolidates, Content No Longer Differentiates
Streaming platforms are consolidating in 2026, with Paramount Skydance set to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery and merge HBO Max into Paramount+, while Disney folds Hulu into the Disney+ app. Despite billions poured into original programming, viewers remain unable to articulate...
Document Today’s Struggles; Turn Them Into Tomorrow’s Tips
The struggle you're white-knuckling through today becomes the easy blogging tips you casually drop on social media next year. Document it before you forget you ever sucked at this. It is a goldmine/roadmap for those behind you.
Stranger Things Dominates Netflix's H2 2025 Top‑10 List
Stranger Things took three of the top 10 positions in Netflix’s most-watched content list for the second half of 2025. Season 1, which premiered almost 10 years ago, ranked #5. https://t.co/MdjWiYMI1Q
Saturday Night Live UK Confirms British Comedian as Next Host – Along with 'Modern Icon' Guest
Jack Whitehall has been confirmed as the host of Saturday Night Live UK’s next episode, airing on 11 April, with British soul star Jorja Smith slated as the musical guest. The episode will be helmed by actor Riz Ahmed and feature live music...
Reddit's AI Search Dominance: Wave Rising, Crash Uncertain
Reddit is riding a serious wave, but will that wave crash? It hasn't yet... -> Top domains cited by AI search: Analysis based on 30M sources Includes how top sources vary by platform: https://t.co/P1YXPVC6vZ via @TomekRudzki from @peec_ai https://t.co/d3GAnP2Cln
CMU Grad Corey Scott Lands SVU Series Regular Role
TV Talk: @cmudrama grad Corey Scott talks landing his series regular role on #SVU , acting opposite Mariska Hargitay & how his new character is not related to the guest character he previously played on SVU even though they share...
Media Capture, Misinformation, and “Noise”
The article explains how governments employ "media capture" to co‑opt news outlets and amplify misinformation, now extending to a "noise" strategy that floods the public with overwhelming information. This cognitive overload creates stress, hampers truth‑finding, and encourages self‑censorship among journalists....
Julie Andrews Starred in TV’s First Color Cinderella (1957)
The first TV version of "Cinderella," starring then 21-year-old Julie Andrews, aired in color on CBS in 1957. "Cinderella" was the only Rodgers and Hammerstein musical written for television. https://t.co/Oh6voRtz6W https://t.co/LdusPmuwvl
Crypto Media Sustainability? The Big Whale Hopes So
The Big Whale, a crypto‑focused media firm founded in 2022, has pivoted from a news‑centric model to a subscription‑based market‑intelligence service. After raising €1 million ($1.15 million) from angel investors, it now serves 150 clients—including 20 European banks—with license fees ranging from...
Omdia: TV and Online Video Revenues to Top $1 Trillion by 2030
Omdia projects combined traditional TV and online video revenues to surpass $1 trillion by 2030, up from $775 billion in 2025. The bulk of growth stems from digital advertising, which is expected to rise from $309 billion to $540 billion, lifting its share of...
Netflix Live Action ‘Solo Leveling’ Series: Filming Begins in May 2026 & What We Know So Far
Netflix announced a live‑action adaptation of the hit Korean webtoon *Solo Leveling*, with filming slated to start in early May 2026. Byeon Woo Seok will headline as Sung Jin‑woo, joined by Han So Hee and Kang You Seok. The first...
BBC Studios, CosmoBlue Extend Partnership Into Turkey and MENA
BBC Studios and Turkey‑based CosmoBlue Media have deepened their partnership by launching the COSMO EN linear channel and the BBC Player streaming service in Turkey. COSMO EN is now carried on D‑Smart, Tivibu, beIN and Kablo TV, while BBC Player is...