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.
NASCAR Euro Series Secures New TV Home in German‑speaking Europe Through Sportdigital Deal
The NASCAR Euro Series has signed a multi‑year broadcast partnership with German‑based Sportdigital, moving its German‑speaking market coverage (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) from Motorvision TV to Sportdigital’s premium Sportdigital1+ channel and streaming app starting in 2026. The deal includes live airings of every V8GP championship race, selected OPEN series events, and two 26‑minute highlight shows per weekend, with veteran commentator Pete Fink anchoring the German commentary team. Additional distribution agreements were announced for Cyprus (CYTA Vision) and Tanzania (AZAM TV), underscoring the series’ push for broader international exposure. Financial terms were not disclosed.
‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island,’ Plus 7 Things to Watch on TV This Week
Bravo rolls out a busy week of reality programming, debuting the third season of “The Valley” and launching the new “Real Housewives of Rhode Island.” Long‑running “Real Housewives of Atlanta” returns for its 17th season, promising fresh drama around foreclosures...
Tomb Raider Pauses Production Following Sophie Turner’s “Minor Injury”
The upcoming "Tomb Raider" television series has temporarily halted production after lead actress Sophie Turner suffered a minor injury on set. Executives described the pause as a precautionary measure, allowing Turner time to recover before filming resumes. No specific timeline...
How Consumers Can Identify a True QLED TV
Samsung’s premium QLED televisions now carry the Real Quantum Dot certification from TÜV Rheinland, confirming a genuine quantum‑dot implementation. The technology delivers 100% colour volume, brighter and more accurate images, and eliminates cadmium for safer, longer‑lasting performance. Consumers should verify...
Media Buying Briefing: What Will Meta’s and YouTube’s Legal Losses Mean for the Marketplace?
In late March courts in New Mexico and California held Meta and YouTube liable for using addictive tactics that harm young users, issuing $375 million and $6 million verdicts respectively. While the monetary penalties are modest for the platforms, the rulings provide a...
Pinterest Bets Measurement and SMBs Will Boost Performance Revenue
Pinterest has reorganized its monetization team, appointing Vik Gupta as VP and GM of Monetization and Sumanth Jagannath as VP of Measurement. The duo will fuse product, engineering and data‑science functions to tighten ad measurement and attribution, targeting greater spend...
Support Independent Democracy Docket,
Many legacy media companies have capitulated to Trump. Democracy Docket is different. I founded it to never bow down or obey. It has no corporate owners and relies on you for its support. If you value pro-democracy media, sign up...
Substack Live with Legal Journalist Jesse Wegman
The Brennan Center is hosting a Substack Live session with legal journalist Jesse Wegman, a senior fellow who spent 12 years on the New York Times editorial board covering the Supreme Court, law, and democracy. Wegman, author of "Let The...
Arsenio Hall Shares Unconventional Journey to Late‑Night TV Triumph
Arsenio Hall detailed his atypical route from stand‑up clubs to hosting a groundbreaking late‑night talk show in a fresh interview with The New Yorker. The conversation highlights the grit and creativity that propelled him to become a cultural touchstone, providing...
Charter's Spectrum Loses 687,000 Customers, Cuts 313 Jobs as It Pivots to AI and Cox Deal
Charter Communications' Spectrum division shed roughly 687,000 cable TV and internet subscribers in 2025 and shut its Appleton, Wis., call center, eliminating 313 jobs. The losses have spurred a strategic shift toward artificial‑intelligence tools and the pending $34.5 bn acquisition of...
Substack Hits 35 Million Users, Cementing Its Status as the Hottest Social Platform
Substack’s monthly active subscribers climbed from 20 million in 2025 to over 35 million in 2026, making the newsletter platform the fastest‑growing social‑media venue. The surge reflects a broader appetite for curated, long‑form content and underscores the strategic direction set by founder‑CEO...
BuzzFeed Shopping’s 24 Walmart Picks Drive Influencer‑Powered Traffic to Retail Giant
BuzzFeed Shopping released a roundup of 24 trending Walmart items, pairing each product with real‑world influencer reviews. The media‑driven curation is already funneling shoppers to Walmart.com, underscoring the growing clout of editorial commerce in the ecommerce ecosystem.
Tracker - The Field Trip - Review: A Parent’s Worst Nightmare
The Tracker episode “The Field Trip” follows a routine museum outing that turns into a child abduction, delivering a quietly unsettling narrative that feels alarmingly real. Lead investigator Colter Shaw relies on meticulous observation rather than police assumptions, piecing together...
Monster & Bear Unveils New Leadership Team as Co-Founder Sarah Hickey Goes Full-Time Directing
Melbourne‑based production studio Monster & Bear announced that co‑founder Sarah Hickey will exit day‑to‑day leadership to pursue full‑time directing, beginning with Gristmill Productions’ *Little Lunch* Season 2 in May 2026. The company introduced a refreshed leadership team, appointing Samantha Haines as Head...
Magic Light Pictures Launches Stirling Animation Studio
Magic Light Pictures has created Stirling Animation Studio (SAS) by acquiring the assets of the insolvent Wild Child Animation, ensuring continuity for its preschool series Zog. The wholly‑owned studio will complete all 52 episodes for the BBC, ZDF and Creative...
CNN CEO Brings Digital Creators Into Executive Strategy Sessions
"In recent months, CNN chief executive Mark Thompson convened a series of internal workshops in which the network invited digital creators to hold court before a room of senior executives," @nataliekorach reports. https://www.status.news/p/cnn-podcast-style-shows-nyt-video
AI Threatens Japan's Pseudonymous X Culture
Japan loves X because of the pseudonymity. But AI is going to make it easy to dox anyone from their writing style very soon, so its appeal may diminish.
This Battlestar Galactica Episode Broke A Major Show Rule (And It Wasn't Worth It)
The Battlestar Galactica season 2 episode “Epiphanies” revives President Laura Roslin by injecting her with Cylon fetal blood, sidestepping an originally planned stem‑cell cure. Writers chose vague technobabble over scientific detail, turning the rescue into a deus ex machina. Co‑creator Ronald...
Australian Eggs Reclaims Its ‘OG’ Status in Satirical Big Chocolate Social Film via Liquid Ideas
Australian Eggs refreshed its "The Easter OG" platform for 2026 with a social‑first hero film created by Liquid Ideas. The satirical "Big Chocolate" boardroom spot positions real eggs as the original Easter hero and underscores a dual‑play with chocolate. The...
‘Inaccurate’: ACMA Raps Four Corners over Cotton Fire Coverage
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) ruled that the ABC’s Four Corners episode “Water Grab” breached the broadcaster’s code of practice on accuracy and impartiality. The program alleged that Claravale pastoral station illegally used fire to clear land for...
Condé Nast Traveler Names Peru Among 2026's Most Beautiful Countries
Condé Nast Traveler has placed Peru in its 2026 list of the 40 most beautiful countries, highlighting iconic sites like Machu Picchu, Colca Canyon and the Paracas National Reserve. The repeat inclusion underscores Peru’s growing stature as a bucket‑list outdoor destination.
Criterion Announces 4K Restoration of Scorsese’s ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’
The Criterion Collection has confirmed a 4K restoration and fresh Blu‑ray release of Martin Scorsese’s 2023 epic ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’. The upgrade promises unprecedented visual fidelity for a film already hailed as a modern masterpiece, reigniting debate over...
Viola Davis & James Patterson's 'Judge Stone' Tops NYT Fiction List
Viola Davis and James Patterson’s debut novel, Judge Stone, entered the New York Times combined print and e‑book fiction bestseller list at No. 1 for the week of March 29, 2026. The legal thriller’s rapid ascent reflects the duo’s star power and Patterson’s proven sales...
FCC OKs Cox Media-WJAX Deal
The Federal Communications Commission has approved Cox Media Group’s purchase of Hoffman Communications’ CBS affiliate WJAX in Jacksonville. Cox will assume the station’s debt and pay approximately $175,000 to Hoffman, creating a duopoly with its existing Fox/MyNetwork/Telemundo outlet WFOX. DirecTV...
Ratings
Miley Cyrus returned as Hannah Montana for a Disney+ and Hulu 20th‑anniversary special, pulling 6.3 million streams in its first three days and sparking a roughly 1,000% surge in catalog viewing. The nostalgic event underscores the power of legacy IP on...
NPR's Newsmakers
In this episode of NPR's Newsmakers, host Steve Inskeep outlines the program’s mission to bring in‑depth, respectful interviews with today’s leaders, changemakers, and disruptors. He emphasizes the show’s commitment to rigorous, non‑profit journalism that goes beyond sound bites to explore...
FCC Cable Rate Report
The FCC issued an order to begin its mandatory cable‑rate report, requiring randomly selected operators to submit detailed pricing data by May 29. The questionnaire covers subscription fees, retransmission‑consent charges and related costs, with historical retrans fees averaging $30‑$350 per subscriber....
Ann Coulter Rips Into Fox News for Iran War Coverage, Compares to False Rigged 2020 Election Reporting
Conservative commentator Ann Coulter blasted Fox News for portraying the Iran war as a triumph and praising Donald Trump, likening the coverage to the network’s false 2020 election rigging narrative. Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene echoed the criticism, branding Fox as "fake news."...
Aldi Australia Embraces Zen of Low Prices in New BMF Campaign
Australian discount grocer Aldi has launched the “Aldi Prices” campaign, created by BMF, featuring a guru‑like figure reassuring shoppers that prices are already low. The ad rolls out across TV, digital, radio and social, positioning low price as the brand’s...
We Analysed More than 2 Million Tracks on Spotify to Find Out if Its AI Is ‘Killing’ Australian Music
A new study analyzing 2.27 million Spotify tracks found that AI‑generated playlists heavily favor U.S. artists and rely on far fewer unique songs than editorial lists. While the research does not confirm that Spotify’s AI is "killing" Australian music, it shows...
Billionaires Are Buying Up American Media and Killing the Truth
A wave of billionaire investors, led by Larry and David Ellison, is poised to take control of Warner Bros. Discovery and CNN, while also influencing CBS News through Bari Weiss. Leaked discussions suggest direct involvement of political figures in shaping...
GumGum Reveals The Land Down Under To Be A Strong ‘Growth Market’ For Contextual Ads
GumGum’s chief revenue officer says Australia is a strong growth market for its contextual advertising platform, citing the nation’s high per‑capita digital ad spend of $769 per person and $568 per internet user. The company’s Attentive Lift solution, launched globally...
LinkedIn Will No Longer Allow Real-Time Livestreams
LinkedIn announced that, starting June 22, 2026, all LinkedIn Live broadcasts must be scheduled in advance, ending the ability to stream spontaneously. The platform allows short‑notice scheduling, letting users set a start time minutes before going live. The change follows...
LinkedIn Will No Longer Allow Real-Time Live Streams
LinkedIn announced that, effective June 22, 2026, members can no longer start live streams spontaneously; all broadcasts must be scheduled in advance, though events can be set up minutes before airing. The change follows a 24 % quarter‑over‑quarter rise in LinkedIn events and...
884: The Idiot
In this episode, journalist M. Gessen recounts the tangled family saga of his cousin Alan, who repeatedly abducted his five‑year‑old son O from his mother Priscilla, first fleeing to the U.S. and later being arrested in Canada. Gessen describes his...
Meta Updates Edits with New Fonts, Templates and Better Search Tools
Meta rolled out a major update to its Edits video‑editing app, adding an AI‑powered font re‑style tool, new motion‑rich templates, and built‑in keyframe support for precise edits. The upgrade also streamlines Instagram account linking with enhanced search capabilities. Launched in...
Sony Should Debut Open Gate on Consumer Creator Cameras First
The success of this app makes me wonder if it’s smarter for a company like Sony to instead of rolling out “open gate” on pro cameras to release it as a “feature” (similar to this) on consumer level “creator” cameras...
Tech Faces Looser Rules than NYC Sandwich Regulations
“There is more regulation on making a sandwich in New York City than there is on building world Artificial General Intelligence or Social Media companies.”, says Tristan Harris He was talking to @FareedZakaria today on his weekly Global Public Square wrt...
EXCLUSIVE: Karl Stefanovic Takes His Podcast to the Streets with ‘Ridiculous’ Billboard Push
Karl Stefanovic’s eponymous podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show, launched in January and is now backed by a bold out‑of‑home campaign across Queensland. Partnering with outdoor agency Bishopp, the show’s team installed a series of irreverent billboards that mirror the program’s...
NCIS Boss Reveals Long‑Planned, Difficult Vance Exit
Neglected to post my @stevebinder convo about "NCIS" character deaths, then & now... ‘NCIS’ Boss Explains Vance’s Stunning Exit After 18 Seasons: ‘This Storyline Was Floating Around for Years… It Was Not an Easy Decision, I Can Tell You That’...
Attempting to Outshine a Top Influencer Exposes Media Ignorance
Trying to dunk on one of the most massive and relevant political influencers of our time and revealing you have no idea how internet media works
Creator Uses ChatGPT as Personal Spotify DJ, Highlighting AI’s New Role in Music Curation
A tech creator linked ChatGPT to Spotify and began prompting the model for hyper‑personalized playlists, discovering new tracks and deeper curation. The experiment underscores how generative AI is moving from novelty to everyday media consumption tools.
PR Praises Reporters, Then Begs for Free Article Links
Seeing a PR person waxing poetic about a reporter after they leave a newsroom, but also begging someone to send gift links to articles because they’re too cheap to subscribe. Pretty much the entire media/PR issue in one line. https://t.co/Bh0Ovxo2no
AI-Driven Podcasting: The Future Unveiled with Rob Greenlee
The future of podcasting. Created by AI, of course, after talking with podcasting OG @robgreenlee: https://t.co/voDPSxd6B7
Ad-Tier for Disney+ “Coming Soon” To Australia, NZ.
Disney+ will launch an ad‑supported tier in Australia and New Zealand in the coming months, adding a “Standard with Ads” plan that streams in Full HD, offers two concurrent streams and 5.1 Stereo audio, but does not allow downloads. Pricing has not been...
AI Val Kilmer Sues for 4K ‘Legacy Tax’
AI Val Kilmer’s clone is charging a 'Legacy Tax' for 4K Top Gun viewings. Claiming extra pixels use his likeness? The ultimate server-side hustle. 📺💰 #AIValKilmer #DigitalRights #LegacyTax #TopGun #AI #TechHumor https://t.co/BwzQBFNtiQ https://t.co/POzlC92C2i
X Limits Pro Features to Premium+ Subscribers Only
Wow, so no more X Pro access unless you’re on Premium+? That’s a pretty harsh shift @nikitabier @X https://t.co/wdcJ6KSZnU
C.H.A.S.E.: A Campaign Against Gender-Charged Hate Speech Online
The C.H.A.S.E. initiative, launched in March 2024 with European Commission backing, tackles gender‑charged hate speech online across the EU. It delivered multi‑country research, an AI‑driven real‑time detection tool, and a media Code of Conduct. An International Women’s Day campaign in...
AI Simulates Podcasting OG Chat on Future Trends
Talking to @robgreenlee on the phone. He is a podcasting OG. So we had Grok simulate a conversation between the two of us about the future of podcasting. Nuts. https://t.co/IVV4uVDgYy
Jonathan Greenberger Appointed Politico Editor-in-Chief
Politico has named Jonathan Greenberger as its new editor in chief -- scoop from @alexbruell https://t.co/BLuYqXpIQb via @WSJ