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.
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 disclosed, though the existing Standard plan costs AU$15.99 (≈US$10.5) per month and the Premium AU$20.99 (≈US$13.9). The new tier will open Disney’s entertainment library and ESPN sport content to advertisers, while retaining robust parental‑control features.
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...
Nick, Kate and Joel Face Off in TIPPING POINT Celebrity Special for Charity
Australia’s long‑running game show Tipping Point is airing a celebrity charity special on Wednesday, April 1 at 7:30 pm on Channel 9 and 9Now. Hosted by tennis legend Todd Woodbridge, radio and TV personalities Nick Cody, Kate Langbroek and Joel Creasey will compete for...
New X Features Simplify Tracking Tech and News Interests
Gary has thousands of people studying social media. He's right. It's so easy to break in now. And X is about to turn on new features that will make it even easier to follow interests. And those of you who...
Mal Leyland’s Life and Dementia Diagnosis on AUSTRALIAN STORY
Mal Leyland, the 81‑year‑old co‑star of the iconic "Ask the Leyland Brothers" series, appears on ABC’s Australian Story to discuss his dementia diagnosis and a final outback convoy. The month‑long trek marks the 60th anniversary of the brothers’ 1966 coast‑to‑coast...
Axed: DMV
U.S. broadcast network CBS announced that the workplace comedy "DMV," starring Australian actress Harriet Dyer and New Zealand actor Alex Tarrant, will conclude after its first season. The series' final episode is set for May 11, 2026, and the show...
This Is the Ad-Free News App Setup I Wish I Used Sooner
Tech writer Shaun Cichacki highlights Read You, a free, open‑source Android RSS news app that delivers ad‑free content directly to the device. The app emphasizes privacy by operating locally, avoiding third‑party tracking SDKs, and requiring no user account. Its Material...
MeTV Is Expanding Its MeTV Music Radio Station
MeTV is preparing to roll its MeTV Music radio format out of its current handful of markets to a national audience. The service currently airs on 87.7 FM in Chicago and 95.7 FM in Lafayette, Indiana, with additional low‑power signals in the...
Amazon Prime Video in April 2026: Top 5 New Shows and Movies to Watch
Amazon Prime Video's April 2026 slate introduces five standout titles across drama, animation, and sports. The highly anticipated fifth season of "The Boys" launches on April 8, promising a violent and emotional finale, while new series "Kevin" and "The House of...
Bots Are Often Bad Writers. But so Are Most Humans
The Economist argues that while AI‑generated prose often lacks nuance, human writers are similarly prone to inconsistency and cliché. The piece uses vivid metaphor to illustrate the clumsy elegance of both bots and people, suggesting that the current furore over...
Meet ‘Voices From the South’, The Conversation Brazil’s Podcast on Science and Climate in Brazil and Australia
The Conversation Brazil released its inaugural podcast, “Voices from the South,” a six‑month, cross‑continental project with Australia, the Federal University of Pará and COALAR. Journalists spent weeks in the Amazon, Minas Gerais and Australian research hubs, recording more than 40 hours of...
Jannik Sinner v Jiri Lehecka Live Stream, Watch Miami Open Final on TV Channel
The 2026 Miami Open final features Italy’s Jannik Sinner versus Czech Jiri Lehecka at Hard Rock Stadium. Sinner arrives on a 32‑set Masters 1000 winning streak after capturing Indian Wells, aiming to reclaim the Miami title he missed last year. Lehecka, the...
Questioning AI's Free Access to Musicians' Catalogs
What long term good is gained by AI companies having free access to my songs and catalog? Does the world not have enough recordings and songs? Does it cure cancer? You haven’t told me why it’s in anyone’s interest? Yet...
What to Stream: Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney and Jon Hamm
Two major streaming services pulled the reality series "Counting On" after Joseph Duggar's arrest, while a Gaten Matarazzo Instagram promo went viral. The moves underscore shifting standards for content, influencer scrutiny and the economics of social media platforms.
Netflix Reportedly Offered Make-Goods During MLB Broadcast After Falling Short in NFL Christmas Key Demos
Netflix’s NFL Christmas Day games attracted 27.5 million viewers for the Lions‑Vikings matchup and 19.9 million for the Cowboys‑Commanders, but the streamer fell about 18 % short of its promised 18‑54 demographic ratings. To honor advertiser contracts, Netflix provided make‑good spots during the...
Is Your Signal Secure?
At the NAB Show, a panel titled “Securing the Signal” examined how broadcasters can shift from reactive security to proactive risk management across distributed field operations. Experts from Fox, Dataminr, Smith Entertainment Group and Verkdata discussed integrating real‑time threat‑intelligence platforms...
Tracker: Season Four: Chris Lee Promoted to CBS Series Regular
Chris Lee has been elevated to series regular on CBS’s Tracker for the remainder of season three, positioning him to likely appear in season four. The promotion follows his introduction last season as Bobby’s cousin who stayed on to aid Colter...
Vancouver Reporter Says Canucks Revoked Press Credentials and Removed Him From Game Following Story About Ownership
Vancouver Canucks removed Daily Hive reporter Trevor Beggs from the arena and revoked his press credential after he published a story linking the Aquilini family’s vineyard to a U.S. federal indictment over alleged visa fraud. The article, which detailed Harvest...
Poser: 17 Casting Additions Revealed for Thriller Drama About Toxic Female Friendship
Netflix’s upcoming thriller drama Poser has expanded its ensemble with 17 new cast members, joining previously announced leads Daisy Jelley, Sadie Stanley and Annie Murphy. Production has kicked off in Los Angeles, signaling a sizable investment in the series. The...
Jon Bernthal's The Punisher Special Confirms Release Date After Daredevil: Born Again's Finale
Marvel confirmed that Jon Bernthal’s Punisher spin‑off, *Punisher: One Last Kill*, will debut on Disney+ on Tuesday, May 12, a week after the *Daredevil: Born Again* season‑2 finale. The special is positioned as a holiday‑style presentation, similar to *Werewolf by Night*, with...
‘SNL UK’ Loses 9% Of Audience But Still Beats Rival Networks
Saturday Night Live UK’s second episode attracted 205,000 live viewers, a 9% dip from the premiere’s 226,000. The show captured a 3.2% share of the audience and still outperformed Channel 4’s Moonfall, which drew 136,000 viewers. Sky emphasized that overnight numbers are...
The HP TV App Just Showed up on Windows 11, and People Are Wondering What It Even Does — Here’s...
HP has launched a free, ad‑supported streaming app called HP TV+ that appears by default on Windows 11 PCs and can also be installed on Windows 10 and ARM64 devices. The app aggregates live channels, movies and TV shows in a single interface,...
Google Tests AI-Rewritten News Headlines in Search without Notifying Publishers, Drawing Industry Backlash
Google is piloting an AI feature that automatically rewrites news article headlines in Search results, doing so without informing or obtaining consent from publishers. Media executives argue the practice could produce inaccurate or misleading headlines that remain attributed to the...
Ana Paula Maia’s Booker Nomination Boosts Global Demand for Brazilian Fiction
Brazilian author Ana Paula Maia has become one of 13 semifinalists for the International Booker Prize with her novel “Assim na terra como embaixo da terra.” The nomination has triggered a 600% sales jump and a wave of offers from...
Tencent Music Generates $14 M in Sales for Jay Chou’s New Album via Integrated B2C Push
Tencent Music Entertainment Group reported that its exclusive launch of Jay Chou’s 16th studio album "Children of the Sun" has surpassed 100 million RMB (about $14 million) in sales. The figure reflects a coordinated digital‑plus‑physical rollout that blends pre‑order incentives, limited‑edition bundles and...
Media Push for Iran Troop Deployment Highlights Cable News Influence on Policy Debate
Fox News host Mark Levin called for U.S. troops to be sent to Iran, a stance amplified after former President Donald Trump promoted Levin's program. The episode spotlights how cable news personalities can shape political narratives and influence policy discussions.
Judge Blocks $6.2 Bn Nexstar‑Tegna Merger Pending Antitrust Lawsuit
A federal judge issued an injunction stopping the $6.2 bn acquisition of Tegna by Nexstar, citing an ongoing antitrust lawsuit. The ruling pauses the deal and raises questions about market concentration in local TV broadcasting.
Bluesky Unveils Attie AI Assistant, Giving Developers Natural‑Language Feed Creation
Bluesky rolled out Attie, an AI assistant that enables developers to design custom social feeds using natural‑language commands, leveraging Anthropic’s Claude and the AT Protocol. The launch, announced at the Atmosphere conference, coincides with a $100 million funding round that extends...
Insufficient Source Material for Requested Story
The eight supplied source articles do not contain any information about a Los Angeles jury awarding massive verdicts in social‑media addiction lawsuits against Meta and Google. Without relevant source material, a factual, quote‑backed news story cannot be generated.
What Time Does ‘Paradise’ Season 2, Episode 8 Come Out On Hulu?
Hulu’s thriller series *Paradise* will air its Season 2 finale, Episode 8, on Monday, March 30, 2024, at 12:00 a.m. ET (Sunday, March 29 at 9:00 p.m. PT). The episode, titled “Exodus,” concludes an eight‑episode arc that has built intense speculation around character fates. Hulu announced a renewal...
This Forgotten American Crime Procedural Quietly Dominated TV for 6 Seasons
CBS’s *Numb3rs* aired from 2005 to 2010, delivering six seasons and 118 episodes that blended FBI investigations with high‑level mathematics. The series turned abstract concepts like calculus and probability into plot‑driving tools, distinguishing it from conventional crime procedurals. Its steady...
NBC PUSHES OUT PETER ALEXANDER — THIS WASN’T HIS CHOICE
Peter Alexander, a longtime NBC anchor, was forced out after more than a decade, despite publicly citing family reasons. Insiders say NBC chose not to renew his contract as the network pivots toward a younger, more tabloid‑style, personality‑driven lineup. The...
11 Forgotten Food And Drink Commercials From The '70s That'll Make You Feel Old
The 1970s were a golden era for television food and drink advertising, birthing unforgettable jingles and mascots while also showcasing early experiments in packaging and branding. From Coca‑Cola’s first plastic 2‑liter bottle to McDonald’s Grimace shifting from villain to friendly...
5 Essential Writing Tools That Built My $20M Business
Writing online is how I built a LinkedIn audience to 154,000 and a $20,000,000 digital business. But my writing tech stack is simple. I never start writing without these 5 tools:
Versant Eyes Acquisition of Vox Media's Podcast Unit
Galloway and Swisher on MSNow? Please, no. Versant Pursues a Deal for Vox Media’s Podcast Business https://t.co/ttTyJjAqXk
From Skeptic to True Believer: How OpenClaw Changed My Life | Claire Vo
Claire Vo, former product executive and AI startup founder, now runs her business, podcast, and family life with nine OpenClaw agents deployed across Mac Minis and old laptops. After an initial mishap that deleted her family calendar, she became a...
Consider Buying NYT to Counter Supershare Bias
Too bad the nytimes is so closely held with supershares.. would be epic to buy it and send it straight to the middle, and take out the bias I guess the best we could do is to build a position...
Users Upset: Wire Stories in App's Print Edition Won't Open
And is anyone else frustrated that the increasing number of wire-service stories that appear in the “Print Edition” on the app don’t open up when you click on them. ( unlike the staff written pieces).
Prime Video Phenomenon The Summer I Turned Pretty's Anticipated Movie Gets Update From Lead Star
Prime Video is moving "The Summer I Turned Pretty" from series to feature film, extending Belly's story beyond season three. Lead actress Lola Tung told Variety that showrunner and author Jenny Han is already brainstorming ideas and drafting a script. Tung hinted...
Online Writing Fueled My Digital Business Exit
Writing online is how I built a digital business and quit my corporate job on Wall Street. This is the roadmap I wish I had when I first got started:
Algorithms Turn Content Into Ultraprocessed, Irresistible Streams
Much of the digital content that ensnares our attention is "ultraprocessed", i.e. "the result of vast databases of user-generated content that are sifted, broken down and recombined by algorithms into personalized streams designed to be irresistible". https://t.co/QDr9Jzu8Y9
DirecTV Launches a New Cheaper Sports Only Package to Compete With YouTube TV
DirecTV has relaunched its MySports package with a streamlined, sports‑only lineup priced at $65 per month, offering a two‑month introductory rate of $44.99. The new bundle removes several news channels, focusing on live sports and major broadcast networks to compete...
Mass Liking Fake Photos Threatens Irreversible Harm
We're Hitting Like on Millions of Fake Photos. We Either Stop or the Damage Will Be Irreversible #ArtificialDecisions #MCC @AFPFactCheck @IWFhotline @Bellingcat @katecrawford https://t.co/UM4qF2hf1n
Algorithm Predictably Amplifies Anti‑Sam Altman Content
The algo pushing a bunch of anti- Sam Altman content feels a bit too predictable
Australian Story
Mal Leyland, one half of the iconic Leyland Brothers duo, has been diagnosed with dementia but is still planning a final road trip. The personal journey will be featured in a new episode of ABC’s documentary series "Australian Story" airing...
Paywalls Threaten Fan Access and Antitrust Exemptions
Watching your favorite sports team play has become more complicated in recent years — as more and more games go behind paywalls on various streaming services. Fans are frustrated and leagues could be undermining their unique antitrust exemptions. https://t.co/Ddcdt1j5mP
5‑Takeaway Format Reduces Complexity, Omits Democracy Defense
I despise the 5-takeways journalistic trope the #BrokenTimes loves so. It is reductionist, hubristic in its claim to summarize any complex event. This one leaves out much, like the defense of democracy against fascism. https://t.co/9PqlDk10zG
Who Wants the NFL? YouTube Could Make a Compelling Case
YouTube streamed its first NFL game in Brazil in 2025 and is now eyeing a bundle of international matchups for the 2026 season. The platform could bid for games in Brazil, Germany, Spain, London and other markets, leveraging its global...
Freedom of Expression Outweighs Cheering Facebook Verdicts
After eight paragraphs of caveats, David French gets to the correct point: freedom of expression. Don’t Cheer Too Hard for the Facebook Verdicts https://t.co/DUVT5kRzE3
The Unexpected Show Gordon Ramsay Wants To Star On (It's Not About Cooking)
Gordon Ramsay revealed his interest in joining Dancing with the Stars during a 2023 interview, but acknowledges significant obstacles. His demanding schedule of over 80 global restaurants, the physical rigors of the show, and his age at 56 all limit...