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.
The Evolution of the "Second Screen": What Audiences Are Doing While Watching TV
Television viewing has shifted from single‑screen focus to pervasive dual‑screen multitasking, with audiences routinely pairing smartphones or tablets with their shows. This habit fuels a parallel digital economy, as mobile gambling, gaming and social media thrive during commercial breaks and narrative lulls. While mental‑health experts warn that constant split attention strains cognition, a counter‑culture of single‑task viewing is emerging. Broadcasters, recognizing the permanence of the second screen, are creating integrated companion apps and live interactive features to capture and monetize divided engagement.
Why Everyone’s Getting on the ‘Double Dutch Bus’
Choreographer Molly Long turned Frankie Smith’s 1981 track “Double Dutch Bus” into TikTok’s biggest dance of the year, sparking a wave of user‑generated videos. Her routine, first taught at Project 21’s February showcase, amassed over 3.5 million likes and more than 13,000...
News Diary 30 March – 5 April: Tim Davie Exits BBC, Apple Turns 50, Easter Sunday
Apple marked its 50th anniversary, underscoring five decades of dominance in smartphones, software and consumer electronics. Tim Davie announced his departure as BBC director‑general, citing the fallout from a Panorama episode that edited remarks by former President Donald Trump. The...
Anna Dempsey Wins Inaugural Hilary Mantel Prize for Fiction
Anna Dempsey has been named the first winner of the Hilary Mantel Prize for Fiction, triumphing over more than 2,000 applicants. The prize, created by publisher AM Heath to celebrate Mantel’s legacy, adds a fresh, high‑profile accolade to the literary awards...
Milwaukee Brewers Face $20 Million TV Revenue Loss After In‑House Broadcast Shift
The Milwaukee Brewers disclosed a $20 million reduction in television revenue after abandoning its regional sports network partnership for an in‑house broadcast operation. The change, announced by owner Mark Attanasio, forces the club’s revenue team to re‑engineer its sales and distribution...
Vice Studios Unveils New Executive Team Under President Amy Powell
Vice Studios announced a reshaped senior leadership team, naming Amy Powell as President and installing new executive vice presidents for its scripted and unscripted divisions. The move reflects a broader push for clearer strategic direction in a rapidly evolving media...
An Unexpected Laboratory: How Pennsylvania Is Testing the Future of Journalism
Pennsylvania’s local news ecosystem is in turmoil as legacy papers like the Pittsburgh Post‑Gazette and The Derrick face shutdowns, prompting a wave of experimental models. Community groups, nonprofits, and membership programs have stepped in to keep coverage alive, while universities...
Cubs' VDX.tv Partner Faces Scrutiny Over Deep Fan Data Collection
The Chicago Cubs' partnership with VDX.tv, a sports streaming vendor, has come under fire for harvesting extensive fan data—including IP addresses, device identifiers, browsing behavior and location—through cookies that persist for up to 90 days. Privacy advocates warn the practice...
U.S. District Court Dismisses X Corp. Advertiser Boycott Lawsuit
A U.S. District Court has dismissed X Corp.'s lawsuit alleging a coordinated advertiser boycott, ending a high‑profile case that could have reshaped ad‑tech policies. The ruling leaves advertisers and platforms to navigate brand‑safety concerns without a court‑mandated remedy.
Synter Emerges From Stealth With AI Agent to Execute Paid Media Campaigns
Synter has launched from stealth with an AI‑driven advertising operations platform that lets marketers issue natural‑language commands to manage paid campaigns across Google, Meta, LinkedIn, and other networks. The agent connects via official APIs, eliminating the need for manual dashboard...
Stream These Movies and Shows Before They Leave Netflix in April
Netflix will remove a wave of high‑profile titles for U.S. viewers in April, including most of the James Bond film library, the Oscar‑winning drama Ford v. Ferrari, Denzel Washington’s thriller Man on Fire, and the classic Cast Away. The streaming service also adds Christopher Guest’s beloved mockumentary trio—Waiting for...
Netflix Leverages Must‑Watch Shows to Offset Price Hikes
Netflix raised prices again. I went through all five stages in about four minutes. Outrage, indignation, a brief google of "cancel Netflix," a moment of genuine pause, and then I remembered I want the next Bridgerton season so there is...
The Daily Whatever Show: Effed-Up Friday With The Grounded Podcast
In this "Fucked‑Up Friday" episode of The Daily Whatever Show, hosts Lawrence Winterman and Dana Dubois chat with former Senator John Tester and investigative journalist Maritza about their recent layoffs, the launch of their Grounded Podcast, and the political climate’s...
Netflix Hikes All Plans, Citing $20B Content Spend
Netflix raised prices for all its plans on Thursday, bumping the ad-supported tier to $8.99, standard to $19.99, and premium to $26.99 a month. Extra member add-ons also got more expensive. The company cited investments in new content, including live...
Deezer Licenses AI Music Detection Technology to Hungarian Rights Organization EJI
Deezer has licensed its proprietary AI music detection technology to Hungary’s rights collective EJI, making the organization the first in the country able to flag generative‑AI recordings. The tool, which identifies AI‑generated tracks that now account for about 39% of...
Reach Website Rapped over ‘Significantly Misleading’ Pensions Headline
The UK press regulator IPSO ruled that Birmingham Live, part of Reach, published a "significantly misleading" headline suggesting state pensioners would receive only three years of pension if the retirement age were raised to 70. The regulator said the phrase...
Brewers Reveal $20M Hit After RSN Exit
The Milwaukee Brewers disclosed a $20 million financial shortfall after abandoning their regional sports network agreement with Main Street Sports Group in favor of MLB’s league‑run media model. Owner Mark Attanasio said the loss stems from both reduced rights‑fee income and...
Music Labels Hire ‘Clippers’ to Fake Viral Hits
Music Labels Turn to “Clippers” to Manufacture Fake Viral Buzz at Scale “Clipping” is a viral marketing tactic where teams flood social platforms with content to fake organic virality Labels and agencies hire ‘clippers’ to mass-post memes, clips, and content across TikTok,...
Yap Era: Authentic Voices Replace Polished Tech‑bro Content
I'm convinced the "yap era" of social content is not a trend... It's a course correction. People got tired of over-produced content that felt empty (and WAY too tech bro-y). They want real information, real stories, from real people.
Crunchyroll Launches on Apple TV in the U.K.
Crunchyroll has launched a dedicated Apple TV app for the United Kingdom, allowing users to subscribe directly through the platform. The service grants access to roughly 50,000 anime episodes, alongside exclusive games and merchandise discounts. New releases such as season...
Meta Defeats Spark Fresh US Social Media Regulation Push
Meta’s Court Defeats Fuel New Wave of Social Media Regulation Efforts in US Meta’s back-to-back court losses have ignited fresh momentum for social media regulation in the US Lawmakers argue rulings prove platforms cause harm through design, not just content Pressure is building...
The Council of Europe Adopts Landmark Convention on Series Co-Production - Industry / Market - Europe
The Council of Europe adopted a convention on co‑production of audiovisual series, the first international framework dedicated to independent series co‑production. Nine countries—France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Poland and Portugal—signed the agreement at the Séries Mania Forum. The...
A Different World: New and Returning Actors Revealed for Netflix Sequel Series
Netflix announced additional cast members for its upcoming "A Different World" sequel, confirming the return of original stars Dawnn Lewis and Glynn Turman alongside newcomers Tichina Arnold, Joshua Suiter, and Raven Goodwin. The series will follow the youngest daughter of...
Digital Engagement's Fat Tail Risk?
Meta was hit this week with two high‑profile lawsuits—one in Los Angeles over algorithmic addiction and another in New Mexico over child sexual exploitation—resulting in $375 million in civil penalties and $6 million in damages, respectively. The penalties are modest compared with...
Omnicom Annual Report Emphasizes Clients, Media, AI - People, Not So Much
Omnicom released its 2025 annual report, spotlighting clients, media, advertising, AI and data while giving scant attention to its 120,000‑strong workforce. The report follows the company’s recent acquisition of Interpublic, positioning the combined entity as a data‑driven, AI‑enabled network. At...
Social Media May Soon Require Warning Labels, Shaking Ecosystem
Proud of this little graphic I made for this week’s ICYMI newsletter: Is Social Media About to Get Slapped with a Warning Label? And what does that mean for all of us in the ecosystem (creators, marketers and platforms)?! https://liahaberman.substack.com/p/icymi-is-social-media-about-to-get
90 Day Fiancé: Season 12; TLC Unveils Premiere Date, Cast & Trailer for Reality Series
TLC announced that the twelfth season of 90 Day Fiancé will debut on Sunday, May 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The new installment introduces eight fresh couples navigating K‑1 visa hurdles, cultural differences, and personal quirks. Highlights include a high‑powered bridal executive falling...
AppLovin’s Real Moat Is MAX Mediation, Not AXON
on $APP new short out now from HEDGEYE with a 30% downside report - AppLovin's competitive moat is not primarily AXON, its machine learning model. It is MAX, the mediation platform that controls over 60% of mobile...
Fact-Checking Chris Fleming Won Late Night This Week
Chris Fleming’s extended couch segment on *Late Night with Seth Meyers* became the week’s highlight, prompting the host to fact‑check Fleming’s comedic claims. The appearance followed a backlash against a warm‑up comic for *The Tonight Show* who made a joke perceived...
From Hamlet at the Globe to Keir Starmer on SNL UK: The Anarchic Rise of George Fouracres
George Fouracres, a former Cambridge Footlights sketch artist, has become the breakout star of Saturday Night Live UK, bringing his viral internet fame to a national television audience. His career spans a sketch trio called Daphne, a one‑person show about his...
Netflix Price Hikes Outpace Inflation, Costing Double
Here is the real story, Netflix has raised prices faster than inflation, making it more expensive in real terms. If prices had only kept up with inflation, the standard plan in 2026 would be around $11.86 Instead, it’s $19.99.
Grass Valley and NVP Deploy Camera Systems for LALIGA Broadcast Production
Grass Valley, together with NVP and integration partner Video Progetti, has completed a live‑production rollout for LALIGA broadcasts. The system equips 15 outside‑broadcast trucks with 144 Grass Valley cameras, delivering native 4K UHD HDR and HD SDR for more than...
Being a Creator Is a Decision, Not Inspiration
Are you a consumer or a creator? The answer explains a lot about why some people build audiences and others don't. Creators use the same platforms and tools as everyone else. The difference is what they do with them. You don't need inspiration...
Boss Rush Podcast Drops This Week's Game News
We're podcasting Boss Rush on the news in games this week in a couple of minutes. https://t.co/TxoxDJr9Kn
Ian Russell Challenges Instagram Boss to “Chat” At Cannes Lions
Ian Russell, the head of the UK communications regulator Ofcom, publicly challenged Instagram’s chief, Adam Mosseri, to a one‑on‑one discussion at the upcoming Cannes Lions festival. Russell raised the issue during a panel on social‑media harm at Advertising Week Europe,...
Exploring the True Roots of Social Media Addiction
Had a great time back with @nickgillespie chatting about “social media addiction” and what these cases are really about
Social Media Addiction Is a Myth, Not a Disease
“As for social media ‘addiction’ there literally is no such thing. No diagnosis for that. Social media is not remotely the same as alcohol, nicotine, or heroin. There is no such thing as ‘dopamine hits’ which is merely pseudo-science sounding...
Cineverse Launching New FAST Channel Featuring Comic Jay Mohr’s Podcast ‘Mohr Stories’
Cineverse is debuting a free‑ad‑supported streaming TV (FAST) channel called “Mohr Stories,” featuring comedian Jay Mohr’s podcast and video interviews. The channel launches exclusively on LG Channels, while the audio version remains on the Witz Podcast Network. Mohr’s show has...
Far‑right Cites Kids‑safety Laws to Target LGBTQ Online
One thing about the whole “social media addiction” campaign from Heritage and all the other far right fundamentalist groups, is that they’re openly bragging about how they’ll use these “kids online safety” legal precedents/laws to censor LGBTQ ppl off the...
Versant Joins Talks to Buy Vox Media's Podcast Unit
scoop w/@jtes: CNBC and MS Now parent Versant is among the companies in talks to acquire Vox Media's podcast biz https://t.co/sWkoNWwPEH
Edith Cowan University Installs Lawo VSM, HOME, and Mc²36 in New Broadcast Facility
Edith Cowan University in Perth has opened a state‑of‑the‑art broadcast facility equipped with Lawo’s HOME management platform, Virtual Studio Manager (VSM) control system, and mc²36 audio console. The installation, delivered with partner PAT, integrator Diversified and consultant Techniq Media, integrates...
Criminalizing “Child Harm” Content Threatens Journalistic Freedom
Yup, when you seek to criminalize content that causes “harm to children” you end up with censorship of journalism. I wrote about this last year for The Guardian https://t.co/h4eHZN4IpM
Netflix Hikes Prices Across All Subscription Tiers
Netflix is increasing their subscription prices again: • Ad-tier: $7.99 → $8.99 • Standard: $17.99 → $19.99 • Premium: $24.99 → $26.99 $NFLX https://t.co/HpCsmuworE
Webby Awards Taps Comedian & Content Creator Josh Johnson to Host 30th Annual Ceremony
The Webby Awards will celebrate their 30th anniversary on May 11 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, with Emmy‑nominated comedian and creator Josh Johnson as host. Johnson, known for his work on The Tonight Show and The Daily...
Aggregation Unliked Yet Historically Essential for Reporters
I'm not sure I get the "but how will young reporters learn to aggregate?" arguments here. Everyone who's ever done aggregation hated it, and there were reporters before aggregation became a thing
Improved Algorithms Can Counteract Social Media Polarization
Fantastic work here. Social media algorithms polarize us. And it turns out better algorithms can do the opposite.
Scaling Video Clips: Emerging Profit Trend in Creator Economy
Learned all about #Clavicular and #looksmaxxing - but also about a surging new online business in scaling video clips to make💰 . Read @KaylCobb who constantly unearths the new trends in creator economy: https://t.co/HuUcBL2S6B
Netflix Confidently Hikes Prices, Claims Top Streaming Value
Without having to worry about appearances amid the (now dead) Warner Bros. deal, Netflix feels comfortable raising prices because, in a nutshell, it delivers the best bang for the buck in subscription streaming https://t.co/G6pSB7112d via @variety
Row K Faces Cash Crisis, Top Execs Depart
New: Meltdown at the new indie distributor Row K, @elmayimbe has the details. President Megan Colligan and marketing chief Ben Carlson are set to exit after just 7 months. Cash problems; strategic re-set seems underway for Chris Woodward and Raj...
Podscan Finally Mentioned Alongside Apple After Two Years
Obviously, I have set up alerting for "Podscan" on Podscan itself. And I love how podcasters are starting to mention the platform along with the massive incumbents like Apple. This one just came in. Took 2 years to get to this...