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.
Creator Television Partners with Convergence to Bring Creator-Led Programming to TV
Sabio Holdings' Creator Television has teamed up with Los Angeles‑based venture studio Convergence to produce creator‑led programming for television. The collaboration will generate original series across sports, lifestyle and other genres, extending influencer storytelling beyond social platforms. Produced shows will be available on Creator TV’s free ad‑supported streaming channels, including TCL tv+, Xumo Play, Amazon Fire TV Channels, Sling Freestream, Plex and Anoki LiveTVx. Both firms say the partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward creator‑driven content as a core entertainment pillar.
Texas A&M Partners with Family Science Podcast to Introduce Children to STEM
Texas A&M University’s Office for Youth Engagement teamed with Cumbre Kids to launch “Cool Jobs for Curious Kids,” a bilingual STEM podcast series for children ages 3‑11. Episodes feature Texas A&M faculty discussing real‑world science topics such as drones, dental...
The Unglamorous Job of Replatforming Your Digital Publication
Daily Maverick, a South African independent news outlet, recently completed a full migration from a fragmented WordPress setup to the integrated WhiteBeard content management platform. The transition involved moving over one million registered users, billing information, and years of content...
Sinclair to Consolidate Newsrooms in Tulsa, Drop News Anchors From ABC Affiliate
Sinclair Broadcast Group will merge the newsrooms of its Tulsa stations, KTUL (ABC) and KOKI (Fox), creating a shared content hub with upgraded weather, studio and master‑control facilities. The consolidation will shift KTUL to a reporter‑driven, anchor‑light format starting in...
How Shopify Brands Are Using AI to Replace $300 UGC Creators
Shopify DTC brands are swapping $150‑$500 creator‑produced UGC videos for AI‑generated ads that cost roughly $2.50 each. The new workflow lets marketers produce 40 video variations for about $99, cutting turnaround from weeks to minutes. By testing dozens of hooks...
Broadcast CEOs Push Consolidation to Meet $10 Billion NFL Rights Costs
Curtis LeGeyt, CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, warned that consolidation is essential for traditional TV networks to compete for the NFL’s roughly $10 billion annual media rights. He argues that only larger, merged entities can afford the escalating fees...
Results Are In: NBC’s Olympic Creator Bet Won Gold — Inside the Playbook
NBCUniversal’s Olympic Creator Collective sent more than 25 digital creators to the Milan‑Cortina Winter Games, generating over 4 billion impressions across its social channels – a 437% jump from Beijing 2022. The follow‑up Project Fortius program helped ten athletes add more than...
False 2‑hour Success Myths Mislead the Next Generation
One of my least-favorite clickbait trends of the past 5 years is big creators claiming "I achieved XYZ only working 2 hours per day." Aside from the fact that it's a blatant lie—every person who says that is a workaholic—it also...
Consistent Art Production Beats Quick‑Fix Strategies
For artists in search of perfect content to increase their engagement, views, online profiles, fan bases, help them sell more art, or reach whatever goals they're striving for, there is no quick fix. Nothing happens all at once. Isolated posts...
Cumulus’ Indy Head Adds Oversight Of Muncie, Kokomo FMs
Cumulus Media has promoted Darlene Park from Vice President/Market Manager of its Indianapolis stations to Regional Vice President of Central Indiana. In her expanded role, Park will now oversee two additional country stations—WWKI‑FM in Kokomo and WMDH “NASH FM 102.5”...
IABM to Host Breakfast Event at 2026 NAB Show
IABM announced a hot‑breakfast briefing at the 2026 NAB Show on April 19, promising a major announcement that will influence the MediaTech sector. The event, held in Las Vegas’s LVCC, will feature a CEO press briefing, a fireside chat with...
Russia Postpones Telegram and YouTube Ad Ban, Easing Pressure on Online Marketing
Russia’s Federal Anti‑Monopoly Service (FAS) has delayed the enforcement of its advertising ban on Telegram and YouTube until December 2026, after pushback from lawmakers and the online‑business sector. The postponement grants a three‑year grace period while the ban on Instagram,...
What Happened To Ty Pennington After Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Ty Pennington left "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" in 2012 after the series averaged 15 million viewers at its peak. He published a memoir, "Life to the Extreme," in 2019, sharing his ADHD experience and promoting a $25,000 Dream Kitchen sweepstakes. Since...
Apple Formally Releases HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) Podcasts
Apple has integrated its HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) video protocol into iOS 26.4, enabling podcasters to publish native video episodes within the Apple Podcasts app. Listeners can switch between audio‑only and video streams without interrupting playback, and episodes adapt to...
🚨 WATCH HERE: Joe Kent EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW 🚨
State of the Day posted an exclusive interview with Republican congressional hopeful Joe Kent, directing readers to a backup video link after Substack’s livestream failed. The brief note emphasizes the platform’s subscription model and the absence of traditional media framing....
Abundant – What If the Most Radical Act Is Giving?
In this episode of Brave New Coin, director Donald Griswold discusses his documentary *Abundant*, which explores generosity through the lens of non‑directed kidney donation, and explains why the film will launch on the decentralized streaming platform Stuff.io on March 26....
Many Early Threads Users Abandon Platform for X
Cleaning up Threads accounts I followed back in the day... Most of the people I initially followed no longer post here. For ex AOC has 2m followers here, didn't post anything in 3 years. But she's actively posting on X, where she has...
Weekly Top Thumbnails Reveal Bunker, Greenland Threat, Endless To‑Do List
Best thumbnails of this week 🔥 A hidden bunker, a Greenland threat… and a to-do list that never ends. Get our free YT Thumbnails Hack Pack with 100 more top thumbnails: https://t.co/H5zQZBPsBe https://t.co/jRwN60TbRh
Harry and Meghan Say New Polo Drama Scotches Claims They Are Finished at Netflix
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced a new Netflix drama, "Polo," signaling that their partnership with the streaming giant remains intact. The couple’s allies argue the project disproves recent speculation that they have ended their multi‑year deal with Netflix....
Parents Demand Stricter Social Media Duties, Section 230 Reform
Outside the LA courthouse parents who say social media addiction killed their children outline the policies they want to come as a result of this legal win: - Senate version of KOSA w/ strong duty of care - Reform/repeal Section 230 - Age...
Decade-Long Profit Priorities Fuel Ongoing Tech Harm
On landmark Meta and Google child harm verdicts, it’s critical to note this isn’t a one-off. It’s been 10+ years of prioritizing profits over people. Massive surveillance advertising + monopoly businesses. Cambridge Analytica. Data leakage. Search + adtech monopolies. Recidivism.
ESPN’s Burke Magnus Has Been a ‘Steward’ for Lacrosse: Paul Rabil
Premier Lacrosse League founder Paul Rabil praised ESPN executive Burke Magnus as a long‑time steward of lacrosse, highlighting his role in structuring the sport’s college coverage and negotiating the league’s first ESPN rights deal in 2022. Magnus, who has been...
Live AI Video Studios Replace Discord for Creators
🚨 Higgsfield just dropped Higgsfield Chat and it changes everything for AI creators. Think Discord, but every room is a live AI video studio. Watch others generate in real time. Drop in. Collab. No scheduling. No setup. You are not alone
ViX Announces Four New Original Productions
ViX announced four new original productions— the anthology "Mujeres Asesinas 4," the docuseries "Implacables y Divinas," the action‑thriller "Carnada," and the drama "Yo No Creo en los Hombres." Each title features high production values and star‑studded casts from the Spanish‑language...
CBS Returns to an Expanding WNBA with Biggest Broadcast TV Slate Yet
Paramount’s CBS has secured a multi‑year extension to broadcast WNBA games, expanding its slate to 20 regular‑season matchups on the CBS network and Paramount+. The deal removes CBS Sports Network from the lineup, consolidating all coverage on broadcast TV and...
There’s Something Very Dark About a Lot of Those Viral AI Fruit Videos
A wave of AI‑generated fruit dramas, such as *Fruit Paternity Court* and *Fruit Love Island*, has exploded on Instagram and TikTok, racking up hundreds of millions of views in just days. The videos, built with text‑to‑video tools like Google Veo,...
HBO Max Drops Trailer for Long Awaited HARRY POTTER Television Adaptation
HBO Max unveiled the first teaser for its eight‑episode Harry Potter television series, adapting the first book, *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*. The show stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Arabella Stanton as Hermione, and Alastair Stout as Ron, with...
Allen Media Group To Deploy Anoki ContextIQ
Allen Media Group announced it will integrate Anoki’s ContextIQ AI platform across its streaming assets, covering live news, weather, sports and premium entertainment. The technology provides scene‑level, real‑time content analysis, allowing advertisers to place brand‑safe ads while preserving high‑attention inventory....
Rocky Carroll Opens Up About Leaving NCIS After 18 Years
Here's an exit interview I did with @RockyCOfficial about coming to terms with leaving the "NCIS" cast after 18 years... ‘NCIS’ Shocker: Rocky Carroll Tells All on His Unexpected [SPOILER] and Playing Director Vance for Nearly Two Decades https://t.co/BT7Iuk6wMk via...
Speech, Section 5, and Some Curious Scribbling: A First Amendment Story
The FTC sent a warning letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook alleging that Apple News may favor left‑leaning outlets and suppress conservative sources, raising possible Section 5 violations under the FTC Act. The move comes as critics push to repeal the...
Grey’s Anatomy Saying Goodbye to Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver / NCIS Boss: Vance Storyline Was “Floating Around for Years”...
ABC’s flagship drama Grey’s Anatomy will bid farewell to long‑time cast members Kevin McKidd (Owen Hunt) and Kim Raver (Teddy Altman) in the May 7, 2026 Season 22 finale. The departures close a decade‑long storyline that anchored the show’s medical‑romantic arcs. In parallel,...
Stan Unveils Cast for Twisty New WA Set Crime Drama TWO BIRDS
Australian streaming service Stan announced the six‑part crime drama Two Birds, starring BAFTA‑winner Sheridan Smith alongside Judy Davis and Stephen Peacocke. The series is a co‑production with UK broadcaster ITV and will be filmed on location in Western Australia, marking...
Stat News Sweeps SABEW Awards, Wins General Excellence
The SABEW "Best in Business" journalism awards just dropped. @statnews won for general excellence. @Jasonmmast won in the health/science category. @bobjherman won for best newsletters. Full list here: https://t.co/Nx9q71CLnP To my colleagues: https://t.co/aFDUhKyRFE
StarCity Teaser Reveals Unique Structure and Distinct Tone
A new teaser for the @forallmankind_ spinoff, #StarCity, is out, and if you're wondering how, specifically, this show is different from that show. I've got you covered. I talked to the showrunners about it yesterday and learned some great new info...
'The Madison': Did You Spot the Iconic ‘Yellowstone’ Villain?
Dawn Olivieri reappears in the Paramount+ drama The Madison as Ellen, delivering a memorable line before her character’s likely exit. The role mirrors her notorious villain Sarah Atwood from Yellowstone Season 5, where she plotted an assassination against Gov. John Dutton....
Netflix Acquires “Strangers” Rights, Casts Gwyneth Paltrow
Netflix lands rights to NYT bestseller STRANGERS and taps Gwyneth Paltrow to star in feature adaptation https://t.co/DLhybNVT6C
Spectrum Reach Joins DoubleVerify's Certified Transparent Streaming Program
DoubleVerify announced that Charter’s ad‑sales arm Spectrum Reach has become the first partner in its Certified Transparent Streaming program, delivering verified show‑level reporting for streaming TV and CTV inventory. The initiative embeds program‑level data—covering news, live sports, weather and business...
The Society of Professional Journalists Blasts Massachusetts for a ‘Troubling Lack of Transparency’
The Society of Professional Journalists awarded Massachusetts the 2026 Black Hole Award for a "troubling lack of transparency" in its public‑records system. The state’s law exempts the governor’s office, legislature and judiciary, leading to frequent delays, ignored deadlines and costly...
What TikTok’s Volatility Means for Retail Media Planning
TikTok’s uninstall rates have surged roughly 150% as U.S. regulatory uncertainty intensifies, prompting retailers to reassess video spend. The spike highlights the risk of concentrating advertising budgets on a single social feed during critical back‑to‑school and holiday periods. Marketers are...
From First Live Build to Major Progress in a Year
I was doing a show with @ASychov about a year ago where we built the first version of this live. So great to see how far it's come.
New Dance Music-Dedicated Radio Station Opens in San Francisco, program.audio
Program.audio, a new online radio station dedicated to dance music, launched on March 21 from a 59‑year‑old Fotomat kiosk on San Francisco’s Haight Street. The venture is the brainchild of local DJs sfcowboy and erika, who previously ran a club night...
Mediaproxy to Show Upgrades to LogServer at 2026 NAB Show
Mediaproxy will unveil its next‑generation LogPlayer at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas, booth W1423. The upgrade adds AI‑driven workflow tools, native YouTube TV ingestion, and broader support for broadcast standards such as ST 2110, NMOS, NDI and JPEG‑XS. AI features automate content...
’1985,’ ‘Breendonk’ and ‘Hunters’ Power Duo Producers Janssen & Janssen Discuss Crafting Powerful TV Drama, Belgian Identities and European Reach
Belgian public broadcasters VRT and RTBF have teamed up again to launch “Hunters,” a six‑part, 52‑minute psychological action thriller that delves into the SWAT response to the 2016 Brussels attacks. The series builds on the momentum of the 2023 hit...
YouTube Just Lowered the Bar for Affiliate Earnings—Now Creators With 500 Subscribers Can Cash In
YouTube has lowered the entry barrier for its Affiliate Shopping program, now allowing creators with just 500 subscribers to earn commissions on product tags. Eligible creators must also meet YouTube Partner Program criteria, such as three recent uploads and either...
This New DaVinci Resolve Tool Aims to Help Editors Avoid the “B-Roll Time Sink”
The B‑Roll Fade & Finish PRO System is a new DaVinci Resolve add‑on that streamlines cropping, styling, and animating b‑roll footage. Created by Alejandro Urman, the tool bundles a redesigned crop interface, preset starter pack, bulk preset manager, and comprehensive...
How Lowe’s Creator Network Is Winning over the Next Generation of Shoppers
Lowe’s has rolled out a Creator Network, partnering with top influencers such as YouTuber MrBeast to reach Generation Alpha before they become homeowners. The program, launched in June 2025, offers creators personalized storefronts on Lowe’s site and commissions on sales,...
Jo Nesbø, Tobias Santelmann, Joel Kinnerman & Ellen Helinder on Bringing Harry Hole to Life in Netflix’s Detective Hole
Netflix will stream "Detective Hole," a new adaptation of Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole novels, globally on March 26 2026. The series stars Tobias Santelmann as the tormented Oslo detective, with a supporting cast that includes Joel Kinnaman and Ellen Helinder. Nesbø co‑writes the show, aiming to...
Inside GoodGood Golf's Secrets to Explosive Growth
Played 3 holes with @goodgood_golf and picked their brains on how they became the fastest-growing golf channel in the world ⛳️ Full video out now https://t.co/DJXv7h8kGj https://t.co/7TQAdLndnV
Future Today’s Platforms Reach 75 Million U.S. Households
Future Today’s free, ad‑supported streaming services Fawesome and HappyKids now reach over 75 million U.S. households, delivering more than 2 billion monthly impressions. The platforms together offer a catalog of 350,000 titles, with Fawesome’s average session time up 57 percent and viewers spending...
Google Analytics Launches Scenario Planner and Projections via @Sejournal, @Brookeosmundson
Google Analytics has introduced two new beta tools—Scenario Planner and Projections—to help advertisers model and monitor paid‑media budgets across Google and non‑Google channels. Scenario Planner lets users simulate future budget allocations and forecast impacts on conversions, revenue, or ROI, while...