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 Trade Desk Says Omnicom Audits ‘Have Not Identified Any Issues’
The Trade Desk announced that Omnicom’s recent audit found no issues, describing it as routine oversight. The company’s statement emphasized a clean bill of health for its data handling and compliance practices. Despite the positive findings, The Trade Desk’s shares fell roughly 7% in intra‑day trading. The episode reflects heightened market sensitivity to ad‑tech compliance risks.
PR Firm News: UpSpring Launches 'Play with Matches'
UpSpring announced the launch of “Play with Matches,” a weekly podcast that spotlights architects, designers, marketers and industry visionaries, with its first seven‑episode season distributed via the SURROUND Podcast Network. Blockworks introduced Blockworks Investor Relations, a platform that leverages real‑time...
Synamedia Unveils ‘Industry First’ Edge Watermarking Solution
Synamedia announced ContentArmor Edge Watermarking, an industry‑first solution that embeds forensic watermarks directly into the compressed video stream at the CDN edge. The technology cuts insertion and extraction times in half, delivering end‑to‑end piracy disruption in under five minutes. By...
Podcasters Push Back Against Regulatory Overreach
South African podcasters warned parliament that new sector‑specific regulations could stifle the industry’s rapid growth and deter investment. They argue existing courts and platform‑level moderation already address hate speech, defamation, and explicit content, making additional rules redundant. The debate intensified...
Elon Musk Overrules Product Chief Nikita Bier, Pauses X's Controversial Region-Based Payout Strategy
Elon Musk has put a hold on X’s newly announced revenue‑sharing policy that would give creators more weight for impressions from their home region. The plan, unveiled by head of product Nikita Bier, sparked immediate backlash from creators who said most...
30% of Open-Web Video Players Shrink After Page Load, Finds Picnic
Picnic’s new PIQ analysis shows that roughly one‑third of open‑web video players shrink after the initial page load, while 15% continue playing after users scroll past and 12% of sites host multiple videos simultaneously. The study highlights a gap between...
Report: Europe’s Audiovisual Market Valued at €142bn
The European audiovisual sector generated roughly €142 billion in 2024—about $155 billion—driven largely by consumer spending, which contributed over half of the total. Record production saw 2,523 feature films across 36 markets, while streaming viewers devoted 78% of SVoD time to TV...
Study: Europeans Centre Video Habits Around Living Room TV
RTL AdAlliance’s fifth Living Room Study shows 83% of Europeans watch video content in the living room, far outpacing the bedroom (46%). This preference is 25 points higher than in the United States. Streaming on TV sets has risen, with...
Music and Memories, Outdoor Channel Launch on Freeview
Global Distribution Services has added two FAST channels to the UK Freeview platform: Music and Memories on channel 290 and Outdoor Channel (paired with World Fishing Network) on channel 291. Both services employ a waterfall monetisation model, server‑side ad insertion...
Survey: Fandom Shaping Next Phase of Streaming Growth
Deloitte’s 20th‑year Digital Media Trends survey shows US streaming spend flat at $69 per month, while fan‑identified viewers are driving higher engagement and spend. 68% of subscription video‑on‑demand (SVoD) users now carry an ad‑supported tier, and fans spend $71 monthly—27%...
The Last Quarter: Understanding America’s Podcast Holdouts
Sounds Profitable has published "The Last Quarter," the first deep‑dive into the 25% of Americans who have never listened to a podcast. The report draws on a nationally‑weighted 5,000‑person Podcast Landscape study and maps the demographic, geographic and income traits...
Italy: Digital Ad Spend Surges
Italy’s advertising market in 2025 is now led by digital, with the “extended” digital segment projected at €9.6 billion (about $10.6 billion), representing 45% of total spend. OTT platforms dominate that slice, contributing €4.3 billion (~$4.7 billion). Traditional media investment slips to €5.8 billion (~$6.4 billion),...
What’s Coming To HBO Max In April 2026
HBO Max’s April 2026 schedule introduces new seasons of “Hacks” and “Euphoria”, adds the full “Alien” franchise library, and launches the limited series “Half Man”. The platform also highlights a Disney‑bundled offering that includes HBO Max, Disney+ and Hulu for...
Mueller's Legacy, Press Freedom, and the Showdown Over Mail-In Voting
The Main Justice podcast marks its three‑year anniversary and launches a new YouTube channel, expanding its audience. The hosts mourn the death of former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III, reflecting on his lifelong commitment to public service and the impact of his...
Disney+ Adds New “Hannah Montana” Profile Avatar
Disney+ has introduced a new Hannah Montana profile avatar to mark the streaming debut of the “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special.” The special features Miley Cyrus in an in‑depth interview, archival footage, surprise guests, and a live musical performance. Users can switch to...
Resilience, Perspective and Purpose: Reflecting on the UAE’s Digital Media Industry
Andy Powell, CEO of Conscious Media, reflects on the UAE’s digital media evolution from the 2009 Maktoob‑Yahoo! deal to today’s vibrant ecosystem. He highlights the region’s youthful, mobile‑first audience and the influx of global tech giants that have built talent...
Dr. Robby’s “Descent Into Douchery” Is Hurting The Pitt / Daredevil: Born Again's Season 2 Political Overtones Are Impossible to...
The latest critique targets Dr. Robby’s conduct, which critics say is dragging down the second season of the streaming drama The Pitt. Viewers and industry observers note a dip in ratings as the creator’s “douchery” overshadows the show’s narrative. Meanwhile,...
Why Is Gaming Not a Media Channel?
The Campaign Gaming Summit argued that gaming should be viewed as an ecosystem rather than a conventional media channel. Speakers highlighted a global player base of roughly 3.5 billion active users, underscoring the scale of opportunity. Brands often approach games as...
Advertising to Doctors - Okay or Not? | Out-Of-Pocket
OpenEvidence and DoxGPT are offering free, AI‑driven literature‑review tools for physicians, funded by advertising. The model shifts costs from doctors to pharma, potentially lowering barriers compared with subscription services like UpToDate, which charge $550 per physician annually. Clear separation and...
3 Apple Daily Firms Declared ‘Prohibited Organisations’ After Hong Kong Gov’t Deregistration
Hong Kong’s Companies Registry struck off Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited and AD Internet Limited, designating them as prohibited organisations under the city’s national security framework. Each firm was fined HK$3,004,500 (approximately $385,000 USD) for breaching the law,...
Gulf Business Hits Refresh with Website Overhaul
Motivate Media Group has relaunched Gulf Business with a faster, AI‑enabled website that integrates video, podcasts, newsletters and a continuous newsfeed. The overhaul, timed with the title’s 30th anniversary, emphasizes mobile performance, SEO and accessibility for senior GCC decision‑makers. Early...
Seven Reshuffles News Ranks as RAHNI SADLER Takes 7 News Spotlight Reins
Seven Network has appointed veteran journalist Rahni Sadler as Executive Producer of its flagship current‑affairs program 7NEWS Spotlight, succeeding Gemma Williams who will become Managing Editor of 7NEWS. Sadler returns to Seven after a senior producer stint at the ABC,...
Dagenham & Redbridge Match to Stream on KSI YouTube Channel
KSI will stream Dagenham & Redbridge's National League South match against Hampton & Richmond on March 28 via his YouTube channel, offering free worldwide access. The partnership involves DAZN and the National League, aiming to make the fixture the most‑watched...
Why South Africa’s Technology Leaders Choose TechCentral
TechCentral has become the go‑to source of technology‑business news for South Africa’s senior tech executives, including CIOs and CTOs. The publication distinguishes itself by delivering accurate, independent reporting and in‑depth analysis rather than click‑bait content. Its audience consists of decision‑makers...
X Limits Creator Earnings to Domestic Impressions After Location Scandal
Remember when X started showing the location of accounts and everyone found out that a bunch of pro-Trump influencers were actually based in other countries? Now the company says it's changing up its revenue sharing program so people will only...
Penny Chapman to Deliver Hector Crawford Memorial Lecture 2026
Penny Chapman, co‑founder of Matchbox Pictures, will deliver the Hector Crawford Memorial Lecture at the Screen Forever conference on the Gold Coast from April 28‑30, 2026. The lecture, titled “creative courage in turbulent times,” will examine the evolution of Australia’s...
Will Utah’s Proposed Ad Tax Survive in Court?
Utah lawmakers have passed a bill that taxes "targeted advertising"—digital ads that use individualized data profiles— and earmarks the proceeds for youth sports, literacy, mental‑health and foster‑care programs. Governor Spencer Cox has not yet signed the measure, and the state...
Philadelphia Cream Cheese Pulls Dollars From Search – People Aren’t Googling ‘Cream Cheese’
Philadelphia Cream Cheese, owned by Kraft Heinz, has halted paid search on Google, shifting roughly $495,000 of its digital spend to retail‑media networks and focusing on e‑commerce search placements. In 2025 the brand spent $31.8 million on U.S. digital ads, with...
Marketers Shift Growing Shares of Search Spending to GEO
Marketers are reallocating a growing share of search spend toward generative engine optimization (GEO) as AI reshapes how users discover brands. A Scribewise survey shows 55% of U.S. marketers now budget for GEO, with 70% assigning 11%‑20% of their search...
Can Cinema LED Scale? Samsung Bets Trilith Cinemas Can Help Prove It
Samsung has equipped Trilith Cinemas in Georgia with its Onyx direct‑view LED system, deploying a 14‑meter flagship screen and several smaller panels across nine luxury auditoriums. The installation meets the latest DCI standards, marking the first multiplex‑scale rollout of cinema‑grade...
ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: JioStar Flags Low TV-Digital Ad Overlap, Strong Incremental Reach in BARC-Nielsen Data
JioStar released a BARC‑Nielsen study of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 showing that television and digital advertising audiences overlapped by less than ten percent. The low duplication indicates that integrated TV‑digital campaigns deliver substantial incremental reach, reaching distinct...
ZEEL Overhauls Sales Structure to Chase Growth Across TV and Digital Platforms
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL) is overhauling its sales organization to create an integrated, data‑driven monetisation engine that serves both traditional TV and fast‑growing digital platforms. The restructuring, led by COO Sandeep Mehrotra, appoints new chief sales officers for regional...
CBS Evening News Hits Record Low Q1 Ratings
Status Scoop: With the first quarter set to wrap at week’s end, Bari Weiss’ relaunched “CBS Evening News” with Tony Dokoupil is on track for its lowest-rated first quarter of the 21st century in both total viewers and the advertiser-coveted...
Lead Architect's Project Draws Widespread Coverage, Decision Imminent
lol, Alex, Alex, don’t sleep on the mess she was a lead architect on which every other reputable outlet is now covering. A second decision likely tmw. WSJ is on it. https://t.co/SGCvLkPDcm
Govt Extends Suspension of BARC Ratings for News Channels by Four Weeks
India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has extended the suspension of BARC television rating points for news channels by four weeks, citing concerns that sensational coverage of the US‑Iran conflict could fuel public anxiety. The pause, now entering a second...
Skid Row Content House Poised for Influencer Surge
The skid row content house is about to blow up mark my words... influencers are descending on egg god and co.
Facebook Accused of Hacking WSJ Newsroom Attention
Quite a pair of stories on Wall Street Journal right now. Is Facebook hacking newsroom’s attention? https://t.co/MD1Z3Gr8Lv
Long Fact, Literary Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction: The Genre Is Hard to Define, Essential, and Imperiled. Paul Elie Explains
The recent layoff of senior nonfiction editors at Simon & Schuster highlights a broader contraction in the long‑form literary nonfiction market. Sales of nonfiction titles have dropped 8.4% year‑over‑year, double the decline seen in fiction, while reading rates continue to fall,...
Bad WSJ Headline Boosting Meta Investor Confidence
For an investor or advertiser on Facebook or Instagram / Meta, this is what you call a bad Wall Street Journal headline to wake up to in the morning and feel good about what you’re supporting. https://t.co/tOLcWjICGq
A Rejected Manuscript Forces Editors to Confront Their Values
Pirsig wrote ZAMM at 2 AM above a shoe store. 121 publishers rejected it. One editor said yes because it forced him to decide what he cared about. https://t.co/7Zthcmn8vE
Short: Grand Theft Grammarly W/ Julia Angwin & Peter Romer-Friedman
In this episode of Computer Says, journalist Julia Angwin and her attorney Peter Romer‑Friedman discuss Grammarly’s controversial "Expert Review" feature, which used AI to mimic the editing style of real experts—including Angwin—without their consent. Angwin explains how she discovered the...
One Press Release Can Land Your Music on Major News
My U.S. and worldwide PR packages get your music directly onto Google News, Bing News, Yahoo News, and in front of editorial desks that matter. Your next big break could be one press release away. Let's go! Eric@ThatEricAlper.com
Publicis vs TTD: Stop Crying Baby, It’s A Sign Of The Times
Publicis Groupe announced it will no longer recommend The Trade Desk after a third‑party audit alleged transparency failures, prompting The Trade Desk to defend its platform. Omnicom has launched its own audit, while WPP and Dentsu have already reduced reliance...
Disney Walks Away From $1 B OpenAI Sora Deal as App Shuts Down
OpenAI announced the shutdown of its Sora video‑generation app, prompting Disney to abandon its $1 billion investment and licensing deal. The split ends a high‑profile attempt to embed Disney characters in AI‑generated video and forces both firms to rethink AI strategy.
India’s M&E Market Tops ₹2.78 Trillion, Eyes ₹3.3 Trillion by 2028 as Digital Ads Surge
India’s media and entertainment industry crossed the ₹2.78 trillion ($33.5 bn) mark in 2025, a 9% YoY rise, and is forecast to reach ₹3.3 trillion ($39.8 bn) by 2028. The expansion is anchored by digital advertising, which grew 26% to ₹94,700 crore ($11.4 bn) and now...
YouTube Launches Gemini-Powered Creator Partnerships Toolkit
YouTube introduced a Gemini‑powered Creator Partnerships suite that automates discovery, matching and campaign management for brands and creators. The launch at IAB NewFronts signals a push to remove infrastructure bottlenecks that have limited the scale of creator marketing.
AI Licensing Deal Targets 2,200 Publishers as Reuters and PA Set Divergent Red Lines
The News Media Alliance (NMA) has signed a licensing agreement with Bria AI to compensate roughly 2,200 small U.S. publishers for AI‑generated content use. At the same time, WAN‑IFRA released a four‑imperative roadmap for AI adoption, and Reuters and PA...
FCC Clears $6.2 B Nexstar‑Tegna Merger Amid Fierce Political Opposition
The Federal Communications Commission gave the green light to Nexstar's $6.2 billion purchase of Tegna, forming a broadcast empire that reaches 80% of U.S. TV households. The approval triggered sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom and a coalition of state...
Paramount/Skydance's $111 B Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery Triggers Media Exodus
Paramount and Skydance have lodged a $111 billion hostile offer for Warner Bros. Discovery, prompting veteran tech journalist Kara Swisher to publicly declare she will leave CNN if the deal closes. Her remarks underscore growing unease about tech‑billionaire ownership of news...
Netflix Walks Away From Multi‑Billion‑Dollar Warner Bros. Discovery Deal
Netflix has terminated negotiations to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming assets, ending a multi‑billion‑dollar transaction that had engaged top investment banks. The collapse leaves both companies to reassess strategy as Netflix focuses on ad‑supported growth and WBD pivots...