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.
Judge Throws Out News Publishers' Monopoly Claims Against Google
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., dismissed an antitrust lawsuit filed by Helena World Chronicle and Emmerich Newsapers that alleged Google monopolizes the online news market. The court found the publishers’ claim of a 66% market share unreliable, noting the traffic data mixed non‑news visits and ignored app traffic. Judge Amit Mehta emphasized that Google’s search and YouTube platforms serve a broad range of content, not just news. The decision follows a DOJ case that confirmed Google’s dominance in general search but left the news market claim unresolved.
Virginia Presses To Reinstate Social Media Time Limits
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones is urging the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals to lift a district‑court injunction that halted enforcement of a state law requiring social‑media platforms to verify users’ ages and limit minors under 16 to one hour...
Netflix Nabs Psychosexual TV Drama ‘The Decorator’ From Cody Behan & Stacey Sher
Netflix has secured the psychosexual drama series “The Decorator,” beating ten other bidders in a competitive auction. The show, based on Cody Behan’s short story, will be set in the cut‑throat world of luxury interior design in Los Angeles and is entering...
Harriet Walter, Anne Reid & Freddie Fox Join Sharon Horgan’s HBO Series ‘Youth’
Sharon Horgan’s new HBO comedy series Youth has added three seasoned British actors—Harriet Walter, Anne Reid and Freddie Fox—in recurring roles. The show follows a 50‑year‑old divorcee navigating sex, love, aging parents and an adult son. Horgan not only stars...
Dire Strait
The latest "Talking Feds" episode, titled "Dire Strait," features journalists Natasha Korecki, Ali Vitali and Jacob Weisberg dissecting the ongoing war with Iran and its ripple effects across Washington. Ali Vitali highlights a recent resignation of a Trump‑aligned official, interpreting...
Don Lemon Is Ready to Stand up for Press Freedoms. Are the Rest of Us?
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon, now an independent journalist, used a First Amendment Week appearance at Loyola Marymount University to call for journalists to defend press freedoms after his recent arrest in Minnesota. He was detained while covering an anti‑ICE...
Audacy/Philadelphia Head David Yadgaroff To Retire
Audacy announced the retirement of David Yadgaroff, its senior vice‑president and market manager for Philadelphia, ending a 36‑year career in radio. Yadgaroff joined the company in 2015 after a long tenure at CBS Radio, where he oversaw KYW‑AM, WYSP‑FM and...
Help Me, I'm Actually Excited for Dutton Ranch
Paramount+ has unveiled the official trailer for *Dutton Ranch*, the long‑awaited Yellowstone spin‑off starring Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly as Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton. The nine‑episode series follows the couple as they relocate to Texas after selling the family...
Behind the Mic: NBC Sports Announces MLB Opening Day On Air Lineup, Featuring Orel Hershiser, Al Leiter and More.
NBC Sports unveiled its MLB Opening Day doubleheader analyst lineup for March 26, pairing former players Al Leiter, Neil Walker, Orel Hershiser and Luis Gonzalez with play‑by‑play veterans Matt Vasgersian and Jason Benetti. The games will air on NBC and the streaming service Peacock, with...
Scott MacFarlane Joins MeidasTouch Network as Chief Washington, D.C. Correspondent
MeidasTouch Network announced award‑winning journalist Scott MacFarlane as its Chief Washington, D.C. Correspondent, launching his independent platform “Scott MacFarlane Reports” with a dedicated YouTube channel and Substack newsletter. The network, now boasting over 9 billion YouTube views and 6.1 million subscribers, recently...
Harry Potter TV Series Set Videos Reveal Platform 9¾ & The Leaky Cauldron
New set videos released by HBO showcase a meticulously rebuilt Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross and the iconic Leaky Cauldron pub for its upcoming Harry Potter series. The footage, shared on X, highlights practical set work that aims to match the...
59 Years Ago Today: Bewitched Celebrated Its 100th Episode on ABC
On March 23, 1967, ABC aired the 100th episode of the sitcom *Bewitched*, titled “Charlie Harper, Winner.” The episode marked a peak in the series’ popularity, pulling 32.1 million viewers—a figure that dwarfs modern network averages. Over its eight‑season run, *Bewitched*...
Quebecor Content Licenses ‘Detective Surprenant’ to CANAL+ Poland
Quebecor Content announced that its original crime drama *Detective Surprenant: Murder on the Island* has been licensed to CANAL+ Poland. The six‑episode series will debut in spring 2026 on the Ale kino+ channel in its original French with Polish audio...
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Expelled From Paramount's Lineup
CBS Studios and Paramount+ announced that *Star Trek: Starfleet Academy* will end after its second season, which has already been filmed and is in post‑production. The series, set in the 32nd‑century timeline of *Star Trek: Discovery*, mixed teen‑drama storytelling with...
It’s the ‘Worsties’ – Listing the 25 Worst People in News Media
A Substack post titled “It’s the ‘Worsties’ – listing the 25 worst people in news media” enumerates 25 media personalities accused of spreading misinformation, hate speech, or leveraging sensationalism for profit. The author cites examples ranging from Candace Owens’ unfounded...
Wait, Are They Really Planning 12 Seasons of ‘One Piece’ For Netflix?
Producers of Netflix's live‑action *One Piece* once said they "hope" for up to 12 seasons, a comment that sparked viral rumors of a 12‑season commitment. Netflix has not officially green‑lit such a long run; instead, the series is being renewed...
OpenAI Hires Former Meta Ad Lead
OpenAI has hired David Dugan, former Meta ads lead, as vice president and head of global ad solutions. The appointment underscores OpenAI’s ambition to monetize its large language models by expanding advertising within ChatGPT’s free and subscription tiers. Dugan’s move...
Roku Partners with Google on Identity, Measurement Capabilities for Advertisers
Roku announced it will serve as the launch partner for Google’s new Confidential Publisher Match solution, extending identity and measurement capabilities for advertisers on its platform. The integration allows advertisers using Google’s Display & Video 360 to securely match first‑party...
The Times May Not Be Perfect, but It Remains Staunchly Independent in an Era of Bent Knees
The New York Times has emerged as one of the few major newsrooms still openly challenging President Trump’s administration, delivering relentless investigative reporting on everything from foreign bombings to domestic scandals. Its paid circulation now approaches 13 million subscribers, almost entirely digital, and...
Christopher Martinez Upped To VP, Advanced Advertising At Hearst Television
Christopher Martinez has been promoted to the newly created Vice President of Advanced Advertising at Hearst Television. In his expanded role, he will oversee digital ad‑product development, platform integration, and the company’s ad‑tech stack while maintaining client relationships. Since joining...
Prairie Winds Broadcasting Upgrades With Nautel
Prairie Winds Broadcasting, a regional group serving the Dakotas and western Minnesota, has upgraded its portfolio to 16 Nautel transmitters, spanning FM NVLT, VX, VS, GV and AM NX, J1000 models, with two additional NVLT‑20 units on order. The migration...
![Nathan Fillion’s Stellar 8-Part ABC Series Gets Official Sneak Peek Ahead of Tonight's New Episode [Exclusive]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/copy-of-collider-template-22.jpg?w=1600&h=900&fit=crop)
Nathan Fillion’s Stellar 8-Part ABC Series Gets Official Sneak Peek Ahead of Tonight's New Episode [Exclusive]
ABC’s long‑running procedural *The Rookie* aired a sneak‑peek of Season 8, Episode 12 tonight, featuring John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) navigating a joint FBI‑LAPD sting and personal drama. The episode, titled “Aftermath,” sees Lucy returning after an attack while a familiar face complicates the...
‘Hacks’ Drops Trailer for Final Season, Sets HBO Max Premiere Date
The Emmy‑winning comedy "Hacks" returns for its fifth and final season on HBO Max, debuting April 9 with weekly Thursday releases and a series‑ending episode on May 28. The trailer confirms Deborah Vance is alive after false death reports and shows her...
‘Hacks’ Season 5 Trailer: Deborah and Ava Get the Last Laugh in Final Season of Hit Comedy Series
HBO Max released the trailer for the fifth and final season of "Hacks," confirming a return to Las Vegas for veteran comic Deborah Vance and her protégé Ava. The ten‑episode arc picks up after a season‑ending fake death report, promising a...
Scott MacFarlane Joins MeidasTouch as Chief Washington Correspondent After CBS News Exit
Former CBS News justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane has departed the network after five years and immediately joined progressive outlet MeidasTouch as its chief Washington correspondent and anchor. He announced he will launch a new program, “Scott MacFarlane Reports,” which will air across...
‘Family Pack’ Sequel Renaissance Officially in the Works at Netflix With a Refreshed Cast
Netflix confirmed the sequel *Family Pack 2: Renaissance*, moving the werewolf comedy into the French Renaissance of 1515 with an entirely new cast. Production kicks off on April 7 2026, aiming for an early‑2027 release. The original 2024 film amassed 91.5 million viewing hours...
NFL Network to Continue Draft Broadcast Under ESPN
ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network will not eliminate the channel’s own NFL Draft telecast. Instead, Disney plans to run four distinct draft presentations—on ESPN, NFL Network, ABC, and Pat McAfee’s streaming show—through the three‑day event. All on‑air talent will become ESPN/Disney...
A Faded Star In Suburban Chicago Gets a Classic Pop Rebirth
Connoisseur Media has rebranded WSSR‑FM 96.7 in suburban Chicago as “The 9‑6‑7: Chicagoland’s Classic Pop,” shifting from its previous adult contemporary mix to a classic pop format focused on 1990s‑early‑2000s hits. The new lineup targets listeners in their 40s to early...
Bay FC Announces Multi-Year Partnership with Victory+ as the Official Streaming Partner
Bay FC has signed a multi‑year deal with free streaming service Victory+ to become the club’s exclusive local streaming partner through the 2027 NWSL season. Victory+ will broadcast 16 Bay FC matches, including six games restricted to Bay Area viewers,...
Regarding the Consumption of Fruit
Over the past week, an AI‑generated “Fruit Love Island” series has racked up hundreds of millions of TikTok views, turning computer‑made fruit characters into a parody of reality‑TV drama. The craze follows earlier meme waves of AI fruits cheating, self‑cannibalizing,...
SCOTUS Won't Hear Search Advertiser Appeal Against Google, Apple
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear California Crane School’s appeal accusing Google and Apple of a paid‑search antitrust conspiracy. Earlier rulings dismissed the case against Apple and sent Google‑related claims to arbitration, while upholding the arbitration clause in Google’s...
Chicago Sports Network, WCIU To Simulcast 10 White Sox Games
Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) and Weigel Broadcasting’s WCIU will simulcast ten Chicago White Sox games during the 2026 season, marking the second consecutive year of their partnership. The slate features four matchups against the Chicago Cubs and includes CHSN’s full...
Winning Consideration Before Search via Streaming Ads
Are you optimizing for the moment after the buying decision has already been made? Because, the brands I'm watching right now are winning consideration before anyone opens a search tab. This is the shift: shopping doesn't start at Google anymore....
AdVon AI Threatens Journalists, Reshapes Media Content
#WhosNext? Media Journalists? Meet AdVon, the #AI-Powered Content Monster Infecting the Media Industry. (Futurism) https://t.co/HywUCAzpX1 https://t.co/TgXXsQtQrF
All James Bond Movies Leaving Netflix Already After Only Three Months
Netflix US will lose all 26 James Bond movies on April 21, 2026, after a three‑month licensing window that began in January 2026. The titles were added through a short‑term deal with MGM, which Amazon acquired for $8.5 billion, making Prime...
ET's Vault Reveals Shatner's Whale Tale, Swift's Walks
What's in the 'Entertainment Tonight' vault? William Shatner on a whale and Taylor Swift's red carpet walks https://t.co/6e8Mn9C2H3 @latimes
Code-Driven Video Creation Takes Off with Renoise
We are moving into a world where people make videos by using code instead of just editing them, and Renoise is leading the way. This new tool helps you make lots of high-quality videos more easily and much faster than before.
Monday Memo: “What Matters Next” For Radio?
Kate O’Neill’s new book *What Matters Next* argues that AI is not the primary disruptor for radio; human behavior is. The author contends that stations that stay relentlessly human—curious, adaptive, and empathetic—will thrive, while those that double‑down on automation risk...
Alisyn Camerota Returns to News, Embraces New Rules
Alisyn Camerota charts a return to news, but this time, she says, “I’m playing by different rules.” https://t.co/WOFayqnvln via @variety
Regular Show Returns to Cartoon Network & HBO Max
Cartoon Network and HBO Max will premiere *Regular Show: The Lost Tapes*, a half‑hour reboot special, on May 11. The project is led by original creator JG Quintel, alongside executive producers Sean Szeles and Sam Register, and features a voice cast that...
Asia’s Sports Media Confab Pitches Its Tent in Singapore
Sportel Asia 2026 convened in Singapore, gathering rights‑holders, broadcasters, streaming platforms and tech vendors for two days of deal‑making. Sessions highlighted soaring rights fees, the surge of streaming services, and the fragmentation of Asian audiences. The agenda also tackled piracy’s...
UEFA Considering Streaming Games on Its Own Global Streamer
UEFA is exploring a league‑owned global streaming service for Champions League matches, targeting a pilot in Asian markets next year and a broader rollout by 2027. The concept echoes Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez’s free‑to‑air vision from the failed Super...
Chuck Todd Teams with JA Adande for Sports History Podcast
Chuck Todd is expanding from politics to sports, pairing up with former ESPN journalist JA Adande to launch 'Dynastic,' a podcast that examines the history of sports franchises and teams.... https://t.co/TgavW4R4Sx via @variety
Spotting Real Doctors vs TV Doctor on CBS Mornings
Another highlight of being on @CBSMornings today was meeting The Pitt star Patrick Ball (who was on the show after me), along with Jon LaPook. Shouldn't be too hard to pick out the real doctors in this picture, vs. the...
Marshals Episode 4 References One Of Yellowstone's Most Heartbreaking Moments
Paramount’s “Marshals” season 1 episode 4 pays homage to a poignant moment from “Yellowstone” season 5, where John Dutton delivered a compassionate farewell to Emmett Walsh’s widow. In the episode, Kayce Dutton and Pete Calvin retrieve a crashed helicopter’s victims, and Kayce recalls...
Hub: Streamers Find Differentiating Their Platforms to Consumers a Challenge
Amid accelerating media consolidation, Hub Entertainment Research finds U.S. consumers struggling to differentiate streaming services. Confidence in major SVOD brands fell in 2026, with declines ranging from 1% for Hulu and Prime Video to 5% for Apple TV. Around two‑thirds...
Producer, Podcasts (Women’s Sports)
Sinclair Broadcast Group is hiring a Producer to launch a women’s soccer‑focused podcast as part of its expanding digital sports portfolio. The role will oversee end‑to‑end production, content strategy, talent coordination, and monetization across audio, video, and social platforms. Candidates...
Ultra-Local Free Newspapers Are Flourishing in the Jura Region of Switzerland Despite the Media Crisis
Clement Charles has launched his third ultra‑local free newspaper, La Gazette de Moutier, in Switzerland’s Jura region, adding to L’Ajoie Magazine and La Vallée Magazine. The papers are printed in runs of 5,200‑6,000 copies and delivered to every mailbox in their...
All3Media Seals Pre-Sale of Secret Service to Movistar Plus+ in Spain
All3Media International has secured a robust slate of pre‑sales for the espionage thriller *Secret Service*, produced by Potboiler Productions. The series will debut on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK this spring and will premiere exclusively on Spain’s Movistar Plus+....
Banijay Entertainment Unveils Strong Premium Scripted Slate for Series Mania
Banijay Entertainment announced a premium scripted slate at Series Mania in Lille, highlighting a diverse lineup that spans the UK, Europe and global streaming platforms. The slate features high‑profile dramas such as *A Woman of Substance*, *Falling* by BAFTA‑winner Jack...