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.
George Clooney Changed This ER Star's Mind About Joining The Show
George Clooney personally encouraged John Stamos to audition for NBC's medical drama "ER," leading the actor to join the series as Dr. Tony Gates in its twelfth season. Stamos, initially unfamiliar with the show, later praised its impact and expressed disappointment over its premature cancellation. He has voiced support for a spin‑off or revival, though talks never progressed beyond early discussions. The article notes that fans seeking a modern medical series featuring former "ER" talent can turn to HBO's "The Pitt."
Broadcasters and Newsmax Seek Court Block on Nexstar‑Tegna Deal
Several state broadband associations -- plus @NEWSMAX -- today asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to block @NXSTMediaGroup-@TEGNA merger, which closed on March 19, 2026, the same day the $6.2 billion deal was approved by the...
Ad Agencies Must Fill Data Gaps in Early ChatGPT Ads
Two thoughts on reporting from @theinformation that early ChatGPT ad campaigns lacked performance data: - this is to be expected. Any early offering will feature limited functionality. Early adopters should be prepared to fill measurement gaps themselves. - Measuring and credibly asserting...
Reddit Is Weighing Identity Verification Methods to Combat Its Bot Problem
Reddit’s CEO Steve Huffman announced the platform is testing multiple user‑verification methods to curb a growing bot problem. The company is weighing lightweight biometric options such as Face ID or Touch ID alongside more intrusive ID‑checking services and decentralized third‑party...
AI Fact‑Checking Is Making Twitter Surprisingly Truthful
Contra my expectations, AI might just make social media better. There's obviously lots of slop, and I worry about disinfo and targeted persuasion. And every day I see Grok used for fact checking here on twitter, and it's almost always...
New Creators: Hire a Team, Not Pricey Coaches
I’m not trying to stop anyone’s bag if they’re getting it ethically. But also… creators… you have no reason to pay that much for coaching if you are just starting out. That rate is for seasoned creators already pulling in...
Alliances Tested at Halfway as Tribes Merge on AUSTRALIAN SURVIVOR
Australian Survivor: Redemption reaches the halfway point as the Barren and Bounty tribes merge into a single tribe of 13 contestants. A split‑vote deadlock between Faith and Sally led to a revote that blindsided Faith, reshaping the alliance landscape. Despite...
Saturday VOZ Ratings | Massive AFC WOMEN’S ASIAN CUP Final for 10
On Saturday 21 March 2026, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup final became the top‑rated program in Australia’s TV ratings. The match attracted approximately 10 million viewers across broadcast and BVOD platforms, outpacing all other shows in the Overnight Top 30 and Consolidated 7...
Comedy, Coastlines and Culture Collide This Week on POSTCARDS
The latest episode of Channel 9’s travel series Postcards blends comedy, coastal scenery and regional culture, spotlighting the 40th anniversary of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival alongside sun‑kissed Gold Coast locales. Host Shane Delia journeys the Surf Coast, while Kris Smith...
Digital Dementia Fears Explored in New Brain Health Report on 60 MINUTES
The upcoming 60 Minutes episode spotlights growing alarm over "digital dementia," a term coined for cognitive decline linked to excessive screen time. Researchers cite brain scans showing teenage brain shrinkage comparable to early‑stage Alzheimer’s, suggesting that prolonged device use may...
Introducing Off Duty: The Crime - Podcast
The Guardian has launched Off Duty: The Crime, a new investigative podcast series that delves into violent incidents involving law‑enforcement personnel. Episode one recounts the December 2011 shooting of Chicago police officer Clifton Lewis, who was working as a security...
Why Fox Was Known As The 'Wire Hanger' Network In Its Early Years
When Fox launched in October 1986 it entered a market dominated by CBS, NBC and ABC, relying on just six UHF affiliate stations that covered only a fraction of the country. Early programming such as *Married… with Children*, *The Simpsons*...
AI Creators Achieve at Least 50% Real Followers.
It’s insane. Based on what I see for 🌶️ AI content creators, I’d say the followers are at least 50% real which is good enough. For something that’s probably low effort/tokens + digital product.
‘Special Ops: Lioness’ Leaving Netflix Internationally, Rules Out Season 2-3 Additions
Paramount+’s espionage thriller *Special Ops: Lioness* will leave Netflix in Canada, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico in mid‑April 2026 after a one‑year licensing window. The series logged over 100 million hours watched in 2025, roughly 18.3 million views, underscoring strong international...
Decoding the Publishers Marketplace Deal Announcement (Part 1)
The article introduces Part 1 of a two‑part series that decodes the terminology used in Publishers Marketplace deal announcements. It explains how writers can interpret sales figures, co‑agented deals, international rights, pre‑empts, exclusives, and multi‑book agreements to gauge an agent’s performance....
Paul Brainerd Dies at 78; Pioneered Desktop Publishing With PageMaker
Paul Brainerd, founder of Aldus Corporation and creator of PageMaker, died at 78 after living with Parkinson’s disease and invoking Washington’s Death With Dignity Act. PageMaker, released in 1985, introduced the concept of desktop publishing, allowing users to design layouts...
Nathan Fillion Explains Why He’s Not Continuing Firefly’s Story Beyond Serenity
Nathan Fillion announced an animated revival of Joss Whedon's cult series *Firefly*, but clarified it will not continue the story after the 2005 film *Serenity*. The new series is planned as a pre‑Serenity bubble where all original crew members are alive,...
Drag Race Queen Slams Law Roach For 'Nasty' Judging Style: 'I'm Not A Fan Of His Morals Or His Ethics'
Discord Addams, the latest contestant eliminated from RuPaul's Drag Race, publicly condemned guest judge Law Roach for what she described as a "nasty" and unconstructive judging style. Roach’s blunt remarks, including a personal tirade about his father, sparked a debate...
Visible Mic Signals Intentional Performance and Authority
It’s semiotics, like everything, duh. In the era of front-facing first-person video, a visible mic (or holding a lav in-hand, etc) indicates intentionality, performance, authority, and cultivated awareness of above. Distance and expertise rather than the faux intimacy of the...
Details About Kevin Harlan’s CBS, Prime Video Contracts Revealed
Veteran sportscaster Kevin Harlan balances three high‑profile gigs—CBS, Prime Video and Westwood One—by structuring staggered contracts that keep him employed continuously. CBS holds a contractual "first‑position" priority, meaning Harlan schedules its assignments before any others. His Prime Video NBA deal...
The Challenger: Prime Video Orders Limited Series with Kristen Stewart Playing Sally Ride
Prime Video has ordered a limited‑series drama titled "The Challenger," dramatizing the 1986 shuttle disaster and its aftermath. Kristen Stewart will portray astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, highlighting her personal and professional journey. The series will...
Subscribe to Power Lines Podcast for Weekly Media Insights
If you're not already listening to our weekly media podcast Power Lines, consider checking us out and subscribing on Apple Podcasts. Your support really helps grow the show. Direct link to the show's page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-lines-with-oliver-darcy-and-jon-passantino/id1823949547?i=1000756309336
Create Worthwhile Content, Not Just Subscriber Numbers
The point isn’t to “generate subscribers.” The point is to write things worth subscribing to.
Every ‘Extraction’ Movie and Spin-Off Coming Soon to Netflix
Netflix is turning the high‑viewership Extraction franchise into a multi‑year franchise, with Extraction 3 slated to begin filming in June 2026 and likely debuting in 2027. The streaming giant is also launching an eight‑episode Mercenary series starring Omar Sy and a South...
HBO Max: The 26 Absolute Best Movies to Watch
HBO Max’s latest editorial highlights the 26 must‑watch films spanning drama, musical, action, thriller, comedy, superhero, and documentary categories, including new March releases like *Fackham Hall* and *From the World of John Wick: Ballerina*. The list showcases Oscar‑winning titles such...
Steven Knight Weighs in on the Shocking True Story That Inspired Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Steven Knight explains that his Netflix film *Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man* pivots from the series' well‑known political figures to the obscure World War II Operation Bernhard, the Nazi scheme to forge British banknotes. He highlights the film’s grounding in real...
Elucidating Excerpts: Walter Lippmann’s “Public Opinion” (1922)
The Substack post announces "Elucidating Excerpts," a paid‑subscriber series that curates pivotal passages from books on propaganda, social engineering, and mass manipulation, launching with Walter Lippmann’s 1922 classic Public Opinion. It frames Lippmann’s work as the intellectual cornerstone of modern...
Meta Lets AI Plant Scams Profit From Ads
Feels insane that @facebook allows companies to buy ads to sell a plant that doesn’t even exist, using fake AI video of said imaginary plant. Literally scamming people out of money using AI, but @meta is completely fine with it...
How The Big Bang Theory Filmed Howard Floating In Outer Space
Season six of The Big Bang Theory sent Howard Wolowitz to the International Space Station, but the scenes were filmed on a Warner Bros soundstage. Production designer John Shaffner and set decorator Ann Shea built a detailed ISS replica using...
ChatGPT Ad Pilot Surges 600% Yet Rollout Lags
Interested in ChatGPT ads? Seems that ad ramp-up we saw might have been since the pilot is ending at the end of March -> ChatGPT’s ad pilot has the industry excited, but some insiders are frustrated with the slow rollout "With...
ABC's Risky Bachelorette Casting Backfires Spectacularly
"WHAT were they thinking??" @marymacTV concludes that ABC thought Taylor Frankie Paul would amp up 'Bachelorette' ratings. But it was playing with fire. @latimesent https://t.co/82uO036If3
John Stamos Debated Live-Streaming His First Tattoo at SXSW: Is the Future of Media ‘Life in Real-Time’?
Actor John Stamos, now chief innovation officer of streaming startup Zeam, used his SXSW appearance—where he debated live‑streaming his first tattoo—to illustrate the company’s mission of delivering authentic, real‑time content. Zeam equips local TV stations with technology to broadcast events...
Reality TV Stars Earn Little, Not Rich Until Years Later
Reality TV “stars” aren’t getting rich early. Year 1 for new names: $0 guarantees. ~$2K–$5K per episode *only* if you make the final edit and *only* paid after it airs. Takes ~5–6 years to earn real money. No union leverage.
Google Gemini's Lyria Generates Full Songs, Not Just Lyrics
Creating song lyrics with AI is so 2025. Now you can compose entire songs using the Lyria model in Google Gemini. It's pretty darn astonishing. Here's how it works, with sample tracks in a variety of styles: https://t.co/7pNLIXLKWJ #gemini #lyria...
From Foreign Correspondent to Uber Driver
A former foreign correspondent spent a morning driving for Uber in Fairfax, Virginia, earning $130 over five hours. All of his early passengers were Latino or South Asian workers heading to jobs such as teaching, healthcare, and food service. The...
Judge Overturns Pentagon Limits, Defends Journalists' Right to Question
‘… to state the obvious, obtaining and attempting to obtain information is what journalists do. A primary way in which journalists obtain information is by asking questions.’ Striking Down Pentagon Press Limits, Judge Vindicates Independent Journalism https://t.co/dpHde6FvrN
I’m Sorry, but I Can’t Help with That.
Zanny Minton Beddoes Is a deeply corrupt oligarch wannabe. When she took over The Economist the magazine flipped to become super pro monopoly and pro big tech.
ESPN SVP Mike Foss Explains Why Network Doesn’t Produce General Sports Podcasts
ESPN senior vice president Mike Foss explained that the network deliberately avoids launching broad‑appeal sports podcasts, preferring to leverage its existing television talent and properties. Most ESPN podcasts are produced externally through Omaha Productions and focus on niche topics like...
Axios AM Breaks AI Streak in Newsletter
I think the real news here is that Axios AM did *not* lead the newsletter with yet another item on AI, amirite? https://t.co/TwNgXZBPoX
Half of Twitter Impressions Appear to Be Bots
I'm convinced that something like 50%+ of all Twitter impressions are bots. Here's some data on two different articles I posted (one back in 2020 and one last week). The 2020 one had 15k clicks on 400k impressions The 2026 one had...
Netflix's 'The Dinosaurs' Was a Needed Trip Through Time
Netflix debuted "The Dinosaurs," a four‑part documentary series narrated by Morgan Freeman that blends high‑end CGI with real‑world footage. The show begins with early ancestors such as Marasuchus, then moves through iconic species like Stegosaurus and T. rex, offering both scientific...
NYT Metropolitan Shines with Quirky Bronx, Police History
Hey folks, I make fun of the NYT Metropolitan section each week, but kudos to this particular edition which features a John Slattery 'Routine,' and stories about a Bronx Golden Corral and the history of a single NYPD shield. The...
Escape Algorithm Tyranny with the Human‑Centred Marginalian Newsletter
For an act of resistance to the tyranny of algorithms, try the Marginalian newsletter—undistracted notes on the search for meaning, free, ad-free, AI-free, fully human since 2006, made of feeling and time: https://t.co/8ApDA5YPF6
Hulu's Near-Perfect 3-Part Dramedy Is the Gold Standard for Weekend Binges
Hulu’s three‑season dramedy *Reservation Dogs* has become a benchmark for weekend binge‑watching, earning five Emmy nominations and widespread critical praise. Created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, the series follows four Indigenous teens on an Oklahoma reservation, blending coming‑of‑age humor with...
Judge Upholds Press Freedom, Rejects Pentagon Limits
"The New York Times filed suit in the name of one of its national security reporters, Julian E. Barnes. Strikingly, multiple large news outlets declined to risk joining the litigation" Striking Down Pentagon Press Limits, Judge Vindicates Independent Journalism https://t.co/fj4ySd7jXy
How to Watch Wicked: For Good, the Highly Anticipated and Surprisingly Dark Sequel to the Smash Hit Movie Wicked
The sequel "Wicked: For Good" has moved from theaters to streaming platforms worldwide. In the United States it streams exclusively on Peacock, with a Premium plan at $10.99 per month and bundled options with Apple TV. British viewers can access it...
Judge Strikes Down Pentagon Media Access Rules, Citing Unconstitutionality
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's Pentagon media access restrictions, declaring the policy unconstitutional. The ruling arrives amid a wave of legal challenges to government control of information, from student journalists to high‑profile lawsuits against tech firms and...
SiriusXM Show Features Legendary Rockers and Rising Star
My SiriusXM show: Interviews with legendary rockers The Romantics and 54-40, Chris Entwisle, author of ‘The Visual Language of Prestige Records,’ and rising star Irish Millie. Sat 8am & 2pm, Sun 12pm, Wed 2pm & 7pm (all ET), Channel 167...
Google News Feeds 98% Left-Leaning Articles
"Only 2% of @googlenews articles are from right-leaning news sites. The vast majority of the rest, all from left-wing outlets" https://t.co/FdHCvDQyV8
Hagai Levi On His “Contemporary” Holocaust Series ‘Etty’ & Why The International Boycott Of The Israeli Industry Should Be “Much...
Director Hagai Levi’s six‑episode series “Etty,” based on Etty Hillesum’s WWII diaries, abandons period‑piece conventions by placing the story in a modern‑looking Amsterdam. Levi, known for “The Affair” and “Scenes From a Marriage,” wrote the script in simple English and...