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.
Study: Repurposed Traditional TV Ads for CTV Is a Missed Opportunity
A TripleLift study finds that 49 % of connected‑TV (CTV) ads still use traditional 15‑ and 30‑second spots designed for linear television, despite record streaming viewership and ad spend. High‑impact formats such as pause ads, overlays, and native units boost brand recall by 33 %, purchase intent by 76 %, and consideration elevenfold. The report attributes slow adoption to fragmented infrastructure and a lack of cross‑platform standards. Industry leaders argue that solving these creative‑infrastructure gaps is essential for unlocking CTV’s full revenue potential.
GStack: Free Open‑Source Platform with Daily Feature Updates
Hacker News on GStack - try it it's free and open source and I'm shipping new features every day for it https://lnkd.in/gDJRzGNr
Antenna: Peacock Posts Big Viewership Numbers in February Thanks to Sports
Peacock leveraged three major live‑sports events in February— the Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics, Super Bowl LX, and the NBA All‑Star Game—to drive a surge in subscriptions. The streamer added 5.2 million U.S. sign‑ups and a record 4.9 million paid subscribers, accounting for 34 % of...
Alienating Viewers Drives CBS Evening News Ratings Crash
The "CBS Evening News" dipping below 4 million viewers must be setting off alarm bells inside the network. But when you alienate the audience, loyal viewers will leave. Watch Power Lines on YouTube: https://youtu.be/g4zHWZFi9ec?si=2fbPGf9Rlu5jxiCx
Hachette Yanks Horror Novel Shy Girl From Shelves After Accusations of AI Use
Hachette Book Group has pulled the horror novel *Shy Girl* from UK shelves and cancelled its US release after an internal probe concluded large sections were generated by artificial intelligence. The book, originally self‑published by Mia Ballard and later picked up...
Netflix, Amazon and Disney+ Each Have a Surprise no.1 This Weekend
This weekend’s streaming charts were dominated by animation, with Netflix’s anime‑style series *Steel Ball Run* topping its series list, Amazon Prime Video’s superhero cartoon *Invincible* leading its own chart, and Disney+ streaming the family‑friendly sequel *Zootopia 2* as its number‑one movie. All three...
Wikipedia Bans Leader of Pro-Hamas Edit Gang
Wikipedia’s Arbitration Committee has permanently banned Iskandar323, a key operator of the pro‑Hamas “Gang of 40.” The editor coordinated more than a million edits on Hamas, Iran, Zionism and related Middle‑East topics, shaping narratives across the encyclopedia. The site‑wide sanction...
March Madness on Sling TV: How to Watch UCLA Vs. UCF Online
The 2026 NCAA March Madness first round features a matchup between No. 7 UCLA Bruins and No. 10 UCF Knights on March 20 at 7:25 p.m. ET, broadcast on TBS. Viewers can stream the game via Sling TV, which offers Blue, Orange, and combined...
System to Create Paid Subscribers & Upgrade to Your Offer Suite
The post outlines three core strategies for scaling Substack newsletters: a comprehensive starter guide, a weekly content system, and a framework for converting readers into paid subscribers and upselling them to higher‑value offers. It walks creators through turning a single...
Association of Motion Picture Sound (AMPS) Television and Nonfiction Nominations Announced: ‘Adolescence,’ ‘Black Mirror,’ ‘Slow Horses’ and More
The Association of Motion Picture Sound (AMPS) unveiled its 2026 Excellence in Sound nominations, spotlighting five television drama episodes—including two from Netflix’s *Adolescence*—and five factual film entries from broadcasters such as BBC and Disney+. Apple TV and Netflix each lead...
WGA Condemns CBS News Layoffs, Blames Greedy Leadership
WGA blasts CBS News layoffs: "Once again, our members have lost their jobs due to the recklessness and greed of their bosses. CBS News Radio is an institution, where generations of the finest journalists in the country spent their careers reporting...
Survey: Fans Prefer Sports on Broadcast Over Streaming
The Television Bureau’s 2026 Sports Survey shows 90 % of U.S. sports fans deem free local broadcast TV essential, with three‑quarters watching broadcast sports at least twice a week. Preference spans football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, soccer, auto racing and tennis....
News Chatbots that Present Multiple Viewpoints Tend to Earn the Trust of Conspiracy Believers
A recent study by the University of Amsterdam introduced Infobot, a news chatbot that presents mainstream and alternative climate‑change headlines side by side. In two experiments with 235 U.S. adults, participants holding strong conspiracy beliefs rated the bot as more...
Julio Torres Makes Everything Funny—Including Color Theory
Julio Torres, known for SNL, Los Espookys, and Problemista, returns to HBO with a new special titled "Color Theories." The hour‑long program pairs his trademark surreal humor with a synesthetic exploration of color, turning hues into punchlines and philosophical musings. Filmed...
Sky and HBO's Upcoming Courtroom Drama Could Be a Massive Hit, Based on What I've Seen
Sky announced its upcoming courtroom drama "War" at the Up Next event, a co‑production with HBO that has already secured a two‑season order. The series follows rival legal firms representing a high‑profile divorce between Dominic West and Sienna Miller’s characters,...
The Importance of Major Patrick Ferguson’s Role on Outlander’s Final Season
Outlander’s season‑8 finale introduces Major Patrick Ferguson, a real British officer, as a key antagonist behind the fictional militia on Fraser’s Ridge. The series ties Ferguson’s historical mission to recruit loyalist frontiersmen—ordered by Cornwallis—to the fictional plot, culminating in references...
Quill Awards 2026: Winners
The Melbourne Press Club’s 2026 Quill Awards celebrated top Australian journalism, with Heather Ewart receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award and Adele Ferguson named the 50th Graham Perkin Journalist of the Year. ABC News secured several Gold Quills, including Business Reporting...
'It Has to Go Beyond a Display Company': I Spoke to the CEO of a TV Manufacturer About AI, the...
Displace, a US TV maker, unveiled its Pro TV 2, an OLED set that continues the company’s line of fully wireless, wall‑mountable televisions. The device runs Displace OS, a browser‑based smart‑TV platform designed to act as a home hub and integrates...
This Isn’t a 'Media Shakeup' — It’s a MAGA Takeover.
CBS News has laid off dozens of reporters after billionaire David Ellison took control, installing Bari Weiss as editor‑in‑chief. The post warns that the FCC chair and President Trump are threatening broadcast licenses and labeling critical war coverage “criminal,” while...
Frieren Celebrates the Little Moments as the Gang Takes a Breath
The season‑2 finale of *Frieren*, “Himmel’s Memoirs,” shifts focus from grand battles to the quiet moments that define the characters’ journey. After a dragon‑filled skirmish, the party spends winter in a fishing village, savoring simple pleasures and reflecting on past...
Perfect Crime Drama Bergerac with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes Lands Season Two Release Date
Bergeric returns for a second season, debuting on U and U & DRAMA on 16 April. The first season earned a flawless 100 % rating on Rotten Tomatoes, highlighting its critical acclaim. Damien Molony reprises the role of Jim Bergerac, a recovering alcoholic detective...
California?s Streaming Loudness Law: Time for Ad Tech to Rethink Audio Control
California’s SB 576 now obliges streaming ads to match the perceived volume of surrounding content, shifting compliance responsibility to the platforms that deliver the ads. The rule exposes a split in ad‑tech workflows: client‑side insertion (CSAI) offers little control over audio,...
AI Summaries Circumvent CNN Paywall, Exposing Vulnerability
CNN has a paywall protecting its stories. Search for the headline on Google, and the AI summary gives you the whole story. Seems like a problem.
Brands Turn Bad Reviews Into Bold Engagement
Brands are in their bold era, using negative customer reviews as part of their campaigns and/or responding to critics online From Dove to Yahoo and Crocs to Burger King, leaning into criticism ✅ Signals confidence and self-awareness ✅ Lets audiences know you’re...
Roblox Moves to Take a Cut of All Brand Integrations on Its Platform | Exclusive
Roblox announced it will begin charging creators a fee for publishing brand integrations, with charges scaling based on user traffic and engagement, slated to roll out in 2027. The policy is presented as a move to standardize ad labeling, improve...
Disney Expands Reach by Adding Sara to The View
I’m obviously not unbiased here, but good on Disney to bring on Sara/CNBC talent to The View. Helps to expand all of our worlds.
CNN Revives Retro Broadcast Style with New Experiments
CNN has been experimenting with new formats this week, including Anderson in rolled-up sleeves, massive desk microphones, and a physical map, channeling early Edward R. Murrow-era broadcast.... Experiment will continue today with Jake Tapper broadcasting from his office.
Luke Bryan, Lionel Ritchie & Carrie Underwood To Appear On “The View”
Disney announced the guest lineup for ABC’s “The View” for the week of March 23‑27. Country star Luke Bryan, R&B legend Lionel Richie and country powerhouse Carrie Underwood will appear on Tuesday as judges for “American Idol.” The show also features Abby Huntsman co‑hosting...
Digital Echo Chambers Let Politicians Rewrite History
It's never been easier to invent your own version of history. Say something online enough, have a big enough audience, and for a lot of people your version of the facts becomes the truth. Our politicians must be...
Subscription Overload Blocks Support for Quality Journalism
I want to support good journalists and good writers but there is simply no way to subscribe to every article or newspaper or magazine or newsletter, and it sucks for everyone because writers want readers for their stuff and readers...
CBS News Layoffs: Internal Memo Shows 6% Jobs to Be Cut to ‘Remain Competitive’, CBS Radio to End in May,...
CBS News, owned by Paramount Skydance, announced a 6% workforce reduction—about 60 employees—effective March 20, 2026, to stay competitive in a rapidly changing news landscape. The cuts accompany the shutdown of the nearly century‑old CBS News Radio service, slated to cease...
NFL Funding Forces Unpopular Cuts to Existing Programming
Making the hard, unpopular decisions that MUST be made 👏👏 @bariweiss $PSKY Paying for the NFL means a lot of existing money losing programming needs to be shuttered
CBS News Cuts Hit Washington Bureau Hard
I'll have more on the CBS News cuts in tonight's email, but for now... the cuts are affecting a number of correspondents (will give them time to announce the news themselves) and hitting the Washington, D.C., bureau especially hard.
Electric Entertainment to Launch Upgraded ElectricNOW App
Electric Entertainment will relaunch its ElectricNOW app on April 16, adding a suite of new features and a broader content catalog. The upgrade introduces the platform’s first original scripted series, *The Poly Couple*, a half‑hour comedy about a polyamorous couple in...
Investors Face Tough Week, Yet Some Positives Ahead
I'm set to join @RobHartWBBM on @WBBMNewsradio in a couple minutes. We will wrap up another rough week for investors, but there are some potential positives out there. @Giersh https://t.co/zwwYslTFVM
Sports Turned Into Betting Ads, Friends Losing Fortunes
i stopped watching sports with my kids because everything is an ad for betting now, even the tv channel itself i know almost a dozen close friends who have lost all their money on betting apps
New ‘Lord of the Flies’ Series Premiering May 4 on Netflix
Netflix will debut a four‑episode adaptation of William Golding’s classic novel "Lord of the Flies" on May 4, 2026. The series is written by Jack Thorne and directed by Marc Munden, featuring a young British cast led by Winston Sawyers and...
Grateful for Insightful, Sanity-Providing Commentary Crew Thursday Show
Always appreciate the insight, perspective and much-needed sanity from the crew @Commentary - @jpodhoretz @AbeGreenwald @SethAMandel @elianayjohnson Christine Rosen (& occasionally @EliLake). Thurs show particularly good -> https://t.co/Q7TfaWmS0N. Keep on keeping on!
Even Vegan Creators Fall Victim to Algorithmic Ragebait
How do even vegan creators get sucked into ragebait? Join me wherever you get your podcasts with sociologist Angèle Christin to learn how algorithm shape us. https://t.co/Bejm4PBoKb https://t.co/GCiuDMF4sK
Senior European Journalist Suspended over AI-Generated Quotes
Mediahuis has suspended senior journalist Peter Vandermeersch after he admitted using AI tools such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google Notebook LM to generate quotes that were later proven false. An internal investigation by NRC uncovered dozens of fabricated attributions, prompting the...
Court To Decide If Users Can Sue Facebook Over Fake Ads
A federal appellate court has agreed to review a lower‑court ruling that could force Meta Platforms to face user lawsuits over fraudulent Facebook ads. The dispute began with a 2021 class‑action claim that users, including Oregon resident Christopher Calise, lost...
AI in Political Attack Ads – Watch State Laws on Deep Fakes and Synthetic Media in Political Content
The article highlights a recent AI‑generated political attack ad that used a deep‑fake voice and image of Democratic Senate candidate James Tallarico, underscoring the rise of synthetic media in elections. Since the author’s last review, more than 20 additional states...
Uefa ‘to Launch’ Champions League Streaming Service as Early as 2027
UEFA is planning a direct‑to‑consumer Champions League streaming platform for Asia, targeting a launch as early as the 2027‑2031 media rights cycle. The initiative, developed with partner Relevent, could debut in markets such as Indonesia or India, either supplementing or...
Hollywood Studios Back GOP Effort to Dismantle Canada’s Online Streaming Act
Hollywood studios have thrown their weight behind a Republican‑sponsored bill aimed at overturning Canada’s Online Streaming Act, which obligates U.S. platforms to financially support Canadian film, TV and music production. The Protecting American Streaming and Innovation Act, introduced by Rep....
Leave Comments, Play Quizzes, Earn Badges: Join the GamesRadar+ Community
GamesRadar+ has launched a free, unified membership platform that consolidates commenting, quizzes, badge rewards, newsletter preferences, and magazine subscriptions under a single sign‑up. The new system replaces the former Disqus comment tool with Viafoura and adds interactive games powered by...
X’s Algorithm Woes Mirror Broader Platform Censorship Challenges
Since everyone is complaining about the X algorithm, I would like to remind you that all other social media platforms practice HEAVY censorship, allow extortion, and use AI against creators. I think X is just trying to figure out spam/ai...
SeriesMakers Reveals All Ten Projects of the Fourth Edition
SeriesMakers, the Series Mania Institute’s talent incubator partnered with Beta Group, has unveiled the ten projects selected for its fourth edition. The slate includes dramas, comedies, thrillers, fantasy and political series from Brazil, Canada, Spain, France, Ireland, the Czech Republic,...
AdExchanger and The Women in Programmatic Network Renew Partnership for 2026 Events to Elevate Women’s Voices in Ad Tech
AdExchanger has renewed its partnership with the U.S. chapter of The Women in Programmatic Network (TWIPN) for its 2026 flagship events, including Programmatic AI, Programmatic I/O, and the AdExchanger Awards. The collaboration will feature TWIPN‑led education sessions, networking meet‑ups, and...
RADIOPUSHERS Launches the TWITCH Livestream Music Discovery Platform Powered by Indie Artists
RADIOPUSHERS launched a Twitch‑based Music Discovery Mix that lets independent artists co‑host live sessions, showcase visuals, and receive real‑time critique from panels and audiences. The stream is simultaneously rebroadcast on LOOKHU TV, reaching connected‑TV devices such as Amazon Fire, Roku, Samsung...
Carrie Underwood & Lionel Richie To Appear On “ABC News Live Prime With Linsey Davis”
Disney announced a new slate of "ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis" episodes airing weeknights at 7 p.m. EDT. The lineup features high‑profile guests such as Lupita Nyong’o, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Lana Condor, alongside investigative segments on Iran’s oppression, ketamine depression treatment, and U.S.–China...