Today's Media Pulse
Publicis resumes recommending The Trade Desk after fee dispute
Publicis has lifted its ban and is again recommending The Trade Desk to advertisers, ending a months‑long clash over alleged hidden ad‑tech fees. The dispute had driven The Trade Desk’s shares down roughly 13% and prompted the exit of its chief marketing officer. Both firms issued a joint statement confirming the reconciliation.
Also developing:
By the numbers: K-LOVE acquires Baltimore station in undisclosed deal
At Sweden’s Book Industry Day, Print, Audio, and Pricing Collide
Sweden’s 2025 book market showed a rare reversal, with print sales climbing 7% to capture roughly 68% of total revenue, while the overall market exceeded SEK 5 billion (about $535 million). Government subsidies of SEK 304 million (≈$32.5 million) for school book access helped fuel the print boost. Audiobooks dominate the digital side, representing 61% of units sold and 54% of fiction revenue, prompting fierce competition among Spotify, BookBeat and Storytel. Meanwhile, Norway’s new fixed‑price law sparked debate over its impact on physical bookstores versus digital discovery.
AI Content Rises Fast, Then Fails in Search
More people need to read this case study. Yep, it's how "Mt. AI" forms :) -> How AI-generated content performs in Google Search: A 16-month experiment Month 1: indexing and early visibility Months 2–3: growth continues Months 3–6: ranking collapse Month 16: long-term stagnation https://t.co/d6d3BhKMpH
Pentagon Tightens Press Access, Ignoring Court Defeat
They simply ignore the rare defeat in court. There is no rule of law. Pentagon Further Limits Press Access Following Court Loss https://t.co/FsytLIDkcc
Netflix Top 10: Week of March 16 - The Wait Is Over as "BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE" Ignites at No....
Netflix’s weekly Top 10 for the week of March 16 saw BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE dominate the non‑English TV chart with 13.1 million views, while the new Peaky Blinders film captured 25.3 million views to lead the English film list. ONE PIECE season 2 held the English TV top spot...
Paramount+ Renews "School Spirits" For a Fourth Season
Paramount+ announced the renewal of its original drama "School Spirits" for a fourth season, following a critically acclaimed third season that closed with a perfect 100% Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The series, produced by Paramount Television Studios, streams in...
How To Determine What Paid Media Channels Are Right for You via @Sejournal, @Timothyjjensen
Choosing the right paid‑media channel is critical for new advertisers. The article outlines a decision framework that starts with clear business goals, brand familiarity, and product‑market fit, then moves to data availability, conversion tracking, budget size, and creative assets. It...
Why Digital PR Is Essential for Modern Businesses
Digital public relations has moved from a nice‑to‑have tactic to a strategic imperative as consumers spend the majority of their time online. Unlike traditional PR, digital PR blends storytelling, influencer outreach, and SEO to secure high‑authority backlinks and media placements...
FlareFlow to Present Inaugural Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards in Los Angeles (EXCLUSIVE)
FlareFlow will serve as presenting partner for the inaugural Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards, slated for April 23 at Los Angeles’ El Portal Theatre. The ceremony, created by Jen Cooper, will honor English‑language vertical drama released in 2025, with all nominations and winners decided...
After Its Shock Cancellation, "One of the Best" Fantasy Series Is Set for a Comeback – with a Twist
Amazon abruptly cancelled "The Wheel of Time" in May 2025 despite the series earning 81%‑97% Rotten Tomatoes scores and strong fan enthusiasm. One year later, IP owner iwot Studios announced a partnership with Arcane producer Thomas Vu and Initiate Entertainment...
France Télévisions Takes "Enquête Parallèle" Global
France TV Distribution announced the sale of the first three episodes of the Franco‑Belgian investigative series *Enquête Parallèle* to an international buyer, marking the program’s first step beyond French borders. The deal underscores France Télévisions’ strategy to monetize its premium...
Dominique De Villepin: The Geopolitics of TV Series
Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin delivered a masterclass at the 2026 Séries Mania festival, exploring how television series intersect with international politics. He argued that narrative arcs and character alliances mirror real‑world geopolitical strategies. The session highlighted the...
Urbania Acquires Binge Audio to Bridge Podcasts and TV
Montreal‑based media company Urbania announced the acquisition of Binge Audio, the independent French‑language podcast network known for hits such as "Les Couilles sur la table" and "Programme B." The deal gives Urbania a portfolio of popular podcasts with an estimated...
Cannes Marché Du Film Launches First Creator Economy Summit
Cannes Marché du Film announced its inaugural Creator Economy Summit, a new conference that brings together film executives, digital creators, and technology innovators. The three‑day event, slated for early June 2024, will focus on how the creator economy reshapes storytelling,...
9 New Immediately Useful NotebookLM Prompts for Content Creator Businesses
Google has rebuilt NotebookLM, adding a one‑million‑token context window and native generation of cinematic videos, one‑click infographics, PowerPoint‑ready slide decks, debate‑style audio episodes, structured data tables, and a blog‑post report generator—all usable directly from the chat interface. The blog post...
When It Comes to Bias, Systems Matter More than Opinions
A new Austrian study combining journalist surveys with content analysis finds that personal political leanings rarely translate into partisan news reporting. Instead, editorial systems, professional norms, and newsroom routines shape how political stories are presented. The research shows that while...
Tubi Announces New Original YA Thriller-Mystery Film "Remember Me" Based on Bestselling Novel by Christopher Pike
Tubi, Fox Corporation’s free streaming platform, announced the original YA thriller‑mystery film “Remember Me,” adapted from Christopher Pike’s bestselling novel. The movie stars Brec Bassinger and Charlie Gillespie and is directed by Danishka Esterhazy. Tubi highlights the project as part...
When a Global Story Happens in Your Local Community: Steering The Minnesota Star Tribune Through Unprecedented Times
In December 2023 ICE launched Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, sparking intense global attention. The Minnesota Star Tribune mobilized 50 reporters and leveraged community‑generated footage to deliver the most documented local crisis in U.S. history. A revamped digital platform, live‑blogging,...
Inside an East African Investigative Newsroom That Has Defied a Decade of Pressure
Africa Uncensored, an independent investigative outlet in Nairobi, has spent a decade building a mentorship‑driven newsroom that produces long‑form video and written investigations despite intense political and financial pressure. Its flagship projects, such as the Kenya Airways audit and the...
The Most Innovative Companies in Media and News for 2026
Fast Company’s 2026 list spotlights ten media innovators reshaping how content is created, distributed, and monetized. Companies such as Cloudflare are defending publisher rights with AI‑blocking tools, while The Onion revives print and launches a satire‑focused ad agency. TikTok‑driven imprints...
US Newspaper Circulations 2025: Washington Post Print Declines 21% in a Year
The Alliance for Audited Media reports a 12.5% drop in average daily print circulation among the 25 largest U.S. newspapers through September 2025, with the sector averaging 1.74 million copies per day. The Washington Post experienced the steepest decline, down 21.2%...
BBC Pulls Bob Monkhouse Special over Alleged Sexism
#FFS what is wrong with people - BBC needs to get a grip. #snowflakes Bob Monkhouse Repair Shop special axed for ‘sexist’ jokes https://t.co/Ne9r2vf4rv
Reuters Begins Migrating From Satellite to IP
Reuters is partnering with TVU Networks to replace its satellite‑based news distribution with a cloud‑managed, IP‑centric platform. The first region is already live, leveraging TVU MediaHub for signal processing and TVU NOC for network monitoring and automated failover. The new...
TV's Repair Shop Rejects 'Inappropriate' Bob Monkhouse Joke Book
BBC's The Repair Shop removed a planned segment featuring late comedian Bob Monkhouse's joke book after producers deemed the material inappropriate. The book, brought by Monkhouse's daughter and writing partner, was examined in the workshop's barn and found to contain...
Chennai Super Kings Partners with Snapchat for ROAR 2026
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) teamed up with Snapchat to power its pre‑IPL fan event, ROAR 2026, at the M A Chidambaram Stadium. The collaboration featured a stadium‑wide Snap Camera AR experience that reached more than 25,000 attendees. Digital extensions included creator‑led SnapStarSquad videos,...
Why AI-Driven Food-Based Melodramas Go Viral —and Stay Safe
AI‑generated food microdramas are sweeping Indian social platforms, pulling 20‑million‑plus views per clip while sidestepping copyright and personality‑right claims. Creators can earn roughly $120 for a 30‑second video after spending about $6 on AI credits, delivering returns up to 20 times...
Wonder Man Joins only Three Marvel Live‑action Renewals
Wonder Man is only the third live-action Marvel TV show to be renewed for a second season. https://t.co/Svs0lgJbXz
Operator of X Denies Japan Gov't Request to Extend Data Retention Period
The Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications asked X Corp. to extend its data‑retention window for communication logs to three‑to‑six months to aid defamation investigations. X declined, saying its internal standard of one to two months would become costly...
Michelin Delays 2026 Florida Guide to May, Cancels In‑Person Awards Ceremony
Michelin announced that the 2026 Florida Guide will be released on May 28, 2026, instead of the originally scheduled April 14, and that the customary invite‑only awards ceremony has been cancelled. The guide will now be announced via press release...
OnlyFans Founder Leonid Radvinsky Dies at 43 After Cancer Battle
OnlyFans owner Leonid “Leo” Radvinsky died on March 23 at age 43 after a prolonged battle with cancer. The platform announced his death, noting his $4.7 billion net worth and $23 million charitable contribution to cancer research, underscoring his impact on adult‑content media and...
IBC2026 Accelerator PoCs Explore Agentic Production, Reinventing Transmission Layer on Live Media, and More
IBC has announced nine projects for its 2026 Accelerator Media Innovation Programme, entering a six‑month development phase that will culminate in live Proof‑of‑Concept demos at IBC2026 from September 11‑14. The initiatives span open‑5G network control, AI‑driven content discovery, quantum‑secure live...
Rusk Media Ropes in Performax & DaMENSCH for Battleground S2
Rusk Media announced that Performax and DaMENSCH will serve as special partners for the second season of its reality competition, Battleground, which launches on Amazon MX Player in April 2026. The show brings back creator‑mentor Abhishek Malhan, aka Fukra Insaan,...
CNN’s “Podcast Look” And the Slow Death of Cable News
CNN recently revamped its flagship shows with a casual, podcast‑style set‑up, rolling up sleeves and broadcasting from home offices to mimic the authenticity of popular YouTube and TikTok clips. The experiment aimed to modernize the network’s image but fell flat,...
Is Social Media Addictive? The Science Reveals What’s at Stake
A 2024 survey shows roughly one‑third of American adults habitually doomscroll, with higher rates among Millennials and Gen Z. Experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics and Stanford argue that while some label excessive use as "problematic Internet use," others see...
'The Real Housewives of Orange County': An Oral History of How Five Unfiltered Women Changed TV
When Scott Dunlop moved to the gated community of Coto de Caza in the late 1980s, he began cataloguing the suburb’s archetypes—tennis‑obsessed wives, boomerang kids, and leisure‑rich husbands. Inspired by early reality hits, he filmed a sizzle reel titled “Behind...
India’s M&E Sector Likely to Grow to INR 3.3 Trillion by 2028: FICCI-EY M&E Report
India's media and entertainment (M&E) industry expanded 9% year‑on‑year to ₹2.78 trillion (≈$33 bn) in 2025, according to the FICCI‑EY report. Digital media became the largest segment, crossing the ₹1 trillion (≈$12 bn) threshold, while digital advertising grew 26% to ₹947 billion (≈$11.4 bn), accounting for...
Limelight’s Adaptive Rules Centre Delivers 4× Auction Success for Performance-Based SSP
Limelight Inc. introduced its Adaptive Rules Centre (ARC) to a performance‑based supply‑side platform (SSP) struggling with empty VAST creatives that bid without delivering impressions. By deploying a single "Add Creative ID to List" rule, the SSP automatically detected and blocked...
Open Media Expands Programmatic Digital Out-of-Home Offering with VIOOH Partnership
Open Media announced a programmatic partnership with VIOOH, linking its premium digital out‑of‑home inventory to the leading global supply‑side platform. The deal adds 42 high‑visibility LED screens to VIOOH’s marketplace, generating over 120 million monthly impressions and representing roughly 1‑2 % of...
Understanding Creator Performance Metrics: A Guide for Influencer Marketing Agencies
Creator performance metrics give influencer agencies a data‑driven framework to move beyond surface‑level likes and views. The guide outlines why trust and adaptability make influencer marketing valuable and presents key direct and indirect impact statistics, such as a $5.78 return...
I Turned My Side Hustles Into a 7-Figure Career. Here Are the 14 Tools that Made It Possible.
Andrew Yeung, a former Google and Meta employee, turned his side hustles into a seven‑figure enterprise by leveraging a curated stack of 14 AI‑driven tools. The suite includes Claude Code as an LLM operating system, cloud‑based Zo Computer, low‑code Lovable,...
‘Lonesome Dove,’ ‘Brokeback Mountain’ and the Power of the Book Review in the Age Before Algorithms
The New York Times essay highlights how The Washington Post’s now‑defunct Book World once acted as a cultural engine, catapulting authors like Larry McMurtry and Annie Proulx into mainstream success. By delivering thoughtful, serendipitous criticism, the section shaped literary reputations long before algorithmic feeds...
In the AI Era, Transparency Is the New Currency on Social Media
AI‑generated content is reshaping social media, offering brands cost efficiency but risking synthetic, disengaging feeds. As users grow skeptical, trust becomes fragile, turning interactions more transactional. Brands that disclose AI usage protect credibility, while those treating AI as a volume...
AI and Publishing: FAQ for Writers
The article provides a comprehensive FAQ for writers on how U.S. copyright law treats AI‑assisted and AI‑generated works, outlining when authors can claim copyright and when they cannot. It explains recent court decisions on AI training fair use, highlighting split...
How Streaming Has Transformed NBA Audience Insights
The NBA’s audience has shifted dramatically from traditional TV to a fragmented mix of streaming services, mobile devices, and consoles, with over a quarter of viewership now coming from virtual multichannel video programming distributors (vMVPD). This migration forces the league...
Digest: Partners Complain About Slow Ads Rollout on ChatGPT; Musk Liable in Twitter Fraud Case; Broadcasters Push EU for Tougher...
OpenAI’s pilot of ads inside ChatGPT has attracted major agency groups, but partners complain the rollout is slower than promised, even as some allocate up to $250,000 per test. A San Francisco jury found Elon Musk liable for misleading statements about...
Samsung TV Plus Powers the Next Era of FAST, Showcasing Live Events, Creator-Led Content, Exclusive Offerings, and Interactive Features Accelerating...
Samsung Ads unveiled a full‑funnel performance platform at IAB NewFronts 2026, pairing AI‑driven targeting with shoppable ad formats on Samsung TV Plus. The platform integrates Amazon’s Interactive Video Ad technology, enabling viewers to add Amazon items to cart directly from their...
Unilever's Food Business Picks Global Influencer Agency
Unilever has engaged global influencer agency SAMY to run its foods division’s influencer strategy, covering brands like Hellmann’s and Knorr across 13 markets. The partnership will leverage SAMY’s proprietary Maia platform, which connects Unilever to more than 120 million creators and...
Turning Readers Into Paying Subscribers: 5 Tips for Converting via Newsletters
At the Publisher Newsletter Summit, leaders from Bloomberg, Hearst UK and Mill Media outlined five tactics for turning free newsletter readers into paying subscribers. Their advice centers on building personal relationships, delivering high‑quality niche content, leveraging analytics for audience insight,...
10 Brings Perth Weekend Bulletin Home with NARELDA JACOBS
Network 10 announced that veteran journalist Narelda Jacobs will return to Perth to anchor a reinstated local weekend bulletin, replacing Georgie Tunny. The bulletin, launching on 18 April at 5 pm AWST, will be presented from Perth while sport and weather segments...
Want to Expand Your Media Diet? Here's Our Guide to the Indie Media Landscape
Australia’s media market remains one of the world’s most concentrated, with a handful of legacy owners dominating headlines. Decades of dwindling government support have weakened public broadcasters ABC and SBS, creating space for a burgeoning indie sector. The guide maps...