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.
RAIN Notes: March 17
Audacy is deepening its sports‑focused advertising strategy with a new webinar, “The Business of Sports Fandom,” scheduled for March 23, which will explore fandom avidity as a measurable marketing currency. The event features unnamed sports hosts and media experts and is free to attend. Meanwhile, Apple has introduced the second‑generation AirPods Max, priced at $549, with orders opening March 25 and shipments slated for early April. The headset adds an H2 chip, Intelligent Audio suite, real‑time translation, and lossless 24‑bit playback via USB‑C, while retaining a 20‑hour battery life.
Broadcast Radio to Add Promo Only Integration
Broadcast Radio has partnered with Promo Only to embed the music‑service catalog directly into its Myriad Playout system. The integration, slated for Myriad version 6.9, lets stations with a Promo Only subscription browse, preview and download new releases without leaving the...
98th Oscars Down Nearly 2 Million Viewers, Reaching 17.86 Million
The 98th Oscars attracted 17.86 million viewers, roughly 2 million fewer than the 19.69 million who tuned in for the 97th ceremony. Its Adults 18‑49 rating slipped to 3.92 from 4.54, though the broadcast remained the top primetime entertainment telecast of the 2025‑2026 season....
Build A Rocket Boy Moves to Self-Publishing for MindsEye
Build A Rocket Boy and IOI Partners have terminated their publishing agreement for the upcoming game MindsEye. Effective immediately, Build A Rocket Boy will assume full publishing responsibilities for the title. The shift moves the studio from a traditional publisher‑developer...
The Digital Divide: Can Local Media Finally Move Beyond Linear?
Local broadcasters are wrestling with a widening digital divide as linear TV revenues fall and audiences migrate online. Despite investments in CTV platforms such as Premion and Madhive, many stations remain anchored to legacy linear economics and lack digital‑first content....
Live Stream of Chelsea v PSG Champions League Match – TV Channel and Kick Off Time
Chelsea host PSG at Stamford Bridge on 17 March 2026, with kick‑off at 8 pm. The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 2 and streamed via discovery+, the platform that carries TNT Sports content. After a 5‑2 first‑leg defeat, the...
MetaRadio Returns to NAB Show With V2.6
MetaRadio unveiled version 2.6 at the NAB Show, adding remote web access, advanced image management, and enhanced message scheduling with live‑data overrides. The platform continues its integration with the HD Radio Artist Experience, enabling stations to push dynamic cover art...
NBC News Links Up With Tech Journalist Joanna Stern As It Pursues Creator Deals
NBC News has signed a deal with prominent tech journalist Joanna Stern, appointing her as chief tech analyst and contributing correspondent as the network expands its subscription‑streaming product. Stern, who recently left The Wall Street Journal to launch her own...
Airdate: Crackhead
New Zealand comedy series Crackhead premiered on HBO Max last week, debuting simultaneously in its home market. Created by and starring Holly Shervey, the show follows party‑girl Frankie as she navigates a chaotic rehab clinic filled with misfits. The series blends dark...
Shoboy, Dana Cortez To Co-Emcee Hispanic Radio Conference
Radio Ink’s Hispanic Radio Conference 2026 will be co‑emceeded by Edgar “Shoboy” Sotelo and Dana Cortez, two prominent Latino radio personalities. The two‑day event, scheduled for May 27‑28 at the Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort, gathers broadcasters, marketers and tech...
North Dallas Divestment Sees ‘Mad Rock’ Readying For Christ
Connoisseur Media is preparing to divest a former Alpha Media property acquired during its debt‑driven merger with the group. The buyer is a North Texas owner of a Christian Contemporary Music station, which will take control of an 18 kW Class...
7 Prompts to Monetize The Archives
The solo economy now includes roughly 30 million U.S. solopreneurs, generating close to $2 trillion annually, but many are overwhelmed by relentless content demands. A case study of Simon, a solo publisher with 400 articles and three e‑books, shows that halting new...
Own the TV OS, Control the Consumer Journey
"there is tremendous power in owning a consumer’s journey from the moment he or she powers up the TV, to the content that’s displayed, to what they end up watching." “If I were David Ellison, I would have bought Roku,” Greenfield...
Police and Media Launch Charter to ‘Reset’ Relations After Nicola Bulley Case
Police and media in England and Wales have introduced a new policing‑media charter aimed at resetting a strained relationship that worsened after the 2023 Nicola Bulley disappearance. The case generated over 6,500 news stories in a single day and 270 million TikTok...
Vivacom Adds BBC First and BBC Earth to EON in Bulgaria
Vivacom has expanded its EON television platform in Bulgaria by adding BBC First and BBC Earth. BBC First, positioned as a Bulgarian premiere, joins the EON Premium package on channel 63, delivering British drama and crime series such as *Death...
VAB: Most Prospective Voters Engage with Ad-Supported TV
The Video Advertising Bureau’s new survey of 2,300 U.S. adults finds that most committed or prospective voters regularly watch ad‑supported television and streaming services. TV and linear‑plus‑streaming platforms remain the primary discovery channel for political candidates, with voters turning to...
As Retail Media Enters Its Second Act, Savvy Brands Diversify Networks and Tactics
Retail media is evolving from a bottom‑funnel, search‑only model to a full‑funnel ecosystem that includes video, display, and off‑site formats. Amazon’s share of retail media spend dropped from 56% to 46% as marketers allocate more budget to Walmart and mid‑size...
CapRadio, KVIE Settle Radio Tower Dispute
CapRadio and Sacramento public TV station KVIE announced a settlement ending a contentious dispute over the ownership of a shared radio tower. The conflict began when the Capital Public Radio Endowment transferred the tower deed to KVIE in 2024, prompting...
Setplex Transforms Video Streaming with AI and Super Aggregation Innovations at the 2026 NAB Show
Setplex will debut its fully integrated Zapflex platform at the 2026 NAB Show, highlighting new AI‑driven search and a super aggregation engine that merge internal libraries with third‑party content. The AI search combines keyword precision with intent‑based semantics, while the...
Meet Vurt, the Mobile-First Streaming Platform for Indie Filmmakers Embracing Vertical Video
Vurt, a new mobile‑first streaming service, debuted on March 18, 2026, offering indie filmmakers a vertical‑video platform for micro‑series, full‑length films and TV shows. The launch includes over 100 episodes and a weekly slate of original titles, featuring talent such...
English Club TV Channel Expands in Central Europe
English Club TV, a global educational channel, has launched on Yettel Hungary’s platform. Starting April 15, the channel will be included in Yettel’s TV Plus package for subscribers. The partnership aligns with English Club TV Group’s plan to broaden its...
Boat Rocker Studios Expands Creative Team with New Hires
Boat Rocker Studios announced two senior director appointments to bolster its creative teams. Vanessa Esteves joins as senior director of creative affairs for kids and family, bringing 19+ years and experience at Nelvana with brands like Thomas & Friends. Joey...
March Digital Editions Now Available
World Screen, TV Kids, and TV Listings released their March digital editions, featuring a streamlined, on‑the‑go design and direct links to the WorldScreenings.com video portal. The World Screen issue includes interviews with NHK’s Tatsuhiko Inoue and Inter Medya’s Can Okan...
The Neighborhood: CBS Announces Special Celebrating End of Monday Night Comedy Series
CBS will air "The Neighborhood: A Farewell Special" on Monday, April 6 at 8:30 PM ET/PT, with a simultaneous stream on Paramount+. Hosted by Kevin Frazier, the hour‑long event revisits eight seasons, 156 episodes, and the series' cultural footprint before the...
Glenn Haygood to Retire From Hearst’s WLKY
Glenn Haygood, President and General Manager of Hearst’s WLKY-TV in Louisville, announced his retirement later this year, concluding a broadcast career spanning more than four decades. He has overseen WLKY’s editorial and business operations since 2008, guiding the CBS affiliate...
US Media Mogul Sees a Big Opportunity in the Cuts at the Washington Post
Billionaire media entrepreneur Robert Allbritton said the Washington Post's February newsroom cuts present a rare hiring opportunity. His digital outlet Notus announced the recruitment of high‑profile former Post journalists, including Dana Milbank, Paul Kane and Jeff Stein, and plans to double its staff...
Publicis Advises Clients to Avoid The Trade Desk, According to a Leaked Memo
Publicis has instructed its clients to stop recommending The Trade Desk after a third‑party audit uncovered improper fee applications and a lack of transparent cost invoicing. The audit, performed by FirmDecisions, concluded that The Trade Desk charged fees without clear...
Top 80 Spotify Artists Earn 20% of Payouts
Spotify’s top 80 artists generated $10M+ each in royalty payouts in 2025. I estimate that these artists generated $2B total, nearly 20% of Spotify’s payout pool. Here’s how I see it:
Beverage Marketer Sees Cost Savings with Agentic Media-Buying Test
PubMatic and Butler/Till executed Geloso Beverage Group’s first fully autonomous, AI‑driven media campaign using the AgenticOS platform. The test cut buy‑side supply‑chain costs by 5.5× while delivering a 98% video‑completion rate and 40% more impressions than planned. Quality metrics were...
MarkApp Joins IAB MENA
MarkApp has joined IAB MENA, reinforcing its commitment to transparent, standards‑driven digital advertising in the Middle East and North Africa. IAB MENA is a leading industry body that shapes programmatic standards, best practices, and education across the region. MarkApp brings...
Opinion: Public Media Must Invest in Its Technical Future
Public media stations face a looming shortage of skilled engineers as seasoned staff retire and new talent pipelines lag behind. The article argues that hiring retired military communications specialists and establishing formal engineering apprenticeships can close the gap. It also...
ACCES Leader Éric Brion: "Latest Ratings Confirm the Vitality of Thematic Channels"
Éric Brion, leader of ACCES, announced that Q1 2026 audience ratings confirm a surge in thematic channels’ performance. The latest data show a 12% year‑over‑year increase in viewership, pushing total weekly reach past 10 million for the first time. Advertiser demand has...
On the Latest ‘Beat the Press,’ We Look at War Coverage, the Buzz About a Public Radio Merger and More
The newest episode of "Beat the Press with Emily Rooney" tackles the Trump administration’s aggressive push to limit coverage of the Iran war, explores a potential merger between Boston’s two flagship public‑radio stations GBH and WBUR, and spotlights the Washington...
Are French Entertainment Giants Losing Steam?
French broadcasters report declining linear ratings for new seasons of flagship unscripted series such as Koh‑Lanta, Pékin Express, Top Chef and The Voice. Year‑over‑year viewership fell roughly 8%, dragging associated advertising revenue. The slump coincides with accelerating audience migration to...
Strong Ratings, Fragile Economics: The Challenge Facing Documentary Channels
Documentary networks are experiencing a resurgence, with the latest Mediamat’Thematik ratings released on March 10 showing a notable uptick in viewership. While audiences are tuning in, the financial model remains precarious as advertising revenues fail to keep pace with audience...
Nielsen's The Gauge Report Delayed over Streamer Concerns
Nielsen has delayed the March edition of its flagship The Gauge report to March 24, citing the integration of new DASH data into its streaming measurement methodology. The delayed release follows streamer anxiety that the updated metrics will reveal a...
France Télévisions Draws 28 Million Viewers for 2026 Paralympics, a Historic Record
France Télévisions, the exclusive French broadcaster of the Milano‑Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games, reported a historic 28 million viewers across its channels. The figure represents a record for parasport coverage in France and outperformed previous Paralympic broadcasts by a wide margin. The...
Report: Streaming the Most Engaging Entertainment Channel
Tubi’s new "Stream 2026" report shows streaming is the most engaging entertainment channel, with 90% of viewers reporting higher attention than live events or social media. The ad‑supported service leverages fandom‑driven identity, nostalgia, and creator‑led content to attract a younger, on‑demand...
Disney Appoints Ex‑Google Product Chief to Lead Streaming
🔥 The most interesting/exciting part of Disney's leadership reorg that is not getting talked about is that former Google/YouTube chief product officer Adam Smith has been elevated to co-head of Disney's DTC businesses. Placing a tech/product person, without legacy...
NBC News Signs Joanna Stern to Retain Creator Talent
Journalists have been ankling TV-news operations for their own indie ventures. NBC News' new pact with tech reporter Joanna Stern shows a mainstream news outlet trying to keep 'creators' under its umbrella https://t.co/yAMZBwVYTh via @variety
Sprite Reclaims NBA Soft Drink Sponsorship in Blow to PepsiCo’s Starry
Coca‑Cola’s Sprite has reclaimed its role as the NBA’s official soft‑drink sponsor, ending a three‑year stint by PepsiCo’s Starry. The multiyear agreement activates immediately, giving Sprite presence at marquee NBA events, international games, and digital fan experiences. The partnership revives...
Journalist Refutes Billionaire Influence, Cites Transparent Fellowship
I’ve reported on this topic for a decade for NYT, WaPo, etc. To claim I’m receiving “unknown guidance” from a billionaire I’ve never interacted w is insane. The journalism fellowship I did last year is transparently funded, granted full editorial...
Independent Creators Must Sell to Truly Own Their Work
Variety’s 10 Creators to Watch on Going Independent and Why ‘To Make Something and Own Something, You Have to Sell Something’ https://t.co/JLoEWzTTZg via @variety
Movie Business Struggles, Yet Distribution Startups Multiply
The Movie Business Has Never Been Harder, So Why Are All These New Distribution Companies Launching? https://t.co/0fH8NhD3Wu via @variety
Netflix Calls YouTube a Direct Competitor to Regulators
Netflix’s Ted Sarandos Warns EU Regulators: YouTube Isn’t a ‘Bunch of Cat Videos,’ It’s a ‘Straightforward Direct Competitor’ https://t.co/r4CVEqxuMc
Live Preview of 2026 March Madness TV Coverage
🚨🆕 I'm going on 📻 @Y100FM with @ScottNSports 𝐍𝐎𝐖 for 📺 #TVTuesday preview the TV coverage of NCAA #MarchMadness 2026 for the men's and women's college basketball 🏀 championships. 🎧 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍 𝐍𝐎𝐖 🔊 🗣“Play KUYY" or "Play Y100" 📱💻 https://t.co/nlxHQ15JWW https://t.co/v92jFBA6SC
NFL Shifts Opening Games to Wednesday, Thursday, Skips Friday
Some small NFL TV news. The first game of the regular season will be on Wednesday night on NBC (vs usual Thursday). The Melbourne game will be on Thursday -- platform TBD. NFL can't do a Friday game this year...
New Laws Threaten LGBTQ and Abortion Content Online
Part of how they want to enact this is by rolling out mass censorship and surveillance online through things like “reforming” section 230 and laws like KIDS Act/KOSA which would remove LGBTQ, abortion content etc from the internet (and “leftists”/liberals...
Crafting Tech Growth Stories with Elite Data & Talent
Work with very smart people, on top of a dataset that reporters would kill for, to tell stories about economic growth and technology, with very high cultural appreciation for craft.
Trump Administration Tightens Grip on Iran War Coverage
Trump Administration ramps up press pressure over Iran war coverage —Broadcaster license threats —Disparaging rhetoric —Tightening grip over Stars and Stripes —Denying photogs Pentagon press briefing access —Using VOA to urge Iranians to rebel @axios https://t.co/kRuCYUk6Uc