Today's Media Pulse
Nexstar CEO warns big‑tech dominance threatens local broadcasters
Nexstar Media Group’s chief says platforms like YouTube now capture one‑eighth of U.S. TV viewing and TikTok delivers news to a quarter of young adults, eroding local TV audiences. He notes that five digital firms are projected to control 65% of a $260 billion advertising market by 2026, and points to the Nexstar‑TEGNA merger covering over 130 communities as a defensive move.
Zuckerberg Predicted a Billion Users. Horizon Worlds Never Topped a Few Hundred Thousand
Meta rebranded Facebook as a metaverse company in late 2021, with Mark Zuckerberg forecasting a billion users for its virtual world platform Horizon Worlds. After two years of heavy investment, the service never exceeded a few hundred thousand monthly active users, far short of the billion‑user target. The shortfall highlights the gap between hype‑driven expectations and actual consumer adoption of VR social experiences. Meta continues to pour resources into hardware and software despite the modest user base.
How Producing Partners Kerry Washington and Pilar Savone Tackled the Character Complexity of ‘Imperfect Women’ | Video
Simpson Street Productions, founded by Kerry Washington and Pilar Savone, selected Apple TV’s thriller “Imperfect Women” as its latest project, drawn by the novel’s specific character focus that enables universal storytelling. The series, adapted from Araminta Hall’s 2020 novel, follows...
Wicked: For Good Is Finally Streaming This Weekend — and so Is Now You See Me: Now You Don’t
This week’s streaming slate adds several high‑profile titles across major platforms. Peacock launches the musical‑inspired film Wicked: For Good, while Starz debuts the third Now You See Me installment, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. Netflix continues the Peaky Blinders...
ACTOR NOAH WYLE & JIM ACOSTA TESTIFY AT HEARING HELD BY SENATOR ADAM SCHIFF IN BURBANK, CALIFORNIA
Actor Noah Wyle and journalist Jim Acosta appeared before a Senate hearing led by Senator Adam Schiff in Burbank, California, to discuss the role of entertainment and news media in shaping public discourse. Wyle argued that Hollywood bears a responsibility...
The Last of Us Season 3: HBO Show Casts 2 Important Characters
The Last of Us Season 3 adds two pivotal characters, with Michelle Mao joining as Seraphite Yara and Kyriana Kratter as Lev, the 13‑year‑old transgender boy who serves as Abby’s moral compass. The casting aligns the show more closely with Naughty...
What Should Take The Bachelorette’s Time Slot?
Disney-owned ABC pulled Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of The Bachelorette after new domestic‑violence allegations and a viral bar‑stool incident. The network now faces a vacant Sunday night slot and must quickly replace the show to protect advertising revenue. The article...
HBO’s The Last Of Us Casts A Cis Actor To Play Its Trans Lead
HBO announced that Kyriana Kratter, a cisgender actress, will portray Lev, a transgender boy, in the third season of its adaptation of The Last of Us. The casting decision has ignited criticism because Lev’s gender identity is pivotal to the storyline...
Wheatstone to Demo Mix Engine, Virtual Console at NAB Show
Wheatstone will demo two new products at the 2026 NAB Show. The VMX mixing engine provides a single backend for multiple LXE, Glass, Strata consoles and WheatNet IP facilities. The VML virtual broadcast console runs in any HTML5 browser on...
14 of the Best Peacock Shows to Stream Right Now
Peacock’s original slate now includes 14 standout series ranging from reality‑competition "The Traitors" to true‑crime dramas like "Dr. Death" and "Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy." The ad‑supported tier costs $11 per month, with an optional bundle that pairs Peacock...
Spanish‑Language Reporter Released From ICE Detention on Bond After Nashville Arrest
Estefany Rodríguez, a Spanish‑language reporter for Nashville Noticias, was released on bond after ICE detained her in Louisiana following a March 4 arrest in Nashville, Tennessee. Her attorney described the conditions as "inhumane and difficult," underscoring growing concerns about immigration...
Pluto TV Is Celebrating William Shatner’s 95th Birthday with a Star Trek Marathon
Pluto TV is celebrating William Shatner’s 95th birthday with a week‑long Star Trek takeover, launching a pop‑up category from March 20 to April 3 that features six dedicated channels. On March 22, the Star Trek Channel runs an all‑day marathon, the Motion Pictures...
Per‑word Pay Undervalues Writers and Their Work
Many freelance writers get paid between $0.02 to $0.10 per word. This is a terrible way to make money writing because word count is a poor measure of value. Here's why:
VideoAmp Widens Cross-Platform Planner To Sirius XM, NCM
VideoAmp has broadened its VXP cross‑platform planner by adding first‑party data integrations with satellite radio giant Sirius XM and in‑theater advertising network National CineMedia (NCM). The move unifies audio and cinema audience metrics within a single planning tool, giving marketers a more...
Maxed Out: Ruddy Iced Out Of Nexstar-TEGNA Debate
Newsmax founder Chris Ruddy testified at a February Senate Commerce Committee hearing to oppose Nexstar Media Group’s $4.5 billion merger with TEGNA. He aimed to present himself as a Capitol Hill influencer after failing to sway President Trump and FCC Chairman...
Big Fortnight of Action on 7 SPORT Led by Golden Slipper and Maurie Plant Meet
Seven Network is rolling out a two‑week sports blitz, kicking off with the Golden Slipper Stakes and William Reid Stakes – five Group 1 races broadcast live from Rosehill and Caulfield. Jockey James McDonald, just one win short of Damien Oliver’s record, will...
Roku's Ad-Free Streaming Service Was Already a Great Deal - Now It's Adding Disney Movies
Roku’s ad‑free streaming service Howdy, priced at $3 per month, is expanding its catalog with new licensing agreements that will bring Disney movies, Warner Bros. titles, and Sony content. The service currently offers a mix of older films and TV shows...
CBS News Cuts Highlight Profitless Retrans Model
The irony of the $PSKY CBS news cuts are that news does not drive retrans and should be sold or shuttered entirely to help fund NFL costs CBS already shuttered late night, news should be next to go - makes you...
James Bond Frontrunner Replaces The Bear Star in "Sweeping" Netflix Drama
Aaron Taylor‑Johnson has been confirmed as the lead of Netflix’s upcoming drama "Enigma Variations," replacing Jeremy Allen White. The series, adapted from André Aciman’s novel, is described as a sweeping portrait of masculinity, sexuality, and modern love across ten years....
Is AI Killing Advertising? & Scott’s Best Financial Decision
In this episode the hosts discuss how AI is disrupting the traditional advertising agency model, using Levi's as a case study of how brand storytelling once drove sales but is now sidelined in boardrooms. They argue that AI tools are...
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
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...
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...
Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Pentagon Reporter Access Restrictions
NEW: A federal judge agreed Friday to block the Trump administration from enforcing a policy limiting news reporters’ access to the Pentagon, ruling that key portions of the new rules are unlawful. https://t.co/WfwHis0y2q
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....
DoD Loses Legal Battle over Unconstitutional Press Policy
Bam. Department of Defense loses in its attempt to defend its unconstitutional new press policy. https://t.co/sOuyLwzWGG
DC Court Upholds Press Access Rights
Great news. The DC district Court agrees. 💯 and as the Court noted, times like this make the importance of access for a free and plural press even more vital. https://t.co/e7ynAeXMx3
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...
Originality Matters More than Being First to Post
I see so many creators complain that “someone beat me to (publishing) this video.” But if your video is interchangeable with everyone else’s, that’s the real problem - not who posted first.
NY
@CJR reports some new NYT colleagues have misgivings about hiring Noah Shachtman NPR reported in 2023 he intervened on a story about a professional pal while editor of Rolling Stone After our story, a legal review found he made...
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...
Feeling Cheated when Bobby Allyn Snags the Scoop First
[nodding] totally ... yes... in particular it's unfair when @BobbyAllyn beats me to a scoop
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.
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,...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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
'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...
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.
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...