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
LinkedIn Deploys LLM-Based Feed Ranking System to Surface Content Beyond Members’ Networks
LinkedIn has replaced its fragmented feed ranking pipeline with a single, LLM‑driven retrieval system that generates embeddings for every post. The new architecture uses GPU‑accelerated transformers and a generative recommender that treats a member’s history as a sequential narrative. By encoding engagement counts as percentile tokens, the model improves popularity signal correlation and lifts Recall@10 by over 15%. The overhaul also solves cold‑start challenges, delivering personalized content to newcomers based solely on profile data.
AnyMind Group Launches AI-Powered Tool to Help Advertisers Scale UGC Campaigns
AnyMind Group unveiled AnyDigital Max, an AI‑driven platform that helps advertisers analyze, optimize, and scale user‑generated content (UGC) campaigns across social media. The company’s internal data shows UGC ads deliver 2.4 times higher click‑through rates, 3.7 times higher view rates, and roughly...
Amaze to Launch Live Shopping Tools Enabling In-Stream Purchasing for Creators, Brands
Amaze, the creator‑powered commerce platform, announced new live‑shopping capabilities that let creators and brands sell products directly within live streams. The tools include instant in‑stream purchasing, real‑time audience interaction such as comments, polls, dynamic product highlights, and time‑limited promo codes....
Creator Economy Veterans Behind TalentX, YMU Form Independent Talent Firm Glossary Artists
Former TalentX and YMU executives launched Glossary Artists, an independent talent management firm focused on creator‑owned IP and long‑term brand development. Based in Los Angeles and Miami, the women‑led agency gives managers freedom to innovate across beauty, fashion, gaming, food...
Quentin Tarantino and Sylvester Stallone Are Teaming for a 1930s-Set Series Filming in Black and White with “1930s Cameras”
Renowned director Quentin Tarantino and legendary actor Sylvester Stallone have partnered on a new six‑episode television series set in the 1930s. The production will be shot entirely in black‑and‑white using authentic 1930s cameras to capture the era’s visual texture. Tarantino...
New Mexico Trial Accuses Meta of Hiding Child Mental‑Health Risks, Could Cost Billions
State prosecutors in New Mexico have brought a trial against Meta, alleging the company concealed the mental‑health dangers its platforms pose to children. If jurors find Meta liable under the state’s Unfair Trade Practices Act, sanctions could total billions of...
Trump Cheers Oligarch Takeover of CNN
President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly backed the Ellison family’s bid to acquire CNN as part of Paramount‑Skydance’s $110 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, while the DOJ antitrust division reviews the deal. Meanwhile, xAI faces a class‑action lawsuit alleging...
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" Tops Late-Night for Third Week in a Row Among Adults 18-49
Jimmy Kimmel Live secured the No. 1 spot in late‑night for adults 18‑49 for the third straight week, posting a 0.16 rating and dominating six of the last seven weeks. The March 5 episode featuring Zach Braff, Donald Faison and Chris Fleming delivered the week’s peak rating...
How Breathe. Doubled Their Monthly Listeners on Spotify
Australian electronic duo Breathe., together with agency Group Speed, overhauled their Spotify presence by reactivating five‑year‑old catalog tracks and launching a data‑driven artist playlist. The playlist paired Breathe. with slightly larger, stylistically similar acts and was promoted through Spotify’s ad...
‘Ukraine’s Voice in the World’: How the Kyiv Independent Keeps Ongoing War in the Headlines
The Kyiv Independent, Ukraine’s premier English‑language newsroom, has expanded from 19 staff in 2021 to 85 employees in 2026 while operating under full‑scale war. It sustains itself financially through a reader‑driven model—70% of revenue comes from a 28,000‑strong global subscriber...
Quick Cleanup Removes Manual Action, Visibility Restored
Example of a manual action being removed for this publisher. Looks like they cleaned up the problem relatively quickly and had the manual action removed. Now showing back up across Google surfaces. Of course, they probably will not return...
Bari Weiss, Tom Cibrowski Announce CBS News Layoffs
Bari Weiss and Tom Cibrowski just sent an email to CBS News staff notifying them of layoffs coming today. https://t.co/qPYMcr9FwU
Social Media Competitor Analysis: 3 Easy Steps to Improve Your Performance
Social media competitor analysis is essential for shaping a data‑driven digital strategy in 2025. The guide breaks the process into three steps: identifying direct and indirect rivals, analyzing their platforms, content, and engagement, and applying insights to improve your own...
FCC and DOJ Approved Nexstar‑TEGNA Deal Illegally
The fix was in at the @FCC & @JusticeATR to approve the massive Nexstar-TEGNA deal. People need to know how abnormal and illegal the process was. I talk about it here: https://t.co/rmcV0J9w0N
Explained: What the Premier League Really Wants From OTT
The Premier League announced it will launch its own OTT platform, Premier League Plus, in Singapore starting the 2026‑27 season. The service was built into a six‑season bid with StarHub in 2022, providing a low‑pressure test market ahead of the league’s...
Hispanic Consumers and Mobile In-Game Ads: Here’s What the Numbers Say
Portal Latino’s December 2025 survey of 1,691 Hispanic consumers reveals that 81% play mobile games weekly, with 61% gaming at least five days a week. Hispanic gamers show a strong appetite for culturally resonant titles, with 77% preferring games that reflect...
March Madness Blue Bloods Are the Antidote to Withering Cable Model
In 2010 CBS and Turner struck a $10.8 billion agreement to share NCAA men’s tournament rights, propelling TBS and TNT ad sales to $1.62 billion in year one and $2.26 billion by 2016. Despite record sports revenue, cable penetration fell 10 % over six...
EBU Warns Lithuania’s LRT Reforms Threaten Broadcaster Independence
The European Broadcasting Union and nearly thirty media organisations have warned that Lithuania’s proposed public service media law reforms could jeopardise LRT’s independence and financial sustainability. The draft includes a three‑year funding freeze, reduced tax‑based allocations, tighter revenue caps, and...
Big East Commissioner Admits Fragmentation Challenges with US$80m Broadcast Deals
Big East commissioner Val Ackerman confirmed that the conference’s new $80 million six‑year media agreement with Fox, NBC and TNT Sports has boosted revenue but fragmented game distribution. The deal replaces a $46 million 12‑year pact and moves 30 men’s games and...
FCC Greenlights Nexstar‑Tegna Merger, Fueling Local State Media
The creation of state media continues at the local level under Carr's FCC. This is even more dangerous than Ellison Inc., for people still watch local TV. FCC approves merger of local television owners Nexstar and Tegna as two lawsuits seek...
Hire Misfire
Noah Shachtman, former Rolling Stone editor, announced his new role as a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, sparking criticism over his handling of a 2022 Rolling Stone story about FBI raid on ABC producer James Gordon Meek....
Report: Sports Rights Holders Need to Diversify Beyond Live Content
Altman Solon’s second‑part Global Sports Survey reveals a widening monetisation gap for sports rights owners as audiences increasingly consume non‑live formats. The study of 6,000 fans and 250 executives shows 42% of viewers are very willing to pay for live events...
Discovery Channel Greenlights Seven New Series to Premiere in 2026
Discovery Channel announced a slate of seven original unscripted series set to debut throughout 2026, expanding its portfolio beyond flagship shows like "Naked and Afraid." The lineup ranges from a jail‑inside look in "120 Hours Behind Bars" to a global...
Braves Home Opener Heading To Gray-Owned Stations
The Atlanta Braves confirmed that their 2026 home opener on March 27 against the Kansas City Royals will be simulcast on the team’s own BravesVision platform and Gray Media’s network of local television stations across the six‑state Braves Country. The...
Media Barons Are Cutting Back, but The Walrus Can’t Afford To
The Washington Post announced a sweeping newsroom reduction, cutting more than 300 jobs—about one‑third of its staff—and eliminating entire beats such as sports, books, and several foreign bureaus. Owner Jeff Bezos framed the move as a "strategic reset" aimed at...
Channel 4 Unveils New Sponsor of The Great British Bake Off
Channel 4 announced that Autotrader will become the new sponsor of The Great British Bake Off, taking over from Waitrose after a two‑year partnership. The deal kicks off with the 2026 broadcast season, aligning the automotive marketplace with the show’s...
AI Cheapens Content; Strategy, Not Volume, Drives Success
AI made content cheap. So founders did what made sense: they produced as much as possible. 500 articles. 1,000 articles. Pump the numbers. Numbers went up, then went all the way down. The problem wasn't using AI. The problem was using AI without strategy.
Publishers Hit Back at Report Claiming It Is ‘Open Season’ on Muslims in Press
The Centre for Media Monitoring released an AI‑driven analysis of 41,000 UK online articles from 2025, concluding that 70 percent of coverage on Islam and Muslims is negative. The Spectator topped the list with 26 percent of its pieces classified as “very...
Netflix’s Live-Action Assassin’s Creed Series Has Started Filming as Cast Is Officially Announced
Netflix has begun filming its live‑action Assassin’s Creed series, confirmed by Ubisoft. The show will be set in Ancient Rome during 64 AD and features a diverse cast led by Toby Wallace and Lola Petticrew. Produced by Emmy‑nominated creators Roberto Patino...
CNN Analyst Goes Viral and They're Not Happy What This Shows
CNN data analyst Harry Enten aired an NBC poll showing 100 percent MAGA voters still back Donald Trump, directly challenging a media narrative of a fracturing base. The same poll indicated MAGA identification rose to 30 percent of the electorate, up two...
Finfluencers Drive Inclusion but Expose Consumers to Risks
At the FSCA Conference 2026 regulators warned that South Africa’s booming finfluencer market is a double‑edged sword. While creators are making finance more accessible and boosting financial literacy, many operate without licences and provide weak or hidden disclosures. The FSCA...
Shaping Supply: Is Curation the Antidote to Ad Wastage?
Connected TV (CTV) ad spend in the U.S. is set to near $38 bn this year, cementing its role as a core media channel. However, the rapid expansion of premium SVOD, FAST channels, and OEM interfaces has fragmented the supply, making...
A TikTok-Famous Model of New York City Heads to Museum Mile
Delivery driver Joe Macken spent two decades crafting a detailed balsa‑wood replica of New York City, comprising hundreds of thousands of miniature structures. The model went viral on TikTok, garnering over 10 million views and drawing widespread attention. In March 2026, the...
Report: World Cup’s Contribution to Ad Growth Weakening
World Cup 2026 will be the largest ever, but its contribution to global ad growth is weakening. WARC Media forecasts a $10.5 billion uplift, just a 1.1 % increase versus the 2022 tournament, indicating fragmented impact. Advertisers must now reach fans across...
The Stack: Ads, Accountability, and AI
Meta is under fire in the UK after the FCA uncovered 1,052 illegal high‑risk financial ads in a single week, many from previously flagged accounts. Whistleblowers allege Meta and TikTok deliberately amplified harmful, outrage‑driven content to boost engagement. Trust issues...
Kevin Hart to Be Roasted Live on Netflix From the Epic Final Night of Netflix Is a Joke Fest, Hosted...
Kevin Hart will be roasted live at the final night of Netflix Is a Joke Fest, held at Los Angeles' Kia Forum. The event is hosted by comedian Shane Gillis and will stream globally on Netflix on May 10, 2026....
LaLiga’s Anti-Piracy Campaign Secures 2,000+ Hospitality Convictions
LaLiga’s anti‑piracy drive has secured more than 2,000 convictions against hotels, restaurants and cafés since its launch in March 2019, averaging nearly one case per day. The league still has 317 investigations and 488 cases awaiting trial, underscoring the scale of...
Discovering a Missed Netflix True Crime Obsession
Is this a Netflix true crime series I missed What rabbit hole am I down?!
AI Crackdown Used to Push KOSA and Section 230 Repeal
They’re trying to ram through KOSA, a full Section 230 repeal, and a slew of other censorship and surveillance provisions under the guise of “cracking down on AI” and a tom of dumbass leftists are falling for it.
Ads of the Week: 10 Campaigns That Caught Our Eye, From Burger King to Uber
This week’s ad roundup highlights a wave of self‑aware campaigns, from Burger King’s decision to retire its iconic King mascot and crown the consumer, to Uber’s meta “Irish exit” spot featuring reality‑TV star Maura Higgins. Brands such as Ugg, JCPenney,...
Everyone Hates Ads on Social Media. Or Do They?
Researchers leveraged Meta's 14.5 million‑user no‑ads holdout to test whether Facebook users care about advertising. In a 2022 survey of 53,166 participants from 13 countries, the median amount users would accept to quit the platform was $31.04 for ad‑exposed users and...
Assess if Screenshot Faithfully Represents HamandCheese’s Comments
Read @hamandcheese's full comments to the @axios reporter below, and then see if you think this screenshot accurately or fairly reflects what he said. https://t.co/yiUivUlQpS
Why Comments Are the Real Secret Behind Every Viral Instagram Post
Instagram’s algorithm now prioritizes comment velocity over likes, saves or views when deciding which posts to amplify. Early‑hour comments act as a quality signal, prompting the platform to test the content with larger audiences. Creators can deliberately trigger this loop...
Inside the Stream – Ads Accepted, Sports Lead. Creators Match Premium TV
New Hub Entertainment research shows ad‑supported streaming is becoming more acceptable, especially among younger adults, with nearly two‑thirds of them indifferent to ads. Nielsen data confirms sports content leads this shift, giving leagues like the NFL leverage in licensing negotiations...
America’s Test Kitchen Puts Direct And Programmatic Access On Its Menu
America’s Test Kitchen (ATK) has launched direct and programmatic buying for its free ad‑supported FAST channels, allowing advertisers to purchase inventory as a standalone product rather than through genre bundles. The move follows a 30% year‑over‑year rise in streaming audiences...
Horror Novel ‘Shy Girl’ Canceled Over Suspected A.I. Use
Hachette Book Group withdrew the upcoming horror novel “Shy Girl” after The New York Times alleged the manuscript was largely AI‑generated. The Orbit imprint halted the U.S. spring release and removed the title from its UK catalog, where only 1,800 print copies...
Nord Anglia Education Unifies Regional Media Operations in Asia
Nord Anglia Education has named Omnicom Media Vietnam as its agency of record for media across 19 schools in Asia, shifting from school‑level to a centralized hub. The partnership covers integrated strategy, planning and buying for markets including Thailand, India,...
A World On Fire Needs More Climate Reporting — Not Less
Climate reporting in the United States is shrinking as legacy broadcasters slash dedicated teams and cut coverage, a reversal from the optimism sparked by the 2019 Covering Climate Now initiative. The 2024 election relegated climate to a single debate question,...
New Substack Launches Tonight—Sign up for Fresh Content
New Substack going out this evening. Lots of good stuff. You can sign up here: https://t.co/7l5OFpkdOm
TV Ratings (19/3/2026): Swans & Hawks Fly Seven To The Top Of The Ratings
Seven Network’s AFL broadcast of the Sydney Swans versus Hawthorn Hawks captured the top spot in the March 19 overnight ratings, drawing more than two million viewers and a national average audience of 727,000. The Hawks secured a 17‑point victory, playing...