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.
Line of Duty Star's "Remarkable" Thriller with 100% Rotten Tomatoes Score Being Removed From Netflix
Vicky McClure’s three‑part thriller *The Replacement* will disappear from Netflix on 19 March, ending a year‑long streaming window. The BBC drama, which debuted in 2017, has earned a perfect 100 % Rotten Tomatoes rating from eleven critics, drawing praise for its Hitchcock‑style tension and strong performances by McClure and Morven Christie. The series follows architect Ellen as her maternity cover, Paula, increasingly undermines her career and safety. Meanwhile, McClure is gearing up for a return to *Line of Duty* this spring.
Dish Network Customers Cut Off From Gray Media Stations As Firms Fail To Reach Agreement
Katz Media Group’s recent two‑week membership drive generated more than $45,000 for the Broadcasters Foundation of America, bringing its cumulative contributions since the program’s start to nearly $550,000. The funds support the Stu Olds Memorial Fund, which provides emergency medical and...
Week of March 2 Evening News Ratings: Newscasts See Growth in Demo
ABC World News Tonight retained its position as the nation’s most‑watched evening newscast during the week of March 2, 2026, drawing 8.901 million total viewers and a 7% rise in the coveted Adults 25‑54 demographic. NBC Nightly News posted solid gains, up 2% in...
A Funding Rethink Can Help BBC Survive Crisis | Letters
Letter writers argue that the BBC’s traditional TV licence fee is increasingly untenable, citing a 12.5% non‑compliance rate and a 30% drop in funding during 2024‑25. They propose replacing the licence with a hypothecated council‑tax levy, similar to Switzerland’s universal...
Impairments Drive Saga to 2025 Net Loss as Digital Still Climbs
Saga Communications reported a Q4 2025 net loss of $6.9 million, driven by a $20.4 million non‑cash impairment that turned what would have been $8.2 million of profit into a loss. Full‑year results showed a $7.9 million loss versus a $3.5 million profit in 2024,...
Disney Sells Out 98th Oscars Ad Inventory, Pricing Up Double Digits
Disney Advertising announced that its entire ad inventory for the 98th Oscars has been sold out, driven by strong marketplace demand after last year’s broadcast. The company raised 30‑second spot prices to $1.7‑$2.3 million, a double‑digit increase over 2024, and secured...
First Look at Daniel Mays' New Crime Drama with Slow Horses Star
ITV has released first‑look images for *Believe Me*, a four‑part true‑crime drama starring Daniel Mays as convicted serial rapist John Worboys. The series follows victims Sarah and Laila, portrayed by Aimée‑Ffion Edwards and Aasiya Shah, exposing how Metropolitan Police mishandled...
CBS, Nexstar To Televise California Gubernatorial Debates
CBS Television Stations and Nexstar Media Group will each host a live televised debate for California's gubernatorial race in April. Nexstar's debate airs on April 22 from KRON’s San Francisco studio across six of its stations, while CBS’s debate follows...
See Martin Clunes as Huw Edwards in New Channel 5 Drama as Release Date Is Confirmed
Channel 5 will debut the two‑part factual drama *Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards* on 24 March at 9 pm, starring Martin Clunes as the former BBC news presenter. The series recounts how Edwards, once a trusted public figure, groomed a 17‑year‑old and later...
Hulu Drops New Trailer for ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ Relaunch, Which Launches April 10
Hulu has dropped the official trailer for “Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair,” a four‑part limited series debuting on April 10. The revival reunites Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek with original supporting actors while adding a new generation...
Journalist Julia Angwin Files Class Action Lawsuit over Grammarly’s AI “Sloppelgangers”
Grammarly’s AI‑powered Expert Review feature attributed writing advice to real journalists, academics and authors, prompting a class‑action lawsuit filed by journalist Julia Angwin. Angwin’s attorney says 40 to 50 additional experts have joined the complaint, alleging unauthorized use of their...
When Left-Leaning Journalists Produce Right-Leaning Stories
Recent research reveals that many newspapers struggle to articulate their democratic value, using limited persuasive techniques, while donation appeals perform better. An Australian study shows sources value preparation, respect, time, and open‑mindedness in interviews, with gender gaps persisting. Comparative analysis...
Netflix M&A Aims to Fuel Engagement Through Games, Podcasts
What should be the business objectives behind any future M&A deal by Netflix $NFLX? @Adweek s Mark Stenberg (@MarkStenberg3) asked me for specific deal predictions. A few of my answers are in the On Background newsletter below, alongside some other smart...
My Social Graph Is Broken So I Have No Idea Who My Friends Are
The article argues that Facebook Places failed because its social graph lacked contextual meaning, turning connections into a meaningless list. Modern network‑management apps repeat this mistake by aggregating contacts without distinguishing relationship strength, recency, or purpose. Venture‑capital tools like Originalis...
Elis and John Go Commercial with BBC Podcast
The Elis James and John Robins podcast will launch a commercial feed on 7 April 2026, introducing advertising while its free version remains on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds. The move follows the BBC Audio Release Policy, which permits independent producers to...
4 Self-Hosted Media Streaming Alternatives that Easily Replace Plex
Plex’s once‑dominant home‑media platform is losing steam as users cite rising fees and feature restrictions. Four self‑hosted alternatives—Jellyfin, Emby, Kodi, and Ampache—offer comparable streaming, live TV, and transcoding capabilities without the same cost burden. Jellyfin and Ampache are fully open‑source,...
Saga Communications Reports 9.3% Decline in 2025 Q4 Revenue
Saga Communications reported fourth‑quarter 2025 net revenue of $26.5 million, a 9.3% decline from the same period a year earlier. Digital revenue, however, surged 25.8% to $4.3 million, indicating a shift toward online platforms. For the full year, the company posted a...
White House Outraged over New CBS News Hire
The White House expressed strong outrage after CBS News announced the hiring of Jeremy Adler, a former communications aide to Rep. Liz Cheney. Adler, who served Cheney during the Jan. 6 House investigation, previously worked for the Republican super‑PAC America Rising and...
Edison: Moving Ad Spend From TV to Podcast Improves Reach
Edison Research reports that moving just 5 percent of a TV‑heavy media budget into podcasts can dramatically boost audience reach. In a case study, a pharmaceutical brand shifted a small portion of its broadcast‑and‑cable spend to podcast ads, raising reach among...
Sky Sports’ New Rights Cycle for PGA TOUR Reshapes Production Operations
Sky Sports has entered a new PGA TOUR rights cycle, establishing a permanent production hub inside PGA TOUR Studios. The arrangement gives Sky two commentators and an on‑course reporter direct access to the world feed, while also providing permanent transmission...
Michael Harrison Discusses His Rock Radio Days (and More) on Video Podcast
Michael Harrison, a 59‑year radio veteran, pioneered the Album Oriented Rock (AOR) format in the early 1970s and helped shape progressive‑rock programming. He now splits his time between spoken‑word media, podcast appearances, and performing with classic‑rock band Gunhill Road. The...
Nielsen Deep Sixes Sigma Radio, Ad Monitor Terminates Soon
Nielsen announced the termination of its long‑standing SIGMA Radio service, effective March 31, 2026, with the final daily and weekly reports slated for April 1 and April 6. The service has been a cornerstone for broadcasters, advertisers, and agencies to verify radio ad...
CBS Midseason Premiere Week Tops Broadcast and Streaming Rankings in Live + 7-Day Multiplatform Viewership
During the Feb 23‑Mar 1, 2026 mid‑season premiere week, CBS secured the top three spots among broadcast series and placed seven of the ten most‑watched titles in the broadcast‑only ranking, according to Nielsen’s live‑plus‑7‑day multiplatform data. The network’s flagship drama “Marshals” led with...
Rickey Smiley Extends Urban One Run, Video Podcast Coming
Rickey Smiley has signed a five‑year extension for The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, keeping the program on Urban One’s roster of 89 affiliate stations. In parallel, Urban One is launching a new original video podcast, Rickey Smiley On The Spot,...
PBS Chief Calls for Arkansas Public TV Commission to ‘Take a Pause’ on Leaving National Network
PBS CEO Paula Kerger urged the Arkansas TV commission to pause its planned disaffiliation from the national PBS network, arguing the decision should involve public input. Arkansas TV, citing unsustainable dues after the Corporation for Public Broadcasting lost federal funding, voted...
Our New Issue Is Almost Done - Subscribe for 50% Off to Be One of the First to Receive It
Under the Radar’s Issue 75 is in final proofreading and will hit the presses next week, with a limited‑time 50 % discount for new subscribers. The independent music magazine, still run by its founding husband‑and‑wife team, highlights 1990s‑era indie acts and includes...
ST 2110 Replaced SDI. MXL Is Built to Complete the Transition
ST 2110 has effectively supplanted SDI for precision media transport, but its nanosecond‑level timing and PTP requirements have introduced operational friction for broadcasters. The Linux Foundation’s Media Exchange Layer (MXL) v1.0.0 RC, backed by the EBU and NABA, offers a...
Vue Creator Management: An Agency Treating Affiliate Strategy as a Full-Time Job
Vue Creator Management, a Toledo‑based agency founded in 2025 by Cailyn Medley, offers a hybrid service that combines affiliate strategy consulting with full‑time execution. The firm helps creators optimize revenue on platforms such as ShopMy, LTK and Amazon, handling link...
Singapore Podcast Ads Draw Higher Engagement, Lower Saturation Than Other Digital Media, Report Finds
Acast’s Podcast Pulse Singapore Edition, based on a survey of 250 consumers, shows podcast ads enjoy the lightest ad load and highest engagement compared with video, social and TV formats. Only 20% of listeners need more than five exposures before...
Airwave Signs Longevity Expert Dave Asprey’s The Human Upgrade
Airwave has signed an ad sales and promotion agreement with Dave Asprey’s podcast The Human Upgrade, a top‑100 show that explores biohacking, longevity and performance. The partnership grants the podcast access to Airwave’s full‑service monetization, growth and strategic support platform....
Xfinity To Stream THE PLAYERS Championship in RealTime4K; Debut Multiview and Fan View Features
Comcast’s Xfinity is teaming with NBC Sports and Golf Channel to broadcast THE PLAYERS Championship in RealTime4K, a low‑latency 4K format that arrived up to 49 seconds faster than conventional streams. The launch also introduces two interactive features: Fan View,...
At Home with the Furys: Season Three Renewal Expected Ahead of Second Season Premiere on Netflix
Netflix's reality series "At Home with the Furys" has been green‑lit for a second season, with the premiere date yet to be announced. Industry source Deadline suggests a third season is likely, though Netflix has not officially confirmed the renewal....
The Big Ben Show: Media Lies About Islamic Terror in NYC, John Cornyn's Last Stand
The latest episode of The Big Ben Show attacks mainstream media for allegedly distorting coverage of Islamic‑related terrorism in New York City and frames Senator John Cornyn as a final bulwark for conservative national‑security policy. The host also cross‑promotes a slate...
Home Market, New Title: Erik Bradley Takes The Spot In Dallas
Erik Bradley has been appointed Brand Manager of Classic Hits‑formatted 98.7 The Spot in Dallas, joining his existing roles as Brand Manager at KS107.5 in Denver and Assistant Brand Manager at B96 in Chicago. Bradley, a radio veteran since 1988,...
Money and Relevance Fuel Endless Problem‑agitating Content
Spot on about clicks and views. That has been the conclusion I've reached after being closely involved in that space for almost a decade. The incentives are money and social relevance, which means that their content CAN'T actually solve the problem—it has...
California AG Warns Nexstar‑Tegna Merger Harms Competition
California AG Rob Bonta blasts proposed Nexstar-Tegna deal, saying if deal goes through a "a single massive company will have outsized influence" and consumers will suffer higher prices and less access to news and sports.
Narcity Media Launches Self-Serve Instagram Story Distribution Tool for Brands
Narcity Media introduced Boost, a self‑serve tool on its Locals.tv platform that lets brands pay local creators to share Instagram Stories. The service taps a network of over 2,000 creators across Canadian cities, allowing campaigns to be launched in minutes...
AI Drives Earned Media Budgets to Double by 2027
This why media companies need to tax PR. Want to send your “earned media” pitch, pay a toll. No idea why the value should be entirely skimmed by middlemen.
Reporter Discusses Pete Hegseth's Photo Ban on MSNOW
I will be on @MSNOWNews with @ChrisJansing around 1:20 p.m. discussing my reporting for @washingtonpost about Pete Hegseth banning photographers from briefings for publishing “unflattering” photos of him. Tune in! https://t.co/4EbXGWkVHt
Hisense TVs Caught Showing Non-Skippable Ads when Changing Inputs or Channels
Hisense’s budget TVs running the VIDAA (now Home OS) platform have been delivering non‑skippable advertisements whenever users turn the set on, switch channels, or change HDMI inputs. The behavior, first reported in 2022, has been confirmed in Spain, the UK,...
Danes Revel in Noma Founder Scandal, Media Glee
There's nothing the Danes love more than a good fall-from-grace story, so now that Noma's founder has been speared on decade-old accusations, the sanctimonious journalists at Politiken can hardly contain their glee and excitement. Yuck. https://t.co/01Bx0fKkHJ
Bezos Hosts Washington Post Masthead at Kalorama
tidbit: Jeff Bezos is planning to meet with the Washington Post masthead and some highly sought after reporters at his Kalorama mansion this morning/afternoon
TreSemmé Links with ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ for Affordable Luxury Push
TreSemmé unveiled the "Get Your Hair on the A‑List" campaign, linking its A‑List Collection to the upcoming *The Devil Wears Prada 2* sequel. The 30‑second spot starring podcaster Paige DeSorbo and designer Christian Siriano will run on social, digital, TV and during the...
Shake Content’s Dani Markovits: Founders Who Ignore LinkedIn Are Ceding Their Best Acquisition Channel
Shake Content’s new chief commercial officer, former LinkedIn creator‑team leader Dani Markovits, warns that B2B founders who ignore LinkedIn are forfeiting their most effective acquisition channel. He argues that founder‑led posts generate higher trust and reach than corporate pages, especially...
Gavin & Stacey Legend Finally Responds to Celebrity Traitors Rumours
Ruth Jones, known for Gavin & Stacey, has publicly rejected an invitation to appear on the second season of BBC’s Celebrity Traitors, citing the physical demands of swimming in lakes and wearing wetsuits. The decision comes amid a flurry of...
Key Trends in the Audiovisual Sector at the Series Mania Forum
The European Audiovisual Observatory will host three English‑language presentations at the Series Mania Forum, spotlighting the most recent trends shaping Europe’s streaming and television markets. The sessions will dissect subscription growth, the decline of traditional TV advertising, and the rising...
Canal Plus Posts Near 7 Billion Euro Revenue and Eyes African Expansion
Canal Plus reported revenue nearing €7 billion for 2025, marking a strong financial performance for the French media conglomerate. Chairman Maxime Saada highlighted the achievement and announced the next phase of the group’s 2026 strategic plan. The plan centers on expanding...
BIScience Adds Linear TV to Its AdClarity Analysis Platform
BIScience has launched the TV Intelligence Suite, extending its AdClarity platform to include U.S. linear TV data. The upgrade lets customers monitor more than $174 billion in digital ad spend and $51 billion in linear TV spend from a single interface. Coverage...
Why Dove Turned Reddit Product Feedback Into a Real-World Campaign
Dove turned the first 50 Reddit reviews of its Intensive Repair 10‑in‑1 Serum Mask into the "r/eal reviews" campaign, publishing the comments across digital and in‑person channels. The brand embraced both praise and criticism to highlight its confidence in the...
Nicole Curtis On The Breakfast Club And The Cultural Trap We Keep Setting
Former HGTV star Nicole Curtis was dismissed after a clip surfaced of her saying a slur‑derived phrase on her show "Rehab Addict." She appeared on The Breakfast Club to claim the utterance was a verbal slip, mixing harmless substitute profanity....