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.
YouTube Is Expanding Its AI Deepfake Detection Tool to Politicians and Journalists
YouTube is rolling out its AI‑powered likeness detection tool to a pilot group of politicians, journalists and other public officials. The feature scans the platform for videos that replicate a person’s face and lets verified individuals request removal, though requests are evaluated against YouTube’s privacy policy that protects parody and satire. The program requires a facial video and government ID for enrollment, and YouTube says removal requests have been minimal so far. Executives also hinted at future monetization options for approved AI‑generated deepfakes.
Study: TV Remains Dominant Influencer in US Purchase Decisions
TVB’s 2026 Purchase Funnel Study, commissioned by GfK/NIQ, confirms television remains the most influential medium across all stages of the consumer purchase journey. TV outperformed the nearest competitor, social media, by fivefold in driving awareness and led trust metrics, with...
The Really Very Crunchy Podcast Signs with Airwave
Airwave announced an exclusive distribution, monetization and marketing partnership with The Really Very Crunchy Podcast, a rapidly growing show in the parenting category. The deal gives the comedy duo Jason and Emily Morrow full‑service network support to scale audience reach...
Gray Skies Point To A Potential Major Dish Dump
Gray Television, after merging with Raycom Media, now controls Savannah’s CBS affiliate WTOC‑11. A legal dispute could force Dish Network to block WTOC for its subscribers starting at 7 p.m. Eastern today. The station, a long‑standing ratings leader in Georgia’s Coastal...
Podcast Guesting Supercharges Nonfiction Book Launch
Therapist and nonfiction author Oona Metz was a guest on over 50 podcasts prior to her book's launch. Here's what she learned: https://janefriedman.com/how-to-use-podcast-guesting-to-promote-your-nonfiction-book/
Barbara ‘Bob’ Allen Tells Us About the Nexus of Student Journalism and Local News
Barbara “Bob” Allen, veteran journalist and founder of CollegeJournalism.org, launched the Student Press Report to spotlight the financial and editorial challenges facing U.S. college newspapers. The new national news desk’s debut story warns that student media are cash‑starved and increasingly...
BBC Studios Set to Partner with Bauer Media Audio in First of Its Kind Commercial Deal in Seven European Markets
BBC Studios has teamed with Bauer Media Audio to become the exclusive third‑party seller of its podcast advertising in seven European markets – Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Slovakia and Portugal. The deal, executed through Bauer’s audioXi digital audio marketplace,...
How Streaming Platforms Are Changing Television Viewing Habits Worldwide
Streaming platforms have fundamentally altered television consumption worldwide, shifting viewers from scheduled broadcasts to on‑demand, personalized experiences. Services such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime enable binge‑watching, global content discovery, and data‑driven recommendations, reshaping production and distribution models. Traditional broadcasters...
Meta Adds DST Fees; Advertisers Must Manually Adjust Budgets
Meta announced today that it will begin applying "location fees" to ads run in countries that charge digital service taxes (DST) on digitally fulfilled ads. Those countries are: Austria: 5% France: 3% Italy: 3% Turkey: 5% UK: 2% Notably, automated campaign budget allocation logic will not take...
Disney Uses Omar Raja To
Disney is betting on ESPN's Omar Raja to keep NBA fans tuned in to ABC as its Oscars red-carpet coverage starts, part of the company's growing focus on managing audiences around live telecasts.... https://t.co/ngxhWMK75a
In Good Company: Companion Announces Premiere Slate of Creator-Led Shows Exploring Culture, Connection, and the Human Experience
Companion announced its first creator‑led audio and video podcast slate, featuring a mix of entertainment icons, mental‑health experts, and STEM communicators. The company will finance, produce, and distribute the shows through its Companion Arts studio, offering end‑to‑end services while preserving...
From Zero Engagement to Growth: 3 Essential Writing Tips
My first 9 months writing online were brutal. I basically got zero likes, zero reposts, and zero comments. 3 writing tips I wish I knew 5 years ago (before publishing my first 100 posts):
State AGs Turn Into Media Antitrust Enforcers
New @axios: State AGs becoming bigger media antitrust cops: 🎸EVENTS: 27 states +DC still suing to break up Live Nation/Ticketmaster 📺LOCAL TV: State AGs considering lawsuit to block Nexstar-Tegna 📽️HOLLYWOOD: Cali state AG is vocal about concerns re: WBD/Paramount https://t.co/rXMsHy4JxJ
Podstock Launches ‘Agent’, an AI Assistant for Podcast Analytics & Operations
Podstock unveiled Agent, an AI‑powered assistant embedded in its analytics platform, to automate podcast‑business workflows such as performance reporting, inventory planning, and campaign execution. The tool pulls real‑time data from each organization’s Podstock instance, answering ad‑hoc queries and generating multi‑show...
Sean Hannity Launches Free Podcast Beyond Fox Subscription
Sean Hannity says he's taking a different tack on his new podcast, which will make one of Fox News' truly signature personalities available to consumers off its traditional subscription-based platforms.... https://t.co/y28oaycPhx via @variety
Polsat Box Go Adds 23 Channels as Package Prices Increase
Polsat Box Go has expanded its streaming catalogue by adding 23 new TV channels, pushing the total offering to almost 200 services. The new lineup includes a mix of public broadcaster TVP channels and TVN Warner Bros Discovery assets such as TVN24, TVN Turbo and...
The Boring Infrastructure That Could Make Agentic AI Happen For Ad Tech
MadConnect has made its Intelligent Connectivity Layer (ICL) generally available, offering a neutral infrastructure that links CRMs, CDPs, clean rooms, DSPs and other ad‑tech systems for AI agents. The ICL natively supports the open‑source Model Context Protocol (MCP), acting as...
A Correspondent Known for His Jan. 6 Coverage Becomes the Latest to Leave CBS News
Justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane announced his departure from CBS News, citing a desire for independence after gaining prominence for his Jan. 6 Capitol riot coverage. His exit adds to a wave of high‑profile departures since Bari Weiss assumed the editor‑in‑chief role,...
Spain's Free Streaming Map
Spain has emerged as Europe’s FAST (Free Ad‑Supported Streaming TV) leader, with 35% of adults using free streaming services each month. Omdia forecasts FAST revenues at $32 million in 2025, nearly doubling to $65 million by 2030. Local broadcasters such as RTVE...
Algorithms Alter Political Information Flow on X Feeds
A controlled seven‑week study of nearly 5,000 U.S. X users compared algorithmic and chronological feeds. Algorithmic timelines generated about five times more likes and substantially higher reposts and comments, while also increasing overall platform usage. The recommendation system altered the...
This Wyoming Newspaper Ditched Its Police Blotter
The Wyoming Tribune Eagle stopped publishing its police blotter on March 1, 2026, replacing it with deeper reporting on crime trends and public safety. The eight‑person newsroom, after completing Poynter’s Transforming Crime Coverage course, instituted new policies to protect vulnerable sources...
On Standing Rock, Local News Is Teetering
The Lakota Times shut down in January, leaving Standing Rock with only one other local outlet, KLND Radio, which itself faces a 50% funding cut. Independent newspaper the Teton Times, run by veteran journalist Avis Red Bear, survives on a...
How Time Turned Events Into Its Biggest Revenue Driver
Time has transformed from a legacy news brand into an events powerhouse, with event revenue projected to account for half of its total earnings in 2025, up from 28% in 2023. The company hosted 11 events in 2022 and will...
Arsenal FC Launches Digital Media Platform
Arsenal FC has unveiled a dedicated digital media platform that delivers always‑on content, including videos, articles, and podcasts. The hub is designed to reach the club’s global fanbase with localized stories and behind‑the‑scenes access. By integrating data analytics, Arsenal aims...
When Experts Go Silent: Climate Misinformation Threatens Rights
During the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, false claims and AI‑generated images spread rapidly on social media, confusing residents and complicating evacuation decisions. Government agencies responded by coordinating emergency messaging and issuing federal guidance that treats information management as a core public‑safety...
How to Build a Successful In-House Agency
In‑housing has shifted from a cost‑cutting tactic to a strategic function, with brands seeking tighter integration, accountability and outcome‑based measurement. A new Campaign Red report shows 66 % of UK and EMEA marketing leaders intend to expand their in‑house agency scope,...
Matt Vasgersian Expected to Call Netflix MLB Opening Night Game
Matt Vasgersian is slated to call Major League Baseball's Opening Night game on Netflix, marking the streaming giant's debut in live MLB coverage. The broadcast is part of a three‑year, $35 million‑per‑year media rights agreement between MLB and Netflix, with MLB...
Meta Failed to Flag AI Video During 2025 Israel-Iran War, Oversight Board Says
Meta allowed an AI‑generated video depicting fabricated damage in Haifa to remain on Facebook during the June 2025 Israel‑Iran war, despite six user reports and prior debunking on TikTok. The Oversight Board ruled the content should have carried a “High...
If the Media Is a Watchdog, Who Is Watching the Newsroom?
Kenyan media outlets are largely without formal gender policies, jeopardizing their watchdog function and accountability on gender equality. A gender policy would institutionalise balanced recruitment, equitable pay, safe workplaces, and inclusive reporting standards. Recent workshops at Aga Khan University highlighted...
What to Ask Steve Pinker on Podcast
Attention: I'm interviewing Steve Pinker later today for a new podcast I'm working on. What should I ask him?
The AI Tool Stack That Saves Creators Hours Every Week
In this episode, host Michael Stelzner chats with AI educator and founder Rene Remschik about how creators can leverage a curated AI tool stack to dramatically cut content production time. Rene shares his journey from early ChatGPT adopter to building...
Ikea’s Global Campaign Is a Love Letter to the Feeling of Home
Swedish furniture retailer Ikea has unveiled a new global campaign titled “There’s No Feeling Like Home,” featuring the emotive short film “Coming Home.” The ad, directed by Justyna Obasi and set to Lucy Dacus’s cover of Carole King’s “Home Again,”...
How the NBA Keeps Younger Viewers Engaged
The NBA is reshaping its fan‑engagement strategy to capture younger viewers who avoid traditional TV appointments. By aggregating data across League Pass, the NBA app, social platforms and betting interfaces, the league sees that youth consumption is actually rising, just...
From Influencer Matching to an AI-Driven Operating System - Inside Humanz' Bet on Agentic to Scale Creator-Led Performance Ads
Humanz has launched Humanz+, an AI‑native operating system that automates the full lifecycle of creator‑led advertising, from research and brief creation to media buying and conversion optimization. The platform deploys seven specialized AI agents and still incorporates a human‑in‑the‑loop for...
Digest: Retail and Grocery Brands Dominate ChatGPT Ads Trial; Walmart to Phase Out Vizio Accounts; New US AI Guidelines Challenge...
OpenAI’s month‑long ChatGPT ad trial is now 44% retail and grocery ads, led by brands like Target, Sephora and Wayfair. Walmart announced it will phase out standalone Vizio accounts, requiring new TV buyers to link or merge into a Walmart...
Why the Gap Between the Game and Your Screen Is a Business Problem
Live‑sports streaming latency now reaches 40‑plus seconds on many platforms, turning a quality‑of‑experience nuisance into a revenue‑critical issue. Research from the Super Bowl showed Peacock lagging 48 seconds while broadcast stayed within 19 seconds. In‑play microbetting, a $21 billion market projected...
Advocacy vs Advertorial: Brands on Bringing ‘Storytelling’ to Influencer Gifting
Influencer gifting remains common, yet its impact is waning as audiences detect inauthenticity. A Socially Powerful survey shows 93% of marketers send free products, but only 19% receive genuine advocacy and 35% blame creator fatigue for declining effectiveness. Brands such...
Dakota Johnson Enters Calvin Klein’s Advertising Canon
Calvin Klein’s Spring 2026 campaign spotlights actress Dakota Johnson in a series of provocative yet playful scenes that emphasize the brand’s latest denim fits and underwear innovations. Directed by Gordon von Steiner, the minute‑long video and accompanying photos were released globally...
Zee Media Appoints Mayank Jain as Senior VP – Digital Ad Sales
Zee Media has appointed Mayank Jain as senior vice‑president of digital ad sales, positioning him to lead the company’s monetisation across publishing, streaming and broadcast assets. Jain arrives with over 25 years of media sales experience, most recently heading digital...
Walmart’s Vizio Acquisition Finally Opens Up Retail Advertising’s Growth
Walmart’s purchase of Vizio gives the retailer control of a smart‑TV operating system that blends content discovery, advertising, payments and commerce on the living‑room screen. The move transforms retail media from search‑based placements to first‑screen TV inventory, especially as 2026‑model...
America’s Got Talent: Season 21 Renewal; NBC Confirms Summer 2026 Return
NBC confirmed that “America’s Got Talent” has been renewed for a 21st season, slated to air in the summer of 2026. The show’s 20th season, which concluded in September, delivered a $1 million prize to the winner and featured returning host...
Mayank Jain Joins Zee Media as Senior Vice President, Digital Ad Sales
Zee Media has appointed Mayank Jain as Senior Vice President of Digital Ad Sales, bringing over two decades of cross‑platform media experience. Jain previously drove digital revenue at TV9 and Times Internet, and will spearhead Zee’s push into the fast‑growing...
SportsCast Global Partners with FAST Channels TV
SportsCast Global announced a partnership with FAST Channels TV to launch a 24/7 free‑ad‑supported streaming (FAST) sports channel. The channel will feature football, motorsport, basketball, tennis and baseball content, including classic games, highlights, commentary and athlete profiles. FAST Channels TV...
Behind NYT’s First Foray Into In-Game Advertising
New York Times has introduced Crossplay, its first two‑player word game that embeds ads directly within gameplay. The ad‑supported format targets non‑subscribing users, with six‑second mandatory video ads after each turn. JPMorgan Chase partnered for the launch, aiming at financially active, digitally savvy...
Behind NYT’s First Foray Into In-Game Advertising
The New York Times launched Crossplay, its first two‑player word game, as a standalone app that embeds ads directly within gameplay. The ad‑supported model applies to non‑subscribers, while a Games subscription removes the ads. JPMorgan Chase partnered on the launch, using...
MPN Video Podcast: How Streaming, Sports, and Social Media Are Reshaping Fandom
Sports fans are abandoning traditional TV, turning to streaming services and short‑form platforms for live games and highlights. Rights are being split across multiple OTT providers, creating frustration as viewers juggle subscriptions. Hub Entertainment Research’s Wave 5 report shows documentaries like...
Thursday TV Ratings: Animal Control, The Hunting Party, 9-1-1, Ghosts, Trivial Pursuit
TV ratings for Thursday, March 5, 2026, were released, covering a full slate of new episodes. The lineup featured 9‑1‑1, Grey’s Anatomy, Ghosts, Animal Control, The Hunting Party and several other series across broadcast and cable. Ratings were measured using Fast Affiliate...
Creators Meet Commerce: How They Guide Customers From Inspiration to Checkout | Behind the Numbers Special Edition
In this special edition of the eMarketer "Behind the Numbers" podcast, senior analyst Minda Smiley moderates a panel with Corey Weaver, Head of Influence at Gap Inc., and Alexis Call, Director of Digital Merchandising at Stanley 1913. The discussion explores...
OpenAI Is B Building the Ad Tech Stack It’s Currently Borrowing
OpenAI is rapidly assembling an internal advertising infrastructure, hiring engineers, product designers, and trust‑and‑safety staff to replace its current reliance on third‑party vendors. In the short term it is partnering with Criteo and The Trade Desk to bring advertisers into...
TikTok After the Legal Fight: Why It’s Coming for Meta’s Ad Dollars
In this episode, Digiday’s Kamiko McCoy and Tim Peterson sit down with TikTok US platform reporter Crystal Scanlan to unpack TikTok’s post‑legal‑battle strategy. With the U.S. ban threat lifted, TikTok is shifting from defensive mode to aggressively courting ad dollars,...