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.
DHD to Unveil Benefits of New Firmware at NAB Show
DHD Audio will showcase firmware 10.4 at the 2026 NAB Show, extending capabilities of its DX2, RX2, SX2, TX2 mixers, RM1 portable unit, and XC3/XD3/XS2 processing cores. The update adds flex channels, mic preamp control, and channel categories, enabling more granular source routing. DHD also launches an HTML5‑based Routing Web App for secure local or remote signal management and introduces the compact RM1 Pro production system aimed at remote broadcast, news, web radio, and podcasting. The company’s booth C3132 will demonstrate these innovations to broadcasters and content creators.
Channel 7 Still without Late News More than a Year After Axing THE LATEST
Seven’s commercial late‑night bulletin The Latest, launched in 2018, was axed in early 2025 and has not been replaced. The network now only airs occasional updates for breaking stories, leaving it as the sole Australian commercial broadcaster without a regular...
Is This the Biggest TV Weekend for Sports Fans on KAYO
Kayo Sports and Foxtel are delivering a record‑dense weekend, headlined by the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix and the season openers of the AFL and NRL. The schedule also features Australia Women’s cricket Test, extensive NBA coverage, NBL playoffs, and two...
Could Alcohol Advertising on TV Soon Face Stricter Rules?
Australia’s media regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), has launched an eight‑week public consultation to review how alcohol advertising appears on commercial free‑to‑air television. The review, running until 5:00 pm on 30 April 2026, will assess the volume, frequency and placement...
My Virtual Journey Has Been a Real One
The author recounts deploying Telos VXs, a virtual VoIP phone system, in Buffalo and Denver broadcast facilities, using an Avaya SIP server and an Ubuntu container. The installations performed flawlessly, earning immediate praise from on‑air talent. This experience sparked a...
City of Bellevue In Iowa to Sunset Cable TV, Citing Streaming Network Competition
The City of Bellevue, Iowa, announced it will discontinue its municipal cable television service on October 1, 2026 after nearly twenty years of operation. The decision cites mounting competition from streaming platforms and rising financial pressures. Residents were notified through...
Congress Pushes to End Internet Anonymity, Threatening Free Speech
I wrote about the House hearing today, how Congress is trying to strip anonymity from the Internet, and the devastating effects that has for @theintercept https://t.co/Ikr00eJA7K
Ruth Jones' New BBC Period Drama "True to the Spirit of Pride and Prejudice" Confirms Release Date
BBC’s new period drama *The Other Bennet Sister* will debut on Sunday, 15 March at 8 pm on BBC One, with the first five episodes available on iPlayer at 6 am the same day. The ten‑part series reimagines Jane Austen’s world through Mary...
Dolan Takes Key Ad Sales Role At Compass
Dolan, former VP of Agency and Retail Partnerships at Consumable, has left a 12‑year tenure at Crystal Media Networks to join Compass Media Networks in a senior advertising sales role under President Paul Gregrey. The move positions her at the...
How Brands Are Measuring Value Across the Entire Customer Journey
Advertisers struggle to monetize brand‑building efforts, with only 53% confident in ROI measurement. Amazon Ads introduced Long‑Term Sales (LTS), a metric that assigns monetary value to shopper actions across the full journey using its authenticated identity graph. LTS combines short‑term...
Net Insight to Introduce Nimbra Live Intelligence at 2026 NAB Show
Net Insight will unveil its Nimbra Live Intelligence platform at the 2026 NAB Show, positioning it as a unified solution for live‑media production, distribution and protection. The system‑level platform promises predictable behavior across on‑premise networks, public internet and cloud environments...
Press Bravely Brings Middle East Images Amid Risks
Grateful for the work of the press bringing us images and facts out of the Middle East despite tremendous risks. Here CNN now in Iran heading toward Tehran. https://t.co/vjNd08oIbb
Journalists Push Back Against Parent Companies’ Contracts with ICE
More than 200 journalists at Law360 and its sister sites signed a letter demanding that parent company RELX terminate its $22.1 million, five‑year contract with the Department of Homeland Security that gives ICE access to a LexisNexis Risk Solutions database. A...
Yankees Announce 2026 Prime Video Game Schedule
The New York Yankees have announced that 21 of their 2026 regular‑season games will be streamed exclusively on Amazon’s Prime Video for fans within the team’s local broadcast footprint. YES Network will produce the telecasts, including a 30‑minute pre‑game show,...
Will The Trade Desk Right-Size Its Margins?
The Trade Desk faces criticism for a complex, opaque fee structure that includes platform, data, and bid‑shading charges. Consultant Sarah Caputo argues the DSP should lower its take rate and simplify fees, especially the double‑digit bid‑shading fee on savings. Recent...
Dunk Neos and Mediocrity Hell
The post highlights four distinct cultural moments: Addison Rae fronts Lucky Brand’s new 1990s‑inspired campaign, Rob Rausch teams up with audio‑erotica startup Quinn, engineering student Bhavitha Mandava is profiled for opening a Chanel show, and the author joins the EIC...
Harmonic To Unveil Next Generation Spectrum X Media Service At 2026 NAB Show
Harmonic will debut its next‑generation Spectrum X media server at the 2026 NAB Show, showcasing a suite of AI‑enhanced video appliances and SaaS solutions. The new server streamlines ingest and playout, while the XOS Advanced Media Processor adds ATSC 3.0 and DTV+...
Truth Is Everyone’s Responsibility
A memorandum of understanding was signed between leading Philippine news outlets and the Presidential Communications Office to tackle the surge of fake news. The article argues that disinformation has become a structural threat to democracy, eroding public trust and distorting...
Netflix Shares InterPositive AI with Partners, Not Public
Netflix will offer access to InterPositive’s AI-powered tech to its creative partners and does not have plans to sell it commercially in the marketplace https://t.co/w8xyM2pXhz via @variety
75k AMA Equals TV Viewership
While a massive number, it’s not actually. If my math is right, it’s about 75k AMA which approximates TV viewership. Global yet significantly smaller than SC. Love to know what percent is US and by sport. Regardless, YT is destination...
Domino’s Redefines Celebrity Meals in Social-First Campaign
Domino’s is rolling out a social‑first campaign that showcases influencer‑crafted pizza combos ahead of March Madness, promoting its under‑$10 “Best Deal Ever.” The initiative pairs creators like Jesser, Trisha Paytas and Courtney Cook with college basketball players, and includes a partnership with...
TNT Secures Exclusive U.S. FIBA Rights Amid Merger Uncertainty
This is exactly the type of deal I discuss in today's newsletter ... will a Paramount/WBD merged company do these smaller sports rights deals anymore? The calculus will definitely change for TNT ... https://t.co/DvKzUkqcDr
Sid Rosenberg Apologizes for Mamdani Post
Sid Rosenberg, a WABC New York morning host, issued an apology after posting a tweet that labeled Mayor Zohran Mamdani a “America‑hating, Jew‑hating, Radical Islam cockroach.” The inflammatory language sparked immediate backlash from the mayor, community leaders, and the broader public. Rosenberg...
Paramount CEO Pledges Unwavering Focus on Truth and Trust
When asks about plans for CNN, Paramount CEO David Ellison tells CNBC that we want to be in the truth business, we want to be in the trust business and that’s not going to change.
Info Overload Sparks New Crisis of Control
Study The Control Revolution. Industrial Revolution --> Crisis of Control --> Information Revolution We have the opposite Crisis now: info has outstripped that which it was born to control. Like going off the gold standard, but for information. https://t.co/CLPrtXBQxu
Spring-Forward Show Prep
Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 8, moving clocks forward an hour for most U.S. regions. The shift creates darker mornings and longer evenings, affecting listeners’ mood, safety, sleep patterns, and energy use. Radio stations can capitalize on these changes by...
SABO SEZ: What Happened to Sex?
Talk radio once thrived on sex‑focused programming, with pioneers like Dr. Ruth, Sally Jessy Raphael, and Dr. Toni Grant capturing record shares among 18‑34 listeners. These shows expanded from brief segments to multi‑hour live call‑ins, becoming cultural staples and lucrative...
Audacy: Podcasts Eating Into Social Media and Streaming Music
Audacy’s research shows podcast listening in the U.S. has surged from 6% of audio consumption in 2015 to 23% in 2025, overtaking both social‑media scrolling and streaming music. Adults now spend an average of 103 minutes per day on podcasts,...
State of the Workflow: Becca Farsace
In the latest Cortex episode, former Verge editor Becca Farsace discusses her transition to an independent creator, detailing how she built a self‑directed workflow for video production. She shares lessons learned from her tenure at a major tech publication and...
Hollywood Execs Prioritize Cost Cuts over Creative Talent
After Hollywood turned on David Zaslav for being too much of a bean counter/financier, I’m sure The Town will appreciate David Ellison’s answer to being asked how many layoffs are coming w/ merging w/ WBD: “We absolutely need to rationalize the...
NBC's Top Climate Reporter Resigns
In this episode of Heated, climate reporter Chase Kane discusses his resignation from NBC News after eight years, citing systemic barriers that prevent climate stories from receiving prominent coverage. He describes how editorial decisions, time constraints, and a perception that...
AMV BBDO's Nadja Lossgott and Nick Hulley Prepare to Exit
AMV BBDO announced that longtime partners Nadja Lossgott and Nick Hulley will leave the agency at the end of April. Both have been instrumental in driving the firm’s integrated campaigns and client wins over the past decade. Their exit comes...
Guideline Launches Media Plan Management MCP Server, Enabling Agentic AI Workflows Across Media Planning & Buying
Guideline launched its Media Plan Management MCP Server, allowing agencies and advertisers to link any MCP‑compatible AI agent—such as Claude or ChatGPT—to its media planning platform. Built on the open Model Context Protocol, the server provides a plug‑and‑play, read‑only connection...
The Big Ben Show: Ben Shapiro, Benham Ben Taleblu, Buck (Somehow Not Ben) Sexton
The latest episode of The Big Ben Show drops as a supersized special, featuring Fox News host Ben Shapiro, Iran specialist Benham, and veteran commentator Buck Sexton, who recently landed a New York Times bestseller. The trio tackles the week’s political upheavals,...
Gaming Marketing Consultancy Open World Acquires Influencer Platform Drope.me to Scale Creator Campaigns
Open World, the marketing consultancy division of Loaded Holdings, has acquired influencer platform Drope.me to add automation and performance‑tracking tools to its gaming creator campaigns. The acquisition enables Open World to scale activations from dozens to thousands of creators simultaneously....
CBS Morning Show Embraces Soft Segments After Years of Resistance
CBS' morning show has for years taken pride in its resistance to the softer side of AM news, like cooking segments and lifestyle reporting. But now the program is poised to reverse its stance.... https://t.co/b2KevEZz2g via @variety
TCWD Podcast: Who Killed the Media?
The TCWD Podcast "Who Killed the Media?" argues that journalism’s decline is engineered, not accidental, citing AI‑generated fake war footage, a war‑hawk press, and profit‑driven ownership. Hosts Jessa and Nico point to venture‑capital funding, Jeff Bezos’ controversial handling of the...
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly From The Daily Wire's New Merlin TV Show
The Daily Wire’s seven‑episode series “The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin” showcases production quality that can stand beside mainstream fantasy giants like HBO, featuring strong acting, cinematography, and music. However, the show crams Stephen R. Lawhead’s expansive source material...
Chasing Greatness
European drama producers and distributors are adapting to a tighter financing environment as U.S. co‑production dollars shrink and production costs rise. They are emphasizing well‑packaged deals, flexible windowing, and multi‑territory appeal, often leveraging tax incentives and strategic location budgeting. Known...
Men’s Wearhouse Grows Its Audience Through A Campaign Run Solely On Digital Audio
Men’s Wearhouse partnered with Ovation Group and The Trade Desk’s Kokai platform to run an audio‑only campaign from March to June 2025 across Spotify, iHeart, Acast and Pandora. The effort, aimed at younger, digitally‑first men, leveraged Ovation’s EMRge marketing intelligence...
Men’s Wearhouse Grows Its Audience Through A Campaign Run Solely On Digital Audio
Men’s Wearhouse partnered with Ovative Group and The Trade Desk’s Kokai platform to run an audio‑only campaign across Spotify, iHeart, Acast and Pandora from March to June 2025. The campaign, aimed at younger “Stylish Steve” and older “Professional Paul” men,...
Brand Buzz: Social Highlights From McDonald's, Aldi, Guinness and More
Campaign’s Brand Buzz roundup highlights how major brands used social media last month to drive conversation and sales. McDonald’s launched a limited‑time menu item on TikTok, sparking viral user videos. Aldi promoted its new eco‑friendly packaging through Instagram Stories, while...
New VR Publisher Launched to Help Devs Innovate and Survive Until VR's "True Breakout Moment" Arrives
Kevin Joyce, veteran XR marketer, launched Evolution Publishing to back indie VR studios amid a market downturn. The publisher uses a revenue‑share model without taking equity, aiming to nurture innovative titles until VR reaches a mainstream breakout. Joyce cites Meta’s...
Thrad Joins AgenticAdvertising.org as Founding Member
Thrad, a leading AI advertising infrastructure provider, announced its entry as a founding member of AgenticAdvertising.org (AAO), an initiative to develop open standards for AI‑powered ads through the Ad Context Protocol. The move comes amid OpenAI’s launch of a high‑cost,...
CBS This Morning Shifts to Lifestyle, EP Shawna Thomas Departs
More shake-ups at 'CBS This Morning,' where EP Shawna Thomas will leave as the program gets set to pursue some of the lifestyle and soft-news content it previously avoided.... https://t.co/b2KevEZz2g via @variety
Merger Threats Undermine TNT Sports Strategy and Leadership
This week’s CNBC Sport newsletter is out: *Why TNT Sports’ strategy no longer makes sense if WBD & Paramount come together *Jeff Shell’s future up in the air *There will be no David Ellison/David Zaslav “men in blazers” photo on the...
Lumen Launches New Attention Measurement Solution for Advertisers with Netflix
Lumen Research has teamed up with Netflix to launch an attention‑measurement solution that tracks how viewers engage with ads across Netflix’s ad‑supported CTV, desktop, and mobile platforms. The offering is initially available to advertisers in the UK, Germany, France, Italy,...
Cumulus Files for Another Chapter 11, With Lender Support
Radio broadcaster Cumulus Media has filed a prepackaged Chapter 11 reorganization, aiming to eliminate approximately $600 million of debt. The plan, backed by its lenders, allows the company to continue operating its 394 radio stations, Westwood One network, and podcast platform...
Zink Talent: Samantha Zink’s Strategy for Developing Long-Term Creator-Brand Partnerships
Zink Talent, founded in 2018 by former fashion PR executive Samantha Zink, now manages about 70 creators across beauty, skincare, fashion and lifestyle. The agency has shifted its roster criteria from raw follower counts to engagement, consistency and business discipline,...
EXTE Joins Forces with HUMAN Security to Protect Ad Inventory Quality & Integrity
EXTE announced a strategic integration with HUMAN Security, embedding the MediaGuard Ad Fraud Defence solution into its programmatic platform. The joint offering combines pre‑bid mitigation and post‑bid reporting to verify impressions, block bots, and curb invalid traffic in real time....