Today's Media Pulse
Online video subscriptions top 2.2 bn, revenue hits $176B
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 for the first time as pay‑TV revenue fell to $170 billion. Growth is expected to slow to single‑digit rates in 2026, prompting operators to focus on monetising existing users.
Bake Off’s Prue Leith Gives Advice to New Judge Nigella Lawson After Quitting the Show"
Prue Leith announced her departure from The Great British Bake Off after nine years, making way for Nigella Lawson to join Paul Hollywood as a new judge. Leith explained her exit was driven by a desire for more personal time, including a long‑overdue summer holiday in Europe. Lawson expressed excitement and a hint of nervousness about stepping into the role, emphasizing the show’s emotional resonance with viewers. The series continues to air on Channel 4 in the UK and streams on Netflix in the US.
Why Kaitlin Olson Did Her Own Stunts On It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Kaitlin Olson routinely forgoes a stunt double on "It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia," performing risky physical gags such as head‑first car‑door collisions and a chaotic waterslide scene. The commitment has resulted in broken bones and a torn calf, but co‑star...
Will Prime Video Let AI Call a Live Sports Game?
Prime Video has rapidly integrated artificial intelligence into its platform, adding AI‑generated episode recaps, picture‑quality upgrades, and AI‑assisted features for live events like Thursday Night Football. The article speculates that by 2026 Amazon could push the envelope further by deploying...
Xperi’s DTS AutoStage Portal Grows Again With 52 New Markets
Xperi has expanded its DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal by adding 52 U.S. markets, marking the second growth phase since November. The platform now reaches roughly 14 million vehicles and incorporates data from over 3,000 additional stations, representing 162,000 new in‑vehicle listeners....
What To Watch Sunday: Tracker And Watson Return, Marshals And DTF St. Louis Debut, Industry Finale, Actor Awards, And More
TVLine’s Sunday guide spotlights a busy March 1 lineup, with CBS moving its crime dramas Tracker and Watson to new time slots and launching the western‑meets‑SEAL series Marshals. HBO debuts the relationship‑drama DTF St. Louis, while Industry delivers its Season 4 finale on...
Mystery Drama with Perfect Season and "No Shortage of Excitement" Lands New UK Streaming Home
Person of Interest, the 2010s sci‑fi mystery series created by Jonathan Nolan, is now streaming on Netflix UK with all five seasons available from 1 March. The show follows tech billionaire Harold Finch and ex‑CIA operative John Reese as they use...
‘SNL’ Sketch Has J.K. Rowling, Mel Gibson, Armie Hammer, Ye & More Celebs Claiming They Have Tourette’s Following BAFTAs Racial...
NBC’s Saturday Night Live aired a cut‑for‑time sketch titled “Tourette’s,” lampooning the recent BAFTA controversy where campaigner John Davidson involuntarily shouted a racial slur. The sketch featured impersonations of high‑profile figures such as J.K. Rowling, Mel Gibson, Armie Hammer, Ye and...
Connor Storrie's Heated Rivalry Co-Star Hudson Williams Makes Surprise Appearance On SNL — Watch
Canadian drama star Hudson Williams made a surprise cameo on NBC’s *Saturday Night Live* during Connor Storrie’s February 28 episode, joining a skating‑themed sketch. The appearance linked the hit series *Heated Rivalry* with the live‑television platform, creating a buzz moment that blended...
40 Years and 10,000 Broadcasts In, They’re Still Live on Air
Rick Ardon and Susannah Carr have anchored 7News Perth together for 40 years, logging more than 10,000 nightly broadcasts and earning a Guinness World Record as the longest‑serving news‑anchor duo. Their partnership, which began in 1985, has become a trusted...
Mara Brock Akil Talks Creating Room “For More Voices, For Fuller Humanity, For Stories That Once Waited Quietly At The...
Mara Brock Akil accepted the Producers Guild’s Norman Lear Achievement Award, reflecting on three decades of television production. She framed storytelling as cultural infrastructure that shapes perception and possibility. Akil highlighted her mentorship under Ralph Farquhar and the evolution from...
The Strain Received An Awful Studio Note That Could Have Derailed The Horror Series
In 2014 FX launched *The Strain*, a vampire‑action horror series adapted from Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s novels. Del Toro was asked by the network president to retool the show as a comedy, a proposal he flatly rejected and reclaimed his...
Publishers Stagger Writer Signings and Panels at Conventions
If you squint some publishers do a version of this when they send 3-4 of their writers to Comic Con or another major trade event (I've done this with Del Rey) and they're signing at the booth at different times...
Bar Talk Revealed Iran Bomb Plot Before Explosion
Good heavens. This may be worse than the @JeffreyGoldberg Signal chat. At least in that case it was entirely accidental and a journalist who understood the sensitivity of the information and how to handle it in the moment.
Where to Watch the 2026 NAACP Image Awards
The 57th NAACP Image Awards return to Pasadena’s Civic Auditorium on Feb. 28, airing live on BET and simulcast on CBS and multiple Paramount networks. Two new categories—Outstanding Editing and Outstanding Literary Work — Journalism—expand recognition to technical craft and socially conscious reporting....
History’s Weight Demands Rigorous Journalism on Iran
A brief thread on the Wash Post, Iran, the weight of history and the importance of rigorous journalism.
Death in Paradise Icon and The Split Star Team up for "Wickedly Entertaining" New Project
Ardal O'Hanlon, after three years as DI Jack Mooney on BBC's Death in Paradise, is swapping Caribbean sunsets for London’s West End. He joins Stephen Mangan in a revival of Florian Zeller’s comedy The Truth at the Apollo Theatre, running...
Two UFC Legends Face Off in Real American Freestyle's February Event
Real American Freestyle’s sixth edition will air on Feb. 28, 2026, streaming live from Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona via Fox Nation. The headline bout pits former UFC champion Henry Cejudo against Hall of Famer Urijah Faber, anchoring a 12‑match...
Chris Berman on NFL Owning 10% of ESPN: ‘I’d Be Shocked if It Was Any Dictation of that Way’
The NFL secured a ten‑percent equity stake in ESPN as part of a 2025 deal that gave the network control of the NFL Network, RedZone and fantasy assets. Regulators approved the transaction in roughly six months, accelerating integration ahead of...
Desperate Housewives' Success Was More Important For ABC Than Audiences Realized
In 2004 ABC faced a ratings slump, trailing rivals CBS, Fox and NBC. To reverse its fourth‑place standing, the network poured roughly 90% of its fall marketing budget into two scripted series—Lost and Desperate Housewives. The gamble paid off; Desperate...
TV Highlights | 2026 Week 10
TV Blackbox’s Week 10 guide highlights a packed Australian TV lineup, with reality power‑houses Married At First Sight, Australian Idol and Australian Survivor anchoring prime‑time across Nine, Seven and Ten. The schedule also features new series launches on streaming services such...
Saturday VOZ Ratings | All Eyes on the 2026 SYDNEY GAY AND LESBIAN MARDI GRAS PARADE
TV Blackbox published Saturday VOZ ratings for 28 February 2026, spotlighting the 2026 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade as a ratings leader. The release introduces new metrics that combine overnight and consolidated data, counting unique viewers who watch at least one...
Children’s TV Favourite Emma Watkins Joins POSTCARDS for Country Escape
Emma Watkins, former Yellow Wiggle now performing as Emma Memma, appears as a guest presenter on Channel 9’s travel series Postcards for a regional Victorian tour. In her segment she visits Trentham on Dja Dja Wurrung Country, stopping at the new Sisko Chocolate...
CNN Faces Moral Test Under MAGA‑Friendly Leadership
Will anyone at CNN take a principled stand as David Ellison reshapes the network to be more MAGA friendly? Or will everyone just go along with the new direction? Watch the full episode of Power Lines on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nWEG5jUrP2Q?si=H_0XcKiJMFeLe3fe
Beloved "Brilliant" BBC Sitcom Spin-Off Branded "a Rarity" Is Coming to Netflix
BBC comedy spin‑off Amandaland will join Netflix UK on 12 March, expanding the streaming platform’s British comedy slate. The series follows divorced mother Amanda Hughes navigating teenage kids in South Harlesden, building on the popular Motherland universe. To date it has...
Why Jason Biggs Rejected The Lead Role In How I Met Your Mother
Jason Biggs revealed he turned down the lead role of Ted Mosby on *How I Met Your Mother* in 2005, a decision he now calls his biggest career regret. At the time, he viewed television as a lesser medium compared...
The Star-Studded Star Wars Series That You'll Probably Never Get To Watch
Star Wars Detours, an animated comedy co‑produced by Lucasfilm and the creators of Robot Chicken, was announced in 2012 and reportedly completed nearly 40 episodes with scripts for over 60 more. The series was shelved indefinitely after Disney’s acquisition of...
Kick Off Your Spring Setup Upgrade With the Roku Streambar SE Sale — Now 30% Off
Roku has slashed the price of its Streambar SE to $70.15, a 30% discount from the original $99.99. The device merges a 4K HDR Roku streaming platform with a compact two‑speaker soundbar and bass port, delivering clearer dialogue and richer...
Democracy Needs Truthful Governance and Respect For
Where the hyperbole and attacks on a free and plural press go off the credibility rails. Not a comment on either military operation but would be good for democracy if we got back to admin truth telling and respect for...
Roku Ends Testing on Revamped Home Screen
Roku has halted the beta rollout of a revamped home screen that introduced a Quick Access row displaying six to eight frequently used apps surrounded by recommendation tiles. The test, which began in late summer 2025, aimed to blend app‑centric...
43 Years Ago Today: The Final Episode of ‘M*A*S*H’ Aired – A TV Milestone That United America
On February 28, 1983 the two‑and‑a‑half‑hour finale “Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen” aired on CBS, drawing an estimated 125 million U.S. viewers—the most‑watched scripted TV episode ever. Directed by series star Alan Alda, the episode abandoned the laugh track, delivering a poignant mix of...
The New 'Scrubs' Hit Me Straight in the Feels
The long‑awaited Scrubs reboot launched on Hulu, reuniting original stars Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke and Judy Reyes while advancing the story two decades later. Set in a for‑profit hospital, the series follows J.D. stepping into chief of medicine...
Paramount Skydance to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in a $110 Billion Deal
Paramount Skydance Corp. announced a $110 billion agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, offering $31 per share—a 10.05% premium. The transaction is financed by $47 billion in equity backed by the Ellison family and RedBird Capital, plus $54 billion of new debt from...
Ellison Vows Unchanged DCU Creatives, Marketing Faces Shake‑up
Too early to tell, although #DavidEllison made a commitment to keep the creative heads of both WB and Paramount as they are, so if he keeps his promise, nothing changes to the #DCU or #DCStudios at least on the short...
Twitter's Messy Redesign Demands Stronger Journalist Verification Support
I haven’t seen my Twitter feed this bad since start of Musk era. All the bad design choices front and center. It’s messy. Please amplify journalists with sources, resources and incentives to verify and get at the truth.
CASTING | 10 Opens Casting for Next Season of AUSTRALIAN SURVIVOR
Network 10 and Endemol Shine Australia have launched nationwide casting for future installments of Australian Survivor, even though the current season has seen a sharp drop in viewership and no formal renewal has been announced. Applicants must be at least...
Warner & Paramount Skydance Deliver 200 Shows, Boost Market Leverage
Warner Bros makes roughly 80 shows a year for internal/external destinations. Paramount Skydance makes roughly 120 shows a year for internal/external destinations. Massive combined leverage as a third-party content supplier on the open market.
Kari Lake Praises VOA Persian Broadcasts Echoing Trump’s Regime
After seeking repeatedly to shutter network, USAGM self proclaimed acting CEO Kari Lake celebrates Voice of America Persian broadcasts into Iran during conflict VoA echoes Trump call for regime change; previously would report as news & convey in clearly labeled editorials...
Bari Apparent & Politico Animals
David Ellison is poised to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery after Netflix abandoned its bid, positioning the Ellison family as the leading suitor. The prospective takeover, tied to a pending Paramount‑Skydance merger, still requires regulatory clearance. Analysts warn that the deal could trigger...
Town Economies Suffer when Local Newspapers Shut Down
Good thread by Farrow on the impact (read: costs $) to towns when the last newspaper closes. Independent, local press brings sunlight and integrity and efficiency.
MSnow Aims to Replace CNN’s War Coverage
MSnow sees the opportunity to step into what has been CNN's territory with a war, now that CNN will become state media. As the liberal alternative to Fox and CNN, they should have woken up Rachel Maddow. Instead, they woke...
PARAMOUNT Wins US $110B Battle for Warner Bros, Pays NETFLIX Exit Fee
Paramount has agreed to acquire Warner Bros Discovery for $31 per share, valuing the combined enterprise at roughly $110 billion including debt. The deal also covers Netflix’s $2.8 billion termination fee, clearing the rival’s exit from the bidding war. If regulators approve,...
Tech CEOs Shouldn’t Dictate Policy in American Government
Letting tech CEOs “play politics and dictate policy” … are you aware of how the American government functions
Seeking Date for Kids Online Safety Bill Markup
Does anyone know what day the markup of the “kids online safety” bills is supposed to start next week?
Wednesday TV Ratings: Scrubs, Survivor, Fear Factor: House of Fear, Police 24/7, The Voice
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, TV ratings show a mixed slate of new episodes and reruns across major broadcast networks. New episodes aired for Scrubs, Survivor, Fear Factor: House of Fear, Police 24/7, The Masked Singer and The Greatest Average American, while...
Court Finds Facebook Likely Knew of 40M Profiles
wow. NdCal just denied Facebook's attempt to dismiss securities suit for Cambridge Analytica cover-up. Court says plaintiffs credibly alleged Zuckerberg and Sandberg knew it "possessed over 40mil user profiles" way earlier. 4th amended complaint added/redacted cited evidence. /1 https://t.co/Fm91ZEmOre
Hollywood's $81B Takeover Sealed in Six Months
Six Months, 9 Offers and $81 Billion. How Hollywood’s Nasty Takeover Was Won. W/@jtoonkel @laurenthomas @davidamichaels https://t.co/TFOmN7A5Zq
Chicago Nightclub Operator Unable to Stream WWE Elimination Chamber PPV Event
WWE has prohibited any venue within a 50‑mile radius of Chicago’s United Center from streaming the Elimination Chamber pay‑per‑view, effectively shutting down watch parties at nightclubs like the Admiral Theatre. The move is intended to force fans to purchase higher‑priced...
Video Success Mirrors Audio's Catalog‑First Strategy
We used to think audio was all about the catalog, but it turns out that might be just as true when it comes to video... h/t @michaelbeach https://t.co/RhM8t8AN6c
Netflix Forces Paramount Debt, Secures Streaming Dominance
"Netflix’s real triumph was driving up the price Paramount had to pay and saddling the newcomer with enough debt to hobble any challenge to Netflix’s streaming dominance." -- @HolmanJenkins https://t.co/4V3TUD31y8
How Jeff Waye and Patrick Curley Built Third Side Music Into an Indie Publishing Powerhouse with USD $25M in Annual...
Third Side Music, founded in Montreal with a $150,000 seed investment, has become an indie publishing powerhouse generating over $25 million in annual revenue in 2025 without outside capital. The company averages 15‑20% year‑over‑year growth, driven by a 75,000‑plus‑title catalog and...