Today's Media Pulse
Online video subscriptions hit 2.24 billion in 2025, overtaking pay‑TV revenue
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, surpassing pay‑TV's $170 billion for the first time. Growth is expected to slow to single‑digit levels in 2026 as operators focus on monetising existing users.
Also developing:
Is ITV’s Believe Me Based on a True Story? The Real-Life Horror Behind New Drama
ITV’s four‑part drama "Believe Me" dramatizes the real‑life crimes of serial sex offender John Worboys, known as the “Black Cab Rapist.” The series deliberately shifts focus from the perpetrator to the women who survived his assaults and the systemic failures they faced. Worboys was convicted of 19 offences in 2009 and four additional offences in 2019, and his 2018 parole board controversy reignited public debate on survivor treatment. The show premieres on 11 May at 9 pm on ITV and streams on ITV X.
NBCUniversal Peacocked Its Ad Performance Prowess On Its Upfront Stage
NBCUniversal’s 2026 upfront highlighted a shift toward performance‑driven advertising, unveiling the Performance Insights Hub slated for full client rollout by Q4. The hub aggregates measurement data from partners like VideoAmp and Instacart, which NBCU says delivers a 5.5× return on...
Farewell to the Sloan Management Review: Now What for Management Ideas?
MIT Sloan Management Review announced its shutdown after 67 years, shifting future content to digital newsletters, short‑form video, social‑first pieces and podcasts. The move reflects the erosion of the journal’s two‑sided market model as research ideas become abundant online, driving...
Get Ready to Meet Bravo’s Real Hunting Wives
Bravo announced two new reality series, "Secrets, Lies, Texas Wives" – a reality spin on Netflix's "Hunting Wives" – and a spin‑off called "Vanderpump Rules: Lisa Las Vegas" that follows Lisa Vanderpump’s Las Vegas hotel project. The network also gave...
Sportsnet Accused of Using AI Photos of Montreal Canadiens Hockey Player with Wife & Newborn
Sportsnet aired a segment about Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki’s newborn, but viewers accused the network of using AI‑generated images of Suzuki, his wife, and their baby. Fans demanded authentic photos, prompting a social media outcry. Sportsnet subsequently removed the...
When Credibility Comes First, Capability Sells Itself: The Case for News-Led Marketing
B2B marketers are reallocating budgets toward original research and editorial‑grade content as hidden decision‑makers favor thought leadership over traditional sales collateral. The 2025 Edelman‑LinkedIn report shows 71% of these influencers trust thought leadership, while a 2026 TopRank study finds 47%...
Thailand Mandates Biometric IDV for All Social Media Advertisers to Curb Scams
Thailand’s government has issued a new regulation mandating biometric identity verification for every social‑media advertiser, including foreign entities, using facial recognition linked to a national ID or a recognized digital ID. The rule also obliges platforms to retain advertiser records...
Amandaland Is Good – but Here’s Why Anneland Could Be Even Better
At the 2026 BAFTAs, Amandaland star Philippa Dunne joked about the show’s title while presenting an award, underscoring the series’ recent Best Comedy win. The BBC’s hit comedy returned for a six‑part season, and fans are rallying for a spin‑off...
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“The View” Cohosts Silent on FCC Drama in First Live Episode Since Disney Legal Filing
Disney filed a petition for a declaratory ruling, challenging the FCC’s investigation into ABC’s daytime talk show *The View*. The filing claims the agency’s actions threaten decades‑old broadcast precedent and could chill protected political speech. During the program’s first live...
Bravo Is Creating Unscripted Microdramas for the Peacock App
Peacock is debuting two unscripted Bravo microdramas, each 60‑90 seconds long, to stream on its app. The vertical‑video format mirrors TikTok’s short‑form style and targets Bravo’s existing fan base. Microdrama platforms like ReelShort and DramaBox generated $1.2 billion and $276 million in...
Spotify Is Investigating Why Google Cast, Chromecast Devices Won’t Show in Connect
Spotify has confirmed that Google Cast and Chromecast devices are not appearing in the Spotify Connect interface across its apps. The issue, reported by users on forums and Reddit, affects a range of devices including Nest speakers and Chromecast Audio....
Peaky Blinders Boss Shares Exciting Update About New Series: 'People Will Be Pleasantly Surprised'
Steven Knight confirmed that a new, untitled *Peaky Blinders* series is currently in post‑production and will be ready in a few weeks. The spin‑off moves the Shelby saga to post‑war Birmingham in the early 1950s, focusing on Duke Shelby, now played...
Cancellation Stories: Did Lou Grant Get Canceled because of Ed Asner’s Political Views?
Lou Grant, the serious drama spin‑off from Mary Tyler Moore, ended after its fifth season despite critical acclaim. Actor Ed Asner claimed the cancellation stemmed from his outspoken Democratic views during the Reagan era, while CBS pointed to inconsistent Nielsen...
NAB 2026: Kronehit Awards Lawo and SLG Broadcast Contract for Full Studio Modernization
Austrian broadcaster kronehit awarded SLG Broadcast and Lawo a contract to modernize its entire studio infrastructure, announced at NAB Show 2026. The deal will replace all studios with Lawo diamond audio mixing consoles, five Power Core engines, and expand the existing...
Prime Video Orders "Fourth Wing" To Series
Prime Video announced a straight‑to‑series order for the fantasy novel "Fourth Wing," adapting the New York Times bestseller for exclusive release on its platform. Meredith Averill, known for "The Haunting of Hill House" and "Locke & Key," will serve as showrunner...
Deadline Launches Streaming Site For Sound & Screen Television
Deadline launched a dedicated streaming site on May 11 for its Sound & Screen Television awards, a showcase of television music from the awards season. The event, held May 6 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, featured composers and songwriters from 11 high‑profile series...
Unified Tech, Law, and Innovation Needed to Stop Live Piracy
Looking for an informed discussion navigating the intersection of 🔒 security technology stack, 🧑⚖️ legal frameworks and enforcement, as well as 📲 product innovation, here we go: In „Streaming Security at Scale: Protecting Live Sports Broadcasts,“ we are covering why an...
NFL Adds Games for Fox, NBC to Mend Media Ties
The NFL has licensed two additional games to Fox and one to NBC for next season. Is this an effort to improve relations between the two big legacy media partners the NFL does not have an ownership stake in?
TV Shocker: Broadcast Is Growing Again — and the Numbers Prove It
Broadcast television is seeing a modest rebound, with the four major networks ordering 57 scripted originals this season, up from 49 last year. While still far below the 92 series produced in 2019, the increase includes seven more half‑hour comedies...
YouTubers Need Millions of Views and Consultants to Earn
YouTube creator pay is based on views. That means even the most popular stars have to ensure their new content is watched by millions to keep $$ pouring in. Those creators don’t do this alone. Here’s our feature on the business...
HBO Warns Cast of Microchip Prop Theft on Set
Furious Harry Potter TV bosses MICROCHIP broomsticks after thefts on set https://t.co/tLbofgt8WP "HBO has been forced to warn Harry Potter cast members over the suspected theft of props from set, and microchip items including spell books, broomsticks, pumpkins and wands." https://t.co/v3eEh3jmwU
Prime Video Announces Premiere Date for "The Terminal List" Season Two Starring Chris Pratt
Prime Video announced that the eight‑episode second season of "The Terminal List" will debut on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, streaming globally in more than 240 territories. The new season adapts Jack Carr’s novel "True Believer" and expands the storyline from...
Amazon Uses Tech to Combat Ad Fatigue
Amazon wants to conquer 'ad fatigue'-- the result of seeing the same commercial stream on your screen again and again -- with technology... https://t.co/SCHcp5ugM8
Aaron Paul Returns for Fallout Season 3 Showdown
EXCLU: The ghoul is about to have a showdown with Jesse Pinkman as Aaron Paul is set to join season three of the Prime series FALLOUT https://t.co/sbSSv4FcY7
Vizrt Named Official Technical Supplier of Eurovision Song Contest 2026
Vizrt has been appointed the Official Technical Supplier for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, partnering with host broadcaster ORF in Vienna. The broadcaster will deploy Viz Engine for real‑time 3D graphics, compositing, on‑screen and data‑driven scoring visuals, while Viz Virtual...
FCC Commissioner Claims Agency Censoring Disney, Threatening Press
FCC Commissioner informs Disney that the agency is on a campaign to censor it, its investigation(s) has no merit, and in the process chill a free and plural press. 1/2 https://t.co/4v9zLSHwy4
Noah Kahan’s ‘The Great Divide’ Holds Billboard 200 No. 1 Spot for Second Week
Noah Kahan’s sophomore effort ‘The Great Divide’ remained the Billboard 200’s No. 1 album for a second consecutive week, moving 163,000 equivalent album units. The run underscores a rare multi‑week chart dominance for a rock record, the first since September 2023,...
Interra Systems to Demonstrate QC, Monitoring, and Captioning Solutions at BroadcastAsia 2026
Interra Systems will exhibit at BroadcastAsia 2026, showcasing its ORION monitoring platform, BATON automated quality control and captioning tools, and the new VEGA Media Analyzer. The company highlights AI‑driven video corruption detection, one‑click diagnostics, expanded cloud compatibility and support for emerging...
Greg Davies Hosts BAFTA TV Awards as Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’ Sweeps with Four Wins
The 2026 BAFTA Television Awards, hosted by Greg Davies at London’s Royal Festival Hall, saw Netflix’s limited‑drama ‘Adolescence’ win four trophies – a record for a single series – after receiving 11 nominations. The ceremony’s blend of humor, historic moments...
Cobalt Digital to Showcase IPMX/ST 2110 Ecosystem at BroadcastAsia 2026
Cobalt Digital will showcase its full IPMX/ST 2110 ecosystem at BroadcastAsia 2026, featuring the blueCORE 1RU signal processor, PACIFIC decoder, new openGear cards, and a suite of IP‑enabled monitors, multiviewers, converters and gateways. The blueCORE unit combines audio and video...
FCC Plans an FM Auction in February
The FCC announced Auction 114, slated for February 2027, to sell 132 FM radio construction permits, including 99 never‑offered slots and 33 previously unsold. Most of the permits are Class A or Class C, with a single Class B1 in...
Gas-O-Fast Ropes in Rakesh Bedi for New Ad Campaign
Mankind Pharma has tapped veteran comic actor Rakesh Bedi to front a new Gas‑O‑Fast ad campaign that celebrates India’s love of indulgent food rather than preaching restraint. The film leans on Bedi’s meme‑driven resurgence to position the Ayurvedic antacid as...
Nintendo Blocks YouTube Workaround on Switch 2, Citing Error Code 2800‑1230
Nintendo has issued a software update that disables a community‑discovered method for watching YouTube on the Switch 2, returning error code 2800‑1230. The move reignites criticism of the company’s closed ecosystem, especially as rivals launched streaming apps at launch. Users and Google...
Netflix Lifts Ad‑free Plan to $19.99, Marking a Streaming‑cable Tipping Point
Netflix announced that its standard ad‑free subscription now costs $19.99 a month, a move that highlights the growing importance of ad‑supported viewers. The price hike follows a broader industry shift toward hybrid revenue models as streaming services compete with traditional...
TikTok Halts AI Caption Test After Frequent Errors
TikTok says it's pulling back a limited test of AI summary captions, after the feature kept making major mistakes. https://t.co/rk8IB14gFY
To Make the Most of Retail Media, Brands Need to Break Out of Its Silos
Retail media networks (RMNs) have become a go‑to channel for brands because they tie ad impressions directly to purchases, offering clear bottom‑funnel results. However, most campaigns are run in isolation, relying solely on retailer‑owned shopper data that only reflects existing...
Gray Media Advances James Fitch to Senior VP, News Services
Gray Media has promoted James Fitch, a 30‑year veteran, to senior vice president of news services. Fitch previously served as the company’s vice president of news services for a decade, overseeing vendor relationships and the expansion of Gray’s news programming...
RunnTV Launches Rewind Feature for FAST Streaming Channels
RunnTV, a fast‑growing Indian FAST (Free Ad‑Supported Streaming Television) platform, has launched a Time‑Shift feature that lets viewers rewind live linear channels, mimicking a DVR experience. The capability is already active on select channels and is built on the company’s...
New 'Fast & Furious' TV Shows Are Coming to Peacock
Peacock announced it will produce four new television series set in the Fast & Furious universe. The announcement was made by star Vin Diesel during NBCUniversal’s upfront presentation, highlighting the franchise’s 25‑year milestone. Universal Pictures chairwoman Donna Langley will oversee...
TikTok Launches £3.99 Subscription for No Ads in UK
TikTok is rolling out a paid, ad‑free tier in the United Kingdom, charging roughly $5 per month. Starting Monday, users aged 18 and older will be prompted to decide by 11 November whether to pay for an ad‑free experience or continue...
Ciara Miller Is Stepping Into the Love Island Universe
Reality TV personality Ciara Miller, known from Bravo’s Summer House, has been tapped by Peacock to co‑host the Love Island USA companion series Aftersun, alongside Tefi Pessoa. The announcement comes as Miller also confirmed her participation as a contestant on...
Release Date for The Boys S5 Penultimate Episode
Here's when The Boys season 5's penultimate episode will be released where you live. https://t.co/JcWNs1Y1CB
EXCLUSIVE: ‘TODAY’ IN CRISIS MODE AS GMA CLOSES IN — STAFFERS PUSHING FOR HODA KOTB RETURN
NBC’s *Today* is under pressure as *Good Morning America* narrowed the ratings gap, trailing by only 72,000 viewers for the week of April 20. ABC’s morning show also posted gains in total viewers and the key Adults 25‑54 demographic, the only network...
Political Wire.
Taegan Goddard, founder and editor of Political Wire, recorded a podcast interview on April 27, 2026, to explain his daily political news aggregation service. Political Wire curates 20‑30 U.S. political items each day, positioning itself as the modern equivalent of...
Peacock, Universal TV Launch Fast & Furious TV Series
Peacock and Universal TV are developing a new scripted television series based on Fast & Furious franchise.
The Big Moments Don’t Matter As Much As You Think
Scott Clary reflects on reaching 100 million podcast downloads, emphasizing that the milestone resulted from 312 weeks of consistent, low‑friction production rather than a single viral event. He introduces the “Tuesday test,” a framework for evaluating daily habits that drive long‑term...
California County Suing Meta Over Scam Ads
Santa Clara County has filed a class‑action lawsuit against Meta Platforms, accusing the company of profiting from fraudulent ads on Facebook and Instagram. The complaint cites internal documents that suggest Meta generated up to $7 billion annually from high‑risk scam ads...
Amandaland Boss Shares Update on Season 3 After "Unexpected" Win at the BAFTAs
Amandaland’s second season earned the BAFTA TV Award for Scripted Comedy, beating strong rivals such as Big Boys and How Are You? It attracted 7.4 million viewers across a 28‑day window, making its Christmas special the UK’s biggest comedy of the...
CBS Sacramento Debuts New AR/VR Studio
CBS Sacramento launched an augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) studio on May 11, integrating immersive graphics into its local newscasts. The rollout makes Sacramento the 12th station in the CBS Television Stations group to adopt in‑house AR/VR technology. Viewers will see the...
Jimmy Kimmel to Air Rerun During Stephen Colbert’s Final Episode of ‘The Late Show’
Jimmy Kimmel Live will air a rerun on May 21, the night Stephen Colbert hosts the final episode of The Late Show. The decision, confirmed by Kimmel, removes direct competition for CBS’s swan song, leaving only The Tonight Show as a rival. CBS cancelled The Late Show after 11 years, citing...