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.
Casting News: Girls5eva Reunion On Cupertino, Aimee Lou Wood Is Jane Eyre, And More
Busy Philipps joins CBS’s upcoming legal drama "Cupertino" as Natalia, the ex‑wife of an AI billionaire seeking revenge. The series, created by Robert and Michelle King, pits two fired attorneys against Silicon Valley tech titans and received a series order for the 2026‑27 season. Aimee Lou Wood has been tapped to headline a new adaptation of "Jane Eyre," while Ed Skrein joins Prime Video’s "God of War" as Baldur. CBS also bolstered its "Yellowstone" spin‑off "Marshals" with Michael Cudlitz and Ellyn Jameson.
New York Times, AP, Guardian And Others Urge Court To Block FTC Probe Of Media Matters
Major news organizations, including The New York Times and the Associated Press, have filed an amicus brief urging the D.C. Circuit Court to block the Federal Trade Commission from resuming its investigation of Media Matters for America. The FTC’s demand...
NETFLIX, PRIME VIDEO, DISNEY+ Hold Firm in Australia’s Streaming Race
JustWatch’s Q4 2025 data shows Australia’s streaming hierarchy remains largely unchanged, with Netflix holding the top spot at 22 percent engagement, followed closely by Prime Video at 20 percent and Disney+ at 19 percent. Local platform Stan posted a notable...
MIW Releases 25th Gender Analysis Study
Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) released its 25th annual gender analysis, tracking female leadership in U.S. commercial radio. The study shows women holding 22 % of general‑manager roles nationwide, up from 15 % in 2004, and 24 % in the top‑100...
ESPN Exec Announces End of Sue Bird-Diana Taurasi Altcast for Women’s Final Four
ESPN senior vice president Meg Aronowitz announced at the NCAA women’s Final Four preview that *The Bird & Taurasi Show* will end after six years on ESPN2. The alt‑cast, anchored by Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, drew 1.4 million viewers for the...
Podcasts Overtake Spoken-Word Radio in Key Metric (Edison Research)
Edison Research’s Share of Ear study shows podcasts have finally overtaken spoken‑word AM/FM radio in daily listening time, a shift that began in 2015 when radio commanded 75% of the audience and podcasts held just 10%. Over the past decade,...
RAIN Notes: February 24
The 2026 Ambies awards, delayed by weather, will stream live tonight from Brooklyn’s On Air Fest, directly competing for viewers with the 9 p.m. State of the Union address. Simultaneously, veteran podcast executive N’Jeri Eaton announced the launch of Type C Studios, a...
ZDF Studios Brings Premium Drama & Factual to London
ZDF Studios showcased three flagship titles at MIP London, highlighting the detective drama Benidorm Is Murder, the true‑crime series Take the Money and Run, and the docuseries Mammals: Life before Dinosaurs. The company used the event to promote its premium...
Banijay Rights’ Cathy Payne Shares Shares View of the European Market
Banijay Rights CEO Cathy Payne says the European scripted market is grappling with a shrinking U.S. co‑production pipeline, forcing distributors to be more selective about financing risk. Buyers now demand projects anchored by recognizable on‑ and off‑screen talent and strong,...
Will Netflix Counter Paramount’s Potential Walk‑Away Offer?
⚡️ Would Netflix Be Attacking Paramount’s Backers if They Were About to Walk Away? ⚡️ Everyone is asking us the same question: will @Netflix match if the @wbd Board determines @Paramount’s “revised proposal” from earlier today is a “Company Superior...
Netflix Ad Revenue Set to Soar Past $8bn by 2030, Outpacing CTV Rivals: Warc
Netflix’s ad‑supported tier is on track to generate $8 billion in advertising revenue by 2030, far outpacing the broader connected‑TV (CTV) market. The company posted $1.5 billion in ad sales in 2025, more than 2.5 times its 2024 figure, and aims to double...
Fake Quotes Undermine Truth and Stifle Real Critique
New piece. I want to talk about something that keeps happening and that I think is making all of us worse at knowing what's true. There's a real cost to this. Every fake quote displaces the real story. There are legitimate...
Ziff Davis Sees Big Hit to Affiliate Revenue in Q4
Ziff Davis reported Q4 2025 revenue of $406.7 million, a modest 1.5% decline, as affiliate commerce commissions fell $25 million, half of which occurred in the quarter. Tech and shopping segments saw revenues drop 18‑19% year‑over‑year, driving a 14% share plunge....
Instagram’s TV App Is Launching on Google TV Devices
Instagram’s Instagram for TV app expands to Google TV devices in the United States, following its December launch on Amazon Fire TV. The TV version lets users watch Reels and browse their Instagram feed on a large screen, with auto‑playing...
The First Version Wins
A fabricated quote attributed to Governor Gavin Newsom – “I’m a 960 SAT guy, I can’t read” – went viral, amassing nearly 55 million views after being posted by the conservative account EndWokeness. The original remarks were about Newsom’s dyslexia and...
Senior Producer (Remote)
The Athletic is hiring a remote Senior Producer/Editor for its flagship baseball podcast, Rates & Barrels. The role oversees audio and video post‑production, creates segment rundowns, and drives audience growth across YouTube, Discord, and other social platforms. Candidates must blend...
Kantar Media Rebrands as Fifty5Blue Post-PE Carve-Out
Kantar Media has completed its private‑equity carve‑out and rebranded as Fifty5Blue, retaining its core products Ibope, TGI and TechEdge while keeping its 4,500‑person workforce in London. CEO Patrick Béhar positions the new name as a signal of transparency and independence...
Smartphone Users Battle Meta Over 'Brazen Plot' To Identify Web Surfers
Meta Platforms is accused of a covert scheme that exploited a localhost vulnerability in Google’s Android OS to de‑anonymize mobile web users and tie their browsing activity to Facebook and Instagram accounts. Plaintiffs, led by California resident Devin Rose, filed...
Parents Seek Screen‑Free Summer, Traditions Surge 200%
Pinterest released its first-ever Parenting Trend Report 2026 Searches for “screen free activities” are up 200% YOY alongside: 📌 “family traditions ideas” (+200%) 📌 “no phone summer” (+340%) 📌 “digital detox aesthetic” (+95%) https://newsroom.pinterest.com/news/parenting-trend-report-2026/
Stop Euphemisms: It's a Digital ID, Not Age Verification
We need to stop using industry-friendly PR terms like “age verification” and call it what it is: Digital ID https://t.co/YbejVkq46A
James Bracey and Danika Mason Lead NRL Kick Off Live and Free From Las Vegas
The 2026 NRL season will launch from Las Vegas, with Channel 9 and 9Now broadcasting the opening round free‑to‑air on March 1. Hosts James Bracey and Danika Mason will front the Vegas Countdown, joined by a star‑studded analysis panel that includes Phil Gould, Paul Gallen...
AP to Host Live Capitol Show for SOTU
Just in: Late Night with the Associated Press? AP says it will produce a live show from inside the U.S. Capitol for SOTU, featuring AP reporters and invited guests. Veterans Meg Kinnard and Sagar Meghani will host, and program...
BravesVision Takes Control After RSN Collapse
Atlanta’s BravesVision Grabs Own Media Reins in Wake of RSN Crackup https://t.co/ElyRtrPlBk via @sportico @crupicrupicrupi
Yellowstone Boss' "Most Intimate Work": "Gripping" Drama Reveals "Profound Love Story" In Trailer
Taylor Sheridan returns with "The Madison", a six‑part drama on Paramount+ that follows Michelle Pfeiffer’s character Stacy Clyburn moving from NYC to Montana after a tragedy. The series, a spin‑off of Yellowstone, premieres March 14 with three episodes and concludes...
Great Discover Insights, but Google Removed Publisher Center
Really great information in here that aligns closely with the findings we see in our Discover clients' performance Except Google took away Publisher Center last year 😢 Nice work @metehan777
ESPN & Disney+ Sign New Deal For Banana Ball 2026 Season
Disney and ESPN have sealed a 25‑game exclusive Banana Ball agreement for the 2026 season, more than doubling the 2022‑23 package. Every contest will stream live on the ESPN App and Disney+, with select matchups broadcast on ESPN networks and ABC,...
Study: Premium Video Ads Outperform YouTube
A new Video Advertising Bureau (VAB) study, conducted with TVision, finds premium video platforms on connected TV outperform YouTube in key engagement metrics. Across Disney+, Netflix, HBO Max and other services, premium platforms deliver 33% higher co‑viewing, 49% longer session...
LITTLE LUNCH Back with New Grade 5 Crew
Little Lunch returns with a fresh instalment titled Little Lunch: New Class, introducing six new Year 5 students while veteran teacher Mrs Gonsha, played by Heidi Arena, reprises her role. The series is a co‑production between ABC, BBC and the Australian Children’s...
Comcast Advertising Names James Borow GM Of Universal Ads
Comcast Advertising promoted James Borow to general manager of its Universal Ads self‑service platform. Borow, formerly VP of product management and engineering, helped launch the product and will now steer strategy, operations, and execution as the service enters its second...
Emma Lawrence Makes History on TRIPLE M
Triple M announced its 2026 NRL broadcast lineup, appointing Emma Lawrence as the first female play‑by‑play caller in league history. Lawrence, a Triple M veteran since 2017, joins a team that includes former player Luke Keary and returning legend Ryan...
Showrunner Mara Brock Akil Sets Debut Novel ‘The Revelation of Dionne Daphne’
Veteran showrunner Mara Brock Akil is publishing her first novel, “The Revelation of Dionne Daphne,” on June 30, 2026 through Storehouse Voices, a Crown Publishing imprint. The story follows Dionne, a 30‑something NYC beauty editor whose seemingly perfect life unravels...
Film Independent Unveils 6 Recipients of 5th Annual Amplifier Fellowship | Exclusive
Film Independent announced the six recipients of its fifth‑annual Amplifier Fellowship, each awarded a $30,000 unrestricted grant and a 12‑month mentorship program. The cohort—Akil Rashad Anderson, Aurora Brachman, Claire Brooks, A. Sayeeda Moreno, Philip Thompson and Thanh Tran—covers both fiction...
Twitch Introduces Separate Streaming And Chatting Suspensions Under New Enforcement Framework
Twitch is overhauling its suspension system by introducing two distinct penalties—streaming suspensions and chat suspensions—linked directly to the type of policy breach. A streaming suspension blocks live broadcasts and disables the channel’s chat while still allowing the user to watch...
HBO Max Is Removing Live HBO Channels For Some Subscribers
Warner Bros. Discovery has begun stripping live HBO linear channels from its ad‑supported Max bundles, affecting users who access Max through the Disney+ Trio bundle with Hulu. The cuts remove niche channels such as HBO Family and several Cinemax offshoots,...
Griffin Media Introduces Bitcentral Core News At KWTV, KOTV
Griffin Media has deployed Bitcentral’s Core News platform across its flagship stations KWTV in Oklahoma City and KOTV in Tulsa. The rollout, which began on Nov. 2, 2025 at KWTV and Nov. 16 at KOTV, includes Bitcentral’s Precis, Oasis, Create and Fusion Hybrid...
Production Begins on ‘The Saddle Club’ CG Animated Series
Frog Box and Red Monk Studio have launched production on a 26‑episode CG adaptation of Bonnie Bryant’s bestselling The Saddle Club series. The European co‑production, backed by France Télévisions, Rai and ZDF, will be split between France and Italy, with Superprod...
Disney+ Taps Daniel Burman as Latin America Original Content Head
Disney+ has appointed Argentine filmmaker Daniel Burman as head of original content for Latin America, starting March 25. Burman will lead creative development, talent cultivation, and integrate Latin American storytelling into Disney’s global portfolio. He brings experience from founding Oficina...
CBS Sports Reaches Agreement for Paramount+ to Become Exclusive U.S. English-Language Home of All CONCACAF Women’s Competitions Through 2030
CBS Sports has secured exclusive English‑language U.S. rights to all CONCACAF women’s competitions through the 2029‑30 season, delivering more than 250 matches via Paramount+ and select broadcasts on CBS Sports Network and Golazo. The agreement covers the W Qualifiers and...
Politico Expands to Australia With ‘Playbook’ Newsletter
Politico announced it will launch a Canberra‑based edition of its flagship “Playbook” newsletter in the third quarter of 2026, marking the outlet’s first foray into the Australian market. The company rehired Ryan Heath as Australia Launch Editor to lead the effort...
‘The View’ Hosts ‘Take Offense’ to BAFTAs Editing Out ‘Free Palestine’ But Not the N-Word: ‘Should’ve Been a Knee-Jerk Reaction’
The View’s panel condemned BAFTA and the BBC for allowing an audible N‑word slur, uttered by a Tourette’s audience member, to remain in the live broadcast while a pro‑Palestine speech was edited out. The hosts argued that an immediate apology...
How to Write User-Facing Platform Policies
The article outlines best practices for crafting user‑facing platform policies, emphasizing clarity, legal alignment, and iterative improvement. It argues that transparent policies boost trust while reducing compliance risk for platforms. Practical guidance includes language simplicity, consistent structure, and real‑world examples....
Salem Announces New Podcast with Author Danielle Gill
Salem Media’s Podcast Network has launched a new show hosted by conservative author Danielle Gill. The series will explore culture, politics, and Christianity, extending Gill’s existing conversations about faith and conviction. Salem’s senior vice‑president of content, Phil Boyce, framed the...
YouTube Adds More Features to the Premium Lite Plan
YouTube announced that its Premium Lite tier now includes Background Play and video Downloads, features previously exclusive to the full Premium plan. The affordable $7.99‑per‑month subscription, launched in the U.S. in March 2025, continues to offer mostly ad‑free viewing but still...
Stingray Launches FAST Channels on Whale TV+
Stingray has launched a suite of free ad‑supported streaming (FAST) channels on Whale TV+, the free streaming platform operated by Singapore‑based Whale TV. The new lineup includes eight video channels—covering nature, wellness, art and ambience—and four audio channels ranging from...
Salem’s Tom Tradup to Attend SOTU From Visitors’ Gallery
Salem Radio Network vice president Tom Tradup will attend the State of the Union address from the House Visitors’ Gallery, thanks to an invitation from Rep. Josh Brecheen (R‑OK). Tradup, a veteran political reporter, says this will be his first...
MS Confirms NPR Report After Independent Forensic Investigation
MS Now also confirmed NPR’s report. And that stemmed from another independent journalist doing forensics. A free and plural press is likely all over this now. https://t.co/1VmPhN1wiv
Bruin Capital Appoints MD to Target Fan and Media Opportunities
NEWS: Bruin Capital Hires Managing Director to Focus on Fan, Media Opportunities 👇https://t.co/PF2Kr0t9a4 via @sportico @LuisaRBeltran
Bruin Hires Managing Director to Focus on Fan, Media Opportunities
Bruin Capital announced the hiring of Adam Hasiba as its first Managing Director, tasking him with expanding the firm’s sports, media and fan‑engagement platform. Hasiba leaves consumer‑focused private‑equity giant L Catterton after more than a decade, bringing deep experience scaling media‑centric...
DD Free Dish E-Auction Revenue Dips to Rs 642 Crore as Slot Sales Fall
Prasar Bharati’s DD Free Dish completed its 8th e‑auction, collecting Rs 642 crore for FY26‑27, down from Rs 780 crore the prior year. Only 55 MPEG‑2 slots were sold, compared with 61 previously, reflecting a slimmer inventory and a revamped auction framework. The new...
DreamWorks Sequel ‘The Bad Guys 2’ Sets Netflix US Release Date Following Peacock Stint
DreamWorks’ sequel *The Bad Guys 2* will debut on Netflix US on March 21, 2026 after a brief exclusive run on Peacock. The film will enjoy a ten‑month exclusive streaming window before reverting to Peacock in early 2027. This release is part of Universal’s...