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.
Daily Express Is the Next Reach Plc Title to Go Premium
The Daily Express has launched a new Express Premium subscription, offering ad‑lite reading, exclusive journalism, and perks like the Daily Expresso newsletter and enhanced commenting. New subscribers can try the service for £1 in the first month and receive priority event access and special offers. This move follows Reach plc's broader rollout of paywalls at titles such as the Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo, and Wales Online. The premium tier is positioned to deepen reader‑journalist relationships while diversifying revenue beyond advertising.
Bostopia’s Evan George Serves Boston Daily News From a Lefty Perspective
Boston native Evan George has built a daily news brand, Bostopia, delivering Boston headlines in 60‑second TikTok videos. Leveraging his background in political organizing and a graduate education in sociology, he walks the city, cites local journalists, and adds a...
Let’s Get This Place Spiffed Up
Radio stations face mounting obsolete gear as technology advances, prompting a shift toward leaner facilities and consolidation. The article outlines a step‑by‑step plan for inventory audits, staff communication, and systematic removal of outdated equipment. It emphasizes documentation, recycling, and potential...
Mychal Threets-Hosted Reading Rainbow Reboot Gets Sony TV Order / Peter Attia Out at CBS News / Druski Joins The...
Mychal Threets is front‑running a new Reading Rainbow reboot that has secured a 24‑episode order from Sony for broadcast and streaming. The series builds on a four‑episode digital revival released last October on Sony’s Kudzoko YouTube channel. Threets, known as...
‘The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins’ Review: Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe Rake in the Laughs
NBC’s new sitcom “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” stars Tracy Morgan as a disgraced former NFL star who hires Oscar‑winner Daniel Radcliffe to document his redemption. Created by Robert Carlock and Sam Means, with Tina Fey as executive producer, the series blends...
NBCUniversal Brings Top Titles to London TV Screenings
NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution used this year’s London TV Screenings to debut three flagship series – the ensemble drama The Five-Star Weekend starring Jennifer Garner, the high‑octane thriller Prisoner featuring Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle, and the character‑driven comedy Dog Park....
RAIN Notes: February 23
HeartMedia’s new study defines a growing audience – bicultural Latinos who identify equally as American and Hispanic – and highlights their media habits. Radio remains dominant, reaching nine‑in‑ten of this group each month, while 90% regularly consume English‑language content and...
SPI International & A1 Group Launch FilmBox+ in Southeast Europe
SPI International has rolled out its FilmBox+ streaming service in Bulgaria and Serbia through a partnership with telecom operator A1 Group. The launch builds on FilmBox+'s existing presence in Poland, Hungary and Romania, extending the brand’s reach in Southeast Europe....
ABC Orders Tasma Walton’s WA Crime Drama Pilli Sisters PI to Series
ABC has ordered a six‑part crime drama titled Pilli Sisters PI, created and written by actress‑author Tasma Walton. The series follows Indigenous sisters running a private investigation firm in Fremantle, Western Australia, and will be filmed across the state. Production...
Cobalt Digital To Feature New End-to-End IPMX, ST 2110 Solutions At 2026 NAB Show
Cobalt Digital will unveil a suite of new end‑to‑end IPMX and SMPTE ST 2110 solutions at the 2026 NAB Show, including the blueCORE 1RU processor family, upgraded PACIFIC ULL‑DEC decoder with dual SDI/ST 2110 output, a factory‑installed DVB‑S/S2 demodulator, and hybrid satellite‑internet...
Netflix
Keep in mind in the Netflix vs. Paramount contest for Warner Bros... Netflix does not propose to absorb CNN, TNT, TBS. It would spin them off in a new company like Comcast did with MSNBC. Whereas the Ellisons want to show...
As Return of Excellent Police Drama Blue Lights Approaches, Show Creators Land Brand-New BBC Drama
The BBC has commissioned a six‑episode drama titled “D‑Notice” from Adam Patterson and Declan Lawn, the creators of the acclaimed police series Blue Lights. Filming will take place in Belfast and London, and the series will examine the UK government’s...
"Incredible" Police Sitcom Branded "Fun and Refreshing" Is Coming to Netflix
Netflix will debut the police sitcom “Good Cop/Bad Cop” on March 3, featuring Leighton Meester and Luke Cook as sibling detectives in a quirky Pacific Northwest town. The series, originally aired on The CW in 2025, earned a 91 % Rotten Tomatoes score and a...
Duetti Secures $200M to Target Undervalued Music Rights
Duetti just raised $200 million. It built the infrastructure to invest in the music rights that other companies may overlook. My latest episode on Trapital sits down with Duetti CEO @ltibon to discuss. Check out our latest episode: "Follow The Money:...
AI-Driven Kids Media Firm Animaj Strikes Global Deal with The Orchard’s Magic Star and Sony Music Publishing
Animaj, a digital‑first kids media company, has signed a global music partnership with Magic Star, The Orchard’s children’s division, and Sony Music Publishing. Magic Star will distribute Animaj’s recordings worldwide while Sony will administer publishing rights for its song catalog....
A Star Trek Producer Has A Perfect Idea To Bring Back Scott Bakula's Captain Archer
Star Trek producer Michael Sussman has outlined a new series centered on Scott Bakula’s Captain Jonathan Archer, envisioning the character’s later years as president of the United Federation of Planets. The concept, tentatively titled “Star Trek: United,” builds on a...
Waterloo Sparkling Water Names Dentsu Creative Social AOR as Brand Expands
Waterloo Sparkling Water has appointed Dentsu Creative as its social agency of record, coinciding with the rollout of new flavors Banana Berry Bliss, Melon Medley and a year‑round Lemon Italian Ice. The partnership is timed to the opening of the...
Games Journalism’s Challenges in 2026: The BIG Show with Christopher Dring and Kaare Eriksen
Video game journalism entered 2026 under severe pressure, with widespread layoffs, shrinking freelance budgets, and shifting audience habits eroding traditional business models. At GamesBeat’s Hollywood & Games event, Alexander Lee interviewed Christopher Dring and Kaare Eriksen, who highlighted the sector’s...
Steve Goldstein: Apple Just Moved the Center of Gravity in Podcasting
Apple’s recent rollout of native video in Apple Podcasts marks a pivotal shift, turning video into a core podcast format and introducing Apple’s first large‑scale video ad revenue share. This move accelerates the “liquid content era,” where shows fluidly switch...
Video Growth Lead – Temporary
Lemonada Media is hiring a part‑time, temporary Video Growth Lead to boost its YouTube and short‑form video presence. The role, reporting to the SVP of Content & Production, will create, edit, and optimize video assets for shows like *Don’t Listen...
Dentsu Entertainment, Iconic Arts Partner to Create Brand-Oriented IP
Dentsu Entertainment announced a strategic partnership with Iconic Arts to develop original, brand‑centric intellectual property, emphasizing anime and serialized formats. The collaboration will initially serve Dentsu’s Japan‑US synergy initiatives, helping Japanese and global brands launch cross‑market franchises. Leveraging Iconic Arts’...
AI Automates Personalized eBook Generation in Hours
More AI-coded fun things 📕 Yesterday I asked it to build an ePub and PDF generator for my book https://t.co/VEoyhFdCOd I still update and write on it, but every time I had to print the book (it's HTML) as a PDF, and...
Exploring Media Theory: Ong, McLuhan, Gutenberg Parenthesis
Oh, how I'd love to nerd-out with Joe Wiesenthal and @DKThomp about Ong, McLuhan, and the Gutenberg Parenthesis. 1/ https://t.co/rdWwCs10Su
What Happens to Book Publicity Now?
The author of Publishing Confidential announces that the newsletter will become 80% paid, offering a $6/month subscription with group discounts and free options for those in need. The piece then examines the evolving landscape of book publicity, noting the decline...
Peter Attia Removed as CBS News Contributor
…. And the shoe drops. Peter Attia out as Cbs News contributor. This was just waiting to happen. Story here: https://t.co/99esYUSIJH
Hollywood Writers Deny AI Acceptance, Call It Misinformation
He’s just flat out lying. Hollywood writers hate AI and have been fighting against it. They want you guys to think this stuff is being normalized by the masses when it’s not
Headliner and Hubhopper Partner to Bring AI-Powered Video Clipping to Podcasters
Hubhopper has integrated Headliner’s AI‑powered video‑clipping toolkit, letting podcasters turn full‑length video episodes into up to ten short clips with a single click. The workflow lets creators upload, generate, and schedule clips to YouTube and, soon, Apple Podcasts directly from...
Presidential Remarks Won’t Sway DOJ Approval, but May Affect Sale
The president's comments about Netflix/Susan Rice shouldn't have bearing over the approval of any WBD deal — a decision to sue to block would be made by the DOJ which would face an indp judge in court — BUT his...
Olympic Gold Skate Propels Donna Summer's Streaming Surge
Donna Summer is hot again thanks to Olympic ⛸️ Alysa Liu’s Olympic Gold Skate Sends Donna Summer Streams Soaring: https://t.co/awwuTGQRmj via @sportico @germanotes w/ data from @luminate_data
5 Reasons Why 30 Rock Fans Need To Check Out NBC's The Fall And Rise Of Reggie Dinkins
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins premiered on NBC on February 23, starring Tracy Morgan as a fallen football star seeking a comeback. Created by 30 Rock veterans Robert Carlock and Sam Means, with Tina Fey as executive producer, the...
NYT's AI-Driven Overhaul Saved Dying Newspaper Model
Left: what happened to newspaper stocks. Right: what NYT did about it. The product that survived looks nothing like the one that was dying. The software/AI playbook may already exist https://t.co/OL43xsRz6Q
Post Leveson Chill in Police-Press Relations Thaws After 15 Years with New Rulebook
After fifteen years of strained police‑press relations following the Leveson Inquiry, the College of Policing has issued updated communications standards for England and Wales. The new rulebook encourages officers at all levels to engage with journalists, permits off‑the‑record briefings, and...
The 10 Fastest-Growing UK Instagram Accounts Of January 2026
Manchester United led the UK Instagram surge in January 2026, adding 497,000 followers to reach 66.1 million total. Harry Styles, Owen Cooper, Olivia Dean and other entertainers followed, each gaining between 191,000 and 419,000 new followers. The growth was driven by a...
Substack Doubles Down On Canada, Hiring Digital Media Veteran Mark Swierszcz To Expand Subscription-Led Publishing
Substack has hired veteran digital‑media executive Mark Swierszcz as its first Head of Partnerships for Canada, signaling a focused push into its third‑largest market. Swierszcz brings a decade of experience from MTV, MuchMusic, YouTube and Google Canada to grow creator,...
How Crave, the Canadian Streamer Behind ‘Heated Rivalry,’ Is Making a Name for Itself in America and Beyond
Canadian streamer Crave’s original series “Heated Rivalry” has become a breakout hit, pulling in roughly 11.5 million U.S. viewers on HBO Max and ranking as the platform’s top‑acquired series. The show’s success has driven a 26 percent subscriber surge for Crave, adding over...
Outlander's Caitríona Balfe Promises 'Revenge, Reunions, Revelations' From The Very Start Of Action-Packed Final Season
Caitríona Balfe revealed that Outlander’s final season will be driven by “revenge, reunions, revelations,” hinting at the possible return of the long‑presumed‑dead daughter Faith. She noted Jamie will shoulder a new, solitary burden while Claire begins to discover hidden abilities. The...
Shaboozey Expands EMPIRE Relationship by Signing With Publishing Arm
EMPIRE announced a new publishing agreement with Grammy‑winning artist Shaboozey, extending the partnership that began with his 2021 label signing. The deal follows the massive success of “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which logged 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard...
MAFS UK Star Reveals "Wobble" Moment that Didn't Air Ahead of the Show's New Reunion Episode
The season‑10 reunion of Married at First Sight UK will air on March 1, featuring a lineup of past couples. Abigail Callahan disclosed on a YouTube interview that she experienced an emotional "wobble" during filming, prompting her to ask the crew...
Luis Estrada to Lead KVMR Community Radio
Luis Estrada, a veteran public‑media professional with more than 11 years at KPBS, will become general manager of KVMR Community Radio in Nevada City on March 2. He also founded the bilingual production firm ES Creative Gang, giving him a strong...
Millennial Entertainment: Inside The Strategy Behind Long-Term Talent Growth In The Creator Economy
Millennial Entertainment, a Beverly Hills‑based 360° talent firm founded in 2017, positions itself as a long‑term career architect for creators, athletes and performers. Co‑founders Jack Reed and Max Litke emphasize a full‑service model that extends beyond brand deals into podcast...
A ‘Classic Radio Station’ Finds A New Owner
A 1 kW Class C AM station broadcasting vintage 1960s rock from Oregon’s capital is set to change hands, pending Federal Communications Commission approval. The outlet, operating with a single tower, has cultivated a dedicated niche audience that values analog authenticity. Ownership...
Ozen.fm Arrives in Brazil and Appoints Priscila Falcone as Commercial Director
Ozen.fm, a global podcast and digital‑audio platform, announced its market entry in Brazil and hired Priscila Falcone as Commercial Director. Falcone will head commercial operations, leveraging her decade‑long experience in programmatic media and audio advertising. The launch aligns with rapid...
Guggenheim Brothers Media Wants To Institutionalize The Creator Economy’s Middle Market
Guggenheim Brothers Media has launched a $75 million fund, anchored by Abu Dhabi’s Ethmar International, to fill the middle‑market funding gap in the creator economy. The Los Angeles‑based firm will invest $1‑5 million in 20‑25 early‑ to growth‑stage media and entertainment companies...
Telos Alliance Offers AERO Software Update To Correct Nielsen Watermark Issue
Telos Alliance announced a software update (v3.32.47) for its Linear Acoustic AERO series to incorporate the latest Nielsen watermark encoding library and fix a timestamp reset issue that would affect data reporting after Jan 1, 2027. The update covers current AERO models—including...
Monday Memo: “What Matters Next” For Radio?
Kate O’Neill’s new book *What Matters Next* argues that AI itself isn’t the disruptor for radio—human behavior is, and AI merely speeds up its effects. The author warns stations against using AI to double down on sameness, insisting that originality...
There’s No Point Aiming To Go Viral – It Hardly Ever Happens
A new Duetti Music Economics Report examined over 6 million tracks from 2025 and found that only about 1.1% of songs achieve a viral spike, defined as a five‑fold stream increase in a month. Sustaining that momentum is even rarer, with...
Audacy Expands WGR Programming to Rochester
Audacy is extending its flagship WGR Sports Radio brand into the Rochester market by simulcasting most of the Buffalo‑based programming on WROC‑AM and its FM translator W239BF. The station will keep its WROC call letters but adopt the WGR Rochester...
Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend (2/21-22)
Talk media’s weekend roundup highlighted five headline‑grabbing stories: the Supreme Court rejected former President Trump’s tariff policy, a security guard was killed at Mar‑a‑Lago, tensions between the United States and Iran intensified, a Mexican cartel strike disrupted operations, and the...
TIDAL Expands Its Spotlight Program to More Artists
Tidal has expanded its Spotlight program to Canada, the UK and several European markets, adding eleven countries in total. The initiative ties directly to Tidal Upload, allowing any publicly posted track to enter an editorial review queue without a separate...
Podcast Advertising Fell In January From Holiday High
Podcast advertising spend plunged 21% in January, falling to $59.8 million for the top 15 advertisers from a December peak of $75.9 million. The decline follows a holiday‑driven surge and signals a market correction. Despite the overall drop, brands such as T‑Mobile...