Today's Media Pulse
US DOJ clears $111 bn Paramount‑Warner merger
The Justice Department approved Paramount Skydance’s $111 bn acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, citing $6 bn of projected synergies and concluding the deal is unlikely to harm competition. The clearance ends an eight‑month antitrust probe, but the UK Competition and Markets Authority has opened its own investigation with an Aug 7 deadline. The merger now moves forward pending any further challenges.
Also developing:
By the numbers: K-LOVE acquires Baltimore station in undisclosed deal
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. While operating income rose 9.6%, net income collapsed to $0.4 million after a $58 million pre‑tax loss on a divestiture. The company offered no 2026 guidance, citing ongoing evaluation of strategic options, including possible division sales, and emphasized growth in video advertising and licensing.
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...
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/
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
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...
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
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...
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...
People Mistakenly Think Politico Mirrors Complex's Publishing Schedule
The fact that people honestly believe POLITICO coordinates their editorial calendar based off Complex’s web publishing schedule. I worry for our nation
Roy Wood Jr. Poised to Rival CNN’s Top Anchors
Roy Wood Jr. doesn’t sound like Jake Tapper, Anderson Cooper or Erin Burnett. And yet, his importance to CNN could start approaching that of those popular anchors as CNN keeps digging into comedy programming as much as it does the...
Arch Platform Technologies, Wacom Integrate Wacom Bridge For Virtual Workflows’
Arch Platform Technologies and Wacom have integrated Wacom Bridge into Arch’s cloud GPU workstation platform, enabling artists to use Wacom pen displays with full driver support and reduced latency. The joint solution, launched on Feb. 24, offers a "local‑like" feel...
Wowza Appoints Jon Corley Chief Technology Officer
Wowza announced Jon Corley as its new chief technology officer, tasked with steering the company’s AI‑driven streaming strategy. Corley will shape the technology vision, engineering roadmap, and product‑innovation agenda to embed artificial intelligence throughout Wowza’s platform. The move aligns with...
The Trade Desk Launches ‘Ventura Ecosystem’ to Further Optimize CTV Advertising
The Trade Desk unveiled the Ventura Ecosystem, a collaborative framework linking global TV operating systems and streaming platforms to streamline connected‑TV (CTV) advertising. The initiative offers participants access to The Trade Desk’s ad‑tech suite—including OpenPath, Unified ID 2.0/EUID, OpenAds, and upcoming...
How Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Used XR to Bring the Peaks of the Dolomites Into View
Warner Bros. Discovery Sports faced a visual gap when studio cameras cut off the snow‑capped Dolomite peaks visible from its Cortina studio. Director of Graphics Alex Dinnin solved it with extended reality, stitching live PTZ footage into a virtual scene that restores...
BBC Shrinks IBC Footprint as Remote Production Takes Center Stage
The BBC is scaling back its on‑site IBC presence for the Milano‑Cortina 2026 Winter Games, opting for a leaner, remote‑production model anchored in Cortina, Livigno and its Salford headquarters. By consolidating editorial decisions in Salford and trimming infrastructure in Milan,...
Returning Near-Perfect BBC Thriller that Grips Fans Confirms Release Date with Action-Packed Trailer
BBC’s thriller *The Capture* returns for a third season on 8 March, with Holliday Grainger reprising Rachel Carey as Acting Commander of Counter Terrorism Command. The extended trailer reveals a London shooting whose footage has been altered by the covert “Correction”...
YouTube Joins TV Giants, Yet Critics Dismiss Competition
State of the Union Tonight airing on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, Fox News, MS Now & YouTube and yet people still say YouTube does not compete with TV...
Radio Workflow Expands Its Platform
Radio Workflow has upgraded its cloud‑native broadcast platform, unifying sales, production, traffic and management for small‑to‑mid‑market stations. The expansion introduces Broadcast Buddy, an AI‑driven assistant that handles meeting prep, email summarization, contract drafting and system navigation. New sales tools let...
Vernon Kay Reveals Who Should Replace Wife Tess Daly on Strictly Come Dancing
Vernon Kay has publicly endorsed Alex Jones as the ideal replacement for his wife Tess Daly on BBC One’s flagship dance show *Strictly Come Dancing*. Daly and co‑host Claudia Winkleman stepped down after a combined 21‑year run, prompting a shortlist that also includes...
Grab Attention: Proven Thumbnails That Drive Clicks
Thumbnails that made us stop 👀 Tiger chaos, a “cheating?” reveal, and pure Red Bull adrenaline. Get our free YT Thumbnails Hack Pack with 100 more top thumbnails: https://t.co/H5zQZBPsBe https://t.co/fNTUlQxN3l
Sony Pictures Boss Says He Has “No Regrets” Selling ‘KPop: Demon Hunters’ to Netflix
Sony Pictures Animation’s “KPop: Demon Hunters,” released on Netflix in June 2025, became the streaming platform’s most‑watched original title, pulling in hundreds of millions of views. Although critics called the sale a financial misstep because Sony gave up theatrical, franchise,...