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.
Over 23,000 Book Bans Documented as LGBTQ+ and Authors of Color Face Nationwide Crackdown
A coordinated wave of censorship has led to more than 23,000 book bans across U.S. schools and libraries in the past five years, with 4,235 titles challenged in 2025 alone. Activist groups, backed by state legislators, are targeting LGBTQ+ works and authors of color, prompting economic fallout for writers and publishers.
Paramount+ Streams UFC 328 Live; Free Access via Walmart+ Trial and VPN Options
UFC 328’s main event between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland streamed live on Paramount+ on May 9, with a free month of service bundled into Walmart+ subscriptions. Cable, satellite and VPN workarounds broadened access for U.S. and international viewers, underscoring...
Netflix to Remake 2004 Rom‑com '13 Going on 30' While Adding Original to Its Catalog
Netflix confirmed it will produce a remake of the 2004 body‑switch comedy '13 Going on 30' and simultaneously added the original film to its library. The move underscores the streamer’s push to mine nostalgia and expand its romantic‑comedy slate.
One Of Star Trek's Earliest Parody Shows Came From Get Smart's Co-Creator
In 1977 Buck Henry, co‑creator of Get Smart, launched *Quark*, a sci‑fi comedy that lampooned *Star Trek* and other genre staples. The pilot aired just weeks before *Star Wars* hit theaters, prompting NBC to order seven more episodes to ride the space‑opera craze....
5 Unforgettable TV Moms to Add to Your Mother’s Day 2026 Watchlist
The article spotlights five iconic TV mothers—Marge Simpson, Carol Brady, Peggy Bundy, Jessica Huang, and Florida Evans—as must‑watch picks for Mother’s Day 2026. It highlights each character’s cultural footprint, from Marge’s role in the longest‑running American animated series to Peggy...
James Charles Apologizes for TikTok Rant Targeting Laid-Off Spirit Airlines Employee
James Charles posted two TikTok videos berating a former Spirit Airlines employee who had messaged him for GoFundMe assistance after the airline’s May 2, 2026 bankruptcy left 17,000 workers jobless. He called the woman “lazy” and “entitled,” prompting immediate backlash that led...
AE Operational Dispatch (Audio Version) — May 10, 2026
The episode discusses three major topics: a Supreme Court decision (Louisiana v. Calais) that weakens the Voting Rights Act’s Section 2 enforcement against racial gerrymandering, the rapid expansion of massive data center projects—exemplified by a Kevin O'Leary‑backed facility in Utah—and the broader...
New York Times: More Than Just News, But Is the Valuation Good Enough?
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a new $351 million stake in The New York Times, buying roughly 5 million shares in Q4. The newspaper has accelerated its digital transformation, adding 450 k subscribers to reach about 12.8 million and delivering 25% growth in digital advertising revenue....
SUBSCRIBER SURVEY MAY 10
Lisa Remillard’s May 10 subscriber post thanks her audience and announces a new bonus perk for subscribers. She invites readers to vote on the next bonus story, framing the poll as a way to reward loyal supporters. The voting window is...
Why SocialFi Was Built on a Misreading of Its Own Medium
Anderl argues that SocialFi collapsed because it treated a cool, participation‑driven social medium as a hot, fully resolved market. By slapping real‑time prices on follows and posts, the category replaced the ambiguous social signal with a definitive price, turning users...
Two More Major Streaming Services Are Raising Their Prices Next Month
Starz and AMC+ announced a $1 monthly price increase effective June 8, 2026, raising their standard plans to $11.99 and $10.99 respectively. The hikes join a broader 2026 trend of streaming price adjustments, including Netflix, YouTube Premium, Amazon Prime Video and Paramount Plus....
Substack Is Blocking Me From Posting Notes
On May 10, 2026, a Substack writer known as The Wise Wolf reported that the platform blocked them from publishing new Notes. The author claims the restriction followed an automated system that mistakenly subscribed users to adult‑content channels. The post, which includes...
Avoid Vanity Presses: Don't Pay to Publish
Author friends, beware of posts luring you into signing with “publishers” like Harbor and Stone Press. This is a vanity press. You should *never* be paying someone to publish a book. They should pay you from the profits of your...
Parkour YouTubers Storror Remove Member Callum Powell After He Pleads Guilty to Indecent Image Offences
Storror, the 11‑million‑subscriber parkour YouTube collective, announced it has removed member Callum Powell following his guilty plea to making and possessing indecent images of children. The group issued an Instagram statement on May 10, describing the revelations as “appalling” and confirming...
Roku Changes Its Home Screen, Pushing You to Use Its Free Streaming Service The Roku Channel on Roku TVs &...
Roku has introduced a subtle shaking animation to the The Roku Channel icon on the home screens of its TVs and streaming players, a move designed to draw attention and increase app launches. The tactic mirrors an earlier experiment with...
50 Years Ago Today: Paul Harvey’s “The Rest of the Story” Premiered on ABC Radio Networks, Captivating Listeners for Decades...
On May 10, 1976 Paul Harvey launched *The Rest of the Story* on ABC Radio Networks, turning a wartime segment into a daily syndicated series. The program quickly expanded to more than 1,200 U.S. stations and 400 American Forces Network...
DStv Stream Problems for Former Showmax Customers
MultiChoice closed Showmax on April 30 and offered former subscribers a free trial of DStv Stream Compact, followed by a R99 promotional rate for twelve months before rising to R399. Numerous users report never receiving the promised email link, and some...
Here's How to Make Your TV Sound Better (for Free)
Modern televisions use thin panels and rear‑facing speakers, which often produce thin, muffled audio that makes dialogue hard to hear. CNET outlines free ways to improve sound, starting with built‑in sound modes such as Clear Voice or Speech Boost, and...
What To Watch Sunday: Call The Midwife And Rooster Wrap, The Comeback Ends, And More
TVLine’s Sunday guide highlights a packed lineup for May 10, 2026, featuring season finales of PBS’s long‑running drama Call the Midwife (Season 15) and HBO’s new series Rooster (Season 1), as well as the series finale of HBO’s The Comeback. The evening also includes...
WNBA TV Surge, yet $40 League Pass Still a Steal
There's a record 200+ WNBA games on national TV this year, but WNBA League Pass still looks like a good deal at $40/season. It'll include 167 games (minus local blackouts) by my math.
‘My Colour Blindness Is Going to Be a Problem’: Gaurav Khanna on Participating in KKK 15
Television actor Gaurav Khanna, fresh off wins on Celebrity MasterChef and Bigg Boss 19, is joining the stunt‑based reality series Khatron Ke Khiladi 15. He says the show will test his limits, especially given his colour blindness, golfer’s elbow and frozen shoulder. Khanna also cites...
WWE Backlash 2026 Streams Live on ESPN in the U.S. and Netflix Worldwide
WWE Backlash 2026 took place on May 9 at Tampa's Benchmark International Arena, headlined by Roman Reigns defending the World Heavyweight Championship against cousin Jacob Fatu. The pay‑per‑view was broadcast live on ESPN in the United States and streamed globally via...
Sheridan Smith's '60s-Set Drama Will Be Removed From Netflix Soon – Don't Miss Out
Sheridan Smith’s 2014 three‑episode miniseries *Cilla* – a 1960s‑set drama about the iconic TV presenter – is slated to leave Netflix soon, likely around its one‑year anniversary on the platform. The series, which debuted on ITV and later joined Netflix...
Press Groups Demand Docs as Paramount Skydance Accused of Promising CNN Purge in $111 B Warner Deal
Two press‑freedom investors have filed a Delaware‑law request for Paramount Skydance’s internal records, alleging that David Ellison and Oracle founder Larry Ellison promised to overhaul CNN in exchange for Trump‑friendly regulatory approval of a $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery takeover. The...
Why CBS Evening News May Never Recover From Bari Weiss' Meddling
Seven months after Bari Weiss, a partisan newsletter editor, took over CBS News, the network’s flagship Evening News has slumped to record lows. Ratings data show April 2026 was the second‑lowest April ever and the worst ever in the key...
AI Adoption Hits 16.3% Globally, Prompting a Strategic Shift in Digital Advertising
Microsoft’s 2025 Global AI Adoption Report finds 16.3% of the world—about one in six people—now use AI tools daily. Yeahmobi says the milestone is reshaping ad targeting, with mature markets moving toward performance‑driven messaging and emerging markets focusing on accessibility...
Humanoid Robot Fight Goes Viral as Bay Area Store Prepares for Season 1 Launch
Cix Liv’s virtual‑reality firm showcased the first public duel between Engine and Unitree humanoid robots at its new San Francisco store, sparking a viral video that has drawn millions of views. The showdown sets the stage for the Ultimate Fighting...
Hannah Waddingham Provides Shot In Arm For ‘Saturday Night Live UK’s Viewing Figures
Hannah Waddingham hosted the penultimate episode of Sky's Saturday Night Live UK, pulling a live audience of 197,200 – the third‑largest rating of the season. The episode’s viewership more than tripled when catch‑up, streaming and repeat airings were included, underscoring...
Celtic v Rangers Live Stream, TV Channel – Where to Watch SPL on Tv Today
Celtic host Rangers at Celtic Park on May 10, with the Old Firm clash streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. Both clubs are within striking distance of league leaders Hearts, with Celtic three points behind...
What to Do About the White House Correspondents Dinner After an Attack?
A gunman breached the Washington Hilton security checkpoint on April 25, forcing the abrupt shutdown of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner attended by 2,570 guests. President Trump vowed to reschedule the event within 30 days, targeting a May 25 deadline,...
Eight Tips to Help You Become so Consistent You Make People Blush
The blog post outlines eight tactics for building relentless consistency in online content creation, arguing that consistency outweighs perfection for audience growth and revenue. It urges creators to discard the fear of “overdoing it” and to embrace a mindset of...
EU's Twitter Regulation and VPN Bans Silence Dissent
This perspective needs to be debated in Europa - the comparison that it is the behavior of totalitarian states cannot be neglected The problem is obvious if EU states do both: 1. Regulate content on Twitter 2. Bans VPNs Then you have...
Kevin Hart’s Unique Netflix Special Streams Live Today
Netflix will stream Kevin Hart's "The Roast of Kevin Hart" live today at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET from the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. The event is hosted by comedian Shane Gillis and is a centerpiece of the Netflix Is a...
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The Devil Wears Prada 2 Helps Stabilize Theater Traffic – Placer.ai Blog
The release of *The Devil Wears Prada 2* on May 1, 2026 helped halt a slide in theater foot traffic that had been driven by tough year‑over‑year comparisons to April 2025’s blockbuster slate. April 2026 visits were down YoY after a strong March 2026 that benefited...
How to Buy Podcast Ads: A 2026 Playbook
Podcast advertising has moved from experimental to a core media category, with global ad revenue reaching $4.02 billion in 2024 and U.S. spend at $2.57 billion. The playbook outlines how B2B marketers can treat podcast buys with the same rigor as paid...
What Bulk Buyers Actually Need From a Publishing Partner
Bulk buyers of guest posts are shifting focus from the cheapest links to reliable, scalable publishing partnerships. Agencies that manage 20‑100 placements each quarter need predictable workflows, consistent editorial standards, and responsive human support. The Good Men Project exemplifies this...
KATSEYE’s Manon Confirmed as Guest Judge on 'Germany’s Next Top Model'
Manon, a member of K‑pop group KATSEYE, will serve as a guest judge on Germany's Next Top Model when the episode airs on May 14, marking her first public appearance since a February hiatus from the group. The appearance, previewed in...
Bafta Doubles Down on Preparations for Sunday TV Awards After N-Word Fallout
Bafta is tightening its production safeguards ahead of the Sunday TV Awards after a racially offensive outburst by audience member John Davidson at February’s film ceremony. The incident, which saw the N‑word aired live and later edited only partially, prompted...
Dexter: Resurrection Season 2 — New Cast Announcements and Everything We Know so Far About the Hit Paramount+ Show's Return
Paramount+ confirmed that Dexter: Resurrection season two began filming in April, with the original cast returning and two high‑profile actors, Brian Cox and Dan Stevens, joining as new serial killers. The show’s October renewal follows strong viewership, but no official...
How a Daytime Talk Show Landed at the Centre of a Free Speech Battle
ABC’s daytime talk show *The View* is facing an FCC inquiry over possible violations of the equal‑airtime rule after the Trump administration urged its cancellation. The network argues the program has a news exemption dating back to 2002 and is...
‘They’re Nice People but ...’: Is Public Funding News Media Its Saviour or Threatening Its Freedom?
Ireland’s media regulator Coimisiún na Meán (CnaM) is channeling roughly €15 million ($16.3 M) of state money into local and national news outlets for 2026. The funding covers court, local‑government, digital‑transformation and radio reporting, with major publishers like Mediahuis and The Irish...
Vision Realized: “My_straight_friends” Digital Series Launching Soon
We had a vision. We made it happen. my_straight_friends the digital series coming later this month. 💋
Great Packaging and Content Guarantee YouTube Success
This is fascinating the results were 50/50. I feel like if you make great packaging and great content, you’ll win on YouTube, and it’s been like that for a while.
Blonde, Fervent and Fake: Can AI-Generated Trump Fans Boost Him in the Midterms?
AI-generated avatars that echo Trump’s MAGA rhetoric are proliferating on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, creating hyper‑realistic influencers that mimic real supporters. Purdue University’s GRAIL lab has catalogued hundreds of these synthetic accounts, some amassing nearly a million followers before platform...
Six Must‑Watch Dramas After Finishing Beef Season 2
Binged Beef season 2 on Netflix? No fear. There's plenty more where that came from with these six engrossing dramas all ready to be watched next. https://t.co/Vq5w5Z95Cx
Watch Celtic vs Rangers Live: Free Streaming Options
All the ways to watch Celtic vs Rangers live streams online – including for FREE – in a pivotal Scottish Premiership 2025/26 clash at Celtic Park. https://t.co/0pdwotLwnz
William Shatner Had An Interracial TV Kiss Years Before Star Trek's Kirk And Uhura
In 1968, William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols shared a kiss on Star Trek, widely cited as television’s first Black‑white scripted kiss. Earlier, Shatner had already performed interracial kisses: in 1958 on The Ed Sullivan Show with Asian‑American actress France Nuyen and...
Human Hosts Define Podcasts, AI Strips Their Soul
What makes podcasts special are the human hosts, and producing AI content takes that away. https://t.co/joGgytagm7
'Podslop' Is a Real and Growing Problem — Data Shows 39% of New Podcasts Are Now 'Likely' Generated by AI....
Bloomberg data shows 39% of new podcasts are likely AI‑generated, a trend dubbed “podslop.” Companies such as Inception Point AI can churn out hundreds of shows daily using tools like Notebook LM, while AI‑driven hits like the Epstein Files have amassed...
24‑hour Test Proves Ghost Can Mimic Substack Landing Page
So I did a 24 hour test with a Substack-like landing page, using a customized version of the Ghost Nikko theme. https://t.co/1QQhIhgHXg