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:
PUBG Mobile Fans Convinced VTuber Usada Pekora Is Getting a Skin After Mystery Reveal
PUBG Mobile Japan posted a mysterious silhouette on May 8, sparking fan speculation that the image represents Hololive VTuber Usada Pekora. The teaser featured a rabbit‑like outline, twin braids, and the chant “buzz buzz cha♪,” all hallmarks of Pekora’s persona. Earlier in 2024 the game only offered a Pekora voice‑card, so a full character skin would mark a significant upgrade. Krafton has not confirmed the skin, but the Cover Corp watermark fuels expectations of a new crossover.
Matt Damon and Noah Kahan on ‘SNL’: How to Watch the Sketch Comedy TV Series Live Online
On May 9, Saturday Night Live aired with Oscar‑winner Matt Damon returning as host for his third appearance, while folk singer‑songwriter Noah Kahan performed as the musical guest for the second time. Damon used the platform to promote his upcoming film The Odyssey, slated for...
Brands' Secret AI Use Tops Social Media Sins
Brands hiding their use of AI in social posts is their biggest social media sin, according to a Sprout Social survey. 28% Unlabeled AI-Generated Content 23% Engagement Bait 14% Political Commentary 13% Automated DMs 12% Posting Too Much
First Amendment Lawyer Warns FCC's Disney Attack Violates Constitution
Famed First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams told @passantino that the FCC's attacks on Disney are "so clearly politically rooted" that basic Constitutional protections should protect the company from the agency's attacks. More in @statusnews: https://www.status.news/p/the-mouse-bites-back
Brilliant Minds: Cast of NBC Series React to Cancellation Ahead of Drama’s Return
NBC announced the cancellation of its medical drama "Brilliant Minds" after two seasons, leaving six episodes unaired. The series follows Dr. Oliver Wolf, a neurologist with a rare condition, and will conclude when the remaining episodes air beginning May 27. Cast...
Instagram Pivots to Champion Long‑form Creators for Next Years
Instagram’s VP of Product says she’s thinking about how the platform can best support long-form creators over the next 1-2 years — a complete reversal of IG's previous focus on short-form, shareable content https://liahaberman.substack.com/p/icymi-instagrams-return-to-long-form
AI Founder Shows Personal OS for Emails, Content, Groceries
My next guest, @moritzkremb, is an AI founder who built a personal OS in Claude Code to help with emails, content, and even buying groceries. He walked me through his full setup including all the folders, tools, skills, and routines pictured...
Make Sure Your Voice Is Heard and Brand Yourself
Radio talent must prioritize their live show while using digital channels as an extension to grow their personal brand. Effective time management—such as pre‑recording segments—creates space for on‑demand distribution, social media clips, and video streaming that can generate additional ratings...
Chris Pratt’s $468M Batman Movie Is Leaving Netflix
The 2014 animated feature The LEGO Movie, starring Chris Pratt and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, will be removed from Netflix on June 1, 2026. The film was produced on a $60 million budget and generated $470.7 million worldwide, earning a 96%...
Hulu No Longer Moving Forward With New YA Series “Foster Dade”
Hulu has officially passed on the youth‑adult mystery pilot “Foster Dade,” which was based on Nash Jenkins’ debut novel and developed by Greg Berlanti’s team at Warner Bros. Television. The series, set between 2008 and the present, tackled themes of privilege,...
Here’s Why You Should Become a Paid Supporter of Media Nation for Just $6 a Month
Media Nation, a media blog founded by Dan Kennedy in 2001, celebrates 25 years of free commentary on media, politics, and local news. While the site has remained ad‑free, Kennedy now invites readers to become Patreon supporters for $6 a...
Sean Duffy Launches Anti-Marxist “Great American Road Trip” Series
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled a five‑part reality series, “Great American Road Trip,” filmed over seven months with his wife and nine children. The show, timed for America’s 250th birthday, is positioned as a patriotic counter‑narrative to what Duffy...
AI Will Separate Strategic Agencies From Basic Set‑ups
AI won’t kill Meta ad agencies. It will expose the ones that only sell basic setup work. Businesses still need humans for strategy, positioning, creative thinking, and profitable scaling. But agencies ignoring AI will absolutely fall behind, because speed and execution...
Journalists Prioritize Semantics Over Objective Reporting
What has gone wrong with the ability of journalists to report objectively on anything these days? “Pedestrian” as opposed to trespasser.
BetMGM‑Fremantle Deal Yields Record $240K Win on ‘The Price Is Right’
Contestant Vanesa from Virginia walked away with more than $240,000 after playing the new “Lion’s Share” game on CBS’s The Price Is Right. The win, announced by BetMGM and Fremantle, marks the largest single‑game payout in the show’s daytime history...
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I just sent "🌷 Beautiful Moments, Plaid Mode & Why Khanmigo Just Died" to my 9.3K+ subscribers. Be sure to get on my list to get the next one straight to your inbox. https://t.co/yL1iZLYMWo via @kit
A Live TV Blunder's 20-Year Cultural Impact
Decades before and better than the Ligma-Johnson interviews we have not a set up, but a genuine mistake. A Mistaken Guy: The 20-Year Legacy of a Live TV Blunder https://t.co/PMQxOWSX19
Hasbro CEO Charts D&D’s Leap Into Video Games and Media
Hasbro chief executive Chris Cocks announced a multi‑year plan to expand Dungeons & Dragons into video games and other media, citing the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 and a new sci‑fi RPG called Exodus. The strategy leans on older fans, co‑creation...
Substack UK Paid Subscriptions Top 500,000, Signaling Creator Economy Surge
Substack disclosed that paid subscriptions to U.K.-based creators have crossed the half‑million mark, cementing the market as its second‑largest after the United States. The milestone reflects a broader shift toward paid, creator‑driven content as the platform expands beyond newsletters into...
Elle Kennedy's Off Campus Premieres on Prime Video
The hit Elle Kennedy books series is finally getting its small screen adaptation. But when does Off Campus drop on Prime Video? https://t.co/InB2VTwDgs
Daredevil: Born Again Season 3 Arrives in 2027
Daredevil: Born Again season 3 will be released sometime in 2027 — here's everything we know ahead of its eventual release. https://t.co/TadjLvmt5V
ASI Study Finds Promo Products Yield $0.006 Impressions, Beats Digital Ads
The Advertising Specialty Institute released a 2026 Global Advertising Impressions Study showing promotional products generate brand impressions at just $0.006 each, a fraction of the cost of TV and digital media. The findings, based on surveys of nearly 5,000 consumers,...
Blavity Media Group Shutting Down 21Ninety, Home & Texture Brands
Blavity Media Group announced it will shut down its 21Ninety lifestyle site for Black women and the Home & Texture home‑ownership platform. The decision follows a steep traffic decline that the company attributes to Google’s AI‑driven search changes and social‑media...
"62% Won’t Pay $70 Anymore": Gen Z's Shift Toward Xbox Game Pass Has Me Rethinking How We Buy Video Games...
According to the IGN and Dentsu “Generations in Play: 2026” report, 62% of gamers—driven largely by Gen Z—no longer purchase full‑price games, opting instead for subscription services like Xbox Game Pass. The study highlights a generational shift toward treating games as...
Maruti Suzuki Extends WPP Media’s Rs 1,200 Crore Media Mandate
Maruti Suzuki India has extended its partnership with WPP Media for another year, retaining a media mandate valued at roughly ₹1,200 crore (about $145 million). The automaker’s FY2025 advertising spend climbed to ₹1,127.5 crore ($136 million) as it leaned on marketing to counter slowing...
Google's Illegal Monopolies Fuel Open Web's Demise
Google Inc, having been found in courts to have six illegal monopolies including search, continues to get away with a “delay, deny, deflect” approach as they accelerate their killing of the open web while surpassing $300 BILLION in ad revenues...
The Sims 4 Teams up with Netflix for Big Bridgerton Crossover
Electronic Arts’ The Sims 4 is launching a Bridgerton‑themed crossover on May 12, 2024. The "Lady Bridgerton’s Masquerade Ball Bundle" adds a Masquerade Ball Fashion Kit, a Ballroom Kit, and three exclusive items such as a bassinet and piano. Limited‑time login events...
'Dark Horse' - Teaser
A new political thriller, "Dark Horse," starring Jim Caviezel as Jair Bolsonaro, is set to premiere on June 15 at the Fraud Fighter’s Summit in Las Vegas. The film arrives amid a turbulent Brazil‑U.S. backdrop that includes President Lula’s abrupt...
United Airlines And Boeing Paid For The Transportation Secretary’s New Reality Show
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and his family will star in a YouTube reality series, "The Great American Road Trip," funded by major transportation firms including United Airlines, Boeing, and Toyota through a nonprofit. The series, timed for the nation’s...
Google Adds More AI Search Links, Still No Click Data For SEOs via @Sejournal, @MattGSouthern
Google rolled out five new link features for its generative AI search, shifting inline links closer to the supporting text, adding an "Explore new angles" section, expanding source quotes, introducing hover previews, and labeling subscription content. The changes aim to...
“R.J. Decker” Renewed For A Second Season
R.J. Decker, a new drama from 20th Television based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel Double Whammy, premiered on ABC and Hulu earlier this year. The series, starring Scott Speedman as a former photographer‑turned‑private investigator, pulled 11.64 million viewers across broadcast and streaming...
Roku Adds 15 New Live Free Channels on Roku TVs & Players,- A New Roku Lawsuit – A Popular Sports...
Roku announced the addition of 15 new free live channels to The Roku Channel, expanding its ad‑supported library for TV and player owners. A federal class‑action lawsuit accuses Roku and TCL of releasing software updates that brick smart TVs, seeking...
Day 18: The Quiz That Turned A Live Audience Into 2,300 Subscribers
Ellen Yin of Cubicle to CEO turned a simple live quiz into a high‑conversion list‑building engine. By displaying a QR code early in her talks, she guides the audience through a 10‑question personality quiz that doubles as a buyer‑persona classifier....
What To Watch Saturday: Matt Damon Hosts SNL, Valerie Bertinelli Finds Love, Again, And More
Saturday, May 9, 2026, delivers a packed lineup that includes Matt Damon hosting Saturday Night Live, Valerie Bertinelli starring in Lifetime’s new movie “Love, Again,” and season finales for A&E’s “Duck Dynasty: The Revival” and “Storage Wars.” The evening also features...
Maury Povich Came Out of Retirement to Star in a New Campaign for This AI Tool for Creatives
Maury Povich, the 87‑year‑old former daytime‑talk host, returned from retirement to front Air’s new AI‑enhanced creative‑team platform campaign, "On Air with Maury Povich." Air, a cloud‑based operations and asset‑management service launched in 2021, has raised more than $70 million from investors...
Celebrity Book Clubs Drive May's Hottest Reading Picks
Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Jenna Bush Hager and other high‑profile hosts announced May selections that instantly propelled titles like The Fine Art of Lying and John of John to bestseller status. Their combined reach across TV, social media and online communities is turning these...
ABC Sues FCC Over ‘The View’ Free‑Speech Dispute, Citing First Amendment Violation
ABC has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission, claiming the agency’s scrutiny of its daytime talk show “The View” breaches First Amendment rights. The petition, filed by an ABC Houston station, seeks a declaratory ruling that the program...
ABC Sues FCC Over ‘The View’ Equal‑Time Rule, Claims First Amendment Chill
ABC has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission, asserting that the agency’s recent inquiry into the talk‑show “The View” breaches the network’s First Amendment rights. The petition seeks a declaratory ruling that the program still qualifies for the...
Google's "Preferred Sources" Feature Is a Free Pass for More Garbage in Search
Google introduced a "Preferred Sources" option that lets users manually select news outlets to appear more often in AI‑driven search answers. The move shifts apparent control of source quality from Google’s algorithms to users, even though the company already has...
Unity Posts 17% Revenue Rise to $508M, Shifts Focus to AI Creation Tools
Unity Technologies announced Q1 2026 revenue of $508 million, a 17% year‑on‑year increase, driven by AI‑enhanced advertising and engine tools. The growth comes as the company finalizes the shutdown of IronSource and records a $347 million net loss tied to one‑time impairment...
Paramount Skydance Pushes $111 B Warner Bros. Discovery Deal as Press Groups Allege Political Favors
Paramount Skydance is pressing regulators for clearance of its $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. Press‑freedom investors have sent a formal demand for the company’s books, citing reports that Larry and David Ellison promised sweeping changes at CNN to secure...
Middlesbrough v Southampton Live Stream, TV Channel – Where to Watch First Leg Playoff on Tv Today
The Championship semi‑final first leg between Middlesbrough and Southampton will be broadcast live on Sky Sports at 12:30 BST on 9 May 2026. Both clubs are vying for a spot in the playoff final and a coveted return to the Premier League. Middlesbrough...
Liverpool v Chelsea Live Stream, TV Channel – Where to Watch Premier League on Tv Today
Liverpool host Chelsea at Anfield on Saturday, 9 May 2026, with kickoff at 12:30 BST. The game will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Liverpool sit fourth in the Premier League, six points clear of Bournemouth,...
Rahul Vaidya ‘Crossed the Line’ with Amit Sana on Indian Idol, Says Prajakta Shukre: ‘He Was Hurt’
Former Indian Idol contestants recall that Rahul Vaidya’s playful teasing often crossed into mockery, particularly affecting fellow finalist Amit Sana. Prajakta Shukre, who shared a room with the two, confirmed that Rahul’s jokes hurt Amit’s sensitive nature, prompting a room...
When Will Mortal Kombat 2 Come to Streaming, HBO Max, Blu-Ray, and DVD?
Warner Bros. is expected to roll out the sequel Mortal Kombat II on digital platforms in early June 2026, followed by a Blu‑ray/DVD launch in July. The film will likely debut on HBO Max in late July, mirroring the studio’s recent 30‑day...
British Police Drama with a "No-Nonsense Yorkshire Detective" Is Trending in Streamer's UK Top 10
British police drama DCI Banks, starring Stephen Tompkinson as a no‑nonsense Yorkshire detective, has entered the ITVX UK top‑10, currently at #9. The five‑season series (2010‑2016), based on Peter Robinson’s novels, is fully available for binge‑watch, including its two‑part pilot...
What Time Is Euphoria Season 3 Episode 5 Out?
Euphoria Season 3 returns with Episode 5 airing Sunday, May 10, 2024 at 9 pm ET on HBO. The episode, titled “Kitty Likes to Dance,” sees Rue become a DEA informant while Cassie launches an OnlyFans career. Season 3 comprises eight weekly episodes released from April 12...
‘The Chi’ Prepares for Final Chapter with Season 8 Premiere on Paramount+
Paramount+ unveiled the trailer for the eighth and final season of Lena Waithe’s drama *The Chi*, set to debut on Friday, May 22, 2026. The concluding chapter will consist of ten episodes released weekly on the Premium Plan. Production began...
Unlock Growth with a Spotify Advertising Agency
Brands increasingly view Spotify as a core growth channel, with advertising revenue projected to hit $2.2 billion by 2027 and delivering five times higher ad recall than other platforms. However, the platform’s fragmented buying paths, ambiguous measurement, and internal priorities make...
AI Media Blurs Reality; Trusted Journalism Becomes Essential Infrastructure
We are moving beyond the era of “fake news” into something more destabilizing. AI-generated content, synthetic media and algorithmic amplification are making reality itself feel negotiable. That is why trusted journalism matters more than ever. In an age of infinite content, credibility...