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:
Meta Can See Your Instagram Messages Now, and It's Time to Stop Using It
Meta has removed end‑to‑end encryption from Instagram direct messages as of May 8, 2026, allowing the company to read and analyze message content. The change is justified by low adoption of encrypted chats and Meta’s desire to improve moderation of harmful activity. Users can still download their chat history, but ongoing conversations are no longer private. The move nudges privacy‑concerned users toward alternatives such as WhatsApp.
Government Can't Dictate Content on Media Platforms
ABC also quotes the DC Circuit dissent from then Judge Kavanaugh in the 2017 net neutrality case: the government may not tell "Amazon or Politics & Prose what books to promote; or tell The Washington Post or the Drudge Report...
Follow Charlotte Henry: Your Go‑To Sports Media Expert
Want to give a Friday shout out to the amazing @charlotteahenry who is an essential go to resource on all sports media and business of media news at her site The Addition. She’s also the author of Streaming Wars....
Week of April 27 Morning News Ratings: Numbers Tighten Between Today and GMA
Nielsen’s live‑plus‑same‑day data for the week of April 27 shows NBC’s Today maintaining a narrow lead over ABC’s Good Morning America, with a margin of just 56,000 total viewers. Today posted 3.014 million viewers and 597,000 adults 25‑54, while GMA recorded 2.961 million...
From First Upload to Hollywood: Creators Meet
Full circle moment @YouTube and @GeminiApp are the title sponsors of our event, Press Publish LA. We uploaded our first video to YouTube in 2011 with very little understanding of where that decision would take us. Over the next decade we...
Wavelength Technical Solutions: “A Trusted Partner”
Wavelength Technical Solutions positions itself as a full‑service broadcast engineering partner for radio stations, especially in California. The firm handles project management, FCC filings, site selection, and cost‑effective transmission system sourcing for upgrades, new builds, and facility moves. It also...
Ticker: Fox News Debuts New Promo Campaign Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday
Fox News launched a patriotic promo series to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, featuring hosts like Sean Hannity, Jesse Watters and Laura Ingraham and tying the effort to the network’s 30th‑anniversary. The campaign includes cinematic tributes on historic moments such as...
Jake Johnson and David Boreanaz to Have a Schlubby Detective-Off on NBC's Fall Schedule
NBC announced that four of its eight recently ordered pilots will move forward to series for the 2026‑27 season. The lineup includes Sunset P.I., a single‑cam comedy starring Jake Johnson as a Los Angeles private detective, a reboot of the...
GKIDS to Release Hong Kong Record‑Breaker ‘Another World’ in U.S. June 5
GKIDS announced that the Hong Kong‑record‑breaking animated feature Another World will open in North American theaters on June 5. The dark‑fantasy film, directed by Tommy Ng Kai Chung, was the highest‑grossing Hong Kong animated movie of 2025 and a Golden Horse...
Iain Reid and Filmmaker Ellie Foumbi to Co‑Write Philosophical Horror Novel
Canada Reads‑shortlisted author Iain Reid is co‑authoring a new philosophical horror novel, A New Kind of Clean, with filmmaker Ellie Foumbi. The book arrives on Oct. 6, 2026, and marks a rare cross‑media partnership that began as a screenplay before...
Scripps Blames Nielsen Measurement Shift For ‘Inaccurate’ Network Ratings
E.W. Scripps Co. publicly blamed Nielsen for an audience‑measurement shift that it says produces inaccurate network ratings. The company argued the new methodology, rolled out ahead of its Q1 2026 earnings release, skews data in favor of cable networks and...
How 1 Substack Post Paid More than 11 Years on Instagram for My Client
A Choice Media client earned more from a single Substack post than from eleven years of Instagram content, highlighting the financial upside of owning one’s audience. The post underscores how Substack’s ownership model—direct subscriber relationships, archived content, and built‑in monetization—contrasts...
Streaming Surge: Netflix, Paramount+ and MTV Roll Out New Hits May 8‑10
Netflix adds the heart‑warming film *Remarkably Bright Creatures* and the true‑crime series *Worst Ex Ever* Season 2, while Shudder launches horror thriller *Whistle*. MTV’s *Jersey Shore: Family Vacation* returns for its final season and Paramount+ debuts *RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars*...
CPJ and NGOs Urge Maldives President to Drop Criminal Case Against Adhadhu News
The Committee to Protect Journalists, joined by six press‑freedom groups, wrote to Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu demanding an end to criminal action against independent outlet Adhadhu News. The appeal follows a police raid that seized laptops, hard drives and imposed...
Snap Q1 2026 Earnings Call Shows Strong User Growth and $286M Free Cash Flow
Snap Inc. reported $286 million in free cash flow and a surge in user‑generated content during its Q1 2026 earnings call. Spotlight shares rose 62% globally, AR lens usage hit 9 billion daily interactions, and games reached 255 million monthly active users, highlighting...
East African Countries Plan Regional Satellite Launch
Ministers from Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda have agreed to move forward with the Northern Corridor Regional Communication and Broadcasting Satellite Initiative (NCRCBSI), a joint effort to launch a satellite that will broaden communication and broadcasting services across East...
Behind the Blog: Storage Woes and RSS
The Behind the Blog post reveals the logistical and ethical hurdles behind a recent 404 Media investigation into a Chinese real‑time deepfake platform used for worldwide scams. Reporters spent weeks, eventually more than a month, negotiating access to the software...
Murdoch Threatens Trump, Then Pushes NFL Squeeze
MURDOCH: I'm publishing a story about your birthday note to Epstein. TRUMP: I'm suing you for $10 billion. MURDOCH: Cool. Hey I need a favor: Can you help me squeeze the NFL? https://www.businessinsider.com/murdoch-trump-nfl-fox-streaming-netflix-fcc-doj-2026-5
Hormozi Advice Sparks Massive Social Media Surge
The Hormozi Effect. The host of our podcast Stephanie Pipkin got to ask @AlexHormozi a question at a recent workshop and it was posted on socials by the Hormozi team. Our team was quick on it (first comment, etc) and have...
Unchained Music Bans AI Training on Its Catalog and Rejects AI‑generated Releases
Unchained Music unveiled a policy that prohibits the use of its distributed music for training generative AI models and rejects AI‑generated releases lacking human input. The move, announced on May 8, 2026, seeks to safeguard artists’ royalties and maintain human...
Your Debut Can Be a Later Book, Not the First
Something I wish more debut authors knew: the first book you write doesn't have to be the one that makes your career. 👉 Stephen King wrote 4 novels before Carrie was picked up by Doubleday and became his debut. 👉 Ken Follett...
ABC Renews RJ Decker for a Second Season
#ABC has renewed freshman drama #RJDecker for a second season. Produced by #Disney’s 20th TV. $DIS
CEO: AMC Global Media Shopping ‘The Walking Dead’ Franchise to Major Streamers
AMC Global Media CEO Kristin Dolan announced the company is actively shopping the "The Walking Dead" franchise to major streaming services. The studio is focusing on co‑exclusive licensing deals while keeping some content in‑house. Dolan said several large platforms are...
See How MLB Broadcast Ads Evolved 2016‑2026
🚨🚨 @JacobFeldman4 just built a website that will let you see every single @MLB team's backdrop in 2016 vs. 2026. If you're curious about how advertisements (and new camera angles) have crept into baseball broadcasts, it's a fascinating tool. Quick...
Distribution Remains the Timeless Moat, Not a Trend
Distribution is not the "new" moat. It's been the moat for 5+ years. If not longer. The last year just showed us who had a moat and who didn't. And who knows how to build one across multiple paltforms.
Your Instagram Conversations Won’t Be so Private Anymore
Effective May 8, 2026, Instagram Direct Messages lost end-to-end encryption, meaning Meta and any third party with access can read the content of private chats. The change was quietly noted in a help‑center update in March, with no public announcement...
WSJ Seeks Deputy Middle East Bureau Chief in Dubai/Tel Aviv
Looking for an exciting reporting and editing role in the heart of the biggest stories in the world? Apply to be WSJ's next Deputy Middle East Bureau Chief, in Dubai or Tel Aviv. https://t.co/huAcTEWBVO
AI Reveals Decade-Long Surge in Home‑Plate Ads
Some people are using AI to automate their daily work tasks. Naturally, I used it to help me visualize just how many ads have been added behind home plate at each MLB stadium over the last 10 years. Results (and interactive...
What Is ‘Premium Content’ on Energy Monitor?
Energy Monitor has rolled out a new "Premium Content" tier that remains free but requires users to register. The offering bundles the outlet’s most data‑driven analysis, features and exclusive reports sourced from its parent company GlobalData. By gating this material,...
TV Upfronts Turn Into NFL Victory Lap
The annual TV Upfronts begin on Monday — it’s going to be a week-long NFL victory lap with one big media company after another touting their NFL games. I’m told Roger Goodell will be at the Disney upfront Tuesday. ESPN...
What Is ‘Premium Content’ on Just Food?
Just Food has launched a Premium Content tier that places its most data‑intensive articles behind a registration wall. The new offering bundles deeper analysis, industry interviews, and exclusive reports powered by GlobalData’s proprietary research. Readers must create a basic profile...
Press Group Requests Investigation Into Violent Attack Against Journalists in India
On April 28, 2026, two Jharkhand journalists were assaulted while covering Health Minister Irfan Ansari’s briefing. The reporters, Ashish Kumar and Sushant Kumar Soni, were attacked by a crowd of about 50 after questioning the minister about a fatal air‑ambulance...
The Scoop: Updated Data Gives New Peek Into What’s Fueling AI Search Today
Muck Rack’s latest analysis reveals that 99% of links cited by AI chatbots come from non‑paid media, with journalism leading at 27% of all citations and more than half of those stories published within the past year. Corporate blogs contribute...
Op-Eds Shifted From Thoughtful Analysis to Clickbait Drivel
When OpEds were buried in the back of the first section, papers like the NYT employed thoughtful intellectuals to write them. Even if you didn't agree, the opinions were generally well thought out. But now that it's a major source...
Oklahoma Governor Vetoes OETA Continuation, Objects to Publicly Funded Broadcasting
Governor Kevin Stitt vetoed Senate Bill 1461, which would have extended the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) through July 2031, and also rejected HB 3320 that sought to make the station permanent. The veto leaves OETA facing a sunset date of July 1,...
BBC – Instagram Removes Message Encryption
Instagram has disabled end‑to‑end encryption for direct messages, allowing Meta to read all private chats. The change follows reported government pressure to grant law‑enforcement access. Advocacy group Big Brother Watch warned the move jeopardizes children’s online safety. The decision could...
From Ad Exposure to In-Store Sales
PadSquad and Cuebiq have launched a partnership that ties digital ad exposure directly to physical store visits and, for the first time, transaction outcomes. The solution uses Cuebiq’s mobility intelligence and a dwell‑time filter to count only meaningful foot traffic,...
See What Happens when Creative Legends Use AI to Make Ads for Small Businesses.
Google today unveiled The Small Brief, an initiative that teams three advertising legends—Jayanta Jenkins, Tiffany Rolfe and Susan Credle—with local businesses to produce studio‑quality campaigns. The creatives were given unrestricted access to Flow, Google’s AI‑driven creative studio, to craft ads...
Leo Chicago Corrals Aldi's Supermarket Savings
Leo Chicago, a Publicis Groupe agency, unveiled a new Aldi advertising series featuring a cowboy narrator in two 30‑second spots titled “Bread Sage” and “Cart Coral Cowboy.” The campaign runs on TV, connected TV, online video and social platforms, emphasizing...
Content Marketers Must Evolve Into Editorial Guardians
Content marketers need to shift into more editorial roles. AI makes content *production* easier than ever, but you still need someone to oversee all the various activities and act as the quality bar/voice of taste. https://t.co/MvWpoOG3Gs
![YouTube App for Google TV, More Revamps Side Menu with Easier Library Access, Recent Channels [Gallery]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/10/YouTube-Google-TV-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
YouTube App for Google TV, More Revamps Side Menu with Easier Library Access, Recent Channels [Gallery]
YouTube’s TV app is receiving a refreshed sidebar that moves the Subscriptions and Library sections higher up, reducing the clicks needed to reach the most‑used areas. The redesign also adds two persistent channel shortcuts that stay visible even when the...
Timothée Chalamet: Watch the Beautiful Boy Take on the Beautiful Game
adidas has unveiled a new short‑film campaign, "Backyard Legends," narrated by Timothée Chalamet. The spot assembles a dream football squad—including Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, Trinity Rodman—and features cameo appearances by David Beckham, Bad Bunny, Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi. Launched ahead of the 2024 FIFA World Cup, the...
Twisty and "Compelling" Thriller that Was Big Streaming Hit Confirms New Cast for Season 2
Prime Video’s thriller series We Were Liars, based on E. Lockhart’s novel, earned a rapid renewal after a strong debut and is returning for a pre‑quel second season. The new season will flash back to the Sinclair sisters’ 1999 summer, drawing...
Creator Agency NewGen Launches AI Platform to Help Brands Scale Creator Campaigns With Compliance Controls
London‑based creator agency NewGen has unveiled Multiple, an AI‑driven platform that consolidates every stage of influencer campaigns—from creator matching and outreach to contract generation, payment tracking and performance reporting. The system promises to cut campaign launch times by up to...
‘Stop Posting Pretty Things. Build a Business’ – Hannah Wilson on How to Scale as a Creator Enterprise
Hannah Wilson, a creator with over one million followers, leverages her experience at Insta360, livestream commerce, and CGTN to run her personal brand like a business. She stresses rapid skill acquisition, constant re‑branding, and treating brand deals as relationships rather...
Murder in a Small Town: Season Two Ratings + Viewer Votes
Season 2 of FOX’s crime drama *Murder in a Small Town* launched with modest fan engagement, while Nielsen ratings remain unpublished. The first season averaged a 0.18 rating in the coveted 18‑49 demographic and drew 1.98 million viewers, enough for a renewal....
OnlyFans Adds Community Pages for Sports, Comedy, and Podcast Creators
OnlyFans unveiled three new community pages—sports, comedy and podcasts—at the OMR Festival in Hamburg, expanding its discovery tools beyond adult entertainment. The platform highlighted more than 285 professional athletes, fast‑growing comedians and niche podcasters, offering dedicated placement to boost visibility....
Levanta Makes the Case That Creator Channels Belong Alongside Every Amazon Ad Budget
Levanta, the Seattle‑based affiliate and creator platform, announced the acquisition of Perch+, an early Amazon‑focused affiliate network. The deal brings hundreds of brands and publishers into Levanta’s marketplace, consolidating two of the longest‑standing players in the Amazon affiliate space. Levanta...
How Social Commerce Summit Aims to End the Silo Problem That Has Cost Brands Real Money
The Social Commerce Summit convenes May 14‑15, 2026 at Westdrift Manhattan Beach, offering an invitation‑only, complimentary forum for senior brand operators, platform leaders, and investors. Organized by Social Commerce News, the event is deliberately neutral, avoiding agency or platform sponsorship,...
Farewell to Labor: A Generation of Reporters Departs
Truly the end of an era. The Labor team launched the same month I joined Politico & I have watched so many great reporters go thru it, from early stalwarts @marianne_levine & Brian Mahoney to @tedhesson @CoganSchneier @IanKullgren @Eleanor_Mueller @RebeccaARainey...