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.
Druski Releases Most High-Budget Skit Ever Mocking British Actors Playing Americans
Comedian Druski dropped a near‑seven‑figure, one‑minute‑52‑second skit lampooning British actors portraying Americans, featuring elaborate sets, red‑carpet mockups and a fictional star named Sampson DuBois. The video, posted on X and Instagram, went viral, racking up more than 40 million combined views within its first 12 hours and approaching a million on YouTube Shorts. The satire appears inspired by British talent Damson Idris and pokes fun at accent‑coaching clichés in Hollywood. Industry observers are already debating whether Druski’s production values signal a shift toward feature‑film ambitions.
‘9-1-1’ Star Ryan Guzman Has Learned to Roll With the Punches
Season nine of ABC’s procedural “9‑1‑1” ends with firefighter‑paramedic Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman) being stabbed in a hospital during a plotline that mirrors a real‑world ICE raid on migrants. Guzman, who feared for his job after a previous sniper shooting,...
A Milestone for The Warning
Steve Schmidt’s YouTube channel The Warning hit 500,000 subscribers, marking a major growth milestone for the political commentary outlet. To celebrate, the channel released a special episode titled “The Complete Collapse of MAGA,” tracing the perceived downfall of Donald Trump’s...
Teads Hires Ex-TikTok Jit Shergill as UK Head of Sales
Teads announced that former TikTok executive Jit Shergill has been hired as head of sales for the UK. Shergill will oversee agency account teams in London, drive pipeline measurement and meet performance and CTV targets. At TikTok he helped grow...
Paramount+ and HBO Max Set to Merge Into Single Streaming Platform – Here Is Everything We Know
Paramount Skydance’s $77 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery will merge Paramount+ and HBO Max into a single streaming service, aiming to serve more than 200 million subscribers. The combined platform will unite extensive libraries—from NFL and Star Trek to Game of Thrones and DC titles—while retaining...
AMC Posts Q1 Loss Despite Double-Digit Streaming Revenue Growth
AMC Global Media reported a 2.4% drop in first‑quarter revenue to $542.1 million and a sharp 51% decline in operating income. Despite the loss, streaming revenue surged 11% to $174 million, and the company generated $64.8 million in free cash flow. Net loss...
Talpa Studios’ The House of Hide & Seek Heads to Spain with RTVE
Talpa Studios announced that its family‑entertainment format The House of Hide & Seek will receive its first international adaptation in Spain, produced by public broadcaster RTVE in partnership with Warner Bros. ITVP Spain. Recording will occur in the Netherlands ahead of the...
EXCLUSIVE: SAVANNAH GUTHRIE’S SUDDEN ‘TODAY’ EXIT HAS TV INSIDERS RAISING EYEBROWS
Savannah Guthrie abruptly left the Today broadcast on Wednesday, prompting confusion among NBC insiders. The network offered only a brief statement that she would return the next day, without further explanation. Industry veterans highlighted that mid‑show departures are virtually unheard...
They Don't Want You to See This
Dave Bondy's Substack post, dated May 8, 2026, serves primarily as a subscription prompt rather than a news article. The piece encourages readers to download the Substack app, start a 7‑day free trial, and become paid subscribers to access the...
Predictable AI Openings Undermine Content Credibility
I got some feedback recently that made me stop and think. Someone told me they could tell my LinkedIn posts were AI-generated before they finished the first sentence, and the giveaway wasn't the content, it was the opening. Always "last...
AI Companies Are Selling Heartwarming Ads – They’re Racing To Automate Your Job via @Sejournal, @Gregjarboe
OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic are running heart‑warming consumer ads that portray their AI as friendly household helpers, while simultaneously developing agentic systems that automate complex professional workflows. Their latest models—OpenAI’s GPT‑5.5, Google’s Gemini 3.1 Pro, and Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.7—are being positioned to replace...
What’s an Author to Do? Shadow Libraries in the Age of AI.
On March 6, the five largest global book publishers filed a lawsuit in New York federal court seeking to shut down the shadow library Anna’s Archive, alleging it supplies pirated works to AI developers. The case highlights a new wave of litigation...
Campaign Trail: Tecate Empowers Repatriated Mexicans
Mexican beer brand Tecate launched the "Welcome Back, Paisano" campaign to spotlight the labor void created by the recent deportation of roughly 170,000 Mexican workers from the United States. The satirical ads depict U.S. employers lamenting the loss of Mexican...
What To Watch Friday: Amadeus Premiere, Drag Race All Stars Returns, And More
Starz debuts the five‑part limited series “Amadeus,” starring Will Sharpe as Mozart and Paul Bettany as Salieri, marking the network’s first U.S. airing of the drama. Paramount+ revives “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” for season 11, offering a $200,000 prize to...
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s ‘All of a Sudden’ Secures Global Distribution Ahead of Cannes Competition
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s forthcoming French‑language drama “All of a Sudden” has been sold to distributors in more than 30 territories ahead of its Cannes competition premiere. The sales were brokered by Cinéfrance International and Japanese outfit Bitters End, underscoring the market’s...
“Nation’s Dumbest” Coming Soon To FOX, Hulu & Hulu On Disney+
Fox announced “Nation’s Dumbest,” a celebrity competition series that rewards losing, set to debut July 15, 2026. Hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall, the show features twelve diverse stars—including Ice‑T, JoJo Siwa and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang—who tackle school‑themed quizzes and physical...
Today’s Historic Results - My Initial Thoughts
Matt Goodwin’s newsletter reports historic local election results across England, Wales and Scotland, where the Reform Party made sweeping gains, winning 24 of 25 seats in Wigan and 18 of 19 in Tameside. The data shows Reform polling around 40%...
Netflix to Stream First NFL Regular‑Season Game From Australia – Rams Vs. 49ers
Netflix will air the Los Angeles Rams‑San Francisco 49ers Week 1 clash at Melbourne’s Cricket Ground on Sept 10, the NFL’s first regular‑season game in Australia and Netflix’s first live regular‑season football broadcast. The deal expands the league’s global footprint and tests...
Canvas Cyberattack Disrupts 9,000 Schools, Exposes 275 Million Records
Instructure confirmed that a ransomware attack by the ShinyHunters group forced a shutdown of its Canvas learning platform, affecting roughly 9,000 schools worldwide. The hackers claim to have stolen data on 275 million users, prompting emergency responses from universities and K‑12...
Netflix’s Gripping 6-Part Psychological Thriller Series Feels Like It Was Made to Be Binged
Netflix launched "Unchosen," a six‑episode psychological thriller that debuted on April 21, 2026. The series follows Rosie, a cult wife whose daughter disappears, pulling her into a dangerous love triangle and a patriarchal sect called the Fellowship of the Divine....
‘Bandi’ Cancelled At Netflix: French Crime Drama Won’t Return For Season 2
Netflix France has cancelled the French crime drama "Bandi" after one season. The series, filmed on Martinique, logged 16 million viewing hours in its debut week and rose to 40.5 million hours in week two, but Netflix said the audience was insufficient...
Diane Morgan's "Brilliant" New BBC Sitcom with Motherland Co-Star Unveils First Look
BBC has unveiled a first look at Diane Morgan’s new sitcom *Ann Droid*, reuniting her with Motherland co‑stars Paul Ready and Sarah Kendall, who also co‑writes the series. Set in 2029, the six‑part comedy follows widowed Sue (Sue Johnston) who receives...
The New York Times Grew Digital Ad Revenue 32% in Q1. Here’s How to Copy It
The New York Times posted a 31.6% year‑over‑year rise in digital advertising revenue in Q1 2026, reaching $93.3 million. The growth follows a 24.9% increase in the prior quarter, marking two straight quarters of outsized ad performance. Chief advertising officer Joy Robins credits a clear...
Warner Bros. TV Announces Special Podcast Episodes For ‘The Pitt’
Warner Bros. Television Group is launching a week‑long special on its *A Lot More* podcast to spotlight the hit medical drama *The Pitt* from May 11‑15, aligning with National Hospital Week 2026. Each day features a different cast member or writer discussing behind‑the‑scenes insights...
California AG Faces Push to Block Paramount‑Skydance's $111 B Warner Bros. Deal
Thirty‑four California Democrats and more than 4,000 industry figures have asked Attorney General Rob Bonta to scrutinize Paramount‑Skydance’s $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, warning of antitrust harms, job cuts and consumer impacts. The deal, backed by billionaire David Ellison...
Instagram Tweaks Feed to Prioritize Followed Accounts
Instagram says it’s made some changes to my feed to make it easier to catch up with posts from accounts I follow. Unclear what’s actually changed.
‘Believe Me’ Stars Hope ITV True-Crime Drama Will Make an Impact, Discuss That Upsetting Police Question About an Assault Victim’s...
ITV’s four‑part drama *Believe Me* dramatizes the real‑life assaults by John Worboys, the notorious “Black Cab Rapist,” through the eyes of two women who reported him. Written and executive‑produced by Jeff Pope, the series emphasizes the victims’ trauma and the...
How to Connect Social KPIs to Larger Business Objectives
Patrick Pho, head of the content studio at Volkswagen of America, stresses that social media must be tied to clear business objectives to avoid wasted effort. He outlines a three‑step process: define a specific objective (exposure, consumption, or engagement), set...
Poured Over: Sarah Jessica Parker and Alexandra Oliva on The Radiant Dark at the LAT Festival of Books
In this episode of Poured Over, host Miwa Messer chats with publisher Sarah Jessica Parker—also a 2025 Booker Prize judge—and author Alexandra Oliva about her new novel, The Radiant Dark. Parker shares insights from her Booker judging experience, describing how...
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
Longreads released its weekly roundup, highlighting five standout long‑form pieces by Danny Chau, Annalisa Quinn, Bijan Stephen, Jordan Michelman and Anna Wiener. The curated list showcases diverse topics ranging from AI ethics and climate finance to fintech innovation, remote‑work culture,...
CTV Evolves Into Guaranteed Performance Channel with LG Partnership
Last week at Possible Miami, I had the pleasure of hitting the stage with Serge Matta, President of LG Ad Solutions ((@LG_Ad_Solutions). Serge made the points that CTV is no longer just about "awareness" - it’s officially a performance channel. In fact...
Polo AI Beats All Competitors at $0.11 /Video
You're overpaying for Seedance 2.0 generation. 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐀𝐈 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐭 $𝟎.𝟏𝟏/𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 — the market's lowest price. That's a better rate than Seedance, OpenArt, Topview, Higgsfield, and Freepik. Create more. Test more. Spend less. The best tools win on quality. The best...
OUT MONDAY: Radio’s Bilingual Boom Takes Over Radio Ink
Radio Ink’s May issue spotlights a bilingual surge as broadcast radio reaches 93% of Hispanic adults each month, positioning the medium for a massive advertising wave ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The cover story follows Edgar “Shoboy” Sotelo, whose...
New TV Deals Boost MLB Ratings Early
MLB Is Seeing an Early Ratings Lift From New-Look TV Deals - https://t.co/WHKufsJxo8 via @FOS
Radio Nails ROI for Home Improvement Brands that Digital Can’t
Audacy’s new research shows radio outperforms digital channels for home‑improvement retailers, with 56% of ad‑exposed consumers recalling radio ads versus lower rates for display, social and CTV. A Nielsen Marketing Mix Model ranks radio second in overall ROI, delivering $2...
Watch Giro D'Italia on HBO Max and truTV
Reminder as the #GirodItaliaᴿᴾ gets underway that in addition to #streaming it on #HBOMax, people in the US can also watch daily coverage on the channel #truTV. #cycling $WBD
ABC Renews "R.J. Decker" For Second Season
ABC confirmed that its comedy series “R.J. Decker” will return for a second season, adding to its summer 2026 lineup. The network announced the renewal in a press release, urging fans to prepare for the new episodes. No details on...
Vulture Crossword: What If I Told You I’m A Mastermind?
Vulture unveiled its first annual Reality Masterminds list, identifying "masterminds" as reality‑TV figures who shape narratives both on‑screen and in the surrounding media ecosystem. The outlet paired the list with a full‑size crossword crafted by veteran constructor Stella Zawistowski, deviating...
Who What Wear on How Publishers Can Think Like Retailers
Who What Wear, a fashion publisher owned by Future, is applying retailer‑style tactics to monetize its editorial content. The brand, which attracted over 12 million visits in April and converts more than $252 million in sales each quarter, relies on affiliate commissions...
Former BBC Content Chief Loses IPSO Complaint After Saying Gaza Documentary Mistake Not Her Fault
Former BBC chief content officer Charlotte Moore’s IPSO complaint against The Telegraph was dismissed. The newspaper’s article had linked her OBE to a Gaza documentary that Ofcom found in breach after the narrator was identified as the son of a...
Warner Says Linear Is A Millstone, Disney Says It’s Not; Vertical Short Form’s Next Play
Warner Bros. Discovery reported a 20% jump in streaming ad revenue and a rise in streaming EBITDA to $438 million, but its linear TV segment continued to erode, with global linear revenue down 8% and distribution revenue falling 7%. The decline...
A Love Letter to Hong Kong, a Fictional Country Star, and Thierry Henry in a K-Drama
Ad5’s latest roundup spotlights five standout campaigns across Asia and Europe. Cathay Pacific marked its 80th anniversary with a 10‑minute film that weaves Hong Kong nostalgia into brand storytelling. Thailand’s insurance‑driven road‑safety sign flips conventional messaging, while Woodstock Bourbon introduced a...
Italy Broadens FTA Coverage for Sports and Cultural Events
Italy’s communications regulator AgCom has expanded the list of events deemed of significant public importance, requiring free‑to‑air coverage to reach at least 80 % of the population. The new roster adds the Olympics, Paralympics, national football matches, European cup finals, major...
At NAB Show, Kokusai Denki Showcases 4K and Remote Production
Kokusai Denki Electric America, the former Hitachi unit, unveiled two 4K‑ready products at the 2026 NAB Show. The Z‑HD6500‑S1 camera features a 2/3‑inch UHD sensor and global‑shutter technology to eliminate flicker and banding. The RU‑2500JY remote‑control panel, a slim 3.5‑inch...
TV 2 Play Clamps Down on Password Sharing
TV 2 Play is rolling out a new "TV 2 Play households" system that automatically identifies a subscriber’s home based on devices sharing the same internet connection. When a login is detected on a device outside that household, the service displays a warning that...
France: YouTube Accused of Being TV Market “Free Rider”
France’s CNC tax body says video‑sharing platforms like YouTube pay only about $32 million in taxes, roughly one‑third of what broadcasters contribute. By contrast, French TV channels remit around $270 million, while paid video services pay $173 million. YouTube, which attracts over 26 million...
Is ChatGPT Turning Into Yahoo! Or Netscape? (531)
In this episode the hosts dissect a wave of corporate missteps, from Apple’s $250 million settlement over misleading AI claims to OpenAI’s turbulent week, including missed user‑growth targets, revenue worries, internal lawsuits, and a new self‑service ad platform. They also explore...
In Rural Iowa, An ‘On The Go’ Addition Arrives
OnTheGo Media has taken operational control of KDAO-FM 92.9 in Eldora, Iowa, through a local marketing agreement (LMA) effective May 1. The move follows the 2025 death of longtime owner Mark Osmundson and expands OnTheGo’s footprint across central Iowa, reaching from...
EBU Warns Czech Media Reforms Could Undermine Independence
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has written to Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala warning that draft legislation could jeopardize the independence of Czech Television and Czech Radio. The proposal would replace licence‑fee funding with direct state‑budget financing, reducing financial predictability...
The Scroll versus the Story
A recent Clemson University study exposed a coordinated foreign network that flooded UK social platforms with divisive content, generating more engagement on Scottish independence than the official SNP. The piece highlights how algorithm‑driven feeds amplify sensational posts, especially among 18‑24‑year‑olds...