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:
The AI Media Arena: Journalism Is The Biggest Source For Query Answers
A Muck Rack study of over 25 million AI‑generated links finds that 99% of citations come from non‑paid sources, with journalism leading at 27% of all references. Corporate blogs follow at 24%, while aggregators, owned media and government sites make up the rest. The three dominant AI models—ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini—vary widely in citation frequency, with ChatGPT citing sources in 96% of responses and Anthropic providing the most citations per answer (13 on average). The data also shows sector‑specific reliance on journalistic content, especially in media, finance and sports.
Single Black Queer Dad Darren Graham Adopts Son, Shares Journey on TikTok
Darren Graham, a single Black queer father, adopted his son Ducky and is now chronicling his experience through the TikTok series “Ducky + Dada.” His candid reflections highlight the emotional, logistical, and societal hurdles of solo adoption while offering a...
Mubi Secures Global Streaming Rights to Cannes Competition Film "Coward"
Mubi acquired all streaming rights to Lukas Dhont's Cannes competition entry "Coward" across the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand. The deal follows the platform’s recent acquisition of Na Hong‑Jin’s thriller “Hope,” highlighting an...
Coastal Crime Series MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN Scores Third Season
Fox has renewed the Canadian‑produced crime drama “Murder In A Small Town” for a third season, adding a 10‑episode run and bringing Peter Gallagher on board as a series regular. The show, which premiered in Australia on Seven and 7plus...
Scripps Posts 8% Revenue Gain In Q1
E.W. Scripps Co. posted first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $587 million, an 8% year‑over‑year increase. Growth was led by Local Media, which rose 10% to $455 million, and Digital, which climbed 17% to $58 million, while National Media fell 12% to $132 million. Adjusted EBITDA...
Finneas O’Connell Used Synths That Sounded Like A “Swarm Of Bees” To Capture The Stressful Sound Of ‘Beef’ – Sound...
Finneas O’Connell, Oscar‑winning composer, scored Netflix’s *Beef* Season 2, employing synth patches that mimic a swarm of bees to amplify the show’s tension. He integrated ambient garden sounds and nostalgic needle drops from LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip and M83, creating a contrast between...
Who Should Host the Emmys on NBC? Keke Palmer, Alan Cumming or — Wait for It — the Cast of...
Variety editor Michael Schneider notes that NBC’s current Emmy broadcast agreement ends after the September 14, 2026 ceremony, leaving the future of the primetime awards uncertain. He proposes a “roadblock” simulcast that would air the show simultaneously on all broadcast networks and...
Microsoft Ads Expands Custom Columns to Include All Conversion Metrics
Microsoft Ads has upgraded its custom columns feature to accept every conversion metric available on the platform, including both primary and all‑conversion counts. The change lets advertisers construct bespoke columns that combine ratios, blended CPA, cost per qualified lead, and...
The 30-Year-Old PDF Newsletter with a 98% Market Penetration Rate
Communications Day, a daily PDF newsletter founded in 1994, now reaches about 98% of Australia’s telecom executive market. The publication charges roughly AU$1,000 (≈US$660) per subscriber annually and has built a habit‑forming distribution that executives read each morning. While most...
Viant Buys TVision Insights for $40 M to Embed AI‑driven Attention Metrics in Its DSP
Viant has completed a $40 million cash‑and‑stock acquisition of attention‑measurement firm TVision Insights, integrating second‑by‑second eye‑tracking data into its AI‑powered demand‑side platform. The move aims to shift advertisers from impression‑based buying to attention‑adjusted outcomes and to compete more directly with Google...
BidVid Hires Priya Bhatia as CRO to Spearhead Asia‑Pacific Expansion
BidVid, the Singapore‑based programmatic video‑ad platform, announced the appointment of Priya Bhatia as chief revenue officer for the Asia‑Pacific region. The move underscores the company’s strategic drive to capture a rapidly expanding APAC ad spend market.
Made By All Unveils Made By Us Studios, Names Tanya Cohen Co‑CEO to Power Creator‑Economy Films
Made By All announced the launch of Made By Us Studios, a Hollywood‑grade studio built for the creator economy, and named veteran dealmaker Tanya Cohen as Co‑CEO. The venture positions creators as owners of IP and aims to capture the...
Genesis Launches First-Ever Hispanic Campaign
Genesis Motor America is rolling out its first culturally centered campaign aimed at Hispanic consumers, titled “El Lujo Está en Ti” (“Your Purpose is the Ultimate Luxury”). The campaign spotlights the GV70 SUV and will run 30‑ and 15‑second bilingual...
The Terror: Devil in Silver Is No One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Says Judith Light
Judith Light headlines the Shudder and AMC+ horror series "The Terror: Devil in Silver," playing long‑time patient Dorry in a decaying psychiatric ward. The show, adapted from Victor LaValle’s novel, premiered on May 7, 2026, and tackles mental‑health themes without echoing the...
TikTok Risks Google Penalty for Back‑Button Hijacking
More about 'Back button hijacking'. @DMFanGossip13 replied to me last week that TikTok could be impacted by the new spam policy. It's an interesting example, since you are taken into the app when on mobile (for those that have the...
Teton Ridge Secures Film & TV Rights to “High Noon”
EXCLU: Teton Ridge lands film and TV rights to the classic western HIGH NOON https://t.co/rDOuEkoEoz
Starz Extends First Quarter Loss on Lower Revenues
Starz Entertainment reported a first‑quarter loss for 2026, with revenue slipping to $307 million, down from $330.6 million a year earlier. Streaming revenue fell to $211.1 million while linear TV revenue dropped to $95.8 million, contributing to an operating loss of $152.8 million and a...
Spotify CLI Turns Personalized Audio Into a Podcast Feed
Spotify launched Personal Podcasts, a new feature that lets users generate AI‑crafted audio briefings via a command‑line interface, Claude‑powered agent skills, and a GitHub‑hosted plugin. The personalized audio is saved as a podcast feed in the user’s Spotify library and...
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Claudia-Cardinale-in-Once-Upon-a-Time-in-the-West--2-Cary-Grant-in-To-Catch-a-Thief--and-3-Samuel-L.-Jackson-in-Pulp-Fiction518-05062026-fb14f48f3a1d40aa8150112b73a984ea.jpg)
10 Timeless Classics on Paramount+ for Movie Lovers
Paramount+ has curated a library of ten timeless classics that span the studio’s golden age, New Hollywood, and modern cinema. The lineup includes iconic titles such as *Chinatown*, *Pulp Fiction*, and *Once Upon a Time in the West*, offering both...
Disney's YouTube TV Remarks Spark Industry-Wide Questions
Disney’s @YouTubeTV Comments Raise Important Questions for Industry Peers $DIS $FOXA $PSKY $WBD $VSNT https://t.co/EWjwTlZxDb
Filming a First Amendment Auditor Triggers Legal Showdown
What happens if you get up close to a first amendment auditor and start filming them?
Kelly Clarkson Returning for Season 30 of 'The Voice' - Who Else?
Kelly Clarkson will return as a judge for the 30th season of NBC’s "The Voice" in fall 2026, marking her 11th season on the show. The upcoming season will feature Adam Levine and two yet‑to‑be‑named coaches, restoring the traditional four‑chair...
This Week’s MPN Video Podcast: Big Media Earnings, Vertical Drama Market, OpenAI Trial and the Future of Hollywood
The Media Play News podcast highlighted Disney’s strong Q1 results, Paramount’s aggressive 30‑film‑a‑year plan, the launch of the LA Vertical Drama Market, and the escalating legal battle between Elon Musk and OpenAI. It also examined shifting ad spend as social...
Boomer Bonanza: Celeb Podcasts Fetch Seven‑Figure Deals
the podcast industry is in its Boomer Bonanza phase. the hottest bidding war right now is for a yet-to-launch show from ina garten (7-figure offers per year) while oprah just signed a mega deal with amazon for her show
NBC Sports, Peacock Scale Vertical-Video Production Across Sports — and Beyond — Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026
NBC Sports and Peacock are scaling 9:16 vertical‑video production for live sports, debuting formats like Courtside Live for the NBA All‑Star Game and Rinkside Live for the Milano‑Cortina Olympics. The workflow relies on FOR‑A/Nippon TV’s AiDi AI, which automates cropping,...
How to Measure Influencer Marketing Success: A Complete Guide for Brands
Influencer Marketing Hub released a comprehensive guide on measuring influencer marketing success, outlining the key performance indicators brands should track. The guide highlights benchmarks such as average engagement rates, cost‑per‑engagement, and a 5.2‑times return on investment reported in the 2026...
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Serves Mother’s Day Ideas
Better Homes and Gardens aired a Mother’s Day‑themed episode featuring Australian‑Italian grandmother Nonna Fina, whose viral videos have amassed over a million followers. Host Johanna Griggs joined her and granddaughter Maddie for a kitchen segment, while chef Colin Fassnidge demonstrated a...
Pulitzer Prize Winning Biographer Jon Meacham and Copyright Scholar Paul Goldstein Headline AAP’s Annual Meeting
The Association of American Publishers held its 2026 annual meeting, marking the United States’ 250th birthday and the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Copyright Act. President Maria Pallante highlighted a pending $1.5 billion settlement with AI firm Anthropic, a lawsuit against...
THE BEAR Surprises Fans with Hidden Episode ‘GARY’ on Disney+
Disney+ surprised The Bear fans on May 7, 2026 with a hidden flashback episode titled “Gary,” co‑written by lead Ebon Moss‑Bachrach and Jon Bernthal. The short instalment follows Richie and Mikey on a work trip to Gary, Indiana, and can...
31 Years Ago Today: ‘Matlock’ Came to An End, Marking a TV Milestone
On May 7, 1995 the long‑running legal drama *Matlock* aired its series finale, ending a nine‑season, 193‑episode run that began as a 1986 NBC pilot. The show shifted to ABC in 1992, maintaining solid ratings while delivering courtroom intrigue mixed with Southern...
Ellen Tailor Returns to Seattle’s Wolf for New Morning Show
Audacy Seattle’s 100.7 The Wolf is launching a new morning program called “Ellen & Aaron,” pairing returning host Ellen Tailor with Cascade Country personality Aaron Crawford. The change follows the departure of the previous “Morning Wolfpack” hosts, Matt McAllister and Gabe...
Cannes 2026 Movies Sold So Far: ‘Paper Tiger,’ ‘The Devils’ 4K Restoration, and ‘Minotaur’ Find Homes Early
At Cannes 2026, several high‑profile titles have already been sold ahead of the festival. Warner Bros.’ new indie label Clockwork will release the restored Ken Russell classic “The Devils,” while Neon has picked up James Gray’s “Paper Tiger,” its first collaboration with the...
Local Businesses Blocked by Reseller Misrepresentation in Sports Advertising
Yes, the big companies and ad agencies mostly know the score. The issue is like local car dealers or HVAC companies that want to reach sports fans but are having the ability/cost to do so misrepresented by third-party resellers https://t.co/dPEZBOGlUX
Live MTSlive with Max, @Abcampbell, and a Surprise
I'm hosting @MTSlive today with Max at 4pm ET // 1pm ET. @abcampbell will be joining us, we also have a bit of a surprise planned too
Live Sports Streaming Ad Market Rife With Fraud, Experts Say
The rapid shift of live sports to streaming platforms has created a fragmented ad marketplace where third‑party aggregators resell inventory they don’t directly control. Experts from Good Karma Brands and Digital Remedy warn that these middlemen often misrepresent placement guarantees,...
Live Sports Streaming Ads Plagued by Fraud, Victims Identified
Over the last few months, several advertising experts have told @FOS that the live sports streaming ad market is rife with fraud. This is what is happening and who it hurts the most: https://t.co/dPEZBOGlUX
I Started Clearing My Roku Cache, and It Fixed My Biggest TV Complaint
Elyse Betters Picaro reports that a hidden remote shortcut can soft‑reset Roku TVs and streaming devices, effectively clearing their cache and eliminating sluggish performance. The sequence—Home five times, Up, Rewind twice, Fast Forward twice—forces a brief freeze and restart, wiping...
Ruffalo and Stoller Argue Paramount Merger Must Be Halted
Mark Ruffalo & Matt Stoller on why the Paramount merger can and should he stopped (gift link) https://t.co/NZfcLcN49b
Kimberly Adams Succeeds Brancaccio at APM’s ‘Marketplace’
American Public Media announced that Kimberly Adams will take over as host of its flagship weekday program, Marketplace Morning Report, beginning June 8. Adams, currently the show’s senior Washington correspondent and host of the Make Me Smart podcast, replaces David Brancaccio...
Disney+ Reveals Its Latest Content Alliance With a Broadcaster – Mexico’s TV Azteca
Disney+ announced a new content partnership with Mexico's free‑to‑air broadcaster TV Azteca, bringing the upcoming season of MasterChef 24/7 to the streaming platform on May 17. The deal also adds three live Azteca channels and a slate of popular telenovelas and reality...
No Backlash From U.S. Formula 1 Fans After the Switch to Apple TV: Liberty Media CEO
Liberty Media CEO Derek Chang said the early results of Formula 1’s switch to Apple TV as the U.S. broadcast partner are promising, with viewership up across the first three races and no fan backlash. Apple’s tech‑forward platform delivered multi‑view, data‑feed and...
AI Max vs DSA: Advertisers Question Control as Google Responds
Google is transitioning advertisers from legacy Dynamic Search Ads (DSA) to its AI‑driven Max campaigns, sparking concerns over lost URL‑level targeting granularity. Marketers argue that DSA’s ability to align ads with site architecture via categories, URL paths, and page rules...
With Malice
FBI Director Kash Patel filed a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic after the magazine published an April 17 report alleging his intoxication, absenteeism, and a politicized FBI. Patel claimed the story relied on anonymous sources and insufficiently allowed a right‑of‑reply, vowing...
Trade Desk Growth Slows to Lowest Rate Since Covid; Publicis Talks Ongoing
Trade Desk reported Q2 revenue of $689 million, a 12% year‑over‑year increase that beat estimates but marked its slowest growth since the 2020 Covid‑era downturn. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $206 million, reflecting a 30% margin, while earnings per share missed forecasts, sending...
Cord Cutting Today: HBO Max Ends Support For Some Devices, Disney Streaming Surges as Fubo Loses Subscribers & Roku Expands...
Cord‑cutting dynamics shifted sharply this week as Fubo shed over 500,000 North American subscribers in Q2 2026, while Disney reported an 88% jump in streaming revenue that helped offset a broader cable decline. Disney’s new CEO highlighted AI‑driven storytelling as...
This World Cup, CTV Becomes the New Stadium
The upcoming World Cup will be watched across televisions, phones, tablets and voice assistants, turning the living room into a multi‑screen arena. Connected TV (CTV) is positioned as the central hub that can capture the household’s collective attention, but only...
You Can Now Stream Sam Raimi’s Send Help
Sam Raimi’s horror‑comedy *Send Help*, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien, began streaming on Hulu on May 7, 2026. The film follows an underappreciated female executive stranded on a desert island with her domineering boss, mixing survival thrills with a...
What’s REALLY Going On With the Trump Ballroom? 👀
Former President Donald Trump is pushing a high‑profile renovation of the White House East Wing into a $250 million ballroom, a project whose estimated cost has now doubled to roughly $500 million. While Trump insists the venture will be financed entirely by...
Joy's House Insiders Live, with Joy & Rick Wilson
Joy‑Ann Reid’s Substack newsletter announced a live “Joy's House Insiders” broadcast featuring herself and co‑host Rick Wilson. The episode is available through the Substack app on iOS and Android, encouraging subscribers to tune in for real‑time commentary. The post includes...
MNTN Wants Its AI Video Ad Generator To Stand Apart From Its CTV Platform
MNTN unveiled QuickFrame AI 3.0, an AI‑driven video ad generator that lets users craft multi‑scene narratives and reuse assets across projects. The tool is sold as a standalone subscription aimed at small‑ and mid‑market advertisers and individual creators, separate from MNTN’s...