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:
Bull of the Day: Reddit Inc. (RDDT)
Reddit reported 126.8 million daily active uniques in Q1 2026, a 17% year‑over‑year rise, while revenue surged 69% to $663 million, outpacing forecasts. The strong user growth and monetization have lifted earnings estimates, with current‑year guidance up 6.5% and next‑year forecasts up 5.3%. Analysts upgraded the stock to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), despite a forward earnings multiple near 40.5×. Technical charts now show a bullish flag pattern, hinting at a possible breakout from recent consolidation.
Warner Bros. Discovery Expands Max Globally as CEO David Zaslav Pushes AI-Driven Streaming Growth
Warner Bros. Discovery announced a 2026 "Max Global" rollout, targeting more than 30 European countries ahead of major sports events. The streaming unit grew to 104.8 million DTC subscribers, adding 2.1 million in Q1, while ad‑supported revenue surged 51 % to $185 million. AI‑driven...
Digest: ChatGPT Ads Manager Opens to All US Advertisers; Amazon Targets Supply Chain; Publishers Sue Meta Over AI Copyright
OpenAI has opened its ChatGPT Ads Manager to all U.S. advertisers, eliminating the previous $50,000 (≈ $49,000) minimum‑spend threshold to attract small and midsize brands. The beta now includes cost‑per‑action bidding and plans for third‑party measurement, signaling a push toward a...
The Threat to French Public Media
A right‑wing parliamentary commission in France is demanding €1 billion (≈$1.08 billion) in annual savings from France Télévisions, threatening cuts to its flagship services. The push comes a year before a presidential election, raising concerns that the public broadcaster’s ability to combat...
Thrad Sponsors ADSN: The Ad-Supported Network, Bringing Real-Time Ad Tech to Industry Conversations
Thrad, the AI‑focused advertising infrastructure provider, announced a sponsorship of ADSN, the weekly ad‑tech podcast hosted by James Borow and Daniel Druger. The partnership aligns Thrad’s audience of AI publishers and Fortune 500 advertisers with ADSN’s listeners of agency leads, programmatic...
Google Proposes Spam Policy Changes To Avoid EU Fine
Google has offered to amend its anti‑spam policies and search‑ranking rules to address EU regulators' concerns that commercial content on publishers’ sites is being demoted. The proposals aim to avoid further penalties beyond the €9.5 billion (≈$10.3 billion) already levied under the...
Nikita Bier: Elon’s Best Hire Improves X Feed Quality
Hot take: @nikitabier is Elon’s best hire in a while. He takes the blame as @elonmusk changes X. My ForYou feed absolutely rocks and I built an algorithm of my own to read AI community on X: https://t.co/8L5xphk0qQ so I...
B2B Podcast Strategy: The 2026 Demand Gen Guide
A new guide warns that B2B podcasts are becoming non‑negotiable by 2026. With 83 % of senior executives having listened to a podcast in the past week and the global audience projected to hit 619 million listeners, the format offers direct access...
Legends — Steve Coogan Leads War on Drugs in Nailbiting Netflix Thriller
Netflix’s new limited series "Legends" pits veteran actor Steve Coogan against the brutal world of drug trafficking, delivering a tense, fast‑paced thriller. The show follows a DEA operative navigating corrupt agencies and cartel violence, blending gritty realism with Coogan’s signature...
RISJ Report: Video Is Expanding the Podcasting Audience, Not Replacing It
The Reuters Institute report finds video is expanding, not replacing, the podcast audience. Twenty‑six percent of U.S. adults now both watch and listen to podcasts each week, double the share that only listens. Newsrooms are adapting by adding video to...
ICICI Lombard Marks 25 Years with Immersive Cinema Activation
ICICI Lombard marked its 25th anniversary with an immersive cinema activation at PVR Inox in Mumbai’s R City Mall. The brand film featuring the insurer’s origami‑bird symbol was projected not only on the screen but also onto the auditorium ceiling during screenings...
ACS: The Investigators: May 10
On May 10, ACS: The Investigators recapped a 2006 homicide at Broadbeach’s Neptune Resort, where detectives identified suspect Peter Papas within 24 hours. The breakthrough came from CCTV footage, phone‑record tracing, and a service‑station camera that placed Papas at the scene....
An AM Transmitter Upgrade Fit For a King
Sea Mar Community Health Centers, the owner of the Spanish‑language station El Rey 1360 AM in Tacoma, has completed a major technical upgrade by installing a Broadcast Electronics AM‑6A transmitter. The new unit, paired with an AM‑1A backup, replaces the aging equipment and...
Why the Collapse of Kyle and Jackie O Matters to Australians
Australian radio icons Kyle and Jackie O announced the end of their 15‑year on‑air partnership, shocking listeners and advertisers alike. The duo’s morning show, which routinely attracted over 2 million weekly listeners, has been a cornerstone of commercial radio revenue. Industry...
Omar Oakes: Advertising Has Reached Peak Self-Delusion
The UK advertising market reported a 6.4% increase last year, reaching £46.7 bn (about $58 bn). However, two‑thirds of that spend now flows to three Big‑Tech platforms—Alphabet, Meta and Amazon—leaving roughly £15 bn ($18.6 bn) for the rest of the industry. Growth is concentrated...
From Sneaky Kisses To First Jobs: Scentre Group Says Westfield Gives Punters The Feels & Drives Better Performance For Brands
Scentre Group used its BrandSpace Upfront event to rebrand Westfield as an emotional, experience‑driven ecosystem, unveiling the "World of Wonder" positioning for its media arm. The company reported 540 million customer visits in 2025, 99.8% occupancy and record partner sales, underscoring...
MoD Renews British Forces Broadcasting Service Contract
Britain’s Ministry of Defence has renewed its contract with the British Forces Broadcasting Service for another decade, extending secure media and entertainment access for service members worldwide. The agreement expands BFBS’s offerings to include premium sports, podcasts, gaming and news,...
A Publisher Didn’t Get Its UID2 Setup Right. The Trade Desk Didn’t Notice. What Went Wrong?
Publishers are under pressure to embed The Trade Desk’s Unified ID 2.0 (UID2) in CTV bid requests, but a major national publisher discovered that its UID2 tokens were incorrectly encrypted for three months. The Trade Desk, which both administers UID2...
Publishers Shift From Google Dependency to Own Traffic
“Diller said publishers had been “serfs on the property and land of the monopoly of Google and this transition out of depending upon someone else to give you traffic, this is what every animal has done in this digital world...
Mega Creators Find that Their Personalities Alone Aren’t Scalable as Standalone Businesses
Mega‑creators are discovering that personal fame does not automatically translate into a scalable media company. Unwell Network, founded by Alex Cooper of "Call Her Daddy," has seen high turnover and under‑performing shows, while Beast Industries faces lawsuits and cultural growing...
Dear PM: The BSA Situation Is Merely a Symptom of a Much Wider Malaise
Former NZ Herald editor Gavin Ellis urges Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to launch a public inquiry into the country's media regulatory framework. He argues that the recent controversy surrounding the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) is a symptom of an outdated,...
DIRECTV Pulls Griffin Media CBS Affiliates in Oklahoma
DIRECTV pulled four Griffin Media stations—including CBS affiliates KWTV and KOTV—from its satellite and streaming platforms after a carriage agreement expired without renewal. The blackout also affects independent outlet KSBI and CW affiliate KQCW, leaving Oklahoma viewers without local news,...
Netflix Just Secured the Future of Its Biggest Sci-Fi Universe With a Season 2 Renewal
Netflix has renewed the animated spin‑off *Stranger Things: Tales From ’85* for a second season, slated to debut before the end of 2026. The series, set between Seasons 2 and 3 of the live‑action show, offers new adventures for the core kids...
![Chicago Fire: [Spoiler] Returns For The Season 14 Finale — Watch Sneak Peek](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://www.tvline.com/img/gallery/chicago-fire-spoiler-returns-for-the-season-14-finale-watch-sneak-peek/l-intro-1778122930.jpg)
Chicago Fire: [Spoiler] Returns For The Season 14 Finale — Watch Sneak Peek
Chief Pascal, played by Dermot Mulroney, reappears in the Chicago Fire Season 14 finale after a brief hiatus that began with his March 11 departure. The promo shows Pascal joining Firehouse 51 as the crew battles a new blaze, hinting at his renewed leadership...
South Australia Police Activates All Units in Latest Recruitment Campaign via NATION
South Australia Police (SAPOL) has launched the "Find Where You Belong In Blue" recruitment drive, activating every unit—from mounted officers to divers—across TV, cinema, radio, outdoor and digital channels. The campaign, produced by NATION for the Government Advertising and Insights...
TV Ratings (6/5/2026): Stories Of Women’s Sport Soar For Nine
Nine’s documentary "Unstoppable: Women’s Sport" propelled the network’s "Events That Changed Australia" series to a sixth‑place national ranking, capitalising on the momentum from Women’s State of Origin Game 1 and building anticipation for Game 2. The special highlighted decades of progress for...
All-Natural Breasts Take Centre Stage Born’s First Work For Paddock-To-Plate Meat Brand Our Cow
Australian paddock‑to‑plate brand Our Cow has launched its debut campaign, “No Bull,” created by independent agency Born. The provocative work rolls out across social channels and out‑of‑home billboards, using cheeky visuals like chicken breasts and a suspicious fish to call out...
FBI Targets Journalists Along with Billionaires
The FBI executed a search warrant on Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson’s home, seizing her iPhone as part of a national‑security leak investigation, marking an unprecedented move against a journalist. Natanson was awarded a Pulitzer weeks after the raid, underscoring...
The Traitors Tops 2020s TV Format Sales with 47 Global Adaptations
Analyst K7 reports that The Traitors, with 47 adaptations, accounts for 20.8% of all new unscripted formats launched since 2020, making it the decade's top‑selling concept. The show's broad footprint and a pending All3Media‑Banijay merger are reshaping the global format...
Paramount+ Drops Trailer for Yellowstone Spin‑Off ‘Dutton Ranch,’ Sets May 15 Premiere
Paramount+ released the official trailer for the Yellowstone spin‑off series Dutton Ranch, confirming a May 15 debut with two episodes on launch day. The drama shifts the Dutton saga from Montana to South Texas, featuring Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser and...
Canva Survey Finds 98% of UK Marketers Plan to Boost AI Budgets
Canva's latest study reveals that 98% of UK marketing leaders intend to increase AI spending, with 92% already using AI daily. The report also highlights a consumer backlash, as most prefer ads crafted by humans despite the efficiency gains AI...
How the Gun Industry Targets Kids Using TikTok, Instagram, and Video Games
A new Mother Jones report reveals that gun manufacturers are aggressively marketing AR‑15‑style rifles to children through TikTok, Instagram, and video‑game platforms. The investigation cites historic campaigns like Remington’s “Man Card” and recent social‑media glorification of figures such as Kyle...
‘Euphoria’ Creator Sam Levinson Promises Season 3 Chaos Is Only Getting Started
Creator Sam Levinson told a press event that the chaos in HBO’s teen drama Euphoria Season 3 is only beginning, promising an “emotional and thrilling journey.” He highlighted a turf war between Alamo’s and Laurie’s camps, a darker tone in Episode 6, and a...
Re-Convergence: Why Streamers Are Copying Free-to-Air
Australian and U.S. viewers are increasingly favoring ad‑supported streaming over premium, ad‑free subscriptions, driven by tighter household budgets. PwC research shows six in ten Australians and two‑thirds of Americans now prefer free or ad‑supported platforms. Broadcasters such as 7plus and...
Westpac NZ Brings People-Powered Rescue Chopper to Life in First Campaign via Goldilocks
Westpac New Zealand has partnered with Goldilocks, its Omnicom‑run agency model, to launch the first “Chopper Appeal” campaign. The centerpiece is a 60‑inch hero TV commercial that shows a rescue helicopter assembled entirely from people, symbolising community “people power” rather than...
Bari Weiss ‘Meddles’ With ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ Story on Palestine
Bari Weiss, CBS’s newly appointed editor‑in‑chief, is accused of intervening in a Sunday Morning segment about West Bank archaeology, prompting cultural heritage researcher Zaid Azhari to claim his interview was selectively edited. The April 5 story, which examined Israeli digs in...
Kash Patel’s Strategic, Frivolous Lawsuit Against The Atlantic
Former Trump aide Kash Patel has filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic, alleging the magazine falsely reported that he was intoxicated on duty and engaged in other misconduct. The case, highlighted by The New Yorker’s general counsel Fabio Bertoni,...
Why Most Attempts at Building Online Communities Fail
Building a thriving online community remains a major hurdle for content creators, as habit formation and member‑to‑member interaction prove difficult to ignite. Platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, or Discord each trade off reach for control, leaving creators vulnerable to algorithm shifts...
Gray Media Closes Acquisition of Block Communications Stations
Gray Media completed an $80 million purchase of five local TV stations in Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois, securing FCC approval despite objections from DIRECTV, Newsmax and public interest groups. The stations include NBC’s WAND‑TV, CW’s WBKI, Fox’s WDRB, and dual‑affiliated NBC/Fox...
The Clipping Ecosystem, Evolving Upfronts with Creators, & More
The latest podcast industry roundup highlights the rise of paid clipping, with 86 % of listeners engaging with clips and 81 % saying clips steer them to full episodes. Research shows only 20 % of the U.S. audience tuned into the top‑ranked show,...
Is ‘The Valley’ Boring Without Jax Taylor? Some Bravo Fans Think So
Bravo’s reality series *The Valley* entered season three without Jax Taylor, who left to focus on sobriety and co‑parenting. Viewers and critics quickly labeled the new season “boring,” citing a lack of the drama Taylor traditionally supplied. The show now...
Ella Langley Crowned New Queen of Country After Shattering Streaming Records
Emerging Alabama native Ella Langley has dethroned Taylor Swift as the leading female country artist, with her single “Choosin’ Texas” holding the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 spot for four weeks and surpassing Justin Bieber’s country record. The milestone, announced at...
Red Light Therapy and Cold Plunges Go Viral as Longevity Beauty Trends
Fox News correspondent Alexandria Hoff reported that red light therapy and cold‑water immersion are surging as viral beauty and longevity trends. The rise is driven by social‑media influencers who market these low‑tech biohacks as anti‑aging shortcuts, prompting a wave of...
RISE Bookselling Conference in Verona Draws 300 Global Booksellers Amid Political Uncertainty
The fourth annual RISE Bookselling Conference convened 300 booksellers from 34 countries in Verona, Italy, on April 19‑20. Attendees heard from 71 speakers across 26 sessions, focusing on sales tactics, community building, and the growing impact of authoritarian politics on...
Aron Should Demand Consistent Theatrical Windows Before PVOD/SVOD
"Why is Adam Aron seemingly incapable of saying something like, “The ecosystem of the theatrical business works best with a healthy, consistent window, first to PVOD and then to SVOD (Netflix. HBO Max, etc). AMC will not ...
Fitzpatrick Embodies Fearless, Unbiased Journalism Defending Press Freedom
Fitzpatrick is showing the Fourth Estate at its best - without fear or favor - just doing the work. #HoldTheLine #DefendPressFreedom
Culpium Named SOPA Finalist for Second Consecutive Year
Some news @Culpium is a SOPA finalist for the second year in a row. Society of Publishers Asia — Opinion Writing Congrats to my fellow finalists. A very worthy bunch https://t.co/0sUyYZdk2k
How We Gained 15K IG Followers in 4 Days
we grew Malbon Home's IG to 15k followers in 4 days. this entire episode breaks down exactly how we did it.
Free Press Threatened: FBI Director Targets Atlantic Reporter
A free and plural press is democracy’s greatest ally. Here, PBS Newshour interviews the MS Now reporter who broke today’s story on the FBI Director allegedly ordering an investigation into a reporter from The Atlantic. https://t.co/2fhRp6cW3p
Daily Giro D'Italia on TV Reshapes Office Programming
Wow - I was not expecting fully daily coverage of the Giro d'Italia on linear TV this year. This is big for office TV programming.