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:
Meet the New Cast: ABC Revives Race Around the World
ABC revives the unscripted competition *Race Around the World*, premiering on June 7 at 7:30 pm. Veteran broadcaster Zan Rowe will host, while original breakout star John Safran returns as a weekly judge. Six Australian filmmakers travel solo through ten countries, delivering a new short film every ten days over a 100‑day period, with live studio screenings and a rotating expert panel. The season’s winner receives a personal project funded and produced by ABC, positioning the series as a career‑launch platform.
Dollar General Unveils Integrated On‑Site/Off‑Site Retail Media Platform
Dollar General announced a new retail media solution that links its DG Media Network on‑site inventory with off‑site activation through The Trade Desk, using Kevel’s ad‑serving technology. The integration promises advertisers a single framework for planning, activating and measuring campaigns...
Warner Bros Discovery’s Oscar Collection Grew In Q1, But Its Revenue Did Not
Warner Bros. Discovery reported Q1 2026 revenue of $8.9 billion, a slight dip from $9 billion a year earlier, as the company prepares for its pending sale to Paramount Skydance. While total advertising revenue fell 8% to $1.8 billion, streaming revenue grew 7% YoY...
Hulu Sets July 20 Premiere for King of the Hill Season 15
Hulu confirmed that the 10‑episode Season 15 of the revived King of the Hill will drop on July 20. The announcement comes after the series logged 1.21 billion minutes streamed in its first week and 4.4 million views in seven days, prompting...
ARN Admits Kyle and Jackie O Crisis Cost More than Their $20m Payday
ARN Media disclosed that the brand‑safety controversy surrounding The Kyle and Jackie O Show cost the company about $26.4 million AUD (≈$17.4 million USD) in metro and regional advertising revenue for FY25. The hosts were paid a combined $20 million AUD (≈$13.2 million USD)...
The ACLU Launches Stop-Motion Civics Series 'KYR-U' On YouTube Kids
The ACLU has debuted “KYR‑U,” a stop‑motion animated series aimed at teaching children civics, constitutional rights, and free expression. The four‑episode season premiered on April 23 on YouTube Kids and is also hosted on the ACLU website with study guides, music...
WBD and Sling Quietly Drop Litigation
Warner Bros. Discovery and Dish (Sling TV) filed a stipulation of voluntary dismissal without prejudice, ending their lawsuit over Sling's flexible Day, Week and Weekend streaming passes. Both parties will bear their own costs, leaving the door open for future...
Carriage
DirecTV added the Hispanic‑focused action‑sports network PX Sports to its lineup, marking the channel’s first major linear distribution in the United States. PX Sports delivers BMX, surfing, snowboarding, motocross and skateboarding content tailored for bilingual and Hispanic audiences. The partnership...
Fubo Sees Sub Decline, Despite Record Revenue
Fubo reported a record $1.57 billion in revenue for its first full quarter after merging with Hulu + Live TV, and narrowed its net loss to $6.2 million. Despite the financial beat, North American subscribers slipped to 5.7 million, a 3% YoY decline, and the stock...
#ThisWeek on MarkLives MEDIA: Murder, Mystery & Marketing • #NextWeek: TFG Media on Magazine Growth
South African audiences are gravitating toward true‑crime content across streaming, audio and television, creating a new, highly engaged viewer segment. Brands are racing to tap this niche, recognizing that true‑crime fans exhibit strong loyalty and a willingness to interact with...
Reviews
HBO’s five‑part documentary series “Born to Bowl,” produced by Ben Stiller’s company and narrated by Liev Schreiber, dives into the world of professional bowling, offering compelling storytelling and relatable characters. AppleTV+ counters with “Imperfect Women,” a character‑driven whodunnit adapted from Araminta...
AI-Generated Spencer Pratt Ad Sees Gavin Newsom Eat Cake and Competitor Karen Bass as The Joker | Video
Conservative creators released a 99‑second AI‑generated ad supporting Los Angeles mayoral hopeful Spencer Pratt, portraying Gov. Gavin Newsom eating cake, former Vice President Kamala Harris drinking vodka, and Mayor Karen Bass as the Joker. The video, built with ByteDance’s Seedance generative‑AI...
Casting News: Oscar Isaac Heads To Vegas For Netflix, James Marsden's Apple Thriller, And More
Oscar Isaac is set to headline an untitled hour‑long Netflix drama that dives into the cut‑throat world of modern Las Vegas casinos, playing hotel‑casino president Robert “Bobby Red” Redman. The series is being written and co‑showrun by Billions veterans Brian Koppelman...
How to Build a Viral Faceless Facebook Page in 30 Days (2026 Guide)
The 2026 guide outlines a step‑by‑step 30‑day plan to launch a faceless Facebook page that can go viral without ever showing a face. It leverages Facebook’s evolution into a content discovery engine, emphasizing Reels, saves, and early comment engagement as...
NBA First-Round Viewership Makes Expected Jump as Broadcast Exposure Pays Dividends
The NBA’s first‑round playoffs averaged 4.0 million viewers, a 22% jump from the prior year and the highest‑rated opening round since 1993. NBC’s new partnership delivered 15 broadcast games that averaged 5.5 million viewers, up 61% year‑over‑year, highlighted by a Game 7 between...
HBO Comedy Special ‘Josh Johnson: Symphony’ to Debut May 22
HBO will premiere the stand‑up special "Josh Johnson: Symphony" on May 22, streaming on both HBO and HBO Max. The hour‑long show features entirely new material from the Emmy‑nominated comedian, known for his YouTube channel and frequent hosting spots on Comedy Central’s...
State AGs Send Paramount Subpoenas in Warner Bros. Merger Investigation
Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery are advancing a $110 billion merger, but a coalition of state attorneys general has issued civil investigative subpoenas to Paramount. The subpoenas target the Department of Justice’s antitrust review and the competitive impact of the...
Shrinking REALLY REALLY Wants That Emmy Nod
Apple TV+ drama "Shrinking" has intensified its Emmy push, staging two additional For Your Consideration events after earlier screenings. The series, starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, has garnered strong critical praise but remains on the fringe of major awards...
Clarity: Comments Are Always Open To All Subscribers--Here Is The Screenshot Of The Settings
A Substack author posted screenshots proving that comment settings are configured for all subscribers, refuting a claim by subscriber Wolf‑Steppen that comments were being switched to a paid‑only mode to extract more money. The author highlighted that free subscribers, who...
Book Publishers Fire on Zukerberg
Five of the world’s largest book publishers filed a class‑action lawsuit against Meta on May 5, 2026, explicitly naming CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The complaint alleges Zuckerberg personally authorized the use of pirated books to train Meta’s Llama large‑language model. Scott Turow,...
How to Create a Social Media Viral Video
The guide explains that viral videos are the result of a disciplined content strategy, not luck. It outlines the psychological triggers—emotion, identity, and relationship building—that drive rapid sharing across platforms. Platform‑specific recommendations cover TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and X,...
James Murdoch’s School of Hard Vox
James Murdoch is close to finalizing a deal with Jim Bankoff to acquire New York magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network for well over $300 million. The acquisition would combine a premium print title with a fast‑growing audio portfolio, creating a...
Fubo Unveils AI Assistant for Improved Search of DVR & More Coming to Roku & Apple TV
Fubo TV announced an AI Assistant that lets subscribers search DVR recordings using natural language. The tool can locate specific sports moments by describing plays, players, or events, cutting down on manual scrubbing. The assistant will launch this fall on...
BBC Skims Zilis Testimony, Overlooks Conflict Management
C’mon BBC. Zilis was sharp as a tack on the stand, on her role in the OpenAI *nonprofit* board, and how she managed conflicts as they began to develop, and this (which is not really even news since it was...
Disney Drops Trailer for 'Dragon Striker' Animated Fantasy Sports Series
Disney unveiled the trailer for "Dragon Striker," an animated fantasy‑sports series that fuses European mythic settings with Japanese anime styling. The 11‑episode show premieres on Disney XD on June 9, with all episodes streaming on Disney+ and Hulu the following day. A...
Ted Turner's TNT Revived Shawshank Into Classic
Without Ted Turner, The Shawshank Redemption might have been forgotten. It flopped at the box office. Turner bought Castle Rock Entertainment, which gave him the rights to play their movies all he wanted. If you had cable in the 90s, remember when...
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Star Responds to The Traitors Calls: "I Would Probably Be Interested"
Eileen Davidson, a former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star and two‑time Daytime Emmy winner, said she would be interested in joining the U.S. version of the competition series The Traitors during a recent Soapy podcast. The show routinely taps...
Highway to Heaven Reboot Ordered by Fox for the 2027-28 Season
Fox has ordered a straight‑to‑series reboot of the 1980s drama "Highway to Heaven," tapping Jason Katims' production company to shepherd the project. The original series, starring Michael Landon, was a top‑20 hit in its first two seasons before ratings slipped...
Google Shares How Brands Should Use AI Creative To Stand Out via @Sejournal, @Brookeosmundson
Google highlighted its AI‑creative suite on the Ads Decoded podcast, emphasizing tools that expand creative variation while keeping advertisers in the loop. New controls—text guidelines, AI briefs, and Asset Studio—let brands steer AI‑generated assets, supporting up to 40 custom rules...
The E. Jean Carroll Case, Kash Patel’s Abuse of Power & the Collapse of Trust in SCOTUS — with Don...
In this episode Don Lemon and Mike Nellis dissect three intertwined scandals: the DOJ’s unprecedented request to the Supreme Court to intervene in Donald Trump’s appeal of the E. Jean Carroll verdict, alleged abuses of power by Trump ally Kash Patel...
Fox Orders Highway to Heaven Reboot From Jason Katims
Fox has ordered a reboot of the classic NBC series "Highway to Heaven," with acclaimed creator Jason Katims attached to helm the project. The new version will be produced in partnership with Amblin Television and is slated for a 2027...
Highway To Heaven Reboot Coming To Fox From Friday Night Lights Boss
Fox has ordered a reboot of the 1980s series “Highway to Heaven” for the 2027‑28 television season. Veteran showrunner Jason Katims, known for “Friday Night Lights” and “Parenthood,” will serve as executive producer and showrunner. The new series will blend...
FCC Urges Appeals Court to Toss Challenges to Nexstar-Tegna Deal
The Federal Communications Commission is asking the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss antitrust challenges to the $6.2 billion Nexstar‑Tegna merger. The appeals were filed by broadband trade groups, DirecTV and Newsmax after a district court denied an emergency stay....
Threads Adds Playable Music Stickers In-Stream
Meta's Threads is testing playable music stickers that let users attach songs to their posts, displaying cover‑art thumbnails and a play button that streams a short sample. The stickers appear as a new option in the composer alongside images, polls...
Beloved British Spy Thriller Branded "Gorgeous" And "Compelling TV" Lands New UK Home
The Night Manager, the acclaimed BBC spy thriller starring Tom Hiddleston and Olivia Colman, has been added to Disney+ and Prime Video in the UK, but only its first season is available on those services. Season 2 remains exclusive to BBC...
A Hit J.J. Abrams Sci-Fi Series Was Designed To Avoid Becoming Another Lost
J.J. Abrams created the sci‑fi series *Fringe* to avoid the viewer‑fatigue that plagued his earlier hit *Lost*. He designed the show so episodes could stand alone while still hinting at an overarching mystery. Early seasons delivered self‑contained stories, but the...
Meta Adds More Insight Tools to Edits to Enhance Video Projects
Meta’s Edits video‑editing app rolled out a suite of new insight tools that surface engagement rates, peak viewing times, and follower‑versus‑non‑follower metrics for Instagram Reels. The update also adds comparative performance data, letting creators see how each Reel stacks up...
Substack Launched Its Own Talkshow.
Substack announced the launch of its first original talkshow, extending the platform beyond text‑based newsletters into video‑driven interviews. The debut comes as the subscription‑media market heats up, highlighted by The New York Times hitting 13 million total subscribers and adding 310,000 digital‑only users...
MAGA Slayer Adam Mockler, Former FBI Official Frank Figluzzi, and Independent Journalist Nick Valencia
The Jim Acosta Show released a paid Substack episode on May 6, 2026 featuring Adam Mockler, a self‑described “MAGA Slayer,” former FBI official Frank Figliuzzi, and independent journalist Nick Valencia. The conversation delved into media bias, election integrity, and the...
Google's Query Length Claim Overblown; Data Shows <3% Shift
Maybe this is totally innocuous, but it's still weird. Left: Datos numbers on query length in Google (10M+ devices, this is not a small sample set) Right: Public statement by Google's Liz Reid (via SearchEngineLand) Feels like a mild exaggeration by Google, but...
Ask Three Questions Before Pausing High‑CPA Meta Ads
Do your Meta ads consistently spend with high CPA's? Before you turn them off, ask yourself these three questions:
LinkedIn Certification Program Aims To Link Marketers With Experienced Agencies
LinkedIn has introduced an “Agency Certification” program that flags agencies with proven expertise in LinkedIn Ads. The certification requires a Business Manager account and completion of LinkedIn Marketing Academy courses, after which agencies earn a badge and promotional toolkit. Harmelin...
WordPress “Downgrade” Button Launches Happiness Engineer Chat
Clicking "downgrade" on Wordpress doesn't downgrade you but starts a chat with a "happiness engineer."
Australia Creates Tech‑funded Journalism Scheme, Then Ignores It
New by me —> Australia’s building a great system to fund local journalism using Google and Facebook's dollars — but it doesn’t want to use it, preferring to keep pretending the free market is at work. https://t.co/VeWNiJLJiT
Snap Says Advertising Revenue Buffeted by Effects of War in Iran
Snap Inc. forecasted Q2 ad revenue of $1.52‑$1.55 billion, essentially matching Wall Street expectations. The company disclosed that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have negatively impacted its advertising business, costing roughly $20‑$25 million in March. Snap attributed the shortfall to reduced...
NBC News Returns to China Amid Trump‑Xi Summit
Just in: NBC Nightly News to broadcast from China for first time since the 2008 Olympic Games. Anchor Tom Llamas will lead show from Beijing all next week as Trump, Xi meet
How to Remove Unnecessary AI Watermarks From Images
While it's good to be able to differentiate AI-created photographs from real photos, there are many images that don't need the AI mark. Here's how to remove it, as needed, and how it all works behind the scenes: https://t.co/m8yBJd6f5V #ai...
Only Child Season 2 Teases Messy Love Triangle as Richard's Life Unravels
Only Child returns for a second season on BBC One, opening with Richard forced back into his father Ken’s house after a promised TV job in Norway collapses. The episode introduces a love triangle as Emily, Richard’s longtime crush, begins...
Digg Alpha Launches AI-Powered Real-Time News Platform
The new @digg alpha is coming soon. First up: AI news. 9M+ graph connections. 15+ AI judges. Real-time X ingestion. Sentiment analysis, clustering, and signal detection built to surface what actually matters. https://t.co/sYSAnVDxWE
Great Newsletters Blend Taste, Storytelling, Expertise, and Trust
From @denk_tweets: "Exceptional newsletters aren't built on pure info. They're built on: > Taste > Storytelling > Expertise and analysis > A voice that readers trust"