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:
Amazon Chairing RTS London 2026 With International Boss Kelly Day Set To Address The Convention
Amazon will chair the Royal Television Society’s London convention in 2026, with international VP Kelly Day delivering the keynote address. Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios are named principal sponsors for the first time, underscoring Amazon’s growing influence in UK television. The event, titled “United in Change: If Not Now, When?”, will feature top industry executives including Channel 4 CEO Priya Dogra, ITV’s Carolyn McCall, and Paramount UK’s Reemah Sakaan. Scheduled for September 29, the convention aims to drive collaboration across the rapidly evolving media landscape.
PUNX Launches as AI-Native Creative Agency to Solve the Global Marketing Execution Crisis
PUNX, an AI-native creative agency, launched to address the marketing execution crisis by offering scalable AI video, animation, and global campaign systems. Built from the ground up, its unified production model integrates strategy, creative, and execution, enabling real-time campaign evolution...
The Guardian Draws on Its Past for New Campaign
The Guardian has refreshed its iconic 1980s "Points of View" television spot with a new campaign called "The Whole Picture," released to mark its 205th birthday. The updated ad re‑engages original director Paul Weiland and features veteran actress Kathy Burke, who...
How to Watch Peacock for $1 with This Sneaky Trick
TechRadar reveals a workaround that lets U.S. users grab Peacock Premium for just $1 by pairing a Walmart+ 30‑day trial with a VPN. The Walmart+ trial normally costs $12.95 per month, but its promotional offer includes a choice of Paramount+...
Radian Arc, Blacknut and TrueID Launch Android Cloud Gaming in Thailand, Branded as “TrueID Game Hub”
Radian Arc, a Submer Group company, has partnered with TrueID—Thailand’s leading telecom‑tech brand—and Blacknut, the world’s top cloud‑gaming platform, to launch an Android cloud‑gaming service called TrueID Game hub. The offering lets millions of TrueID subscribers instantly stream premium Android...
Cries of Censorship as Sydney Council Bars Local Paper From Meetings
Hawkesbury City Council in New South Wales issued a notice on April 28 barring the Hawkesbury Gazette and Hawkesbury Radio from attending council meetings and premises, invoking the Work Health and Safety Act over alleged harassment of staff. The council argues...
My Week Inside the New Silicon Valley News Rabbit Hole
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) launched Monitoring the Situation (MTS), a 24/7 timeline‑native news network aimed at streaming live updates to X users. The venture follows a16z’s recent media forays, including the TBPN podcast acquisition and the short‑lived Future publication. In its...
The ‘Hair-On-Your-Pillow’ Theory of Contextual Advertising
Shirley Marschall’s column revisits contextual advertising, arguing that the same ad can feel premium in one setting and intrusive in another, much like a stray hair on a pillow. The piece traces how contextual buying fell out of favor as...
How to Watch Amandaland Season 2 Online From Anywhere
BBC’s comedy spin‑off *Amandaland* returns for a six‑episode season 2, premiering on BBC One at 9 pm UK time on May 6 and streaming free on BBC iPlayer the same night. The series follows Lucy Punch’s self‑absorbed Amanda Hughes navigating divorce, teenage drama and...
Watch: Minister ‘Just Not in Favour’ of Regulating Social Media, Says BSA Axing ‘Simplest Thing to Do’
The New Zealand government announced plans to abolish the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA), arguing that the regulator was designed for a bygone broadcasting era. Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith said extending the BSA to cover podcasts and social media would...
The Epstein Files: The AI Podcast that Sounds Like Journalism but Isn’t
The Epstein Files is an AI‑generated podcast that ingests more than three million documents related to Jeffrey Epstein and releases a daily, self‑updating episode. Launched in February 2026, the series has already amassed over two million downloads, delivering a forensic‑style...
Late-Night Hosts Take Aim at Trump Reinstating Fitness Test: ‘He Would Have No Chance of Passing’
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday to bring back the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools across the United States. The announcement, staged in the Oval Office with a group of children, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy...
We’re Hiring: TechCentral Is Looking for Technology Journalists
TechCentral, a 15‑year‑old South African tech news outlet, announced it is hiring senior technology and business journalists. The role focuses on original, authoritative reporting across telecoms, fintech, AI, cloud and digital infrastructure, rather than aggregation or clickbait. Candidates must have...
It’s Time To Stop Letting Platforms Grade Their Own Ad Fraud Homework
Ad fraud has become a multi‑billion‑dollar problem, with scammers exploiting automated bots to flood platforms with fake engagement. Meta disclosed that roughly 10% of its 2024 revenue stems from scams and banned goods, and its internal data suggest 15 billion scam...
Beyond Websites: People Inc Grows Digital Revenue Despite Google Traffic Collapse
People Inc reported a 63% drop in Google‑referenced traffic over the past two years, yet its digital revenue grew 8% year‑over‑year to $253 million in Q1 2026, the tenth consecutive quarter of growth. Non‑website income—social‑media ads, events, AI‑driven ad targeting and...
VIOOH Partners with Abode Media to Expand Programmatic DOOH Footprint
VIOOH, a leading global digital out‑of‑home supply‑side platform, announced a programmatic partnership with Abode Media, the UK’s premium residential DOOH network. The collaboration adds more than 250 screens across 230 high‑value residential buildings in London, Manchester and Birmingham, delivering over...
Singapore Proposes Amendments to IMDA Act to Strengthen Media Competition Oversight
Singapore’s Parliament tabled amendments to the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) Act on 6 May 2026, aiming to tighten competition oversight and boost consumer protection in the media sector. The changes broaden IMDA’s authority over ownership transactions, requiring approval for any acquisition...
Why Barnie Choudhury Case Is Blow to Public’s Right to Know
Veteran BBC journalist Barnie Choudhury has been hit with a £14,000 (about $18,000) costs order after an Information Tribunal labeled his aggressive follow‑up to Freedom of Information requests to the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) as “unreasonable behaviour.” While the tribunal...
Man on Fire's Yahya Abdul-Mateen Can’t Match Denzel Washington’s Cool / The Bear Prequel Is a Reminder of when the...
Netflix’s new series "Man on Fire" starring Yahya Abdul‑Mateen II attempts to revive the 2004 Denzel Washington film, but critics say the lead lacks the original’s effortless cool. The review appears alongside commentary on the "The Bear" prequel, which many...
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins: Season Two Renewal Set for NBC Comedy Series
NBC has officially renewed the sports‑centric sitcom *The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins* for a second ten‑episode season, extending the story of disgraced football star Reggie Dinkins into the 2026‑27 broadcast year. The first season, created by Robert Carlock...
Turn Failing Sites Into 100K Monthly Visits
I truly believe I could take ANY failing online business and get them to 100K visits/month using SEO in 180-360 days. Here's exactly how I'd do it: 1. Build (or rebuild) a topical authority map first 2. Write, rewrite and rewire all...
How I AI: Tech Recipes CEO Brian Chap Built a ‘True Decision Engine’
Brian Chap, CEO of strategic consultancy Tech Recipes, has built a "true decision engine" called RootIQ that unifies fragmented advertising data into a single source of truth. The platform links disparate systems, standardizes taxonomy, and automates workflow steps that previously...
The Hidden Tax of Broken Ad Attribution on LinkedIn
LinkedIn marketers often discover that reported clicks and cost‑per‑lead don’t match actual CRM conversions, leaving many leads tagged as "unknown" or "direct." The discrepancy forces teams to spend hours each week reconciling data, slowing strategy and eroding confidence in dashboards....
ARN Taps Shauna Anderson and Elle Bowles for iHeart Expansion
Australian Radio Network (ARN) has hired former Nine.com.au editor Shauna Anderson as Director of Content for its iHeart platform, while Elle Bowles joins as Senior Manager of iHeart LIVE. Anderson will oversee podcast strategy, talent development and branded content, reporting...
Arena One, AMC Theatres Lift the Curtain on ‘Next Chapter of Live Shows’
Arena One and AMC Theatres have launched “Arena One at AMC,” a live‑concert experience streamed to 300 AMC locations across 89 U.S. markets starting in June. The format lets artists perform on a purpose‑built stage while interacting with cinema audiences...
Media's Absurd Comparisons Undermine Legitimate Critique
I’m not one to defend Forbes or OpenAI but it’s absurd to imply their naming Altman on a list of 250 innovators explains anti-Elon headlines. ps it was also absurd for you on CNN to imply platforming a neo-Nazi is...
The Direct Supply Myth: Why CTV Inventory Looks Better Coming From A Streamer Than Directly From A Publisher
Industry advocates have promoted “direct supply” in CTV as a shortcut to transparency and efficiency. In practice, most impressions travel through OEM and streamer distribution agreements that grant those partners control over ad decisioning, signal access, and pod composition. This...
Wednesday Briefing: Serie A Consider Media Company for International TV Rights Sale
Serie A is evaluating the creation of a stand‑alone media company to sell its international television rights, potentially bringing in financial investors while keeping governance separate from the league. The proposal is in an early exploratory phase and follows earlier...
When IP Travels, Where Does Value Go?
The column argues that intellectual property (IP) is evolving from static formats into an operating system that circulates across broadcast, streaming, FAST, YouTube and social channels. As IP travels, value can be extractive, transitional or compounding, with each movement either...
How to Survive the Information Crisis: ‘We Once Talked About Fake News – Now Reality Itself Feels Fake’
Guardian editor‑in‑chief Katharine Viner argues that an information crisis, driven by digital overload, AI‑generated misinformation and hostile online ecosystems, is eroding public trust and civic cohesion. She outlines how environmental, political and economic upheavals intersect with a toxic media landscape...
News Org Tweets For
We’ve come to the point where a major highly respected news org is having to publicly tweet to try to get attention at this platform for a revered reporter locked out of her account for days. This in itself is...
Watch Peacock Anywhere for Just $1, No Subscription
We uncovered a sneaky way to watch Peacock for $1 – from anywhere in the world, without coughing up for a premium streaming subscription. https://t.co/UwNZvdFw8k
Thinking of Starting a Video Podcast? Read This First
Spotify’s podcast head Prithi Dey says 2026 is the era of video podcasting, driven by audience demand and higher engagement. Statista reports over 40% of Australian listeners already watch video podcasts, and younger demographics are especially receptive. While video adds...
Watch Amandaland Season 2 Free Anywhere Online
Here's how to watch Amandaland season 2 online from anywhere in the world, completely FREE, as Lucy Punch and Joanna Lumley return for more chaos. https://t.co/OJ0wY9vPhh
Can Seedance Seamlessly Insert Arnold Into Any Scene?
Is Seedance already good enough to take various movie scenes and just replace one of the characters with Arnold Schwarzenegger?
Samsung Scores with Thierry Henry in 20-Year TV Crown Play
Samsung marks two decades as the world’s number‑one TV brand, according to Omdia, with a new global campaign built around football legend Thierry Henry. The campaign leans on the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, using humor‑filled sketches to showcase premium picture...
New X Feature Enables Pre‑Post Research
Did this new X feature just drop? It’s great, now some of you can actually research before you post. https://t.co/P0AInYO0ol
Limit Kids' Meta Use to 30 Hours Monthly
Three hours per day for Meta’s surveillance capitalism of kids. Seems like more than enough. If it were me, I’d go to a 30-hour monthly cap.
TV Ratings (5/5/2026): Nine Edges Ahead In Quiz Show Showdown
Nine Network dominated Thursday’s primetime ratings, with "Tipping Point Australia" pulling a national reach of 1.511 million and an average audience of 792,000, making it the top non‑news program. Close behind, Nine’s "The Hundred with Andy Lee" logged 1.508 million reach and...
Andy Stone Likely Avoids Press; Liability Cases Resurface
Cecilia, since I’m fairly confident Meta’s Andy Stone won’t proactively notify press as he did when playing a role in obfuscation of the cover-up by Facebook brass...these cases are back on - including personal liability. Evidentiary hearing tomorrow. /1 https://t.co/sHSK6wKEYx
FX Unveils Surprise ‘The Bear’ Episode ‘Gary’ Starring Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss‑Bachrach
FX released a surprise standalone episode of ‘The Bear’ called “Gary,” featuring Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss‑Bachrach in a flashback set in Gary, Indiana. Co‑written by the two leads and directed by series creator Christopher Storer, the episode arrives ahead...
Woolworths Puts Lead Creative Account Out to Pitch Across Australia and New Zealand
Woolworths has opened a formal pitch for its lead creative agency across Australia and New Zealand, ending M+C Saatchi’s tenure that began in 2017. The retailer will keep existing agency partners active during the review, while TBWA\ continues to manage the Everyday Rewards...
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“Daredevil: Born Again” Season 2 Finale's Surprise Reveal Confirms Marvel Casting
The season‑2 finale of Daredevil: Born Again surprised viewers by bringing Mike Colter back as Luke Cage, confirming another Marvel casting from the Netflix era. The cameo signals the narrative direction for season 3, which is already filming in New York City and has leaked set photos. The...
Universities Urged to Value Local Publishing
Australian universities spend millions each year on commercial academic publishers, while a third of the nation’s 650 scholarly journals operate under a diamond open‑access model that charges neither readers nor authors. These diamond journals, largely sustained by unpaid academic labor,...
Fintech Player Webull Taps Ooh Media for National Campaign
Webull Australia has launched a nationwide out‑of‑home (OOH) advertising campaign in partnership with oOh!media’s creative hub Poly. The rollout features more than 100 unique creative variations across six outdoor formats, using sport‑training language to position trading as a daily discipline...
Kayo Sports Enters The Video Game Arena Through Roblox
Australian sports broadcaster Kayo Sports, through a joint venture with Foxtel Media and gaming‑marketing firm Livewire, has debuted Kayo SPORTS Stadium on Roblox. The immersive experience features three official sports codes—AFL, Cricket Australia and Supercars—allowing users to play realistic mini‑games...
Cash Converters Leans Into Side Quest Culture With National Campaign Via Carat Perth & Nova Entertainment
Cash Converters has teamed with Carat Perth and Nova Entertainment to launch the national "Side Quest City" campaign, tapping into Australia’s $42 bn AUD (≈$27 bn USD) passion economy. The integrated effort uses TV‑radio personality Joel Creasey, Nova’s podcast network and a...
Stephen King Praises Netflix's New "Remarkable" Horror Miniseries
Stephen King praised Netflix’s four‑episode horror miniseries "Lord of the Flies," calling it "remarkable." The adaptation, written and created by Jack Thorne, reimagines William Golding’s 1954 novel with a character‑centric approach. It debuted on May 4, 2026, and features standout...
Saturday TV Ratings 5/2/26: Saturday Night Live Ratings to Come, NBA Playoffs Hit 27-Year High for First Round Game, Kentucky...
Saturday night television on May 2, 2026 delivered a standout performance for NBC as the NBA playoff matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics drew 8.86 million viewers, registering a 2.16 rating and a 30 share in the coveted 18‑49...
Rubii Sees Swell in Interest From Indie Agencies as AI Shifts From Hype to Operational Backbone
Australian‑built Rubii, an AI‑powered media operating system, is signing independent agencies such as JOY, Thinkerbell, Cool Media and others, marking a surge in adoption. The platform consolidates fragmented campaign delivery, reporting and finance workflows into a single AI‑driven solution, promising...