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:
Saturday TV Ratings: 48 Hours, The Go-Gos, NHL Hockey, NBA Playoffs, MLB Baseball
Saturday, May 2, 2026 TV ratings show CBS’s true‑crime series 48 Hours maintained steady viewership amid a busy sports lineup that featured MLB, the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs and NBA playoffs. The Go‑Go’s special attracted a modest audience, while reruns of NCIS, NCIS: Origins and Saturday Night Live filled the remainder of the schedule. Overall, live sports dominated Saturday night slots, pushing scripted dramas to lower shares, and the data will inform networks’ renewal decisions, particularly for 48 Hours.
Pluto Quits Twitch, Joining Recent Staff Exodus
Pluto has announced he's leaving Twitch. Pluto is one of the more well-known staffers, especially among top streamers. His departure is a loss to the community and follows other long-term staffers, such as Growl and KawaiiGuy, who left in the past...
7News Spotlight: May 10
Australia launched a world‑first $70 million (≈$46 million USD) ban on social media for users under 16, aiming to curb youth addiction. Five months later, a YouGov survey released on 7News Spotlight reveals mixed compliance, with many platforms still allowing under‑age access. Leaked internal...
Star Wars Novelists Reveal How They Keep Canon Romance Fresh for Fans
Three Star Wars novelists explain the pressures of adding new chapters to iconic romances. Beth Revis, R.A. Salvatore and Claudia Gray detail how they balance fan expectations with narrative freedom, noting the risk of backlash when beloved couples change.
Netflix Report Shows 26% Cancellation Rate for Original Series in 2025
Netflix released an internal report showing a 26% cancellation rate for its original scripted series in 2025, double the average since 2016. The data highlights a shift toward audience‑retention‑driven decisions and raises concerns among creators about series longevity.
AI Giants Spend $166 Million on Linear TV in Early 2026 to Shape Public Opinion
Google, Meta, Anthropic and other leading AI firms have collectively poured $166 million into linear TV advertising through April 20, 2026. The surge reflects a strategic push to win consumer trust as AI adoption grows but sentiment remains divided.
Dianna Russini Quits The Athletic, Gets Open Offer From Stugotz’s Show
NFL insider Dianna Russini stepped down from The Athletic after a viral photo with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and before her contract expires on June 30. Jon “Stugotz” Weiner publicly said his show would hire her, underscoring the rapid talent...
Every Newsletter Needs a Tangible Recurring Benefit
Every newsletter needs a recurring, tangible “thing.” These assets do 1 of 3 things: • Save the reader time • Save the reader money • Help the reader make money Without this, your newsletter doesn’t really have an offer.
NPR Airs Trump’s False Claim without Correction
NPR just did a piece where they began with Trump’s absurd boast and they didn’t correct him.
What D’Amaro Has in Mind for Disney
Disney’s new CEO Josh D’Amaro is steering the company toward disciplined execution, targeting investments in storytelling, streaming, technology and live sports. He frames Disney+ as a strategic platform rather than a mere product, aiming to tighten the subscriber loop and...
Ted Turner: The GOAT of Cable
Ted Turner, the 87‑year‑old media pioneer who died this week, reshaped cable television through a string of groundbreaking ventures. He turned an Atlanta UHF station into the TBS SuperStation, used satellite to reach national cable operators, and launched CNN in...
Marketing Lessons From 20 Years at Google - Dan Taylor
In this episode, Dan Taylor, a veteran of nearly 20 years at Google, shares how search and Google Ads have evolved from a niche channel to a massive, AI‑driven marketing platform. He highlights key breakthroughs such as the shift to...
New York Times Co (NYT) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
The New York Times reported a record year, adding 1.4 million digital subscribers to reach 12.8 million and generating over $2 billion in total digital revenue. Subscription revenue grew 14% YoY while digital advertising surged 25%, pushing adjusted operating profit 21% higher to...
Disney’s Latest Takes on Linear, NFL Renewal
Disney’s CFO Hugh Johnston used the Q2 2026 earnings call to signal that the company now treats its linear TV networks as content brands rather than standalone businesses. He noted that linear revenue is shrinking, contributing less than half of...
Trump Defamation Theories & Newsom’s Weak Case
California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a defamation suit against Fox News, aiming to expose President Donald Trump’s alleged legal inconsistencies. The complaint argues that if Trump is immune from liability for statements made while in office, he should not be...
NBC Renews The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins for Season 2
NBC has renewed the sports‑mockumentary comedy "The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins" for a second season, announced roughly a month after its debut. The series stars Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe, mixing scripted humor with documentary‑style sports storytelling. Strong...
Fake Profiles Plague Threads Just Like Twitter
Because many people hide behind fake profiles. It’s just as bad as twitter here fr.
Whitney Leavitt Has One Last Season with Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
Whitney Leavitt announced she will appear in the final episodes of season five of the reality series *Secret Lives of Mormon Wives*, marking her last on‑screen stint. She shared the news on Instagram, noting a shift from earlier departures driven...
Twitch Lifts Ban, Now Permits All Video Services
Twitch has changed its mind and will now allow all random video services, such as Omoggle, to be streamed on the platform. They officially removed the rule from the Community Guidelines documentation 30 minutes ago.
Chinese Bots Flood Rural U.S. with Anti‑data Center Propaganda
What China is doing is operating thousands of bot accounts and Facebook groups targeting mainly rural Americans with anti-data center propaganda. Just go look at all of these random groups that have popped up spreading nonsense about AI and data...
Deepfake Videos Degrade Political Reputations Even when Viewers Realize They Are Fake
A three‑wave experiment in the United States and the Netherlands shows that AI‑generated deepfake videos can erode a politician’s reputation even when viewers correctly identify the footage as fake. Participants who saw fabricated clips of Nancy Pelosi and Sybrand Buma...
AMC Theatres Launches Shared Live Concert Streaming Partnership With Arena One
AMC Theatres is teaming with Arena One to stream live, interactive concerts to more than 300 U.S. locations and Odeon venues in Europe, beginning June 17 with Bebe Rexha. The service uses a purpose‑built cinematic stage that lets audience reactions flow...
Contento Technologies Launches Content-Driven Digital Growth Platform to Help Brands Scale Visibility and Engagement
Contento Technologies unveiled an expanded version of its GoContento platform, a content‑driven marketing suite that blends SEO, editorial publishing, and brand promotion. The service promises to boost brand visibility, authority, and measurable engagement by distributing content across a global network...
Netflix Is Removing Jenna Coleman's "Stunning" British Crime Thriller Very Soon
Netflix will pull the British crime thriller Jackdaw from its catalog on May 26, ending the streaming window for the Jenna Coleman‑led film. The 2023 release, directed by Jamie Childs, follows a disgraced motocross champion entangled in a night‑long kidnapping...
How I Automated My Content Pipeline with Jira, Lindy, and a Story Database
The author built an automated content pipeline that links a Jira Kanban board, a Lindy AI agent, and a Supabase vector database of past conversation transcripts. Dragging a card to "In Progress" triggers a webhook, prompting the agent to retrieve...
Particle News Revives Brand Tracking via Claude Integration
Back in the early days of the @SlackAPI, one of the most popular in the directory was the Twitter app. Companies used it to track mentions of their brand, competitors, support requests, and more. The Twitter API may be mostly...
New Video Explains Why Ad Relevance Matters
If you like me annnnd you like YouTube, I think you're gonna like my latest video all about ad relevance. https://t.co/yVzFZLK6n8
POSSIBLE 2026: Industry Experts Dish On AI – And Other Trends To Watch
At the POSSIBLE 2026 conference in Miami, ad industry leaders debated the practical impact of agentic AI on advertising workflows. While hype persists, experts highlighted AI’s role in accelerating measurement, optimizing campaigns, and streamlining agency‑advertiser collaboration. They also flagged ongoing challenges...
Brand New Day Beats No Way Home Except Interest
#SpiderMan #BrandNewDay is outpacing No Way Home in every metric except Interest ~100 days out, per Greenlight Analytics. Stronger awareness→intent conversion, but lower Interest points to a more engaged yet narrower audience vs NWH’s broader, generational multiverse appeal. https://t.co/cGIiAMkmky
ESPN and WBD Sports See 70% NHL Playoff Surge
ESPN/ABC and WBD Sports were both up nearly 70% in first round vs last year in NHL playoffs. Monster growth that goes well above and beyond the Nielsen changes. Story coming shortly at @FOS https://t.co/nHX4HPyzBd
POSSIBLE 2026: Industry Experts Dish On AI – And Other Trends To Watch
At POSSIBLE 2026 in Miami, ad‑tech leaders acknowledged that AI is shifting from hype to practical workflow integration. Executives highlighted how generative and agentic AI are accelerating campaign measurement and optimization while also adding new media‑buying complexities. The dialogue also focused...
Screening Netflix’s Norwegian Crime Drama “Detective Hole”
by "showing hole" i simply meant that i am screening episodes of netflix's norwegian crime drama series detective hole
Hardcastle and McCormick Ends After Three Seasons on ABC
📺 May 5, 1986: Action crime comedy-drama “Hardcastle and McCormick” concluded its three-season run on ABC. The series starred Brian Keith and Daniel Hugh Kelly. https://t.co/uzk7LyCQEO https://t.co/QEN1bH8PD9
Never. Always. Launches ~ a New Kind of Agency, Blending AI-First Thinking with a No-Layers Model
Brad Stevens, former DEPT and M+C Saatchi leader, has launched Never. Always., an agency that discards traditional hierarchies in favor of a layer‑free, senior‑only structure. The firm pairs experienced creatives directly with clients and embeds AI throughout the workflow to speed...
How Do You Break Into Journalism if You Can't Afford to Work for Free?
A persistent myth in journalism insists that aspiring reporters must accept unpaid or low‑paid work to break in. Recent data shows 73% of UK journalism internships are unpaid, reinforcing a class divide where 71% of journalists come from privileged backgrounds....
Marathi Epic ‘Raja Shivaji’ Sets Record Opening with $4.6 Million Gross
Riteish Deshmukh’s historical drama ‘Raja Shivaji’ earned ₹43.66 crore ($4.6 million) in its opening weekend, the highest ever for a Marathi‑language film. The milestone underscores the rising commercial power of regional Indian cinema and signals new distribution dynamics for non‑Hindi productions.
PragerU CEO Marissa Streit Slams Journalists for Failing to ‘Destroy’ Platform on Alex Marlow Show
PragerU CEO Marissa Streit told Breitbart’s Alex Marlow that journalists trying to “destroy” the conservative video platform have failed, accusing them of operating with a preset agenda. The remarks underscore a growing clash between right‑leaning creators and mainstream media over...
David Ellison Committed to 30 Theatrical Releases No Matter What
Paramount CEO David Ellison reaffirmed the company’s goal of delivering 30 theatrical releases each year once its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery is finalized. The commitment was announced during the Q1 earnings call, where both studios are already slated to release...
Gary
"Gary" reframes everything you thought you knew about Richie and Mikey from Season 1. The Bear dropped it as a surprise today, and Season 5 still hasn't got a premiere date yet. https://t.co/qCZIuX5CmI
Dolby Atmos Drops on Disney+ During Peak Streaming Hours
Disney+ subscribers have spotted changes in Dolby Atmos availability based on the time of day, believing its due to peak streaming times. https://t.co/C6IosB2gRb
Ad Council Launches $148M Digital PSA Blitz to Spark Teen Mental‑health Talks
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, NAMI and the Ad Council unveiled fresh "Seize the Awkward" public‑service ads on May 5, 2026, deploying $148 million in donated media across broadcast, digital, social and out‑of‑home channels. Partnered with Pinterest, Snapchat and TikTok, the...
Airdate: Media Movers
James Manning, former Mediaweek editor and veteran commentator, launches the revived Media Movers show on the Ticker platform. After a decade on SKY News Business, the series will air Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. Australian time starting May 6, featuring in‑depth interviews with media executives....
CNBC Turns Into Boring Infomercial, Losing Real Insight
A month and a half ago I noticed a subtle change in CNBC that I'm still trying to understand. It got boring, like they stopped engaging with anything real. Not exactly sure what happened but it now sounds like an...
Kids with Fake Mustaches Can Fool High-Tech Age Verification Systems
A recent Internet Matters study of 1,000 UK families found that roughly one‑third of children successfully evade age‑verification systems required by the Online Safety Act. Kids employ low‑tech tricks like drawing fake mustaches and high‑tech methods such as AI‑generated facial...
Hit Show Tracker on the Run From Vancouver, Production Lured to California by Tax Credit
The CBS drama Tracker, starring Justin Hartley, will film its fourth season in Los Angeles after receiving a $48 million U.S. tax credit. The move ends three seasons of production in British Columbia, where the series generated $129 million in qualified spending...
5 Excellent HBO Max Shows to Get You Through the Work Week (May 5 - 10)
The article curates five HBO Max titles for the week of May 5‑10, ranging from new drama to documentary and animation. It highlights the limited‑series "Half Man," the highly anticipated return of "Euphoria" season 3, the surf‑focused docuseries "100 Foot Wave," the adult‑animation thriller "Common Side Effects," and...
SEC Rule May Let Studios Smooth Revenue Numbers
A wonky rule change from the SEC could allow Hollywood companies to smooth out otherwise choppy numbers, from subscriber data to ad sales. But will the studios bite? https://t.co/h0pbTgUrX0
Netflix Announces ‘The American Experiment’ Doc, Featuring Hillary Clinton, Mike Pence, & More
Netflix is debuting a five‑part documentary, *The American Experiment*, on June 24, 2026 to mark the United States’ 250th anniversary. The series, directed by Brian Knappenberger, revisits the nation’s founding, the Revolutionary War, and the Constitution, weaving interviews with more than 60 historians,...
Philadelphia’s 92.5 XTU Personality Mark Razz to Retire
Philadelphia’s 92.5 XTU midday host and Program Director Mark Razz will retire on May 22, ending a 26‑year tenure in the market. He joined WXTU in 2006 after six years at WMMR and became Program Director in 2019. Under his guidance...
Are Agents Now The Real Publishers? And Are Publishers Making Themselves Redundant?
The article argues that literary agents at the Big Five houses now perform the bulk of manuscript editing, leaving publishers to handle production, marketing, and sales. This shift makes many imprints functionally interchangeable, as they receive already‑polished, generic books. The...