Today's Media Pulse
Online video subscriptions top 2.2 bn, revenue eclipses pay‑TV
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, overtaking pay‑TV's $170 billion for the first time. Growth is expected to slow to single‑digit in 2026 as operators shift focus from acquiring new users to monetising existing ones.
Samba TV Elevates Jaya Aswani to CTO, Names Ramzi Nasr VP of Engineering
Samba TV announced the promotion of Jaya Aswani to chief technology officer and the appointment of Ramzi Nasr, PhD, as vice president of engineering. The moves aim to sharpen the firm’s AI‑driven advertising platform as the industry shifts toward real‑time, agentic solutions.
What We Heard in Perugia About AI Rewriting the Rules of Journalism
At the 2026 International Journalism Festival in Perugia, a panel warned newsrooms that AI agents are emerging as a new class of readers, forcing publishers to cater to machine‑scale demand. Speakers highlighted a market split between hyper‑premium brands like The...
Government to Create Task Force to Examine Labelling for AI-Generated Content
The UK government will establish a dedicated task force to examine whether AI‑generated content should be formally labelled. The move follows the EU AI Act’s 2024 transparency requirement and emerging US state laws, though Britain currently lacks such legislation. Ministers...
Generative Engine Marketing: Retail Media’s Next Move
Generative Engine Marketing (GEM) is emerging as a new approach that positions brands to be discovered by AI models rather than just human shoppers. Jellyfish’s report highlights early successes, such as Gentle Monster’s 17% click‑through‑rate lift and MSC Industrial’s 45%...
Paramount Skydance Beats Q1 Forecast, Advances Warner Bros. Discovery Deal
Paramount Skydance (PSKY) reported first‑quarter 2026 results that topped analyst forecasts, posting a 17% year‑over‑year rise in Paramount+ revenue and adding almost 2 million subscribers. The company also confirmed that the $49 billion bridge financing for its pending Warner Bros. Discovery merger...
Pinterest Posts $1.08 B Q1 Revenue, 18% YoY Rise, but Net Loss Swells
Pinterest reported first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $1.08 billion, an 18% year‑over‑year increase, as monthly active users hit a record 631 million. The growth was offset by a GAAP net loss of $73.6 million, underscoring the tension between rapid user expansion and rising cost...
Pinterest Posts 18% Q1 Revenue Rise as Ad Spend Rebounds
Pinterest announced first‑quarter revenue of $1.01 billion, up 18% year‑over‑year, as advertising spend surged and monthly active users hit a record 631 million. The growth was powered by AI‑enhanced ad products and a $2 billion share‑repurchase program, even as the company posted a...
Below Deck Down Under’s Mike Durant Reflects on Shock Firing
Mike Durant was dismissed from Bravo’s reality series "Below Deck Down Under" after Captain Jason Chambers labeled his behavior toxic and ordered his immediate removal. Durant, who previously claimed innocence, now admits his disruptive antics, including teasing crew members and...
Tuesday: Three Morning Takes
The post critiques three recent developments: a New York Times profile of a rent‑stabilized artist that fuels debate over market‑based housing solutions, Utah’s $45 million plan for a mandatory‑treatment homeless campus that has been stalled, and Spirit Airlines’ sudden shutdown that...
Maintaining Brand Safety and Integrity in the AI Slop Era
A recent AD Week House Possible panel, co‑hosted by Silverpush, highlighted the surge of low‑quality AI‑generated content—dubbed “AI slop”—and its threat to brand safety. Speakers from Silverpush, Best Friend Animal Society, and Crispin urged brands to create bespoke guardrails that define...
Attack on Titan's Finale Gets New 4K Theatrical Release in North America
Crunchyroll’s Anime Nights will bring Attack on Titan: The Last Attack to North American theaters on May 18 in 4K. The film compiles the final episodes of the series’ fourth season, adding a new epilogue scene where the main characters...
NCIS: Origins Season 3 Renewal Status & Future Revealed
CBS officially renewed NCIS: Origins for a third season on Jan. 22, 2026, adding it to the network’s 16‑show fall lineup. The drama will return to its Tuesday 10/9c slot, likely launching in late September or early October. Season 3 will be trimmed...
Borrell: Local Digital Ad Growth Slows as Share Wars Begin
Borrell Associates’ 24th annual Local Digital Advertising report shows that growth in local digital ad revenue has slipped to low single‑digit percentages, the slowest pace since the Great Recession. Digital now accounts for 72% of local ad spend, totaling about...
Liberman & Sang Lead Hispanic Radio Conference Pivot Session
At Radio Ink’s Hispanic Radio Conference 2026, senior advisor Jeffery Liberman will interview digital‑media star Zach Sang in a session titled “The Pivot to Powerhouse.” The discussion will trace Sang’s evolution from traditional radio host to digital‑first creator, focusing on...
Newsbrand Launched by Ex-Observer Staff Expands Team Six Months On
The Nerve, a subscription‑based newsbrand founded by five former Observer journalists, announced the hiring of two investigative reporters and two columnists just six months after its launch. The outlet now counts 30,000 paying and free subscribers and has logged 2.5 million...
How to Be Quoted by the Media
The article offers a practical guide for professionals seeking media quotes, emphasizing relationship building with journalists and proactive story pitching. It stresses the importance of concise, conversational language that stands out to editors. The author recommends offering written quotes via...
David Letterman Reflects on ‘The Late Show’ and Has Harsh Words for New CBS Owners
Former "Late Show" host David Letterman publicly criticized CBS's new owners after the network announced the show's cancellation. The decision follows the acquisition of Paramount Global by David Ellison, backed by his father Larry Ellison, whom Letterman mockingly called the...
Silverpush Brings Broadcast-Quality YouTube Buying to EMEA Advertisers with SilverScreen™
Silverpush has launched SilverScreen, an AI‑driven classification layer that tags YouTube channels as broadcast‑quality for EMEA advertisers. The tool lets media planners treat YouTube inventory like linear TV, using production standards, cadence and co‑viewing signals to curate TV‑grade content. A...
Rivals and 1923 Stars Join Ashley Walters in Cast for "Thrillingly Suspenseful" ITV Drama
ITV’s upcoming six‑part drama *First Woman* has added Alex Hassell and Jennifer Ehle to its already star‑studded cast, joining Ashley Walters and Andrea Riseborough. Hassell will portray the UK Prime Minister, while Ehle plays a Space Flight Authority investigator probing the disappearance...
FIFA Still Has No World Cup TV Rights Deal in India, China
FIFA still has not secured broadcast rights for the 2026 World Cup in India and China, the planet’s two largest markets. In India, a Reliance‑Disney joint venture has offered $20 million, far below FIFA’s original $100 million ask, while Sony walked away...
Why Direct Advertisers Are Making a Comeback in iGaming Affiliate Marketing
The iGaming affiliate landscape is seeing a resurgence of direct advertiser relationships, moving away from the traditional network‑centric model. Affiliates are opting for fewer, tightly managed offers to gain faster negotiations, flexible deal structures, and shorter feedback loops with product...
Uncommon Puts the Pazazz Into Payment Platforms for Airwallex
Uncommon Creative Studio has unveiled a global advertising campaign titled “Build the Future” for fintech payments provider Airwallex. The kinetic spot showcases a timeline of inventions—from alarm clocks to jetpacks—to illustrate how the platform fuels modern business innovation. Airwallex’s global...
How Fintech Startups Use a Meta Ads Agency to Reach Accredited Investors
Fintech startups are turning to specialist Meta ads agencies to reach accredited investors more quickly and cheaply than traditional channels. By leveraging Meta’s sophisticated behavioral targeting—professional titles, investment interests, and look‑alike audiences—agencies can assemble compliant audiences that meet the accredited...
May 5 New-Release Titles Include ‘Wuthering Heights,’ ‘GOAT’ on Blu-Ray, ‘Ready or Not 2’ Digitally
Media Play News lists a slate of home‑entertainment releases slated for May 5, 2026, spanning new theatrical titles and classic restorations. Warner Bros. Discovery is issuing Emerald Fennell’s "Wuthering Heights" and HBO’s "It: Welcome to Derry – Season 1" on DVD, Blu‑ray and 4K...
ABC NEWS Expands Reach with AAP Regional News Partnership
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has teamed up with the Australian Associated Press (AAP) to launch a one‑year pilot that will distribute ABC’s emergency‑related digital articles to 40 regional news outlets. AAP will provide its Newsroom web portal as the...
Only Aziz Ansari Could Pull Off Kash Patel’s Douchey, Bro-Y Energy on SNL / Your TV Is Becoming More and...
Saturday Night Live aired a cold‑open where Aziz Ansari played former White House aide Kash Patel, delivering a deliberately “douchey, bro‑y” performance that critics say captured the character’s swagger. The sketch satirized the Trump‑era FBI and underscored SNL’s continued relevance...
Koddi and Comcast’s Universal Ads Ink Deal to Target Streaming Ads With Commerce Data
Koddi, a commerce‑media adtech firm, has partnered with Comcast’s self‑service platform Universal Ads to let advertisers purchase streaming inventory using first‑party shopper audiences. The integration opens access to ad slots from more than 20 publishers, including DirecTV, Fox, NBCUniversal, Paramount,...
The 2026 Creative 100: Media, TV & Streaming Innovators Know How to Win
The 2026 Creative 100 Media, TV & Streaming Innovators list spotlights leaders who turned bold ideas into measurable business results. Ali Brown’s teams secured four Super Bowl spots and earned Production Company of the Year, while Bloomberg Media Studios generated double‑digit...
A “Pay-For-Performance” Ad Industry? Brands And Agencies Will Need A Referee
WPP announced it will pivot toward fee structures tied to sales and brand performance, citing Jaguar Land Rover as a proof point. By 2026 the firm aims to generate 25% of Monks agency revenue from subscription‑based solutions rather than hourly...
A “Pay-For-Performance” Ad Industry? Brands And Agencies Will Need A Referee
WPP announced a strategic shift toward fee structures tied to measurable sales and brand performance, using Jaguar Land Rover as a pilot. By the end of 2026 the firm aims to generate 25% of Monks agency revenue from subscription‑based solutions rather than...
Some Micro Influencers Find Promising Security in Brand Ownership over Sponsorships
Micro influencers are turning to brand ownership and equity stakes as a hedge against platform volatility. Creator Colin Rocker recently invested seed capital in Favikon, hoping for a future IPO or acquisition, while the broader creator economy sees $13.7 billion in...
The End of the Walled Garden? Analysing Meta’s Strategic Pivot to Open AI Connectors
Meta is dismantling its traditional walled‑garden by releasing AI Connectors that use the open Model Context Protocol (MCP) to let third‑party agents manage ad accounts, diagnostics and product catalogs via natural‑language commands. This shift moves digital advertising from isolated generative...
Netflix Joins the Attention War with New 'Clips' Feature
Netflix unveiled "Clips," a vertical, short‑form video feed designed for mobile users, debuting on May 1 in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines and South Africa. The feature delivers personalized, snackable snippets from movies, series...
The AI Illusion: Everyone’s a ‘Copywriter’ Now – and Brands Are Paying for It
AI‑generated copy is now so polished that marketers question the need for human copywriters, prompting cost‑cutting plans across the industry. A Wall Street Journal survey shows 36% of CMOs expect to eliminate copywriting roles within the next two years, while...
Sundance Fitness Media and CityFitness Group Announce New Strategic Partnership
Sundance Fitness Media announced an exclusive advertising partnership with CityFitness Group, New Zealand’s largest gym network serving over 250,000 members across 65 locations, with six more slated for 2026. The deal expands Sundance’s trans‑Tasman footprint, making it the only media company...
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In November 2025 Superpath released Episode 125, a deep‑dive into whether podcasts are essential for B2B marketing, weighing audience reach against measurable ROI. The episode highlights case studies where audio content amplified thought leadership but also notes scenarios where podcasts add...
Countdown to Gerety Awards Final Deadline: Friday, May 15
The 2026 Gerety Awards have set their final submission deadline for May 15, 2026. Organizers emphasize the awards’ focus on work that resonates and sparks conversation across the global creative community. The jury panel, featuring international creatives, will share insights via...
Havas Thailand Scores Marketing and Media Mandate for Budweiser 0.0 FIFA World Cup 2026™
Havas Thailand has been named the lead marketing and media partner for AB InBev’s Budweiser 0.0 FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in Thailand. The agency will combine data intelligence, media strategy and cultural insight to deliver a locally resonant yet globally consistent brand...
Pulitzer Prize Winner in International Reporting
The Associated Press team of Dake Kang, Garance Burke, Byron Tau, Aniruddha Ghosal and Yael Grauer won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting. Their series, published throughout 2025, documents how Silicon Valley technology enabled mass detention, surveillance, and AI‑driven...
Top Substack Creators Question Long‑term Platform Commitment
Scoop: Several of Substack's top publishers have privately weighed whether it makes sense to be on the platform longterm, raising questions about the company's ability to retain its most prominent creators.
Yahoo Sports Appoints Jarrod Schwarz as GM to Drive Product and Ad Growth
Yahoo Sports announced veteran sports media executive Jarrod Schwarz as its new general manager. Schwarz will oversee product, design, technology, revenue, partnerships and content, reporting to Yahoo Media Group president Ryan Spoon. The hire signals a push to expand Yahoo...
If Social Goes More Private, Where Do Brands Go Next?
The social media playbook is being upended as Instagram tests a standalone "Instants" app for one‑view, 24‑hour disappearing content and legacy Friendster re‑emerges as a private, friend‑to‑friend network. Alongside Snapchat and Locket, these platforms prioritize intimate, low‑pressure sharing over mass...
Big Tech Wants to Punish Australia over Albanese’s Media Bargaining Code – and Trump Might Be Inclined to Listen |...
Australia’s Labor government has introduced a News Bargaining Incentive that obliges Meta, Google and TikTok to pay for the use of local news content. The proposal has sparked alarm among the tech giants, who see the levy as a threat...
ChatGPT Automation Triples Amazon Ebook Releases
Since ChatGPT helped automate slop books, the number of new ebook releases on Amazon has tripled.
DisruptTV Interviews Diginomica Co‑Founder and Business Ethics Author
On Friday @ 11 AM PT @DisrupTVShow interviews @jonerp, Co-founder @diginomica and Paul Ingram, Kravis Professor of Business at the Columbia Business School, and Author of What Do You Really Stand For https://t.co/Ee6pxM7CGr @ValaAfshar @rwang0 #DisrupTV https://t.co/K3jieVFQTv
Another Cable TV Network Is Shutting Down Its App on Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, & Apple TV This Month
Fox Corporation will retire its standalone Fox Sports app on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV and Apple TV around May 7, after notifying users on April 7. The move is part of a strategic shift to funnel viewers into the unified...
Reuters Wins Pulitzer Exposing Meta's Toxic Instagram Practices
Timely. I was just reading unsealed emails from this weekend showing how distressed Facebook was about a headline on reporting by @JeffHorwitz stating Facebook/Meta knows how toxic Instagram is for teen girls. Pulitzer for the win.
Nash Bridges Finale Pits Don Johnson Against Cab‑driver Killer
📺 May 4, 2001: Nash (Don Johnson) tracked down a serial killer who is also a cab driver in the series finale of "Nash Bridges" on CBS. The police procedural, which also starred Cheech Marin, ran six seasons. https://t.co/c60ghwWbUc https://t.co/51XA00BEOw
Recycled Narratives Across Media Reveal a Feedback Loop, Not Journalism
Group-stink is the right word for it. The same narrative, recycled across 12 different Old Media "reporters", presented as independent analysis. That's not journalism. That's a feedback loop
Nixon‑Frost Interview Sets Record with 45 Million Viewers
📺 May 4, 1977: The first of four interviews between President Richard Nixon and journalist David Frost aired in syndication in the United States. This premiere episode drew 45 million viewers, the largest television audience for a political interview in…...