🎯Today's Media Pulse
Updated 2h agoWhat's happening: Paramount Chairman David Ellison Unveils Plan to Merge HBO Max and Paramount+ After $110B Deal
David Ellison, chairman of Paramount, announced a strategy to combine HBO Max and Paramount+ following Paramount’s $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The merged service will target over 200 million subscribers and will include blockbuster franchises such as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Mission: Impossible and Top Gun while preserving HBO’s editorial independence.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Home Post Production acquires Picture Shop Bristol
News•Feb 26, 2026
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc (CCO) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Clear Channel Outdoor reported fourth‑quarter 2020 revenue of $541 million, a 27% year‑over‑year decline, but showed sequential improvement in the Americas. The company added 74 digital billboards in Q4, bringing its U.S. digital inventory to over 1,400 screens, and expanded programmatic capabilities with more than 20 DSP partners. It refinanced $1 billion of senior notes to extend maturities and lower cash interest, while securing a 12‑year airport advertising contract with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Management highlighted a resilient out‑of‑home market and projected a gradual recovery in 2021 despite near‑term revenue pressures.
By Motley Fool – Earnings Transcripts
News•Feb 26, 2026
Nexstar Media Group Inc (NXST) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
News Corp reported Q4 2025 revenue of $2.4 billion, a 6% year‑over‑year increase, and total segment EBITDA of $521 million, up 9% despite a $16 million one‑time charge at HarperCollins. Adjusted earnings per share rose to $0.40 and profitability margin improved to 22.1%,...
By Motley Fool – Earnings Transcripts
News•Feb 26, 2026
USA TODAY Co Inc (TDAY) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
USA TODAY Co. reported Q4 2025 revenue of $585 million, down 5.8% year‑over‑year, while adjusted EBITDA rose 16.6% to $91.1 million, marking its strongest profitability in four years. Digital revenues hit an all‑time high, representing 47% of total revenue and driving a...
By Motley Fool – Earnings Transcripts
News•Feb 25, 2026
Ex-BBC News CEO Denies Anti-Trump Bias Amid $10 Billion Suit
Former BBC News CEO Deborah Turness acknowledged that a Trump‑focused Panorama documentary failed editorial standards, yet she rejected claims of institutional anti‑Trump bias. The documentary’s edit prompted President Donald Trump to file a $10 billion defamation suit against the BBC, which...
By The Wrap
Blog•Feb 25, 2026
Tony Dungy Reportedly ‘Out’ at NBC as Network Revamps ‘Football Night in America’
Tony Dungy is likely to exit NBC’s ‘Football Night in America’ after 17 years as the network prepares a major revamp of its NFL pre‑game show. The Athletic reports that NBC may drop Dungy’s regular analyst slot amid criticism of...
By Awful Announcing
News•Feb 25, 2026
PMK Names Leah Sparkes VP, Ulisses Rivera Joins as Senior Account Director
PMK Entertainment announced two senior hires: Leah Sparkes as Vice President of Television, Film and Premium Content, and Ulisses Rivera as Senior Account Director in its Strategic Communications Group. Sparkes arrives with more than two decades of high‑profile publicity experience...
By The Wrap
News•Feb 25, 2026
Public Radio Engineering Conference Schedule Announced
The Association of Public Radio Engineers announced the schedule for its 26th Public Radio Engineering Conference, set for April 16‑17, 2026 in Las Vegas. The two‑day program, themed “what’s next,” features sessions on audio processing, AM radio relevance, transmission troubleshooting, FM...
By Radio World
News•Feb 25, 2026
Casting News: Jake Johnson Plays P.I. For NBC, Emma Roberts' Bride Wars, And More
Jake Johnson has been cast as Mickey, a down‑on‑his‑luck private investigator, in an untitled NBC comedy pilot created by Brooklyn Nine‑Nine writers Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici. The half‑hour series continues the Los Angeles private‑eye tradition and received a pilot...
By TVLine
News•Feb 25, 2026
Trump Officials Seek to Break Editorial ‘Firewall’ at U.S.-Funded News Agencies
The Trump administration is pushing a draft funding agreement that would let its political appointees veto hires for editors‑in‑chief, CEOs, and board members at two U.S.-funded overseas broadcasters, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. The proposal...
By New York Times — Media & Advertising
News•Feb 25, 2026
TikTok Releases Its 2026 Discover List
TikTok unveiled its 2026 Discover List, highlighting 50 creators across five categories—Educators, Foodies, Icons, Innovators, and Originators. Selections were based on video volume, account growth, engagement, and social impact. The program adds extra training and direct TikTok support for the...
By Social Media Today
News•Feb 25, 2026
Brendan Carr Blasts ‘Out of Touch’ Media, Declares ‘This Isn’t Reagan’s FCC’
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr used a Semafor media summit to defend his leadership, labeling mainstream news outlets as "drastically out of touch" with the American public. He rejected comparisons to Ronald Reagan’s FCC, insisting his approach is a...
By The Wrap
News•Feb 25, 2026
Washington Post Editor Confronts ‘Human Cost’ of Layoffs, Says Jeff Bezos Is Committed to Paper
Washington Post executive editor Matt Murray acknowledged the "human cost" of this month’s layoffs, which saw more than 300 staffers cut, but framed the reductions as essential to stabilize finances and return the paper to break‑even. He emphasized owner Jeff...
By The Wrap
News•Feb 25, 2026
Hollywood Actor Cast in "Iconic Role" For New Drama That's 'Reimagining of a 1960s Classic'
Hollywood is reviving the 1960 western *The Magnificent Seven* as an eight‑episode drama for MGM+, the Amazon‑owned streaming service. Veteran actor Matt Dillon has been cast as lead Chris Adams, bringing depth to the iconic role. The series, written and...
By Digital Spy – TV
Blog•Feb 25, 2026
Jake Johnson to Lead NBC's P.I. Comedy Pilot / Emma Roberts to Star in Bride Wars Peacock TV Adaptation /...
Jake Johnson is set to star in NBC’s untitled private‑investigator comedy pilot, a single‑camera project from Brooklyn Nine‑Nine veterans Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici. Peacock announced a new adaptation of the 2009 rom‑com Bride Wars with Emma Roberts in the...
By TVTattle
News•Feb 25, 2026
RAIN Notes: February 25
Google announced the acquisition of ProducerAI, the former Riffusion, to boost its AI‑driven music generation suite. The platform, already integrated with Google’s Lyria 3 model and Gemini AI, will let Google Labs users create full songs and lyrics from text prompts...
By RAIN News
News•Feb 25, 2026
Sinclair Q4 Core Ad Revenue Jumps 14%
Sinclair Inc. posted fourth‑quarter 2025 revenue of $836 million, a 17% decline year‑over‑year, driven by weaker political advertising after the 2024 election cycle. Core advertising revenue, however, jumped 14% to $354 million, underscoring demand for live sports and resilient local ad inventory....
By TVNewsCheck
News•Feb 25, 2026
Hawaii’s New West Broadcasting Integrates Tieline Solutions
New West Broadcasting, operating six stations on Hawaii’s Big Island, has upgraded its transmission and remote broadcast infrastructure with Tieline’s suite of IP codecs and management tools. The company now uses Bridge‑IT, Gateway, ViA, and MPX codecs, complemented by a...
By Radio World
News•Feb 25, 2026
Heated Rivalry's Connor Storrie Shows Off His Many Accents In SNL Promo — Watch
Connor Storrie, known for his role in HBO Max’s "Heated Rivalry," will make his hosting debut on Saturday Night Live this week. A new SNL promo features Storrie and cast members Marcello Hernández and Ashley Padilla praising his Russian accent,...
By TVLine
News•Feb 25, 2026
2026 Ambies Winners, Podcasts Top Spoken Word Share of Ear, & More
The 2026 Ambies crowned Wisecrack as Podcast of the Year while industry data showed podcasts overtaking AM/FM radio for the first time, capturing 40% of U.S. spoken‑word listening. Research from Triton Digital and Cumulus Media reveals 80% of monthly listeners...
By Sounds Profitable
News•Feb 25, 2026
F1 CEO Defends Apple Leap: ‘Bigger’ Reach With ‘Other People’
Formula One has shifted its U.S. broadcast rights from ESPN to Apple, securing a $140 million per‑year deal that eclipses ESPN’s $80‑90 million payments. CEO Stefano Domenicali argues the Apple partnership will ultimately reach a larger audience, especially among cord‑never viewers, by...
By Front Office Sports
News•Feb 25, 2026
Mayra Berenice Joins Lotus’ 980 La Mera Mera for Afternoon Drive
Mayra Berenice has been hired to host the afternoon drive slot on Lotus Communications' 980 La Mera Mera in Los Angeles. The move is part of Lotus's broader effort to staff every major daypart with live, local on‑air talent. The station also added...
By Radio Ink
News•Feb 25, 2026
Less Tools, More Visibility: TAG Video Systems at NAB 2026
TAG Video Systems announced a suite of new capabilities for its IP‑native Realtime Media Platform at NAB 2026, aimed at consolidating broadcast monitoring tools into a single interface. The rollout includes the Lens visual‑service health analyzer, expanded QC Station colour and...
By TV Tech (TVTechnology)
News•Feb 25, 2026
Nexstar Lays Off Local TV Journalists Including KTLA's Glen Walker and Lu Parker
Nexstar Media Group announced layoffs of longtime KTLA anchors Glen Walker and Lu Parker, along with veteran meteorologist Mark Kriski, as part of a company‑wide cost‑reduction drive. The cuts extend to other major‑market stations such as Chicago’s WGN and New York’s WPIX, reflecting...
By Los Angeles Times – Entertainment & Arts
News•Feb 25, 2026
Samsung Taps Gracenote for AI-Powered Discovery
Samsung has partnered with Gracenote, Nielsen’s content‑data unit, to embed its extensive entertainment metadata into Samsung Smart TV’s AI stack. The collaboration will power large‑language‑model (LLM) driven search, enabling conversational queries that surface TV shows, movies and sports more intuitively....
By TV Tech (TVTechnology)
News•Feb 25, 2026
The Channel Store Integrates FAST Channels on Prime Video in Spain
The Channel Store has become the first technology provider to launch four free‑ad‑supported streaming TV (FAST) channels on Prime Video in Spain. The channels—Anime Visión, Anime Visión Classics, Cines Verdi TV and Cine Feel Good Verdi TV—were technically integrated in...
By World Screen
News•Feb 25, 2026
Jim Lyke Back at SBS for a Breath of Fresh AIRE
Jim Lyke re‑joins Spanish Broadcasting System as Executive Vice President of Network Radio and National Digital Sales for AIRE Radio Networks, co‑leading the division with EVP Carolina Patiño. Lyke previously left SBS in March 2025 for Nueva Network and has...
By Radio Ink
News•Feb 25, 2026
Avid's New CPO Discusses AI, NAB Show and Newsroom Tech
Avid has appointed Kenna Hilburn as chief product officer and is rolling out Avid Content Core, a cloud‑native platform that links existing broadcast and digital tools for hybrid media teams. The company is embedding AI selectively to automate transcription, search...
By TV Tech (TVTechnology)
News•Feb 25, 2026
AdApt Enhances AI-Driven Media Sales Platform With BIA Data
AdApt Media Sales has entered a strategic partnership with BIA Advisory Services to embed BIA’s local market revenue forecasts and category analysis into its AI‑enabled sales platform. The integration will give broadcasters and other local media organizations access to market‑level...
By Radio Ink
News•Feb 25, 2026
IHeart Adds Flag Football to Emerging Sports Partner Portfolio
iHeartMedia has been named the official media partner of the International Flag League (iFlag), the world’s largest flag football tournament operator. The partnership will use iHeart’s AM/FM radio stations, podcasts and digital platforms to promote youth competitions, athlete stories and...
By Radio Ink
News•Feb 25, 2026
HBO Renews ‘Industry’ for a Final Season
HBO has renewed the drama series Industry for a fifth and final season, concluding the show after five years. The fourth season wraps up on March 1, 2024, featuring Harper and Yasmin entangled in high‑stakes fintech intrigue in London. Showrunners Mickey...
By Cord Cutters News
News•Feb 25, 2026
Legendary Alum Deborah Kaufmann Joins Sipur
Deborah Kaufmann, a former senior vice president of literary affairs at Legendary, has been appointed chief of global content at Sipur Studios. The newly created role tasks her with steering worldwide content development and creative leadership. During her decade at...
By World Screen
News•Feb 25, 2026
Bruce McAvaney Leads SEVEN’s Tongue in Cheek 2026 AFL Launch Campaign
Seven Network unveiled a tongue‑in‑cheek promo for the 2026 AFL season, starring veteran commentator Bruce McAvaney as the network’s fictional “Head of Sport.” The spot gathers Seven’s top football voices—including Brian Taylor, Kane Cornes, and Nick Riewoldt—alongside current players and...
By TV Blackbox
News•Feb 25, 2026
The Creator Economy Builds Its Own Lot
The Lighthouse, a creator‑economy co‑working campus, opened in a renovated Venice post office and a larger Brooklyn location, offering podcast studios, edit bays, and communal spaces. With a $6,000 annual membership, it caps membership at 500 and provides credits for...
By IndieWire
Blog•Feb 25, 2026
Melissa McCarthy Sitcom ‘Mike & Molly’ Netflix Release Delayed To March 2026
Netflix confirmed that the complete series of *Mike & Molly* will debut in the United States on March 26, 2026, pushing back the original February 20 launch. All six seasons, totaling 127 episodes, are arriving after a brief hiatus following their removal from...
By What’s on Netflix
News•Feb 25, 2026
Mark Ruffalo Drama That's "Poised to Break Hearts" With "Perfect" Cast Lands New UK Streaming Home
Hal & Harper, the Mark Ruffalo‑led drama that premiered on Australia’s Stan platform, is arriving in the UK on ITVX on 23 March. The series follows two siblings confronting childhood trauma while navigating adult life, and features Lili Reinhart, Cooper Raiff,...
By Digital Spy – TV
News•Feb 25, 2026
Stan Acquires Buzzy George Kay Thriller Series GONE for Australia
Australian streaming service Stan has acquired the exclusive rights to the six‑part psychological thriller *Gone* for the Australian market. The series, created by George Kay – known for *Hijack* and *Lupin* – follows elite headmaster Michael Polly, played by David...
By TV Blackbox
News•Feb 25, 2026
BCNEXXT Adds HLG-Based HDR To Vipe Platform
BCNEXXT has integrated live HLG‑based HDR playout into its cloud‑native Vipe platform, supporting UHD 2160p BT.2100 HLG ingest and output. The solution lets broadcasters run HDR and SDR streams side‑by‑side, especially for live sports, while minimizing cross‑conversion steps. Vipe’s architecture...
By TV Tech (TVTechnology)
Blog•Feb 25, 2026
Digital Revenue for Events Companies: Must-Have or Distraction?
Questex now derives roughly 30% of its earnings from digital media extensions such as product catalogs, RFID lead tools and post‑show webinars. Industry leaders are split: some, like Events Venture Group’s Marco Giberti, argue digital revenue must climb to 10‑25%...
By A Media Operator
News•Feb 25, 2026
Publication Closures, AI and Funding and Budget Cuts Top Concerns for Arts PR’s in 2026
Mobius Industries’ 2026 arts PR survey reveals publication closures (65%), AI concerns (55%) and budget cuts (52%) as the sector’s top worries. Respondents are split on AI, with half fearing misuse while the other half sees efficiency gains if regulated....
By Journalism.co.uk
News•Feb 25, 2026
BBC Faces Backlash After Bafta Racial Slur – The Latest
The BBC issued a public apology after a presenter used a racial slur during the BAFTA awards ceremony, prompting a wave of criticism across social media and industry circles. The broadcaster’s mistake triggered calls for accountability from civil rights groups...
By The Guardian — Central Banks
News•Feb 25, 2026
The Baltimore Beat Experiments with Pay-What-You-Can Ads
Baltimore Beat, a nonprofit news outlet, is introducing pay‑what‑you‑can advertising options. The tiered pricing lets mom‑and‑pop shops pay $50, brick‑and‑mortar stores $150, and larger investors $300 per ad. The paper, which distributes 20,000 free print copies twice a month and...
By Nieman Lab
Blog•Feb 25, 2026
🎧 Paramount Vs. Netflix: Your Big Questions Answered
Paramount has renewed its pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery with a $31‑per‑share bid, reigniting a high‑stakes acquisition battle. Netflix, led by co‑CEO Ted Sarandos, is simultaneously courting investors and studios, arguing its own offer—already accepted in December—outperforms Paramount’s. The two...
By The Ankler
News•Feb 25, 2026
Viewers Continue To 'Struggle' With Sports Program Discovery
A recent Reviews.org survey reveals that nearly half of U.S. sports fans struggle to locate the right channel or streaming service for a specific game, and 53% have missed games because of subscription gaps. The study, based on 882 active...
By MediaPost
News•Feb 25, 2026
Comedy Meets Culture: Jess a Couple Things Partners With Backyard Ventures
Backyard Ventures announced an exclusive partnership with Jess A Couple Things, the pop‑culture comedy show hosted by Jessie Woo. The deal positions BV as the sole representative for premium brand collaborations across the show’s Instagram, YouTube, podcast and other social channels....
By Sounds Profitable
News•Feb 25, 2026
SAVE THE DATE: TALKERS 2026 Conference Set for Friday June 5 at Hofstra University
The 27th annual TALKERS conference is slated for Friday, June 5, 2026 at Hofstra University’s modern campus on Long Island. After a one‑year hiatus in 2025, the event returns with its traditional partnership with WRHU‑FM and the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication....
By Talkers
News•Feb 25, 2026
Ofcom to Force Stations to Create Local News Locally
Ofcom announced new licence conditions requiring all local analogue commercial radio stations to broadcast mandatory local news bulletins. Weekday bulletins must air hourly between 6 am and 7 pm, with at least three bulletins on weekends and bank holidays, and stations previously...
By Radio Today (UK)
Blog•Feb 25, 2026
How a Former Hedge Fund Analyst Built a Six-Figure Newsletter Covering Asia’s Overlooked Stocks
Michael Fritzell, a former hedge‑fund analyst with 15 years in investment banking and buy‑side roles, left finance in 2021 to launch Asian Century Stocks, a paid newsletter spotlighting overlooked Chinese and Southeast Asian companies. Leveraging his Mandarin fluency and on‑the‑ground...
By Simon Owens’ Media Newsletter
News•Feb 25, 2026
Brave Bison Appoints Ed Knights as Head of Growth
Brave Bison, the UK‑based influencer‑marketing and digital‑media platform, has named Ed Knights as its new Head of Growth. Knights joins from senior roles at Born Social and M&C Saatchi Performance, where he led performance‑driven campaigns for major brands. The appointment...
By Campaign UK
News•Feb 25, 2026
Week of Feb. 9 Cable News Ratings: Total Viewers Grow
For the week of Feb 9 2026, Fox News, MS NOW, and CNN all recorded higher total viewership, with Fox News maintaining its lead in primetime and total‑day audiences. Fox News posted a 5% rise in primetime total viewers (2.768 million) and a 7%...
By Adweek Television/Media
News•Feb 25, 2026
Broadpeak Launches Multiview For Live Sports at 2026 NAB Show
Broadpeak announced the launch of its Multiview solution for live sports at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas. The technology lets broadcasters, streaming platforms and telecom operators deliver multiple simultaneous feeds on a single screen, offering viewers the ability to...
By TV Tech (TVTechnology)