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:
Eurovision 2026: Switzerland
Swiss singer Veronica Fusaro will represent Switzerland in Eurovision 2026’s second semi‑final with the song “Alice.” The 28‑year‑old, known for fusing pop, soul and rock, has built a reputation for powerful stage presence and lyrical depth. Fusaro’s résumé includes over 500 concerts worldwide and appearances at Glastonbury, Montreux Jazz Festival and Gurtenfestival. Her second album, Looking for Connection, released in October 2025, underscores a drive for authenticity amid a digitally saturated culture.
Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’ Follow-Up Show Has A 92% Rotten Tomatoes Score
Netflix is launching a four‑episode series, Lord of the Flies, as a thematic follow‑up to its hit Adolescence. Created and written by Jack Thorne, who co‑created Adolescence, the adaptation of the classic novel arrives with a certified fresh 92% score...
‘We Pride Ourselves on Human Curation’: Vocana Is an Indie Music Service Determined to Challenge Spotify’s Payment System — I...
Vocana, an indie‑only music streaming service, launched public beta three months ago, offering 40 million tracks from 2 million artists and a user‑centric royalty model that bypasses Spotify’s pro‑rata payouts. The platform relies on human‑curated “Hubs” and community sharing instead of algorithmic...
Newbies Spiral Into Delusion When Validation Replaces Audience Insight
Seen this pattern so many times on Twitter, specifically with people who have never developed an audience in the past: >> Unknown account >> Starts posting and growing >> Doesn't understand concept of audience/platform/content capture >> Gets 0.05% more delusional each post +...
Reddit’s WAU Jumps 50% While DAU Ratio Stays Flat
I'm publishing my full analysis of Reddit's $RDDT Q1 2026 earnings tomorrow, but one thing I find striking is how sticky engagement has remained as WAUq has increased. DAUq/WAUq is essentially flat from Q2 2024 while WAUq is up by...
A Little Note From Me…
Delia, the creator of the Deez Links newsletter, marks a decade of publishing and notes that the past two years have finally generated a modest living through paid subscriptions that began in May 2024. She publicly thanks long‑time patron Ruth Ann Harnisch for...
FTC’s Ad-Agency Boycott Settlement Puts Brand-Safety Coordination Under Antitrust Scrutiny
The Federal Trade Commission settled antitrust claims with three global ad agencies—WPP, Publicis and Dentsu—over a coordinated brand‑safety boycott that steered ad spend away from publishers deemed politically objectionable. The FTC argues that the agencies’ joint standards cross from legitimate...
‘When I Compare It to Spotify Lossless, Apple Music Is the Clear Winner’: I Signed up to Apple Music Again,...
Rowan Davies revisits Apple Music to evaluate its Dolby Atmos spatial‑audio offering, comparing it to Spotify’s lossless tier. He curates five albums—Björk’s *Homogenic*, Geese’s *3D Country*, Chappell Roan’s *The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess*, Jeff Buckley’s *Grace*, and Kali Uchis’s *Orquídeas*—that...
Apple Podcasts Launches ‘A Psychic’s Story’ with Medium Nichole Bigley
Apple Podcasts introduced ‘A Psychic’s Story,’ a series hosted by spiritual medium Nichole Bigley. The show’s first episodes feature Dr. Scott Guerin and Dr. Bonnie Buckner discussing spirit communication, protection, and the language of dreams, positioning the podcast as a top‑ranked spiritual series.
Paramount+ Adds 82 Titles in May, Marking Its Smallest Monthly Drop of 2026
Paramount+ introduced 82 new movies and series for May 2026, the lowest monthly influx it has seen this year after a 147‑title surge in April. The modest boost includes classic sci‑fi, action, and comedy titles aimed at retaining subscribers amid...
Spotify’s Mood Playlists Eclipse Curated Sets, Prompting Marketers to Rethink Social Media Reliance
Spotify’s own curated mood playlists have been overtaken by user‑generated collections, a trend that marketers see as a sign that the social‑media‑centric model is losing its grip. Industry analysts warn brands must adapt to an audio‑first landscape as “lean‑back consumers”...
Media Bodies Express Concern as India Slips in World Press Freedom Index
India dropped to 157th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, a six‑place decline from the previous year. The slide sparked a panel at the Indian Women’s Press Corps on World Press Freedom Day, where leaders...
"I Loved Every Minute of Playing Patsy": Joanna Lumley Would Return to Iconic Absolutely Fabulous Role
Joanna Lumley, celebrating her 80th birthday, told OK! she would "jump at the chance" to reprise Patsy Stone from Absolutely Fabulous if new scripts arrive. She recently reunited with co‑star Jennifer Saunders in the Amandaland Christmas special, where she playfully...
Boston Globe Deletes Two Hostile BSO Quotes
The Boston Globe’s latest print edition omitted two anonymous, critical quotes about the Boston Symphony Orchestra that had appeared online. One quote came from a board advisor questioning the accusatory tone of an internal memo, and the other from a...
EXCLUSIVE: ANDERSON COOPER, JAKE TAPPER AND WOLF BLITZER APPALLED BY SCOTT JENNINGS’ CNN MELTDOWN
CNN veteran anchors Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper and Wolf Blitzer publicly condemned Scott Jennings after his on‑air profanity erupted during a live segment, calling the incident unprofessional and damaging to the network’s image. Insiders describe a simmering rivalry, with the...
Dating Show 'Ring By Spring Break' To Focus on Christian Singles
Streaming giant Hulu has ordered a new reality dating series titled Ring by Spring Break, which will follow Christian college students as they search for love during a week‑long spring break in Cabo San Lucas. The show is produced by...
Friendster Returns After a Decade with a New Look
Friendster has re‑emerged after a decade as an iOS‑only app that only lets users add contacts by physically tapping phones together. The revival emphasizes real‑life connections, a strict no‑ads, no‑algorithms, no‑spam policy, and heightened privacy. Founder Mike Carson frames the...
RJ Nichole Ledesma, Chronicler of Unsettled Ground on Negros Island, Was Killed Last Month. He Was 30.
RJ Nichole Ledesma, a 30‑year‑old journalist covering renewable‑energy projects and land displacement on Negros Island, was killed on April 19 during a Philippine Army anti‑rebellion operation. His reporting for the community outlet Paghimutad‑Negros highlighted how solar farms, hydropower and other projects...
I'm Starting to Get Overwhelmed. I Need some Help
Independent journalist Dave Bondy, after 25 years in television news, left mainstream media to focus on uncovering stories that mainstream outlets often miss. He highlights under‑reported issues in schools and local governments, emphasizing the need for deeper, accountable reporting. To...
CORE Boys Swatted Live on Stream During Day 1 at New Content House
CORE, a creator collective of former FaZe Clan members, debuted its $20 million content house in late April. On May 2, the group’s first full‑day live stream was abruptly interrupted when police arrived after a false swatting report claiming hostages in the...
Invite Your Friends to DAYLIGHT
Elizabeth Day’s Substack newsletter DAYLIGHT has launched a referral program that rewards existing readers for bringing new subscribers. Participants share a unique link via text, email, or social media, and earn free subscription months as they reach referral milestones. The...
AI Content Agents: Why Competitors Publish 42% More Content
A recent study shows companies that deploy AI‑driven content agents publish 42% more articles than rivals relying on manual writers. The boost stems from generative models that can draft, edit, and schedule content at scale, cutting production time by roughly...
A Visit to the Book Fair; The Ladder of Vision; The Seduction of Mimi
The author attended the Antiquarian Book Fair at New York’s Armory, noting its mix of medieval manuscripts, alchemical guides, and high‑priced modern first editions. While hunting Romantic‑era essays, he bought a second‑edition of William Hazlitt’s *Table‑Talk* for $30, one of...
35 Years Ago Today: Television Landmark TV Show ‘Dallas’ Ended After Epic Run
On May 3, 1991 CBS aired the two‑hour finale "Conundrum," ending the 14‑season run of prime‑time soap Dallas. The series, which debuted in 1978, became a cultural touchstone with its oil‑rich Ewing family, iconic cliffhangers and the legendary J.R. Ewing antihero. Though...
The Critically Acclaimed Animated Sci-Fi Series ‘Scavengers Reign’ Is Leaving Netflix
Scavengers Reign, the critically praised adult animated sci‑fi series, will leave Netflix on May 31 and revert to an HBO Max exclusive in the United States and United Kingdom. The show amassed 8.2 million hours viewed and 1.7 million total views during its...
Jay-Z Predicted Streaming and the State of the Music Industry Way Back in 2010
In a 2010 Interview Magazine conversation, Jay‑Z warned that the traditional record business was on the brink of collapse as digital sharing eroded physical sales. He cited Napster’s disruption and argued that while fans’ appetite for music would stay strong,...
El Jannah Appoints Alt/Shift/ as Social Agency
Independent agency alt/shift/ has been appointed to run El Jannah’s organic social media across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. The partnership will deliver always‑on content, recurring series and real‑time social moments that showcase the brand’s Lebanese hospitality and charcoal‑chicken craft. El Jannah...
The Audacity Recap: Bribe To Be
The Audacity’s fifth episode, “The Lamplighters,” aired on AMC+ before its Sunday broadcast and earned a three‑star rating from critic Scott Tobias. The episode intensifies the protagonists’ existential dread, showing them grappling with humiliation, dopamine‑addiction retreats, and moral dilemmas about...
5 Ideas For The Interested This Week
Josh Spector’s weekly roundup curates five actionable resources for entrepreneurs, ranging from three qualifying questions to ask before a discovery call to a case study of a creator shrinking his website from 1,100 pages to 27. It also highlights a...
Ten New Irish Titles Set to Define Summer Reading 2026
Publishers have unveiled ten new Irish books slated for release over the summer, ranging from Anna Carey's adult debut to Colin Morgan's coming‑of‑age novel. The list showcases both rising talent and established names, underscoring a robust publishing calendar for the...
NBC Axes 'Brilliant Minds' And 'Stumble' As Ratings Drag Network Toward Leaner Lineup
NBC announced the cancellation of the medical drama 'Brilliant Minds' and the mock‑documentary comedy 'Stumble' as the network trims its scripted slate. Both series posted low linear ratings—just over 3 million and 2.24 million viewers respectively—prompting NBC to focus on higher‑performing shows...
Come Write My Next Book with Me
The No Country for Old Women podcast hosts, Jennifer Romolini and Kimberly Harrington, have launched a "Creative Pro" tier on Patreon, priced at $25 per month. The tier offers a structured writing group with weekly Zoom sessions, live Q&As, quarterly...
Wright Museum’s Comedy Videos Go Viral, Boosting Audience Reach
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History launched a series of mockumentary‑style comedy videos that have amassed millions of views across platforms. Created by staff and featuring a cameo by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the low‑budget campaign has dramatically...
Prime Video Highlights Five Top Originals of 2026, Signaling Amazon’s Aggressive Content Push
Prime Video unveiled a curated list of its five best original movies and series of 2026, showcasing Amazon’s deepening commitment to exclusive programming. The selection, ranging from a fresh take on Sherlock Holmes to the final season of “The Boys,”...
SNL Opens with Another Pete Hegseth Press Conference
Saturday Night Live returned from a brief hiatus with a politically charged cold open that staged a joint press conference between a caricatured Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, played by Colin Jost, and FBI Director Kash Patel, portrayed by Aziz Ansari....
Netflix Beats Disney as Top Streaming Pick for 2026 Investors
Wall Street analysts are tilting toward Netflix as the stronger 2026 investment, citing a $115 average price target, a projected $3 billion ad‑revenue run‑rate and 301 million subscribers. Disney, while offering a broader portfolio and a rising dividend, trades at a lower...
Man Utd v Liverpool Live Stream, TV Channel – Where to Watch EPL on Tv Today
Manchester United will host Liverpool at Old Trafford on May 3, 2026, with kickoff at 15:30 BST. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. United sit third in the Premier League,...
YouTube's Creator Partnerships API Gives Brands Data Access but No Commerce Tools
YouTube announced its Creator Partnerships API at the NewFronts earlier this spring, granting select ad‑tech firms access to creator performance metrics. The rollout solves the data gap for marketers while leaving e‑commerce attribution unaddressed, prompting brands to rethink influencer strategies.
BofA Lifts Meta Price Target to $835 as AI Spend Sparks Debate
Bank of America analyst Justin Post raised Meta Platforms' price target to $835 from $820, citing strong ad revenue and AI opportunities. The upgrade comes as Meta's AI‑heavy capital spending draws investor caution, highlighting a split view on the cost...
AI Scales Content, Making Authenticity the New Scarce Commodity
AI isn’t just disrupting jobs, it’s rewriting entire creative industries in real time. In China, AI-generated dramas are replacing actors, cutting production costs, and flooding platforms with content audiences are rapidly consuming. What it means: when content becomes infinitely scalable, the scarcity...
Monthly Q&A #1: Your AI Is Only as Good as Its Context
AI Maker launched its first monthly Q&A for paid members, using live screen shares to reveal the author’s AI stack and decision‑making process. The discussion highlighted that effective AI output depends more on robust context files than on a single...
AI: Acting Imperiled
Chinese firms are leveraging AI to produce film content at roughly $30 per minute, dramatically lowering production costs. In March alone, 50,000 AI‑generated microdramas flooded China’s TikTok‑style platform, equaling the total output of the previous year. The Academy of Motion...
Turn Substack Zero to $10K/Month in 30 Days
We took our Substack from zero to $10,000/month in less than 30 days. Here's the exact system we used: For context, we have built our paid Substack Newsletter Write With AI to: • 110,000+ subscribers • $845,000+ in digital product sales • And $425,000+ in...
Indie Platform Vocana Aims to Disrupt Spotify's Payments
Vocana is a US indie streaming platform ready to challenge Spotify's payment system and algorithm. https://t.co/VVE0BdMJVN
Way, Way Too Early Predictions For The Emmys
Vulture’s early Emmy outlook spotlights a shifting television landscape, with streaming giants leading the nomination race and traditional broadcasters losing ground. The analysis highlights a notable rise in diverse talent across comedy and drama categories, while reality‑TV slots appear to...
Focus on One Semi‑Niche Newsletter to Build Reputation
I think the highest value activity you could do for yourself right now is to pick one topic that’s semi-niche and start writing about it in newsletter format once a week. Pick something you think is interesting. Make it your...
Uncertainty Reigns, Berkshire Shifts, Press Freedom Declines
🆓 Sunday links: the age of uncertainty, a new era at Berkshire Hathaway, and falling press freedom around the world. https://t.co/SMlUpa8zDf chart: https://t.co/QRUfAnYMyg https://t.co/vyvBDmml98
Create Once, Distribute Forever: Own Your Work
Advice for all creators: Stop being afraid to distribute your work. You created it. You should be proud of it. Share it with the world. Create once. Distribute forever.
Gilead Tightens Grip; Awaiting Testaments Episode 7 Release
Gilead is tightening its grip as Mayday's plans become clearer. But when does The Testaments episode 7 drop on Hulu and Disney+? https://t.co/oZ4vVV6SJl
B2B Video Delivers Triple Engagement and 20× Shares
Video is dominating B2B 👇 • 3x more engagement • 20x more shares • +47% CTR • 93% see ROI 🚀 If you’re not using video, you’re losing engagement. Via Giuliano Liguori (@ingliguori) #Marketing #B2B #Video https://t.co/pZb2QFEUTc