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:
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 shrink. It also warns that premature forecasts may miss surprise breakout series emerging on newer platforms. Overall, the piece frames the awards as a barometer for industry trends and advertiser interest.
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...
2026 NBA Playoffs Deliver Highest Viewership in Over Three Decades
The NBA’s 2026 playoffs have delivered the highest viewership in 33 years, averaging 3.91 million viewers per telecast across ABC, ESPN, NBC/Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video. The regular season attracted 170 million unique U.S. viewers, an 86 percent rise from the previous year,...
5 Big Ideas Shaping Journalism’s Next Chapter
The International Journalism Festival in Perugia gathered over 2,000 journalists and highlighted five emerging ideas reshaping the industry. Live‑journalism formats like Diario Vivo and Correctiv’s theater productions are reviving audience trust through unrecorded, on‑stage storytelling. Non‑profit newsrooms such as ProPublica,...
Roku and TCL Hit with Class Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Defective Roku TV Software Updates That Brick Smart Televisions
A federal class action has been filed against Roku Inc. and TCL North America alleging that automatic software updates have bricked thousands of Roku‑powered smart televisions. The complaint targets Roku Select and Plus series as well as TCL 3‑Series through...
Ronald Smothers, Times Reporter Who Covered Protest and Politics, Dies at 79
Ronald Smothers, a pioneering African‑American journalist who spent nearly four decades at The New York Times, died at 79 after a stroke. He began his career covering the 1967 Newark riots and the turbulent aftermath of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, later...
What To Watch Sunday: Canceled Watson Ends, Marshals Confront Ghosts Of The Past, And More
TVLine’s Sunday lineup highlights CBS’s abrupt cancellation of the crime‑procedural "Watson" and a dramatic return of "Marshals" after a prison‑bus crash. Prime‑time slots also feature the mystery series "FROM" on MGM+, the penultimate episode of PBS’s "The Count of Monte...
Netflix Delays Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ to 2027 for Full Theatrical Run
Netflix announced that Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s ‘The Magician’s Nephew’ will now debut in theaters on Feb. 12, 2027, after exclusive Imax previews on Feb. 10. The shift creates a full theatrical window, delaying the streaming launch to...
‘Weird Girl Lit’ Emerges as a Defining Subgenre in Contemporary Fiction
The label ‘weird girl lit’ has solidified as a distinct subgenre of literary fiction, driven by BookTok buzz and a dedicated panel at the Auckland Writers Festival. Critics cite its rise as a response to growing social pressures, with titles...
Netflix Urged to Ditch Oscar Chase for Action Thrillers
An opinion piece on Tom's Guide calls on Netflix to stop prioritizing Oscar‑bait films and invest more in action‑driven titles like "Apex" and "The Rip." The author argues the strategy could improve subscriber growth and position Netflix alongside the traditional...
Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize Live Stream, TV Channel – Where to Watch World Snooker Final on Tv Today
The 2026 World Snooker Championship final pits England's Shaun Murphy against 22‑year‑old Chinese prodigy Wu Yize, broadcasting live on BBC 1 and iPlayer at 13:00 UK time on May 3. Murphy, a 2005 champion, has reached his fourth final after defeating Fan...
AI‑Generated ‘Slopaganda’ Fuels Surge in Cheap Political Videos in Ireland
The Journal’s FactCheck team has identified a rapid rise in AI‑generated political propaganda, dubbed “slopaganda,” across Irish social media, with dozens of viral videos circulating in the past month. The trend marks a new low‑cost, high‑velocity tool for partisan messaging,...
Paramount‑Skydance Deal Faces Broad Opposition After Shareholder Vote
Paramount Skydance's $31‑per‑share, $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery cleared a shareholder vote, yet a coalition of Hollywood talent, labor groups and Democratic officials is mobilizing against it, citing antitrust risks and job losses. The clash underscores the stakes of...
Agile Media Investment Strategies Displace Traditional Annual Plans, Says Hotspex Media Co‑Founder
Josh Rosen, co‑founder and president of Hotspex Media, says brands are abandoning fixed annual media plans in favor of agile, data‑driven allocation. He cites continuous performance data, AI tools and market volatility as drivers of the shift, warning that static...
X Scrubs AI‑Generated Hate Tweets About Liverpool Fans After Formal Complaint
Elon Musk’s X platform erased a series of AI‑generated offensive tweets about Liverpool FC after the club filed a complaint. The posts, created by the Grok chatbot, referenced the Hillsborough and Heysel disasters and a deceased player, prompting X to...
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 372 | Print Ain’t Dead
Episode 372 of the National Parks Traveler podcast, titled “Print Ain’t Dead,” examines the turbulence facing the print media sector. It highlights how legacy titles are disappearing, shrinking, or moving online, while the rise of artificial intelligence fuels reader skepticism...
Something Nefarious Is Happening in Your Living Room Every Time You Watch TV
Tech giants are turning smart TVs into extensions of smartphones, adding apps like Google Photos, YouTube summaries, and Instagram Reels to living‑room screens. This shift lets manufacturers and advertisers harvest detailed viewing data from the 77% of U.S. households with...
Britain's Got Talent Confirms Next Two Finalists After 'Mind-Blowing' Show with Golden Buzzer Act
Britain’s Got Talent announced its next two finalists after Saturday’s live semi‑finals on May 2. Austrian magician Fabian Fox earned a public‑vote spot, impressing judges with a mind‑reading routine that even KSI praised. Dance troupe Sadeck Berrabah and LMA received a Golden Buzzer...
Amnesty International Condemns Continued Attacks on Media Freedom in East and South Africa
Amnesty International warned that journalists across East and Southern Africa face escalating harassment, arbitrary arrests, and internet shutdowns, especially in nations holding recent elections. The organization highlighted a surge in the use of vague cybersecurity laws to silence independent media...
Is There a Watson Season 2 Episode 21 Release Date & Time?
CBS’s medical drama Watson wrapped its second season with Episode 20, ending on May 3, 2026, and no Episode 21 is scheduled. The series was canceled after viewership plunged from an average 6.79 million in Season 1 to roughly 2.5 million in Season 2, a drop of over...
I’m a Late Arrival to Short-Form Video – Its Effect on My Life Has Shocked Me | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett
The author, a late adopter of short‑form video, describes how daily scrolling on platforms like TikTok and Instagram has eroded her reading habits, reduced face‑to‑face interaction, and left her feeling more anxious and lonely. A recent Journal of Psychology study...
SAG-AFTRA and Studios Reach a Tentative Agreement / Love & Hip Hop Franchise Is Ending After 15 Years / Aziz...
SAG‑AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have reached a tentative four‑year contract, ending a five‑month strike that halted most U.S. film and TV production. The deal boosts residuals, adds a 3% increase in pension and health...
Connor Storrie Drops By ‘SNL’ to Introduce New Olivia Rodrigo Song “Begged”
Connor Storrie appeared on Saturday Night Live to introduce Olivia Rodrigo’s unreleased song “Begged,” previewing her upcoming third album. The episode also featured Rodrigo’s performance of “Drop Dead,” with both tracks slated for the album dropping on June 12. Storrie, fresh from...
From Shared Toothbrushes to Mid-Sex Water Bladders, You Be the Judge Tries to Settle Domestic Disputes. But What Happened Next?
The Guardian’s “You be the judge” column marks five years by revisiting its most viral domestic disputes—from a water‑bladder mishap in the bedroom to knot‑tying, plant‑cutting, a parking‑ticket appeal, toothbrush sharing, subletting fights, and spice‑level cooking debates. Follow‑ups show participants...
‘SNL’ Cold Open: Kash Patel’s Scandal Denials Only Raise More Suspicions
Saturday Night Live aired a cold‑open that mocked FBI Director Kash Patel, portrayed by Aziz Ansari, for alleged workplace incompetence and misuse of taxpayer resources. The sketch highlighted Patel’s denial of drinking on the job and his supposed trips to Buffalo Wild Wings...
Dish Network Reaches Deal to Carry Gray Media TV Stations, Ending Dispute
Dish Network announced a new carriage agreement that restores dozens of Gray Media local TV stations, ending a dispute that began in March over an undisclosed demand. The settlement brings the stations back to Dish’s satellite lineup, though financial terms...
Final Settlement Conference Scheduled in Nexstar News Director Defamation Lawsuit
A federal judge has set a settlement conference for June 4 and a pre‑trial hearing for July 20 in the defamation and wrongful‑termination lawsuit filed by former WOOD‑TV news director Stanton Tang and assistant director Amy Fox against Nexstar Media...
Will James Blunt and Bella Ramsey Be Faithfuls or Traitors?
The Celebrity Traitors UK returns with 21 stars filming at Ardross Castle, including Bella Ramsey and James Blunt, who will vie for a £100,000 (≈$127,000) prize. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the game‑show pits contestants as “faithful” or “traitor” through challenges and accusations....
NPR Code Switch Examines Tradwife Trend and Modern Motherhood Pressures
NPR's Code Switch released a segment on the tradwife phenomenon, highlighting how the idealized “traditional wife” narrative intensifies the workload and scrutiny faced by contemporary mothers. The piece links the trend to political rhetoric, white‑supremacist undercurrents, and the marginalization of...
NYT Unveils Mid‑Year Best Books of 2026, Highlighting Tayari Jones and Emerging Trends
The New York Times Book Review announced its best‑books‑so‑far list for 2026, led by Tayari Jones’s novel Kin. The selection, released in April, reflects growing reader interest in historical fiction and a broader revival of independent bookstores across the U.S.
Trump Pressures Disney Over Jimmy Kimmel Joke, Prompting FCC Review and Public Backlash
President Donald Trump has publicly demanded that Disney fire late‑night host Jimmy Kimmel after the comedian mocked the former first lady on his show. The pressure has led the FCC to order an early review of Disney’s broadcast licenses, while...
Iran's Internet Blackout Costs $30‑$40 Million Daily, Halts Digital Advertising
Iran's authorities have kept a full internet shutdown in place for four months, disconnecting 90 million people and costing the economy $30‑$40 million each day. The blackout has devastated online advertising, e‑commerce and small‑business revenue, prompting layoffs at major platforms like DigiKala.
Press Freedom Day 2026: 25 Reasons to Support HKFP’s Independent Newsroom
On World Press Freedom Day 2026, Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) launched a fundraising drive, highlighting 25 reasons to support its independent newsroom. The outlet added roughly 300 new members after a summer funding relaunch, rolled out revamped apps, a...
Even Published Books Deserve Fresh Edits for Growth
This is your reminder that just because you’ve written and published a book - it doesn’t mean you can never go back and edit it again. You can and sometimes should. I’m in the process of doing self re-edits for...
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
Why Shows Like The Simpsons Convinced Tom Selleck To Play Blue Bloods' Frank Reagan
Tom Selleck said he accepted the role of NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan on *Blue Bloods* to offer a positive counterpoint to the way television fathers are often depicted, citing Homer Simpson as a prime example of a misguided patriarch. He...
Amazon Ads $17B Quarter Signals Opportunity Beyond Sellers
Amazon Ads 101: What the $17 Billion Quarter Means for Every Marketer Who Thought It Was Just for Amazon Sellers https://t.co/5Q0PeOdyBr
AI Narrows Perspectives, Sanitizes Online Discourse
„AI is contributing to semantic contraction, or the reduction of diverse viewpoints online, and to a positivity shift, through which online writing is overall becoming more sanitized and artificially cheerful“ 🙄 https://t.co/kIsyy4aguU
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman Touts AI‑driven Ad Growth as Platform Readies New Marketing Tools
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman highlighted a surge in AI‑powered advertising, with ad revenue climbing 74% to $625 million and roughly 50% of Reddit Max advertisers using AI features. The company signaled upcoming AI‑focused marketing tools as it targets $715‑$725 million revenue in...
IG Head Announces Nerf to Clipped Content
Adam Mosseri (Head of IG) does a pretty phenomenal job of doing Instagram’s version of patch notes. A few days ago, he announced that Instagram is going to start “nerfing” clipped content. https://t.co/aOQfO8LCZL
Micro‑Influencer Videos Deliver 342% ROI Surge for E‑Commerce in Q1 2026
E‑commerce brands that partnered with micro‑influencers saw a 342% return on investment in Q1 2026, far outpacing traditional celebrity endorsements. The shift, driven by algorithm changes on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, is prompting retailers to rebuild their influencer strategies around...
GBH and New England Public Media Merge to Form Massachusetts' Largest Public‑Media Organization
GBH and New England Public Media announced a merger that will create one of the biggest statewide public‑media entities in Massachusetts, reaching more than 1.3 million people each week. The deal, slated for completion this summer, preserves both brands while unifying...
US Creators Rank Video Production as Top Future Investment
Video production is the top skill US creators want to invest in for the future of their businesses. 22.4% prioritize video production, followed by 20.0% for branding, 14.3% for storytelling, and 12.8% for community building.
‘SNL U.K.’ Weekend Update Jokes Trump ‘Sh*t Himself’ Before White House Correspondents Dinner Shooting
Saturday’s “SNL U.K.” Weekend Update skit turned the White House Correspondents Dinner shooting into a punchline, claiming President Donald Trump “shat himself” moments before the gunfire. The segment also riffed on King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Washington state visit, mocked Nigel Farage’s undisclosed £5 million...
Navigating Fragmented Sports Streaming: Setup Tips & Apps
With the NBA Playoffs on Prime/Peacock/NBC/ESPN and NHL Playoffs on ESPN/TNT (and F1 on Apple TV and some Premier League on USA and MLB on Netflix, etc. etc. etc.), how are people keeping up? Have you changed your TV setups to...
Steve Carell's Emmy Drought Ends with “Rooster”
Steve Carell Has 11 Emmy Noms and Zero Wins. Why ‘Rooster’ Could Finally Wake Voters Up https://t.co/HYdM7f9LUs via @variety #Rooster
Fallout Designer Tim Cain Thinks Influencers Have Changed How People Make and Play Games: 'More People Seem to Be Abdicating...
Veteran RPG creator Tim Cain warned that gaming influencers are reshaping both development and consumption. He traced the shift from 1990s message boards to today’s stream‑centric culture, noting developers now ask, “What part of our game makes good clips?” Cain argues...
MIT Sloan Management Review to Cease Publication
MIT Sloan Management Review, the flagship research‑driven business journal of MIT Sloan, announced it will cease both its online publication and quarterly print magazine. Dean Richard M. Locke cited a strategic merger of the school’s communications office as the driver,...
Starlink Spots Ad During Kentucky Derby Broadcast
Interesting… @Starlink runs ad during @NBC coverage of the Kentucky Derby. @SawyerMerritt @elonmusk @SpaceX https://t.co/Fti85qBOAp
Meet Drew Tarver, Who Plays Sandy Gordon in Running Point with Kate Hudson
Netflix’s sports comedy Running Point returns for a second season, executive‑produced by Mindy Kaling and Kate Hudson. The series follows Hudson’s character Isla Gordon as she assumes the presidency of the Los Angeles Waves after her brother’s scandal. Drew Tarver joins the...