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:
Why Amy Sedaris Is Against A Strangers With Candy Revival
Amy Sedaris, the creator and star of Comedy Central’s cult classic *Strangers with Candy*, has turned down a proposed revival, saying the show should remain “stuck in time.” She explained that the series’ warped, dark humor would likely clash with today’s heightened cultural sensitivities and could be misread as endorsing bigotry. Sedaris emphasized that the character Jerri Blank will continue to appear only in the original series and the 2005 film. The decision reflects broader caution among creators about reviving edgy 1990s comedies.
Pluto TV Adds 3 New Channels
Pluto TV announced three new free streaming channels—Adventure, Hometown Drama, and a dedicated Battlestar Galactica hub—bringing its linear lineup to roughly 403 channels. The Adventure channel delivers nonstop high‑stakes action, while Hometown Drama offers character‑driven stories set in small‑town America....
Inside the Fringe Movement Rejecting Laws on 7NEWS SPOTLIGHT
The Australian 7NEWS Spotlight program aired a rare investigative report on the sovereign citizen movement, a fringe belief system that denies the authority of Australian law. The segment shows how ordinary Australians—parents, tradespeople, retirees—adopt radical ideas that taxes, licences and...
Wayétu Moore’s Mythic Novel ‘Habila’ Set for Jan 12 2027 Release
Liberian writer Wayétu Moore announced that her second novel, Habila, will be published on Jan. 12 2027 by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House. The myth‑driven work, rooted in the Mami Wata legend, follows a teenage girl who discovers she can breathe...
Vancouver’s TV Production Rebounds as Tax Credits Rise to 36%
British Columbia lifted its foreign‑production tax rebate to 36%, sparking a revival of TV and film activity in Vancouver. Five U.S. broadcast series are now filming in the city, and Netflix opened a 110,600‑sq‑ft animation studio, signaling a broader industry...
Streaming Churn Costs $6.3 B; Live Sports Alone Won’t Stop Subscriber Loss
Parrot Analytics estimates that global streaming services shed $6.3 billion in revenue to churn in 2025. Netflix is betting on NFL‑related “shoulder” content and a 10‑year, $5 billion WWE deal to turn short‑term spikes into year‑round subscriber loyalty. The shift signals a...
Nine Network Cuts 20 Jobs and Shifts TV News Production to the Cloud
Nine Network is eliminating roughly 20 positions and consolidating over 120 legacy production tools into three bespoke cloud‑based systems, a move aimed at creating a story‑centric newsroom and unlocking new revenue streams. The overhaul affects staff across Sydney, Canberra, the...
Hulu Adds Two Classic Films to May 1‑3 Weekend Lineup, Targeting Streaming Viewers
Hulu introduced two acclaimed titles—Only Lovers Left Alive and The Prestige—to its May 1‑3 weekend slate, a move designed to draw viewers as streaming services scramble for audience share. The additions come as Netflix, HBO Max and others roll out...
Apple Music Bug Persists; Spotify Lacks Classical Support
Serious question - is anyone still working on Apple Music? Anyone at all? This bug has been around for half a decade now. Meanwhile Spotify has no classical product at all and Apple’s ‘Classical’ app is worthless)
"Engrossing" British Crime Thriller with Perfect 100% Rating Jumps up Netflix's Trending Chart
British crime thriller *Prey* surged onto Netflix’s UK platform after its recent addition, climbing to the #5 spot on the streamer’s UK TV chart. The two‑season ITV series, starring Rosie Cavaliero, John Simm and Philip Glenister, has drawn strong viewership in...
Up To $100,000 Grant For News Organizations (Deadline: May 7, 2026)
Google’s News Initiative Growth Catalyst Program is offering up to $100,000 to established news organizations that plan to expand into underserved markets and news deserts. Winners also receive a year of coaching, strategic planning, and tailored support to accelerate geographic...
Here’s What’s Coming to FOX One in May 2026
FOX One’s May 2026 schedule blends live sports, reality competition, and special events, kicking off with a Dodgers‑Cardinals baseball game on May 2 and an Inter Miami‑Orlando City MLS match on May 3. The network will broadcast LIV Golf’s Virginia tournament, the Yankees‑Mets...
Spot the Gap Between Newsletter Hits and Your Feed
Running a test, given the talk about X's algorithm and links Below: the 6 most popular stories from last week's @sundaylongread newsletter. How many of them did you see on social media? How many of them do you wish you'd seen? If there's...
Hulu Adds Rosamund Pike & Matthew Rhys’ Shocking Horror Movie Today
Hulu has added the 2025 psychological horror film Hallow Road to its streaming library, featuring Academy Award nominee Rosamund Pike and Emmy winner Matthew Rhys. The movie, directed by Babak Anvari, debuted at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival and now...
Prime Video Is Removing Hugh Grant's "Unforgettable" Horror Very Soon
Prime Video will pull the philosophical horror "Heretic" from its catalog on May 11, 2024, ending the streaming window for the Hugh Grant‑led thriller. The film, directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, follows two Mormon missionaries who encounter Grant’s unsettling...
HBO's First Serial Drama Adapted Stories By One Of The 20th Century's Greatest Crime Authors
HBO launched its first ever drama series in April 1983 with "Philip Marlowe, Private Eye," starring Powers Boothe as Raymond Chandler’s hard‑boiled detective. The show adapted several of Chandler’s short stories, preserving the original 1930s noir atmosphere and jazz‑laden soundtrack. Co‑produced...
Netflix Delays Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ Movie for Big Theatrical Push in 2027
Netflix has postponed the theatrical debut of Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s *The Magician’s Nephew* from Thanksgiving 2026 to February 12, 2027, with IMAX previews beginning on February 10. The film will enjoy a full theatrical window before arriving on Netflix’s streaming platform...
My Hero Academia Announces Official New Anime Content For Summer 2026
My Hero Academia will release a new canon episode titled “I Am a Hero Too” in Summer 2026, marking the series’ 10th‑anniversary celebrations. The episode adapts a special manga chapter from the Ultra Age fan book and is written by creator...
Dwayne Johnson & Kevin Hart’s Epic 2016 Comedy Is Coming To Hulu
Hulu will stream the 2016 buddy action comedy Central Intelligence on May 11, coinciding with the film’s 10th anniversary. The movie, starring Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, originally grossed $216.9 million worldwide against a $50 million budget. It holds a 71% Rotten...
Roku Posts $86 Million Q1 Profit as Platform Revenue Jumps 28% and Active Households Top 100 Million
Roku announced a Q1 2026 profit of $86 million, driven by a 28% rise in platform revenue to $863 million and a 27% jump in ad sales. The company also surpassed 100 million active streaming households, though device revenue slipped 16% on lower...
China‑Tour Strategist Turns Global Influencers Into Local Brands
Julie Zhu, a Shenzhen‑based China market strategist, has built a niche service that brings global creators to China for immersive tours, platform‑specific content, and brand partnerships. Her work with Khaby Lame and fitness star Pamela Reif shows how cross‑border influencer...
AdaptlyPost Unveils AI-First Social Media Scheduler with Agentic AI Integration
AdaptlyPost introduced an AI-first social media scheduling platform that automates caption writing, image generation, and cross‑platform publishing for creators, agencies and businesses. The tool supports nine networks and native agentic AI workflows via OpenClaw and the Model Context Protocol, promising...
BBC to Cut Up to 2,000 Jobs in Cost‑Cutting Drive
BBC interim director general Rhodri Talfan Davies announced a plan to eliminate between 1,800 and 2,000 positions – roughly one in ten employees – over the next two years. The cuts will be paired with voluntary buyouts and a freeze...
Five More States Join Antitrust Suit Against Nexstar‑Tegna $6.2 Billion Merger
Five U.S. states—Massachusetts, Vermont, Indiana, Kansas and Pennsylvania—have joined a lawsuit challenging Nexstar's $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna. The move follows a judge’s temporary injunction and adds pressure on the largest broadcast‑station merger in U.S. history.
VideoTutor Reaches 50 Million TikTok Views, Sparks Enterprise Interest
VideoTutor, a Gen‑Z‑founded AI tutoring startup, announced that its TikTok‑driven content has topped 50 million cumulative views. Backed by an $11 million seed round, the company is now fielding purchase inquiries from Tencent, Xiaotiancai and over a thousand other organizations, signaling a...
Beloved Sitcom with Near-Perfect Seasons Once Branded 'Funniest Show on TV' Gets New UK Home
Parks & Recreation, the acclaimed seven‑season sitcom starring Amy Poehler and Chris Pratt, is now streaming in the UK on Channel 4 and Sky. The series, which concluded in 2015, boasts a 93% Rotten Tomatoes approval rating and multiple seasons with...
Guardian Seeks Audience Engagement Editor – Remote, $88‑98K
The Guardian is hiring an Audience Engagement Editor, remote possible, 12-month contract role, $88k-$98k. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of digital journalism trends, internet culture and communities, as well as distribution strategies. These are the types of opportunities...
Changing Platforms, Unchanging Principles: What It Means to Work in Media
The Digital Media Asia forum sparked a reflection on journalism’s evolving role as digital platforms reshape news creation and consumption. The author, a former student editor and press secretary, argues that core principles—truth, context, independence—must endure despite algorithmic pressures and...
Margot Robbie & James Corden’s Fantasy Movie Is Leaving Netflix Soon
Netflix announced it will remove the 2018 family comedy Peter Rabbit from its catalog on May 16, 2026. The film, starring Margot Robbie, James Corden and a supporting cast, blends live‑action with CGI and adapts Beatrix Potter’s classic tale. It...
The Complete Guide to Launching or Relaunching Your Substack in 2026
In 2026 Substack solidifies its role as the leading independent publishing platform, boasting over 12 million paying subscribers and a valuation north of $5 billion. The service outpaces traditional media newsletters by offering creators a turnkey subscription model, robust analytics, and a...
Surviving Earth: NBC Releases New Premiere Date, Trailer & Poster for Documentary Series
NBC announced the premiere of its eight‑part documentary series "Surviving Earth" for June 11, a week later than originally slated. The network released a new trailer and poster, highlighting the show's use of cutting‑edge CGI to depict extinct creatures and planetary...
Rejection Fuels Success: Keep Publishing Despite Doubts
My first book was rejected by every agent and publisher. So I self-published it. Sold 60k+ copies. I thought I made it, it'd be easy now... I got an agent. My 2nd book got rejected by 27 out of 28 publishers....
Global Press Release Distribution with 100k Journalist Access
Ready to reach beyond Canada? I offer US and worldwide press release distribution with direct access to over 100,000 journalists, full SEO integration, and placement across Google News, Bing News, and Yahoo News. Contact: Eric@ThatEricAlper.com
Marriage Market: FOX Orders Arranged Marriage Reality Show Hosted by Whitney Cummings
Fox Entertainment Studios has green‑lit a new unscripted series called Marriage Market for the 2026‑27 season, with comedian Whitney Cummings as host. The format places single adults in a marketplace where their families act as matchmakers, selecting potential spouses for...
Resist Algorithm Tyranny with Marginalian’s Ad‑free, Human Newsletter
For an act of resistance to the tyranny of algorithms, try the Marginalian newsletter—undistracted notes on the search for meaning, free, ad-free, AI-free, fully human for 20 years this year: https://t.co/8ApDA5YPF6
Streaming Giants Drive Emmy Category Expansion to 41
Emmy Predictions: 41 Category-Expansion With Netflix, HBO Max and Apple Series Leading the Charge Lots of moving pieces and various updates from the past week as the Emmy season’s phase one rolls into full swing. https://t.co/bayY5ZZn34 via @variety
FCC Tosses DirecTV Effort to Block Gray/Allen Media Deal
Gray Television completed a $171 million acquisition of ten full‑power stations from Allen Media Group, expanding into three new markets and consolidating in seven overlapping ones. The deal, initially slated for a year‑end close, faced a petition to block from satellite...
Posting Jesus Content Triggers Mass Unfollows—X’s Design Flaw
Each time I post about Jesus dozens of accounts unfollow me. That’s a feature of X, not a bug.
Amazon Ad Share Falls as Google and Meta Surge
"It is interesting to observe a noticeable drop in Amazon ads incremental share compared to Google advertising which itself is losing share to Meta’s FOA. For the last four consecutive quarters, Amazon ads grew at 22%. In contrast, Google advertising...
Gray Media, Dish Agree To Fresh Retrans Deal
Gray Media and Dish reached a new retransmission‑consent agreement, restoring Gray’s broadcast channels to Dish just before the Kentucky Derby. The blackout, which began on March 10, affected 113 DMAs and removed 54 NBC affiliates, including Louisville’s WAVE‑3, from Dish’s lineup....
Grow Newsletters with Cross‑Pollination and Lead Magnets
This newsletter grew through cross-pollination, then scaled with lead magnets. In my latest podcast episode, Sean Devlin shared his full strategy. Watch it in full by searching "Nathan Barry Show" https://t.co/fqAI3q9ezP
Data Answers, yet Speculation Still Sways Narratives
Getaloada this #BrokenTimes headline. It poses a question, answers the question with data, but then speculates a different answer this time, for its bête noire, @ZohranKMamdani. https://t.co/8PM0hDkwJN
2026 Kentucky Derby: Time, Streaming Info & How to Watch on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV & More
The 152nd Kentucky Derby will take place on May 2, 2026 at Churchill Downs, with the post time set for 6:57 p.m. ET. NBC will broadcast the race live, while Peacock streams the event from 12 p.m. ET onward. Several streaming services—including Peacock, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live...
BrokenTimes Platforms Man Worse than Fox News
Bad enough that the #BrokenTimes chooses to give its platform over to the man too awful even for Fox News, it aggrandizes itself with a how-we-did-this sidebar. https://t.co/JTMB53YXjS
Mystery Brain
In a recent NYR Online interview, novelist Daniel Lefferts examines Passage Publishing’s decision to reissue the original Hardy Boys novels, highlighting the press’s right‑wing agenda and its contrast with neutral reprint houses like Applewood. Lefferts argues that preserving the books’...
FCC Repeats Past Optimism, Overlooks Media Decline
Give me a minute to dig up statements by Democratic @FCC Commissioners from 20 years ago, predicting a very bright future for the daily newspaper industry. @AGomezFCC is saying the same thing today, only she’s referring to the local TV...
![A $1.1M Generative Recommender That Collapsed Into a 2000 Video Loop [Edition #7]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!INXp!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F486d4b79-6177-4bf3-b025-c4abbc2aa8c4_944x944.png)
A $1.1M Generative Recommender That Collapsed Into a 2000 Video Loop [Edition #7]
StreamPulse, a Series C video‑first platform with 200 million daily users, swapped its legacy two‑stage recommendation pipeline for a generative semantic retrieval system built on a 1.2 billion‑parameter transformer decoder. The new architecture predicts “Semantic IDs” from user histories, cutting latency to...
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The 16 Best Korean Movies Streaming on Netflix
Netflix’s curated list of 16 Korean movies showcases the breadth of South Korea’s cinematic output, from high‑octane thrillers like *Train to Busan* to tender rom‑coms such as *20th Century Girl*. The selection reflects the global surge in Korean pop culture,...
Channing Tatum’s Disturbing R-Rated Movie Arrives on Prime Video Soon
Channing Tatum’s thriller Blink Twice will debut on Amazon Prime Video on May 23, 2026, after a modest theatrical run that generated roughly $48 million worldwide. The film, directed by Zoe Kravitz in her feature‑film debut, earned a 74% certified‑fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and...
West Palm Beach Spends $2M on NYC Barron's Insert
West Palm Beach just took out a 34 page glossy tabloid that must have cost 2M + to be inserted into every Barrons in NYC. And I gotta admit it looks tempting. https://t.co/SOu0yl03PV