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.
Say Hello to the Sneaker News AI Agent
Sneaker News has launched an AI‑powered chatbot, the Sneaker News Agent, on WhatsApp through a partnership with Stardust. The bot pulls answers directly from SneakerNews.com, delivering release dates, images, restock alerts, and historical sneaker data in a conversational format. It learns user preferences over time, offering personalized notifications about confirmed drops and upcoming restocks. The service is free and available immediately via a WhatsApp link.
Instagram Algorithm Update Discourages Reposted Content
Instagram has revamped its recommendation algorithm to demote accounts that primarily repost photos, carousel posts, or reels, emphasizing original, creatively edited content. The platform reports that 75% of U.S. recommendations now stem from posts it deems original. Meanwhile, eBay is...
You Can Stream Certain Peacock Shows for Free on United Airlines Now
United Airlines has added NBCUniversal's Peacock to its in‑flight entertainment roster, launching on more than 800 aircraft as of May 1. Passengers can watch selected Peacock originals for free on seat‑back screens or through the United mobile app on personal devices....
Nintendo Direct Has Been Around for 15 Years — It May Not Last Forever
Nintendo Direct, the company’s flagship video‑announcement format that launched in 2011, may be nearing its end, according to former employees Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang. They argue that the increasingly complex production and shifting fan dynamics are prompting Nintendo to...
Star Wars and Fortnite Go for It
Epic Games announced that on May 1 a suite of Star Wars‑themed experiences will launch within Fortnite. The rollout includes multiple game modes, character skins, and iconic weapons from the franchise. Players can access the content directly through the Fortnite client, blending...
Fox Orders Whitney Cummings-Hosted Marriage Market Dating Reality Show / Peacock Developing Gilgo Beach Murders Scripted Series / How Hacks...
Fox has green‑lit "Marriage Market," a new dating reality series hosted by comedian Whitney Cummings. The format forces singles ready for marriage to hand over matchmaking control to their closest family members, creating a family‑driven courtship dynamic. Fox plans to...
Threat Response: Podcast Experts Assess the Industry
A LinkedIn survey by producer Abdallah Mohamed gathered 13 global podcast experts to assess whether the podcast industry faces a real threat. The respondents highlighted ongoing layoffs, bankruptcies, and AI‑driven pressure, describing the sector as undergoing a permanent market reset...
YouTube Launches Suite of Creator‑focused Feature Upgrades
Over the last week, our @YouTube teams shipped many new products you’ve been asking for 🔥 🪟 We launched fully custom multiview on @YouTubeTV, giving you full control to mix and match live streams. ⏳ With countdown stickers, mobile live streamers can...
The Best Movies and TV Shows Coming to Netflix in May
Netflix is bolstering its May slate with three distinct titles: a literary mini‑series adaptation of William Golding’s *Lord of the Flies* arriving on May 4, the British true‑crime drama *Legends* debuting May 7, and the heartfelt documentary *Marty, Life Is Short* launching...
'Widow's Bay' Is the Perfect Seaside Vacation, but Beware the Fog and Clowns
Apple TV+ launched the first two episodes of "Widow's Bay," a horror‑comedy series set on a New England island. Created by Katie Dippold and starring Matthew Rhys and Stephen Root, the show follows mayor Tom Loftis as he tries to...
Gravity Media Taps Custom Consoles for Work on Production Center
Custom Consoles has outfitted Gravity Media’s West London Production Center with a large Module‑R master control room (MCR) desk and a 13.25‑meter MediaWall display array. The 38,000‑sq‑ft facility, one of Europe’s biggest, already hosts more than 50 Custom Consoles desks...
UK to Reboot Monarch of the Glen
Channel 5 is reviving the beloved Highlands drama "Monarch of the Glen" with a six‑episode, 60‑minute series. The reboot is being produced by the original Ecosse Films alongside Masterpiece PBS, and will film in Scotland and Northern Ireland later this year....
60 Minutes: May 3
The May 3 episode of 60 Minutes highlighted two distinct stories. A segment on the Eastern Paralysis Tick warned Australians that bites can trigger a rare mammalian‑meat allergy, potentially fatal if undiagnosed. Another segment turned its lens on Meta, the $2.4 trillion social‑media...
NABLF Announces 2026 Broadcast Leadership Training Award Winners
The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) announced the 2026 Diane Sutter Shooting Star Award for Lori Waldon, president and general manager of Hearst’s KOAT‑TV and a 2016 BLT alum, and the BLT Champion Award for Barbara Kreisman, retired FCC Video...
Selling Houses Australia: 200th Episode
Selling Houses Australia, Foxtel’s longest‑running original series, aired its 200th episode on 6 May 2026. Host Andrew Winter, designer Wendy Moore and landscaper Dennis Scott helped paramedic parents Amelia and James McCann sell their St Huberts Island home to relocate closer to Westmead Children’s Hospital....
Kimmel Fights. Tech Bros Bow Before The King
Last week Disney’s ABC network faced renewed political pressure after President Trump labeled the network “Fake News” and demanded host Jimmy Kimmel be fired. Despite a looming FCC review of ABC’s broadcast licenses, Disney chose to keep Kimmel on the...
Google Added 25 Million New Subscribers in Just Three Months with YouTube Premium Growing
Google announced that it added 25 million new paid subscribers in Q1 2026, bringing its total paid subscriber base to 350 million across Google One, Gemini, YouTube Premium, and YouTube Music. The surge was driven primarily by YouTube Premium and YouTube Music, which...
POSSIBLE Miami: 7 Lessons on the Future of Creator Marketing
Creator marketing has moved from an experimental channel to core infrastructure, as highlighted at POSSIBLE Miami. Brands like Coca‑Cola and PepsiCo are shifting to single performance metrics, focusing on value‑aligned creators, and leveraging micro‑influencers for authentic engagement. The conference underscored...
Radio One to Acquire Two Heritage DFW Signals
Urban One, the parent of Radio One, announced it will acquire two heritage FM stations in Dallas‑Fort Worth—104.5 KKDA, a long‑standing hip‑hop outlet, and 105.7 KRNB, an adult R&B station—from Service Broadcasting Group. Simultaneously, Urban One is divesting its 94.5 KZMJ signal to...
Threads Audience Growth: A Lottery with One Winning Strategy
Building an audience here on Threads is just a lottery. And there is only one way to win this "game":
NYT Opens First Canadian Office in Toronto After Century
The New York Times can now proudly say that we have an office in Toronto, where most of our Canada team is based, for the first time in our 100+ years of covering the country. Very proud to be building...
Short-Term AM License Renewal Results From Continued ‘OPIF’ Rule Flub
The FCC announced that the owner of the "Awesome" Class B AM station in Greenwood, Mississippi will undergo a short‑term license renewal. Chairman Brendan Carr cited a continued misapplication of the OPIF (Other Public Interest Factors) rule as the cause. The...
Google's AI Headline Rewrite Raises Deception and Authorship Concerns
Google is testing a feature to have its AI rewrite news headlines. This stuff is verging on deception. Can Google claim someone wrote something they didn't write? https://t.co/YV7wf8kcRK
April Recap: Freelance Journalist Highlights & Latest Articles
Here's my newsletter detailing how April went for me as a freelance journalist, links to my latest articles, and more: https://t.co/GPhPYh684h
New England Public Media Agrees To GBH Merger
GBH and New England Public Media announced a merger slated for completion by summer 2026, while retaining their distinct brands and headquarters. The deal also brings Cape and Islands radio station WCAI‑FM into the combined operation, expanding coverage from the...
CORE Boys Back on YouTube, Nightmare Finally Ends
🚨 The CORE boys have been reinstated on YouTube 🚨 Our long national nightmare is over.
AI-Generated Podcasts Now Number Thousands Each Week
A growing share of podcasts are generated by AI. Thousands every week. Read @ashleyrcarman on the rise of podslop https://t.co/Jp6BNH7CB6
News Industry At Odds With Free Speech Advocates Over Amazon's Perplexity Ban
A federal judge granted Amazon a preliminary injunction blocking Perplexity's AI‑driven shopping agent from accessing Amazon accounts, citing likely violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Perplexity is appealing the order to the 9th Circuit, while free‑speech groups argue...
Low‑cost Airline Drama: Spirit Airlines, the Anti‑PanAm
Someone should launch a TV series about Spirit Airlines. It would be opposite of PanAm.
Skip Obvious On-Screen Captions; Trust Audience Inference
Memo to producers and executives: If two characters say they are going to Rio De Janeiro and are on a plane, you don't need a chyron three seconds later telling us they are in Rio De Janeiro.
Why Evidence Matters in Environmental Journalism
Environmental journalism relies on evidence to translate complex science into public narratives. Mongabay staff writer John Cannon exemplifies this approach, using his biology training and field experience to produce investigative pieces that expose hidden deals, such as a controversial carbon‑credit...
FCC Limits an AM’s License Renewal to One Year
The FCC has limited the license renewal for Mississippi AM station WABG to just one year after the station missed a required quarterly issues and programs list, despite previously signing a consent decree and paying a $1,000 contribution. The bureau...
Charlie Kirk's Shooting Audio Becomes TikTok Outfit Remix
The audio of Charlie Kirk getting shot is now a TikTok sound for outfit transformations https://t.co/PIm5hCqpPH
Google News Prioritizes Trump Amid Rising Search Interest
Is there something up with the Google News algorithm? It feels like 25-50% of my news home page is related to President Trump. Google trends shows 'Trump' searches are heavier this term, are more prolific than matters like 'economy' and...
Podcast Intro Generator (Write Yours in 60 Seconds)
Talks has launched a free Podcast Intro Generator that lets creators draft a full intro script in about 60 seconds. The web‑based tool offers three ready‑made structures—clean, conversational, and story‑driven—where users simply swap in their audience, desired result, and host...
Leeds Utd v Burnley Live Stream, TV Channel – Where to Watch Football on Tv Today
Leeds United host Burnley in a Premier League clash on Friday night, broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League at 20:00 UK time. Leeds sit six points clear of the relegation zone and view the...
Google's Network Revenue Falls 15th Quarter, YouTube Leads
This is your regular reminder that Google's Network business is vestigial: Network revenue declined for the 15th consecutive quarter in Q1 2026, and the delta between YouTube and Network revenue was nearly $3BN (although the gap shrank from Q4 2025)....
TV in 3: The Messy Truth Behind Amazon’s ‘Apprentice’ Fantasy
Amazon’s executives have floated reviving "The Apprentice" with Donald Trump Jr. as host, leveraging its $8.45 billion MGM acquisition. The proposal reflects a broader push to turn MGM’s film library into premium TV content for Prime Video. Meanwhile, Disney sidestepped political...
FCC Releases Tentative Agenda for May Open Meeting
The FCC announced a tentative agenda for its May 20 open meeting, highlighting four major initiatives. A third Report and Order will modernize the Disaster Information Reporting System to cut redundant paperwork for broadcasters during emergencies. The commission will also...
Your May Premier Membership Links and Dates
Substack’s Premier membership for May has been updated with new links and dates, prompting writers to bookmark the dedicated Premier homepage. The program is positioned as a tier beyond the standard paid subscription, offering deeper tools and resources. Its core...
Three Fresh Netflix Originals Stream All May
Get your thrills with Netflix this May, as three great new originals are streaming throughout the month. https://t.co/li1CQrJ7YN
Spotify Adds 'Verified' Badges To Distinguish Human Artists From AI
Spotify is rolling out a "Verified by Spotify" badge to clearly label human artists and separate them from AI‑generated personas. The green checkmark will appear next to artist names that meet authenticity standards such as linked social accounts, consistent streaming...
‘Milky Way’ Trailer: Short Film Palme D’Or-Winning Filmmaker Vasilis Kekatos Tackles Teen Pregnancy with Dark Humor
Palme d’Or and Queer Palm winner Vasilis Kekatos is debuting his eight‑episode series “Milky Way” on free‑premium streamer The Network. The dark‑humored drama follows 17‑year‑old dancer Maria as she navigates an unwanted pregnancy in a remote mountain town. The Network, founded...
Eleos Life Raises $3 Million in Media-for-Equity Investment
Eleos Life, a UK‑based insurtech that launched in the US last year, has raised $3 million through a media‑for‑equity deal with US venture fund Mercurius Media Capital. The capital will be used to drive brand awareness via national television, digital and...
Big Deal In ‘Big D’ For Urban One and a Broadcast Ministry
Urban One, the publicly traded multimedia group founded by Cathy Hughes, is set to acquire a legacy Dallas‑area AM station that has been owned for five decades by Hyman Childs, Ken Dowe and programmer Michael Spears. The deal also includes...
It's the Smell
The author laments the surge of AI‑generated blog posts, calling them low‑quality and instantly recognizable. While tools like Claude can produce complete articles, the output often feels sterile and generic. The piece urges writers to prioritize authentic, human‑crafted content and...
Lost NFL Network on Comcast Xfinity? Here Are the Best Streaming Alternatives for Football Fans
Comcast Xfinity has dropped NFL Network after a contract dispute, leaving football fans without the channel on traditional cable. The loss comes as the league gears up for the 2026 season and underscores the vulnerability of bundled TV packages. Several...
HMPG to Debut “The Champion’s Edge” On ABC Stations
Hearst Media Production Group (HMPG) is launching a new unscripted sports series, “The Champion’s Edge with Bonnie Bernstein,” on ABC‑owned and affiliated stations beginning May 9. The show joins ABC’s Weekend Adventure educational‑information block and will air weekend mornings nationwide. Hosted...
Ticker: Testy Exchange Takes Place Between Scott Jennings and Adam Mockler on CNN NewsNight
During Thursday's CNN NewsNight, senior political commentator Scott Jennings erupted in profanity while debating the Iran war with MeidasTouch analyst Adam Mockler, prompting host Abby Phillip to intervene. The same broadcast highlighted a wave of personnel shifts at CNN, including...
Kentucky Derby 152 to Air Across 19 Networks in 170-Plus Territories
HBA Media, on behalf of NBC Sports and Churchill Downs, secured broadcast and streaming rights for the 152nd Kentucky Derby across 19 networks in more than 170 territories spanning five continents. NBC Sports will air a five‑hour world feed with...