Know What's Happening in Media
Know What's Happening in Media
Indian TV market braces for sales dip as production costs surge
Rising RAM prices, higher plastic and ocean‑freight costs linked to the West Asia crisis, and a weakening rupee have pushed entry‑level 32‑inch TV prices up about 20% to $133, up from $108 six months ago. Counterpoint Research expects shipments to fall 5‑6% as consumers down‑trade to smaller screens.
Also developing:
By the numbers: K-Love seeks FCC approval to acquire radio station WFCC
The Wyoming Tribune Eagle stopped publishing its police blotter on March 1, 2026, replacing it with deeper reporting on crime trends and public safety. The eight‑person newsroom, after completing Poynter’s Transforming Crime Coverage course, instituted new policies to protect vulnerable sources and avoid sensationalism. Eliminating the three‑times‑weekly blotter frees one to three hours per edition for investigative work. Early feedback shows readers barely miss the former feature, while the change addresses longstanding accuracy problems.
The Lakota Times shut down in January, leaving Standing Rock with only one other local outlet, KLND Radio, which itself faces a 50% funding cut. Independent newspaper the Teton Times, run by veteran journalist Avis Red Bear, survives on a...
Time has transformed from a legacy news brand into an events powerhouse, with event revenue projected to account for half of its total earnings in 2025, up from 28% in 2023. The company hosted 11 events in 2022 and will...
Arsenal FC has unveiled a dedicated digital media platform that delivers always‑on content, including videos, articles, and podcasts. The hub is designed to reach the club’s global fanbase with localized stories and behind‑the‑scenes access. By integrating data analytics, Arsenal aims...
During the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, false claims and AI‑generated images spread rapidly on social media, confusing residents and complicating evacuation decisions. Government agencies responded by coordinating emergency messaging and issuing federal guidance that treats information management as a core public‑safety...
In‑housing has shifted from a cost‑cutting tactic to a strategic function, with brands seeking tighter integration, accountability and outcome‑based measurement. A new Campaign Red report shows 66 % of UK and EMEA marketing leaders intend to expand their in‑house agency scope,...
Matt Vasgersian is slated to call Major League Baseball's Opening Night game on Netflix, marking the streaming giant's debut in live MLB coverage. The broadcast is part of a three‑year, $35 million‑per‑year media rights agreement between MLB and Netflix, with MLB...
Meta allowed an AI‑generated video depicting fabricated damage in Haifa to remain on Facebook during the June 2025 Israel‑Iran war, despite six user reports and prior debunking on TikTok. The Oversight Board ruled the content should have carried a “High...
Kenyan media outlets are largely without formal gender policies, jeopardizing their watchdog function and accountability on gender equality. A gender policy would institutionalise balanced recruitment, equitable pay, safe workplaces, and inclusive reporting standards. Recent workshops at Aga Khan University highlighted...
In this episode, host Michael Stelzner chats with AI educator and founder Rene Remschik about how creators can leverage a curated AI tool stack to dramatically cut content production time. Rene shares his journey from early ChatGPT adopter to building...
Swedish furniture retailer Ikea has unveiled a new global campaign titled “There’s No Feeling Like Home,” featuring the emotive short film “Coming Home.” The ad, directed by Justyna Obasi and set to Lucy Dacus’s cover of Carole King’s “Home Again,”...
The NBA is reshaping its fan‑engagement strategy to capture younger viewers who avoid traditional TV appointments. By aggregating data across League Pass, the NBA app, social platforms and betting interfaces, the league sees that youth consumption is actually rising, just...
Humanz has launched Humanz+, an AI‑native operating system that automates the full lifecycle of creator‑led advertising, from research and brief creation to media buying and conversion optimization. The platform deploys seven specialized AI agents and still incorporates a human‑in‑the‑loop for...
OpenAI’s month‑long ChatGPT ad trial is now 44% retail and grocery ads, led by brands like Target, Sephora and Wayfair. Walmart announced it will phase out standalone Vizio accounts, requiring new TV buyers to link or merge into a Walmart...
Live‑sports streaming latency now reaches 40‑plus seconds on many platforms, turning a quality‑of‑experience nuisance into a revenue‑critical issue. Research from the Super Bowl showed Peacock lagging 48 seconds while broadcast stayed within 19 seconds. In‑play microbetting, a $21 billion market projected...
Influencer gifting remains common, yet its impact is waning as audiences detect inauthenticity. A Socially Powerful survey shows 93% of marketers send free products, but only 19% receive genuine advocacy and 35% blame creator fatigue for declining effectiveness. Brands such...
Calvin Klein’s Spring 2026 campaign spotlights actress Dakota Johnson in a series of provocative yet playful scenes that emphasize the brand’s latest denim fits and underwear innovations. Directed by Gordon von Steiner, the minute‑long video and accompanying photos were released globally...
Zee Media has appointed Mayank Jain as senior vice‑president of digital ad sales, positioning him to lead the company’s monetisation across publishing, streaming and broadcast assets. Jain arrives with over 25 years of media sales experience, most recently heading digital...
Walmart’s purchase of Vizio gives the retailer control of a smart‑TV operating system that blends content discovery, advertising, payments and commerce on the living‑room screen. The move transforms retail media from search‑based placements to first‑screen TV inventory, especially as 2026‑model...
NBC confirmed that “America’s Got Talent” has been renewed for a 21st season, slated to air in the summer of 2026. The show’s 20th season, which concluded in September, delivered a $1 million prize to the winner and featured returning host...
Zee Media has appointed Mayank Jain as Senior Vice President of Digital Ad Sales, bringing over two decades of cross‑platform media experience. Jain previously drove digital revenue at TV9 and Times Internet, and will spearhead Zee’s push into the fast‑growing...
SportsCast Global announced a partnership with FAST Channels TV to launch a 24/7 free‑ad‑supported streaming (FAST) sports channel. The channel will feature football, motorsport, basketball, tennis and baseball content, including classic games, highlights, commentary and athlete profiles. FAST Channels TV...
New York Times has introduced Crossplay, its first two‑player word game that embeds ads directly within gameplay. The ad‑supported format targets non‑subscribing users, with six‑second mandatory video ads after each turn. JPMorgan Chase partnered for the launch, aiming at financially active, digitally savvy...
The New York Times launched Crossplay, its first two‑player word game, as a standalone app that embeds ads directly within gameplay. The ad‑supported model applies to non‑subscribers, while a Games subscription removes the ads. JPMorgan Chase partnered on the launch, using...
Sports fans are abandoning traditional TV, turning to streaming services and short‑form platforms for live games and highlights. Rights are being split across multiple OTT providers, creating frustration as viewers juggle subscriptions. Hub Entertainment Research’s Wave 5 report shows documentaries like...
TV ratings for Thursday, March 5, 2026, were released, covering a full slate of new episodes. The lineup featured 9‑1‑1, Grey’s Anatomy, Ghosts, Animal Control, The Hunting Party and several other series across broadcast and cable. Ratings were measured using Fast Affiliate...
In this special edition of the eMarketer "Behind the Numbers" podcast, senior analyst Minda Smiley moderates a panel with Corey Weaver, Head of Influence at Gap Inc., and Alexis Call, Director of Digital Merchandising at Stanley 1913. The discussion explores...
OpenAI is rapidly assembling an internal advertising infrastructure, hiring engineers, product designers, and trust‑and‑safety staff to replace its current reliance on third‑party vendors. In the short term it is partnering with Criteo and The Trade Desk to bring advertisers into...
In this episode, Digiday’s Kamiko McCoy and Tim Peterson sit down with TikTok US platform reporter Crystal Scanlan to unpack TikTok’s post‑legal‑battle strategy. With the U.S. ban threat lifted, TikTok is shifting from defensive mode to aggressively courting ad dollars,...
At the Australian International Documentary Conference, ABC executives defended using well‑known documentary hosts to draw audiences while also emphasizing a push for fresh faces. Kelrick Martin highlighted the network’s commitment to Indigenous talent, citing Miranda Tapsell’s recent presenter role. Jo...
In this episode of the Toure Show, the host argues that the United States and Israel are the primary aggressors in the ongoing Iran war, highlighting the recent appointment of Mojtaba Khomeini as Iran's new supreme leader and the U.S....
Australian‑made children’s podcast “Silly Stories for Kids” has amassed 2.47 million listens and 1.37 million downloads in the past 30 days, generating over 21.8 million listening minutes. The audience is now dominated by North America, which accounts for 52 % of listeners, while downloads...
When Henry Winkler was cast as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on Happy Days, he imposed four personal rules—no combing hair, no gum, no military‑style belt, and no cigarettes—to avoid a clichéd 1950s tough‑guy look. By rejecting those props he invented a...
Rainbow's studio has launched its first themed subscription video‑on‑demand (SVoD) channel, Winx Club & Friends, on Amazon Prime Video. The channel is live in the UK, Italy, France, Finland and Sweden and bundles flagship series such as Winx Club, Huntik,...
On Air Fest 2026’s second day highlighted that storytelling remains the heart of podcasting, even as AI tools infiltrate production and distribution. Panels featured creators like Phillip DeFranco, Wyclef Jean, and Arielle Nissenblatt discussing authenticity, AI as an amplifier, and the rise of...
Three conservative media figures—radio host Ari Hoffman, podcaster Brandi Kruse and Discovery Institute correspondent Jonathan Choe—were denied Washington state House press passes and have filed an emergency lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order for the final 72 hours of the...
Shawn Hatosy, known for playing Dr. Abbott on the Canadian series The Pitt, made his directorial debut with episode nine of season two, navigating a storyline that places Abbott in a SWAT team. The actor‑turned‑director stepped in after a scheduling...
Victoria’s government advertising has dramatically shifted away from television, with TV accounting for just 9.4% of the $103.2 million media budget in 2023‑24 – roughly $9.7 million. The TV share fell from a peak of $32.4 million in 2020‑21 to half that amount...
Why did CBS News Justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane decide to exit the network? He didn't say in his farewell note to colleagues. But, privately, he had been more candid about his frustrations under Bari Weiss. Details in @get_status: https://www.status.news/p/scott-macfarlane-cbs-news-exit-bari-weiss
Attention: I'm interviewing Steve Pinker later today for a new podcast I'm working on. What should I ask him?
Former WFAN host Craig Carton revealed on his show that he nearly punched New York Post columnist Phil Mushnick after seeing him at a June 2024 banquet honoring gambling‑addiction counselor Arnie Wexler. Carton, a recovering gambling addict, said Mushnick’s presence...
Judge Friedman asked both NYT and DOD to submit proposed orders for a summary judgment ruling. The gov't declined, saying the press policy is "constitutional and not arbitrary and capricious." The NYT submitted a proposed order to strike parts of...
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is expanding its digital footprint by teaming with streaming technology firm Kiswe to launch MyAEW, a subscription‑based platform that includes a free FAST channel called Watch AEW. The channel streams on Android TV, Apple TV and...
Fox Sports announced an aggressive 2026 FIFA World Cup broadcast plan, featuring 70 matches on the Fox broadcast network and a total of 340 live hours across its platforms. The schedule includes 21 primetime games on Fox and 19 primetime...
Optimum is set to launch a new network called In2 TV next month, bundling News 12 original series, mystery documentaries, cultural stories and exclusive sports. The channel will be carried on all video customers subscribed to Optimum's Basic package and...
Philo, under new CEO Mike Keyserling, unveiled two refreshed subscription tiers this month. The $25‑per‑month Essential plan bundles over 70 live TV channels, 120 FAST channels, video‑on‑demand and unlimited DVR storage, plus a 7‑day free trial. The former Core plan...
Versant announced a multi‑brand direct‑to‑consumer push, unveiling an MS Now streaming service, a Fandango AVOD platform, and a CNBC DTC product aimed at retail investors. CFO/COO Anand Kini emphasized that the rollout will rely on existing video‑playback, commerce, and brand infrastructure, keeping...
We're going back to the days when the only way to profit from being viral online was to spin it into some sort of traditional media job :/
Netflix confirmed it will not bid for the National Rugby League broadcast rights as the Australian Rugby League Commission pursues a package valued at over $4 billion. The league aims to finalize a deal within three months, targeting both traditional broadcasters...
Nickelodeon’s signature green slime originated on the 1980s show *You Can’t Do That on Television* and later became a staple of *Double Dare* and the Kids’ Choice Awards. Early recipes combined gelatin, food coloring, oatmeal and even shampoo, while the...
