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.
Spotify Q1 2026 Revenue Jumps 14% to €4.53bn as AI Distribution Takes Center Stage
Spotify posted a 14% year‑over‑year revenue rise to €4.53 billion ($4.9 bn) in Q1 2026, adding 10 million users and 3 million premium subscribers. The quarter also saw a 5% drop in ad‑supported revenue and a major strategic push for AI‑generated music distribution.
Holywater Tech's Pocket TV Playbook
Holywater Tech, a six‑year‑old media startup, runs an end‑to‑end pipeline that turns a books platform with over a million monthly users into AI‑generated series in just two weeks, feeding its My Drama streaming service. My Drama now boasts close to...
The Platform Updates You Need to Know From April 2026
Campaign Middle East reports a wave of AI‑driven upgrades across major platforms in April 2026. Spotify unveiled SongDNA and a limited‑beta Artist Profile Protection, while adding guided workout sessions in the UAE. Anghami partnered with Cyanite to tag 2.5 million songs with...
"Free Rider": French Producers' Unions Condemn France Télévisions' Deal with YouTube
Four leading French producers’ and distributors’ unions – AnimFrance, Sedpa, SPI and USPA – have issued a joint statement condemning France Télévisions' newly announced distribution agreement with YouTube. The deal permits the public broadcaster’s television content to be uploaded to...
Selling Sunset Season 10 Confirms Two Major Cast Comebacks: "I’m Returning From a Very Different Place"
Netflix’s reality series Selling Sunset is returning for season 10, bringing back original stars Christine Quinn and Heather Rae El Moussa. Both left the show years ago—Quinn after season 5 and El Moussa after season 6—but are rejoining as main cast members. Quinn cites personal growth...
Matalan Models New Channels for Summer Style Push
Matalan is rolling out a new summer campaign for its "Style for Every Moment" platform, expanding into cinema, digital‑out‑of‑home, TV, online video, print and social media. The centerpiece is a TV ad directed by Benjamin Lennox that follows core female...
YouTube to TV: HugoDécrypte’s New Documentary Series Blends Digital DNA with Traditional Finance
YouTube creator HugoDécrypte is launching a new documentary series produced by Main Originals and Unfold, designed to merge his digital‑first style with traditional finance storytelling. The series abandons conventional TV formats, favoring fast‑paced, personality‑driven episodes that speak directly to a...
DAZN Wins Main Austrian UEFA Champions League Rights
DAZN has won the primary UEFA Champions League broadcasting rights in Austria for the 2027/28‑2030/31 cycle, securing 186 live matches per season. Sky Österreich keeps an exclusive first‑pick Tuesday match and highlights package, while Canal+ Austria takes the Europa League...
Netflix Enhances Mobile Experience; Launches Clips
Netflix unveiled a refreshed mobile app that prioritizes personalized suggestions and a streamlined, vertical navigation layout. The centerpiece of the update is "Clips," a short‑form video feed that surfaces tailored highlights from series, films and specials. Users can add titles...
Taskmaster and Strictly Come Dancing Stars Confirmed for The Great Pottery Throw Down Celebrity Spin-Off
Channel 4 is launching *The Great Celebrity Pottery Throw Down*, a spin‑off of its hit craft competition. Hosted by Taskmaster presenter Liza Tarbuck, the series features six celebrities—including Denise Van Outen, Layton Williams, Paul Merson, Richard Herring, Lucy Beaumont and Fatiha El‑Ghorri—learning pottery from judges Keith Brymer Jones and Rich Miller. Unlike...
Interview: Vivien Vande Kerckhove • Distributor, O’Brother - “Our Mission Has Always Been to Shed Light on What Belgian Film...
O’Brother, a Belgian arthouse distributor founded in 2009, is set to release 22‑24 titles in 2026—more than double its 2017 output. The company has expanded its Benelux presence with a new Netherlands office, growing the core team from three to...
Public Schools and Social Media Addiction: Billions at Stake as Groundbreaking Trial Starts in June
A federal multi‑district litigation (MDL) in Oakland will feature the first bellwether trial of public school districts suing Meta, TikTok, Snap and Google for alleged social‑media addiction among minors. The case, filed by Breathitt County, Kentucky, begins jury selection on...
FCC’s Latest Move Creates Uncertainty for All Broadcasters
The FCC ordered The Walt Disney Company to file fresh license renewals for all its ABC‑owned stations within 30 days, citing an investigation into the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. The directive, issued by Video Division Chief David...
Data Shows Country Streamers Aren’t Leaving AM/FM Behind
A new nuVoodoo analysis presented at the CRS360 webinar shows that country music listeners are not abandoning traditional AM/FM radio for streaming. While 94% of surveyed fans use digital services, 86% still tune in to over‑the‑air broadcasts, and three‑quarters of...
Industry Shows Its Mettle as Adspend Hits the Top Corner
The UK advertising market grew 6.4% year‑on‑year in 2025, reaching £46.7 bn (about $59 bn). Media spend during the Q4 festive period alone hit £12.9 bn (≈$16 bn). Forecasts now project a 6.6% rise to £49.8 bn (≈$63 bn) in 2026, buoyed by the FIFA World...
Award-Winning Comedian, Entertainer & Cultural Sensation Druski Set to Host "BET Awards" 2026
BET announced that viral comedian Druski will host the BET Awards 2026, marking him as the youngest host in the ceremony's history, surpassing Kevin Hart. The live event is scheduled for Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 8 PM ET/PT from the...
Discovery Channel May Programming Highlights
Discovery Channel’s May slate rolls out five new or returning unscripted series, emphasizing high‑stakes adventure and survival. The iconic "Deadliest Catch" returns with a Red King Crab migration narrative, while "Homestead Rescue" tackles tougher off‑grid emergencies. "The Last Woodsmen" adds...
Season Two of "Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman" Premieres Friday, June 5 on USA Network
USA Network will launch season two of "Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman" on Friday, June 5 at 11 p.m. ET/PT, following WWE SmackDown. The new season follows Strowman as he travels to 12 U.S. culinary capitals, from Seattle to...
Sportdigital Adds EFA and UFL American Football Rights
German broadcaster Sportdigital is adding live‑sports rights to the newly formed European Football Alliance (EFA) and the US‑based United Football League (UFL), with coverage beginning in May 2026. The EFA’s inaugural season will feature six clubs from four countries, while the...
Standing in a Sea of FAST
FAST (Free Ad‑Supported Streaming TV) is reshaping the content landscape, offering owners and platforms unprecedented distribution reach but heightened competition for viewer attention. Success now hinges on building a distinct brand identity, delivering frictionless user experiences, and leveraging off‑platform social...
Report: UK Ad Spend Records £46.7bn Media Investment in 2025
The Advertising Association and WARC report that UK advertising investment reached £46.7 billion (≈ $60 billion) in 2025, a 6.4% year‑on‑year rise. Media spend during the festive Q4 alone hit £12.9 billion (≈ $16.5 billion), driven by double‑digit growth in retail media, addressable TV and social...
Diversify or Disappear: How Publishers Win in 2026
Publishers are confronting a visibility gap that leaves them optimizing on incomplete data. A recent podcast with Jorge Barbosa of wecantrack shows how AI‑generated overviews and recent HCU updates are cannibalising organic traffic, prompting a shift toward paid sources and...
WPP Revives Amazon India’s ‘Aur Dikhao’ Campaign
Amazon India has revived its ‘Aur Dikhao’ campaign in partnership with WPP to spotlight everyday shopping categories such as fashion, beauty, home and wireless accessories. The integrated effort runs in six regional languages and leverages IPL 2026 TV and connected‑TV slots,...
Traditional Viewership Metrics Are Now Meaningless for Comparisons
This is exactly why I don’t report viewership & ratings figures as much as I used to. It’s not due to lack of interest—it’s an area I still care about a lot—rather YoY comps are no longer informative given the...
CANAL+ Secures UEFA Club Rights Across Europe
Canal+ has secured UEFA men’s club competition broadcasting rights across several European markets for the 2027/28‑2030/31 seasons. The group renewed exclusive Champions League rights in Poland, obtained exclusive Europa League and Conference League rights in Austria, and signed a co‑exclusive...
The Simpsons Present Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven,” And Teachers Now Use It to Teach Kids the Joys of Literature
In the inaugural 1990 "Treehouse of Horror" Halloween special, The Simpsons performed a near‑verbatim rendition of Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Raven," with James Earl Jones narrating and Homer Simpson delivering the poem’s verses. The episode uniquely credits Poe as a co‑writer, marking...
Digest: Omnicom Tests AI Agent Media Buying; Australia Forces Big Tech to Pay for News
Omnicom announced it is running live media purchases through autonomous AI agents, marking a shift toward fully programmatic ad buying. The agency posted Q1 2026 revenue of $6.2 bn, operating income of $646 m and a 14.8% margin. In Australia, draft legislation...
Omnicom’s Creo Unveils Agentic AI Tool for Brand-Influencer Content Compliance
Omnicom Media Group's specialist unit Creo has launched an agentic AI tool that automatically edits influencer‑generated content to meet brand compliance before publishing. Built with Google Cloud, the solution leverages Gemini and Veo generative models to identify and resolve issues...
DAZN Buys ViewLift for $100m
DAZN announced a $100 million acquisition of ViewLift, a streaming‑technology firm serving 15 major U.S. pro‑sports teams, several regional sports networks and top leagues such as the NBA, NHL and MLB. The deal, valued at roughly €85.4 million, will integrate ViewLift’s platform...
Google, Meta and Amazon Took Two Thirds of £46bn UK 2025 Adspend
UK advertising spend rose 6.4% in 2025 to a record £46.7bn (≈$59bn). A trio of US tech giants—Google, Meta and Amazon—captured roughly two‑thirds of that pie, accounting for about £31bn (≈$39bn). Google led with an estimated £21.5bn ($27bn) from search,...
YouTube Expands Viewing Experience with MultiView for NFL Fans
YouTube TV has launched MultiView, letting NFL fans watch up to four live games simultaneously on a single screen. Integrated with the NFL Sunday Ticket package, the feature supports audio switching, full‑screen expansion, and includes NFL RedZone for qualifying subscribers....
Disney+ to Broadcast Live Men’s Champions League Games for the First Time
Disney+ has won live broadcast rights for men’s Champions League matches in 19 European and Latin American markets for the 2027‑31 cycle, marking the streaming giant’s first foray into the competition’s premier men’s package. The auction, which also included Sweden,...
INTERVIEW: Designing Retail Media for Scale and Relevance: Helene Trad on Kingfisher’s Approach
Helene Trad, head of retail media at Kingfisher, explained at Retail MediaX Europe how the group is building a modular, customer‑centric retail media platform that serves both trade‑focused Screwfix and inspiration‑driven B&Q. The strategy blends a unified measurement backbone with...
IAB Europe Opens CTV Measurement Framework for Public Comment
IAB Europe announced on 30 April 2026 that its Connected TV (CTV) Measurement Framework and Transparency Principles are now open for public comment. The framework, built with input from major players such as Amazon Ads, Google, Samsung Ads and YouTube, standardises metrics...
In 'Man on Fire,' A New Creasy, Played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Capably Takes the Helm
Netflix launches a fresh take on the "Man on Fire" franchise, starring Yahya Abdul‑Mateen II as a haunted ex‑CIA operative in Rio de Janeiro. The series reimagines the 1980 novel with a Brazilian favela backdrop, adding new characters and a...
Martin Lewis Says Meta Scam Ads Stealing His Name Are ‘Worse than Ever’
Financial journalist Martin Lewis warned that scam ads hijacking his name and likeness have surged, now appearing in 44% of 537 Action Fraud reports in 2024. Meta earned roughly $3.3 billion every six months from high‑risk scam ads that impersonate public figures,...
The Lead's Story on the Fight for Compensation for Those Wrongly Jailed Is up for Private Eye's Paul Foot Award
Freelance journalist Adam Bychawski’s investigation into Ahmed Adan’s 13‑year wrongful imprisonment has been longlisted for the 2026 Paul Foot Award, the premier prize for investigative and campaigning journalism. The piece, published in The Lead in March 2023, exposes how the...
MrBeast's Survivor 50 Episode Was “Riveting, Exciting, Truly Revolutionary” / Has Lost Sight of Its Satirical Focus on the Entertainment...
Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, partnered with CBS to co‑produce the tenth episode of Survivor season 50, delivering a segment described as "riveting, exciting, truly revolutionary." The episode leveraged the YouTube star's stunt‑driven style, injecting high‑stakes challenges that diverged from...
‘Reminders of Him’ Tops DEG Digital Transactions Chart for Week of April 19
Universal Pictures' "Reminders of Him" claimed the No. 1 spot on the Digital Entertainment Group’s digital sales and rentals chart for the week ending April 19, following its premium digital release on April 14. The romance drama, adapted from Colleen Hoover’s 2022 bestseller,...
Sanoma Tried to Build an AI Tool. It Ended up Rebuilding Its Workflow
Sanoma Media Finland set out to turn phone calls into draft articles, but discovered that inconsistent interview recording practices prevented any scalable AI solution. The team replaced a patchwork of devices with Elisa Ring, a mobile service that automatically records...
Ogilvy India Pauses the Chaos in New Spot for Mother Dairy Flavoured Milk
Ogilvy India has unveiled a new television spot for Mother Dairy’s flavored‑milk range, targeting young, on‑the‑move consumers. The ad, starring Bollywood actress Tamannaah Bhatia, frames the drink as a quick, grab‑and‑go pause amid a hectic day, anchored by the line...
Meta's Ad Impressions Surge, 40% of Reels Are Ads
It keeps surprising me how $META can continue growing its ad impressions at these rates (Ad Impressions +19%). I just opened Instagram and scrolled through ten Reels (of which four were ads; 40%). Makes sense now.
Revealed: British Ad Firm’s Billion-Dollar Greenwash of US Oil Industry
British advertising giant WPP has been identified as the primary agency behind $1.5 bn (≈ £1.1 bn) of U.S. ad spend for oil majors ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell and BP since the 2015 Paris Agreement. The firm produced roughly two‑thirds of those ads, outpacing...
Vue Calls on Taika Waititi to Lure Audiences Back to Movie Theaters
Vue has launched the "Feel It Forever" campaign, a two‑minute ad directed by Academy Award‑winning filmmaker Taika Waititi, to coax audiences back to its European cinemas. The spot, which follows two strangers trailed by iconic movie characters, debuted on May 1 in...
For All Mankind Review: Apple TV’s Alternate Space Race Drama
Apple TV+’s “For All Mankind” has reached its fifth season, expanding the alternate‑history saga from lunar competition to a contested Mars colony. The season, released weekly from March 27 to May 29 2026, introduces Mars‑based politics, autonomy debates, and generational change while the...
Meta's Billion‑User Model Flops on Metaverse Investment
Zuckerberg said that Meta always grows a platform first to a billion users, then starts monetizing it. This works for viral social networks that grow quickly. However, it may not work for other products. Besides, it requires heavy upfront investment...
Naming the Trend: Walking While Working on Laptop
There was a girl on TikTok who went on a whole walk with her laptop like this, we need a name for this behavior
The 4 Places Your Substack Is Losing Readers (Before They Even Decide to Leave)
Derek Hughes is launching a $45 annual upgrade for Substack writers that delivers four targeted tools to stop reader loss. The tools—Content Multiplier, Subscriber Magnet, Wrong Turn, and Startler—convert a single post into multiple notes, revamp About pages, provide headline...
Content Europe Announces 2027 Dates
Content Europe has set its 2027 edition for April 18‑20 in Lisbon, following a successful inaugural event that attracted 873 delegates and 547 companies. The three‑day market will keep its format‑centric focus while expanding into documentary, factual, drama and kids...
“IMPACT X Nightline: There’s Something About Fernando” Coming Soon To Hulu & Disney+
Disney announced a new documentary, “IMPACT x Nightline: There’s Something About Fernando,” debuting Thursday, April 30, 2026, on Hulu and Disney+ in the United States. The film follows Fernando Mendoza, the Indiana Hoosiers quarterback who led an undefeated season, won the Heisman...