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.
Goodbye, Showmax
Showmax, Naspers' home‑grown streaming venture launched in August 2015, aimed to outpace Netflix in South Africa with a strong local‑content slate. After an early surge—10 million views in its first year and a projected break‑even at 800,000 subscribers—the service was folded into MultiChoice, added a premium sports tier, and was rebuilt with Comcast’s Peacock technology in 2024. Revenues slipped from €12 million (~$13 m) in Q1 2025 to €9 million (~$9.7 m) in Q1 2026, while losses ballooned to R4.9 billion (~$265 m) in FY 2024‑25. Canal+ announced the platform will be shut down on 30 April 2026, moving original titles to DStv Stream and offering former users a discounted DStv Stream Compact plan.
BBC Responds to Interest in Cornish with New Language Podcast
The BBC has launched a new weekly podcast, "Learn Cornish," hosted by Radio 1 presenter Danni Diston and co‑presenter Sarah Buck. The series introduces basic Cornish phrases and features guests such as BAFTA‑winning director Mark Jenkin. Its debut follows the recent...
Tourists Overrun Australia’s Most Instagrammed Street, Driving Locals to the Brink
A wave of social‑media posts has turned Tasman Drive in Gerringong, NSW, into a viral hotspot. Coachloads of domestic and overseas tourists now flock to the seaside town, crowding the road, blocking traffic and leaving litter. Residents, including an 81‑year‑old,...
‘Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc’ Streaming on Crunchyroll Beginning April 30
The anime film "Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc" will debut on Crunchyroll’s global streaming platform on April 30, 2026. The movie continues the story of the hit series, focusing on Denji’s encounter with the enigmatic Reze amid a...
Human First, AI Second: The New Rule of Credible Storytelling
Amid an explosion of AI‑generated content, brands are struggling to maintain trust. A Reuters Institute report finds 58% of consumers cannot reliably tell fact from fiction, while Gartner and Deloitte cite rising distrust of AI outputs. The article argues that...
Media Briefing: Publishers Rewire Sales Teams for the Outcomes Era
Publishers are overhauling sales structures, shifting from pure sellers to outcome‑focused teams that blend client‑success, custom studios, and product marketing. At USA Today, only a third of staff are active sellers, while WSJ and Hearst allocate roughly 25‑30% to sales...
Uncertainty Is the Real Cost of the Middle East War for Advertisers
Advertising agencies are feeling the drag from the Middle East war as uncertainty stalls budgeting decisions. WPP’s Middle East revenue fell 12.6% YoY and Publicis’s MEA business dropped 5.1%, while Omnicom saw declines in the region. The IMF warns the...
30 Days of Using Za’atar the Wrong Way: How Spice Startup Hayati Used Repetition to Hit 21,000 Instagram Followers
Hayati, a Palestinian‑American spice brand, leveraged a quirky Instagram series called “Day X of using za’atar the wrong way” to accelerate its social following. Founder Yasmine Borno filmed unconventional recipes—za’atar on nails, popcorn, and parmesan potatoes—turning entertainment into education. The repeatable...
How the Experts Figure Out What’s Real in the Age of Deepfakes
Following the US‑Israel strike on Iran, a flood of AI‑generated and misattributed images spread online. Major outlets such as The New York Times, Indicator and Bellingcat rely on rigorous verification protocols to filter out deepfakes and game footage. The article...
BMF Australia Recognised in 2025 Global Grand Effie Contenders List for ALDI ‘Shop ALDI First’
BMF Australia’s partnership with ALDI Stores Australia has earned the ‘Shop ALDI First’ campaign a spot among the 2025 Global Grand Effie Contenders. The list, curated by Effie Worldwide, features 47 campaigns from 27 industry sectors across 60 countries. BMF...
2026 RSF Index: Press Freedom at a 25-Year Low
The 2026 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index reveals that more than half of the 180 surveyed countries now fall into the “difficult” or “very serious” categories, marking the lowest average score in the index’s 25‑year history. A steep...
‘The Boys’ Creator Thought Homelander Claiming He’s God Was Too “Out There” Before Trump’s AI Jesus Post: “Really Hard To...
Eric Kripke, creator of Amazon’s *The Boys*, expressed surprise that a plot line where Homelander declares himself God now mirrors a real‑world stunt by former President Donald Trump. In early April, Trump shared an AI‑generated image of himself as Jesus,...
DAZN, TikTok to Livestream Free Serie A Fixture
DAZN and TikTok announced a partnership to livestream a Serie A match for free to UK and Ireland users on TikTok. The Sassuolo vs AC Milan game will be broadcast on May 3 at 2 pm BST via the DAZN Football TikTok channel. The initiative aims to...
France: M6+ App Launches on ChatGPT Store
Groupe M6 and OpenAI have teamed up to place the free streaming service M6+ on the ChatGPT Store, marking the first French broadcaster integrated into a conversational AI platform. The app aggregates content from M6’s suite of channels—including W9, 6ter, Gulli,...
Screen Forever Panel Lifts Lid on Local Unscripted Commissioning
At Screen Forever 40, top Australian unscripted commissioners from Nine, Paramount, ABC and Foxtel revealed that original IP now outweighs slot availability in green‑lighting decisions. They highlighted tighter broadcast budgets, a shift toward streaming‑first concepts, and a stronger appetite for locally‑focused...
Tech Giants Earned over $100b in Advertising Revenue in First Three Months of 2026
In the first quarter of 2026, Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft together generated more than $100 billion in advertising revenue. Alphabet led with $87.0 billion, driven by Google search ($77.3 b) and YouTube ($9.9 b), both posting double‑digit growth. Meta posted $55.0 billion, up 33%...
Amazon Is Considering Rebooting The Apprentice with Donald Trump Jr. As Host
Amazon’s Prime Video is reportedly evaluating a reboot of the 2000s reality series The Apprentice, with former President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., being considered as host. The move follows Amazon’s recent acquisition of the Melania documentary, signaling a broader...
‘Summer House’ Spinoff ‘In The City’ Filmed “New Scene” To Address Amanda Batula & West Wilson’s Romance After Ciara Miller...
Bravo is launching a Summer House spinoff, In the City, to air May 19 alongside the Season 10 finale. The series adds a newly‑shot scene that directly tackles the fallout from Amanda Batula and West Wilson’s romance, which many fans view...
Bestads Best TV of the Week: Consejo Profesional De Agrimensores’ ‘Study Surveying’ via FROM
Bestadsontv.com, the global showcase arm of Campaign Brief, highlighted the Argentine ad “Study Surveying” by Consejo Profesional de Agrimensores, produced by agency FROM. The spot was selected by guest judge Lisa Fedyszyn, CCO of Special, New Zealand, for its witty take on...
Celebrity Family Feud: Season 12 Renewal; Production Underway for Return of ABC’s Steve Harvey Game Show
ABC has quietly renewed Steve Harvey‑hosted Celebrity Family Feud for a 12th season, with eight new episodes slated for production in Atlanta next month. Season 11 concluded with a 0.33 rating in the 18‑49 demo and 3.60 million total viewers, marking an...
Liquid Content Was Never Going to Be a Publisher Product
Liquid content promises stories that reshape in real time to match each reader’s context, but publishers have yet to deliver at scale. The Washington Post’s AI‑generated personal podcast highlighted the technical gap, with 68‑84% of scripts failing accuracy checks. Industry...
Google's Ad Revenue Now 91% From Owned Platforms
Google earnings milestone today. Q1 marks the first time 91% of G's ad revenue (now $300B+ per year) comes from its owned properties (search, youtube, gmail, etc) rather than the rest of web. G is now accelerating death of open...
Press Your Luck: Season Seven Renewal; ABC Game Show Episodes Already Filmed
ABC has quietly renewed the primetime revival of Press Your Luck for a seventh season after the six‑episode run concluded in August. The show, hosted by Elizabeth Banks, blends trivia, strategy and the iconic WHAMMY, with a top prize of...
Meta’s Ad Machine Is Purring, So Why Did Its Stock Drop?
Meta reported a strong Q1, posting $55 billion in ad revenue, a 33% year‑over‑year increase, while unveiling a $125‑$145 billion spending plan to fund next‑generation AI compute. The company highlighted AI‑driven improvements that lifted Instagram Reels time spent by 10% and boosted...
Disney Threw a Big Party to Try to Garner Emmy Nominations
Disney staged an extravagant party for Emmy voters, aiming to spotlight its Disney+ lineup and boost awards consideration. The event featured set recreations, live performances, and a focus on Shailene Woodley's praised role in the series Paradise. By creating a...
AMC Has No Big-League Deals, But Media Company Still Wants to Slide Into Sports
AMC Global Media, best known for premium dramas, is expanding into sports‑focused scripted and documentary series despite lacking any major league broadcast rights. The company has greenlit the NASCAR‑backed drama “Thunder Road” and renewed the documentary series “Rise,” which examines...
AMC Sees Second Chance to Win Ad Dollars for First Views of Long-Lasting Series
AMC Global Networks is rolling out a "first streamer" ad product that lets brands purchase the first ad slot in a viewer's initial watch of any series, even if the show is several seasons old. The offering treats a first‑time...
AMC Development Updates: ‘Bannerman’ Spy Drama Advances To Writers Room, ‘Point Break’ Reboot Eyes Greenlight, ‘Grapes Of Wrath’ Gets Co-Writer
AMC Studios announced three major projects at its 2026 upfront: a spy drama called "Bannerman" has moved into a writers’ room with Craig Silverstein as showrunner and Shane Black attached to direct; a TV reboot of the 1991 film "Point Break"...
‘Thunder Road’ Starring Dennis Quaid Greenlit At AMC
AMC has green‑lit "Thunder Road," a NASCAR‑themed drama starring Dennis Quaid as racing legend Duane Whitlock. The series, created by John Fusco and run by Taylor Elmore, will be produced in partnership with NASCAR, marking the network’s first long‑form drama...
Hudson Williams’ ‘Heated Rivalry’ Followup Series, Crave’s ‘Yaga’, To Stream On AMC+ In U.S.
AMC+ has secured exclusive U.S. streaming rights to Crave’s eight‑episode series *Yaga*, starring Hudson Williams in his first post‑*Heated Rivalry* role. The show reimagines the Slavic Baba Yaga legend as a contemporary mystery thriller and will debut on AMC+ later...
Netflix Leads Gotham TV Awards 2026 Nominations with 22 Nod Count
The Gotham TV Awards announced its 2026 nominations on April 28, with Netflix securing a leading 22 nods and its series 'Big Mistakes' and 'Death by Lightning' each earning four nominations. HBO Max follows with 19 nominations, while Hulu and...
Fresho Appoints TAG to Drive Digital Growth
Fresho, a leading order‑management SaaS for food distributors, has appointed digital growth consultancy TAG to run its advertising and creative strategy across Australia‑New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The partnership focuses on a data‑led acquisition approach designed to...
Justine Bateman Launches $40 AI‑Free Streaming Portal, Aiming to Redefine Indie Film Distribution
Actress and festival founder Justine Bateman has opened a digital “room” for the Credo 23 AI‑free film festival, charging $40 for unlimited access to 44 curated shorts, features and talks. The move tests whether a human‑only, curated model can carve...
2026 Mumbrella Publish Awards Are Open, with Updated Criteria and New Categories
Australia’s Mumbrella Publish Awards have opened for 2026, marking the program’s 30th anniversary. The awards now feature refined categories such as AI integration, digital innovation, and revenue diversification to reflect the shift from print to AI‑driven digital media. A senior...
Monday TV Ratings: The Quiz with Balls, The Rookie, Sullivan’s Crossing, FBI, 2026 NBA Playoffs
Monday, April 27, 2026 TV ratings were posted using Fast Affiliate Numbers, covering new episodes of American Idol, The Rookie, The Neighborhood, DMV, FBI, CIA, Sullivan’s Crossing, The 1% Club, and The Quiz with Balls. The 2026 NBA Playoffs were the sole...
Specsavers Unveils New OOH Work on Australia’s Longest Street Poster Site via Specsavers Creative
Specsavers has launched a 95.45‑metre out‑of‑home takeover on Swan Street in Richmond, Australia’s longest street poster site. The in‑house Specsavers Creative team installed 21 panels on one side asking "Loooooooooong sighted?" and a single panel on the opposite side asking...
OverActive Media Posts Record $21M Revenue, Launches Fenix Club & AI Platform
OverActive Media Corp announced a record $28.5 million CAD (≈$21 million USD) revenue for 2025, a 5% increase year‑over‑year, driven by a 34% jump in Business Operations revenue. The company also launched a direct‑to‑consumer subscription service, Fenix Club, and an AI‑powered localization...
Name Your Niche: Clarity Beats Cleverness on Substack
A Substack newsletter aimed at everyone is a Substack for no one. People don't subscribe to "interesting thoughts." They subscribe to solutions. And the best way to make it obvious who you write for is to name and claim your...
Why the $400 vSeeBox V6 Plus Isn't Just a Roku
This Android set-top box costs $400! Why? Because it ain't just a bigger Roku, as I explain in my review of the vSeeBox V6 Plus Android TV device. It's a grey market device, quite interesting, and probably illegal. Sort of......
YouTube Gains
Alphabet reported that U.S. viewers now spend over 200 million hours daily watching YouTube from the living room, underscoring the platform’s dominance in home video consumption. The company’s paid subscriber base rose to 350 million, up from 270 million a year earlier, driven...
Amazon Confirms No ‘Apprentice’ Reboot in Development
Amazon sources say a reboot of ‘The Apprentice’ is currently “not in development” and there have not been “any discussions with anyone outside the company” about producing it https://t.co/0Xxna1idib
First-Time Watches of Classic Shows Now More Valuable
Who remembers NBC's famous 1997 mantra 'If you haven't seen it, it's new to you'? Now in 2026, AMC suggests NBC may have been ahead of its time, and is making the case that first views of even older shows...
Video Podcast Show
In this 3‑minute episode, host Justin Jackson explores the rise of video podcasts and how creators can add video without breaking the bank. He highlights recent platform shifts—Apple’s HLS video, YouTube’s podcast boom, and Spotify’s video support—and demonstrates that a...
Amazon Mulls Don Jr.-Hosted ‘Apprentice’ Reboot
Wow. An actual choice that would finally force me to stop using Amazon. A line I didn’t expect to be crossed. Amazon Discusses ‘Apprentice’ Reboot—With Don Jr. as a Potential Host https://t.co/1zOZrAxqxl
Stop California's Unconstitutional Social Media Ban Harming Privacy
We can’t let California lead the U.S. into an unconstitutional social media ban that destroys privacy and harms youth. https://t.co/zEYjOY57im
Netflix Goes Vertical
Netflix has added a vertical‑video feature called “Clips” to its mobile app, delivering a scrolling feed of short, personalized excerpts from its series and movies. Users can tap a clip to add the full title to their My List or...
Meta Q1 2026: 33% Ad Revenue Surge, New MCP Support
Meta Q1 2026 earnings: 33% ad revenue growth, MCP support for ad buying agents https://t.co/50uwbFSTVE
First-Time TV Series View Is Premium Inventory
Many fans don’t watch TV series when they are first available, soAMC Global Networks has suggested to advertisers that the first view of a series is worth more, and should be seen as a premium piece of inventory — even...
Lemme Say This
In this 4‑minute episode of Lemme Say This, the hosts dissect three hot pop‑culture moments: the most epic celebrity apology delivered via a notes app, the surprising ways some stars are actually thriving post‑breakup, and the moment a devoted fan...
AMC Shifts From Prestige Dramas to Sports Programming
AMC Global Media is known for high-level dramas such as “Mad Men,” “Dark Winds” and “Better Call Saul.” Now the peak-TV purveyor thinks it can make a scene by playing sports.... https://t.co/7AjcbSe4FC