Honey, We Shrunk the Screen: Hollywood’s Vertical Video Strategy Is Dead Wrong
Hollywood’s push to reformat movies and series for vertical, short‑form platforms is faltering as data shows limited audience engagement. While TikTok and Instagram Reels have amassed billions of daily views, the content’s snackable nature clashes with traditional narrative structures. Meta’s recent earnings reveal Reels now generates higher ad CPMs, yet advertisers report diminishing returns on vertical‑only campaigns. The article argues that Hollywood’s vertical video strategy overlooks consumer fatigue and the need for compelling storytelling.
Podcast Equipment Bundle: 3 Setups (Budget → Pro)
Liam Austin’s post demystifies podcast gear by outlining three practical equipment bundles—budget ($100‑$300), mid‑tier ($500‑$1K), and professional ($2K+). Each tier lists the essential hardware, from USB microphones to broadcast‑grade mixers and acoustic treatment, and explains what audio or video issues...
ABC Renews Scrubs and Shifting Gears, Leaving R.J. Decker on the Bubble
ABC announced renewals for both the Scrubs revival and the original comedy‑drama Shifting Gears, extending each for a second season. The Scrubs reboot, which debuted in February, will now enter its 11th overall season, while Shifting Gears secures a follow‑up...
Challenge Any Public Statement, Regardless of Who Published It or When, with Aron D'Souza of Objection AI
Aron D'Souza, co‑founder of Objection AI, announced a platform that can challenge any public statement, regardless of source or timing, by leveraging the latest advances in artificial intelligence. The concept dates to a prototype he built two decades ago for...
Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa Live Stream, TV Channel – Where to Watch Europa League on Tv Today
Nottingham Forest host Aston Villa in the Europa League semi‑final first leg on 30 April 2026, kicking off at 20:00 BST. The match will be broadcast in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Both clubs boast historic European pedigrees, making this...
Canzano: Pac-12 Aims to Bring Games to Fans
The Pac‑12 is preparing a direct‑to‑consumer streaming platform to launch in 2026, marking its fourth and final media‑rights arrangement. The conference has not yet promoted the service or opened subscriptions, despite a July 1 relaunch and upcoming competition schedule. A new...
SAG-AFTRA Launches The “I Am An Actor: A SAG-AFTRA Podcast”
SAG-AFTRA has launched “I Am An Actor,” a weekly podcast that extends its celebrated Actor Awards tradition into the audio space. Hosted by showrunner Jon Brockett and actress Jamie Chung, each 40‑60 minute episode features a single guest who shares their...
How News Organizations Can Ethically Use AI, According to an Auditor Offering Ethical AI Certification
The Alliance for Audited Media (AAM) has introduced a free ethical AI certification for its member news publishers, aiming to assure advertisers and readers that AI is used responsibly. The certification requires documented policies, clear disclosures, human oversight, rights clearance,...
EXCLUSIVE: FRIENDS CAST FURIOUS AFTER LISA KUDROW REVEALS HOW MUCH THEY STILL MAKE — “SHE PUT A TARGET ON ALL...
Lisa Kudrow publicly disclosed that she and her former Friends co‑stars each receive roughly $20 million a year in residuals, a figure that has shocked the cast after two decades of silence. Insiders say the revelation violated an unwritten rule against discussing...
Adthena Launches Free “AdBridge” Tool Letting Advertisers Migrate Google Ads Campaigns Into ChatGPT Ads
Adthena, a paid‑search intelligence firm, introduced AdBridge, a free tool that migrates Google Ads campaigns into the emerging ChatGPT Ads format. The platform automatically generates keyword lists, negative keywords and competitive insights ready for use on ChatGPT’s ad service. Several...
Kyle Brandt on His ESPN Draft Reunion with Peter Schrager: ‘It Was Like Andy and Red on the Beach’
Kyle Brandt, former NFL Network morning‑show co‑host, leveraged the NFL Network‑ESPN merger to secure a Day 3 spot on ESPN’s 2026 draft coverage. He and Peter Schrager reunited on‑air for an unscripted interview with Rams coach Sean McVay, who explained his muted...
What if YouTube Opened Up Its Ad Inventory?
YouTube’s ad inventory is currently locked behind Google’s DV360 exchange, a restriction that dates back to Google’s 2015 shutdown of third‑party platforms like TubeMogul. The Department of Justice’s recent antitrust ruling against Google has revived speculation that the company could...
DAZN’s ViewLift Move Sets up High-Stakes Battle for Local Rights
DAZN announced a merger with ViewLift, the technology platform behind several U.S. regional sports networks such as Altitude Sports and NESN. The integration gives DAZN the ability to offer teams optional direct‑to‑consumer streaming services or exclusive local‑rights deals paying $8 million...
Thunder Road: AMC Greenlights NASCAR Drama Series Starring Dennis Quaid
AMC has greenlit "Thunder Road," a NASCAR‑themed drama starring Dennis Quaid as racing legend Duane Whitlock. The series follows the multi‑generational Whitlock family, whose roots trace back to moonshine runs and dirt‑track origins. Production is set to begin in summer...
Lovesick: Netflix Gives Claire Danes Drama a Straight-to-Series Order
Netflix has given a straight‑to‑series order for "Lovesick," a drama created by Sarah Treem and starring Claire Danes as a breast‑cancer surgeon who receives her own diagnosis. The series will explore intertwined lives of a surgeon and a rising politician,...
Why I (Eventually) Turned Down Polymarket
The author of House of Strauss turned down a $20,000 advertising deal with Polymarket, a prediction‑market platform partnered with Substack. While the offer was financially appealing, the decision was driven by concerns that the partnership would restrict discussion of sports‑related...
Amid a Worldwide Surge of Authoritarianism, the U.S. Falls Again in Press-Freedom Rankings
The 2026 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders places the United States at 64th out of 180 nations, slipping behind Botswana and ahead of Panama. The decline is attributed to concentrated media ownership, a collapsing local‑news ecosystem,...
Herman Yau’s “We’re Nothing at All” Secures UK-Ireland Distribution with Trinity CineAsia
Trinity CineAsia has acquired UK‑Ireland distribution rights for Herman Yau’s new social drama “We’re Nothing at All,” produced by Yau’s own Plan Company and fully self‑financed. The film opened in Hong Kong on April 3, won the Audience Choice Award at...
Roblox, Social Media, and the Future of AI Integration
Social media giants are pouring billions into generative AI, from Meta’s satellite‑solar server project and Instagram video edits to Snap’s AI‑driven interactive ads and X’s Grok integration. While these add flashy layers, overreliance risks eroding feed authenticity and user trust....
WHCD, the Media, and Covering Trump (with Ben Smith)
Former BuzzFeed News editor Ben Smith joins Preet Bharara on the Stay Tuned podcast to dissect the media’s handling of President Trump, the tension between objectivity and narrative, and the rise of AI in news gathering. Smith argues that early...
Are Audiobooks the Future of Publishing?
Audiobook sales have outpaced digital e‑books since 2024 and are projected to become a $13 billion industry with over a billion users by 2030, according to the Audio Publishers Association. Print still commands roughly 70% of total book revenue, but the...
John Higgins v Shaun Murphy Live Stream, TV Channel – Where to Watch Semi Final on Tv Today
John Higgins and Shaun Murphy will meet in the World Snooker Championship semi‑final on April 30, 2026, with live coverage on BBC 1 and BBC iPlayer at 13:00 BST. Higgins reaches his 12th Crucible semi‑final after dramatic comebacks over Ronnie O’Sullivan and...
The Brut. Channel Arrives on Major Telecom Operators and Connected TVs
Brut. has launched a dedicated 24/7 lifestyle channel after striking a distribution deal with CMA Media Group. The channel rolls out across major telecom operators—including Comcast Xfinity, AT&T TV, and Verizon Fios—and on connected‑TV platforms such as Roku, Amazon Fire...
Why Snap Launched Their AI Ad Format With a Credit Bureau
Snap introduced an AI‑powered ad format that embeds branded chat agents directly into its Chat tab, debuting with credit‑bureau Experian. The promoted snaps appear as labeled ads; users tap to ask the Experian bot about scores, loans, or credit‑card options....
Write Press Releases That Generate Real Media
In a Duct Tape Marketing podcast, Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases, argues that press releases are far from obsolete, especially for small businesses seeking earned media. He cites that 97% of releases never generate a journalist‑written article, while the successful...
Why the Upfront Is Finally, Actually, Really Broken. (But Still Functions.)
The blog argues that the traditional Nielsen‑driven measurement system that anchored the TV Upfront is disappearing, replaced by a patchwork of competing metrics. This fragmentation creates multiple “currencies,” higher operational costs for sellers, and a pricing reset that erodes differentiation....
DCN’s Media Industry Must Reads: Week of April 30, 2026
Digital Content Next (DCN) curated a weekly roundup of the most compelling media‑industry stories for the week of April 30, 2026. The list highlights former FCC officials urging a halt to Chairman Brendan Carr’s agenda, streaming platforms’ experiments with vertical video, a...
Interview: Anna-Sophia Lumpe • President, German Voice Over Artists’ Association (VDS) - “I Have the Feeling that We Find Ourselves...
German voice‑over artists, led by the Verband Deutscher Sprecher:innen (VDS), have staged a boycott of Netflix after the streaming giant added an AI‑training clause to its contracts in early 2026. The clause would allow Netflix to use recorded voices for...
Let Me Be Your Mirror: On Fear and Filmmaking
Victoria Miller, a New York‑based commercial producer, uses a Substack takeover to explore how fear shapes every stage of a filmmaking career. She breaks down five common fears—equipment, uncertain career paths, being seen, operational oversights, and the industry’s future—and shows...
How to Automate a Newsletter With AI (Anyone Can Do It)
A new guide demonstrates how to automate a news‑style newsletter using a single AI prompt, eliminating the need for complex n8n workflows or multiple APIs. By leveraging grounded web search from You.com’s Research API inside Claude and ChatGPT, the solution...
Viaplay Extends Exclusive UEFA Rights Contracts in Denmark, Norway and Finland
Viaplay Group has renewed its exclusive UEFA Champions League rights in Denmark and its Europa and Conference League rights in Norway and Finland for a four‑year term ending in 2031, preserving a partnership that dates back to 1992. The extension...
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...
"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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
“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...
Best Times to Post Social Media Content on 7 Platforms
The article outlines optimal posting windows for seven major social platforms—Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Pinterest—based on aggregated data from Sprout Social, Buffer, and Later. It highlights weekday mornings and evenings as peak engagement periods, while weekends generally...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...