Axel Springer Buys B2B Real Estate Media Co. Bisnow: Exclusive
Axel Springer announced the acquisition of Bisnow, a B2B commercial‑real‑estate media and events firm, and created a new Brew Media Group to oversee the deal. The unit will be led by Robert Dippell, CEO of Morning Brew, while Bisnow and Morning Brew remain separate operating companies. Bisnow hosts over 400 events a year and generated roughly $40 million in revenue, with events accounting for three‑quarters of earnings. The move signals Axel Springer’s push to expand beyond traditional digital publishing into profitable events and diversified media assets.
On the Latest ‘Beat the Press,’ We Look at War Coverage, a Trump-Friendly Media Monopoly, AI and More
Emily Rooney’s new “Beat the Press” episode scrutinizes media coverage of the Iran war, examines the implications of Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery that could place CNN under Trump‑friendly Ellison brothers, and discusses Bari Weiss’s loss of a Jeffrey...
Ad Tech Dominance Defines Market Power and Pricing
Digital advertising revenue is funneled through a handful of ad‑tech intermediaries that design auctions and control data flows. New research by Moradi, Cheyre and Acquisti shows that behavioral tracking often reinforces the market power of these firms, with dominant players...
No One Owns a Story
A veteran photojournalist reflects on the hidden hierarchy of the industry, where stories are treated as property and editorial dependence fuels competition. He recounts personal experiences of access denial, financial arrangements that blur ethical lines, and double standards that protect...
Apple TV Cancels Palm Royale After Two Seasons
Apple TV+ has cancelled the Emmy‑nominated period dramedy Palm Royale after two seasons. The series, led by Kristen Wiig, concluded its second‑season finale on January 14, 2026, but will not return for a third. Despite critical praise, the show failed...
Thursday TV Ratings: Grey’s Anatomy, Going Dutch, Ghosts, Trivial Pursuit, Law & Order
Thursday, February 26, 2026, saw a packed lineup of 18 new episodes spanning ABC, NBC, CBS and other major networks, including Grey’s Anatomy, Law & Order SVU, and the reality series Going Dutch. Ratings were reported using Fast Affiliate Numbers, offering near‑real‑time...
4 Documentary Filmmaking Skills That Apply to Journalism
The article highlights how documentary filmmaking techniques are reshaping modern journalism. It outlines four transferable skills—visual storytelling, three‑act narrative structure, rigorous pre‑production research, and treating interviews as character studies. By adopting the "show, don’t tell" mindset, journalists can turn dry...
When You Follow Someone New On Social Media, Post About It
The article advises users to announce new follows on social media using a short, shareable post. By tagging the person and explaining why they’re worth following, you increase the chance they’ll notice and possibly follow back. The practice also encourages...
Shop the Look. Don't Ignore the Creator.
Instagram is piloting a "Shop the Look" feature that automatically adds AI‑generated product recommendations to creators' posts without their knowledge. The rollout is invisible in creator analytics, stripping them of control over which items are promoted. With 58% of consumers...
Audiomack Is Where Fandom Becomes Fun, Active, and Social
Audiomack’s built‑in remix tool, Audiomod, has generated over 260 million fan‑made plays from 30 million users since its February 2024 launch, marking a 23 % year‑over‑year increase. The feature lets listeners edit tracks—speed, pitch, presets—and share creations without external software, turning passive streaming into...
ICYMI: February’s Biggest Headlines + Bonus Insights
Lia Haberman’s February ICYMI newsletter recaps ten pivotal platform updates that are reshaping the social media landscape. It also provides the full, unedited transcript of a session on pitching speaking opportunities, a trend‑watch feature highlighting brands that dominate Threads comments,...
I Watched Fox Cover the Iran War. It Was Straighter than I Had Expected — but Woefully Incomplete.
Fox News' 8 p.m. Sunday broadcast, hosted by Will Caine, presented a relatively straightforward newscast on the Trump‑ordered strike against Iran after the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei. The hour featured retired Gen. David Petreaus, Lt. Col. Allen West, and Iranian exile...
Current Most Popular Novel Comps
The author surveyed the most‑comped novels from January‑February 2026 deals on Publishers Marketplace, noting how these titles differ from earlier 2025 favorites. The list serves as a benchmark for writers seeking effective comparative titles when querying agents. The piece also...
The High Cost of the "Digital Existence Tax"
The author details a personal "digital existence tax" of roughly £7,600 annually, equivalent to £633 per month, covering storage, communications, web hosting, security, AI tools, legacy services, and Stripe fees. AI‑related expenses have surged from £8 per month in 2021...
PGA of America, NBC Sports and USA Sports Extend Media Rights Agreement Through 2033
The PGA of America, NBC Sports and USA Sports have renewed their media‑rights agreement through 2033. The extension secures broadcast of the Ryder Cup, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Senior PGA Championship and PGA Professional Championship on NBC, Peacock, USA Network...
Marshalls: Season One Ratings + Viewer Votes
CBS debuted *Marshals*, a neo‑Western spin‑off of *Yellowstone*, starring Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton. The show’s first‑season Nielsen ratings—live, same‑day and DVR—are being tracked to gauge its renewal prospects. Viewer‑generated votes currently average 9.30 from six participants, reflecting early fan...
Watson: Season Two Ratings + Viewer Votes
CBS’s medical‑mystery drama *Watson* completed its second season after moving from a post‑AFC championship slot to Monday nights. Season 2 posted a 0.37 rating in the coveted 18‑49 demographic, matching its first‑season average of 5.16 million viewers. Fan‑submitted votes totalled 278, yielding...
Chris Berman on NFL Owning 10% of ESPN: ‘I’d Be Shocked if It Was Any Dictation of that Way’
The NFL secured a ten‑percent equity stake in ESPN as part of a 2025 deal that gave the network control of the NFL Network, RedZone and fantasy assets. Regulators approved the transaction in roughly six months, accelerating integration ahead of...
Paramount Skydance to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in a $110 Billion Deal
Paramount Skydance Corp. announced a $110 billion agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, offering $31 per share—a 10.05% premium. The transaction is financed by $47 billion in equity backed by the Ellison family and RedBird Capital, plus $54 billion of new debt from...
Bari Apparent & Politico Animals
David Ellison is poised to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery after Netflix abandoned its bid, positioning the Ellison family as the leading suitor. The prospective takeover, tied to a pending Paramount‑Skydance merger, still requires regulatory clearance. Analysts warn that the deal could trigger...
Wednesday TV Ratings: Scrubs, Survivor, Fear Factor: House of Fear, Police 24/7, The Voice
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, TV ratings show a mixed slate of new episodes and reruns across major broadcast networks. New episodes aired for Scrubs, Survivor, Fear Factor: House of Fear, Police 24/7, The Masked Singer and The Greatest Average American, while...
Chicago Nightclub Operator Unable to Stream WWE Elimination Chamber PPV Event
WWE has prohibited any venue within a 50‑mile radius of Chicago’s United Center from streaming the Elimination Chamber pay‑per‑view, effectively shutting down watch parties at nightclubs like the Admiral Theatre. The move is intended to force fans to purchase higher‑priced...
Why ‘Flooding the Zone’ Works for Trump
Trump’s “flooding the zone” tactic involves saturating the media with crisis‑driven narratives to force political opponents onto the defensive. In the week of Jan. 11‑18, 2026, an ICE agent’s fatal shooting sparked nationwide protests, a federal judge halted ICE arrests, and...
How Skittle Media, an Unexpected Events Company, Is Using Video to Stand Out in Its Niche
Skittle Media, founded in 2024 by Richard and Clare Springham, has carved a profitable niche in pharma‑focused B2B media by concentrating exclusively on paid advertising. The company’s flagship brand, Solli, delivers daily news, thought leadership and on‑demand professional‑development lessons, attracting...
"Survivor 50" Premiere Wins the Night Posting CBS' Most-Watched Wednesday Since 2022
CBS reported that the "Survivor 50" premiere on February 25, 2026 attracted an average 5.06 million viewers, making it the network’s most‑watched Wednesday night since 2022. The episode outperformed NBC by 81 % and peaked at 6.18 million viewers, retaining at least 90 % of its audience...
Part 2: How to Pitch Yourself for Speaking Opportunities
The article compiles actionable advice from top conference programmers and seasoned speakers on how to secure speaking slots. Interviews with SXSW, Cannes LIONS, and VidCon directors reveal what they prioritize in emerging talent, while a first‑time SXSW speaker and corporate...
Bandcamp Expands Publishing Tools to Ensure Songwriters Get Paid
Bandcamp has introduced dedicated publishing‑rights fields on its track and album upload pages, allowing artists to enter songwriter, publisher and ISWC information. The platform also offers bulk‑edit tools for retrofitting existing catalogs and a free guide to navigate collection societies....
The Huntington News, Northeastern’s Independent Student Paper, Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary
The Huntington News, Northeastern University’s independent student newspaper, is marking its 100th anniversary. Founded in 1926 as The Northeastern News after merging two campus papers, it broke from university funding and rebranded in 2008. Today the outlet operates mainly online,...
Fox Sports App Launches AI Version of Colin Cowherd
Fox Sports has introduced an AI-powered version of its flagship host Colin Cowherd within the Fox Sports mobile app. The digital persona, built from years of Cowherd’s broadcast audio, can answer user sports queries in his distinctive cadence and style....
“Wonder Man” Debuts On The Nielsen Streaming Charts
Nielsen’s latest U.S. streaming charts covering Jan 26 2025‑Feb 1 2026 highlight Marvel’s new Disney+ series “Wonder Man” entering the Top 10 Originals at #8 with 618 K minutes viewed. The data underscores Disney’s dominance on the Acquired chart, where legacy titles like Grey’s Anatomy, Bluey and...
Peacock to Exclusively Stream Focus Features' "Hamnet" Beginning March 6
Peacock will stream the award‑winning drama Hamnet exclusively starting March 6, 2026. Directed by two‑time Oscar winner Chloé Zhao, the film adapts Maggie O'Farrell's bestseller and has earned a 93 % Rotten Tomatoes rating. It already secured two Golden Globe wins and...
News: Discovery Global, Paramount, Atlanta Braves and More
Warner Bros. Discovery will abandon the planned Discovery Global spinoff if its pending merger with Paramount is finalized, keeping TNT Sports under the combined umbrella with CBS Sports. Paramount, after raising its offer to $31 per share, reaffirmed confidence in...
Tuesday TV Ratings 2/24/26: State of the Union Down Significantly From 2025 as Fox News Narrowly Tops Coverage, Will Trent...
The 2026 State of the Union broadcast saw a sharp drop in ratings, posting a 0.80 18‑49 rating on ABC, down from 2025 levels. Fox News narrowly led cable coverage with a 0.81 rating and 8.87 million viewers, edging out CNN....
Tuesday TV Ratings: Will Trent, Best Medicine, NCIS, St. Denis Medical, WWE NXT
Tuesday’s TV ratings show new episodes of ABC’s “Will Trent” and “Best Medicine” leading original programming performance. Both shows posted percentage changes compared with their prior episodes, while reruns of “NCIS” and “St. Denis Medical” filled the schedule. News specials covering the State of...
Tube Trends: MrBeast Uses Giveaways To Hit New Highs
Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, has leveraged giveaway‑centric videos to set new viewership records on YouTube. In the past 90 days his "Subscribe For An iPhone" clip topped U.S. charts with over a billion views, while a holiday $100K giveaway...
FCC Chair Unfiltered: Protecting Local News, Sports on Broadcast TV and May Sue a Network
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced a new enforcement push to preserve local news and sports programming on broadcast television. He warned that any network failing to meet public‑interest obligations could be sued under the Communications Act. Carr emphasized the FCC’s...
USA Today Co. Reports Drop in FY 2025 Revenue; Expects Flat to Down 2026
USA Today Co. posted a fourth‑quarter revenue of $585 million, a 5.8% year‑over‑year decline, and its full‑year 2025 revenue fell to $2.3 billion. Digital‑only subscriptions plunged 30% to 1.37 million, while average monthly unique visitors slipped 11% to 179 million. The company recorded a...
The Real Battle in Premium & Social Content: Reach Vs. Activation
The U.S. hosts over 202 million adult YouTube users, 177 million on Instagram and 105 million on TikTok, creating massive ad‑supported audiences for creators. While a few, like Markiplier’s promotion of *Iron Lung*, have turned social clout into box‑office hits, most creators struggle to...
Reading Rainbow: Sony Orders 24 More Episodes of Kids’ Show Reboot
Sony has ordered 24 additional episodes of the Reading Rainbow reboot, now hosted by Mychal Threets, following a successful four‑episode digital release in 2025. The original series, led by Levar Burton, ended two decades ago, and the new shortened episodes...
DCN’s Media Industry Must Reads: Week of February 26, 2026
Digital Content Next’s weekly roundup spotlights pivotal media developments, from a U.S. judge rebuking a government search of a reporter’s home to the UK’s impending stricter regulation of Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video. It highlights publishers navigating AI‑driven marketplace deals,...
Does The Trade Desk Need to Get Acquisitive?
The Trade Desk (TTD) is feeling pressure as major agencies pull spend toward Amazon’s DSP and its own OpenPath and Kokai platforms stumble. Recent earnings missed revenue expectations, highlighting a slowdown despite the company’s $12 billion market cap and strong growth...
Influencer & Creator Networks: Partnering for Sustainable Audience Growth
Creator marketing is exploding, with U.S. ad spend projected at $37 billion in 2025 and the broader creator economy expected to hit $480 billion by 2027. Traditional publishers are scrambling to partner with influencers to stay relevant, as creator‑driven content outperforms editorial...
The Ultimate Royalties Checklist for Independent Musicians
Symphonic has released a free “Ultimate Royalties Checklist” for independent musicians, outlining the full spectrum of royalty streams—from performance and mechanical to neighboring rights and YouTube Content ID. The guide provides a step‑by‑step “before you release” roadmap, registration checklists, and...
NBC’s “Sunday Night Basketball” Stronger in Olympic-Adjacent Return
NBC’s "Sunday Night Basketball" returned alongside the Winter Olympics and posted a multi‑year high audience. The Celtics‑Lakers matchup earned a 2.5 Nielsen rating, 4.52 million viewers on NBC and 5.6 million when Telemundo and streaming data are added. This marks the largest...
Monday TV Ratings: CIA, The Voice, The Rookie, Wild Cards, Memory of a Killer
Monday, February 23, 2025 fast‑affiliate ratings were released for CBS’s Monday lineup, covering new episodes of shows such as CIA, The Voice, The Rookie, Wild Cards, and American Idol. The CIA drama showed a modest dip in viewership, sparking speculation about its renewal...
The WaPo Shiva Begins
Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner announced his support for an eleventh‑hour bid to acquire the UK broadsheet The Telegraph. He and a small group of conservative transatlantic investors are mobilizing financing for Dovid Efune, the publisher of the New York Sun, to...
Tony Dungy Reportedly ‘Out’ at NBC as Network Revamps ‘Football Night in America’
Tony Dungy is likely to exit NBC’s ‘Football Night in America’ after 17 years as the network prepares a major revamp of its NFL pre‑game show. The Athletic reports that NBC may drop Dungy’s regular analyst slot amid criticism of...
Jake Johnson to Lead NBC's P.I. Comedy Pilot / Emma Roberts to Star in Bride Wars Peacock TV Adaptation /...
Jake Johnson is set to star in NBC’s untitled private‑investigator comedy pilot, a single‑camera project from Brooklyn Nine‑Nine veterans Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici. Peacock announced a new adaptation of the 2009 rom‑com Bride Wars with Emma Roberts in the...
Buying News By Metric
The author proposes redesigning news economics by tying payments to measurable outcomes such as readership volume, enjoyment ratings, predictive value for future trends, and factual accuracy. Each metric would generate a financial incentive for providers to produce content that aligns...
Melissa McCarthy Sitcom ‘Mike & Molly’ Netflix Release Delayed To March 2026
Netflix confirmed that the complete series of *Mike & Molly* will debut in the United States on March 26, 2026, pushing back the original February 20 launch. All six seasons, totaling 127 episodes, are arriving after a brief hiatus following their removal from...