Digest: Ad Companies in Boycott Settlement Talks with FTC; Court Orders Meta to Face Youth Addiction Suit; YouTube Raises Premium...
The FTC is in settlement talks with major ad agencies over a probe into coordinated boycotts of platforms like X, proposing rules that would prevent steering spend based on political content. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has allowed a youth‑addiction lawsuit against Meta to proceed, focusing on platform design rather than user‑generated content. In a separate move, YouTube announced its first Premium price increase since 2022, raising individual plans to $15.99 and family plans to $26.99 per month. These developments signal heightened regulatory and market pressure across the digital advertising and media landscape.
Jon Stewart Slams Trump for Claiming Jesus Photo Is Him as a Doctor: ‘We Expect Better Lies, Sir’
Jon Stewart used his late‑night platform to lampoon former President Donald Trump after Trump posted an AI‑generated image of himself as Jesus and later claimed it showed him as a doctor. Stewart highlighted Trump’s ongoing pattern of falsehoods, including attacks...
OpenAI Launches Everyday Superheroes Campaign During IPL in India
OpenAI has launched the “Everyday Superheroes” campaign in India, timed with the IPL and running from 13 April to 31 May across more than 150 TV channels and 25 digital platforms in nine languages. The initiative partners with five IPL franchises, introduces...
Synamedia Targets Gen Z with Launch of GO Shorts
Synamedia unveiled GO Shorts, an AI‑driven short‑form module for its Go OTT platform, letting operators repackage existing libraries into personalized micro‑clips for Gen Z viewers. The technology identifies relevant snippets based on individual behavior and lets users jump to the full‑length...
What the Ad Industry’s AI Disclosure Problem Means for Affiliates
A 2025 NYU Stern‑Emory study found fully AI‑generated ads boost click‑through rates by up to 19%, but labeling them as AI‑generated cuts CTR by roughly 31.5%. The paradox puts affiliates in a bind because their revenue hinges on clicks, unlike...
Inside the Surge of Indie Media Wins
AI‑enabled tools are letting independent media agencies punch far above their size, with a 20‑person shop delivering output comparable to a double‑sized operation. Over the past year indie firms in Australia and New Zealand have seized 64% of new‑business pitches, exemplified...
Airdate: Rafa
Netflix will debut "Rafa," a four‑episode documentary on tennis legend Rafael Nadal, on May 29. The series blends never‑seen archival footage with exclusive interviews from Nadal’s family, inner circle, and rivals like Federer, Djokovic and McEnroe, focusing on his final...
How Faversham House Transformed From Traditional B2B Publisher to Digital and Events Powerhouse
Faversham House, a UK B2B media group, has completed a decade‑long shift from a print‑centric publisher to a digital‑first, events‑driven business, printing its final magazine in early 2023. CEO Amanda Barnes unified editorial and events teams to form a brand...
ATime&Place Launches Digital Experience & Entertainment Practice (DEEP) to Transform How Brands Connect with Gen Z and Gen Alpha
Independent agency ATime&Place has unveiled its Digital Experience & Entertainment Practice (DEEP), a new division that blends creative, product, and technology services to build brand‑owned entertainment, digital products, and gaming experiences. The move targets Gen Z and Gen Alpha, whose combined spending...
“Screens Are Everywhere. Radio Must Be Visual”
The latest In‑Vehicle Visuals Report from Quu Inc. shows that 68% of the 100 best‑selling new U.S. cars now sport multiple screens, extending beyond the central dash to driver, passenger, and rear‑seat displays. While FM and AM radio remain installed...
MrBeast Is so Big, Beast Industries Turns Down Eight-Figure Brand Deals if They Aren’t the Right Fit
Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson’s Beast Industries has become a magnet for Fortune 1000 CMOs, leveraging a billion‑plus viewership to command multi‑year, category‑exclusive brand deals. Under CEO Jeff Housenbold, the company now fields a 25‑person partnership team and routinely rejects eight‑figure offers that...
Inside The Trade Desk’s Programmatic Power Struggle
The Trade Desk, the world’s largest independent demand‑side platform, is under fire as major agencies Dentsu, WPP and Publicis pull spend from its OpenPath marketplace over transparency concerns. The DSP is also revising payment terms for identity data providers while...
Can Nutella Keep Its Viral Cosmic Moment in Orbit?
Nutella’s jar briefly floated on a NASA livestream, sparking a viral surge that amassed millions of engagements across platforms. The unplanned, absurd juxtaposition of a familiar spread with a high‑tech space mission resonated as an authentic cultural signal rather than...
Supernatural Reunion: Jensen Ackles And Jared Padalecki Help The Rookie Hunt Demons
ABC’s procedural *The Rookie* aired a documentary‑style episode featuring *Supernatural* stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles playing themselves as expert demon‑hunters. The plot follows rookie officer Nolan investigating the suicide of former LAPD officer Rich, who was obsessed with demons...
CIA Recap: FBI's Maggie And Isobel Help Track A Bomb Suspect In High-Stakes Crossover Case
The latest "CIA" episode teams up with "FBI" stars Missy Peregrym and Alana De La Garza for a high‑stakes crossover. A bomb threat at an international soccer match turns out to be a fake, leading agents to uncover a North Korean black‑ops unit (Unit 124)...
Nollywood Needs to Get on the Microdrama Train Now
Microdramas are exploding worldwide, with China’s revenue soaring from $500 million in 2021 to $7 billion in 2024 and global earnings projected at $9.5 billion by 2030. The United States alone generated $800 million in 2024, while Nigeria’s Nollywood cinema made a modest $10 million...
MAFS Ends 2026 Season, Idol, Survivor Lift.
Monday’s broadcast night underscored the strength of Australian reality TV, with Married at First Sight (MAFS) closing its 2026 season at 1.95 million viewers, a rise from the previous year. Australian Idol’s Grand Finale attracted a season‑high 951,000 viewers, while Australian...
Streaming Viewers Are OK with Double the Commercials as ‘Subscription Fatigue’ Sets In
A new MarketWatch survey finds that as streaming subscription fees climb, more viewers are willing to watch twice as many commercials in exchange for lower prices. The trend, labeled “subscription fatigue,” shows consumers prioritizing cost savings over ad‑free experiences. Respondents...
OPPO Rolls Out New F33 Series Campaign Featuring Indian Cricket Star KL Rahul
OPPO India unveiled its new F33 Series with the "Zindagi Ka Frame Wide Karo" campaign, starring cricket star KL Rahul and creator Satish Ray. The film shows a mountain trek that turns into spontaneous selfies, highlighting the phone’s wide‑angle front camera...
NAB Blasts CTA in FCC Sports Probe Comments
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) filed comments with the FCC urging policies that keep major sports on free‑to‑air broadcast TV, arguing that streaming services raise costs and fragment access. NAB criticized the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) for defending the...
Australian Retirement Trust’s ‘Awaken Your Super’ Tops Cubery Hot List for Q1 2026
Australian Retirement Trust’s ‘Awaken Your Super’ campaign, created by M + C Saatchi, topped Cubell’s Q1 2026 Hot List, which ranks ads based on consumer recall. The ad outperformed Telstra’s ‘Wherever We Go’ (second) and Allianz’s ‘Flight of the Finch’ (third). Cubell also launched...
A New Study Shows Cord Cutters Are Cutting Back on How Much They Pay For TV
Americans are tightening entertainment budgets, with more than 40% of surveyed households cutting back on streaming subscriptions due to financial pressure. At the same time, three‑quarters of respondents express irritation over frequent price hikes from major platforms. Cord‑cutters now average...
Patients’ Pops
In May 1961 a Hull community club sought permission to launch a half‑hour radio program on alternate Sunday nights, targeting hospital patients. The club secured free use of recordings from major record labels and copyright clearance, then pursued landline access...
David Ellison’s Nightmare: A-List Coalition Unites to Kill the AU$156B Warner Merger
Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison, is pursuing a US$111 billion (AU$156 billion) acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, the largest media merger in Hollywood history. More than 1,000 actors, directors and writers have signed an open letter on BlocktheMerger.com demanding the deal...
Carriage
Allen Media Group’s free streaming service Local Now has expanded its channel lineup by adding seven Scripps networks, including Ion, Ion Mystery, Ion Plus, Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More, and the newly launched Scripps Sports Network. The service, which...
BFI Invests £9.25 Million to Support UK-Wide Screen Culture for Audiences
The British Film Institute (BFI) is allocating £9.25 million (≈$11.8 M) from its National Lottery Audience Projects Fund for 2026‑2029 to back 23 film and immersive projects across the UK. The awards cover 10 venues, nine festivals and several sector‑facing initiatives, aiming...
Netflix Adds More Soccer
Netflix has signed a four‑year agreement to become the exclusive broadcaster of the CONCACAF Nations League Finals and Gold Cup in Mexico, covering the 2027 and 2029 editions of both tournaments. The deal expands Netflix’s live‑sports footprint beyond its U.S....
People
Josh Oshinsky has been hired by ESPN as Senior Director of Original Content Development. In his new role, he will guide multiplatform storytelling across flagship properties such as the "30 for 30" documentary series, ESPN Films, podcasts, and scripted projects....
ACAM Warns Marketers as AI Drives Surge in Zero-Click Search
Australian Centre for AI in Marketing (ACAM) warns that AI‑generated answers are causing a surge in zero‑click searches, with more than 70% of Google queries in Australia yielding no click‑through by early 2026. When AI summaries appear, click‑through falls to...
This Forgotten '90s Sci-Fi Show With A Spooky Premise Has Major Stranger Things Vibes
"Eerie, Indiana" premiered on NBC in September 1991 as a half‑hour sci‑fi/horror series about newcomer Marshall Teller uncovering bizarre phenomena in a quirky town. Created by José Rivera and Karl Schaefer, the show featured a rotating roster of directors including...
Media Editor Natasha Lee Moonlights on ‘Media Tarts’ Podcast
Mediaweek editor Natasha Lee has joined creative entrepreneur Wade Kingsley as co‑host of the new "Media Tarts" podcast, a Friday‑afternoon show that blends casual conversation with industry analysis. The format features the hosts sipping drinks, dissecting the week’s media news,...
Deltatre Delivers Digital Platform for Serie A
Deltatre has completed a four‑season direct‑to‑fan website and app for Italy’s Serie A, delivering a bilingual hub for the league’s championships, cups and youth competitions. The platform runs on Deltatre FORGE and integrates a video player plus an AI‑driven search that surfaces...
Bizaar Studios Expands FAST Channel to Prime Video
Bizaar Studios announced that its ad‑supported FAST Channel for adult animation is now available on Prime Video in the United States and Canada. The channel, previously carried on Samsung TV Plus, Xumo Play, Plex and Hisense, launched in early 2025 with hundreds of...
The 'Burbs Renewed For Season 2 At Peacock
Peacock has ordered a second season of “The ’Burbs,” the Keke Palmer‑led comedy‑mystery that reimagines the 1989 Tom Hanks film. Season 1, consisting of eight episodes, premiered in February and was released all at once, receiving strong audience reception. The show...
Sydney Sweeney’s Naked Baby Euphoria Scene Called ‘Disgusting’ & ‘Gross’ as the Show’s Creator Defends Her OnlyFans Storyline
Season 3 of HBO’s "Euphoria" sparked a fresh controversy when Cassie, played by Sydney Sweeney, appears in an OnlyFans‑style scene dressed as a baby and a puppy. Viewers slammed the sequence as "gross" and "disgusting," arguing it normalizes pedophilic‑leaning kinks. Creator Sam...
The FAA’s “Temporary” Flight Restriction For Drones Is A Blatant Attempt To Criminalize Filming ICE
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a 21‑month nationwide temporary flight restriction that bars any drone from flying within 3,000 feet of ICE or Customs and Border Protection vehicles. The rule, effective Jan. 16, 2026, carries criminal penalties and allows drones to be...
Sinclair’s WTOV Taps Brightline for Lighting Upgrade
Sinclair Broadcasting’s WTOV in Bridgeville, Pa., has overhauled its studio with a digitally enhanced set featuring three distinct LED‑driven environments, including a green‑screen area and interactive LED walls positioned at a 90‑degree angle. Assistant director Eric Castagne led the design,...
Angel, StudioCanal and Sony Pictures Classics Urge Theaters to Broaden Their Horizons at CinemaCon
Cinema United invited three non‑mainstream distributors—Angel, StudioCanal and Sony Pictures Classics—to CinemaCon to pitch their upcoming titles to independent exhibitors. The presenters highlighted a mix of faith‑based expansions, European genre reboots and recent Sundance acquisitions, signaling a push beyond Hollywood’s...
CBA Honors Top Radio Stations in Colorado
The Colorado Broadcasters Association hosted its Awards of Excellence Gala in Denver, drawing roughly 400 industry leaders. A record 1,013 entries were submitted, with 546 from radio stations, and the event honored top performers across four market categories. Small‑market KBVC,...
Hollywood Is Making yet Another Roblox Movie Adaptation
Disney‑owned 20th Century Studios announced plans to adapt the Roblox horror hit *99 Nights in the Forest* into a live‑action feature film, marking its first game adaptation and the fourth Roblox title pursued by Hollywood. The game, launched in June 2025, has amassed 26 billion lifetime visits and...
'The Wall Street Journal' Trumps Trump In Defamation Case-Pending Appeal
A federal judge dismissed former President Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, finding no evidence of actual malice in the paper’s reporting on a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump’s media arm, Trump Media & Technology Group,...
NAB Makes Its Case to Gomez Advisors
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) met with Commissioner Anna Gomez’s staff on April 9 to argue for eliminating FCC market caps on radio ownership. NAB highlighted that AM/FM’s share of listening time has dropped to 32%—a 40% decline since 2014—and...
This Hit '80s Friday The 13th Series Had Nothing To Do With The Movies
Friday the 13th: The Series, a 1987 syndicated horror show, centered on cursed antiques rather than the Jason Voorhees slasher mythos. Created by Frank Mancuso Jr. and Larry B. Williams, the series followed a niece, her cousin and an uncle’s...
The Netflix 'Little House On The Prairie' Teaser Just Dropped & It's *So* Wholesome
Netflix announced a new adaptation of *Little House on the Prairie* that will launch on July 9, 2026. The series stars Luke Bracey as Charles Ingalls and Crosby Fitzgerald as Caroline Ingalls, shifting focus from the 1980s TV remake to Laura...
YouTube Viewers Can Now Work Together to Stop Ads From Playing
YouTube announced that livestream ads will be held back when live‑chat engagement spikes, letting viewers collectively prevent interruptions. Donors using Super Chat, Super Stickers or gifts receive a personal ad‑free window, while the platform expands its Gifts feature to six new countries....
Joe Rogan Shuts Down Claims that Podcasts Are “Antiquated” Compared to Streamers Like Clavicular
On episode 2,481 of The Joe Rogan Experience, host Joe Rogan rebuffed claims that podcasts are outdated compared to video‑streaming stars like Clavicular. Guest Duncan Trussell suggested the younger audience prefers continuous live streams, citing Clavicular’s viral looks‑maxxing content. Rogan...
AT&T Spent a Month Inside March Madness. Was It Worth It?
AT&T devoted an entire month to the NCAA March Madness tournament, rolling out a multi‑channel campaign that included athlete‑led TV spots, ownership of the CBS Bracket Manager, a Vegas Sphere sponsorship, and on‑site activations in Indianapolis. The championship game attracted...
Reddit Expands Reminder Ads Globally
Reddit has rolled out its Reminder Ads feature to every advertiser on the platform, allowing brands worldwide to add a “Remind Me” button to their campaigns. When users tap the CTA, they receive two push notifications—one day before and one...
NewsNation to Simulcast Nexstar’s California Gubernatorial Debate
NewsNation announced it will simulcast the California gubernatorial debate on April 22, airing at 7 p.m. Pacific (10 p.m. Eastern). The debate, produced by KRON in San Francisco, will be distributed across Nexstar‑owned stations in Sacramento, San Diego, Los Angeles, Bakersfield and Fresno,...
Rohan Dennis Complains of Media Harassment and 'False Narrative' After Melissa Hoskins' Death in 2023
Former world‑time‑trial champion Rohan Dennis, who pleaded guilty to an aggravated charge after his wife Melissa Hoskins died in a car crash he drove on Dec 30 2023, says journalists fabricated a false narrative. He received a 17‑month suspended sentence, a $100...
