Oscar Lifts Disney But Streaming Still Owns Nearly Half The TV Set
Nielsen’s March 2026 Gauge shows streaming still commands roughly half of U.S. TV set usage, confirming its entrenched dominance. Cable viewership nudged higher, buoyed by the NCAA March Madness tournament, which lifted linear ratings by about three percent. Disney enjoyed a notable lift after the Oscars, with its ad revenue climbing double‑digits for the month. Overall, linear TV retains just over half of total viewing hours, but the balance continues to tilt toward streaming.
NEP Group Rolls Out Two New Mobile Production Units In U.S.
NEP Group announced the addition of two mobile production units, Supershooter 11 and Supershooter 65, to its U.S. fleet of more than 50 trucks. Supershooter 11, built on NEP’s Total Facility Control system, supports 1080p/HDR and will debut at the 2026 FIFA World...
Audience Engagement in the Spotlight as the Audiencers Festival Arrives in Montréal
Audiencers Festival returns June 25 in Montreal for its 12th edition, the third event held in North America. Organized by the B2B media platform Audiencers, the conference will explore how publishers can better engage, convert, and retain audiences through topics...
YouTube’s SVOD Business Is Helping Fuel the Platform’s Domination of TV, Too
YouTube’s subscription revenue now accounts for roughly one‑third of its total earnings, driven by more than 125 million paid subscribers to YouTube Music and Premium as of 2025. CEO Neal Mohan announced that YouTube TV has surpassed 10 million subscribers and introduced...
Carr: Broadcasters Face New Era Of Public Interest Accountability
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr defended the agency’s renewed scrutiny of Disney‑owned ABC stations, rejecting claims that the probe is politically driven. He tied the early license renewal order to concerns over “invidious forms of DEI discrimination,” signaling a shift toward...
Best of Show: Adventure 33 Prism
Adventure 33’s Prism captured the Radio World Best of Show award at the 2026 NAB Show. The platform is an IP‑based broadcast audio delivery ecosystem that unites dedicated hardware or virtual endpoints, a cloud‑managed portal, and a globally distributed Audio...
How Creators Fuel Brand Discoverability in the Age of AI
The rise of AI‑powered answer engines is reshaping brand discoverability, shifting the focus from traditional SEO to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Creator‑generated content now serves as the primary third‑party signal that AI models trust, delivering 33× more social volume and...
Rick Thomas Leaving Beasley Media Group Tampa On June 1
Rick Thomas, who has overseen programming for Beasley Media Group’s Tampa cluster since 2023, will leave the company on June 1. His departure comes amid a wave of exits tied to an early‑retirement program announced during Beasley’s Q1 earnings call....
NPR Offering Newsroom Buyouts to Meet Budget Goals
NPR is restructuring its newsroom to meet a $300 million annual budget after losing federal subsidies. The organization must find roughly $8 million in savings and is offering voluntary buyouts to about 300 newsroom employees, though only up to 30 will be...
Listener.com Marks First Anniversary with Launch of Campaigns 2.0, Airchecks, and Industry-First MCP Integration
Listener.com celebrates its first anniversary by unveiling Campaigns 2.0, Airchecks, and a groundbreaking MCP integration that feeds podcast data into Claude and ChatGPT. In its debut year the platform was adopted by more than 25 podcast networks, over 3,000 independent shows,...
AdWMG Launches Mobile UA Solution for App Growth Campaigns
adWMG introduced Mobile UA, a dedicated user‑acquisition solution for mobile studios and agencies. The platform taps into 1.4 trillion ad requests through adWMG’s DSP, letting advertisers run performance‑based CPI and CPA campaigns. It integrates with major mobile measurement partners for transparent...
Lance Armstrong’s THEMOVE Returns as the Definitive Tour De France Companion Podcast Through New Libsyn Partnership
Libsyn announced an exclusive partnership to host and monetize the July 2026 Tour de France episodes of Lance Armstrong’s podcast THEMOVE. The deal makes Libsyn the sole platform for daily race breakdowns, video simulcasts, and host‑read ads during the event. THEMOVE...
Walkers Hosts TikTok Gameshow to Crown New Flavour
Walkers, in partnership with creative agency Dept and parent company PepsiCo, launched a TikTok‑based gameshow to unveil its latest crisp flavour. The interactive competition invites users to create short videos, vote on flavour concepts, and ultimately crown the winning taste....
Forget the Feed: Status AI Raises $17M to Turn Social Media Into Interactive Entertainment
Status AI announced a $17 million seed and Series A round led by investors such as Abstract, General Catalyst, Union Square Ventures, Y Combinator and LightShed Partners. The startup’s app transforms social media into an immersive, AI‑driven role‑play platform where users can adopt...
Mondo Metrics Accepted Into ElevenLabs Startup Grant to Expand AI-Powered Content Analytics Across Audio and Video
Mondo Metrics has been accepted into ElevenLabs' Startup Grant program as it scales its AI‑powered analytics across podcasts, YouTube, social and streaming video. The platform indexes every second of audio and video to surface topics, voices, moments, and creative patterns...
Coleman Insights Debuts New Study on How Podcast Trailers Drive Listening Intent
Coleman Insights, together with Pantheon Media, Nova Podcasts and Earbuds Podcast Collective, will unveil new research on podcast trailers at The Podcast Show in London on May 21. The study A/B‑tests trailer versions from four shows – two from Pantheon...
Creator Marketing Platform Hummingbirds Goes National With New York City Launch
Hummingbirds, a Des Moines‑based creator marketing platform, has launched in New York City, completing a national rollout across 78 U.S. cities. The female‑founded company now serves over 50,000 nano and micro creators—primarily women and parents—and more than 280 consumer packaged...
Meeting Audiences in Motion: On-the-Go Video’s Role in a Fragmented Media Landscape
As streaming fragments audience attention, entertainment marketers are shifting to on‑the‑go video to capture consumers in real‑world moments before decisions are made. GSTV reports that 95% of its impressions achieve eyes‑to‑screen and outperform CTV and linear TV in attention metrics....
Nielsen: Cable, Broadcast Decline In March - Streaming Gains
Nielsen’s Total TV/Streaming Index shows streaming commanding 47.6% of U.S. TV consumption in March 2026, up from 43.8% a year earlier. Cable’s share rose 7% month‑over‑month to 21.4% thanks to the NCAA March Madness tournament, but remains down from 24.0%...
Why The New York Times Is Suing the Pentagon — Again
The New York Times has filed a second lawsuit against the Department of Defense, arguing that the Pentagon’s interim policy requiring journalists to obtain an escort before entering the building violates the First Amendment. A federal judge previously struck down the Pentagon’s...
Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo & ACL to Make Global Streaming Debut
Live Nation’s three flagship festivals—Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits—will stream globally for the first time through Disney+ and Hulu. The partnership expands a six‑year Hulu alliance, giving international subscribers real‑time access to performances, highlights and backstage interviews. Disney’s global...
BBC Promises Second Screen Watch-Alongs and Immersive VR Experiences in FIFA World Cup Coverage
The BBC will stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup in UHD on iPlayer and roll out a suite of digital experiences, including second‑screen watch‑alongs on YouTube, TikTok and other social platforms. Viewers can access interactive 3D replays, real‑time graphics, and...
How to Turn Off AI Notification Summaries for News Apps on Your iPhone
Apple has restored AI‑generated notification summaries for news and entertainment apps in iOS 26, the latest OS released in September 2025. The feature, previously pulled after a BBC report flagged inaccurate headlines, now appears with a beta disclaimer warning users to verify...
HBO Max Launches Podcast Offering in Europe
HBO Max has introduced a podcast lineup across Europe, beginning with the Harry Potter: The Official Film Podcast. The service will add franchise‑driven series such as Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon in June, alongside companion shows for...
92% of Ad Buyers Now Commuting; Will Radio Close The Win?
A new Westwood One survey shows 92% of marketers and agency professionals now commute, the highest rate since tracking began in 2022. Marketers are spending an average 4.4 days per week in the office, placing them in cars during peak...
Research: Digital Transactional Video Returns to Growth
The digital transactional video market held steady at $7.6 billion in 2025 after two years of disruption and is projected to rebound 5% to $8 billion in 2026, driven by a strong slate of tent‑pole releases. Premium‑window releases are maturing, delivering just...
Nigeria Sets June 17, 2026 as Official Date for Analogue-to-Digital Broadcast Switchover
Nigeria has set June 17 2026 as the firm deadline to complete its analogue‑to‑digital TV transition. The Digital Switch Over programme, relaunched by Information Minister Mohammed Idris, will replace analogue signals with digital broadcasting nationwide. Broadcasters must upgrade transmission infrastructure, while viewers...
Indonesian Authorities Used Fake News to Brand Critics as ‘Foreign Agents’: Amnesty
Amnesty International released a report exposing Indonesia’s government and military using coordinated online disinformation to brand activists, journalists and NGOs as “foreign agents.” The campaign, traced to Gerindra party accounts and 27 military‑linked social‑media profiles, amplified false videos and accusations...
Dish TV Rolls Out South India-Focused Regional Packs Starting at Rs 149
Dish TV has launched new South India‑focused regional packs priced at Rs 149 per month (about $1.80). The bundles cater to Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam speakers, offering more than 225 channels overall, including 36 Tamil channels and over 30 channels...
KidZania India Names Bloomingdale PR as Influencer Marketing Partner
KidZania India has hired Bloomingdale Public Relations to serve as its influencer marketing partner, aiming to amplify digital storytelling and creator‑led engagement across the country. The agency will orchestrate influencer collaborations, creator experiences, and digital‑first campaigns that showcase KidZania’s immersive...
How Regional Sports Networks Engage Gen Z Fans
Regional sports networks such as NESN and Space City Home Network are overhauling their outreach to capture Gen Z viewers who prefer streaming and short‑form content. Executives highlighted a shift from pure live game broadcasts to a mix of clips, influencer...
Axios Local’s Liz Alesse on Shaping the Business to Crack Sustainable Local Journalism at Scale
Axios Local, now in its fifth year, operates free‑to‑read newsletters in 37 U.S. cities and has amassed over two million subscribers. Vice President Liz Alesse, who joined in early 2026, says 2026 is a foundational year for building scalable systems...
JioCDN Explained: Jio Wants to Power India’s Apps, Websites and Streaming Platforms
Reliance Jio has rebranded its internal media delivery system as JioCDN, a public content‑delivery network aimed at Indian enterprises across Tier 1‑3 cities. The platform combines Jio’s massive edge infrastructure with Fastly’s technology to offer delivery, security, edge compute and observability...
Pitch Deck: X Leans on AI and Performance in a Bid to Win Ad Dollars
X is re‑branding its advertising offering around AI‑driven performance, promising brands higher ROI through algorithmic targeting. The platform highlights its massive user base and new tools that claim to optimize creative placement, bidding, and audience segmentation in real time. However,...
TV Ratings (18/5/2026): The Floor Finale Crowns Alex Palmer Champion As Nine Dominates Monday Night
Nine dominated Monday night television on May 18, 2026, as its quiz show The Floor delivered a near‑two‑million national reach and crowned 33‑year‑old composer Alex Palmer champion. Palmer secured the $200,000 Australian grand prize – roughly $132,000 USD – after a best‑of‑three...
Brazil: CazéTV Signs LaLiga Rights Deal
CazéTV has secured a six‑season broadcasting agreement with LaLiga to stream Spain’s top‑flight matches in Brazil. The deal includes live games, highlights and complementary content distributed primarily through YouTube and CazéTV’s digital ecosystem. LaLiga highlighted Brazil as a strategic market,...
Amazon's Alexa Can Now Generate Podcasts on Whatever Topic You Want. But, Will Anyone Listen?
Amazon has added a new Alexa+ feature that lets U.S. Prime members request AI‑generated podcasts on virtually any subject. The service pulls content from Reuters, the Associated Press, the Washington Post and over 200 local outlets, then creates a short...
Sir Martin Sorrell Says Advertising’s AI Reckoning Is Really an Efficiency Reckoning
Sir Martin Sorrell, founder of S4 Capital, says the advertising industry’s current AI wave is fundamentally an efficiency reckoning, not just a tech fad. He warns that slower global growth, stubborn inflation and higher interest rates will force marketers to...
Mediaworks Launches New Brand Campaign
MediaWorks has unveiled a new brand campaign titled “New Zealand listens to us,” putting audio back at the core of its identity. The initiative spotlights its ten radio stations and podcast network, targeting the 2.36 million weekly listeners that command a 58.6%...
AI Is the Next Generation Ad Channel. Here’s How Brands Must Get Ahead
OpenAI’s rollout of ads marks AI’s transition from a research tool to a full‑fledged advertising channel, forcing brands to confront a new, opaque influence point in the consumer journey. Large language models now shape product preferences before shoppers reach search...
Netflix Quietly Removes Features That Will Make Browsing Much More Frustrating
Netflix has quietly removed the alphabetical sorting dropdown from its web interface, eliminating the A‑Z and Z‑A options for laptop users. The change was discovered by Reddit users after the menu vanished without notice. It is part of a broader...
New York Times Sues Pentagon for a Second Time
The New York Times has filed a second lawsuit against the Department of Defense, alleging that the Pentagon’s policy requiring journalists to be escorted at all times violates the First Amendment. The rule, instituted in March, forces reporters to schedule appointments, wait...
The Harry Potter HBO Series Is Already Recasting One Major Character For Season 2
HBO’s high‑budget Harry Potter series is recasting Ginny Weasley after newcomer Gracie Cochrane left the role following Season 1. The departure was described as unexpected, and a new actress will assume the part for Season 2, which will adapt the second book,...
SPORTSDAY Scores Fox Footy Simulcast in SEN Expansion
SEN is extending its TV presence by simulcasting the first hour of its Monday night AFL radio show *Sportsday* on Fox Footy, starting next week and running through the rest of the AFL season. The hour‑long broadcast, from 5 pm to...
Meta Expands Advanced Ad Placement Controls to Threads
Meta is extending its third‑party block‑list controls to ad placements on Threads, giving advertisers a vetted safety net against objectionable content. The feature, already used on Facebook and Instagram, will be powered by DoubleVerify, IAS, Scope3 and Zefr. Meta also...
Sam Altman Backs “Micropayment” Model for AI Agents to Compensate Publishers
In a recent Re:think podcast, OpenAI co‑founder Sam Altman advocated a micropayment model where AI agents, not human readers, pay small fees to access publisher content. He suggested publishers could charge agents per summary (e.g., $0.17) and per full article...
Danielle Brooks Stars In ‘American Comfort’ Comedy Inspired By Melba Wilson In Works At Apple TV From Kenya Barris, Oprah...
Apple TV+ is developing the comedy series "American Comfort," starring Oscar‑nominee Danielle Brooks as Harlem restaurateur Melba Wilson. The show is inspired by Wilson’s 20‑year journey turning her eponymous soul‑food eatery into a cultural landmark and is being produced by...
Google Ads Costs Keep Rising, but Conversion Rates Improved in 2025
The 2025 WordStream benchmark, covering over 16,000 Google Ads campaigns, shows the average cost‑per‑click climbing to $5.42, a 16% rise from 2024. At the same time, average conversion rates improved to 8.18%, indicating better efficiency despite pricier traffic. Automation tools...
U.S., Brazilian and Korean ATSC 3.0 Leaders Sign ‘MOU’
A trio of standards bodies—ATSC in the United States, Brazil’s SBTVD Forum, and Korea’s Telecommunications Technology Association—have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on the development and global promotion of next‑generation terrestrial broadcasting standards. The MOU creates a formal...
Should You Accept Internet Cookies?
A Boston University study of 200 million ad impressions finds that removing third‑party cookies slashes publisher ad revenue by roughly 35% worldwide and 66% in the European Union. The research also shows Google’s Privacy Sandbox, the most prominent privacy‑enhancing alternative, recovers...