Media News and Headlines
Media News and Headlines
ABC is reviving its documentary series You Can’t Ask That for an eighth season, marking its return after a 2022 hiatus. The show, led by creator Kirk Docker, will again feature unfiltered conversations with marginalized groups, tackling topics from AI‑driven relationships to war‑survivor experiences. Production is underway and applications are open for new participants and viewer‑submitted questions. All previous episodes are already streaming on ABC iView, while the broadcast date for the new season remains unannounced.
A Reuters Institute report reveals that 18‑ to 24‑year‑olds now want news that’s entertaining as well as informative, ranking “fun news” fifth in importance versus tenth for those over 55. The study, spanning a decade of data, shows young audiences...
LECOM Radio has installed the first 2 kW Ecreso FM AiO transmitter in the Americas at its WVIJ station in Port Charlotte, Florida, replacing a 2005 solid‑state unit. The all‑in‑one 3RU, 50‑pound chassis delivers 83% PA efficiency and 95% power‑supply efficiency,...
Yahoo unveiled Yahoo Scout, an AI‑driven intelligence layer that fuses first‑party intent data from its search, mail and content properties, positioning the company as a cookieless advertising platform. At the 2026 NewFronts, it introduced Planner, an AI‑powered inbox feature that converts...
ABC’s 2009 series *Defying Gravity* debuted in August and was pulled after just two months, leaving only eight of its 13 produced episodes aired. The show followed eight astronauts on a six‑year, solar‑system mission, blending interpersonal drama with scientifically grounded...
Lotus Communications is ending its ownership of a Class C AM station in Bakersfield that has broadcast since 1956. The frequency, currently a Spanish‑language sports talk outlet affiliated with TUDN Radio, will switch to English‑language religious programming supplied by Northwestern Media....
Jeff Winemiller, a veteran low‑power television (LPTV) trader, has acquired a Daystar‑affiliated LPTV station in Seattle through his company Lowcountry 34 Media. The deal marks his entry into the Pacific Northwest’s most populous market, expanding his portfolio beyond the Southwest...
NetChoice has filed a friend‑of‑the‑court brief supporting Meta Platforms’ petition for the U.S. Supreme Court to review a Vermont Supreme Court ruling that affirmed state jurisdiction over the company. Vermont sued Meta, alleging that Instagram’s design deliberately creates addictive usage...
Netflix veteran Steven Maeda, known for steering the One Piece live‑action series, is now helming Amazon MGM Studios' adaptation of the award‑winning comic *Monstress* into an adult animated series for Prime Video. He will co‑run the project with fellow One...
Kochava has launched an open‑source StationOne AI workspace that incorporates IAB Tech Lab’s AAMP Buyer Agent SDK, moving the platform out of closed beta. The workspace, hosted in the StationOne Gallery, lets enterprises run AI‑driven campaign, measurement and compliance workflows...
Tommy Little is set to host a one‑off interview‑show pilot taped on Friday, 27 March, at Network 10’s Pyrmont studios in Sydney. The secretive taping follows a limited‑seat audience call‑out and mirrors the interview style of Sam Pang Tonight, which has been absent...
The Federal Communications Commission has ordered the owner of a cluster of Spanish‑language evangelical stations, led by Maria Guel, to settle overdue regulatory fees or face revocation of KZAM‑FM’s broadcast license. The Wichita Falls Class A FM, purchased for $122,000 in...
Finalists for the 2026 Digiday Video and TV Awards highlight a shift toward immersive, audience‑driven storytelling, with brands treating video as a core business engine. Adobe’s “Great Big Giant MAX Creator Challenge” earned 36.3 million interactions and a 6 % engagement rate,...
Australian Idol’s Tuesday episode featured a double elimination, sending Harry Lamb and Wanwue Tarpeh home and cementing a Top 8. The show has now shifted entirely to public voting, removing judges from the final decision‑making process. The remaining contestants—Charlie Moon, Harlan...
OpenAI announced it will discontinue its AI video‑generation product Sora, shutting down both the consumer app and the developer API. The decision follows low user adoption, high compute costs, and mounting controversy over harmful deep‑fake content. OpenAI is redirecting resources...
Tubi unveiled a suite of new ad formats at IAB NewFronts, including the interactive Scene Sense overlay and pause‑time carousel ads that tie messaging to on‑screen content. The streamer also announced original creator‑driven series aimed at Gen Z and a partnership...
Early‑bird applications for the Melbourne International Film Festival’s 37°South Market are now open until 13 April, with discounted rates for producers seeking financing. The four‑day market will take place in August in Melbourne, offering one‑on‑one meetings, pitch sessions, and roundtables that...
Roku Channel will air a Laguna Beach reunion on April 10, marking the series' 20‑year anniversary. The special is moderated by Casey Wilson and features most of the original cast, including Lauren Conrad and Kristin Cavallari. Notable absences are Spencer...
Screen Producers Australia (SPA) has appointed Samantha Turi, former Director of Business & Legal Affairs at Matchbox Pictures, to lead its newly created commercial strategy role. Turi brings over a decade of experience negotiating rights and structuring deals across scripted...
Broadcast Bionics, the maker of audience‑engagement platform BionicStudio, is gearing up for the 2026 NAB Show with several product upgrades. The company has embedded Augmented Intelligence tools that automate transcription, summarization and topic detection, and is rolling out BionicStudio on...
Gerran Howell, who played DC Simon Evans in BBC's crime‑drama Ludwig, has confirmed he will not return for season two. The first season, debuting in 2024, earned praise and drew comparisons to the classic Inspector Morse series. BBC has confirmed...
Plimsoll Productions has appointed veteran executive producer Paul Wright to spearhead its live programming across adventure, factual entertainment, and natural history. Wright arrives fresh from Netflix’s high‑profile "Skyscraper Live with Alex Honnold," a technically demanding event that showcased Plimsoll’s production...
Philo has expanded its free, ad‑supported streaming lineup by adding six new channels from Lionsgate and Blue Ant Media, bringing the total to over 130 channels. The additions—Heartland, The Conners, Nash Bridges, Caught in Providence, True Crime, and Shockwave—cover a mix...
Spectrum News has entered a multi‑year partnership with Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications, announced on March 23. The collaboration will give students hands‑on newsroom experience, internships across the country, and joint coursework beginning in the 2026‑27 academic year. In...
The ProPublica Guild, representing roughly 150 journalists and newsroom staff, voted 92% to authorize a strike as contract talks stall. Union members are demanding a clause that bars layoffs caused by AI adoption, as well as just‑cause firing protections and...
Apple Music announced a partnership with Ticketmaster to power its concert discovery feature, embedding ticket links directly within the streaming app. The integration adds a dedicated Concerts tab, homepage carousel, artist‑page badges, and push notifications that surface nearby shows based...
PMG, the agency behind Hearst’s recent newspaper campaigns, has launched a new multimedia effort titled “This Is Home” for its newly acquired Dallas Morning News. The campaign combines out‑of‑home, television and cross‑media video spots that spotlight veteran Dallas journalists such...
Paramount+ has renewed the long‑running procedural "Criminal Minds" through a landmark 20th season while announcing a May 28, 2024 premiere for Season 19. The upcoming season returns the core ensemble—Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, among others—and adds a star‑studded roster of...
Network‑management specialist MNC Software has named Heartland Video Systems as its authorized North American reseller, a partnership that will be showcased at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas. The deal centers on MNC’s newly launched Tapestry broadcast automation and...
Victory+ has launched a free, ad‑supported streaming service called “NWSL Sunday Night Soccer,” delivering live coverage of 99 matches—including 57 national broadcasts—for the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season. The platform pairs live games with on‑demand replays, creator‑led content, and...
Hey.Cafe, a Canadian‑built social network launched in 2001, has seen a surge in users after a recent “buy Canadian” push, jumping from roughly 5,000 to over 40,000 members in two weeks. Founder Anthony Lee positions the platform as an ad‑free,...
Netflix ended its DVD‑by‑mail service on September 29, 2023, leaving millions of U.S. movie fans without a physical‑media option. DVD Inbox launched to fill that void, offering a subscription model that mirrors Netflix’s former system, including the ability to import...
Google will tighten political content rules for Shopping ads starting April 16, requiring merchants in nine countries to verify as election advertisers and banning certain political ads in India. The policy expands Google’s election‑integrity efforts from search and display into commerce...
Tom's Hardware is inviting U.S. and U.K. readers to shape its Premium subscription by completing a 10‑15 minute survey, with a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card (≈$96 for UK participants). The service, launched last year, offers exclusive...
Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights will hit premium‑digital rental and purchase platforms on March 31, followed by DVD, Blu‑ray and 4K Ultra HD disc releases on May 5 through Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment. The film has already amassed $234.4 million worldwide at the box...
WorldCast Systems has launched a new Kybio cloud‑monitoring service in partnership with Broadcast Supply Worldwide. The subscription‑based solution lets radio stations track up to 25 devices—including transmitters, STL links and environmental sensors—through a secure dashboard. Real‑time alerts and performance insights...
HBO Max has signed a first‑look content agreement with former Movistar+ chief Domingo Corral to produce original Spanish series, beginning with the in‑production drama “El Nani.” The partnership is part of HBO Max’s accelerated push into Europe, following recent launches...
Mary McCormack joins HBO Max’s Emmy‑winning drama The Pitt for Season 2, guest‑starring in Episode 13 as neurosurgeon Dr. Linda Conley. The episode also features Noah Wyle’s real‑life wife, Sara Wyle, playing ER patient Ashley Davis. The episode streams Thursday, April 2, and...
Google is adding three Gemini-powered features to Google TV: richer visual answers, interactive deep‑dive learning modules, and concise sports briefs. The updates deliver live scorecards, video tutorials, narrated educational walkthroughs, and quick league highlights directly on the big screen. Rollout...
London‑based The Podcast Guys are hiring an Audience Development Executive to drive growth for client podcasts and expand the agency’s own brand. The entry‑mid level role blends strategy implementation with hands‑on execution across YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and dynamic ad...
The Sports Video Group’s 2026 Regional Sports Production Summit in Denver will feature a keynote from MLB Local Media, highlighting how Major League Baseball has built a local‑broadcast operation for 14 clubs. Executives Doug Johnson and Kendall Burgess will discuss...
The National Association of Broadcasters will open its 2026 NAB Show by honoring the reality series “Survivor” as it reaches its 50th season, presenting the Spirit of Broadcasting Award. The ceremony features a live remote interview with host Jeff Probst...
Second Rodeo Productions, led by CEO Scott Brown, is pioneering a new production model that focuses on digitally native scripted formats such as micro‑dramas—short, one‑minute chapters monetized per episode. Drawing on collaborations with megastars like MrBeast, The Rock and Kevin...
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show 2026 will take place April 18‑22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, featuring a packed lineup on the creator economy, AI, streaming and broadcast technology. Among the highlights, Telestream introduced UP, a cloud‑native...
The IAB Tech Lab’s AAMP initiative deepens the Agentic Ad Objects layer, leveraging the Advertising Common Object Model (AdCOM) enumerations to create a shared language for automated buying and selling. While AdCOM’s object model never eclipsed OpenRTB 2.x, its extensible enums...
Disney+ has officially renewed Marvel Studios' series Wonder Man for a second season, following its January premiere. Lead actors Yahya Abdul‑Mateen II and Ben Kingsley will return, with creators Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest continuing as showrunner and director. The renewal...
Paramount Skydance has launched BBTV, a dedicated streaming service for the long‑running soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. The platform debuts with over 9,000 episodes covering the first 37 seasons, with additional seasons slated for later addition. Subscriptions are...
Bug‑a‑Way Pest Control, a Joplin, Missouri pest‑control firm, moved from zero unaided brand awareness to 20 percent after launching an AM/FM radio jingle. The campaign, orchestrated by Westwood One’s Audio Active Group, demonstrated that a simple audio hook can generate significant...
Netflix’s animated hit “KPop Demon Hunters” became the platform’s most‑watched film, earned an Oscar and launched a massive merchandising line. After the breakout, directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans secured an exclusive five‑year agreement worth roughly $10 million per year, plus...
Tiltify reported that creators donated more than $100 million in 2025, roughly double its 2024 total, cementing creator‑led philanthropy as a major growth engine. The platform’s tools—especially creator‑designed incentives, auctions and matching challenges—accounted for 40% of the funds raised, up from...
