Oculus Rail Partners With Public Media to Deliver Real-Time Crossing Alerts
Oculus Rail has begun supplying live rail‑crossing blockage data to public‑media stations WHRO and WHRV in Hampton Roads, starting April 27. The stations will broadcast real‑time alerts alongside traditional traffic reports, helping drivers avoid delays caused by stopped trains. This marks the first known U.S. instance of a public‑media outlet delivering such data. Oculus Rail plans to expand the model to other markets and partners.
Saga Communications’ Q1 Net Revenue Falls 5.6%
Saga Communications reported first‑quarter 2026 net revenue of $22.9 million, a 5.6% decline from the same period a year earlier. The company posted an operating loss of $3.3 million, widening from $2.3 million in Q1 2025, while station operating income fell 62% to $900,000....
Tim Dillon Busts Into Top 20 on Podtrac’s April Podcast Ranker
Podtrac released its U.S. Top Podcasts chart for April 2026, ranking shows by unique monthly audience. The top five slots remain occupied by major news brands, with NPR’s “NPR News Now” at #1 and The Daily at #2. Comedian Tim...
Steve Sanchez Show Adds New Affiliates
Steve Sanchez, a Las Vegas‑based talk radio host, announced the addition of four new affiliate stations: KAAA in Kingman, AZ; KZZZ serving Bullhead City, AZ and Laughlin, NV; KKFT in Reno, NV; and KXEX in Fresno, CA. The Steve Sanchez...
Big Apple Buys A Beantown AM
New York billionaire John Catsimatidis has purchased Boston‑area AM talk station WCRN‑AM. The Class B station, broadcasting a 50 kW directional signal from two daytime towers and three nighttime towers, reaches eastern Massachusetts, northern Rhode Island and southern New Hampshire. Catsimatidis...
TALKERS 2026 to Present “The Big Picture” Panel
The 28th annual TALKERS conference will feature its flagship “The Big Picture” panel on June 5, 2026, at Hofstra University. Moderated by founder Michael Harrison, the 40‑minute rapid‑fire session brings together six high‑profile figures from broadcasting, politics, and on‑air talent. The...
PubMatic’s Agentic AI Is Going Beyond Direct Deals
PubMatic announced that its AgenticOS platform has run more than 30 fully autonomous, end‑to‑end campaigns and over 1,000 direct publisher deals, signaling a shift from agentic ad tech being limited to direct buys. The AI‑driven product helped lift emerging‑revenue growth...
Cumulus’ WOSH and WNAM Win WBA Awards
Cumulus Media’s Wisconsin stations WOSH (Oshkosh) and WNAM (Neenah‑Menasha) captured four Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Awards at the 2026 gala. In the Medium Market News & Talk division, WOSH earned first‑place for Best Interview, featuring hosts Steve Edwards and Ron Ross...
Amazon Data Will Be Available on Netflix Inventory in the UK May 18
Amazon’s demand‑side platform will let UK and EMEA advertisers overlay Amazon shopping data onto Netflix’s connected‑TV inventory starting May 18. The feature, first rolled out in the United States on April 13, enables Amazon Audiences to be applied to Netflix campaigns via...
Rohit Sharma Makes His Entertainment Debut on Sony Platforms
World Cup‑winning captain Rohit Sharma is stepping onto Sony Pictures Networks India’s entertainment stage, debuting in a teaser that will run on Sony Entertainment Television and the streaming service Sony LIV. The teaser, released on May 8, showcases Sharma in a non‑cricket...
Good News for South Africans Who Watch Rugby on DStv
Canal+ confirmed a multi‑year renewal of its domestic broadcast rights agreement with the South African Rugby Union, keeping SuperSport as the exclusive carrier for all SARU domestic competitions, women’s and junior matches across Sub‑Saharan Africa. The deal is the first...
STARZ Ending Pay-2 Deal with Universal
STARZ announced it will terminate its Pay‑2 licensing agreement with Universal, cutting off access to Universal’s film library after the studio’s Pay‑1 window. The deal, originally slated to run through 2028, is ending because Universal’s four‑month Peacock exclusivity and subsequent...
All 5 George R.R. Martin-Written Twilight Zone Episodes, Ranked
George R.R. Martin penned five episodes for the 1980s revival of The Twilight Zone, a little‑known chapter before his Game of Thrones fame. The article ranks the scripts from the brief, under‑developed "Lost and Found" to the richly layered "The...
Exclusive Clip: ‘Bob’s Burgers – Driving Miss Ragey’
Bob’s Burgers will air a brand‑new episode titled “Driving Miss Ragey” on Sunday, May 10 at 8:31 PM ET/PT on FOX. The episode follows Linda’s sudden road‑rage episode and the kids’ reckless mattress‑down‑the‑stairs adventure, continuing the series’ mix of family‑centric humor and...
AMC Reports Uptick In Streaming Revenue But Slight Decline In Subscribers
AMC Global Media posted a Q1 streaming revenue of $174 million, up 11% year‑over‑year, while its paid subscriber count slipped 1% to 10.1 million. U.S. advertising sales fell 5% to $113 million and content‑licensing revenue dropped 2% to $53 million. The company also recorded...
Observability: The Missing Discipline in Cloud-Native Media Operations
Cloud‑native media architectures such as DMF, TAMS and LPX are now production‑ready, turning media workflows into distributed, containerised services. While the designs are solid, operating these systems exposes a new gap: traditional monitoring can’t explain why transient glitches occur. Observability—linking...
Ease Live Granted US Patent for Interactive Streaming Overlay Technology
Ease Live, an Evertz subsidiary, has been granted U.S. Patent No. 12,556,777 for its interactive streaming overlay technology. The patented method synchronizes graphics such as stats, quizzes, replays, and sponsor ads with the video frame in real time, even when viewers...
UFC and Joe Hand Promotions Launch Championship Rounds Commercial Subscription Package
UFC and its exclusive U.S. commercial distributor Joe Hand Promotions have unveiled "Championship Rounds," a subscription service delivering UFC’s 13 numbered events, 30 Fight Nights, Zuffa Boxing, UFC BJJ and Power Slap to bars, restaurants and other out‑of‑home venues. The package...
Week in Review: CTV and AI Dominate Ad Tech Earnings, Major Distributors Back Microdramas, and Kraft Heinz Ramps Up Ad...
Ad‑tech leaders The Trade Desk, PubMatic and Magnite all highlighted CTV and AI in their Q1 earnings, with mixed market reactions. The Trade Desk’s shares dropped 15% despite 12% revenue growth, while PubMatic and Magnite posted modest revenue gains driven...
Exclusive Clip: ‘Family Guy - Let the Good Times Walk’
FOX is premiering a brand‑new Family Guy episode titled “Let the Good Times Walk” on May 10 at 8:00‑8:31 PM ET/PT. The storyline follows Joe Griffin as a powerful sleeping‑aid medication lets him walk while asleep, prompting comedic tension when his friends prefer...
Why Broadcasters Are Rethinking Infrastructure One Practical Step at a Time
Broadcasters are moving away from piecemeal, hardware‑heavy setups toward software‑defined, hyperconverged infrastructure. The industry’s focus has expanded from pure reliability to include flexibility, efficiency, and the ability to adapt quickly to new formats or remote production models. By consolidating functions...
Netflix Reportedly Snags 2 Additional NFL Games
Netflix is set to double its NFL portfolio from two to four games for the 2026‑27 season, adding the league’s first international contest in Australia and a new Thanksgiving Eve matchup. The Australia game features the Los Angeles Rams versus...
Save Now: MLB.TV Gets a Mid-Season Price Cut on ESPN
ESPN has cut the price of its MLB.TV seasonal packages, lowering the cost to $139.99 for new subscribers and $124.99 for existing ESPN Unlimited members, down from $149.99 and $134.99 respectively. The discount applies to the remainder of the 2026...
Join Our API Local News Summit on Measuring Impact for Civic Discourse
The American Press Institute is hosting the API Local News Summit on June 23‑24 in Pittsburgh, gathering about 70 local‑media leaders to discuss how to measure and communicate impact on civic discourse. The invitation‑only, highly participatory event will explore innovative metrics...
"Unfailingly Gripping" Psychological Thriller Gets New UK Streaming Home in Time for the Weekend
The psychological thriller *The Patient* has arrived on UK streaming platforms ITVX and Disney+, offering all ten episodes of the 2022 FX limited series. The show follows therapist Dr. Alan Strauss, played by Steve Carell, who is held captive by...
Radio Asharq with Bloomberg Launches ‘The Finfluencer’ Campaign for Financial Literacy
Radio Asharq with Bloomberg has launched “The Finfluencer,” a campaign that uses a driver‑radio scenario to weave simplified economic insights into daily life. The initiative reflects a broader shift from merely delivering breaking financial news to providing contextual interpretation for...
The Deepfake Era Has Arrived and PR Is the Front Line
AI‑generated deepfake videos have moved from theoretical risk to active weapon in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, exemplified by the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s fabricated ad of Texas candidate James Talarico. Similar attacks have hit Europe, with the Bank of...
Maura Higgins Will Not Be Returning to Fiji This Year
Maura Higgins announced she will not be returning to Fiji in 2026, opting to focus on fashion weeks, red‑carpet events, and broader media engagements. She reflects on the importance of longevity in reality TV, emphasizing that authenticity has kept her...
Stephen Lambert Knows a Hit When He Sees It
Stephen Lambert, the veteran producer behind hits like The Circle and Squid Game: The Challenge, predicted The Traitors would succeed before its premiere and proved him right as the show earned back‑to‑back Emmy wins and strong ratings on Peacock and...
Druski Releases Most High-Budget Skit Ever Mocking British Actors Playing Americans
Comedian Druski dropped a near‑seven‑figure, one‑minute‑52‑second skit lampooning British actors portraying Americans, featuring elaborate sets, red‑carpet mockups and a fictional star named Sampson DuBois. The video, posted on X and Instagram, went viral, racking up more than 40 million combined views...
‘9-1-1’ Star Ryan Guzman Has Learned to Roll With the Punches
Season nine of ABC’s procedural “9‑1‑1” ends with firefighter‑paramedic Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman) being stabbed in a hospital during a plotline that mirrors a real‑world ICE raid on migrants. Guzman, who feared for his job after a previous sniper shooting,...
Teads Hires Ex-TikTok Jit Shergill as UK Head of Sales
Teads announced that former TikTok executive Jit Shergill has been hired as head of sales for the UK. Shergill will oversee agency account teams in London, drive pipeline measurement and meet performance and CTV targets. At TikTok he helped grow...
Paramount+ and HBO Max Set to Merge Into Single Streaming Platform – Here Is Everything We Know
Paramount Skydance’s $77 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery will merge Paramount+ and HBO Max into a single streaming service, aiming to serve more than 200 million subscribers. The combined platform will unite extensive libraries—from NFL and Star Trek to Game of Thrones and DC titles—while retaining...
AMC Posts Q1 Loss Despite Double-Digit Streaming Revenue Growth
AMC Global Media reported a 2.4% drop in first‑quarter revenue to $542.1 million and a sharp 51% decline in operating income. Despite the loss, streaming revenue surged 11% to $174 million, and the company generated $64.8 million in free cash flow. Net loss...
Talpa Studios’ The House of Hide & Seek Heads to Spain with RTVE
Talpa Studios announced that its family‑entertainment format The House of Hide & Seek will receive its first international adaptation in Spain, produced by public broadcaster RTVE in partnership with Warner Bros. ITVP Spain. Recording will occur in the Netherlands ahead of the...
AI Companies Are Selling Heartwarming Ads – They’re Racing To Automate Your Job via @Sejournal, @Gregjarboe
OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic are running heart‑warming consumer ads that portray their AI as friendly household helpers, while simultaneously developing agentic systems that automate complex professional workflows. Their latest models—OpenAI’s GPT‑5.5, Google’s Gemini 3.1 Pro, and Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.7—are being positioned to replace...
What’s an Author to Do? Shadow Libraries in the Age of AI.
On March 6, the five largest global book publishers filed a lawsuit in New York federal court seeking to shut down the shadow library Anna’s Archive, alleging it supplies pirated works to AI developers. The case highlights a new wave of litigation...
Campaign Trail: Tecate Empowers Repatriated Mexicans
Mexican beer brand Tecate launched the "Welcome Back, Paisano" campaign to spotlight the labor void created by the recent deportation of roughly 170,000 Mexican workers from the United States. The satirical ads depict U.S. employers lamenting the loss of Mexican...
What To Watch Friday: Amadeus Premiere, Drag Race All Stars Returns, And More
Starz debuts the five‑part limited series “Amadeus,” starring Will Sharpe as Mozart and Paul Bettany as Salieri, marking the network’s first U.S. airing of the drama. Paramount+ revives “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” for season 11, offering a $200,000 prize to...
Netflix’s Gripping 6-Part Psychological Thriller Series Feels Like It Was Made to Be Binged
Netflix launched "Unchosen," a six‑episode psychological thriller that debuted on April 21, 2026. The series follows Rosie, a cult wife whose daughter disappears, pulling her into a dangerous love triangle and a patriarchal sect called the Fellowship of the Divine....
Diane Morgan's "Brilliant" New BBC Sitcom with Motherland Co-Star Unveils First Look
BBC has unveiled a first look at Diane Morgan’s new sitcom *Ann Droid*, reuniting her with Motherland co‑stars Paul Ready and Sarah Kendall, who also co‑writes the series. Set in 2029, the six‑part comedy follows widowed Sue (Sue Johnston) who receives...
The New York Times Grew Digital Ad Revenue 32% in Q1. Here’s How to Copy It
The New York Times posted a 31.6% year‑over‑year rise in digital advertising revenue in Q1 2026, reaching $93.3 million. The growth follows a 24.9% increase in the prior quarter, marking two straight quarters of outsized ad performance. Chief advertising officer Joy Robins credits a clear...
Warner Bros. TV Announces Special Podcast Episodes For ‘The Pitt’
Warner Bros. Television Group is launching a week‑long special on its *A Lot More* podcast to spotlight the hit medical drama *The Pitt* from May 11‑15, aligning with National Hospital Week 2026. Each day features a different cast member or writer discussing behind‑the‑scenes insights...
‘Believe Me’ Stars Hope ITV True-Crime Drama Will Make an Impact, Discuss That Upsetting Police Question About an Assault Victim’s...
ITV’s four‑part drama *Believe Me* dramatizes the real‑life assaults by John Worboys, the notorious “Black Cab Rapist,” through the eyes of two women who reported him. Written and executive‑produced by Jeff Pope, the series emphasizes the victims’ trauma and the...
How to Connect Social KPIs to Larger Business Objectives
Patrick Pho, head of the content studio at Volkswagen of America, stresses that social media must be tied to clear business objectives to avoid wasted effort. He outlines a three‑step process: define a specific objective (exposure, consumption, or engagement), set...
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
Longreads released its weekly roundup, highlighting five standout long‑form pieces by Danny Chau, Annalisa Quinn, Bijan Stephen, Jordan Michelman and Anna Wiener. The curated list showcases diverse topics ranging from AI ethics and climate finance to fintech innovation, remote‑work culture,...
OUT MONDAY: Radio’s Bilingual Boom Takes Over Radio Ink
Radio Ink’s May issue spotlights a bilingual surge as broadcast radio reaches 93% of Hispanic adults each month, positioning the medium for a massive advertising wave ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The cover story follows Edgar “Shoboy” Sotelo, whose...
Radio Nails ROI for Home Improvement Brands that Digital Can’t
Audacy’s new research shows radio outperforms digital channels for home‑improvement retailers, with 56% of ad‑exposed consumers recalling radio ads versus lower rates for display, social and CTV. A Nielsen Marketing Mix Model ranks radio second in overall ROI, delivering $2...
Vulture Crossword: What If I Told You I’m A Mastermind?
Vulture unveiled its first annual Reality Masterminds list, identifying "masterminds" as reality‑TV figures who shape narratives both on‑screen and in the surrounding media ecosystem. The outlet paired the list with a full‑size crossword crafted by veteran constructor Stella Zawistowski, deviating...
Who What Wear on How Publishers Can Think Like Retailers
Who What Wear, a fashion publisher owned by Future, is applying retailer‑style tactics to monetize its editorial content. The brand, which attracted over 12 million visits in April and converts more than $252 million in sales each quarter, relies on affiliate commissions...