FAST Content Isn’t Always ‘Premium,’ But That’s Where TV Ad Innovation Is Happening
The FAST (Free‑Ad‑Supported Television) ecosystem is emerging as a low‑cost, high‑volume testing ground for new CTV ad formats. Anoki and Amagi have introduced scene‑level contextual targeting that overlays ads in real time within specific movie or TV moments. Early results show the format can lift visit intent by nearly 30% and brand association by over 11%, while keeping ad frequency under six per hour. Agencies like Dentsu are already adopting the approach, signaling broader industry interest in FAST‑driven innovation.
'Avatar: Fire and Ash,' A Bonnaroo Livestream and More Reasons to Watch Disney Plus in June
Disney+ is bolstering its June slate with a mix of blockbuster streaming premieres, original documentaries, and live event coverage. The platform will debut the third Avatar film, "Fire and Ash," on June 24, while also streaming the director’s cut of...
FCC Announces Effective Date of New Certifications From Buyers of Program Time to Identify Foreign Government Sponsored Programming, But Puts...
On June 7 2026 the FCC will require broadcasters to use a new standard certification form to verify that buyers of program time are not foreign governments or their agents. The rule, originally effective in 2022 for program leases, now also covers...
TALKERS 2026 to Present Discussion About Independent Radio Station Ownership
Talkers 2026 will convene a panel of five independent radio owners on June 5 at Hofstra University. Moderated by JVC Broadcasting CEO John Caracciolo, the session will probe financial viability, growth strategies, community relevance, and revenue models for indie stations. Participants include leaders...
Leaked Disney Document Points to Hulu App Shutdown After Disney+ Transition
A leaked internal Disney document indicates the company may retire the standalone Hulu app once most users have moved to Disney+. The memo, reported by Business Insider, contradicts Disney’s public claim of no sunset plans and aligns with the August...
Wayne Allyn Root to Launch New Show on Real America’s Voice TV
Wayne Allyn Root, a nationally syndicated talk‑radio host, is launching a new television program called “America Speaks with Wayne Allyn Root.” The show premieres on Real America’s Voice TV on June 1 at 10 p.m. ET and will feature a live, caller‑driven...
How to Structure Paid Social Creative Testing for Better Performance
Paid social advertisers are shifting from sheer creative volume to differentiated concepts that tap audience psychology and emotional triggers. The article warns that flooding accounts with minor variations fragments budgets, prolongs learning phases, and obscures actionable insights. It proposes a...
InterMedia Advertising® Appoints Derek Shipp as Vice President, Media Planning & Brand Integration
InterMedia Advertising announced the appointment of Derek Shipp as Vice President of Media Planning & Brand Integration. Shipp arrives with senior roles at Juice Media, Media Design Group and Horizon Media, where he steered brands through linear, streaming and digital...
Front-Loading Brand Pitches Cut Social View Rates by 44%, Research Finds
Billion Dollar Boy and DAIVID analyzed 5,000 creator‑led social video assets across the U.S. and U.K., covering 77 brands in six categories. The study shows that front‑loading product or brand messaging slashes view‑through rates by 44 % on paid Instagram and...
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Debuts on Twitch With ‘Talk with the People’ Series
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani launched a Twitch livestream series “Talk with the People” on May 21, attracting 8,426 peak concurrent viewers and ranking third in Twitch’s Talk Shows and Podcasts category. The 35‑minute debut, also streamed on YouTube, Instagram and...
‘Internet People’ Founder Myriam Roche on Building the Archive France’s Creator Economy Never Had
French creator economy, now a multi‑billion‑euro (≈ $2 billion) market, has long lacked systematic documentation. Journalist Myriam Roche founded the blog Les Gens d’Internet in 2020, growing it to over 80,000 monthly visitors and 600,000 YouTube views, and is now releasing...
These Are the Best 65-Inch TVs I’ve Tested for 2026
CNET’s 2026 roundup of 65‑inch TVs crowns the TCL QM8K as the overall winner, offering OLED‑like picture quality at a steep discount. The LG G6 claims the top spot for premium OLED performance, while Samsung’s S90F targets gamers with fast...
Hollywood, Bollywood Grapple with AI’s Growing Control over Storytelling
Artificial intelligence is rapidly infiltrating both Hollywood and Bollywood, reshaping how stories are written, filmed, and edited. In India, AI‑assisted studios like Collective Artists Network have slashed production costs to about one‑fifth and accelerated timelines, while Eros International’s AI‑modified re‑release...
The End Of The Programmatic Pageview
Vox Media was bought by James Murdoch for a $300 million valuation, while Byron Allen acquired BuzzFeed for $20 million in cash plus $100 million over five years. Both transactions, far below prior peak valuations, underscore the erosion of the programmatic pageview model in an...
Measure This: Engagement, Viewing... Or Fandom?
Streaming giants Netflix and Disney are redefining "engagement" as a quality metric rather than raw viewing hours. Executives emphasized that meaningful engagement drives churn reduction and advertiser value. MoffettNathanson’s latest research ranks Disney+ as the top platform for overall quality,...
New: Google Ads Prospects Mode
Google Ads unveiled Prospect Mode, a beta feature that isolates brand‑unaware, "cold" users for advertising. The new Bidding option, “Only bid for new prospects BETA,” automatically excludes past purchasers, site visitors, brand‑searchers, and prior ad engagers. By filtering these audiences, advertisers...
Why WWE Is Airing One of Its Most Anticipated Shows on YouTube
WWE chose to broadcast the highly anticipated AAA mask‑vs‑mask showdown between Chad Gable and Ludwig Kaiser on its free YouTube channel, rather than a premium pay‑per‑view platform. The decision underscores WWE’s post‑acquisition push to leverage YouTube’s 113 million‑subscriber reach and the...
Broadcasting Believer Sells A Georgia FM
Broadcasting Believer has entered an asset purchase agreement to sell its silent, licensed FM station that serves Forsyth, Georgia. The agreement has been filed with the Federal Communications Commission and now awaits regulatory approval. The station, currently off‑air, will transfer...
How to Evaluate a Show
Radio program directors need a repeatable framework to assess on‑air talent, and RLC outlines a three‑pass, 90‑minute review process. The method splits the recording into transcription, note‑taking, and uninterrupted listening to capture both granular detail and gut reaction. Evaluators then...
NAB Extends Nominations for 2026 Marconi Radio Awards
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has pushed the nomination deadline for the 2026 Marconi Radio Awards to June 2, adding two extra days for stations and on‑air talent to submit entries. Winners will be honored at an October 20 gala in...
The Match Factory Locks Distribution Deals On Cannes Titles ‘Fatherland’, ‘Coward’, ‘The Dreamed Adventure’ & ‘Teenage Sex And Death At...
The Match Factory announced a sweeping set of distribution agreements for its Cannes 2026 slate, covering four auteur‑driven titles. Paweł Pawlikowski’s "Fatherland" sold to more than twenty territories across Europe, Asia and the MENA region. Lukas Dhont’s "Coward" secured deals...
Harsha Bhogle Questions IPL’s Social Media Obsession, Says It Is “Starting to Harm Players”
Veteran cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle warned that Indian Premier League franchises are becoming obsessed with social media, to the point where digital teams travel separately from players. He said the relentless chase for clicks, likes and viral moments is pressuring...
Podcasts Hit U.K. Prime-Time 📺, News From Podcast Show London, & More
The Podcast Show London highlighted several industry shifts, including the Alliance for Measurement in Podcasting (AMP) task force’s push to standardise metrics and define what a podcast is. In the U.K., smart‑TV usage for podcasts has surged to 45% of...
The Streaming Industry Is Building for Personalization Before It Solves Discovery
The sports streaming sector is racing to deliver hyper‑personalized experiences—AI‑curated highlights, custom camera angles, and individualized ads—while fans still struggle to locate the games. Rights have become fragmented across multiple OTT services, broadcasters, and social platforms, turning discovery into a...
Axios Bets That AI Can Make Local News Pay, One Market at a Time
Axios has resumed its Local newsletter expansion, targeting 43 U.S. markets by year‑end and ultimately 100 metros. The unit now generates tens of millions in revenue, with several profitable markets and a recent first‑half revenue hit. A renewed partnership with...
Korean Officials & Industry Execs Launch Committee To Discuss Six-Month Theatrical Window
South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Film Council have formed a public‑private committee to shape a six‑month theatrical window before films can appear on streaming services. The bill is pending in the National Assembly, and...
Current Uses of AI in CTV and Streaming Ad Ops
Publishers and advertisers are increasingly embedding AI into CTV ad operations to streamline creative management and data optimization. IAB Tech Lab’s upcoming creative‑management API aims to assign unique IDs to every creative version and enable autonomous agents that handle approval...
Why AI Can’t Match Human Creative Work
Recent research from Ipsos and Semrush shows that AI‑generated ads and web content consistently underperform human‑created equivalents. In advertising, AI spots were only 25% recognized as machine‑made and scored 14% lower on short‑term sales and 17% lower on long‑term brand...
Spain: RTVE Launches Teledeporte Play Portal
Spanish public broadcaster RTVE has launched Teledeporte Play, a sports‑focused extension of its RTVE Play streaming service, timed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The portal adds new live channels, an updated design and a larger on‑demand catalogue, positioning Teledeporte...
Ads of the Week: 9 Campaigns That Caught Our Eye, From Etsy to NPR
The weekly roundup spotlights nine ads that champion personal agency, from Etsy’s call for human connection to Coinbase’s financial self‑management and NPR’s noise‑cutting promise. Disney’s entertainment portfolio earned the “Most Effective” award in partnership with EDO, while Chobani and the...
“Project Gemini” Is Disney’s Effort to Eventually Shut Down Hulu App
Disney’s internal "Project Gemini" aims to phase out the standalone Hulu app by migrating users to Disney+ while keeping Hulu content accessible through a dedicated tile and new watch‑list sync feature. The plan follows Disney’s full acquisition of Hulu and...
Publishers Quietly Cut ‘Six-Figure’ Deals via Snowflake’s AI Licensing Platform
Publishers such as The Washington Post, AP and USA Today have signed six‑figure AI licensing agreements through Snowflake’s Cortex Knowledge Extensions, allowing enterprises to query paywalled content within Snowflake’s secure AI environment. The platform lets buyers use existing Snowflake spend...
With Grouse House TV, Aunty Donna Make a Bid to Usher in the Future of Independent Australian Comedy
Aunty Donna has launched Grouse House TV, an Australian subscription platform dedicated to “cooked” comedy, debuting with the interactive sketch “Bandersketch,” a parody of Black Mirror’s Bandersnatch that traps viewers in a 40‑minute real‑time Melbourne walk if they choose wrong....
TV Ratings (28/5/2026): Blues Clean Sweep Proves Winning Formula For Nine
The third game of the 2026 Women’s State of Origin saw New South Wales complete a historic clean sweep, drawing a national TV reach of 1,993,000 and an average audience of 880,000 on Nine. The broadcast outperformed the AFL’s Thursday...
Warning Sounded over Free MMM From Digital Platforms
Industry leaders warned that free marketing mix modelling (MMM) tools from Google and Meta skew toward short‑term digital metrics. Ebiquity CEO Ruben Schreurs, overseeing roughly $200 billion in global ad spend, praised Google’s open‑source Meridian but noted it over‑indexes on short‑term...
CBS Names Nick Bilton As Executive Producer Of '60 Minutes'
CBS News has named former New York Times technology columnist Nick Bilton as the new executive producer of "60 Minutes," succeeding long‑time veteran Tanya Simon. Bilton inherits a newsroom skeptical of the change, with some staff viewing it as politically...
Read the Memo: Cecilia Vega Slams CBS News After Being Fired From '60 Minutes'
Cecilia Vega, the first Latina correspondent on CBS's "60 Minutes," was terminated a year before her contract expires in March 2027. Her departure coincides with a sweeping leadership overhaul led by editor‑in‑chief Bari Weiss, who removed executive producer Tanya Simon...
Researchers Describe A Hostile Misinformation Effect In Media
A new study expands the classic hostile media effect into a "hostile misinformation effect." Researchers found that individuals perceive misinformation campaigns as disproportionately targeting their own political party, while viewing opponents as less affected. The effect was observed across a...
Gina Rinehart and Southern Cross Austereo: What Do Billionaire Media Buyouts Mean for Democracy?
Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart has financed a deal to acquire a 10% stake in Southern Cross Austereo, the country’s second‑largest commercial broadcaster, for roughly US$17 million. The announcement triggered an 8% jump in the company’s share price, an uncommon move...
Netflix's 'The Four Seasons' Season 2: First Rotten Tomatoes Scores Revealed
Netflix released the second season of its comedy‑drama *The Four Seasons* on May 28, 2026. The new installment earned an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, up from the first season’s 78%. A major plot twist sees Steve Carell’s character killed off,...
Scripps Getting Scrappy on Retrans
Scripps wrapped a five‑week carriage dispute with Comcast on May 5, ending a rare standoff for the broadcaster. The company is now warning that DirecTV could lose its 52 affiliated stations in 38 Nielsen DMAs if a new retransmission agreement isn’t...
CBS News Shakes up 60 Minutes as Ousted Correspondents ‘Fear What Comes Next’
CBS News announced a major overhaul of *60 Minutes*, naming former New York Times tech journalist Nick Bilton as executive producer for the 59th season. The shake‑up includes the ouster of top producer Tanya Simon, the termination of correspondents Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi,...
A Battle of the Stars Looms in D.C.’s Shifting Media Scene
The Washington Post’s February layoff of more than 300 journalists left a coverage void in the nation’s capital. In response, NOTUS announced a staff‑doubling plan and a rebrand to "The Star," slated for a June launch. Simultaneously, the historic Washington...
Montville Prize Home Showcased on BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
Better Homes and Gardens aired a new episode featuring the Montville prize home, a modern country residence set on 2.42 acres with sweeping Sunshine Coast hinterland views. Hosts Johanna and Pete toured the property, while Melissa showcased its native‑plant garden...
LiveRamp Widens Its Partnership With SiriusXM
LiveRamp has expanded its partnership with SiriusXM, integrating its Authenticated Traffic Solution (ATS) into the satellite radio operator’s streaming and podcast inventory. The collaboration adds RampID, an interoperable identifier, to SiriusXM’s audio ecosystem, allowing advertisers to match listeners across platforms...
Very Pissed-Off ABC Begrudgingly Submits Its TV Stations for Early FCC Renewal
ABC has reluctantly filed early renewal applications for its eight owned‑and‑operated TV stations after a directive from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. The network accompanied the filings with a strongly worded objection, calling the demand unlawful and a tactic to suppress...
FCC Issues Blunt Reminder to Broadcasters
The FCC issued a seven‑page notice warning TV and radio licensees that their spectrum privilege hinges on serving the public interest. It cautions that failure to meet community‑service obligations could trigger enforcement actions such as conditional renewals, short‑term licenses, or...
Bluesky Embraces Long-Form Content to Counter X Articles
Bluesky has added native long‑form content by integrating Standard.site, a community‑driven publishing layer built on the AT Protocol. The update lets users view articles, blog posts, and newsletters as dynamic link cards within the Bluesky feed, expanding beyond its micro‑blog...
SBS on Demand Adds New Features Ahead of FIFA World Cup
Australian public broadcaster SBS on Demand has rolled out a suite of new features ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The upgrades include Live Restart, which lets users pause, rewind or fast‑forward any of the 104 matches, and streaming...
Paramount+ High in the Saddle with Dutton Ranch
Paramount+ launched the Yellowstone spin‑off *Dutton Ranch* to a strong start, logging 12.9 million global views in its first seven days. The series, billed as the biggest original series debut in Paramount+ history, reunites Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser as Beth...