Is ‘The Valley’ Boring Without Jax Taylor? Some Bravo Fans Think So
Bravo’s reality series *The Valley* entered season three without Jax Taylor, who left to focus on sobriety and co‑parenting. Viewers and critics quickly labeled the new season “boring,” citing a lack of the drama Taylor traditionally supplied. The show now leans on storylines around postpartum challenges, divorces, and new relationships, but struggles to find a central conflict. Executive producer Alex Baskin acknowledged audience backlash influenced Taylor’s exit, raising questions about the series’ identity within Bravo’s crowded lineup.
Meet the New Cast: ABC Revives Race Around the World
ABC revives the unscripted competition *Race Around the World*, premiering on June 7 at 7:30 pm. Veteran broadcaster Zan Rowe will host, while original breakout star John Safran returns as a weekly judge. Six Australian filmmakers travel solo through ten countries, delivering...
Warner Bros Discovery’s Oscar Collection Grew In Q1, But Its Revenue Did Not
Warner Bros. Discovery reported Q1 2026 revenue of $8.9 billion, a slight dip from $9 billion a year earlier, as the company prepares for its pending sale to Paramount Skydance. While total advertising revenue fell 8% to $1.8 billion, streaming revenue grew 7% YoY...
ARN Admits Kyle and Jackie O Crisis Cost More than Their $20m Payday
ARN Media disclosed that the brand‑safety controversy surrounding The Kyle and Jackie O Show cost the company about $26.4 million AUD (≈$17.4 million USD) in metro and regional advertising revenue for FY25. The hosts were paid a combined $20 million AUD (≈$13.2 million USD)...
The ACLU Launches Stop-Motion Civics Series 'KYR-U' On YouTube Kids
The ACLU has debuted “KYR‑U,” a stop‑motion animated series aimed at teaching children civics, constitutional rights, and free expression. The four‑episode season premiered on April 23 on YouTube Kids and is also hosted on the ACLU website with study guides, music...
WBD and Sling Quietly Drop Litigation
Warner Bros. Discovery and Dish (Sling TV) filed a stipulation of voluntary dismissal without prejudice, ending their lawsuit over Sling's flexible Day, Week and Weekend streaming passes. Both parties will bear their own costs, leaving the door open for future...
Carriage
DirecTV added the Hispanic‑focused action‑sports network PX Sports to its lineup, marking the channel’s first major linear distribution in the United States. PX Sports delivers BMX, surfing, snowboarding, motocross and skateboarding content tailored for bilingual and Hispanic audiences. The partnership...
Fubo Sees Sub Decline, Despite Record Revenue
Fubo reported a record $1.57 billion in revenue for its first full quarter after merging with Hulu + Live TV, and narrowed its net loss to $6.2 million. Despite the financial beat, North American subscribers slipped to 5.7 million, a 3% YoY decline, and the stock...
#ThisWeek on MarkLives MEDIA: Murder, Mystery & Marketing • #NextWeek: TFG Media on Magazine Growth
South African audiences are gravitating toward true‑crime content across streaming, audio and television, creating a new, highly engaged viewer segment. Brands are racing to tap this niche, recognizing that true‑crime fans exhibit strong loyalty and a willingness to interact with...
Reviews
HBO’s five‑part documentary series “Born to Bowl,” produced by Ben Stiller’s company and narrated by Liev Schreiber, dives into the world of professional bowling, offering compelling storytelling and relatable characters. AppleTV+ counters with “Imperfect Women,” a character‑driven whodunnit adapted from Araminta...
AI-Generated Spencer Pratt Ad Sees Gavin Newsom Eat Cake and Competitor Karen Bass as The Joker | Video
Conservative creators released a 99‑second AI‑generated ad supporting Los Angeles mayoral hopeful Spencer Pratt, portraying Gov. Gavin Newsom eating cake, former Vice President Kamala Harris drinking vodka, and Mayor Karen Bass as the Joker. The video, built with ByteDance’s Seedance generative‑AI...
Casting News: Oscar Isaac Heads To Vegas For Netflix, James Marsden's Apple Thriller, And More
Oscar Isaac is set to headline an untitled hour‑long Netflix drama that dives into the cut‑throat world of modern Las Vegas casinos, playing hotel‑casino president Robert “Bobby Red” Redman. The series is being written and co‑showrun by Billions veterans Brian Koppelman...
HBO Comedy Special ‘Josh Johnson: Symphony’ to Debut May 22
HBO will premiere the stand‑up special "Josh Johnson: Symphony" on May 22, streaming on both HBO and HBO Max. The hour‑long show features entirely new material from the Emmy‑nominated comedian, known for his YouTube channel and frequent hosting spots on Comedy Central’s...
State AGs Send Paramount Subpoenas in Warner Bros. Merger Investigation
Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery are advancing a $110 billion merger, but a coalition of state attorneys general has issued civil investigative subpoenas to Paramount. The subpoenas target the Department of Justice’s antitrust review and the competitive impact of the...
Book Publishers Fire on Zukerberg
Five of the world’s largest book publishers filed a class‑action lawsuit against Meta on May 5, 2026, explicitly naming CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The complaint alleges Zuckerberg personally authorized the use of pirated books to train Meta’s Llama large‑language model. Scott Turow,...
How to Create a Social Media Viral Video
The guide explains that viral videos are the result of a disciplined content strategy, not luck. It outlines the psychological triggers—emotion, identity, and relationship building—that drive rapid sharing across platforms. Platform‑specific recommendations cover TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and X,...
Fubo Unveils AI Assistant for Improved Search of DVR & More Coming to Roku & Apple TV
Fubo TV announced an AI Assistant that lets subscribers search DVR recordings using natural language. The tool can locate specific sports moments by describing plays, players, or events, cutting down on manual scrubbing. The assistant will launch this fall on...
Disney Drops Trailer for 'Dragon Striker' Animated Fantasy Sports Series
Disney unveiled the trailer for "Dragon Striker," an animated fantasy‑sports series that fuses European mythic settings with Japanese anime styling. The 11‑episode show premieres on Disney XD on June 9, with all episodes streaming on Disney+ and Hulu the following day. A...
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Star Responds to The Traitors Calls: "I Would Probably Be Interested"
Eileen Davidson, a former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star and two‑time Daytime Emmy winner, said she would be interested in joining the U.S. version of the competition series The Traitors during a recent Soapy podcast. The show routinely taps...
Google Shares How Brands Should Use AI Creative To Stand Out via @Sejournal, @Brookeosmundson
Google highlighted its AI‑creative suite on the Ads Decoded podcast, emphasizing tools that expand creative variation while keeping advertisers in the loop. New controls—text guidelines, AI briefs, and Asset Studio—let brands steer AI‑generated assets, supporting up to 40 custom rules...
Highway To Heaven Reboot Coming To Fox From Friday Night Lights Boss
Fox has ordered a reboot of the 1980s series “Highway to Heaven” for the 2027‑28 television season. Veteran showrunner Jason Katims, known for “Friday Night Lights” and “Parenthood,” will serve as executive producer and showrunner. The new series will blend...
FCC Urges Appeals Court to Toss Challenges to Nexstar-Tegna Deal
The Federal Communications Commission is asking the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss antitrust challenges to the $6.2 billion Nexstar‑Tegna merger. The appeals were filed by broadband trade groups, DirecTV and Newsmax after a district court denied an emergency stay....
Threads Adds Playable Music Stickers In-Stream
Meta's Threads is testing playable music stickers that let users attach songs to their posts, displaying cover‑art thumbnails and a play button that streams a short sample. The stickers appear as a new option in the composer alongside images, polls...
Beloved British Spy Thriller Branded "Gorgeous" And "Compelling TV" Lands New UK Home
The Night Manager, the acclaimed BBC spy thriller starring Tom Hiddleston and Olivia Colman, has been added to Disney+ and Prime Video in the UK, but only its first season is available on those services. Season 2 remains exclusive to BBC...
A Hit J.J. Abrams Sci-Fi Series Was Designed To Avoid Becoming Another Lost
J.J. Abrams created the sci‑fi series *Fringe* to avoid the viewer‑fatigue that plagued his earlier hit *Lost*. He designed the show so episodes could stand alone while still hinting at an overarching mystery. Early seasons delivered self‑contained stories, but the...
Meta Adds More Insight Tools to Edits to Enhance Video Projects
Meta’s Edits video‑editing app rolled out a suite of new insight tools that surface engagement rates, peak viewing times, and follower‑versus‑non‑follower metrics for Instagram Reels. The update also adds comparative performance data, letting creators see how each Reel stacks up...
LinkedIn Certification Program Aims To Link Marketers With Experienced Agencies
LinkedIn has introduced an “Agency Certification” program that flags agencies with proven expertise in LinkedIn Ads. The certification requires a Business Manager account and completion of LinkedIn Marketing Academy courses, after which agencies earn a badge and promotional toolkit. Harmelin...
Snap Says Advertising Revenue Buffeted by Effects of War in Iran
Snap Inc. forecasted Q2 ad revenue of $1.52‑$1.55 billion, essentially matching Wall Street expectations. The company disclosed that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have negatively impacted its advertising business, costing roughly $20‑$25 million in March. Snap attributed the shortfall to reduced...
Only Child Season 2 Teases Messy Love Triangle as Richard's Life Unravels
Only Child returns for a second season on BBC One, opening with Richard forced back into his father Ken’s house after a promised TV job in Norway collapses. The episode introduces a love triangle as Emily, Richard’s longtime crush, begins...
Paramount Australia Merges Sales Teams as GRANT MADIGAN Starts New Role
Paramount Australia has merged its linear TV and digital advertising sales into a single commercial unit, creating a unified sales proposition for advertisers. The restructuring follows the exit of longtime sales chief Rod Prosser after 15 years and introduces Grant...
Warner Bros. Discovery Ups Q1 Streaming Operating Income 29%, Revenue Increases 9% to $2.9 Billion
Warner Bros. Discovery reported a 29% jump in streaming operating income to $438 million in Q1, while total streaming revenue rose 9% to nearly $2.9 billion. Distribution revenue led the growth, increasing 9% to $2.53 billion, and advertising revenue from HBO Max’s ad‑supported tier...
69 Years Ago Today, “I Love Lucy” Aired Its Final Episode
On May 6, 1957 CBS aired the final episode of *I Love Lucy*, ending a six‑season run that reshaped American sitcoms. The series, starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, introduced three‑camera, live‑audience filming, a method that preserved episodes for decades of syndication. At its...
Kara Lawson Took Amazon Job to Scout WNBA Players for Team USA
Duke women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson has taken a WNBA analyst role with Amazon Prime Video for the 2026 season. The streaming service will broadcast 31 games, ensuring every WNBA franchise appears at least once. Lawson says the job lets...
Submission Guidelines
Climbing.com has released detailed submission guidelines inviting writers and photographers to contribute across multiple verticals, including first ascents, safety analyses, long‑form features, news, culture, skills, weekend whippers, and photo essays. Pitches must be unpublished, focus on the story’s relevance, and...
Victory+ CEO Neil Gruninger on the Impact of the Dallas Cowboys Deal, Creator-Led Content, and Free In-Market Access for Fans
Victory+ has secured a multi‑year partnership making it the first third‑party streaming home for Dallas Cowboys original programming. The free, ad‑supported platform will deliver live and on‑demand content, from draft coverage to weekly press conferences, to fans in North Texas...
RAIN Notes: May 6
Podchaser 25, a monthly ranking of the 25 fastest‑growing podcasts launched in the past 90 days, released its April edition highlighting Goalhanger’s history‑culture show The Book Club at #1. True‑crime dominates five of the top ten spots, with society‑culture titles filling the...
Google Highlights Links From Subscribed Publications in New AI Overviews Update
Google has added a “Subscribed” label to citations in AI Overviews and AI Mode, highlighting content from publications linked to a user’s Google account. Early testing shows the label significantly raises click‑through rates, offering a lifeline to publishers facing steep...
Why Daredevil: Born Again Season 3 Will Adapt “The Devil in Cell-Block D”
Daredevil: Born Again Season 3 has been officially greenlit, is currently in production and is slated for a 2027 Disney+ release. The season will adapt the acclaimed 2006 comic arc “The Devil in Cell‑Block D,” sending Matt Murdock to prison and confronting...
Obama Talks Trump, Mamdani, Aliens and More in Colbert Interview
Former President Barack Obama appeared on Stephen Colbert’s Late Show, delivering a veiled critique of President Trump while urging Democrats to ditch academic jargon and speak in plain English. He praised New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a model communicator and warned...
Derek Fisher & Cody Decker Lead 97.1 The Fan’s LA Lineup
Audacy has launched 97.1 The Fan (KNX‑FM), a new all‑sports FM station in Los Angeles, with weekday programming debuting on May 18. The lineup features former NBA champion Derek Fisher and ex‑MLB power hitter Cody Decker in the morning, followed by ex‑NFL safety Brock Vereen...
TASKMASTER AUSTRALIA Returns Tonight with Fresh Chaos and Comedy
Taskmaster Australia returns tonight for its fifth season, with Tom Gleeson reprising his role as the Taskmaster and Tom Cashman back as his assistant. The new lineup features comedians Rove McManus, Celia Pacquola, Anisa Nandaula, Brett Blake and Joel Creasey. The series keeps its signature...
Civil Eats Nominated for a Record 5 James Beard Media Awards
Civil Eats has been nominated for a record five 2026 James Beard Foundation Media Awards, becoming a finalist in four categories: Health and Wellness, Columns and Newsletters, Profile, and Narrative Photography. Senior Staff Reporter Lisa Held earned two nominations for...
FOXTEL Rollout Brings 4K Sport to Mining Camps Nationwide
Foxtel Group has deepened its partnership with mining giant Fortescue, rolling out its Business iQ platform to more than 10,000 employees across 11 remote accommodation villages. Approximately 11,500 screens will be upgraded to deliver 4K Ultra HD sport and entertainment via...
Consultant Suggests Jefferson Public Radio ‘Spin Off’ From University Licensee
Southern Oregon University is facing a $20 million budget shortfall, with a $12.5 million deficit despite $15 million state emergency aid. Deloitte Consulting’s April 28 report recommends the university spin off its longtime partner, Jefferson Public Radio, to save roughly $300,000. JPR’s director disputes...
Ted Turner, Media Mogul, 1938-2026
Ted Turner, the pioneering media entrepreneur who launched CNN, TBS and Turner Broadcasting, died at 87 on April 26, 2026. His bold bets on 24‑hour news, satellite distribution and cable sports reshaped the television landscape. Turner also amassed a $1 billion...
Cord Cutting Today: Roku Adds 15 Free Channels as Paramount Pushes Forward With Warner Bros. Discovery Deal
Roku announced the addition of 15 free live channels to its TV and player ecosystem, expanding its ad‑supported offering with niche feeds such as live police dispatch and Alaska State Troopers. At the same time, Paramount reported significant progress in...
Inform, Educate, Entertain: Top TV Production Firms Join Content Climate Pledge
ITV Studios, Fremantle, and Banijay UK have become the first British television production companies to sign the Climate Content Pledge, an initiative spearheaded by BAFTA’s Albert programme. The pledge obliges signatories to embed sustainability into every stage of production, from...
Law Laggard (Copyright Research)
The Copyright Society released a 46‑page research paper by Bill Rosenblatt and Howie Singer examining how copyright law consistently trails technological advances. The study maps six media formats—from phonographs to user‑generated content—showing typical 20‑30‑year gaps before legal frameworks catch up....
What Will Top ABC CLASSIC 100 Greatest of All Time?
ABC Classic is marking its 50th anniversary in 2026 by launching the annual Classic 100 countdown, inviting listeners to vote for the greatest classical works of all time. The voting window runs until Thursday 28 May 2026, with the final rankings broadcast on...
CNN Has a New Suitor Who Wants to Buy It
Veteran media mogul Barry Diller told attendees at the WSJ Future of Everything Festival that he would purchase CNN "right now" if the chance arose. He highlighted the network’s strong brand but warned that its current trajectory risks losing relevance...