Media News and Headlines
Media News and Headlines
The Australian Podcast Ranker, now powered by CRA and Triton Digital, shows Mamamia Out Loud retaining the February top spot with 982,235 listeners. New Demos+ tools expand audience metrics beyond age and gender to include spending habits, travel frequency and property intent. Finance‑seeking listeners represent over 20% of the audience, with a strong crossover into health‑fitness purchases. LiSTNR dominates the commercial segment, holding the most titles within the top‑20 rankings.
Culture Capital, an Australian podcast exploring leadership, accountability and workplace culture, has joined the iHeartRadio network. Co‑hosted by human‑rights lawyer Prabha Nandagopal and BlackCard CEO Mundanara Bayles, the series blends legal, executive and First Nations perspectives to expose the gap...
Oscars viewership fell to 17.9 million, a 9 percent decline from last year, ending a four‑year ratings rise. The drop coincided with similar declines at the Grammys and Golden Globes, marking the first simultaneous fall for all three major award shows. Conan...
ARD launched ARD Sounds on 9 March 2026, a free app that consolidates radio, podcasts, on‑demand audio and live sport from Germany’s public‑service broadcasters. The platform replaces the ARD Audiothek and has already been installed on 5.6 million devices worldwide. It offers extensive...
Reddit has partnered with ad‑tech firm Pacvue to let advertisers buy and track Reddit campaigns directly within Pacvue’s management platform. The integration adds Reddit to Pacvue’s suite, which already supports over 100 retail media networks and serves more than 70,000...
YouTube has rolled out its Jewels livestream gifting system to Korean users, following earlier launches in the United States and Canada. Jewels are an in‑app currency that lets viewers purchase digital stickers, which appear in chat and generate Rubies for...
Actus Digital is unveiling major upgrades to its Actus X platform at NAB Show 2026, including native ATSC 3.0 monitoring with A3SA encryption, a sub‑second browser‑based multiviewer, and AI‑driven automation for compliance and reporting. The new features let broadcasters decrypt and analyze...
At the 2026 NAB Show, AWS will unveil Elemental Inference, the first fully‑managed service that layers AI onto live‑video encoding to produce mobile‑first vertical streams. The solution automatically detects action in a live feed and reformats 16:9 content for smartphones...
The FCC concluded that Charlottesville’s low‑power FM station WXRK(LP) violated underwriting announcement rules but avoided a monetary fine by agreeing to a compliance plan. This decision resolves the fifth case stemming from a Virginia LPFM “coop” that shared facilities and...
The U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee will markup the NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act, introduced by Rep. Brian Babin. The bill authorizes $100 million for FY 2026 and an additional $20 million annually through 2031 to upgrade the 1,030‑station VHF network....
Tencent Music Entertainment (TME) announced that its Super VIP (SVIP) tier surpassed 20 million subscribers at the end of 2025, up from 15 million in Q2 2025 and 10 million a year earlier. SVIP now accounts for roughly 15.7% of TME’s 127.4 million paying...
MyFitnessPal has launched a data‑driven advertising business, expanding beyond its legacy mobile display unit to include video, interstitials, full‑screen takeovers, newsletter sponsorships and branded recipe integrations. The platform will leverage its opt‑in food‑logging data—averaging 16 items per user per day—to...
Audacy is deepening its sports‑focused advertising strategy with a new webinar, “The Business of Sports Fandom,” scheduled for March 23, which will explore fandom avidity as a measurable marketing currency. The event features unnamed sports hosts and media experts and is...
Broadcast Radio has partnered with Promo Only to embed the music‑service catalog directly into its Myriad Playout system. The integration, slated for Myriad version 6.9, lets stations with a Promo Only subscription browse, preview and download new releases without leaving the...
The 98th Oscars attracted 17.86 million viewers, roughly 2 million fewer than the 19.69 million who tuned in for the 97th ceremony. Its Adults 18‑49 rating slipped to 3.92 from 4.54, though the broadcast remained the top primetime entertainment telecast of the 2025‑2026 season....
Build A Rocket Boy and IOI Partners have terminated their publishing agreement for the upcoming game MindsEye. Effective immediately, Build A Rocket Boy will assume full publishing responsibilities for the title. The shift moves the studio from a traditional publisher‑developer...
MetaRadio unveiled version 2.6 at the NAB Show, adding remote web access, advanced image management, and enhanced message scheduling with live‑data overrides. The platform continues its integration with the HD Radio Artist Experience, enabling stations to push dynamic cover art...
NBC News has signed a deal with prominent tech journalist Joanna Stern, appointing her as chief tech analyst and contributing correspondent as the network expands its subscription‑streaming product. Stern, who recently left The Wall Street Journal to launch her own...
New Zealand comedy series Crackhead premiered on HBO Max last week, debuting simultaneously in its home market. Created by and starring Holly Shervey, the show follows party‑girl Frankie as she navigates a chaotic rehab clinic filled with misfits. The series blends dark...
Radio Ink’s Hispanic Radio Conference 2026 will be co‑emceeded by Edgar “Shoboy” Sotelo and Dana Cortez, two prominent Latino radio personalities. The two‑day event, scheduled for May 27‑28 at the Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort, gathers broadcasters, marketers and tech...
The long‑standing cable‑bundle subsidy that funded local sports rights has collapsed, forcing teams to rely solely on fan subscriptions and ad revenue. This direct‑to‑consumer model creates a revenue squeeze as production costs outpace the limited audience base. Industry experts propose...
Connoisseur Media is preparing to divest a former Alpha Media property acquired during its debt‑driven merger with the group. The buyer is a North Texas owner of a Christian Contemporary Music station, which will take control of an 18 kW Class...
Police and media in England and Wales have introduced a new policing‑media charter aimed at resetting a strained relationship that worsened after the 2023 Nicola Bulley disappearance. The case generated over 6,500 news stories in a single day and 270 million TikTok...
Vivacom has expanded its EON television platform in Bulgaria by adding BBC First and BBC Earth. BBC First, positioned as a Bulgarian premiere, joins the EON Premium package on channel 63, delivering British drama and crime series such as *Death...
The Video Advertising Bureau’s new survey of 2,300 U.S. adults finds that most committed or prospective voters regularly watch ad‑supported television and streaming services. TV and linear‑plus‑streaming platforms remain the primary discovery channel for political candidates, with voters turning to...
Retail media is evolving from a bottom‑funnel, search‑only model to a full‑funnel ecosystem that includes video, display, and off‑site formats. Amazon’s share of retail media spend dropped from 56% to 46% as marketers allocate more budget to Walmart and mid‑size...
CapRadio and Sacramento public TV station KVIE announced a settlement ending a contentious dispute over the ownership of a shared radio tower. The conflict began when the Capital Public Radio Endowment transferred the tower deed to KVIE in 2024, prompting...
Setplex will debut its fully integrated Zapflex platform at the 2026 NAB Show, highlighting new AI‑driven search and a super aggregation engine that merge internal libraries with third‑party content. The AI search combines keyword precision with intent‑based semantics, while the...
Vurt, a new mobile‑first streaming service, debuted on March 18, 2026, offering indie filmmakers a vertical‑video platform for micro‑series, full‑length films and TV shows. The launch includes over 100 episodes and a weekly slate of original titles, featuring talent such...
English Club TV, a global educational channel, has launched on Yettel Hungary’s platform. Starting April 15, the channel will be included in Yettel’s TV Plus package for subscribers. The partnership aligns with English Club TV Group’s plan to broaden its...
Boat Rocker Studios announced two senior director appointments to bolster its creative teams. Vanessa Esteves joins as senior director of creative affairs for kids and family, bringing 19+ years and experience at Nelvana with brands like Thomas & Friends. Joey...
World Screen, TV Kids, and TV Listings released their March digital editions, featuring a streamlined, on‑the‑go design and direct links to the WorldScreenings.com video portal. The World Screen issue includes interviews with NHK’s Tatsuhiko Inoue and Inter Medya’s Can Okan...
Glenn Haygood, President and General Manager of Hearst’s WLKY-TV in Louisville, announced his retirement later this year, concluding a broadcast career spanning more than four decades. He has overseen WLKY’s editorial and business operations since 2008, guiding the CBS affiliate...
Billionaire media entrepreneur Robert Allbritton said the Washington Post's February newsroom cuts present a rare hiring opportunity. His digital outlet Notus announced the recruitment of high‑profile former Post journalists, including Dana Milbank, Paul Kane and Jeff Stein, and plans to double its staff...
Publicis has instructed its clients to stop recommending The Trade Desk after a third‑party audit uncovered improper fee applications and a lack of transparent cost invoicing. The audit, performed by FirmDecisions, concluded that The Trade Desk charged fees without clear...
PubMatic and Butler/Till executed Geloso Beverage Group’s first fully autonomous, AI‑driven media campaign using the AgenticOS platform. The test cut buy‑side supply‑chain costs by 5.5× while delivering a 98% video‑completion rate and 40% more impressions than planned. Quality metrics were...
MarkApp has joined IAB MENA, reinforcing its commitment to transparent, standards‑driven digital advertising in the Middle East and North Africa. IAB MENA is a leading industry body that shapes programmatic standards, best practices, and education across the region. MarkApp brings...
Public media stations face a looming shortage of skilled engineers as seasoned staff retire and new talent pipelines lag behind. The article argues that hiring retired military communications specialists and establishing formal engineering apprenticeships can close the gap. It also...
Nielsen has delayed the March edition of its flagship The Gauge report to March 24, citing the integration of new DASH data into its streaming measurement methodology. The delayed release follows streamer anxiety that the updated metrics will reveal a...
Tubi’s new "Stream 2026" report shows streaming is the most engaging entertainment channel, with 90% of viewers reporting higher attention than live events or social media. The ad‑supported service leverages fandom‑driven identity, nostalgia, and creator‑led content to attract a younger, on‑demand...
Coca‑Cola’s Sprite has reclaimed its role as the NBA’s official soft‑drink sponsor, ending a three‑year stint by PepsiCo’s Starry. The multiyear agreement activates immediately, giving Sprite presence at marquee NBA events, international games, and digital fan experiences. The partnership revives...
Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros creates a streaming powerhouse that combines HBO Max, Paramount+, Discovery+ and legacy cable brands, targeting roughly 200 million global subscribers. The merger boosts negotiating leverage against rivals like Amazon and Netflix but saddles the new entity...
Future Media unveiled Helix, an AI‑powered audience platform that builds on its first‑party data assets. Helix replaces the legacy Aperture system in the U.S., adding predictive modeling and real‑time audience segmentation for outcome‑based campaigns. Early tests across 20 fashion, retail...
Nielsen’s latest trend report highlights that ad‑supported TV now accounts for 74% of total TV viewing time. The landscape is increasingly fragmented, with each platform—broadcast, streaming services, and FAST channels—offering distinct audience profiles. Nielsen positions the guide as a roadmap...
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal will headline Walmart and Vizio’s first joint NewFront presentation on March 23. The event, titled “Content to Commerce,” will feature top executives from Walmart Connect, Vizio, L’Oreal, NBCUniversal and Universal Studios. It will provide the first look...
The advertising industry is witnessing a rapid surge in generative AI tools, yet women’s adoption lags sharply behind that of men. Charlotte Bunyan highlights this gender gap, noting that fewer women are experimenting with AI-driven creative workflows. The article argues...
Omnicom Media Newcastle managing director Pete Coates says the future of media lies in a multi‑regional approach that unites global scale with genuine local delivery. He argues that clients no longer have to choose between worldwide reach and nuanced, market‑specific...
Matt Laubhan, former chief meteorologist at Mississippi’s WTVA, launched an independent, 24‑hour weather streaming platform after a layoff threat from the Allen Group. During the January 2026 ice storm his livestream drew 1.5 million viewers, facilitating real‑time generator donations that kept...
Sky has integrated Disney+ into its core TV subscription, offering the Standard with Ads tier (valued at £5.99 per month) at no extra charge to eligible customers. The service is now accessible via Sky Glass, Sky Stream, and Sky Q,...
Perion CEO Tal Jacobson says the AI hype is merely a re‑branding of technologies the company has used for 15 years, and the firm is now building an AI media‑trading agent called Outmax. The platform allocates spend across CTV, DOOH,...
