Generative Engine Marketing: Retail Media’s Next Move
Generative Engine Marketing (GEM) is emerging as a new approach that positions brands to be discovered by AI models rather than just human shoppers. Jellyfish’s report highlights early successes, such as Gentle Monster’s 17% click‑through‑rate lift and MSC Industrial’s 45% revenue rise after AI‑driven optimizations. GEM shifts retail media upstream, focusing on “Share of Model” – how often AI assistants surface a brand. Brands must now structure data and train models to stay visible in AI‑mediated commerce.
Below Deck Down Under’s Mike Durant Reflects on Shock Firing
Mike Durant was dismissed from Bravo’s reality series "Below Deck Down Under" after Captain Jason Chambers labeled his behavior toxic and ordered his immediate removal. Durant, who previously claimed innocence, now admits his disruptive antics, including teasing crew members and...
Maintaining Brand Safety and Integrity in the AI Slop Era
A recent AD Week House Possible panel, co‑hosted by Silverpush, highlighted the surge of low‑quality AI‑generated content—dubbed “AI slop”—and its threat to brand safety. Speakers from Silverpush, Best Friend Animal Society, and Crispin urged brands to create bespoke guardrails that define...
Attack on Titan's Finale Gets New 4K Theatrical Release in North America
Crunchyroll’s Anime Nights will bring Attack on Titan: The Last Attack to North American theaters on May 18 in 4K. The film compiles the final episodes of the series’ fourth season, adding a new epilogue scene where the main characters...
NCIS: Origins Season 3 Renewal Status & Future Revealed
CBS officially renewed NCIS: Origins for a third season on Jan. 22, 2026, adding it to the network’s 16‑show fall lineup. The drama will return to its Tuesday 10/9c slot, likely launching in late September or early October. Season 3 will be trimmed...
Borrell: Local Digital Ad Growth Slows as Share Wars Begin
Borrell Associates’ 24th annual Local Digital Advertising report shows that growth in local digital ad revenue has slipped to low single‑digit percentages, the slowest pace since the Great Recession. Digital now accounts for 72% of local ad spend, totaling about...
Liberman & Sang Lead Hispanic Radio Conference Pivot Session
At Radio Ink’s Hispanic Radio Conference 2026, senior advisor Jeffery Liberman will interview digital‑media star Zach Sang in a session titled “The Pivot to Powerhouse.” The discussion will trace Sang’s evolution from traditional radio host to digital‑first creator, focusing on...
Newsbrand Launched by Ex-Observer Staff Expands Team Six Months On
The Nerve, a subscription‑based newsbrand founded by five former Observer journalists, announced the hiring of two investigative reporters and two columnists just six months after its launch. The outlet now counts 30,000 paying and free subscribers and has logged 2.5 million...
David Letterman Reflects on ‘The Late Show’ and Has Harsh Words for New CBS Owners
Former "Late Show" host David Letterman publicly criticized CBS's new owners after the network announced the show's cancellation. The decision follows the acquisition of Paramount Global by David Ellison, backed by his father Larry Ellison, whom Letterman mockingly called the...
Silverpush Brings Broadcast-Quality YouTube Buying to EMEA Advertisers with SilverScreen™
Silverpush has launched SilverScreen, an AI‑driven classification layer that tags YouTube channels as broadcast‑quality for EMEA advertisers. The tool lets media planners treat YouTube inventory like linear TV, using production standards, cadence and co‑viewing signals to curate TV‑grade content. A...
Rivals and 1923 Stars Join Ashley Walters in Cast for "Thrillingly Suspenseful" ITV Drama
ITV’s upcoming six‑part drama *First Woman* has added Alex Hassell and Jennifer Ehle to its already star‑studded cast, joining Ashley Walters and Andrea Riseborough. Hassell will portray the UK Prime Minister, while Ehle plays a Space Flight Authority investigator probing the disappearance...
Why Direct Advertisers Are Making a Comeback in iGaming Affiliate Marketing
The iGaming affiliate landscape is seeing a resurgence of direct advertiser relationships, moving away from the traditional network‑centric model. Affiliates are opting for fewer, tightly managed offers to gain faster negotiations, flexible deal structures, and shorter feedback loops with product...
May 5 New-Release Titles Include ‘Wuthering Heights,’ ‘GOAT’ on Blu-Ray, ‘Ready or Not 2’ Digitally
Media Play News lists a slate of home‑entertainment releases slated for May 5, 2026, spanning new theatrical titles and classic restorations. Warner Bros. Discovery is issuing Emerald Fennell’s "Wuthering Heights" and HBO’s "It: Welcome to Derry – Season 1" on DVD, Blu‑ray and 4K...
ABC NEWS Expands Reach with AAP Regional News Partnership
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has teamed up with the Australian Associated Press (AAP) to launch a one‑year pilot that will distribute ABC’s emergency‑related digital articles to 40 regional news outlets. AAP will provide its Newsroom web portal as the...
Koddi and Comcast’s Universal Ads Ink Deal to Target Streaming Ads With Commerce Data
Koddi, a commerce‑media adtech firm, has partnered with Comcast’s self‑service platform Universal Ads to let advertisers purchase streaming inventory using first‑party shopper audiences. The integration opens access to ad slots from more than 20 publishers, including DirecTV, Fox, NBCUniversal, Paramount,...
The 2026 Creative 100: Media, TV & Streaming Innovators Know How to Win
The 2026 Creative 100 Media, TV & Streaming Innovators list spotlights leaders who turned bold ideas into measurable business results. Ali Brown’s teams secured four Super Bowl spots and earned Production Company of the Year, while Bloomberg Media Studios generated double‑digit...
A “Pay-For-Performance” Ad Industry? Brands And Agencies Will Need A Referee
WPP announced it will pivot toward fee structures tied to sales and brand performance, citing Jaguar Land Rover as a proof point. By 2026 the firm aims to generate 25% of Monks agency revenue from subscription‑based solutions rather than hourly...
A “Pay-For-Performance” Ad Industry? Brands And Agencies Will Need A Referee
WPP announced a strategic shift toward fee structures tied to measurable sales and brand performance, using Jaguar Land Rover as a pilot. By the end of 2026 the firm aims to generate 25% of Monks agency revenue from subscription‑based solutions rather than...
Some Micro Influencers Find Promising Security in Brand Ownership over Sponsorships
Micro influencers are turning to brand ownership and equity stakes as a hedge against platform volatility. Creator Colin Rocker recently invested seed capital in Favikon, hoping for a future IPO or acquisition, while the broader creator economy sees $13.7 billion in...
The End of the Walled Garden? Analysing Meta’s Strategic Pivot to Open AI Connectors
Meta is dismantling its traditional walled‑garden by releasing AI Connectors that use the open Model Context Protocol (MCP) to let third‑party agents manage ad accounts, diagnostics and product catalogs via natural‑language commands. This shift moves digital advertising from isolated generative...
Netflix Joins the Attention War with New 'Clips' Feature
Netflix unveiled "Clips," a vertical, short‑form video feed designed for mobile users, debuting on May 1 in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines and South Africa. The feature delivers personalized, snackable snippets from movies, series...
The AI Illusion: Everyone’s a ‘Copywriter’ Now – and Brands Are Paying for It
AI‑generated copy is now so polished that marketers question the need for human copywriters, prompting cost‑cutting plans across the industry. A Wall Street Journal survey shows 36% of CMOs expect to eliminate copywriting roles within the next two years, while...
Sundance Fitness Media and CityFitness Group Announce New Strategic Partnership
Sundance Fitness Media announced an exclusive advertising partnership with CityFitness Group, New Zealand’s largest gym network serving over 250,000 members across 65 locations, with six more slated for 2026. The deal expands Sundance’s trans‑Tasman footprint, making it the only media company...
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In November 2025 Superpath released Episode 125, a deep‑dive into whether podcasts are essential for B2B marketing, weighing audience reach against measurable ROI. The episode highlights case studies where audio content amplified thought leadership but also notes scenarios where podcasts add...
Countdown to Gerety Awards Final Deadline: Friday, May 15
The 2026 Gerety Awards have set their final submission deadline for May 15, 2026. Organizers emphasize the awards’ focus on work that resonates and sparks conversation across the global creative community. The jury panel, featuring international creatives, will share insights via...
Havas Thailand Scores Marketing and Media Mandate for Budweiser 0.0 FIFA World Cup 2026™
Havas Thailand has been named the lead marketing and media partner for AB InBev’s Budweiser 0.0 FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in Thailand. The agency will combine data intelligence, media strategy and cultural insight to deliver a locally resonant yet globally consistent brand...
Pulitzer Prize Winner in International Reporting
The Associated Press team of Dake Kang, Garance Burke, Byron Tau, Aniruddha Ghosal and Yael Grauer won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting. Their series, published throughout 2025, documents how Silicon Valley technology enabled mass detention, surveillance, and AI‑driven...
If Social Goes More Private, Where Do Brands Go Next?
The social media playbook is being upended as Instagram tests a standalone "Instants" app for one‑view, 24‑hour disappearing content and legacy Friendster re‑emerges as a private, friend‑to‑friend network. Alongside Snapchat and Locket, these platforms prioritize intimate, low‑pressure sharing over mass...
Big Tech Wants to Punish Australia over Albanese’s Media Bargaining Code – and Trump Might Be Inclined to Listen |...
Australia’s Labor government has introduced a News Bargaining Incentive that obliges Meta, Google and TikTok to pay for the use of local news content. The proposal has sparked alarm among the tech giants, who see the levy as a threat...
Another Cable TV Network Is Shutting Down Its App on Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, & Apple TV This Month
Fox Corporation will retire its standalone Fox Sports app on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV and Apple TV around May 7, after notifying users on April 7. The move is part of a strategic shift to funnel viewers into the unified...
Comcast, Scripps Make a Deal
Comcast and Scripps reached a retransmission agreement that restores Scripps’ local TV stations to Xfinity after a month‑long blackout. The dispute had erupted over Scripps’ request for additional carriage of stations that broadcast NHL games, which Comcast said would force...
Jessica Sula Joins Fox Drama Series ‘The Interrogator’
Fox Entertainment and Lionsgate Television have greenlit a 12‑episode drama titled "The Interrogator" for the 2026‑27 season, starring Stephen Fry as former MI6 agent Conrad Henry. Welsh‑born actress Jessica Sula joins the cast as Astrid, a criminal psychologist and the...
Paramount Will Keep Licensing Some Content To Third Parties; CEO David Ellison Says Strategy Makes Company “Much More Desirable” To...
Paramount announced it will continue licensing select TV properties to third‑party platforms under new CEO David Ellison. The strategy, which dates back to Bob Bakish’s tenure with deals for Yellowstone and South Park, is framed as a talent‑attraction tool rather than...
How to Watch the San Antonio Spurs Vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 2026 NBA Playoffs Second Round Game 1
The San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves open their Western Conference second‑round series on Monday, May 4, with Game 1 streaming exclusively on Peacock at 9:30 p.m. ET. The Spurs advanced past the Portland Trail Blazers 4‑1, while the Timberwolves eliminated the Denver...
Reality Shows Are Increasingly Shot Abroad, But Networks & Streamers Would Like To Film More In U.S. – Reality TV...
Reality unscripted series are increasingly filmed abroad as tax credits and lower production costs make overseas locations attractive. Fox highlighted that moving 100 Americans to Ireland for The Floor was cheaper than shooting in Los Angeles, and Netflix is following production...
Netflix Is Still Keen On Live Reality Shows & So Are Its Rivals – Reality TV Summit
Netflix is doubling down on live unscripted programming, launching events like BTS: The Comeback that attracted 18.4 million viewers and experimenting with remote‑voting technology on Star Search. While Star Search failed to crack the global top‑10 and won’t return, the platform’s...
Robert Greenblatt Sets First-Look Deal at Universal TV in Return to NBCUniversal Fold
Robert Greenblatt is re‑joining Universal Television under a first‑look agreement that will see his production company, The Green Room, develop series across all UTV platforms. The deal follows his recent success executive‑producing the HBO hit “The Gilded Age,” now entering...
3 Reasons to Embrace the Era of AI Slop
The article argues that communicators should embrace the AI era by treating artificial intelligence as a strategic partner rather than a content factory. It warns that mediocre writers who rely solely on AI risk becoming obsolete, while strong writers who...
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Moment Partners with SCAT Airlines to Deliver Wireless IFE Across Fleet
Moment announced a partnership with Kazakhstan‑based SCAT Airlines to install its wireless inflight entertainment (IFE) system across the carrier’s fleet. The deal, signed on March 4, makes SCAT the first Central Asian airline to adopt Moment’s Flymingo Box, a compact, autonomous...
Kochava Won't Sell 'Sensitive' Location Data Without Consent
Data broker Kochava agreed to stop selling sensitive precise location data without explicit consumer consent, settling FTC privacy charges. The settlement defines sensitive data as GPS coordinates linked to medical, religious, educational, homeless, domestic‑violence, and law‑enforcement sites. Kochava does not...
"Highly Entertaining" '90s Classic Casper Set for Reboot - and Steven Spielberg Is Back on Board
Disney+ is developing a live‑action series reboot of the 1995 film Casper, with Steven Spielberg attached as a producer. The project won a fiercely contested five‑way bidding war and will be directed and co‑written by Rob Letterman alongside Hilary Winston. Executive...
NCIS: Sydney Season Four Scaled Back After Recent Expansion
NCIS: Sydney’s fourth season will be trimmed to 10 episodes, a sharp reduction from the 20‑episode third season that was expanded to meet CBS’s scheduling needs. The series launched with eight episodes in 2023, grew to ten in season two,...
Threads Expands Trending Topic Summaries to More Regions
Threads has expanded its AI‑generated trending‑topic summaries to Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan and Brazil, adding the feature to the Explore section in those markets. The summaries, first launched in the U.S. in February 2024, condense the most active conversations into short snippets...
Will Simon Cowell Join Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson in Their ‘American Idol’ Return?
American Idol celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special episode that reunited original judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, alongside new judge Carrie Underwood. The show featured alumni from the 2006 class, but Simon Cowell, the iconic original judge, was confirmed...
Grave Threat to Media Freedom a Big Concern
The latest Reporters Without Borders (RSF) report shows press freedom at its lowest level in over two decades, with more than half of nations now classified as “difficult” or “very serious.” World Press Freedom Day on May 3 highlighted a surge...
Virginia AG Renews Bid To Enforce Time Limits For Social Media
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones has renewed a request for the state to enforce its new social‑media age‑verification law, SB 854, which would cap daily use for minors under 16 at one hour without parental consent. A federal judge issued...
Pluto TV to Relaunch on Paramount Plus Platform This Summer
Paramount will relaunch its free, ad‑supported Pluto TV service inside the Paramount Plus app this summer, a move described by CEO David Ellison as the most significant update in a decade. The integration aims to improve user experience with personalized...
Instagram Adds AI Creator Labels
Instagram introduced an “AI creator” label that creators can toggle on their profiles and posts, signaling regular use of generative‑AI tools. The label supersedes the existing “AI info” tag on individual pieces of content, aiming to reduce confusion and misinformation....
Where Are They Now? OG ‘American Idol’ Judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson
ABC’s American Idol announced that original judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson will return as mentors for the current season, with Abdul also serving as a guest judge. The episode is marketed as a “20th High School Reunion,” featuring alumni...
The Screen Everyone Ignored Is Now the One Everyone Wants
André Swanston, founder of ad‑supported gaming platform PHYND, argues that gamers deliver the high‑attention, high‑intent engagement that social feeds and streaming cannot match. While traditional commerce on big screens has struggled, gaming already blends deep immersion with real‑money transactions, creating...