60 Minutes Journalist Decries ‘Spread of Corporate Meddling and Editorial Fear’ at CBS News
Veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi warned that corporate meddling and editorial fear are eroding CBS News’ independence after a segment on El Salvador’s Cecot prison was delayed and altered at the request of CBS editor Bari Weiss. Alfonsi, who received a Ridenhour Prize for courage, said she was pressured to secure a Trump administration comment and to change the story, which she refused. The piece eventually aired largely unchanged but without a U.S. official interview, leaving Alfonsi’s future at the network uncertain. Her remarks echo earlier resignations over similar interference at the program.
Out with the Tapes, in with the Cloud: Nine’s TV News Transformation
Nine Network is overhauling its TV news operation, moving to cloud‑based, story‑centric production and cutting 120 legacy systems to three bespoke platforms. The restructure reduces role types from 100 to nine, requiring staff to multi‑skill, and includes about 20 voluntary...
TV Ratings (30/4/2026): Women’s State Of Origin Edges AFL In Thursday Night Code Clash
Thursday night’s television clash saw the inaugural Women’s State of Origin game claim the top spot with a national reach of 2.045 million and an average audience of 980,000, edging out the AFL broadcast. The NSW Blues defeated the Queensland Maroons...
Kellanova Moves Media From Bastion Back to Zenith
Kellanova, the former Kellogg’s, has moved its global media buying from Bastion back to Publicis’s Zenith as part of the Mars‑Publicis agency ecosystem. The shift follows Mars’s $1.7 billion migration of its media account from WPP to Publicis last year. Bastion...
Your TV Can Sound a Lot Better: 7 Easy but Unexpected Ways to Improve Audio Quality
Most TV audio problems stem from room acoustics rather than the speakers themselves, and simple, low‑cost tweaks can dramatically improve sound quality. Soft furnishings, acoustic curtains, and inexpensive foam panels absorb reflections and block external noise, creating a cleaner listening...
SiriusXM Churn at Record Low in Q1
SiriusXM posted Q1 2026 revenue of $2.09 billion, a modest 1% year‑over‑year increase, while net income surged 20% to $245 million. The company’s churn rate fell to a record‑low 1.5%, reflecting strong subscriber retention across its 33 million paid users and the broader...
Vitasoy Relaunches ‘Stand by Me’ with Dentsu GBA to Celebrate Human Connection
Vitasoy has teamed with dentsu GBA to relaunch its iconic “Stand by Me” campaign, emphasizing everyday human connections. The rollout spans TV, digital video, social platforms and out‑of‑home placements, including a dominant presence in Hong Kong MTR stations. Three short films...
EXIT Signs Performance Director Olivia Altavilla
EXIT Films announced the addition of director Olivia Altavilla, known for her emotionally authentic commercial storytelling rooted in her Italian‑Venezuelan heritage. Altavilla emphasizes real‑life details, nuanced casting, and purposeful camera work to create memorable, human‑focused narratives. The agency’s managing partner...
‘Friends’ Cast’s Multi-Million Dollar Yearly Residuals Revealed
Lisa Kudrow disclosed that the six Friends actors collectively collect about AUD 27 million (≈US$18 million) in residuals each year, more than two decades after the sitcom ended. The cast negotiated equal salaries early on, rising from roughly AUD 32,000 (≈US$21,000) per episode in season 1 to AUD 1.3 million (≈US$860,000)...
Reddit Q1 Revenue Climbs to A$921 Million
Reddit reported first‑quarter 2026 revenue of A$921 million (about $607 million), a 69% year‑on‑year increase, driven primarily by a 74% jump in ad revenue to A$869 million ($574 million). Net income surged to A$284 million ($188 million) and adjusted EBITDA hit A$370 million ($244 million) with a 40%...
The Distrusted MSM
A Statista Consumer Insights survey of 31 countries reveals that 31% of French respondents distrust their mainstream media, the highest level globally. Japan and the United States follow closely, with roughly three‑in‑ten respondents expressing skepticism. The United Kingdom and Germany...
Taiwan Falls Four Places in RSF’s World Press Freedom Ranking
Taiwan slipped four places in Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index, falling to 28th out of 180 with a score of 75.44, down from 24th and 77.04 last year. Despite the drop, the island’s media environment remains one of...
DAZN’s U.S. Pursuit Gaining Steam
DAZN announced the acquisition of ViewLift, a streaming‑technology provider that already powers direct‑to‑consumer services for several major U.S. sports teams. ViewLift’s portfolio includes partnerships with the NHL’s Panthers, MLB’s Mariners, 15 teams and five regional sports networks. The deal gives...
Comcast-NFL Network Dispute Kicks Off
Comcast’s carriage agreement with Disney/ESPN for NFL Network and NFL RedZone expired at 11:59 p.m. ET Thursday, prompting the removal of both channels from Xfinity, Comcast Business, Xfinity Stream, and On Demand. The dispute marks the first high‑profile carriage fight for...
Press Freedom Across Central Asia and Caucasus Eroding at Alarming Rate – Watchdog
Reporters Without Borders’ 25th World Press Freedom Index shows a global slide, with more than half of the 180 surveyed nations now classified as “difficult” or “very serious” for media freedom. In the Central Asian and Caucasus region, Georgia experienced...
Programming
Amazon has held preliminary internal talks about reviving “The Apprentice” for Prime Video, with a possible host in Donald Trump Jr., following its acquisition of MGM. The streaming giant confirmed no development is underway, though the idea reflects a strategic...
The Cryptkeeper Now Streaming
AMC Global Media has resolved a long‑standing rights tangle to bring the cult horror anthology "Tales from the Crypt" to streaming for the first time. Season 1 launches today on Shudder and AMC+, with a new season released each Friday until...
The ABC Dominates SPA Awards
The Screen Producers Australia (SPA) Awards saw the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) sweep six of the nine television categories, cementing its dominance in local content. Hard Quiz captured Light Entertainment Production of the Year, while Austin, The Newsreader, Grand Designs...
Report: ABC Set to Part Ways with Jimmy Kimmel as Contract Expiry Looms
ABC is expected to let Jimmy Kimmel go when his contract expires in May 2027, according to gossip columnist Rob Shuter. While the network has publicly defended the host, the FCC’s early broadcast‑license review—triggered by Trump family criticism of a recent...
Prime Video Reveals ‘Obsession Is in Session’ Initiative for Young Adults
Prime Video unveiled "Obsession is in Session," a year‑long initiative to cement its position as the go‑to streaming home for young adult (YA) audiences. The program kicks off with a teaser trailer showcasing 12 new YA titles slated for 2026...
Toby Morris Joins Growing COUSIN Stable
COUSIN, an Australian production company, has signed director Toby Morris to its roster. Morris, a prolific freelancer with 85 million video views and work featured at TIFF, St Kilda, and commercial campaigns for the Singapore Navy, The Iconic, Kia and Instagram, joins...
CPI Media Deploys QuickLink StudioCall
CPI Media, the production arm of Malta’s Missionary Society of St Paul, has integrated QuickLink StudioCall into its broadcast workflow. The browser‑based solution lets clergy, guests and community members join live productions from anywhere without installing software, while delivering studio‑grade audio...
Salem and Cumulus Shake on Larry O’Connor Syndication
Salem Media Group and Cumulus Media are launching Larry O’Connor’s morning show as a national program on May 4, adding it to more than 140 Salem Radio Network affiliates and simulcasting on the Salem News Channel. The show will retain its...
Sinclair Notes Stronger Political Ad Buys in Q1 as Midterm Budgets Open
Sinclair reported Q1 revenue of $807 million, a 4% year‑over‑year increase, while adjusted EBITDA rose 13% to $126 million and net income turned positive at $20 million versus a $156 million loss a year ago. Core advertising revenue grew 4% to $305 million, and political...
Campaign Media Awards 2026: Winners Revealed
The Campaign Media Awards 2026 were held on 30 April at London’s Hilton Park Lane, honoring leading media agencies. EssenceMediacom, OMD, Bountiful Cow and Wavemaker emerged as the night’s biggest winners, while Digital Cinema Media captured the Commercial Team of...
US Falls Below Ukraine in Press Freedom as Global Autocracy Takes Hold
Reporters Without Borders released its 2026 World Press Freedom Index, confirming Norway’s decade‑long reign at the top while noting a historic low in the global average score. The United States fell seven places to 64th, slipping behind Ukraine, Canada and...
Roku Grows Platform Revenue to $1.13 Billion During Q1
Roku reported first‑quarter 2026 net revenue of $1.25 billion, a 22% year‑over‑year increase, driven by platform revenue that climbed 28% to $1.13 billion. Advertising contributed $613 million, up 27%, while subscription revenue rose 30% to $519 million. The company swung to a net profit...
FCC Believes Redesign Will Bolster Its Disaster Reporting System
The FCC released a draft order to modernize its Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS), aiming to cut redundant paperwork and speed data collection during emergencies. Proposed changes let providers file a single form, add a one‑click "no‑change" option, and allow...
Roblox’s Daily Users Continue to Drop as Age-Checks Slow Growth
Roblox reported 132 million daily active users (DAU) in Q1 2026, a drop from 144 million a quarter earlier and 152 million in Q3 2025. The decline is linked to the rollout of mandatory age‑verification checks, which slowed new user acquisition, and a...
Chachi Loves Adam Taylor & ‘American Afterlife’ In New Podcasts
Benztown released two new episodes of its interview series *Chachi Loves Everybody*. The first episode features APM Music President Adam Taylor, who recounts his eclectic career and discusses how artificial intelligence is reshaping production music. The second episode spotlights the creators...
LINE Digital Frontier, Redice Studio and Kadokawa Launch Studio White
LINE Digital Frontier, Kadokawa and Redice Studio have created Studio White, a new web‑comic studio focused on adapting popular Japanese franchises for the global WEBTOON platform. The studio’s first release is a spin‑off of Record of Lodoss War, slated for...
Everything Is PooCrave Now
PooCrave, a parody Twitter account modeled after the influential PopCrave feed, has been flooding timelines with deliberately false celebrity news. Recent posts range from absurd claims like Lena Dunham outselling religious texts to fabricated drama involving Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles. While the...
Roku Net Revenue Tops $1.25 Billion, But Revenue From The Sale of Roku TVs & Roku Players Fell As Subscriptions...
Roku reported first‑quarter 2026 net revenue of $1.25 billion, a 22% year‑over‑year increase driven primarily by platform growth. Platform revenue surged 28% to $1.13 billion, with advertising up 27% and subscriptions up 30%. Device revenue slipped 16% to $118 million, posting a negative...
Michigan Senate Passes Bill to Curb Notifications, Data Collection
Michigan’s Democratic‑led Senate approved the “Kids Over Clicks” package, SB 757‑760, to restrict minors’ exposure to social‑media notifications, data collection, and advanced chatbots. The bills ban push notifications to users aged 10‑17 between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and during school hours, tighten...
Octavia Butler’s Survivor Is Getting a Reprint—Something the Author Opposed During Her Lifetime
Grand Central Publishing announced a new edition of Octavia Butler’s 1978 novel *Survivor*, a book the author publicly opposed reissuing while she was alive. The decision comes amid a resurgence of Butler’s work, driven by renewed interest in her Earthseed...
New 7NEWS Podcast Unpacks Dezi Freeman’s Seven Month Manhunt
Seven‑month manhunt suspect Dezi Freeman, who killed two Victorian police officers, is the focus of a new six‑part investigative podcast titled “Dezi Freeman: The Hunt.” Hosted by 7NEWS anchor Michael Usher and crime editor Cassie Zervos, the series launches on...
Surprise! Jensen Ackles Is Returning To Tracker Ahead Of Season Finale
Jensen Ackles is set to reappear in CBS’s sci‑fi drama Tracker for the final two episodes of season three, airing May 17 and May 24. He will reprise his role as Russell, the brother of lead character Colter Shaw, in episodes “Chrono...
Social Media Law 'Promotes Robust Young Workforce,' Business Group Argues
The South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce filed an amicus brief urging a federal judge to uphold the state’s Social Media Regulation Act, which obligates online platforms to exercise reasonable care to curb compulsive use and to disable personalized...
Six Months on, Has Seven’s WINNING ARVO Experiment Moved the Dial?
Seven’s "Winning Arvo" afternoon block launched six months ago, mixing imported quiz formats, rolling headlines and cash giveaways to revive daytime viewership. The experiment has helped steady the lead into the 4 p.m. news and The Chase Australia at 5 p.m., though...
Meta Threatens to Pull Its Apps From New Mexico if Forced to Make ‘Technologically Impractical’ Changes
Meta warned it could pull Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp from New Mexico if the state’s attorney general’s demands are enforced. The AG seeks a ban on end‑to‑end encryption for minors, mandatory age verification and a 99 percent detection rate for child sexual...
Sydney’s Southwest Spotlighted on BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
Better Homes and Gardens aired a new episode focusing on Sydney’s southwest, spotlighting the historic suburb of Camden. Host Johanna explored the area’s mix of heritage streets and modern housing while the show presented backyard fixes, quick cooking hacks, and...
Why Gaming Advertising Belongs on More Ecommerce Media Plans
E‑commerce brands have sophisticated playbooks for Meta, TikTok, YouTube and CTV, yet most lack a dedicated strategy for gaming—a multi‑platform ecosystem that includes console, PC, mobile, esports and web. Research shows gamers maintain far higher focus than social‑media scrollers, with...
'Dutton Ranch,' 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' And More: See What's New on Paramount Plus in May 2026
Paramount Plus’s May 2026 lineup adds a mix of new originals, classic series and live sports. Highlights include the *Yellowstone* spin‑off *Dutton Ranch* (May 15), *RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars* Season 11 (May 8), and the final season of *The Chi* (May 22). The streaming service...
‘Running Point’ Stars Kate Hudson and Brenda Song on Isla and Ali’s Season 2 Arc: “We Have Our Own Love...
Netflix’s comedy Running Point returns for season 2, spotlighting the evolving friendship between Kate Hudson’s Isla and Brenda Song’s Ali. Episode 3 uses college‑era flashbacks to reveal how Isla’s early mistrust of women shaped her bond with Ali, who later quits for a...
Screen Producers Awards 2026: Winners
Jungle Entertainment won both Production Business of the Year and the Screen Business Export award at the 24th Annual SPA Awards, held during Screen Forever 40 on the Gold Coast. The ceremony also recognized a wide range of Australian productions, from drama...
Inside Nine’s FUTURE NEWS Plan to Reshape Newsroom Operations
Nine Network has unveiled its "Future News" strategy, a multi‑year overhaul that will collapse roughly 100 existing newsroom job titles into nine core roles and condense more than 120 production and publishing systems onto three unified platforms. The first phase...
Instagram Updates Algorithm to Benefit Original Creators
Instagram announced a major algorithm update that elevates original photos, carousel posts, and how‑to guides while reducing the reach of aggregator accounts. The change expands the Reels‑focused system introduced in 2024, which previously doubled original Reel views and watch time....
Screen Forever 2026: “The Industry Has Always Been Bad”
The Screen Forever conference, a key gathering for film and TV creators, once again featured the familiar lament about shrinking budgets and a bleak market outlook. While many panels echoed concerns over tightening financing pipelines, a story‑development session shifted tone...
Nura Studios Launches Showcraft AI-Assisted Animation Platform
Nura Studios announced that its AI‑assisted animation platform Showcraft will enter Early Access on May 19. The tool lets game and animation studios transform existing characters, environments, and assets into episodic series or films while preserving the artistic intent of the...
Idaho Legislature Changes Book Ban As Court Challenges Continue
During the 2026 Idaho legislative session, lawmakers advanced House Bill 819 to amend the state’s “harmful to minors” statute after the Ninth Circuit found the earlier HB 710 likely overbroad. HB 819 creates a new “adolescent minors” category (ages 13‑17)...