Tech Giants Earned over $100b in Advertising Revenue in First Three Months of 2026
In the first quarter of 2026, Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft together generated more than $100 billion in advertising revenue. Alphabet led with $87.0 billion, driven by Google search ($77.3 b) and YouTube ($9.9 b), both posting double‑digit growth. Meta posted $55.0 billion, up 33% thanks to higher price‑per‑ad and a surge in impressions. Amazon and Microsoft also posted double‑digit gains, pushing the four‑firm total past the $100 billion milestone.
‘Summer House’ Spinoff ‘In The City’ Filmed “New Scene” To Address Amanda Batula & West Wilson’s Romance After Ciara Miller...
Bravo is launching a Summer House spinoff, In the City, to air May 19 alongside the Season 10 finale. The series adds a newly‑shot scene that directly tackles the fallout from Amanda Batula and West Wilson’s romance, which many fans view...
Bestads Best TV of the Week: Consejo Profesional De Agrimensores’ ‘Study Surveying’ via FROM
Bestadsontv.com, the global showcase arm of Campaign Brief, highlighted the Argentine ad “Study Surveying” by Consejo Profesional de Agrimensores, produced by agency FROM. The spot was selected by guest judge Lisa Fedyszyn, CCO of Special, New Zealand, for its witty take on...
Liquid Content Was Never Going to Be a Publisher Product
Liquid content promises stories that reshape in real time to match each reader’s context, but publishers have yet to deliver at scale. The Washington Post’s AI‑generated personal podcast highlighted the technical gap, with 68‑84% of scripts failing accuracy checks. Industry...
Meta’s Ad Machine Is Purring, So Why Did Its Stock Drop?
Meta reported a strong Q1, posting $55 billion in ad revenue, a 33% year‑over‑year increase, while unveiling a $125‑$145 billion spending plan to fund next‑generation AI compute. The company highlighted AI‑driven improvements that lifted Instagram Reels time spent by 10% and boosted...
AMC Has No Big-League Deals, But Media Company Still Wants to Slide Into Sports
AMC Global Media, best known for premium dramas, is expanding into sports‑focused scripted and documentary series despite lacking any major league broadcast rights. The company has greenlit the NASCAR‑backed drama “Thunder Road” and renewed the documentary series “Rise,” which examines...
AMC Sees Second Chance to Win Ad Dollars for First Views of Long-Lasting Series
AMC Global Networks is rolling out a "first streamer" ad product that lets brands purchase the first ad slot in a viewer's initial watch of any series, even if the show is several seasons old. The offering treats a first‑time...
AMC Development Updates: ‘Bannerman’ Spy Drama Advances To Writers Room, ‘Point Break’ Reboot Eyes Greenlight, ‘Grapes Of Wrath’ Gets Co-Writer
AMC Studios announced three major projects at its 2026 upfront: a spy drama called "Bannerman" has moved into a writers’ room with Craig Silverstein as showrunner and Shane Black attached to direct; a TV reboot of the 1991 film "Point Break"...
‘Thunder Road’ Starring Dennis Quaid Greenlit At AMC
AMC has green‑lit "Thunder Road," a NASCAR‑themed drama starring Dennis Quaid as racing legend Duane Whitlock. The series, created by John Fusco and run by Taylor Elmore, will be produced in partnership with NASCAR, marking the network’s first long‑form drama...
Hudson Williams’ ‘Heated Rivalry’ Followup Series, Crave’s ‘Yaga’, To Stream On AMC+ In U.S.
AMC+ has secured exclusive U.S. streaming rights to Crave’s eight‑episode series *Yaga*, starring Hudson Williams in his first post‑*Heated Rivalry* role. The show reimagines the Slavic Baba Yaga legend as a contemporary mystery thriller and will debut on AMC+ later...
Fresho Appoints TAG to Drive Digital Growth
Fresho, a leading order‑management SaaS for food distributors, has appointed digital growth consultancy TAG to run its advertising and creative strategy across Australia‑New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The partnership focuses on a data‑led acquisition approach designed to...
2026 Mumbrella Publish Awards Are Open, with Updated Criteria and New Categories
Australia’s Mumbrella Publish Awards have opened for 2026, marking the program’s 30th anniversary. The awards now feature refined categories such as AI integration, digital innovation, and revenue diversification to reflect the shift from print to AI‑driven digital media. A senior...
Specsavers Unveils New OOH Work on Australia’s Longest Street Poster Site via Specsavers Creative
Specsavers has launched a 95.45‑metre out‑of‑home takeover on Swan Street in Richmond, Australia’s longest street poster site. The in‑house Specsavers Creative team installed 21 panels on one side asking "Loooooooooong sighted?" and a single panel on the opposite side asking...
YouTube Gains
Alphabet reported that U.S. viewers now spend over 200 million hours daily watching YouTube from the living room, underscoring the platform’s dominance in home video consumption. The company’s paid subscriber base rose to 350 million, up from 270 million a year earlier, driven...
Netflix Goes Vertical
Netflix has added a vertical‑video feature called “Clips” to its mobile app, delivering a scrolling feed of short, personalized excerpts from its series and movies. Users can tap a clip to add the full title to their My List or...
Alphabet Exceeds $100 Billion In Q1 And Its Profits Almost Doubled
Alphabet reported a record $109.9 billion in first‑quarter revenue, up from $90.2 billion a year earlier, while net income surged to $62.6 billion, almost double the prior year’s profit. The growth comes despite a modest decline in the Google Network ad segment, which...
‘Versa’: Remembering Our Children in the Stars
Disney+ has released "Versa," a three‑minute animated short by veteran Disney animator Malcon Pierce that memorializes his late son Cooper. The dialogue‑free film uses celestial choreography, kintsugi‑styled golden scars, and a star‑filled visual language to portray parental grief and healing....
The Best Star Wars TV Show Isn't The Mandalorian — and George R.R. Martin Agrees
Star Wars: Andor has emerged as the franchise’s most acclaimed series, praised for its gritty, political storytelling that sidesteps traditional lightsabers and Force lore. The two‑season run, helmed by Tony Gilroy and starring Diego Luna, cost roughly $645 million but earned...
Leading Cancer Charity Stops Funding Open Access Publishing Because It’s Just Not Working
Cancer Research UK announced it will stop directly funding open‑access (OA) publishing, a move projected to save roughly £5.2 million (about $6.6 million) over the next three years. The charity cites the prevalence of hybrid journals, which charge authors for OA while...
2027: Tinubu’s Team Unveils Digital Platform to Enrich Communication
President Bola Tinubu’s campaign arm, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, unveiled a new digital platform ahead of the 2027 elections. The centerpiece is the website www.rhambassadors.org, which aggregates policy explainers, reform updates and verified government data. An AI‑powered Data Communication Centre...
Sheldon Ingram to Retire From Hearst’s WTAE to Pursue Acting Career
Sheldon Ingram, a general‑assignment reporter at Hearst‑owned WTAE since 1992, announced he will leave the newsroom on May 29 to pursue acting full‑time. Over three decades he reported on major local and national stories, notably chronicling Pittsburgh’s homelessness crisis from 1993...
Meta Opens Its Ad Ecosystem to Third-Party AI Tools
Meta announced an open‑beta rollout of Meta ads AI connectors, letting advertisers link third‑party AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude directly to their Meta ad accounts. The connectors promise secure, cross‑channel insights and real‑time campaign management without forcing users...
Harvard Study Documents the Rise in Divisive Posts on X
Harvard researchers analyzed 3 million X posts from 2013‑2025 and found a dramatic surge in anger‑driven political content. The share of policy‑related posts expressing anger climbed from 20% to 50%, while neutral tweets fell to 50%. Anger‑laden messages generated significantly higher...
Google's Subscriptions Business Is Booming — and AI Is a Big Reason
Google reported its strongest quarter for subscriptions, reaching 350 million paying users. The subscriptions, platforms and devices segment grew 19% year‑over‑year in Q1 2026, mirroring the same pace as Search. Growth was led by YouTube and Google One, with AI‑enhanced Google One...
DSports Announces Unprecedented Coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup
DSports announced it will be the sole broadcaster of every one of the 104 matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first tournament staged across the United States, Mexico and Canada. The network will deliver roughly 900 hours of...
Entire TV Genres Can Live and Die by Their Emmys Potential
The Emmy landscape shows a split between thriving and struggling genres. Animated programs like "The Simpsons," "Bob’s Burgers," and Netflix’s "Arcane" continue to receive regular nominations, while reality‑competition shows such as "Survivor," "The Amazing Race," and "The Traitors" keep the...
Google Gains 25M Subscriptions in Q1, Driven by YouTube and Google One
Google added 25 million paid subscriptions in Q1, bringing its total to 350 million, driven primarily by YouTube Premium and Google One plans. The company bundled advanced Gemini AI features into Google One, reporting a 40% quarter‑over‑quarter rise in paid enterprise Gemini...
YouTube Rolls Out Multiview Option to More Subscribers
YouTube has expanded its Multiview feature, allowing Premium and YouTube TV subscribers to watch up to four streams simultaneously and customize each screen. The new Multiview builder lets users pick any live content, including mix‑and‑match bundles like NFL Sunday Ticket...
Texas AM Station to Sign Off After 75 Years
After 75 years on the air, Coleman, Texas AM station KSTA (1000 AM) will cease broadcasting. The 250‑watt daytime‑only station, owned by Wendlee Broadcasting, could not secure a buyer and faces building‑lease expiration and technical issues. Owner Rex Tackett, who bought...
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30 Actors Who Were Recast on Their TV Shows, From Janet Hubert to Ruby Rose
The article catalogs 30 notable television recasts, from classic sitcoms like *Bewitched* to modern streaming hits such as *The Witcher*. It highlights the reasons behind the swaps—scheduling conflicts, creative retooling, or behind‑the‑scenes disputes—and notes how each change affected the show’s...
Taylor Swift Wants to Trademark Her Likeness. These TikTok Deepfake Ads Show Why
Taylor Swift has filed three trademark applications to protect her image, voice, and signature phrases amid a wave of AI‑generated deep‑fake ads on TikTok. Researchers at Copyleaks identified sponsored videos that use realistic‑sounding synthetic voices and manipulated footage of Swift...
AMC Comes Into Upfront With Bite, New Ways to Work With Advertisers
AMC has rebranded from AMC Networks to AMC Global Media, emphasizing a worldwide footprint. At its New York upfront, the company unveiled fresh advertising formats tied to sports, franchise content, and live events such as a Vampire Lestat showcase. The holiday‑season...
Does This Potential Acquisition Make Sirius XM Stock a Buy?
Sirius XM is reportedly in preliminary talks to acquire iHeartMedia, the nation’s largest radio‑station owner. Both companies have seen rapid growth in podcasting, with Sirius XM’s podcast revenue jumping 41% in 2025 and iHeart’s up more than 25% the same...
Winemiller Scores A Three Rivers LPTV Deal
Jeff Winemiller’s Lowcountry 34 Media, a fast‑growing operator of low‑power TV stations, has secured a broadcast property in Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers market. The acquisition expands the company’s over‑the‑air portfolio after a high‑visibility appearance at the 2026 NAB Show in Las...
BritBox Marks DAVID ATTENBOROUGH 100th with Top 10 Shows
Sir David Attenborough turns 100 on May 8, and BritBox is celebrating by launching a curated top‑10 collection of his landmark natural‑history series, including The Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Frozen Planet. The lineup showcases his work across more than 80...
DPP Media Supply Festival 2026
The DPP Media Supply Festival will take place June 9‑10, 2026 in New York, gathering media executives to explore the evolving supply chain from ideas to streaming content. Organizers highlight AI’s dual role in adding complexity and unlocking efficiency across...
Val Kilmer Is Back on the Big Screen Via Generative AI. His Family Is Fine With It
Val Kilmer’s likeness is being resurrected with generative AI for the upcoming historical adventure *As Deep as the Grave*. His daughter Mercedes Kilmer gave the family’s blessing, framing the technology as a way to protect the actor’s intellectual property. The...
YouTube Starts Rolling Out Free Picture-in-Picture (PiP) Globally on Android, iOS
YouTube is extending its picture‑in‑picture (PiP) mode to all free users worldwide, after a limited rollout in the United States. The feature will work on both Android and iOS for long‑form, non‑music videos, letting viewers keep content playing while using...
Libsyn Video on Spotify, New Patreon Feeds, & More
Libsyn has enabled video distribution on Spotify across all its hosting plans, letting creators upload MP4 files for a $25‑per‑month fee. Patreon rolled out a redesigned home feed that surfaces creator collaborations, free posts and recommended creators, claiming a five‑fold...
OzTAM Launches New Streamscape Dashboard as TV Viewing Dominates
OzTAM unveiled an interactive Streamscape dashboard alongside its Q1 2026 Total Video data, giving subscribers a self‑serve tool to analyse broadcast, BVOD and streaming performance in one place. The new platform replaces static reports with customizable visualisations, streamlining metric comparison across...
Can Student Influencers Woo Classmates to This District?
Detroit Public Schools announced a $1 million marketing push that includes hiring roughly two dozen student influencers to share district news on TikTok, Instagram and other platforms. Each influencer will receive a $250 monthly stipend, training on social‑media policy, and coaching...
ABC Can Beat Trump FCC's License Threat if Owner Disney Is Willing to Fight
The FCC ordered Disney to file early renewal applications for ABC’s eight broadcast stations, citing possible violations of anti‑discrimination rules. Legal experts note that the 1996 Telecommunications Act makes license denial extremely difficult unless a broadcaster commits willful or repeated...
Parents Fight To Reinstate 'Choking Challenge' Suit Against Google, TikTok
A coalition of parents has asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to revive a lawsuit against Google and TikTok, alleging the companies’ reporting tools are defective and misrepresented. The suit, originally dismissed under Section 230 immunity, claims the platforms failed to...
Amazon Hits $70 Billion in Ad Revenue Over the Past 12 Months
Amazon’s advertising division generated $70 billion in revenue over the trailing twelve months, with Q1 2026 ad sales hitting $17.2 billion, a 24% year‑over‑year increase. The growth helped lift total net sales to $181.5 billion, up 17% YoY. The company also reported delivering one...
Last Chance to Watch—What's Leaving Netflix in May 2026
Netflix announced that eight of its flagship series will leave the platform in May 2026, including "Wednesday", "Dark", the live‑action "One Piece", "K‑Pop Demon Hunters", "Squid Game" and "Stranger Things". The removals were highlighted in a quiz‑style article that paired...
Howdy's Dated $3/Month Ad-Free Streaming Service Said to Have 1M Subscribers
Roku's Howdy, a $3‑per‑month ad‑free streaming tier launched in August, has surpassed one million subscribers within six months, according to research firm Antenna. The service now represents 23% of all SVOD subscriptions made through The Roku Channel and has expanded...
Maryland Legislature Passes Advertising Set-Aside Legislation for State News Outlets
Maryland’s General Assembly approved a bill that obligates state agencies to allocate at least 50% of their advertising budgets to Maryland‑based news outlets, making the state the first to enact a formal advertising set‑aside. The legislation, driven by the Rebuild...
Radio FCC Fees to Go Up 5% Under Proposal
The Federal Communications Commission has proposed a 5% increase in regulatory fees for commercial AM and FM radio stations for fiscal year 2026, raising the annual collection target to roughly $416 million. Fees would rise from $395 for the smallest Class D...
Former X CEO Linda Yaccarino: ‘X’s Ads Business Is Not Falling Short’
Former X CEO Linda Yaccarino told Adweek that the platform’s advertising business is not underperforming, despite reports that ad revenue has slashed roughly in half since Elon Musk’s 2023 takeover. She highlighted X’s role as the go‑to source for breaking...
The Boys Season 5, Episode 5 Kills Off A Major Member Of The Seven
In the fifth episode of Season 5, titled “One‑Shots,” The Boys eliminates Firecracker (Misty Gray), a former member of The Seven. After Soldier Boy reports her doubts to Homelander, the latter shoves her head into an eagle statue, killing her on...