MAD STARS Issues Final Call for 2026 Entries Ahead of June 15 Deadline
MAD STARS, the premier Asian marketing and advertising festival, has issued its final call for 2026 entries, with a June 15 deadline and regular‑rate submissions closing on May 29. The 19th edition introduces a revamped category framework split into SOLUTION and POSITIVE IMPACT groups, adding a Health Stars category and a Use of AI sub‑category to reflect evolving industry priorities. Entry fees range from $350‑$500 for regular periods and $400‑$550 for the final window, while the General Public division remains free. The competition will be judged by a global jury of over 350 professionals across 83 locations, culminating in an in‑person awards ceremony in Busan from August 26‑28.
45 Minutes Straight of Talk: Why Toni and Ryan Don’t Have a Radio Gig
Toni and Ryan’s podcast now exceeds one million downloads a month, ranking third in Australia’s April podcast chart behind Hamish & Andy and Mamamia Out Loud. The duo says a radio slot would require a bold programmer, but they doubt traditional broadcasters...
‘Sofia the First: Royal Magic’ Brings Bigger Sets, Better Lighting and Brighter Magic
Disney Television Animation revives its award‑winning preschool franchise with Sofia the First: Royal Magic, debuting May 25 on Disney Jr. and streaming the first eight episodes on Disney+ on May 26. The sequel follows Princess Sofia at the Charmswell School for Royal Magic,...
Crave Adding Video Podcasts as Part of Drive to Engage Daily Viewers
Bell Media is expanding Crave from a premium TV and movie library into an all‑in‑one entertainment hub by adding English and French video podcasts from iHeartRadio Canada, alongside live sports and news hubs. The platform will feature a mix of...
7NEWS Tasmania Ends 64-Year Launceston Era
7NEWS Tasmania launched its first Hobart‑produced 6 pm bulletin on Monday, ending a 64‑year run of nightly news from Launceston. The new edition is anchored by Kim Millar and Andy “Tubes” Taylor, with weather presented by Kiah Wicks, while production and...
Essie Davis Rocked by Hidden Family Truth on WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
Australian actress Essie Davis appeared on SBS’s genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? and uncovered that her grandmother had adopted her own grandchildren to conceal a family secret. The revelation reframes Davis’s understanding of her father’s past and...
“The Evolution Of Late Night Is Here”: Ben Gleib Talks Launching World’s First YouTube-Native Late-Night Talk Show From His House –...
Comedian Ben Gleib is launching *Good Night with Ben Gleib*, the first late‑night talk show designed specifically for YouTube, debuting on May 28, a week after *The Late Show* was cancelled. The show will be produced from Gleib’s Los Angeles...
‘Backrooms’ Creator Kane Parsons On Becoming A24’s Youngest Director Ever, Adapting His YouTube Series: “A Weird Dream Come True”
Kane Parsons, a 20‑year‑old YouTube creator, has become A24’s youngest ever director with the horror feature *Backrooms*. The film adapts his 2022 web series *The Backrooms: Found Footage*, which turned a 2019 creepypasta meme into a cult‑favorite online saga. Starring...
Neuroscientific Evaluation of Fear Appeal in Television Advertising: An Eye-Tracking and Biometric Study of Viewer Attention
A neuroscientific study of 28 participants used eye‑tracking and galvanic skin response to compare fear‑based versus neutral TV ads. Fear‑based spots produced faster initial fixations, longer dwell times, and significantly higher skin conductance, indicating stronger visual engagement and physiological arousal....
Google Search AI Overhaul Leaves Publishers Bracing For ‘Google Zero’
Google unveiled an AI‑driven overhaul of Search at I/O, turning the classic link‑based engine into an answer‑first assistant that delivers conversational replies directly in the results page. The shift, dubbed “Google Zero” by publishers, is already cutting traffic dramatically –...
DemandBird Launches New B2B Social Media Management Platform
DemandBird, a Portland‑based startup founded in 2025, announced the public launch of its B2B‑focused social media management platform. The solution emphasizes human‑crafted content, limiting AI to back‑office tasks such as image reformatting and trend spotting. Core features include multi‑brand workspaces,...
TikTok’s AI ‘Text to Song’ Trend May Be a Sign of Music to Come
TikTok users are turning text message screenshots into AI‑generated songs using Suno’s music‑creation app, sparking a viral #texttosong trend. One creator, Justice Washam, saw her video jump from a million to nearly 10 million views and added 200,000 followers, earning about...
Goalhanger Is Treating Digital Creators Like Tech Founders – Here’s Why
Goalhanger, the London‑based podcast and media group behind shows like "The Rest Is History," launched "The Accelerator" in March 2026, a three‑month incubator for digital creators across entertainment, sport, politics, science, technology and finance. The program provides up to £10,000...
ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC & Cable TV Networks Saw Viewership Drop in March, But Streaming Saw a Big Jump
In March 2026 Nielsen’s Gauge Report showed that the four major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) collectively slipped just 0.2% year‑over‑year, while cable television viewership fell 2.6%. By contrast, streaming platforms recorded a robust 3.8% increase in audience minutes....
Alex, Leila Hormozi Sign With CAA to Expand Speaking, Podcasting, and Brand Partnerships
Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has signed Alex and Leila Hormozi, co‑founders of Acquisition.com, along with CEO Sharran Srivatsaa and CMO Gabriel Blanco. The agency will manage speaking engagements, podcasts, brand partnerships and live tours for the duo and their executive...
Binge Labs Bags Digital Mandate for Mumbai Tech Week 2026
Binge Labs has secured the end‑to‑end social media mandate for Mumbai Tech Week 2026, slated for May 29‑30 at the Jio World Convention Centre. The firm will drive pre‑event campaigns, on‑ground content creation, and post‑event amplification, delivering real‑time storytelling across...
X Looks to Improve Its Incentives for Original Creators
X is tightening its creator revenue‑share program by targeting large aggregator accounts that repost content to game impressions. Head of product Nikita Bier said the platform will now identify such posts and reallocate the impressions to the original creators. The change...
LinkedIn Shares Video Creation Tips Based on Platform Trends
LinkedIn’s Creator Video newsletter outlines new best‑practice guidance for video creators, emphasizing authentic, experience‑driven content. The platform recommends posting two to five times a week, with at least two videos, to build a sustainable rhythm. LinkedIn is rolling out its...
The NBA’s Contract with YouTuber Kenny Beecham Could Be a New Blueprint for Sports Leagues
The NBA has elevated YouTube creator Kenny Beecham, who boasts over 4.16 million followers, to a central role in its fan‑facing media strategy. Beecham now hosts an original basketball trivia series, appears on NBA TV, and produces content with league access...
Glossy+ Research: The Marketers’ 2026 Guide to a Shifting CTV Landscape, Including YouTube, Peacock and Roku
Glossy+ Research released a 2026 guide outlining how ad‑supported streaming platforms—YouTube, Peacock and Roku—are reshaping the connected‑TV (CTV) marketing mix. The report highlights consolidation among streaming services, divergent KPI frameworks across platforms, and persistent measurement and cost challenges. It also...
Iconoclast Piers Morgan in Talks to Return to Australian TV
British broadcaster Piers Morgan says he is negotiating to bring a version of his Uncensored show back to Australian television, possibly via Sky News Australia or another free‑to‑air outlet. He left News Corp’s Talk TV in 2024 after a three‑year,...
News Bargaining Incentive Risks Further Concentrating Big Four’s Grip On Publishing: Man Of Many
The Australian government’s News Bargaining Incentive (NBI) will levy a 2.25% tax on Google and Meta unless they negotiate deals worth at least 1.5% of turnover, directing the revenue to Australian publishers. Man of Many warns the current formula will...
Week 21 in TV Ratings
In week 21, Seven News reclaimed the top‑spot on Australian television, pulling in up to 1.56 million viewers on Monday. Entertainment shifted as the finale of The Floor eclipsed long‑running Home & Away, reaching 1.06 million. Eurovision’s live broadcast drew 464 k, but an overrun boosted the...
‘Baywatch’ Teaser: New Faces Hit The Beach In Fox’s First Promo For Rebooted Series
Fox released its first teaser for the rebooted Baywatch, starring Stephen Amell as Hobie Buchannon, now a lifeguard captain. The promo introduces new cast members Jessica Belkin, Brooks Nader and Livvy Dunne, with Belkin playing Hobie's previously unknown daughter, Charlie....
New Strictly Come Dancing Host Reveals Why They Almost Turned Down Role
Comedian Josh Widdicombe revealed he almost turned down the chance to co‑host BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, joining Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe as the new presenting trio. He explained that the prospect of disrupting his personal life made him hesitant,...
South African Musicians Earned R500 Million on Spotify in One Year
Spotify’s 2025 Loud And Clear report shows South African musicians earned roughly R504 million (about $30.6 million) on the platform, a 28% year‑on‑year increase and double the 2023 payout. Although South Africa contributed less than 5% of Spotify’s $11 billion global revenue, independent artists captured...
Hybrid Viewing Models Solidify as Streaming Integrates Into Premium Sports Distribution
The sports broadcasting landscape has moved into a disciplined hybrid model where OTT, pay‑TV, and free‑to‑air channels coexist. Market research from Futuresource shows major platforms such as Amazon and Netflix locking in multi‑billion‑dollar, multi‑year rights deals, while premium rights still...
Roland-Garros 2026 on 9GEM
9GEM begins live coverage of Roland‑Garros 2026 on May 24, featuring former doubles champion Todd Woodbridge and former world No. 4 Jelena Dokic as lead analysts. The network highlights a strong Australian presence, with eight men’s singles players—including top‑10 Alex de Minaur—and several women’s...
2 Controversial Harry Potter Movies Are Leaving HBO Max
Two Harry Potter prequel films, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, will be removed from HBO Max on June 1, 2026. Both movies together grossed roughly $1.06 billion worldwide against combined production budgets of...
Euphoria Boss Brands Season 3 'the Best' And Urges Fans to Watch Final Eps "the Moment They Drop"
Sam Levinson says season 3 of HBO’s “Euphoria” will be the series’ best chapter, despite mixed early reviews. The two‑part finale, “Rain or Shine” and “In God We Trust,” airs on May 24 and May 31, with episode 8 running 93 minutes—the longest single HBO installment. Critics have...
Throwback ITV Period Drama with Damian Lewis Will Be Removed From Netflix Soon
Netflix will pull the early‑2000s ITV period drama *The Forsyte Saga* from its catalogue in a few weeks, roughly a year after adding the ten‑episode series in June 2024. The show, which starred Damian Lewis, Gina McKee and Rupert Graves, originally aired...
You Can Listen to The Final Broadcast of CBS News Radio HERE as CBS Looks Back At Almost 100 Years...
CBS News Radio will sign off at 11 p.m. ET on May 22, 2026, ending a 99‑year run that began in the late 1920s. The final broadcast marks the closure of a service that once reached roughly 700 affiliate stations and shaped American...
One to Watch This Weekend: Channel 4 Drama with Keeley Hawes Branded "Spellbinding" Is Now Streaming
Channel 4 has added the six‑episode drama *Falling* to its streaming library after a brief broadcast run. The series stars Keeley Hawes as a nun and Paapa Essiedu as a priest who fall in love, a premise that blends romance with religious...
Meet J.R. Villarreal, Who Plays Azul in the Latest Yellowstone Spin-Off, Dutton Ranch
Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone universe expands with *Dutton Ranch*, the franchise’s fifth series that debuted on May 15 on Paramount+. The spin‑off quickly rose to become the third‑most‑watched show on the platform, according to FlixPatrol data. It follows Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly)...
Dhurandhar Extended Cut Released on Netflix India
Netflix India has rolled out an extended‑cut version of the thriller Dhurandhar, branded “Raw and Undekha,” while retaining the original edition on the platform. Both cuts share a 3‑hour‑25‑minute runtime, suggesting only a handful of additional scenes. The sequel, Dhurandhar 2,...
CPJ Warns of Potential Hostilities From FIFA Host Countries Against Traveling Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a travel advisory warning that journalists covering the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico could face hostility from immigration officials and local authorities. The alert cites recent deportations...
Bling People in India Call Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce to Perform at Weddings, Says Tejasswi Prakash
Netflix’s new reality series Desi Bling takes viewers inside the opulent world of Dubai‑based Indian billionaires, spotlighting Satish and Tabinda Sanpal’s staggering wealth—including 40 kg of gold (about $2.4 million) and a Rolls‑Royce for a toddler. The show also reveals that Indian wedding parties regularly...
Stations Drop the Mic: Can India Save Its FM Radio Groove?
India’s private FM radio sector is in crisis as major players like HT Media, BIG FM and Red FM surrender licences or declare insolvency. The industry points to stalled reforms, including a 4% AGR model, a GST cut from 18% to...
Samba TV: ‘Roast of Kevin Hart’ Tops Weekly Streaming Viewership Through May 17
Netflix's "The Roast of Kevin Hart" claimed the No. 1 spot on Samba TV’s weekly streaming rankings for May 11‑17, outpacing HBO’s season 3 of "Euphoria." The comedy special, filmed at the Kia Forum, featured a star‑studded lineup of roasters. Netflix’s drama "Remarkably...
Byron Allen Salutes ‘the Great’ Stephen Colbert as ‘Comics Unleashed’ Takes Over ‘Late Show’ Slot
Byron Allen officially took over CBS's 11:35 p.m. ET slot with his syndicated series "Comics Unleashed," paying tribute to Stephen Colbert and other late‑night pioneers. The transition follows the network’s decision to end "The Late Show" on May 21, a move driven...
Yellowstone's Dutton Ranch Spin-Off Feels Like It's Setting Up A Landman Crossover
The third episode of Yellowstone spin‑off *Dutton Ranch* moves Beth Dutton to Dallas for a high‑stakes cattle‑supply deal, echoing plot beats from Taylor Sheridan’s oil drama *Landman*. Both series share Sheridan’s signature blend of melodrama and naturalistic grit, and *Landman*...
How the Library of Congress Is Using Both AI and Volunteers to Unlock Public Broadcasting History
The Library of Congress and Boston’s GBH have teamed up on the American Archive of Public Broadcasting to make historic radio and TV programs searchable using AI‑generated transcripts. To ensure accuracy, they launched FixIt+, an open‑source volunteer platform where the...
From Binge-Watching to Breached — New Study Exposes the Underground Market for Stolen Netflix & Streaming Accounts
NordVPN’s research lab scanned roughly 75,000 dark‑web listings and found stolen streaming credentials being sold like everyday commodities. Netflix accounts appeared in five listings with an average price of $15.60 and a median of $4.55, while the broader streaming category...
What Most Brands Get Wrong Measuring Influencer Marketing ROI
Influencer marketing ROI should be measured through engagement, user‑generated content, consumer intent signals, and retail impact rather than simple impressions. Brands that focus only on reach miss the bulk of value, including cost savings from repurposing influencer‑created assets. A strong...
Spotify, UMG To Let Fans Make Their Own Music With AI
Spotify and Universal Music Group have struck a licensing agreement that will let Spotify develop generative‑AI music models. The partnership will enable premium users to create AI‑generated covers and remixes of songs from UMG’s catalog, subject to artist opt‑in. Spotify...
FOX Sports’ Indy 500 Director Mitch Riggin on the Tech and Storytelling for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing
FOX Sports entered its second year covering the Indianapolis 500, expanding the production to more than 70 camera feeds, including 30 in‑car angles across 17 cars. Lead Director Mitch Riggin highlighted new assets such as the Top Gun and Buckeye...
As CBS Radio Shutters, Its Union Signs Off With Fiery Anti-Ellison Memo
After nearly a century of operation, CBS News Radio will cease broadcasting, marking the end of an iconic American news outlet. The decision, announced by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and President Tom Cibrowski, cites shifting programming strategies and economic pressures. The...
I Bypassed Adobe and Microsoft to Build a Git-Tracked Book Production Pipeline
A self‑published novelist and software developer replaced the traditional Word‑InDesign‑Kindle Create workflow with an open‑source, Git‑tracked pipeline. He uses LibreOffice ODT as the single source of truth, then runs custom Python scripts to generate both XHTML‑based EPUBs (validated by the...
OpenAI Is Opening Up Advertising. Marketers Have Been Ready for Months
OpenAI has introduced a self‑serve advertising platform, giving marketers direct access to its billion‑user base. A Branch survey shows AI‑sourced traffic now accounts for 35% of visits, with marketers projecting 50% this year and earmarking up to $128 billion of ad...
After Trying to Buy TikTok, Adtech Giant AppLovin Launches Its Own Social Media Challenger
Ad‑tech firm AppLovin has quietly launched Gist, a new social‑media app that blends short‑form video, photo carousels and mini‑games. The move follows AppLovin’s unsuccessful bid to acquire TikTok and reflects a shift toward building its own creator‑driven traffic. Gist operates...