HBO Renews Steve Carell Series ‘Rooster’ for Second Season
HBO announced the renewal of the comedy series “Rooster” for a second season after the first four episodes drew an average of 5.8 million U.S. viewers, making it the network’s most‑watched freshman comedy in over a decade. The 10‑episode debut season, which premiered on March 8 and concluded on May 10, airs Sundays on HBO and streams on HBO Max. The show stars Steve Carell as a mystery novelist entangled in his daughter’s college life, with a supporting cast that includes Charly Clive and Danielle Deadwyler. Created by veteran showrunners Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, the series is produced by Warner Bros. Television through Doozer and Tarses’ overall deals.
‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Expected to Easily Top Weekend Box Office Through April 12
Universal’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is projected to earn $73 million in its second weekend, pushing its North American total to $312 million and its global haul past $440 million. The film’s strong IMAX presence is expected to help it maintain the...
Futuresource: Global SVOD Subscriptions Reach 2.2 Billion, Consumer Spending at $150 Billion
Futuresource Consulting reports that global streaming video‑on‑demand (SVOD) subscriptions have reached 2.2 billion, generating roughly $150 billion in consumer spending. The firm projects 2.6 billion subscribers by 2030, driven more by pricing discipline, bundling, distribution partnerships and strategic content investment than by pure...
Comedy ‘Cotton Candy Bubble Gum’ Due Digitally May 12 From Radial
Radial Entertainment will launch the offbeat coming‑of‑age comedy Cotton Candy Bubble Gum digitally on May 12, 2026. Written and directed by J. Pinder, the film stars Nick Darnell, Morgan Jay and a supporting cast, following 21‑year‑old Carter as his life unravels after his mother’s engagement...
Nielsen: Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ McDonald’s Tie-In Shows Strength of Streaming Fandom
Netflix’s animated feature *KPop Demon Hunters* sparked its largest consumer‑brand partnership to date, teaming with McDonald’s on themed meals that drove roughly $100 million in sales within the first days. The movie amassed 569 million global Netflix views and 20.5 billion U.S. streaming...
Lionsgate’s ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ Reality Series Coming to Paramount+ on June 14
Lionsgate’s "The Ultimate Fighter" returns for its 14th season, debuting exclusively on Paramount+ on June 14, the same day UFC Freedom 250 airs. The 12‑episode run will drop new episodes each Tuesday, featuring former champions Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping coaching...
The Week’s MPN Video Podcast: Apple Isn’t Slowing Down Plus F1’s Billion-Dollar Boom and Dune vs Avengers
In the latest Media Play News podcast, David Bloom and Daniel Frankel examine how Apple is reinforcing its dominance over the U.S. smartphone ecosystem, even as AI chatter and Siri upgrades dominate headlines. They note that Apple’s tight integration of...
Disney Releasing 4K Restoration of Animated Classic ‘Alice in Wonderland’ May 5
Disney is launching a 4K restoration of its 1951 animated classic "Alice in Wonderland" on May 5, available through digital retailers and 4K Ultra HD Blu‑ray. The restoration, timed for the film’s 75th anniversary, involved a nine‑month scan of the original...
20th Century Studios’ ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash” Bows No. 1 on U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart
Disney‑owned 20th Century Studios saw its new release *Avatar: Fire and Ash* debut at No. 1 on the Official Film Chart, the United Kingdom’s weekly home‑entertainment sales ranking, for the week ending April 8, 2026. The film outperformed Warner’s *Wuthering Heights* and Sony’s...
HBO Max Rolls Out Carpet for ‘Euphoria’ Season 3 Premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles
Warner Bros. Discovery’s HBO Max rolled out a red carpet at Los Angeles’ TCL Chinese Theatre on April 7 for the season‑three premiere of “Euphoria,” which will debut on the streaming service and on HBO on April 12. The premiere episode will...
PaleyFest LA 2026 Fetes Apple TV Comedy ‘Shrinking’ With Moderated Panel Featuring Cast
Apple TV+ celebrated its comedy series “Shrinking” at PaleyFest LA 2026 with a moderated panel at the Dolby Theatre. The event featured co‑creator Bill Lawrence, star Jason Segel, and a cast that included Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Michael Urie, Luke...
True Crime Doc ‘The Box’ Available on Blu-Ray Disc From MVD and All3Media
All3Media and MVD Entertainment Group have issued the true‑crime documentary *The Box* on Blu‑ray, expanding the film’s availability beyond streaming platforms. The film follows detective Chris Loudon as he re‑examines the 1976 Pam Maurer murder in Lisle, Illinois, uncovering new...
TCL’s Internet Services Arm Partners With AdTech Agency Affinity for Smart TV Advertising
Chinese electronics maker TCL’s internet services division, TCL FFalcon, has teamed up with ad‑tech firm Affinity to serve as the primary demand partner for its Smart TV advertising platform. The integration will enable global brands to programmatically buy inventory across...
AMC Networks’ Shudder Service to Begin Streaming Bella Thorne Thriller ‘Find Your Friends’ on June 12
AMC Networks’ horror‑focused streaming platform Shudder will launch the Bella Thorne‑led thriller *Find Your Friends* on June 12. The indie film, directed by Iranian‑Greek American filmmaker Izabel Pakzad, follows a desert road‑trip that devolves into a tense survival story. *Find Your Friends* has...
Predator: Badlands
John Latchem’s April 5, 2026 review of Predator: Badlands highlights the 2025 Dan Trachtenberg‑directed entry that flips the franchise on its head by centering a young Yautja hunter instead of human protagonists. The film intertwines classic Predator hunting lore with a Weyland‑Yutani...
Samba TV: ‘The Pitt’ Tops Weekly Streaming Viewership Through March 29
HBO Max’s medical drama “The Pitt” topped Samba TV’s weekly streaming rankings for the March 23‑29 period, securing the No. 1 spot in the United States. The series, starring Noah Wyle, outperformed Paramount+’s new series “The Madison,” which placed second, while Hulu’s...
‘Zootopia 2’ Returns Atop Overall Disc Sales Chart; ‘Return to Silent Hill’ Tops Blu-Ray Sellers; ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’...
Disney’s *Zootopia 2* reclaimed the No. 1 spot on Circana’s overall disc‑sales chart for the week ending March 28, after debuting strong in its first three weeks. Cineverse’s *Return to Silent Hill* led the Blu‑ray‑only chart, while the Criterion Collection’s 4K release of...
Doc ‘Green Superheroes 2030’ Due on Blu-Ray Disc April 14 From BayView
BayView Entertainment will release the documentary "Green Superheroes 2030" on Blu‑ray Disc on April 14, 2026. The film follows a diverse group of environmentalists aged five to seventeen as they develop innovative, science‑driven projects to protect the planet. By combining...
NAB Show Opens April 18 With Focus on Creators, AI and Streaming
The 2026 NAB Show opens April 18‑22 in Las Vegas, spotlighting the booming creator economy, AI, and streaming technologies. Attendance by creators, influencers and podcasters has surged 200% over last year, while social‑media producers are up 150%. New features include...
Merchandising: ‘Humane,’ ‘SpongeBob’ Among Weekly Exclusives
Vinegar Syndrome launched a limited‑edition Blu‑ray of the horror film *Humane* on March 31, offering 1,000 slip‑covered copies at $28.99 and a standard edition at $26.49, with a one‑per‑customer cap and a 50% subscriber discount. The same week Walmart introduced an...
This Week’s MPN Video Podcast: Dean Devlin on Free Streaming, AI in Hollywood and Adapting TikTok Into TV
Dean Devlin, co‑founder of the free ad‑supported streaming service ElectricNow, discussed the platform’s rapid growth and its first original scripted series, “The Poly Couple,” which adapts a viral TikTok show into a 30‑minute format. He outlined how ElectricNow leverages FAST (Free‑Ad‑Supported‑Streaming‑TV)...
‘The Heartbreak Kid: Becoming Shawn Michaels’ Premieres on Peacock April 13
Peacock’s new original documentary, “The Heartbreak Kid: Becoming Shawn Michaels,” premieres on April 13, 2026. The film offers unprecedented behind‑the‑scenes access to WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, tracing his rise, personal struggles, and redemption within the sport. It includes...
Freestyle Releasing Dystopian Dramedy ‘Up the Catalogue’ Across Digital Retail Platforms on April 14
Freestyle Digital Media, the distribution arm of Allen Media Group, will launch the dystopian dramedy *Up the Catalogue* on April 14 across major digital retail platforms. The film stars Lyndsey Marshal and Jonathan Bailey and follows a charismatic presenter trapped...
New Starz Limited Series ‘Amadeus’ Set to Premiere May 8
Starz announced that its five‑part limited series “Amadeus” will debut in the United States on May 8, 2026, with new episodes streaming weekly on Fridays. The drama adapts Peter Shaffer’s acclaimed 1979 play and features Emmy‑nominated Will Sharpe as Mozart opposite...
NATPE Global, Realscreen Summit and Kidscreen Summit Canceled for 2027
Brunico Communications announced it will cancel its U.S. events portfolio for 2027, including the Realscreen Summit, Kidscreen Summit and NATPE Global. The decision cites ongoing market consolidation and structural pressures on content production. Brunico will instead concentrate on its flagship...
StreamTV Europe Opens Two Weeks From Now in Lisbon
Questex’s StreamTV Europe is launching its inaugural three‑day conference in Lisbon from April 13‑15, drawing more than 900 attendees, 190 speakers, 70 hosted buyers and 100 sponsors. The event expands the successful Denver‑based StreamTV format to Europe, featuring a dedicated buyer...
Roku Bows Ad-Free ‘Howdy’ Mobile Streaming App
Roku has released an ad‑free, subscription‑based mobile app for its Howdy streaming service on iOS and Android in the United States. The app provides on‑the‑go access to a curated library of rom‑coms, medical dramas, 90s comedies and classic movies, with...
20th Century Studios’ ‘Send Help’ Tops Weekly Fandango at Home Chart Through March 29
Disney‑owned 20th Century Studios’ dark comedy *Send Help* topped Fandango at Home’s weekly revenue chart for the week ending March 29, after its premium digital rental and sale launch on March 24. The film edged out Sony’s animated *GOAT*, which debuted at No. 2, while Jason Statham’s action...
Paramount’s ‘Scream 7’ Hitting Digital Retail Platforms March 31, on Disc June 16
Paramount Pictures will release the seventh installment of its Scream horror franchise on digital retail platforms on March 31, 2026, with a premium‑price offering that includes 40 minutes of bonus material. A physical media version—4K Ultra HD, Blu‑ray, and DVD—will follow on...
JustWatch: Prime Video’s ‘Mercy,’ Hulu’s ‘Paradise’ Top Weekly Streaming Through March 29
Prime Video’s sci‑fi drama Mercy surged to the No. 1 spot on JustWatch’s weekly U.S. movie streaming chart for March 23‑29, outpacing Netflix’s Anaconda. Hulu’s original series Paradise claimed the top position on the TV streaming chart, while Netflix’s new series Something...
Greenland 2: Migration
Lionsgate released *Greenland 2: Migration* on 4K Ultra HD Blu‑Ray on March 31, 2026, accompanied by a digital download. The sequel, set five years after the original, follows Gerard Butler’s character leading a bunker evacuation amid tidal waves and radiation storms. The home‑entertainment...
New England Sports Network’s 360 Streaming Service Saw Record Boston Red Sox Opening Day Viewership
New England Sports Network’s direct‑to‑consumer platform NESN 360 logged its highest‑ever streaming audience for the Boston Red Sox’s March 26 opening‑day win, surpassing the previous record by 17.5% and beating the 2025 opening‑day benchmark by 38%. The service, priced at $239.99...
South African True Crime Series ‘Cousins’ to Launch Aug. 27 on Kino Lorber’s MHz Choice Streamer
MHz Choice, the SVOD arm of Kino Lorber, has secured exclusive North American rights to the South African true‑crime limited series “Cousins,” set to debut on Aug. 11, 2026. The nine‑episode Afrikaans drama, based on the 1966 kidnapping and murder of cousins...
Cineverse Launching New FAST Channel Featuring Comic Jay Mohr’s Podcast ‘Mohr Stories’
Cineverse is debuting a free‑ad‑supported streaming TV (FAST) channel called “Mohr Stories,” featuring comedian Jay Mohr’s podcast and video interviews. The channel launches exclusively on LG Channels, while the audio version remains on the Witz Podcast Network. Mohr’s show has...
Fubo to Live-Stream All 2026 Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Games
Fubo, majority‑owned by Disney, has secured a deal with Spectrum SportsNet LA to live‑stream every Los Angeles Dodgers game in the 2026 season. The agreement covers more than 140 regular‑season contests, pre‑ and post‑game shows, and the network’s “Backstage: Dodgers” series....
AMC Networks Pays Off Part of High-Interest Debt Financing
AMC Networks redeemed $44.4 million of its 10.25 % senior secured notes due 2029, paying a 5 % premium, while earlier swapping $830.6 million of the same debt for new 10.5 % notes extending to 2032. The move extends repayment by three years and slightly...
This Week’s MPN Video Podcast: RSNs Are Dead, Disney’s New Era and Fortnite’s Fade
The podcast highlighted the demise of regional sports networks after Sinclair’s $9 billion overpay and Diamond Sports’ bankruptcy, reshaping MLB local broadcasts. Disney announced Josh D’Amaro as its new head, sealed a $1 billion OpenAI partnership, and faces waning Fortnite engagement. The...
HBO Max Launches Service in the U.K., Ireland, 12 Asia-Pacific Countries
Warner Bros. Discovery launched HBO Max in the United Kingdom and Ireland on March 26, 2026, adding an ad‑supported tier that is free for Sky TV subscribers and available via Prime Video Channels. The rollout also introduced the service to...
HBO Max’s ‘The Pitt’ Tops Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Originals Chart Through March 22
HBO Max’s medical drama “The Pitt” claimed the No. 1 spot on Whip Media’s U.S. streaming originals chart for the week ending March 22. The series, starring Noah Wyle, follows a 15‑hour ER shift with each episode covering one hour, and its...
‘Amazing World of Gumball’ Complete Series Coming to DVD May 5
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment will launch a 15‑disc DVD box set of The Amazing World of Gumball on May 5, 2026. The collection compiles every episode from the show’s six Cartoon Network seasons along with the special "Darwin’s Yearbook"...
Fathom Entertainment CEO Ray Nutt Retiring
Fathom Entertainment announced that CEO Ray Nutt will retire later this year after nine years at the helm. Nutt, who joined as CEO in 2017 following a long tenure at Regal Entertainment Group, will assist the board in finding his...
Merchandising: Warner Unveils ‘Lord of the Rings’ 25th Anniversary Collection
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products announced a new "Lord of the Rings" 25th‑anniversary collection, debuting on WBShop.com. The first wave features soft shell jackets, hoodies, graphic tees, oversized shirts, crew‑neck sweatshirts, and matte‑finish tumblers. Each item bears the anniversary...
LG Electronics Announces New Programming on LG Channels at NewFronts
LG Electronics unveiled a slate of new exclusive programming for its LG Channels during the NewFronts event in New York. The lineup includes a puppy‑soccer tournament called World Pup, a culinary lifestyle channel “All Chewed Up,” an expanded Fantasy Life sports...
Animated Fairly Tale ‘Proud Princess’ Debuts On Demand April 7 From Level 33
Level 33 Entertainment will launch the Czech‑produced animated fairy‑tale "Proud Princess" on demand on April 7, 2026. The story follows young King Benjamin, who disguises himself as a gardener to win over the proud Princess Carolina, leading to a daring...
A24 Readies Spike Lee’s ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ 4K UHD Blu-Ray Disc Release
A24 announced that pre‑orders are open for Spike Lee’s 2025 crime drama Highest 2 Lowest on 4K UHD Blu‑ray, with shipments slated for April 2026. The film earned roughly $1.5 million in a limited North American theatrical run. The disc will feature a making‑of...
Victory+ Debuts ‘NWSL Sunday Night Soccer’ Free Ad-Supported Live Streams
Victory+ has launched a free, ad‑supported streaming service called “NWSL Sunday Night Soccer,” delivering live coverage of 99 matches—including 57 national broadcasts—for the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season. The platform pairs live games with on‑demand replays, creator‑led content, and...
Warner’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ Due via Premium Digital March 31, on Disc May 5
Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights will hit premium‑digital rental and purchase platforms on March 31, followed by DVD, Blu‑ray and 4K Ultra HD disc releases on May 5 through Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment. The film has already amassed $234.4 million worldwide at the box...
HBO Max Inks Content Deal With Former Movistar+ Executive Domingo Corral
HBO Max has signed a first‑look content agreement with former Movistar+ chief Domingo Corral to produce original Spanish series, beginning with the in‑production drama “El Nani.” The partnership is part of HBO Max’s accelerated push into Europe, following recent launches...
Neon Comedy ‘Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie’ Due on Digital March 24, Disc May 26
Neon is releasing the time‑travel comedy *Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie* for digital rental and purchase on March 24, 2026, with Blu‑ray and DVD following on May 26. The film, which premiered at SXSW, has already earned more than $4.2 million...
Netflix Readies For Exclusive MLB Season-Opening Live-Stream Game on March 25
Netflix will live‑stream the 2026 MLB season opener on March 25, featuring the New York Yankees against the San Francisco Giants. The broadcast includes retired stars Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols and CC Sabathia as analysts, with MLB Network talent handling play‑by‑play...
