Paramount Hit With Antitrust Lawsuit Over Warner Bros. Discovery Acquisition
Paramount Skydance has been served with a 46‑page antitrust lawsuit challenging its $110.9 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The plaintiffs, a group of streaming and movie‑going consumers, argue the deal would raise the combined entity's market share to 23.6%, diminish consumer choice, and concentrate power among the top four studios. Paramount has already cut about 2,000 jobs to achieve $3 billion in annual cost savings and seeks to double that after the merger closes. The company denies the claims, saying the transaction will strengthen competition and creative talent support.
Alliance Entertainment Relaunches ‘Movies Unlimited’ Retail Platform Targeting Collectors
Alliance Entertainment has relaunched its Movies Unlimited website as a collector‑led retail platform offering classic movies and TV series on DVD, Blu‑ray and 4K Ultra HD. The redesign focuses on higher‑margin products such as limited editions, pre‑orders and 4K formats, and...
‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’ to Debut Digitally May 5, on Disc June 16
Searchlight Pictures' horror sequel *Ready or Not 2: Here I Come* will launch on premium digital platforms on May 5, then arrive on Blu‑ray and DVD on June 16 via Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. The film, starring Samara Weaving alongside an all‑star ensemble,...
This Week’s MPN Video Podcast: FCC Goes After Jimmy Kimmel, Disney ABC Broadcast Strategy and Gaming’s Big Problem
The Media Play News podcast spotlights three major media battles: the FCC’s subpoena of Jimmy Kimmel, which could set a precedent for broadcast free‑speech limits; Disney’s strategic dilemma over whether to pull ABC from over‑the‑air TV and double‑down on Disney+,...
Nielsen: Prime Video’s NBA Playoffs Coverage Drew Highest Mix of 18-49 Year-Old TV Viewers Through April 26
Prime Video’s NBA playoff broadcasts have become the top destination for the coveted 18‑49 demographic through April 26, according to Nielsen data. The Spurs‑Blazers first‑round game attracted 58.5% of its audience from that age group, translating to 1.466 million viewers. Across the...
Blu Ant Media Bows Love Nature Streaming Content Channel in Holland
Blu Ant Media announced the launch of the Love Nature streaming channel in the Netherlands, partnering with Delta Fiber, one of the country’s largest ISPs. The channel will stream award‑winning wildlife and nature programming in English with Dutch subtitles. Highlights...
‘Reminders of Him’ Tops DEG Digital Transactions Chart for Week of April 19
Universal Pictures' "Reminders of Him" claimed the No. 1 spot on the Digital Entertainment Group’s digital sales and rentals chart for the week ending April 19, following its premium digital release on April 14. The romance drama, adapted from Colleen Hoover’s 2022 bestseller,...
‘Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc’ Streaming on Crunchyroll Beginning April 30
The anime film "Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc" will debut on Crunchyroll’s global streaming platform on April 30, 2026. The movie continues the story of the hit series, focusing on Denji’s encounter with the enigmatic Reze amid a...
‘Ultraman: Towards the Future,’ ‘Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero’ Complete Series Combo on Blu-Ray May 12 From Mill Creek and Alliance
Mill Creek Entertainment and Alliance Home Entertainment will issue a Blu‑ray combo set on May 12, 2026 that bundles the complete runs of “Ultraman: Towards the Future” and “Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero.” Both series are among the few Ultraman titles produced...
Charlize Theron Hits Netflix’s ‘Apex’ With 38.2 Million Views
Netflix’s new mountaineering action film *Apex*, starring Charlize Theron, recorded 38.2 million global views for the week ending April 26, making it the platform’s top‑performing English‑language movie. The thriller pits Theron’s bereaved climber against a serial‑killer antagonist played by Taron Egerton. Theron’s...
Warner to Bow 1996 Actioner ‘Eraser’ on 4K Digital and Disc June 16
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment announced a 4K Ultra HD Blu‑ray and digital release of the 1996 action film *Eraser* on June 16, marking its 30th anniversary. The remastered edition includes fresh bonus material featuring director Chuck Russell, star Vanessa Williams, and...
MPN Video Podcast: Akta Tech’s Matt Smith Talks About Producing AI-Powered, Cloud-Based OTT Video at Scale
At NAB 2026, Akta Tech chief evangelist Matt Smith explained how artificial intelligence is transforming broadcasting and over‑the‑top (OTT) video production. He highlighted AI‑driven metadata tagging, automated workflow orchestration, and cloud‑native delivery that together cut costs and speed up content...
Spotify Posts Record Operating Income, Adds 3 Million Quarterly Subs to 293 Million, Stock Tumbles
Spotify reported a record operating income of €715 million ($837 million) in Q1 2026, adding 3 million paid subscribers to reach 293 million worldwide. Monthly active users rose to 761 million, a 12% year‑over‑year increase. Subscription revenue grew 10% to €4.15 billion ($4.86 billion), while ad‑supported revenue...
Roku Adds First Cloud DVR Features to Peacock Premium Plus Live Streaming
Roku announced the rollout of its first Cloud DVR capabilities for Peacock Premium Plus, letting ad‑free subscribers pause, rewind and replay live streams, including sports. The feature is part of a broader five‑year partnership with NBCUniversal and arrives as Peacock Premium Plus...
Home Entertainment New Releases for April 28 Include ‘Hoppers’ Digitally, ‘Dust Bunny’ on Disc
Home entertainment distributors announced a slate of April 28 releases spanning digital rentals, premium‑digital sales, and new 4K Ultra HD discs. Disney/Pixar’s *Hoppers* arrives for premium digital purchase, while Lionsgate’s horror thriller *Dust Bunny* and Sony’s 4K *Moneyball* debut on disc, featuring...
Telemundo Announces Soccer Experts to Cover FIFA World Cup 2026 Spanish-Language TV/Peacock Streaming Coverage
Telemundo, the NBCUniversal‑owned Spanish‑language network, announced a panel of former soccer stars and coaches to anchor its TV and Peacock streaming coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament will be staged across the United States, Mexico and Canada...
JustWatch: HBO Max’s ‘Marty Supreme’ Reigns No. 1 Across Streaming Through April 26
HBO Max’s critically acclaimed film “Marty Supreme” topped the U.S. feature‑length movie streaming chart for the week ending April 26, according to JustWatch data. Prime Video’s sci‑fi horror series “From” surged to No. 1 on the TV streaming leaderboard, overtaking HBO Max’s...
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Returns to Top of Weekly Fandango at Home Chart Through April 26
Avatar: Fire and Ash reclaimed the #1 spot on Fandango at Home’s weekly revenue chart for the week ending April 26, moving up from #2 after its March 31 digital purchase launch. The third Avatar film’s strong digital sales outpaced Paramount’s Scream 7,...
Paramount in Canada and Blue Ant’s Media Pulse Expand Partnership
Paramount Canada has expanded its relationship with Blue Ant’s Media Pulse, appointing the firm as the exclusive direct sales and programmatic partner for both Paramount+ and Pluto TV inventory. The agreement gives Canadian advertisers streamlined access to premium CTV ad...
‘The Great American Baking Show: Season 4’ Debuts on Roku Channel May 11
The Great American Baking Show returns for its fourth season, debuting on The Roku Channel on May 11, 2026. Hosted by Andrew Rannells and Casey Wilson, the series pits eight amateur bakers against themed challenges judged by Paul Hollywood and...
Anchor Bay Punk Drama ‘The Yellow Bellies’ Available on Blu-Ray From MVD
Anchor Bay Entertainment and MVD Entertainment Group have issued a Blu‑ray edition of the 2013 indie drama “The Yellow Bellies.” The film chronicles an all‑girl punk band’s tense, real‑time countdown to a downtown Jacksonville gig, exploring love, ambition, and loyalty....
Kino Lorber Issuing 1991 Sean Young Thriller ‘A Kiss Before Dying’ on Blu-Ray May 12
Kino Lorber announced a Blu‑ray release of the 1991 romance thriller *A Kiss Before Dying* slated for May 12, 2026. The film, adapted from Ira Levin’s novel and directed by James Dearden, stars Sean Young, Matt Dillon and Max von Sydow. The edition...
Calif. AG Rob Bonta: ‘Red Flags Everywhere’ on Paramount/WBD Merger
Paramount Pictures announced a $110.9 billion equity acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that still requires state-level approval in California. Attorney General Rob Bonta warned that the merger faces “red flags everywhere,” citing concerns over consumer pricing, employee wages, and market competition....
‘The Midway Point’ Due Via On Demand May 19 From Level 33
Level 33 Entertainment is set to launch the coming‑of‑age drama *The Midway Point* on-demand on May 19, 2026. The film follows a young man on the autism spectrum navigating identity, friendship and first love in modern‑day California. It features a recognizable cast...
A24’s ‘The Moment’ to Begin Streaming on HBO Max May 29
A24’s new film *The Moment* will debut exclusively on HBO Max in the United States on May 29, with a linear broadcast the following day. The movie follows a rising pop star confronting fame and industry pressure as she prepares for an...
NAB 2026 Wrap: Media No Longer Transforming, But Operating in the New World
The NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas marked a turning point for the media sector, declaring that transformation is now a day‑to‑day reality. AI, cloud production and streaming economics were showcased as operational tools rather than future concepts. Attendance surged...
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Remains No. 1 on Weekly U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through April 22
James Cameron’s sequel Avatar: Fire and Ash held the top spot on the Official Film Chart in the United Kingdom for a third consecutive week ending April 22, 2026. The sci‑fi fantasy outperformed Universal’s Oscar‑winning drama Hamnet, which jumped to...
Roku Selling Peacock Subscriptions Directly to Consumers
Roku announced it will sell NBCUniversal’s Peacock subscriptions directly to consumers at $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year, marking the first time the streaming service can be purchased without a third‑party billing partner. Peacock, which now has 44 million paid...
Amazon Partnering With Jason and Travis Kelce’s ‘New Heights’ Podcast for World Cup Soccer in LA
Amazon is partnering with the "New Heights With Jason and Travis Kelce" podcast to stage a live event, "New Heights Live in LA," at the Orpheum Theatre on June 15, coinciding with the 2026 FIFA World Cup kickoff in Los Angeles....
Cineverse Launching Ad-Free Gorilla Comedy+ Streaming Service on May 5
Cineverse is set to launch Gorilla Comedy+, an ad‑free streaming service, on May 5. The platform, built with Nashville‑based 800 Pound Gorilla, will cost $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually and will feature the Gorilla catalog of more than 250 comedy titles plus...
Parks: Roku, Samsung Dominate Connected TV Platforms Streaming Access
Parks Associates’ Streaming Video Tracker shows Roku (28%) and Samsung’s Tizen (23%) together control the majority of U.S. broadband households’ connected‑TV usage. Amazon Fire TV, LG webOS and Vizio SmartCast sit in mid‑tier positions, while Apple tvOS, gaming consoles and...
Survival Thriller ‘Send Help’ Streaming on Hulu Beginning May 7
Disney’s 20th Century Studios thriller *Send Help* will debut on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ on May 7, targeting U.S. bundle subscribers. The film, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, follows two office colleagues stranded on a deserted island after...
NAB Show 2026: Live Sports Streaming Boom Leaves No Sport Untouched, Even Esports
The live‑sports‑streaming surge that began during the pandemic now covers everything from dirt‑track auto racing to esports, according to a NAB Show panel. World Racing Group streams 80‑90 races a year behind a $300‑annual subscription, using the platform to boost...
NAB Show 2026: BritBox Chief Robert Schildhouse Says ‘Durability,’ Profitability More Important Than Sub Count
At NAB Show 2026, BritBox CEO Robert Schildhouse stressed that durability and profitability matter more than raw subscriber numbers. He explained that BritBox’s disciplined growth, with over half its users on annual plans, relies on curated British programming rather than...
NAB Show 2026: Streaming Summit Chair Rayburn Blasts Erosion of Trust, Much of It Due to AI
Dan Rayburn, chair of the NAB Show 2026 Streaming Summit, warned that AI‑driven misinformation is eroding trust across the digital entertainment sector. He cited rampant LinkedIn posts that misstate financials, claim false mergers, and even attribute fabricated quotes to him...
HBO Max: ‘The Pitt’ Season 2 Finale Episode Tracked 9.7 Million Views in Four Days
HBO Max’s medical drama “The Pitt” delivered a blockbuster finish, with the season‑two finale attracting 9.7 million unique viewers in the first four days. The series averaged 15.4 million weekly viewers for the season, a 50 % jump from its debut year. This...
Peacock Releases Final Chapters to Original ‘Gilgo Beach Killer’ Docuseries
Peacock will debut the fourth and final episode of the two‑time Emmy‑nominated documentary “The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets” on April 23, 2026. The series follows suspect Rex Heuermann, offering exclusive family interviews, jail phone calls, and commentary from...
Billy Idol Should Be Dead
The new Hulu documentary "Billy Idol Should Be Dead," directed by Jonas Åkerlund, arrives as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame prepares to induct Idol in the Class of 2026. The film traces William Broad’s rise from a London...
Amagi Inks FAST Technology Agreement With Latin American Ole Interactive Group
Amagi has signed a reseller agreement with Adams, a unit of Ole Interactive Group, to bring its FAST (free ad‑supported streaming TV) technology to Latin America. The partnership gives Adams access to Amagi’s cloud‑based automation, scheduling and ad‑insertion platform for...
‘Mercy’ Claims No. 1 Spot on Disc Sales Chart
MGM’s thriller *Mercy* claimed the No. 1 spot on the Circana VideoScan disc‑sales chart for the week ended April 11, driven by strong HD‑format performance. HD discs accounted for 47 % of its first‑week sales, with regular Blu‑ray contributing 30 % and 4K discs...
Double Feature of ‘The Crawling Hand’ and ‘The Slime People’ Due on DVD April 21 From VCI and MVD
VCI Entertainment and MVD Entertainment Group are issuing a double‑feature DVD on April 21, 2026 that pairs the 1960s sci‑fi cult classics *The Crawling Hand* and *The Slime People*. Both titles have been meticulously restored in 4K from their original 35 mm negatives,...
MPN Video Podcast: Why Vertical Video Could Be Bigger Than Traditional TV for Sports
In a Media Play News podcast, Grabyo CEO Gareth Capon discusses the surge of AI‑powered vertical video for live sports. The platform enables broadcasters to reformat traditional feeds into mobile‑first streams, add real‑time clips, and localize content on the fly....
Streaming Summit Returns to NAB April 20-21 with Eye on Sports, Bundling, Ads and AI
The Streaming Summit will reconvene at the NAB Show in Las Vegas on April 20‑21, featuring roughly 85 speakers from top streaming platforms, sports leagues, broadcasters and content owners. Sessions will explore monetization strategies across SVOD, AVOD and FAST, with...
Ted Sarandos Says Failed Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Hardened Netflix’s M&A Muscles
Netflix co‑CEO Ted Sarandos said the company’s $82.7 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery taught Netflix to prioritize investment discipline over ego. After Paramount Skydance secured the assets for roughly $111 billion, Netflix walked away and collected a $2.8 billion termination fee. Sarandos highlighted that the...
Paramount Boss Promises 45-Day Theatrical, 90-Day TVOD Before Streaming Windows
Paramount CEO David Ellison announced a new release strategy that guarantees a 45‑day theatrical window followed by a 90‑day transactional video‑on‑demand (TVOD) period before films move to Paramount+. The pledge comes as the studio pushes for industry backing of its...
HBO’s ‘Euphoria’ Season 3 Premiere Episode Generates 8.5 Million Views in 72 Hours, Up 44% From Season 2 Debut
The season‑three premiere of HBO’s teen drama "Euphoria" attracted 8.5 million viewers across HBO and HBO Max within the first 72 hours, a 44% jump over the Season 2 debut. The episode also propelled the series to the No. 1 spot on Max worldwide,...
This Week’s MPN Video Podcast: Why Live Sports Streaming Still Breaks — And How to Fix It
The Media Play News podcast hosted by David Bloom and Daniel Frankel featured NetSkrt CEO Sig Luft discussing why live‑sports streaming continues to falter. Luft highlighted persistent CDN bottlenecks, edge‑delivery constraints, and latency issues that jeopardize viewer experience and real‑time...
StreamTV Europe: FAST Channel Operators Advised to Keep It Local
At the StreamTV Europe forum, leading FAST operators—including Samsung TV Plus, TCL, Your Channels, and France 24—emphasized that European success hinges on localized content. Panels highlighted that dubbing, subtitles, and region‑specific genres drive higher engagement than generic feeds. Real‑world cases such as...
CinemaCon 2026: Social Media Can Help Movie Theaters, Not Hurt Them
Cinema United and TikTok unveiled a report at CinemaCon showing that TikTok activity drives theater attendance, not the opposite. Analyzing four diverse releases—*The Housemaid*, *Sinners*, *Wicked: For Good* and *Zootopia 2*—the study found week‑over‑week TikTok engagement rose in lockstep with box‑office...
Second LA Vertical Drama Market to Take Place May 7-10
The LA Vertical Drama Market (LAVDM) will convene in Hollywood from May 7‑10, 2026, marking its second edition. The event expands its slate to more than 50 industry speakers, eight vertical labs, ten expert panels, and a series of VIP gatherings....