Know What's Happening in Television
Know What's Happening in Television
China regulator cracks down on TV dramas obsessed with beauty
China’s National Radio and Television Administration warned that domestic TV dramas are overly fixated on physical beauty and traffic‑driven popularity, urging producers to prioritize stronger acting and storytelling. The directive was delivered at a conference attended by major streamers including iQIYI, Tencent Video, Mango TV and Youku.
Broadcast giant Nexstar has closed its $6.2 billion acquisition of TEGNA, creating the largest U.S. television station group with roughly an 80% national footprint. The deal faced immediate legal challenges from nine state attorneys general and DirecTV, but received regulatory clearance amid political support. Nexstar plans to leverage scale for greater advertising leverage and to fund digital transformation of its local news operations. Industry observers debate whether the consolidation will preserve local journalism or further reduce competition.
It’s not random the decision to drop the first trailer of #HarryPotter HBO series this WED. After a long wait, #HBOMax will finally be launched in the U.K. this THU, so using one of the biggest British pop culture phenoms ever...
Law&Crime announced the launch of Law&Crime+, a subscription platform delivering immersive true‑crime content. The service provides exclusive access to case files, raw footage, and early trial coverage for high‑profile cases such as Karen Read, Alex Murdaugh and Bryan Kohberger. Subscribers...
Witbe will debut an AI‑native video streaming test and monitoring infrastructure at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas. The solution weaves artificial intelligence through four layers—real‑device execution (Witbox), AI‑driven automation (Agentic SDK), operational control (REC) and intelligent analysis (Smartgate). Leveraging...
Netflix’s South Korean sci‑fi disaster film *The Great Flood* completed its 91‑day premiere window as the platform’s fifth‑most‑watched non‑English movie ever, logging 86.6 million views and 157.3 million hours watched. The title topped daily Top 10 charts worldwide and lingered for months, breaking...
The YES Network is expanding its Yankees game coverage by adding an extra hour of pre‑game analysis and a 30‑minute post‑game segment, pushing total broadcast time to roughly 6.5 hours per weeknight matchup. New shows such as Yankees Rewind, The...
Jeff Winemiller, a veteran low‑power television (LPTV) trader, has acquired a Daystar‑affiliated LPTV station in Seattle through his company Lowcountry 34 Media. The deal marks his entry into the Pacific Northwest’s most populous market, expanding his portfolio beyond the Southwest...
Netflix veteran Steven Maeda, known for steering the One Piece live‑action series, is now helming Amazon MGM Studios' adaptation of the award‑winning comic *Monstress* into an adult animated series for Prime Video. He will co‑run the project with fellow One...
Netflix announced it will stream the South Korean espionage action film *Humint* globally on March 31, 2026, after acquiring the exclusive rights in a surprise last‑minute deal. The movie, written and directed by Ryoo Seung‑wan, concludes his unofficial “Overseas Location”...
Zoic Studios has named Raphael A. Pimentel as its new Director of Animation, overseeing animation for feature films, episodic series, commercials, and experiential projects. Pimentel arrives from Luma Pictures, where he directed animation teams in Los Angeles, Melbourne, and Vancouver...
Finalists for the 2026 Digiday Video and TV Awards highlight a shift toward immersive, audience‑driven storytelling, with brands treating video as a core business engine. Adobe’s “Great Big Giant MAX Creator Challenge” earned 36.3 million interactions and a 6 % engagement rate,...
Tubi unveiled a suite of new ad formats at IAB NewFronts, including the interactive Scene Sense overlay and pause‑time carousel ads that tie messaging to on‑screen content. The streamer also announced original creator‑driven series aimed at Gen Z and a partnership...
Early‑bird applications for the Melbourne International Film Festival’s 37°South Market are now open until 13 April, with discounted rates for producers seeking financing. The four‑day market will take place in August in Melbourne, offering one‑on‑one meetings, pitch sessions, and roundtables that...
Screen Producers Australia (SPA) has appointed Samantha Turi, former Director of Business & Legal Affairs at Matchbox Pictures, to lead its newly created commercial strategy role. Turi brings over a decade of experience negotiating rights and structuring deals across scripted...
Netflix has officially entered development on a reboot of the 2004 rom‑com *13 Going on 30*, attaching rising stars Emily Bader and Logan Lerman as leads and enlisting original star Jennifer Garner as an executive producer. Veteran Netflix director Brett...
Triggerfish Animation Studios has opened a new UK base in Bristol, occupying the Royal Talbot Buildings. The location leverages Bristol’s UNESCO City of Film status and strong animation ecosystem, and is backed by a £25 million (≈$32 million) Creative Places Growth Fund...
Plimsoll Productions has appointed veteran executive producer Paul Wright to spearhead its live programming across adventure, factual entertainment, and natural history. Wright arrives fresh from Netflix’s high‑profile "Skyscraper Live with Alex Honnold," a technically demanding event that showcased Plimsoll’s production...
Philo has expanded its free, ad‑supported streaming lineup by adding six new channels from Lionsgate and Blue Ant Media, bringing the total to over 130 channels. The additions—Heartland, The Conners, Nash Bridges, Caught in Providence, True Crime, and Shockwave—cover a mix...
Disney+ has begun production on "The Koreans," a Korean‑language reimagining of FX’s award‑winning series "The Americans." Set amid South Korea’s early‑1990s democratization, the drama follows a middle‑class family whose parents are covert North Korean spies. The series stars Lee Byunghun...
AMC’s noir drama *Dark Winds* returned for a fourth season on February 15, 2026, delivering eight hour‑long episodes that shift the hunt from the reservation to 1970s Los Angeles. The series, already a Netflix staple after the 2024‑2025 licensing deal, logged 19.2 million viewing equivalents...
Apple Music announced a partnership with Ticketmaster to power its concert discovery feature, embedding ticket links directly within the streaming app. The integration adds a dedicated Concerts tab, homepage carousel, artist‑page badges, and push notifications that surface nearby shows based...
Paramount+ has renewed the long‑running procedural "Criminal Minds" through a landmark 20th season while announcing a May 28, 2024 premiere for Season 19. The upcoming season returns the core ensemble—Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, among others—and adds a star‑studded roster of...
Network‑management specialist MNC Software has named Heartland Video Systems as its authorized North American reseller, a partnership that will be showcased at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas. The deal centers on MNC’s newly launched Tapestry broadcast automation and...
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...
Netflix ended its DVD‑by‑mail service on September 29, 2023, leaving millions of U.S. movie fans without a physical‑media option. DVD Inbox launched to fill that void, offering a subscription model that mirrors Netflix’s former system, including the ability to import...
Esports has transitioned from niche arcade contests to a mainstream cultural force, with professional gamers now cast as the new sports heroes. Counter‑Strike 2 (CS2) anchors the competitive scene, fueling a sophisticated betting ecosystem that mirrors traditional sports wagering. Global audiences...
Help me out here. Doesn't Canal+ $CAN looks pretty mispriced right now. The market is basically valuing MultiChoice (plus all the expected synergies) at less than zero. MultiChoice is already profitable and Canal+ is targeting €400m in annual synergies over the...
In the wake of the @soraofficialapp shutdown, Disney said it "will continue to engage with AI platforms to find new ways to meet fans where they are while responsibly embracing new technologies that respect IP and the rights of creators.”...
Nielsen data shows a 5% jump in viewership for the 2026 NCAA March Madness opening, the best start since 2011. The surge coincides with record betting payouts and a wave of upsets in both men’s and women’s brackets, fueling fan...
GAUGE RAGE: Nielsen, TV networks and streamers are in a furious battle over a monthly snapshot of video viewing across TV and digital that the measurement giant created just for kicks.... https://t.co/LhPJyzOThB
My Q&A with 'NCIS' EP @stevebinder... Steven ‘NCIS’ Hits Episode 500: Showrunner Steven D. Binder on Surviving Cast Turnover and Why He Believes ‘There Will Be Always Be an ‘NCIS,’ Barring the Total Collapse of the Network Broadcast Model’...
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...
Tubi Unveils Formula 1 Altcasts Under Deal With Apple TV, New Interactive Ad Formats https://t.co/QJTdPgk926 via @variety
The Sports Video Group’s 2026 Regional Sports Production Summit in Denver will feature a keynote from MLB Local Media, highlighting how Major League Baseball has built a local‑broadcast operation for 14 clubs. Executives Doug Johnson and Kendall Burgess will discuss...
The Fanatics Flag Football Classic will debut on FOX, positioning flag football as a prime television property. By pairing current and former NFL players with celebrity host Kevin Hart, the event blends sport and entertainment to attract both hardcore fans...
Australian drama "The Travellers," directed by Oscar‑nominee Bruce Beresford, will debut on Netflix US in April 2026. The film, which opened theatrically in October 2025 and stars Luke Bracey, Bryan Brown, and Susie Porter, is part of Sony Pictures' “Pay‑1”...
The National Association of Broadcasters will open its 2026 NAB Show by honoring the reality series “Survivor” as it reaches its 50th season, presenting the Spirit of Broadcasting Award. The ceremony features a live remote interview with host Jeff Probst...
Second Rodeo Productions, led by CEO Scott Brown, is pioneering a new production model that focuses on digitally native scripted formats such as micro‑dramas—short, one‑minute chapters monetized per episode. Drawing on collaborations with megastars like MrBeast, The Rock and Kevin...
EITB has awarded Barcelona‑based Konodrac a contract to deliver HbbTV‑based audience measurement and addressable TV services across its connected television platforms. The system will capture real‑time viewing data from smart TVs, enable interactive promotions and targeted ads, and integrate with...
Boiler Room’s 2025 sale to Superstruct and the departure of founder‑CEO Blaise Bellville sparked a fan backlash that highlighted a deeper funding dilemma in live music. The controversy coincided with growing awareness that four corporations—Live Nation, Superstruct, AEG and CTS...
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show 2026 will take place April 18‑22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, featuring a packed lineup on the creator economy, AI, streaming and broadcast technology. Among the highlights, Telestream introduced UP, a cloud‑native...
Disney+ has officially renewed Marvel Studios' series Wonder Man for a second season, following its January premiere. Lead actors Yahya Abdul‑Mateen II and Ben Kingsley will return, with creators Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest continuing as showrunner and director. The renewal...
Paramount Skydance has launched BBTV, a dedicated streaming service for the long‑running soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. The platform debuts with over 9,000 episodes covering the first 37 seasons, with additional seasons slated for later addition. Subscriptions are...
Netflix’s animated hit “KPop Demon Hunters” became the platform’s most‑watched film, earned an Oscar and launched a massive merchandising line. After the breakout, directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans secured an exclusive five‑year agreement worth roughly $10 million per year, plus...
New: We visit the set of a microdrama to find out how this fast-moving production machine 📽️ works. Don't miss this inside glimpse by @tessspatton on @thewrap PRO: Inside a Microdrama Set as Production and Talent Demands Explode https://t.co/cyMVGzFK9N
Verimatrix, a security firm with over 400 customers and 200 engineers, is positioning itself as a global leader in anti‑piracy technology for live sports. In a new SVG Sponsor Spotlight, VP of Product Management Juan Martinez explains that the time‑sensitive...
Paramount+ has confirmed that 'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' will conclude with its second season. The decision caps a short‑run series that struggled to find a stable audience, prompting questions about the franchise’s streaming strategy.
France TV Distribution has secured a slate of international sales for the first episodes of the French light‑crime series *Curious by Nature*. The show landed deals in Spain with ETB, Aragón TV and NBCUniversal’s Calle 13 channel, and expanded into Poland,...
European scripted TV production is entering a downturn, with the European Audiovisual Observatory reporting fewer episodes per season and shorter episode runtimes after a growth peak in 2022. The shift reflects a broader market correction as streaming platforms curb original‑content...
Netflix’s weekly Top 10 for the week of March 16 saw BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE dominate the non‑English TV chart with 13.1 million views, while the new Peaky Blinders film captured 25.3 million views to lead the English film list. ONE PIECE season 2 held the English TV top spot...
