Today's Television Pulse
Disney vows to fight FCC's early ABC license renewal demand
The FCC has ordered Disney to submit early renewal applications for ABC’s eight broadcast stations, citing possible anti‑discrimination rule violations. Legal experts say the 1996 Telecommunications Act makes outright license denial extremely hard without willful or repeated violations. Disney has indicated it will contest the politically‑motivated action.
The €1 Billion Axe: Leaked Parliamentary Report Proposes Gutting French Public Broadcasting
A leaked parliamentary report, championed by Conservative MP Charles Alloncle, calls for a €1 billion (≈$1.08 billion) overhaul of France's public broadcasting system. The proposal mandates merging major TV channels, imposing strict editorial controls, and reinstating state‑appointed executives to run the outlets. The 30‑member inquiry commission is set to vote on the reforms on April 27, after months of heated hearings. If approved, the changes would fundamentally reshape the French media landscape and its governance.
Ready, Set, Upfront
Amazon is preparing its third upfront event in New York, positioning its DSP as a one‑stop shop for premium TV advertising. The company will showcase cross‑publisher reach through Fire TV, shopper data from its e‑commerce platform, and an identity graph...
Ready, Set, Upfront
Amazon is preparing its third annual upfront event in New York, joining Netflix as a digital‑first challenger to traditional broadcasters for premium TV ad budgets. The company will showcase a full‑stack offering that combines Fire TV inventory, Amazon’s e‑commerce shopper...
Setplex Secures Top Honors with NAB Show Project of the Year Award for UVOtv
Setplex won the NAB Show Project of the Year award in the Distribution category for its deployment of UVOtv, a free, ad‑supported live‑TV platform targeting North America’s 70 million diaspora viewers. The service streams over 700 premium channels from Latin America,...
Stephen Colbert Gets Ready to Hang It Up
Stephen Colbert announced that his final episode of "The Late Show" will air on May 21, ending an 11‑season, two‑decade run. CBS confirmed the cancellation last summer, attributing it to the show losing tens of millions of dollars annually. The...
IBC2026 Innovation Awards Open for Nominations
IBC has launched the IBC2026 Innovation Awards, inviting media and entertainment organisations to nominate projects that showcase breakthrough advances. The programme sits alongside the IBC Accelerator and Technical Papers initiatives, creating a broader innovation ecosystem. A new Social Impact category...
Obligatory Registration at Radio-Canada: A Successful Gamble
Radio-Canada rolled out a mandatory registration wall across its iOS, Android, TV and web platforms on July 3 2024, becoming the first public broadcaster to do so. One year later the move delivered an 83% jump in monthly active accounts and a...
Screen Forever 2026: Australian Stories, Australian Voices and a “to Do List” That Never Gets Any Shorter.
Screen Forever 40 opened on the Gold Coast, drawing more than 1,000 producers, creators and executives. The conference celebrated the passage of Australia’s local‑content quotas for streaming platforms, a goal that took a decade of lobbying. SPA chief Matthew Deaner...
The Hail Mary WarnerMount Resistance & Ovitz’s Hollywood Revival
David Ellison, son of Oracle co‑founder Larry Ellison, is pressing a hostile bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, sparking fierce resistance from the studio’s board and regulators. The effort has drawn criticism from a senior Warner executive who doubts California’s...
How Netflix Is Rewriting the Streaming Ad Playbook
Netflix’s advertising arm is shedding its experimental image, posting $12.25 billion in revenue—a 16.2% rise from the same quarter last year. The turnaround began in 2024 with sold‑out NFL ad slots and has accelerated through joint‑business‑planning deals that lock inventory for...
TV Ratings (27/4/2026): Game Shows Battle As The Floor Leads Ratings Run
Australian TV ratings for the night of April 27, 2026 were dominated by game shows, with Nine’s "The Floor" topping the non‑news slot at 1.84 million national reach and 901,000 average audience. It was followed by Seven’s "Tipping Point" (1.59 million reach,...
Monday Surprise Results: Home & Away, MasterChef, 10 News+.
Monday 27 April 2026 TV ratings in Australia showed several unexpected outcomes. The soap "Home & Away" topped entertainment with 1.01 million viewers, while Seven News led the news segment with 1.57 million. 10 News+ recorded its highest audience in months at 210 k,...
Philo Elevates Laura Dechant to COO to Accelerate Scaling and AI Integration
Philo announced Laura Dechant's promotion to chief operating officer, adding to a leadership overhaul that also includes Tom Tidgwell as CFO. The move is designed to sharpen operational agility, expand AI integration, and support the company's growth among price‑conscious viewers.
Peacock Needs Profitability; Netflix Churn Threatens Valuation
For sure but the real question for Peacock is can it ever make a meaningful margin as at some point streaming has to at the very least replace at some of the declining economics from PayTV. Regarding Netflix, if...
Teads and LG Ad Solutions Expand CTV Partnership Across APAC and Europe
Teads and LG Ad Solutions have renewed and broadened their connected‑TV partnership, making Teads the exclusive gateway to LG HomeScreen inventory in nine APAC markets and adding Italy, Greece and Cyprus in Europe. The deal gives advertisers a single‑buy platform...
Streaming Can't Replace PayTV; Consolidation Wave Begins
As I’ve been saying, long form streaming is a not great mature business with only one entity able to make meaningful NOI. In aggregate, streaming cannot replace the current economics from the in-secular decline PayTV bundle of today let...
ARN Makes Kyle & Jackie O Show Director Bruno Bouchet Redundant
Australian Radio Network (ARN) has made show director Bruno Bouchet redundant following the abrupt removal of the Kyle & Jackie O Show from its Kiis FM lineup. Bouchet, who rejoined ARN for a third stint in 2024, had previously served...
Disney+ Debuts Episodes 7‑8 of 'Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord' Amid Early Screenings
Disney+ released the seventh and eighth installments of Lucasfilm Animation’s new series 'Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord' on Thursday, providing early screeners to the entertainment site Laughing Place. The review notes a bleak narrative shift for the titular Sith,...
Methodology Changes Inflate Nielsen Ratings; Full-Year Data Pending
Yeah. And keep in mind, some of those viewing increases are driven by folks who were always watching and have just within the past two years been measured thanks to strategic methodological changes in Nielsen’s viewing currency…And come this fall...
Stagwell, FreeWheel Unveil Unified TV Ad Platform for CTV, Linear & Sports
Stagwell announced a partnership with Comcast‑owned FreeWheel to launch a unified TV advertising infrastructure that spans connected TV, linear broadcast and live sports. The integration gives Stagwell agencies direct access to FreeWheel’s premium video supply, aiming to lower ad‑tech fees,...
Google Is Testing AI Chatbot Search for YouTube
Google is piloting an AI‑driven conversational search tool for YouTube called “Ask YouTube.” The feature, similar to Google’s AI Mode in Search, generates a page that mixes text summaries, long‑form videos, Shorts and curated galleries. It is currently available only...
Dolan on AMC’s Streaming Era
AMC Global Media CEO Kristin Dolan outlined the company’s streaming‑first strategy, noting that roughly 80% of AMC+ distribution comes through partner bundles such as Charter Spectrum. The firm now runs seven niche streaming services, including Shudder and Acorn TV, each...
Vix Boost, World Cup Worries
TelevisaUnivision reported first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $1.1 billion, up 5% year‑over‑year, propelled by strong performance of its Vix direct‑to‑consumer platform. Vix subscription and licensing revenue rose 15% to $505 million, with $385 million generated in the United States after adding its channels to...
TRP Blackout During Election Season: How Advertisers Are Navigating without Ratings
India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting extended the Broadcast Audience Research Council's directive to withhold television rating points (TRPs) for news channels until the end of May, covering the entire state‑election season. The blackout, originally imposed in March over concerns...
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...
Marvel Still Scores Massive Openings Despite Post‑Endgame Doubts
This is a massive oversimplification, but for all the hand-wringing about the post-Endgame MCU box office, Marvel still delivered the 12th (Doctor Strange 2) and 14th (Wakanda Forever) biggest openings ever. Impressive.
Taylor Sheridan's 'The Madison' Eyes 20 Emmy Categories
EXCLUSIVE: Coming off its first season #TheMadison, the Taylor Sheridan-created neo-Western will submit across 20 Emmy categories via 27 total bids. https://t.co/v9R50CDknK via @variety https://t.co/5kSuz9EcFn
Peacock’s Battle for Survival and the Catch 22 of Streaming
The episode dissects Peacock’s ongoing financial woes, noting a $432 million loss this quarter and a cumulative $11 billion deficit since its 2020 launch, despite reaching 44 million U.S. subscribers and strong sports viewership spikes from events like the Winter Olympics and the...
Middle Eastern Funds to Own 38.5% of Paramount‑WBD
Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Will Be 38.5% Owned by Middle Eastern Funds Following Close: Filing https://t.co/mg2Z2deDyN via @variety
FOX Adds Viral Comedy Hit ‘Kill Tony’ to Its Streaming Platforms, Deepening Its Podcast Push
Fox announced a multiyear deal to bring the comedy podcast “Kill Tony” to its streaming services, including Tubi, FOX One, and YouTube. The show, hosted by Tony Hinchcliffe and Brian Redban, draws over 2.6 million YouTube subscribers and roughly 3 million downloads per episode...
Mansa, First All-Black Microdrama Studio, Expands Summer Vertical Slate | Exclusive
Mansa, the first all‑Black microdrama studio founded by David Oyelowo and Nate Parker, is rolling out a summer slate of ten original vertical series. The platform debuted its mobile‑first programming in February during Black History Month and logged more than...
Angels Vs. Royals to Stream Live on Peacock and NBCSN Sunday Night Baseball
NBC Sports and Peacock will carry Sunday Night Baseball’s Los Angeles Angels versus Kansas City Royals on April 26 at 7 p.m. ET. The game will air on NBCSN and stream live on Peacock, part of a 27‑game prime‑time MLB slate for 2026.
Foxtel Expands VEVO Channels with 80s Addition, Reshuffles Line Up
Foxtel is expanding its music offering by adding a dedicated Vevo 80s channel, slated for launch on May 5, and reordering its Vevo lineup for easier decade‑by‑decade navigation. The refreshed suite places Vevo 2K on channel 810, Vevo 90s on 811, the new Vevo 80s on 812,...
‘There’s No Audience for This Movie After the Israel-Hamas War’
Desert Warrior, a $150 million historical action epic starring Anthony Mackie and directed by Rupert Wyatt, was positioned as the first Hollywood‑style blockbuster filmed entirely in Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030. Production struggled with incomplete Neom Media facilities, forcing the crew to...
‘Deli Boys’ Launches 22‑category Emmy Push with Star Actors
‘Deli Boys’ Mounts 22-Category Emmy Campaign, Including Acting Bids for Kumail Nanjiani, Fred Armisen and More (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/3MHd2r6PuW via @variety
Disney Appoints Henri Ringel as VPS and General Manager for Central and Latin America
The Walt Disney Company Latin America announced Henri Ringel as Senior Vice President and General Manager for Central and South America, effective May 1. Ringel will also keep his role as Head of Content Sales and Acquisitions for the broader Latin...
SPA’s Matthew Deaner to Open SCREEN FOREVER 40 with Focus on Reform
Screen Producers Australia chief Matthew Deaner opened SCREEN FOREVER 40 on the Gold Coast, using the keynote to celebrate Australia’s new streaming‑content regulation that took effect on 1 January. He framed the rules as a landmark that brings certainty to local...
Paramount Seeks FCC Approval for 49.5% Middle East Stake
New: Paramount has asked the FCC to sign off on the Middle East investment in its Warners mega-deal. The company says in a filing viewed by THR that "indirect foreign ownership of equity interests in Paramount will be approximately 49.5...
‘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,...
Chad Powers Season 2 Release Date Window Revealed for Glen Powell Hulu Show
Hulu’s comedy series Chad Powers will return for a second season this fall, according to Deadline. Co‑creator and showrunner Michael Waldron renewed his overall deal with 20th Television and will direct four of the six episodes, including the premiere and...
S&P: Local TV to Earn $4 Billion in Political Ad Spending in 2026
Local television broadcasters are set to capture more than $4 billion in political advertising in 2026, representing 16.3% of total broadcast revenue – a record for a non‑presidential election year. The surge is driven by a crowded slate of gubernatorial, Senate...
YouTube Built a Tool To Protect Celebrity Likenesses. But It Does Not Pay Them.
YouTube has launched a deep‑fake detection tool that lets high‑profile individuals upload their likenesses to Google’s cloud for automated monitoring. The service, first opened to politicians and journalists, now covers actors, athletes, creators and musicians, flagging or removing videos that...
Disney's Most Controversial Star Wars Series Becomes Streaming Hit 2 Years After Cancellation
Disney’s live‑action series *Star Wars: The Acolyte* resurfaced on Disney+ in April 2026, climbing into the platform’s top‑10 despite being canceled after its first season in 2024. The resurgence aligns with a broader wave of Star Wars interest sparked by new...
CBC, BBC Northern Ireland Greenlight New Romantic Comedy Series ‘Committed’
CBC and BBC Northern Ireland have greenlit "Committed," a 10‑episode half‑hour romantic comedy co‑produced by Cameron Pictures and Fabel Productions. The series stars Dustin Milligan and Diona Doherty and follows a newly divorced Canadian accountant who travels to a rural...
Netflix Hits Drop Viewers After First Season
Netflix's biggest hits are losing viewers in subsequent seasons. (Beef is the latest example.) https://t.co/QVKTvoboZM
Melania Trump Calls on ABC to “Take a Stand” Against “Coward” Jimmy Kimmel / YouTube Getting a Late-Night Talk Show...
Former first lady Melania Trump publicly urged ABC to fire or reprimand Jimmy Kimmel after the host mocked her at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, calling the joke about an "expectant widow" cowardly. ABC has not yet responded, leaving the...
Roku Launches New Roku Curate Solution for Connected TV Ad Buyers
Roku introduced Roku Curate, a new solution that bundles high‑value audience data with premium connected‑TV inventory into ready‑to‑buy packages. The offering merges Roku’s proprietary engagement insights with third‑party purchase data, allowing advertisers to activate and measure campaigns through existing buying...
Hulu Rolls Out May 2026 Lineup Featuring Second‑season Returns and New Mormon Reality Spinoff
Hulu unveiled its May 2026 programming slate, highlighting returning second‑season series such as "El Encargado" and "Rivals" alongside the debut of the reality spinoff "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County." The lineup aims to boost subscriber engagement ahead of...
Behind The Mic: Kenny Beecham to Launch NBA Radio Show on SiriusXM; Mike Tomlin to Join NBC Pregame Show
SiriusXM NBA Radio launches "The Kenny Beecham Hour," a weekly postseason show featuring the Forbes 30‑under‑30 star. Former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is set to join NBC’s Sunday Night Football pre‑game panel, adding a sideline perspective. Telemundo announced a roster...
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...