CBS Outpaces Competitors with Eight of the Top 25 Series Across All Streaming and Broadcast Originals in Nielsen's All-Series Ranker
CBS captured 32 percent of the top‑25 most‑watched series in Nielsen’s 35‑day multiplatform rating, the highest share among broadcast and streaming rivals. Eight CBS titles—including new dramas Marshals and Sheriff Country—rank within the top 25, with six programs exceeding 10 million viewers. The network leads in several categories, holding the #1 overall series, #1 comedy, and #1 news program. This performance underscores CBS’s hybrid strategy of pairing legacy franchises with fresh scripted content.
Hulu Signs First-Look Deal With Switchboard Magazine
Disney’s Hulu has signed a first‑look agreement with Switchboard Magazine to source documentary projects. The deal gives Hulu priority to develop feature‑length documentaries, docuseries and other unscripted content based on Switchboard’s reporting or editorial ideas. Switchboard, launched in early 2025,...
Hollywood’s Saudi Tax Rebate Problem
Saudi Arabia announced a new film‑and‑TV incentive that can return up to 60% of production costs, eclipsing the 25‑40% rates common in Europe and even Qatar's recent 50% offer. The boost aims to position the kingdom as a global filming...
The Wall Came Down
Sharyn Alfonsi, a veteran 60 Minutes correspondent, says CBS News is blurring the line between editorial independence and corporate interests under new head Bari Weiss. Her contract was not renewed after she publicly challenged the removal of a segment on U.S....
The Hunting Wives: Season Two Filming Is Done, Season Three of Netflix Series Being Prepped
The Hunting Wives has wrapped filming on its second season, with a premiere date still unannounced by Netflix. Actor Dermot Mulroney disclosed on a podcast that writers are already working on a third season, slated to begin shooting in the...
Prime Video Orders Three New Animated Series From GenAI Creators' Fund, Backed by Amazon MGM Studios and AWS
Amazon MGM Studios and AWS unveiled the GenAI Creators’ Fund, green‑lighting three AI‑enhanced animated series—Cupcake & Friends, Love, Diana Music Hunters, and Punky Duck—for Prime Video. The initiative is powered by Project Nara, a purpose‑built AI production platform that integrates...
The Ellison Trust-Busting Is Getting Political
Paramount Skydance’s $110 billion bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery has ignited a high‑stakes antitrust showdown. The company has hired top litigators, including Winston & Strawn’s Jeffrey Kessler, with Latham, Cravath and other elite firms expected to join. A coalition of state attorneys general is challenging the...
The Optimist’s Case for the UFC and F1 Megadeals
Paramount secured UFC broadcasting rights in a $7.7 billion deal announced by David Ellison after his acquisition of the studio. A few months later Apple struck a massive agreement for global Formula 1 streaming, prompting skepticism about the $4.5 trillion tech giant’s sports‑rights...
Tubi Announced ‘The Other Football’ Show Hosted by Rob Gronkowski and Jameis Winston
Tubi announced an eight‑part weekly talk show, “The Other Football,” hosted by NFL stars Rob Gronkowski and Jameis Winston. The series premieres May 27 and runs through July 17, featuring guests such as Tom Brady, Keegan‑Michael Key, and U.S. soccer players. The...
Knicks Making Finals Is Cherry On Top Of NBA’s Successful Season
The New York Knicks have clinched their first NBA Finals appearance in 27 years, reviving a franchise that last won a championship in 1973. Their run comes amid the NBA’s record‑setting viewership, driven by a new streaming‑heavy rights deal that...
"Dutton Ranch" Is the Biggest Original Series Debut in Paramount+ History
Paramount+ announced that its new drama "Dutton Ranch" logged 12.9 million global views in its first seven days, the biggest original‑series debut in the platform’s history. The show also topped Nielsen’s streaming chart for the week of May 11, 2026, and attracted 2.9 million...
Brand Cash and Big Screens for the Creator Economy
The Dispatch piece highlights how French creator Seb La Frite and his production company Olibrius are blurring the line between digital creator content and traditional cinema. Their documentary "TRENTE" debuted in French theaters on May 18‑19, 2026, backed by substantial...
Max Mimics Netflix with Transmedia Retention Play in Europe
Warner Bros. Discovery launched a revamped HBO Max in Europe on May 19, 2026, transforming it from a pure‑video library into a multi‑format entertainment hub. The new "HBO Max+" bundles streaming series with original podcasts, interactive games, and live‑event experiences,...
Viral Aesthetics and Billion-View Feeds: Brut. Smashes Cannes Records
French digital‑native media company Brut. leveraged its official partnership with the Cannes Film Festival to launch a short‑form video series that amassed more than 1.2 billion cumulative views across TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. The performance shattered the previous Cannes‑partner...
Netflix Rides the Cannes Wave for French Adult Animation Breakout In Waves
Netflix has secured global streaming rights to the French adult animated feature "In Waves," directed by Phuong Mai Nguyen and produced by Silex Films. The film debuted in the Critics' Week section of the Cannes Film Festival, marking a rare...
Mamoru Hosoda’s Anime Movie ‘Scarlet’ Sets Netflix Debut for June 2026
Studio Chizu’s anime feature Scarlet, directed by Mamoru Hosoda, will launch on Netflix US on June 6, 2026 after a high‑profile festival circuit and a Sony Pictures Classics theatrical run. The film, a Shakespeare‑inspired time‑travel adventure, debuted out of competition...
Netflix Acquires Star-Studded Satirical Thriller ‘Sacrifice’ Starring Chris Evans and Anya Taylor-Joy
Netflix has acquired the U.S. streaming rights to Romain Gavras’ satirical eco‑thriller Sacrifice, following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film features a high‑profile cast including Chris Evans, Anya Taylor‑Joy, Vincent Cassel and pop star Charli XCX....
TV in 3: Shonda’s Disney-Netflix Throuple — And Why Everyone Wins
Shonda Rhimes has signed a new overall deal with Disney while maintaining a collaborative relationship with Netflix, creating a three‑way partnership that benefits all parties. Disney gains access to Rhimes’ proven franchise‑building expertise, and Netflix leverages her revived “Little House on...
CATCHPLAY’s Screenworks Asia Partners with Korea’s SLL Joongang for Premium Co-Development as Streaming Platform Debuts New Vertical Slate and Expands...
CATCHPLAY+ marks its 10th anniversary by launching a premium vertical drama slate in Taiwan, Indonesia and Singapore, backed by exclusive branding with Korean platform Sero and licensing from CJ ENM and b.able. Its production arm Screenworks Asia has teamed with...
Prison Break: Hulu Reboot to Begin Filming Next Month, Recasting Announced
Hulu is set to launch a new Prison Break reboot, with principal photography slated for June in Los Angeles. The 63‑day production will benefit from an $18.9 million California tax credit and carries an estimated budget of $53.2 million. A fresh ensemble...
Inside the Stream: Advertising’s Growing Importance for Streaming
New research from Omdia, Hub and Antenna highlights the accelerating role of advertising in streaming. Omdia projects global connected‑TV ad revenue to rise to $81 billion by 2030, up from $44 billion in 2025, with Google, Amazon and Netflix slated to capture...
Scripted Series Make A Comeback, The Blurry Line Between Opinion And News
U.S. broadcast networks are re‑adding scripted series, but with shorter 10‑13 episode seasons aimed at boosting overseas syndication revenue rather than domestic ratings. The shift aligns with streaming‑driven episode lengths, reducing total episode inventory for FAST channels and altering profit...
What I’ve Heard: Five Years of Hollywood Disruption
The five‑year anniversary of the "What I’m Hearing" newsletter highlights a Hollywood in turmoil, marked by a surge in mergers and acquisitions, the fallout from Peak TV’s oversaturation, and industry‑wide strikes. Over 100 insiders were surveyed, revealing that legacy studios...
Netflix’s 17 Seconds in Heaven
Netflix’s first major MMA event—a Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano bout—ended after just 17 seconds when Carano tapped out. The rapid finish sparked criticism and jokes across sports media, but the streamer views it as a learning moment rather than...
Tube Trends: How YouTube Creators Are Using Longer Videos To Compete With TV
YouTube is positioning itself as a TV‑like platform by encouraging creators to publish longer videos. In Q1 2023 U.S. creators posted 4.3 million videos of 20 minutes or more, rising to 6.6 million in Q1 2026, with a growing share exceeding 30 and 40 minutes. Top...
Sky Deutschland Extends EPL Contract Until 2030/31 Season
Sky Deutschland has extended its Premier League broadcast agreement through the 2030‑31 season, adding three more years to its existing deal. The contract guarantees coverage of all 380 league matches each season, with more than 280 shown live, and includes public‑screening...
Is Netflix Finally Embracing the Theatrical Business? (And Should It?)
Netflix is expanding its theatrical experiments, highlighted by a 28‑day IMAX rollout for an untitled Brad Pitt film directed by David Fincher and scripted by Quentin Tarantino. The move follows a series of stunt releases, such as K‑Pop: Demon Hunters,...
Star Wars’ Disney+ Hangover: A Fight to Make the Galaxy Feel Big Again
Disney is releasing its first original Star Wars theatrical film in seven years, *The Mandalorian and Grogu*, a spin‑off of the hit Disney+ series. Analysts expect a domestic opening well below the $250 million benchmark set by *The Rise of Skywalker*...
The New Commissioner
The television sector is moving beyond platform‑centric commissioning toward a role that ensures intellectual property can travel, persist, and accumulate value across broadcast, streaming, FAST, YouTube, social feeds, and AI‑mediated interfaces. This "New Commissioner" blends creative intent with discovery algorithms,...
Saturday TV Ratings: 48 Hours, Banana Ball, Stanley Cup Playoffs, NBA Playoffs, MLB Baseball
Saturday, May 16, 2026, TV ratings show CBS’s true‑crime series *48 Hours* returned with a new episode, while live sports dominated the night. Major league baseball, the Stanley Cup playoffs and the 2026 NBA playoffs captured the largest audience shares,...
Disney+ & Hulu Integration Deepens With Personalized Profile Linking
Disney is rolling out a profile‑linking feature that lets Hulu subscribers attach their Hulu watch history, watchlist and recommendations to a Disney+ profile. The change, initially available to eligible Disney Streaming Bundle members, will expand to all U.S. bundle subscribers...
Broadcast TV’s Fork In The Road: Sports, Streaming And The Fight For Relevance
The latest broadcast‑TV earnings reports reveal a split among the four biggest station groups. E.W. Scripps is aggressively pursuing local sports rights and streaming channels, while Gray focuses on hyper‑local OTA networks. Sinclair leans into ATSC 3.0 and broader video infrastructure,...
ABC Orders a Texas-Set Grey’s Anatomy Spinoff
ABC has officially green‑lit a new Grey’s Anatomy spinoff set in Texas, marking the franchise’s third off‑shoot. Creator Shonda Rhimes and showrunner Meg Marinis will co‑lead the project, expanding the medical drama universe beyond Seattle. The series is expected to debut on...
Netflix Top 10: Week of May 11 - "The Roast of Kevin Hart" Heats Up to No. 1 in This...
Netflix’s weekly Top 10 for May 11‑17 shows a surge in live comedy and animated film viewership. "The Roast of Kevin Hart" claimed the No. 1 spot on the English TV list with 13.5 million views, bolstered by Netflix is a Joke Fest’s star‑studded...
‘Beavis and Butt-Head’ Heading to Netflix for the First Time in June 2026
Paramount’s cult classic *Beavis and Butt‑Head* will debut on Netflix US on June 16, 2026, marking the first time the animated series streams on the platform. The rollout is labeled “New volumes” and is expected to include the newer seasons...
How AI, Smarter Signals And Omnichannel Strategies Are Reshaping Streaming TV’s Next Chapter
At this year’s POSSIBLE conference, industry leaders shifted conversation from streaming TV growth to execution, emphasizing operational efficiency and integrated workflows. Advertisers are now seeking AI that automates optimization and streamlines creative adaptation rather than broad, hype‑driven solutions. Targeting strategies...
Netflix Action Movies Don’t Need Everyone. They Need This Audience.
Netflix’s original action movies consistently attract massive audiences, with titles like War Machine, Extraction 2, Back in Action and Damsel each logging over 120 million global views and multiple weeks in the platform’s Top 10. The core viewership comprises roughly 70.4 million adult users,...
TikTok’s Popular Microdramas Shrink TV Into Bite‑sized Chunks
In January 2026 TikTok introduced PineDrama, a dedicated app for short‑form scripted microdramas in the United States and Brazil. By March the platform was already casting new series, and in April Issa Rae’s debut "Screen Time" surpassed 100 million views within...
Disney+ Joins Hulu to Livestream Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Austin City Limits Music Festivals Globally
Disney+ and Hulu announced a joint global livestream of three major Live Nation festivals—Bonnaroo (June 11‑14), Lollapalooza (July 30‑August 2) and Austin City Limits (October 2‑4). The partnership adds a revamped on‑site "Live Set" studio for artist interviews and behind‑the‑scenes content, extending Hulu’s six‑year...
“Perfect Crown” Becomes Most Successful Korean Original On Disney+ & Hulu
Disney+ announced that its Korean drama "Perfect Crown" has become the platform’s most successful Korean original worldwide, amassing 43 million views across Disney+ and Hulu. Episode 8 alone saw a 43 % jump in viewership within seven days of release, underscoring accelerating audience...
Pablo Torre: Fox Is the ‘Little Guy’ in NFL Rights Battle
Fox Sports, the smallest bidder for the next NFL media‑rights package, is confronting a stark financial gap versus tech behemoths Amazon, Google and Netflix. Rupert Murdoch’s recent meeting with former President Donald Trump aims to pressure the league and regulators...
TV in 3: Friedlander’s Amazon Goals Revealed; TV Studio Scorecard
Peter Friedlander, newly appointed head of Amazon Prime Video TV, delivered his first upfront presentation on May 11, outlining the streaming giant’s strategic priorities. He spotlighted the upcoming "Barbershop" series as a cornerstone of Amazon’s original scripted slate and signaled...
Inside “Etty”: The €11M European Drama Built From the Hollywood Strikes
Les Films du Poisson is producing a €11 million (≈ $12 million) Dutch‑ and German‑language series based on Etty Hillesum’s Holocaust diaries. The project, titled “Etty,” was green‑lit as Hollywood’s writers and actors strikes left many creatives searching for work abroad. The co‑production...
Margo’s Got Money Troubles: Season Two Renewal Set for Apple TV Series From David E. Kelley
Apple TV+ has officially renewed David E. Kelley’s comedy‑drama *Margo’s Got Money Troubles* for a second season. The first season, starring Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nick Offerman, Thaddea Graham and Nicole Kidman, is currently airing and will conclude next Wednesday. The series has garnered...
Upfront Highlights: Canela’s AI Microdramas, Amazon’s Shopping Play
Canela Studios introduced Zully, an AI‑driven microdrama platform delivering Spanish‑language short videos. The app leverages synthetic actors to produce and A/B test story variants at scale, targeting Latino audiences across the U.S. and Latin America. Meanwhile, Amazon announced it will...
Big Brother: Unlocked: Season One Ratings
Big Brother: Unlocked, a spin‑off of CBS’s long‑running reality franchise, aired its first season with hosts Taylor Hale and Derrick Levasseur delivering unseen footage, exclusive interviews, and celebrity guest commentary. Nielsen’s live‑plus‑same‑day ratings, which include DVR playback through 3 AM, showed...
2025-26 Season Ratings for New TV Shows (Week 33)
Through week 33 of the 2025‑26 television season, the major broadcast networks released final average ratings for all new series launched this year. The data, based on live plus same‑day viewing, lists each show’s national rating and highlights which titles are...
Jodie Comer to Star in HBO's The Chain / PBS’ A Capital Fourth Is Moving to July 3 / Tulsa...
Hollywood’s slate is buzzing with high‑profile talent and strategic moves. Emmy‑winner Jodie Comer headlines HBO’s limited series "The Chain," adapting Adrian McKinty’s bestseller, while PBS shifts its patriotic "A Capitol Fourth" celebration to July 3 for the nation’s 250th anniversary. Peter...
Upfronts Winners & Losers: Scripted TV Gets Sacked
The annual Upfronts week revealed a clear hierarchy: live sports secured the bulk of advertising commitments while scripted series struggled to attract spend. Streamers such as Netflix and Amazon pushed deeper into the ad‑sales arena, signaling a new competitive dynamic...
"Rooster" Capped Off a Standout First Season, Becoming HBO's Most-Watched Comedy Debut in Over 15 Years
HBO’s new comedy series "Rooster" closed its debut season as the network’s most‑watched comedy launch in over 15 years, averaging 6.5 million U.S. viewers per episode. The finale attracted 2.2 million viewers within its first three days, prompting an immediate renewal for...