Disney+ Sets Date for Ad-Supported Tier Launch in AUNZ
Disney+ will roll out an ad‑supported "Standard with Ads" tier in Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday, priced at $9.99 AUD (about $6.60 USD) per month. The new plan delivers full‑HD video, two simultaneous streams and no download capability, sitting alongside the existing ad‑free Standard and Premium options. Disney says the lower‑cost tier broadens appeal, eases bundling with partners, and creates a fresh ad inventory for local brands. The move aligns Disney+ with other global streamers that now offer cheaper, ad‑supported subscriptions.
Near-Perfect Sitcom Hailed "a Gem of a Show" Will Be Removed From Netflix Soon
Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney’s sitcom Catastrophe, a four‑season, 24‑episode series praised for its sharp humor and near‑perfect 98% Rotten Tomatoes rating, will leave Netflix on April 25. The show, which aired on Channel 4 from 2015‑2019, follows an unlikely romance that results...
How a Gold House Dinner Helped ‘Beef’ Creator Lee Sung Jin Land Season 2 Star Charles Melton
Lee Sung Jin leveraged a Gold House dinner to sit beside Charles Melton and personally pitch him the lead role for season two of the anthology series Beef. The creator’s real‑life inspiration—a heated neighborhood argument—shaped a new premise that pits...
Roku Passes 100 Million Active Households Worldwide
Roku announced it now serves over 100 million active households across its streaming devices and smart‑TV platform, marking a milestone that underscores its global reach. The company’s operating system, licensed to manufacturers such as TCL and Hisense, now fuels more than...
AccuWeather Moves to Amagi for Broadcast, Streaming Infrastructure
AccuWeather announced a migration of its broadcast and streaming infrastructure to Amagi, swapping its legacy system for an IP‑based, cloud‑native workflow. The new setup consolidates linear channels and free‑ad‑supported streaming (FAST) services onto a single platform managed from Amagi’s Master...
Fox Sports Locks in Australia’s Tour of Bangladesh
Fox Sports, through its Kayo Sports and Foxtel platforms, has secured exclusive Australian broadcast rights to the 2026 Bangladesh home cricket series. The agreement covers ODIs, T20s and Tests featuring Bangladesh against New Zealand, Pakistan and later Australia. Live coverage begins...
How ‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island’ Came to Be, According to an NBCU Executive
Bravo’s latest Real Housewives installment, “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island,” debuted after a four‑year gap since the Dubai launch. NBCUniversal’s unscripted VP Pamela Gimenez highlighted Rhode Island’s tight‑knit, ocean‑centric culture as the perfect backdrop for a refreshed cast. Casting...
Acuña, Harper Headline Sunday Night Baseball Matchup on Peacock
NBC’s Peacock and NBCSN will carry Sunday Night Baseball throughout the 2026 season, kicking off with the Braves at the Phillies on Peacock at 7:20 p.m. ET. The matchup pits former NL MVPs Ronald Acuña Jr. against two‑time MVP Bryce Harper, with...
IABM Rebrands as International Association of MediaTech
The International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers (IABM) has rebranded as the International Association of MediaTech (IAMT) to reflect the expanding scope of media technology beyond traditional broadcast. CEO Saleha Williams cites the organization’s State of Media Tech report, which shows...
Why Streamers AreSeizing the Now
Live streaming platforms are turning to live sports to cement real‑time audience habits. Netflix set a U.S. record with 27.5 million viewers for a Christmas‑Day NFL game and reached 30.5 million worldwide, while Amazon’s Prime Video logged 21.1 million for Thursday Night Football....
Expanded Creator Lab Seeds Digital Synergies
The 2026 NAB Show is spotlighting the creator economy with an expanded Creator Lab that runs four to six sessions daily from April 19‑21. Adobe and Blackmagic Design sponsor a new networking mixer, and the event offers free exhibit passes...
Netflix Signals Interest in More NFL Games, Eyes Bigger Role in Live Sports
Netflix reaffirmed its interest in the NFL during its Q1 2026 earnings call, but it is targeting high‑profile, event‑style games rather than full‑season packages. The streaming giant is weaving the NFL into a broader live‑content strategy that includes concerts, talent shows...
Roku vs Apple TV vs Fire TV vs Google TV – What Is The Best Streaming Player For Cord Cutting?...
Roku emerged as the clear favorite in a Cord Cutters News survey of over 3,000 streaming‑device users, capturing 58% of the vote. Apple TV, Google TV and Fire TV followed with 17%, 13% and 12% respectively. Respondents praised Roku’s simple,...
Another Streaming Service Is Raising Its Price in May 2026
Acorn TV, the British‑focused streaming service offered through DIRECTV, announced a $1 monthly price increase effective May 2026. The adjustment adds $12 to an annual subscription for customers who bundle the service with their TV packages. The modest hike comes amid...
"Chaotic" Sitcom with a "Strong Ensemble of Characters" Lands New UK Streaming Home
US sitcom DMV, created by *Friends* producer Dana Klein, has found a new home on the UK streaming service ITVX, where the first ten episodes are available for free. The series, starring Harriet Dyer, Tony Cavalero, Tim Meadows and Molly...
NAB 2026: Encompass Digital Media and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Expand Partnership for Cloud-Native Broadcast Operations
Encompass Digital Media announced an expanded partnership with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to deliver cloud‑native broadcast solutions. The collaboration integrates Encompass’s Altitude Cloud platform and its Master Control in the Cloud SaaS offering with OCI’s scalable infrastructure. Together they aim to...
NAB 2026: MediaKind Outlines Growth of Multiview Deployments as Charter Rollout Expands in North America
MediaKind announced at NAB 2026 that its Multiview service is expanding rapidly across North America, highlighted by Charter’s rollout for the 2026 NCAA basketball tournament. The deployment generated hundreds of thousands of viewing hours within days, building on earlier Comcast pilots...
‘Beef’ Season 2 Cast And Netflix’s Jinny Howe Reveal Details In D.C.
Netflix hosted an advance screening of Beef season 2 in Washington, DC, inviting about 100 diplomats, cultural leaders and industry insiders. The event featured a panel with creator Lee Sung Jin, cast members Youn Yuh‑jung, Seoyeon Jang and Matthew Kim, and Netflix’s Jinny Howe. The show’s second...
Renewed: Father Brown
The BBC has renewed the beloved UK cosy‑crime series Father Brown for two more seasons, taking the show through series 15 and 16. Production on series 14 is already underway in the Cotswolds, with Mark Williams reprising the titular priest and...
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...
Burger King May Be Getting ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ Toys – but U.S. Fans May Miss Out
Burger King may be preparing an eight‑toy "The Mandalorian and Grogu" kids‑meal promotion, but the only evidence so far comes from unofficial social‑media posts that point to a rollout in Mexico. The collection includes figures of Din Djarin, Grogu, Bo‑Katan,...
Netflix Partners with Cricketers to Showcase Their Post-Match "Chill" Routines
Netflix has launched a four‑week "Chill Like a Champion" campaign in India, partnering with IPL franchises Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The initiative showcases star cricketers such as Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah relaxing with Netflix content after...
Akshay Kumar Likely to Return as Host for Wheel Of Fortune India Season 2; Industry Buzz Suggests Renewal
Akshay Kumar is poised to return as host of Wheel of Fortune India as the game show has reportedly been greenlit for a second season. The Indian adaptation debuted on January 27, 2026, and delivered stable ratings and strong audience...
NBC News Now Is Taking Over MSNBC’s Old Studio
NBC News Now is moving into the former MSNBC Studio 3A and adjacent spaces at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, consolidating its operations in the iconic newsroom. The transition will allow the streaming service to expand its live news output to 14 hours a day,...
Henry Cavill’s Dark Crime Thriller Breaks Into the Global Streaming Top 10
Henry Cavill’s 2019 thriller Night Hunter has cracked the global streaming Top 10, ranking high on Paramount+ and Starz. The dark crime thriller, featuring Ben Kingsley, Stanley Tucci and Alexandra Daddario, is climbing charts despite lukewarm Rotten Tomatoes scores. Its resurgence arrives...
Roku Adds 22 New Free Channels On Roku TVs & Roku Players, YouTube TV’s Major Update & More – The...
Roku bolstered its free tier by adding 22 new ad‑supported live channels to The Roku Channel, giving cord‑cutters more genre‑wide options without subscription fees. YouTube TV rolled out a major app refresh that forced temporary sign‑outs, requiring users to re‑authenticate...
Even Netflix Is Getting in on Vertical Videos, Mobile App Redesign Gets Discussed
Netflix announced in its Q1 2026 earnings that it will redesign its mobile app to feature vertical videos in a new discovery feed, rolling out the change by the end of April. The move follows a 16% year‑over‑year revenue increase and...
K-Drama Casting News About Lee Hye-Ri, Choi Hyun-Wook, Kim Da-Mi and More
South Korean drama studios announced a wave of new projects for the spring season, featuring high‑profile casting moves. Lee Hye‑ri and Na In‑woo are in talks to lead the Japanese‑series remake "Caution, Hazardous Wife," while Choi Hyun‑wook eyes the lead...
Spotify Spotlights Premium with AI DJ and Lossless Audio Push
Spotify has launched a five‑week, multi‑channel campaign in India to promote its Premium tier, spotlighting two new features: an AI‑driven DJ that curates music in real time and lossless‑quality audio for richer sound. The ads emphasize personalization and high‑fidelity listening,...
Lessons From Global Media Markets on Building Enduring Content Franchises
Global media success now hinges on building IP ecosystems rather than single‑hit shows. Rose Audio Visuals emphasizes franchise potential, citing examples like Stranger Things, Money Heist, Squid Game, and creator‑driven brands such as MrBeast. The article argues that authentic regional...
NAB 2026: KMH Integration Showcases ‘AV Casting’ Workflow Approach and New Technology at NAB 2026
KMH Integration is showcasing its ‘AV Casting’ consulting model at NAB 2026, emphasizing a unified broadcast‑IT‑AV workflow. The firm announced a partnership with Nodal1 to deliver AI‑powered 8K‑to‑16K image processing and software‑defined production tools. Demonstrations will highlight collaborative quality‑control, media‑over‑IP...
NAB 2026: Cobalt Digital and SineSix Media Integrate Audio Description Technology for Broadcast Workflows
Cobalt Digital and SineSix Media announced a partnership that embeds SineSix's vocalVision audio‑description engine into Cobalt’s 9922 frame synchronizer family. The integration delivers real‑time narration of on‑screen graphics—such as lower‑thirds, weather maps, and sports data—through the Watchman API or a...
‘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...
Amazon Prime Video Collaborates with Artist Rob for Matka King Campaign
Amazon Prime Video has teamed up with Indian visual artist Harun Robert, known as Rob, to launch a distinctive promotional campaign for its upcoming series Matka King starring Vijay Verma. Over a three‑week period Rob produced a 40‑foot canvas that...
What’s Alpha Males’ Renewal Status After Season 5?
Netflix has not yet announced whether Alpha Males will return for a sixth season, leaving its renewal status officially undecided. The decision will depend on Season 5’s viewership numbers, ratings, and overall financial performance. Season 5, which just premiered, follows the four...
Preliminary Injunction Ices Nexstar, Which Will Appeal Ruling
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction halting Nexstar Media Group from integrating the assets of its newly acquired TEGNA Inc. The order follows a two‑week temporary restraining order and comes as DirecTV and nine states challenge the deal on...
The DOJ Is Launching An Investigation Of MLB’s Streaming Deals For Anti-Competitive Tactics That Harm Viewers
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an antitrust investigation into Major League Baseball’s streaming rights, extending a broader probe of professional‑sports media deals. Regulators are examining how MLB packages national and local digital broadcasts, which often require fans to...
Spectrum Announces Expanded Carriage Deal with Mid-Atlantic Sports Network
Spectrum and Charter Communications have sealed a multiyear carriage agreement that brings the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) to Spectrum TV in select areas of southeastern Maryland, Virginia and eastern North Carolina. The network launches on channels 335 or 440 and...
Project Hail Mary Streaming Plans Delayed as IMAX Return Extends Theatrical Run
Amazon MGM announced that the Ryan Gosling‑led sci‑fi film *Project Hail Mary* will stay in theaters longer, adding a limited one‑week IMAX engagement starting this weekend. The studio confirmed the movie will not move to streaming soon, pushing back its...
A Chat With L.A.’s New Film Czar on ‘Baywatch’ — and How the City Is Trying to Cut Red Tape
Los Angeles has installed a new film liaison, Steve Kang, to streamline permitting and reduce bureaucratic friction for productions. Kang’s authority, granted by Mayor Karen Bass, enabled rapid approvals for the Baywatch reboot, including a 20% discount on a city...
New Study Shows Streamers Are Fed Up With Ads — and Still Paying To Avoid Them
A March 2026 All About Cookies survey of 1,000 U.S. adults shows streaming ads are ubiquitous but largely ignored. Only 24% of viewers actually watch ads, while 74% multitask or mute during breaks. Most major platforms now rely on ad‑supported...
WGA West Staff Votes To Stay On Strike As Standoff With Management Hits 2-Month Mark
The Writers Guild of America West staff union voted overwhelmingly—over 85 %—to continue its strike, extending a two‑month labor standoff with guild management. The vote follows a rejected “strike‑ending” proposal on March 26 and a lack of substantive dialogue since the broader...
Media Bureau Creates Scripps-INYO Pleading Cycle
The FCC has opened a pleading cycle to solicit comments on whether E.W. Scripps Co. can reacquire 23 television stations it previously sold to INYO Broadcast Licenses. The original divestiture was done to satisfy local ownership caps that regulators are...
From Small-Town Story to Global Hit: Inside Sullivan’s Crossing’s Winning Formula
Canadian drama “Sullivan’s Crossing” returns for its fourth season on April 20, after gaining traction on CTV and The CW. The series’ global breakout came when Netflix released it, propelling it to the No. 1 spot in the United States and No. 3...
Streaming’s Subscription Reset: Why Agentic AI Will Decide the Next Phase of Growth
Netflix’s recent push into live sports illustrates how event‑driven spikes can quickly attract new subscribers, but the real challenge lies in retaining them once the hype fades. Across the streaming sector, churn spikes after marquee events as engagement drops. While...
NAB Show: CarbonBlack Technology Creates Multi-Camera Real Time Projection-Based Virtual Production Solution
CarbonBlack Technology showcased the first multi‑camera, real‑time projection‑based virtual production workflow at the NAB Show. The system combines CarbonBlack’s nanotech Hybrid RP screen, Christie Sapphire 4K40‑RGBH projectors, Vizrt Engine 5, Disguise, and WePlay Studios’ stack, plus RED, Zeiss, Evertz and...
Secure Content Distribution At Heart Of New ATSC 3.0 Receivers For Consumers And Broadcasters
The ATSC 3.0 Security Authority (A3SA) is unveiling a new wave of secure NextGen TV receivers at NAB 2026, highlighting how over‑the‑air (OTA) broadcasts can be protected while delivering premium picture quality. More than 18.5 million U.S. households already own A3SA‑enabled...
Zee Entertainment Announces Strategic Investment in PhantomFX
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. announced a strategic investment of up to Rs 116 crore (about $1.4 billion) in visual‑effects studio Phantom Digital Effects Ltd. (PhantomFX) via convertible debentures, pending shareholder approval. The partnership gives Zee access to PhantomFX’s U.S. and UK studios, AI‑driven...
ATX TV Festival Announces Indie TV Pitch Competition Finalists
The ATX TV Festival announced the ten finalists for its 2025 Indie TV Pitch Competition, spanning comedy, drama, sci‑fi and dramedy formats. The finalists will pitch their series to a panel of seasoned showrunners, producers and executives during the May 28‑31...
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....