EXCLUSIVE: Shaq Will Headline Walmart and Vizio’s First Joint NewFront Event
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal will headline Walmart and Vizio’s first joint NewFront presentation on March 23. The event, titled “Content to Commerce,” will feature top executives from Walmart Connect, Vizio, L’Oreal, NBCUniversal and Universal Studios. It will provide the first look at how Walmart plans to package Vizio’s connected‑TV inventory for advertisers. The lineup underscores the retailer’s push to blend media, data and commerce in a unified ad platform.
AI Standardisation Speeds Up
Since SMPTE launched its AI Taskforce in 2020, AI adoption in broadcast has accelerated dramatically, prompting an updated Engineering Report in 2024 that highlights emerging standards. The report recommends standardising on the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Agent-to-Agent (A2A) frameworks,...
Sky Integrates Disney+ Into Sky TV Subscriptions
Sky has integrated Disney+ into its core TV subscription, offering the Standard with Ads tier (valued at £5.99 per month) at no extra charge to eligible customers. The service is now accessible via Sky Glass, Sky Stream, and Sky Q,...
Meet the… CEO and Founder
Antonio G. Corrado, founder and CEO of MainStreaming, splits his day between shaping long‑term strategy, overseeing day‑to‑day operations, and engaging with customers, partners, and investors. He emphasizes the impact of AI, edge computing and distributed architectures on the future of...
Tewungwa Named CEO of UKTV
UKTV announced that Sam Tewungwa will assume the role of chief executive on April 1, succeeding his tenure as Managing Director. Tewungwa will steer the broadcaster’s strategic direction, emphasizing growth of its free streaming service U and deepening distribution partnerships. He...
Spanglish Movies Launches FLOUtv with FAST Channels TV
Spanglish Movies has launched FLOUtv, a free ad‑supported streaming TV (FAST) platform delivering Spanish‑language films, series and cultural programming across the United States and Latin America. Powered by FAST Channels TV’s white‑label infrastructure, the service offers more than 80 linear...
Spain: Mediaset Bans Fast-Forward
Mediaset España has imposed new playback restrictions on its channels across major Spanish pay‑TV platforms, disabling fast‑forward, pause and rewind functions in catch‑up, recorded and live‑restart viewing. The policy, already in place on Movistar+, Orange TV and Vodafone TV, forces...
FIFA, YouTube Sign World Cup 2026 Preferred Platform Deal
FIFA has named YouTube as a Preferred Platform for the 2026 World Cup, allowing media partners to stream the opening ten minutes of every match and select full games on their own channels. The deal also unlocks FIFA’s Digital Archive...
TV Ratings (16/3/2026): Aussies Turn To Seven As The Oscars Rolls Out Hollywood’s Red Carpet
The Oscars aired on Australia’s Seven Network attracted a Total TV National Reach of 1.254 million and an average audience of 488,000, despite the late‑night time slot. A same‑day encore captured an additional 1.074 million reach with 231,000 average viewers, while the...
AI-Generated Feature ‘Raphael’ Anchors MBC C&I’s Hong Kong FilMart Slate (EXCLUSIVE)
South Korean broadcaster MBC C&I’s AI Contents Lab showcased its most ambitious slate at Hong Kong FilMart, headlined by “Raphael,” an 80‑minute feature billed as one of the world’s first fully AI‑generated movies. The lineup also includes AI‑driven dramas such...
Vietnamese Horror ‘Phi Phong: The Blood Demon’ Sells To Multiple Territories Through Mockingbird
Bluebells Studios’ horror feature *Phi Phong: The Blood Demon* has been sold to more than ten territories through Mockingbird Pictures, launching in Vietnam on April 24 to coincide with the Reunification Day holiday. The film, directed by Do Quoc Trung and...
Audience Guide
Nielsen released an audience guide focused on growth audiences, highlighting the significant role of Free Ad-supported Streaming TV (FAST) platforms. The guide reveals that FAST services account for one in three ad-supported streaming minutes among Black women aged 18 and...
CBS News 24/7 Staffers Set to Walk Off Job in Bari Weiss’ First Union Fight
CBS News 24/7’s 60‑person unionized staff will stage a 24‑hour walkout on Tuesday after contract talks with editor‑in‑chief Bari Weiss broke down over raises, defined schedules and severance. The unit, which rebroadcasts flagship CBS programs and produces original digital shows,...
AI Is Everywhere — All the Time — at Hong Kong’s Filmart
Hong Kong’s Filmart 2026 has turned into a showcase for generative AI, featuring 28 dedicated AI sessions that eclipse traditional studio panels. The convention’s focus spans screenwriting, animation, pre‑visualization and workflow optimization, reflecting rapid adoption across Asian productions. Major tech...
Filmart: Animation Takes Center Stage as Box Office Booms
Animation has become a dominant force in China’s box office, with 2025 revenues reaching $3.57 billion and accounting for roughly half of all ticket sales. The breakout success of Beijing Enlight Pictures’ *Ne Zha 2*, which earned $2.2 billion worldwide, underscores the genre’s commercial...
‘SupermodelMe’ Makes History as First Reality Franchise to Go Vertical With FlareFlow Microdrama Series (EXCLUSIVE)
Refinery Media and COL Group International have partnered to launch "SupermodelMe: Make It or Break It," the first reality franchise reimagined as a vertical‑format microdrama on the FlareFlow mobile platform. The series, announced at Hong Kong FilMart, will debut mid‑year...
Harry Styles' Concert Film Climbs Netflix’s Charts Ahead of BTS’ Reunion
Harry Styles' concert film "One Night in Manchester" surged to the top of Netflix’s domestic charts just as the streamer prepares to stream BTS’s highly anticipated reunion concert on March 21. Netflix secured exclusive rights to the BTS live event and...
China’s Hishow Seals Deals On Bosco Wong Series ‘My Dearest Stranger’; Launches ‘Mastermind’ Starring Louis Koo
China’s Hishow Entertainment sealed its first deals on the Bosco Wong‑led series My Dearest Stranger and launched sales for the Louis Koo action thriller Mastermind at Filmart. My Dearest Stranger, a 13‑part drama directed by Lin Yu‑Hsien, logged over 260 million...
Japan Pushes for a New Global Stage as Film Frontier Makes Its Debut at Hong Kong Market
Japan debuted a dedicated Film Frontier section at the Hong Kong‑Asia Film Financing Forum, placing emerging Japanese filmmakers directly in the market. Seven Japanese projects—spanning In‑Development, Work‑in‑Progress and the new Film Frontier showcase—highlight Unijapan’s outward‑facing strategy. Backed by the Japan...
Noah Wyle, Other Industry Figures To Testify At Adam Schiff Hearing On Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger, Tax Incentives
Senator Adam Schiff is convening a spotlight hearing in Burbank to scrutinize Paramount’s proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery and the broader push for federal film‑production tax incentives. Actor Noah Wyle, IATSE President Matthew Loeb, policy researcher Jax Deluca, and...
Taylor Sheridan’s New Series Just Shot Straight to No. 1 on Paramount+
Taylor Sheridan’s latest series, “The Madison,” launched on March 14, 2026, and immediately claimed the No. 1 spot on Paramount+ streaming rankings. The drama, featuring a notable ensemble cast including Piper, Russell, Patrick J. Adams, and Matthew Fox, marks Sheridan’s most...
Mormon Wives Pauses Filming Amid Taylor Frankie Paul Domestic-Violence Dispute
Hulu has halted production on season five of its hit series "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" while a domestic‑violence investigation involving star Taylor Frankie Paul unfolds. Police are probing mutual assault allegations between Paul and her ex‑partner Dakota Mortensen,...
‘Arkansas TV’ Pivot Away From PBS Placed On Hold
Arkansas PBS’s board voted 6-2 to let its PBS contract lapse, planning to rebrand the statewide network as “Arkansas TV” on July 1, 2026. The move would have stripped all PBS programming from the AETN stations, sparking concern among viewers...
Behind The Mic: Netflix, NBC Tap Matt Vasgersian to Call MLB and Tony Dungy Is Out at NBC
Matt Vasgersian will call MLB Opening Night on Netflix and serve as play-by-play voice for NBC's MLB Sunday Leadoff games. Netflix's broadcast team features Albert Pujols, CC Sabathia and multilingual commentators, streaming the game in five languages. NBC also added...
HBO Max Australia Brings SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE UK to Aussie Viewers
Australian streaming platform HBO Max has acquired the rights to air the first official UK adaptation of Saturday Night Live. The six‑episode series, filmed live in London, premieres on March 23 with Emmy‑winner Tina Fey hosting the debut episode. The...
Free Bert Renewed For Season 2 At Netflix
Netflix has officially renewed the comedy series “Free Bert” for a second season. The show, starring stand‑up comedian Bert Kreischer playing a fictionalized version of himself, debuted on January 22 and follows his family’s clash with Beverly Hills culture. Production will again take...
FloSports and Storied Sports Partner on Women’s and College Sports Content
FloSports announced a partnership with Storied Sports, a studio founded by former espnW and The Players’ Tribune executives, to produce sponsor‑oriented storytelling across its women’s and college sports programming. The collaboration will create original formats for live broadcasts, social platforms,...
Paramount+ Absorbing BET+, Shuttering Platform in June
BET+ will cease operations in June, with its 3.5 million subscribers and content library moving to a new BET Hub inside Paramount+. The transition follows Tyler Perry’s equity sale to Paramount Skydance, which now owns both services. Paramount+’s subscriber base of...
Another Streaming Service Is Raising Its Price in April
Hulu has begun notifying subscribers that the Starz premium add‑on will increase from $10.99 to $11.99 per month starting March 31, 2026. The hike follows a series of incremental price adjustments aimed at covering rising content production and licensing costs....
Netflix Releasing Q1 Fiscal Results April 16
Netflix will announce its fiscal Q1 results on April 16, covering the quarter ending March 30. The company projects revenue of $12.2 billion and net income of $3.3 billion, up from $10.5 billion revenue and $2.9 billion profit a year earlier. A live interview...
Zombie Film ‘Didn’t Die’ Set for Digital Release April 28 From Level 33
Level 33 announced a digital release of the zombie thriller Didn’t Die on April 28, 2026, available for rental or purchase. The film debuted at Sundance and earned a nomination at the Cleveland International Film Festival’s American Independents Competition. Director Meera Menon, a ReFrame Rise 2019...
Endemol Shine Brasil and A Fábrica Unveil Microdrama Expansion For Mobile-First Audiences
Endemol Shine Brasil and A Fábrica, both part of Banijay Americas, announced a partnership to produce a slate of vertical‑format microdramas for mobile‑first audiences. Endemol will lead production and brand negotiations, while A Fábrica will handle creative development and screenwriting. The duo...
Europe To Launch Series Co-Production Convention at Series Mania Forum
On March 26 in Lille, the Council of Europe signed the first international convention dedicated to the co‑production of television and streaming series. Chaired by Secretary‑General Alain Berset, the ceremony took place during the Series Mania Forum’s Lille Dialogues summit....
Richard Osman's Surprise Replacement on House of Games Revealed – It's Not Who You'd Expect
Richard Osman announced his departure from BBC Two's quiz series House of Games after nine years, citing a focus on his Thursday Murder Club franchise. The BBC confirmed actor Michael Sheen will replace him, marking Sheen's first full-time hosting role....
Short-Form Video Is Driving Viewers to Watch Full TV Shows, Research Finds
Research by YouGov shows short‑form video on TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts is now a primary discovery tool for full‑length TV shows and films. In a survey of 2,035 British adults, more than 75% of those who saw a...
Watershed Weekly: Negotiations in the News, Week of March 9, 2026
The weekly roundup highlights how pre‑negotiation preparation is reshaping deals across sectors. The NFL leveraged a dormant change‑of‑control clause to push CBS toward a $3 billion‑plus annual rights fee, setting a new benchmark for the entire rights cycle. Simultaneously, big‑tech firms...
Netflix Is Removing Maxine Peake's BAFTA Winning Crime Drama Very Soon
Netflix will remove the BAFTA‑winning two‑part drama "See No Evil: The Story of the Moors Murders" from its catalogue on March 26, 2026, after a one‑year licensing window that began on March 27 2025. The 2006 series, starring Maxine Peake, Joanne Froggatt and Sean Harris,...
Nielsen: Sports Continues to Prop up Ad-Supported TV
Nielsen’s Q4 2025 data shows sports accounted for nearly 30% of all ad‑supported TV viewing, far outpacing non‑sport broadcast, cable and streaming. The NFL, college football and MLB postseason drove the surge, while streaming platforms captured 66.7% of ad‑supported viewing among...
Banijay Kids & Family and WildBrain Expand Partnership to Distribute Content on YouTube
Banijay Kids & Family has broadened its existing deal with WildBrain to exchange children's programming across their YouTube channel networks. WildBrain will host Banijay titles such as *Totally Spies!* and *LoliRock*, while Banijay’s ZeeKay platform will add WildBrain series like...
Grass Valley Technology Drives New Concept in OB Truck Design
DMC Production and Broadcast Solutions Group have introduced an OB truck that runs all core production functions on‑site using Grass Valley AMPP servers, while remote teams in Helsinki and Hilversum control the workflow. The system streams a low‑latency multiviewer over...
Make It Stop: Unmade Index Loses for 8th Session in Row
The Unmade Index posted its eighth consecutive loss, slipping 0.12% after an after‑hours correction and settling at a new low of 350.4, down 0.79%. Leading decliners were ARN (-2.94%) and Vinyl (-6.25%), with Vinyl’s market capitalisation hovering just above $100 million....
NASCAR, NHL on Fragmentation
NASCAR and the NHL are navigating a fragmented sports‑media landscape by striking multi‑partner rights deals that span broadcast, cable and streaming. NASCAR’s 2025‑2031 agreements involve Fox, NBC, Amazon, TNT Sports and Nexstar, giving the league five promotional avenues. The NHL’s...
A+E, Nielsen Team Up for Measurement Deal
Nielsen has entered a multiyear agreement with A+E Global Media, effective immediately. The partnership expands Nielsen’s measurement and analytics services to A+E’s linear and digital properties, including A&E, Lifetime, and History Channel. A+E will adopt new Nielsen products such as...
Walden’s Disney Team
Dana Walden, newly appointed Disney President and chief content officer, announced her entertainment leadership team in a memo. Walden will oversee television, film, direct‑to‑consumer, games and other digital products while collaborating with Disney Entertainment Chairman Alan Bergman on the movie studios....
MiQ’s Sigma Aims to Bring Order to India’s Fragmented Ad-Tech Ecosystem
MiQ has introduced Sigma, an AI‑powered platform in India designed to unify fragmented cross‑screen data for advertisers. The tool aggregates browsing, TV and commerce signals, offering intelligence, activation and measurement layers to streamline campaign planning. Launched by global CEO Gurman...
3 Years Later, the NCIS Spin-Off Everyone Completely Forgot About Becomes an Unexpected Hit
NCIS: Sydney, the franchise’s first international spin‑off aimed at Australian viewers, has become a surprise ratings hit for CBS. After a 2023 writers’ and actors’ strike opened a programming gap, the series was added to the domestic Tuesday lineup alongside...
Leadership Shake up as Sales Boss ROD PROSSER Exits Paramount Australia
Chief Sales Officer Rod Prosser has announced his resignation from Paramount Australia, ending a 15‑year tenure. He will leave the company at the end of April, with his exit communicated to more than 130 sales staff during a morning call....
Andy Cohen Teases ‘Real Housewives Of Rhode Island’ & His New Bravoverse Avatar, “I Love My AI Guy” — SXSW
Andy Cohen appeared at SXSW to unveil NBCUniversal’s new AI‑driven Andy Cohen avatar, part of the upcoming “Your Bravoverse” experience slated for a summer launch on Peacock. The avatar will use AI to scan every second of Bravo’s library, allowing...
Ray Bradbury Once Walked Out On A Meeting With NBC: 'I Knew It Was Hopeless'
Ray Bradbury walked out of an NBC meeting in the mid‑1980s after executives asked him to tone down his literary style and produce something "like Franz Kafka." The network wanted to adapt his classics such as Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, and The Illustrated Man, but...
Australian Children’s Content Summit Sets 2026 Dates
The Australian Children’s Content Summit returns to Coffs Harbour for its fourth edition, running from 24‑27 August 2026. The four‑day event will host more than 260 delegates from 12 countries, featuring senior executives from ABC, Screen Australia, and global kids‑content...